Going back in time a little.
The beginning of the Incident was when a Patient entered the Emergency Ward.
"Take this Patient to Zone A! That Patient to Zone B!"
"Breath... My breath... Gasp..."
A supremely peaceful Emergency Ward, where the screams of Patients and the shouts of Healers created a harmony.
A woman staggered into that Peace, clutching her chest.
The moment the Patient entered, a student from the Department of Healing Arts reflexively gathered Divine Magic.
It was because they recalled the Guideline to first cast Heal and see what happens in emergency situations.
"I will Heal right awa—"
The one who blocked that hand was the Respiratory Healer of the Emergency Ward in charge of the Student.
"Student. What are you doing using Divine Magic without even a Diagnosis?"
"T-That... It's an emergency situation, so..."
"What if the Patient has a Parasite Infection? What if it's a situation requiring a scalpel, or a Demon Disease?"
The Student's face turned pale.
"I am sorry. I will correct my actions."
"You learn through mistakes like this. It's your first day, and this must be your first time encountering this. I'll let it slide this once."
The person in charge of respiratory issues at the Emergency Ward, Branton.
After patting the Student and sending them back, he immediately bent his knee in front of the woman.
"Patient, can you speak right now?"
The pallid face weakly shook side to side.
Branton focused on the woman's Breath Sounds for a while, then nodded.
Then, looking behind the woman's back, he called someone.
"Saint. We have a suspected Asthma Patient with an unknown cause."
"Understood. I'll be right there."
Asthma.
It was one of the Demon Diseases The Black Saint had taught the Healers in the Emergency Ward.
Wheezing Breath Sounds and Respiratory Distress,
it was a 'Symptom' that could be easily diagnosed with just those two things.
Director Schun had instructed that if there was an Asthma Patient, they should be sent to him unconditionally without questioning the reason.
This was because he judged that while Asthma was easy to notice the Symptoms of, diagnosing the cause would still be tricky.
"A Demon Disease Patient on the very first day of work. It must be an unparalleled experience for the Student as well."
Director Schun offered a word of Encouragement to Branton's Student.
At the Saint's light Encouragement, the Student's eyes sparkled as they nodded.
To think they would actually receive praise from the Saint,
the overinterpretation that perhaps they were endowed with the Destiny of a Respiratory Healer was a bonus.
Completely oblivious to the Student's state, Director Schun took a few measures for the Patient.
After finishing such simple First Aid, Director Schun looked back at his Students.
"Students, come over here as well."
It was Ayla and her friends.
"How much do you all know about Asthma?"
Ayla and Jenny carefully raised their hands.
It was natural for Ayla to know a certain amount, thanks to learning by Director Schun's side.
However, Director Schun couldn't hide his slight surprise at the fact that Jenny knew about it.
"Asthma hasn't been properly organized in Academia yet, so it shouldn't be in the Textbook?"
Textbooks are fundamentally slow.
To the point of only covering Guidelines that are at least 10 years old.
Because it was a world without the Internet, accessibility to the latest Guidelines was bound to be even lower.
Because of that, Director Schun could not hold back his Admiration at the fact that Jenny knew about Asthma.
"Miss Jenny, it seems you have a lot of Combat Experience."
"Haha... It's not that..."
"?"
"I was just referring to my Roommate's Incidents..."
"...Ah."
Director Schun realized what that meant.
Asthma was one of the murder methods that could occasionally be encountered in the Incidents Charlotte handled.
A world lacking Understanding of Asthma.
Incidents attempting Poisoning using Allergic Asthma could also be occasionally encountered.
Culprits mainly tended to use the most common Peanuts, and occasionally used Bee Stings or Poison Ivy.
"Incidents?"
Ayla, who hadn't even imagined that such knowledge could be subjected to Misuse, tilted her head.
Jenny explained the Incident to her very simply.
Upon hearing the explanation, Ayla's Complexion darkened.
"How can they do such atrocious acts with knowledge meant to save people?"
"Originally, the knowledge to save people is what can kill them most efficiently, Junior Ayla."
Jenny gave a Bitter smile, feeling as though she had unnecessarily tainted the innocent Saintess.
Having finished her explanation, Jenny offered her own interpretation of the Asthma the Saint mentioned.
"I think I know. Then it means we just need to find the person who tried to cause Asthma in that Asthma Patient, right?"
