The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 83: Altitude Sickness (2)

“Gotberg, are you saying there’s a way to resolve frostbite and altitude sickness?”

“There is. I’ve already developed the medication.”

“Ooh!”

At my answer, the 1st Regiment Commander brightened. Heike also showed interest and asked me directly.

“Do you perhaps have enough for the entire 1st Regiment to take it?”

“Wait, Heike.”

Asella lightly stepped in front of Heike.

“Of course, Moonlight Palace came to assist in subjugating the barbarians as an ally. But the agreement only covered military aid, didn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

“If you want to borrow even my personal physician, you’ll need to pay an appropriate price.”

At Asella’s bold attitude, Heike nodded.

“What matters now is defeating the enemy in front of us. Asella, what do you want?”

“I, too, want to wipe out the barbarians. They’re unruly bastards who trample imperial land as they please if left unchecked.”

Click, clack.

Asella made a leisurely circuit around the war room, her footsteps echoing calmly.

“But Heike, I have no interest in losing precious knights because of unnecessary clashes in opinion with you during the operation.”

“Hm.”

Clack.

Asella came to a stop, tilted her chin, and declared firmly,

“I’ll take full command of this operation. If you accept that condition, I’ll treat your knights.”

“Your Highness, that’s unacceptable.”

The 1st Regiment Commander immediately objected.

“Our 1st Regiment has participated in numerous expeditions under the First Princess’s command. I’ve heard this is Moonlight Palace’s first time participating in a real battle.”

“So?”

“Well...”

When Asella stared him down forcefully, the 1st Regiment Commander shut his mouth.

It was an outrageous demand. To be honest, it was almost like saying, “If you’re not going to use it properly, I’ll just take it.”

If Asella took overall command and the subjugation succeeded, all the credit for military merit would go to Moonlight Palace.

That was Asella’s aim—but with that also came immense responsibility.

“Asella, this battlefield is irregular in terrain and heavily favors the enemy. Can you give the proper orders?”

Asella calmly looked down at the map.

“Will you brief me on the situation?”

Heike pointed to the map with her staff.

“Right. The count’s domain has double fortifications built along the mountain range, with scattered civilian villages.”

“We’re currently at the southern fortress, which lies at the center of the final line.”

“Correct. Between the northern fortress farthest up and our southern fortress, there used to be the central fortress where Count Blücher resided.”

“Used to be?”

Heike relayed the grim news with a serious expression.

“It’s been taken. ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Looks like it was breached before our reinforcements arrived.”

“Then what happened to Count Blücher and the civilians?”

“Fortunately, he managed to send out several messenger birds under the barbarians’ noses. Reports say the survivors, including the count and villagers from the surrounding area, are hiding in the underground storage of the central fortress. Discovery is only a matter of time.”

Thanks to her extensive combat command experience, Heike summarized the essentials quickly.

“Luckily, there’s a deep cliff between the central fortress and our southern one. They can’t cross it easily. If they want to move south into the Empire, they’ll need to go through the western or eastern fortress.”

“We need to block both entry points, weaken the enemy’s strength, then recapture the central fortress.”

Even with a short briefing, Asella accurately assessed the situation. She pointed at the map.

“Capture the eastern and western fortresses, then destroy all the bridges connecting them to the outer defense line. That way we only need to deal with the remaining forces holed up in the central fortress. If we force them into close-quarters combat, our superior skills and equipment will overwhelm them.”

“And how do we capture both side fortresses?”

“Have you forgotten, Heike?”

Asella’s lips curled up slightly.

“I’m a fifth-tier ice-type mage. And there’s plenty of snow here.”

“You intend to join the battle yourself.”

Heike stroked her chin, then turned to me.

“Gotberg, can you prepare enough medication? We’re looking at around two hundred injured.”

“Two hundred doses, understood.”

And I’d need to prepare enough for the injured we’ll have on our side—probably around four hundred.

Once Moonlight Palace’s main force arrives, my healers will come with them.

If I alter the composition formula and leave mass production to them...

“How long is the operation expected to take?”

“One day.”

“Then I can produce a day’s worth in half a day. For frostbite, we’ll use warming techniques and salves. For knights suffering altitude sickness, I’ll prescribe diuretics. Milder cases can be treated with just aspirin.”

“Hmm.”

After hearing my answer, Heike began weighing the decision.

Forcing weakened knights to fight in unfamiliar terrain would only increase casualties.

Judging by the fact that the Rock Tribe still existed in the future I came from, Heike probably didn’t score a great victory in the original version of this battle.

Heike is smart. She likely foresaw that outcome too.

But if she accepts my treatment, the odds of victory rise significantly.

In exchange, she’ll have to hand over all credit for this campaign to Asella.

Victory or responsibility—which weighs heavier?

Heike’s deliberation didn’t last long.

“Gotberg, I’m counting on you.”

“Leave it to me.”

I immediately penned a letter and sent it to the main force by messenger bird.

The message instructed them to secure materials in bulk on the way up and begin preparation for compounding.

“So, Her Highness the Third Princess will take command.”

“Mmm...”

The 1st Regiment Commander and the commander of the Mokhui Palace Knights looked slightly doubtful.

It was understandable. A young girl like Asella, with no actual battlefield experience, suddenly claiming full command—who wouldn’t hesitate?

But in my eyes, she was more than reliable. The Asella I knew was someone who managed military operations with flawless precision.

Well, right now she was probably still making judgments based solely on theory, so there might be errors.