"Miss Jenny. Trying to tie everything to a Crime is not a very good habit. There are far more Accidents than Incidents when it comes to Asthma."
After stopping Jenny from abruptly trying to interpret the Case as an attempted murder Incident.
Director Schun pointed at the Patient catching her breath in a corner of the Semi-emergency Zone, Zone B.
"Let me give you a simple problem. Until I return, shall we deduce what substance caused her Asthma? If I give you a hint, you will be able to find a Clue in the Patient's Profession."
Leaving those words, the Saint turned his steps toward the Emergency Ward Entrance.
What was waiting for him there was a Student from the Hero Department with a twisted ankle.
"Now, I'll set your ankle on the count of three."
"Y-Yes, Yes."
"One—"
Crack.
"Aargh! You said on three!"
"Usually, when I try to set it on three, everyone tenses up, so it doesn't go in well."
"S-Some... Painkillers...!"
"There are no Painkillers that work for ankles, Student."
While the Saint was diligently tending to the Patients at the entrance.
The left-behind Students began putting their heads together over the cause of the Asthma.
"Isn't it Peanuts? That was the most common in the Incidents I've seen."
"He said it wasn't an Incident, Senior."
"Then what about Mangoes? Do you Juniors know that Mangoes cause the same Asthma as Poison Ivy?"
Jenny, who was trying to tie it to an Incident no matter what.
"Mmm... He said it's related to her Profession, so shouldn't we first figure out what her Profession is?"
"Looks like a housewife to me."
"Joelle? The reason?"
"Uh... Wedding ring?"
Ayla's best friend, Joelle, clumsily guessing her Profession.
"W-Why... For some reason, making Deductions like this makes it feel like we've become Cheryl or something."
"Then would you share your Deduction as well, Sister Gwen?"
"Hauu... I am sorry."
"No, I'm not telling you to be sorry..."
Even Gwen, who cowered from the start without any reason.
By the time Ayla somehow spearheaded all of them and gathered their opinions.
Director Schun returned, having finished the light(?) First Aid for a Patient with a nail in their eye.
"Now, have you found the Correct Answer?"
Ayla stepped forward as the Representative.
"We think the Patient is a housewife. Looking at the wedding ring on her left ring finger, it seems she's a newlywed... We believe the Asthma is due to those earrings that look brand new."
"A Metal Allergy, so that's how you see it."
"Yes."
Director Schun stroked his Jaw, no, his Beak, and looked into Ayla's eyes for a moment.
Soon, he shook his head.
"Everyone. Just because Asthma is caused by an Allergy doesn't mean every Allergy causes Asthma."
Director Schun lightly tapped his own ear.
"A Metal Allergy does not cause Asthma. Ichor may ooze or the skin might swell, but it doesn't spread to the bronchial tubes."
"I thought if the Allergy was severe, it might spread that far..."
"When making a Diagnosis, you must never present a low-probability option first. You should only suggest it when those are the only Options left."
Director Schun pointed at the Patient.
"Then let me tell you the Correct Answer. That Patient is a Hairdresser."
In his view, there were plenty of Clues.
The red, cracked skin between her fingers.
It was a chronic Disease for people who washed their hands with chemicals like a Surgeon.
The White Powder accumulated under her Fingernails added even more weight to this Deduction.
"That White Powder appears to be Hair Bleach. Moreover, a Callus is distinctively thick between her thumb and Index finger."
That was why he made the Deduction of a Hairdresser.
"The Hair Bleach used by Hairdressers is a common Asthma-inducing substance. That is why the moment she entered the Emergency Ward, I had her change out of her work clothes and wrote a Prescription for Ephedra."
Ephedra.
In Modern times, it was a substance famous for its Ephedrine Component.
Though rarely used in Modern times due to severe heart Side Effects, a reasonable Effect could be expected for Asthma Patients.
"Inhaling the smoke of burnt Jimsonweed also has an Effect, but its Side Effects are more severe than Ephedra, so I am hesitant to use it."
Originally, using a Short-acting Bronchodilator with fewer Side Effects would be the right thing to do.
However, since they hadn't been able to make them yet, they had no choice but to manage with Ephedra and Jimsonweed.
'I should find those in the Library of Memory and make them sometime soon as well.'
Might I meet the Cosmic Head after a long time,
Thinking that, Director Schun clapped his hands lightly.
Clap!
"Now, today's Treatment is over. Great work, everyone."
"Pardon? We didn't really do much, though?"
"Because it's the first day. You can just work harder next time. And since you Students will have Lectures from Tomorrow, you should head back to your quarters."
"Pardon? Now that you mention it, the Time is already..."
Checking the Time, it was 6 o'clock.
"As for a meal..."
Director Schun, who was about to extend an Invitation to Dinner out of habit, immediately closed his mouth.
Director Schun's hobby was not Cooking.
That was Yulian's Persona.
Instead, he handed the Students a blank Check and said,
"Student Jenny, if there is a good Steakhouse nearby, could you introduce it to your Juniors? I am not very familiar with the Geography here, so I'm asking this Request of you instead."
"Understood, Saint."
Jenny carefully received the blank Check handed over by Director Schun.
She didn't do something as tactless as asking for the spending limit.
Because there was no way that merely several Students cutting some steak would even make a dent in Director Schun's Wallet.
'If I perhaps use this for Horse Racing... No, get a grip, Jenny, you Crazy bitch.'
She did entertain a subversive thought for a very brief moment while looking at the Check, but it was nothing more than a passing thought.
She hadn't become so ruined yet as to wager the Saint's Goodwill on a bet.
Right before the Students left to have Dinner.
They shared Small talk while packing their belongings in the Lounge.
Like how it was their first time in the Emergency Ward,
Or how it seemed like there was a lot to learn here.
In that process, Gwen, who was packing her own things, said towards Jenny.
"Senior! How was it? Doesn't Director Schun seem just like Cheryl?"
That was The beginning.
"...Hmm. Do you Juniors find this amazing?"
"Huh? Don't you find it amazing, Senior? The Saint guessed the illness in an instant. Someone on Saint Schun's level would put up a good fight against Cheryl, wouldn't he?"
"Hmm... Is it that great."
"With this much, couldn't you introduce him using Saint Schun as a model?"
The Students, including Gwen, nodded in unison.
Because Director Schun making the Deduction about the Hairdresser's Profession and suggesting the appropriate treatment was just like Cheryl in the novel.
However, the Original creator, who directly observed the real model for Cheryl and used them as Materials to write the novel, could not easily agree with those words.
"Ah, you Juniors might not know this well yet, but there's an even more incredible Professor and Student."
Of course, it didn't mean Director Schun wasn't incredible.
She could be certain that there was no one among the Healers of this Era who could compare to him.
To the point where it felt like a discourtesy that other Saints and Saintesses dared to be called by the same Title.
In the first place, from Jenny's perspective, the other Saints and Saintesses were nothing but humans who were merely lucky enough to be born with a lot of Divine Power.
"Compared to those people, Director Schun... Still, I think his Deduction Skill might be lacking..."
However, separate from that, in Jenny's eyes, Director Schun's Deduction Skill wasn't on a level to be compared with Charlotte or Yulian.
Jenny could say that because she had observed those two closely for a long time.
For reference, Jenny's personal feelings only accounted for about 70 percent of this Evaluation.
"Speaking of which, Juniors, when you do your Course Registration this time, try registering for Black Magic Defense Arts. Then you'll know why I said this."
"Pardon? Black magic?"
"Yeah. The knowledge learned in that Lecture is quite helpful for Healing Magic too."
Jenny was certain.
That if they took Yulian's Class, they would realize why she had said this.
Setting aside his Accomplishments, if judging purely by the emotion instilled by Genius, in Jenny's eyes, Yulian and Charlotte were even greater than Director Schun.
"They say it's so helpful that even a Professor from the Department of Healing Arts is Auditing that Lecture. So you Juniors should take it once too."
At this, most of the Juniors nodded.
There was no need to deliberately get into an Argument with a Senior here,
because a person's thoughts are free.
However, there was someone who could not easily brush this off,
"I cannot agree with that."
It was none other than Ayla.
*
Several days passed since then.
That day, Ayla passionately preached Director Schun's greatness to Jenny,
and Jenny, not to be outdone, stood her ground firmly, arguing that the Cheryl Series only showed a Glimpse of the real-life figures.
— "Fine. Then I will try taking that Class."
Eventually, the Argument that had been drawing parallel lines reached a temporary truce when Ayla decided to take the Black magic Lecture.
And Gwen and Joelle also followed Ayla and registered for the Black magic Class.
"I never knew our Saintess's Voice could get so loud. It's my first time seeing it."
"Please keep it a secret from others."