That’s where I’d have to step in and correct things.

“Heike, I’d like to start drafting the strategy immediately.”

“Good. Let’s hear your proposal.”

Having handed over full authority, Heike readily passed the staff to Asella.

“Mokhui Palace takes the eastern fortress, Moonlight Palace takes the western. We divide enemy forces and push forward. If we strike before reinforcements arrive...”

The strategy Asella laid out was textbook. Flawless.

Both the 1st Regiment Commander and the Mokhui Palace Knight Commander began nodding as they listened, slowly drawn in by Asella’s logic.

“Indeed, a brilliant plan.”

Even Heike gave her recognition.

Still, I thought it could use a little reinforcement.

“Gotberg, you have a different opinion?”

Maybe she read it from my face—Heike turned to ask.

“May I respectfully offer a suggestion?”

“Say it. Let’s hear it.”

Asella, perhaps slightly offended in pride, grumbled as she passed me the staff.

I took the deployment Asella had split evenly and shifted it, concentrating the forces to the right flank.

“What if we leave the already divided 1st and 2nd Regiments as they are, instead of mixing them?”

“Our cohesion will improve. But it’ll delay the capture of the western fortress, which could give the enemy time to bring reinforcements.”

“We only need one corridor to reach the center.”

“What do you mean?”

I emphasized my point.

“We use the east as bait, and push the rescue force in through the west. It’s a more efficient strategy.”

The idea of using themselves as bait made the 1st Regiment Commander visibly uncomfortable.

But Asella seemed intrigued. A slight smile touched her lips.

“Go on.”

“The 1st Regiment enters the eastern fortress first and draws all enemy forces. Once they’re concentrated there, the 2nd Regiment seizes the opportunity to take the western fortress. After that, we proceed with Your Highness’s original plan.”

“The enemy isn’t that stupid. You think they’d leave all the other fortresses just to defend one and go stampeding off?”

“That’s just it. They are that stupid.”

Everyone showed puzzled expressions at my claim.

“The barbarian tribes are divided. The ones we’re up against—the Rock Tribe—are particularly low in intelligence. They have no capacity to perceive the battlefield as a whole.”

“The Rock Tribe? This is the first I’ve heard of tribes.”

Even Heike, who’d faced the barbarians a few times, tilted her head in confusion.

“The northern barbarians consist of four major tribes. If their chief were from the Thunder Tribe, that might be different. But the Rock Tribe behaves more like monsters, acting purely on instinct.”

I shared my knowledge, earned from firsthand experience.

“Of course, Her Highness Asella’s strategy is a masterpiece. But it’s based on the premise that the enemy is a conventional army capable of making tactical decisions. Right now, we can take full advantage as if we were facing monsters.”

“Then why are they currently stationed evenly across all fortresses? If they’re so unintelligent, why adopt such a formation?”

To Asella’s valid question, I gave a logical answer.

“They simply looted each fortress, got full bellies, and are now sleeping in place.”

“I see. Certainly, I haven’t observed any sign of organized formations among them.”

Heike accepted my reasoning.

The other knights nodded as well.

“Then, Gotberg, you’re suggesting that while the 1st Regiment draws their attention, the 2nd Regiment rescues the hostages from the central fortress?”

“Exactly. Then we cut off all the bridges and isolate the enemy, wiping them out in one sweep.”

“That would certainly reduce casualties compared to a full-frontal assault.”

“It’s a sound plan. Imperial knights are better suited to stronghold defense battles anyway.”

Heike and the 1st Regiment Commander both seemed convinced by the rationale.

“Asella, what do you think?”

Asella glanced sideways at me, then raised her chin and answered Heike.

“It’s an excellent suggestion. We’ll go with it.”

“I am deeply honored.”

She might have thought I was trying to interfere. To avoid that impression, I bowed to her as respectfully as I could.

“Gotberg, you’re quite adept at tactics too. Do you have actual battle experience?”

“To some extent.”

“I thought you only studied healing. The more I learn, the more fascinating you become.”

Heike grinned and patted me on the shoulder.

Harder than I expected—my body jolted forward.

“Then let’s proceed with the unit assignments based on this plan. First, the 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment—”

“Hey, Heike.”

Asella interrupted Heike mid-sentence.

“What is it, Asella?”

“There’s one thing we need to be clear about before the operation begins. Consider this a warning.”

Asella spoke clearly and firmly, pointing her thumb at me.

“Don’t lay a hand on him. I won’t overlook it a second time.”

***

Two days later, our main force arrived.

The Moonlight Palace knights, one battalion of the 2nd Regiment (four hundred troops), and the healers from my faction.

“Have you been well, sir? Here are the ingredients you requested.”

Hugo arrived carrying massive bundles in both arms. Not a trace of altitude sickness—he really was naturally robust.

“What about Eri?”

“I left her with the young lady from the bakery in the fountain square. She’s a kind person who looks after Eri from time to time.”

“Gasp. D-Don’t tell me, is that a lo— Argh!”

Chloe started saying something unnecessary, so I pinched her thigh.

“Based on the ratio of those showing symptoms, we’ll need to make about five hundred doses of diuretics and frostbite salves. You know we’re short on time, right? Get to work immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

All my healers responded energetically.

We had twelve healers participating in this expedition.

They were all dressed in white coats, just like mine—finally starting to look like real doctors.

“All right, Moonlight Palace healers, let’s move.”

Sucking on a piece of candy, I took the lead.

A squad of white-coated healers followed in my wake.