"Our Saintess has completely fallen for her Teacher."
In the front row of the Lecture hall,
Joelle giggled and didn't stop teasing Ayla.
In the midst of that, Ayla discovered a familiar face there.
A typical athletic girl with her bright red Hair braided back.
It was Erika.
"Oh? Lady Erika?"
"Huh? Ayla? What brings you here? Weren't you in the Department of Healing Arts?"
"Ah... That's..."
She couldn't possibly say she registered for the Lecture to check if Yulian was truly on a level comparable to Director Schun.
Even though Erika was raised by Director Schun from the Limbus Pit,
at the same time, she was a Dependent Retainer indebted to the Nihilrit Family.
How could she ask such a difficult Question comparing Yulian and Director Schun to Erika?
Because of that, Ayla just smoothly glossed over it.
"There was advice from Seniors that Black magic knowledge is helpful for the Healing arts."
"Hmm... It definitely would be."
Erika was also being careful with her words just the same.
Erika was struggling to hold back the fact that, momentarily, the knowledge came from the same person anyway.
"But what brings you to this Class, Lady Erika? This is a First year Class, you know? Did you perhaps confuse it with a Second Year Class..."
"Ah, haha... Well, I am a First year."
"Pardon?"
"I have Circumstances, so my Matriculation was a year late. I was originally supposed to be in the same grade as that guy Karl, you see."
Erika smoothed it over with an unnatural smile.
Ayla didn't bother asking too deeply, either.
'There's no way Lady Erika failed the Matriculation Trial and entered a year late, she probably missed her Schedule because she was too busy, right?'
Ayla guessed as such.
Afterward, Ayla and Erika took the Time to introduce their Party to each other.
"Hello, I am called Freya. I've heard many Words about you from my Unnie, Saintess."
"Hello, Lady Freya."
The Party was able to quickly become close even before the Class started.
"On my first day of Observation, the Director showed me a Craniotomy. I think it was since then. That I began to fall into this path."
"I'm envious. It would have been nice if I could have seen something like that too."
In particular, despite it being their first meeting, Ayla and Freya seemed almost like friends who had known each other for a long time.
It was because whenever Ayla boasted of her Teacher's Great Performance, Freya showed genuine Interest.
"But he must have known exactly where to open the head, so how did the Saint know that?"
"As expected, Sister Freya, you know exactly why that Surgery is difficult."
"I also have a lot of Interest in the Saint's Great Performance, so whenever News arrives, I studied this and that and came to know."
"That's amazing, Sister!"
Ordinary people only roughly understood Director Schun's greatness.
Even if it was about Craniotomies or Parasites,
in the eyes of people lacking Understanding of the Healing Arts, they would just think the Saint had caused some Miracle again,
the part they were surprised about wasn't the Discovery of a great Technique, but merely the fact that a person had survived.
However, Freya was different.
Even though she wasn't an Aspiring Healer, she properly understood Director Schun's greatness.
Perhaps this was the reason Ayla opened her heart so quickly.
'Unlike Senior Jenny, I feel like I can become close friends with her right away.'
Not long after the Start of school, she made a new friend.
At that fact, Ayla formed a pleased smile inside her Veil.
As they were chatting without realizing the Time passing, it was already Time for the Lecture.
As soon as it was Time, the front door of the Lecture hall opened,
"Hello, everyone."
Just like last year, Yulian stood on the Podium accompanied by Perisia.
And just like a year ago, it was the moment he was preparing the performance of dipping his Index finger into Powder and sucking it off his Middle finger.
'Huh...?'
Yulian's gaze lingered on the front row for a moment.
'Why is their atmosphere like this?'
Erika was making it completely obvious that she didn't want to study,
and Freya was even taking out and putting on non-prescription Eyeglasses, preparing for Transcription.
The problem was Ayla.
'This should be her first time seeing Yulian, right? Did I perhaps do something to upset Ayla without knowing?'
Just try making even a single mistake.
I won't miss a single thing and will be Pointing out all of it.
Ayla was sending such a vicious glare from beyond the Veil.
'Ah, come to think of it, Ayla's Unnie suffered because of Black magic. It's only natural her Impression of Black magic is bad.'
Yulian interpreted the meaning of that stinging gaze in his own way.
'Tsk. Receiving such a look from my Disciple makes me feel a bit weird.'
Smacking his lips with a bitter Appetite internally, Yulian started the Lecture for the First year students.