We boarded an airship at Horai Island and took a transporter to the Klein Kingdom at once.

Of course, it would have been too suspicious if we had suddenly entered the sky over Alban, so we were transferred to the airspace over Lake Cedrolia, which is on the border with the Kingdom of Selroa. The sky is cloudy.

From there, we headed north to Alban. The time was 2:00 p.m. local time, and Jin and his group were above Alban.

"That hot air balloon was a gift from me, wasn't it?

There was a hot-air balloon floating above the royal castle. It was a gift from Jin.

Unlike the Shoro Kingdom, it had not yet been mass-produced.

Now, Jin's airship had his family crest, <>, which should have been notified to all the countries.

And just as it should have been, the soldier in the hot-air balloon saluted in the Kleinian style--the elbow of the right arm outstretched horizontally at shoulder level, bent upward at a right angle, the fingers of the hand extended, and the palm pointed toward the other person--as a sign of recognition of Jin. The fingers of the hand are extended, and the palm is pointing toward the other person.

The soldier operated the hot-air balloon as if following Jin's airship, which flew slowly, and landed on the square in front of the royal castle at about the same time.

Jin commented that although he could not mass produce the balloon, he seemed to have mastered its operation.

"Welcome, Magecraft Meister Jin. And Miss Elsa, the court-appointed healer.

There was the Third Princess of Rieschen and her vizier, Powell. And a few familiar faces greeted us.

Jin moored the airship with several ropes to keep it out of the strong winds, and turned to face them all.

"Mister Jin, you are welcome here."

Prime Minister Powell first took Jin's hand and welcomed him. Then he took Elsa's hand,

"Miss Elsa, the court-appointed healer (Reichsanstalt), I am very sorry that you have come all this way.

She bowed her head, saying in a polite tone, "I am very sorry for your visit. The third princess of Rieschen was happy to see Hannah again.

"Hannah, how nice to see you. How are you?　Have you grown a little taller?"

"Hello, princess. I've been a long time.

Hannah is getting good at bowing while picking up her skirt.

Jin and Erza greeted the princess in turn.

"Well, you have sent us a very young healer. A court-appointed healer (Reichsartz)?　That's a big title, isn't it?

The person who uttered these words was a young man in his mid-twenties. Blond hair and gray eyes. His eyes look somewhat like Rieschen's.

"Brother, that's rude. He is a healer sent by the Shoro Empire, and a court-appointed healer (Reichsalt) at that. Furthermore, she is a Magecraft Meister, the sister of Jin-dono!

"You are too good for them, Arthur. That country owes us nothing. They may have sent a novice to our country on a literal diplomatic mission."

"Brother!"

But the man whom Arthur had called his brother turned away and refused to talk with him.

"My brother Edmund begs your pardon. My name is Arthur. I am the second prince of this land. My brother Edmond is the first prince.

After introducing himself as the second prince, Arthur apologized for his brother Edmond's rudeness and turned to Erza.

"Miss Elsa, please do not be offended. Dozens of our healers have examined our father, but none of them have been able to cure him or even find the cause of his illness. That is why my brother is somewhat distrustful of healers.

Arthur bows his head. He has dark brown hair and gray eyes. He had dark brown hair and gray eyes, just like Rieschen.

"Now, now, Miss Elsa, would you please examine the king?

The Prime Minister said in a gesture of hospitality and Elsa nodded silently.

"......I am sorry, but I would like to have the king's medical examination in the presence of Edmund or Arthur."

"Yes, sir."

Elsa nods. Jin also tells the Prime Minister.

"I have a free sample of desiccant from the Shoro Kingdom. Please have someone bring them to me.

"Oh, oh, I see!　Well then........ ...... Ivan, you will take them to the Minister of Industry.

Yes!

By order of the Prime Minister, the soldier called Ivan carried three 20-kilogram bags of desiccant and carried them away.

"Jin, you come with me. Bring Hannah with you."

Rieschen, who had been watching Hannah, looked apologetic and said to Jin, "I can go to my father's palace.

Only a healer can go to the king.

Erza, who had begun to walk, stopped and looked back at Jin,

"Brother Jin, I'm going. Don't worry.

She told Jin briefly and started walking again. Edgar seemed to be the only one allowed to accompany Jin. Steward stayed behind to guard the airship.

Hitoshi and Reiko followed Rieschen. They are headed for the Rikyu, Rieschen's castle where they stayed the last time.

"...... sorry."

As soon as they entered the room, Rieschen apologized to Jin.

"What?"

Jin was surprised because he didn't know how to apologize.

"...... about what just happened. My brother Edmond was rude to Elsa. I couldn't say anything to him. I'm sorry."

"No, it's not Reese's fault.

Rieschen finally opened her brow when Jin said this hurriedly.

"You call me Ries, don't you? I thank you. I am the ...... third princess, but my brothers don't like me.

Jin nodded and said that he would not rehash that again, since he had heard that last time.

"You are as good a person as ever, Jin.

Reese offered chairs to Jin and Hannah. Once the three sat down, Tia, an automata of the same model as Anne, brought them tea.

"Welcome, Miss Jin, Miss Hanna."

Hi Tia, you look great.

Yes, I'm doing very well after your repair. Thanks to you I can serve the princess with all my heart.

Tia was literally Rieschen's nanny and nursemaid. She had been out of commission due to old age, but Jin had repaired her.

The tea was herbal. It smelled like a mixture of roses and strawberries, and was quite delicious.

After two sips of tea, the princess resumed her story.

"A year ago...... so, since last fall, my father has been feeling somewhat unwell. He was getting tired easily," she said.

Rieschen explains his condition to Jin.

"Then, around this summer, his condition suddenly worsened. He is not even able to hold political office.

Jin sent a hot air balloon to the Klein Kingdom at the end of July. By then, he was already in bed, he says.

"My face is turning yellow, my stomach seems to be distended ...... and I'm worried sick."

Hannah patted Rieschen on the shoulder in a comforting manner.

"Don't worry, princess. Erza is a great girl. I'm sure she'll heal your illness too.

Rieschen smiled weakly at Hannah.

"Hm, Hannah is very kind. Oh yeah, so Erza is that great."

"Yes!"

Rieschen felt her heavy heart lighten a little at the sight of Hannah's bright smile.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"......This is ......"

Meanwhile, in the innermost part of the castle, Elsa was examining King Alois III of the Kingdom of Klein.

Yellow eyes. Her complexion is turning darker than yellow. His nails are also yellowish, a clear sign of jaundice. His liver was in bad shape.

"Excuse me."

Elsa pulls up the covers and pulls off the front of her clothes.

"......!"

The abdominal distention made Elsa more and more convinced that the liver was the cause of the problem.

"...... magic to examine the patient. "

After a few words of refusal, Elsa used her magic.

"......It is the liver, after all.

As a result, it is found that she has cirrhosis of the liver.

"Liver?

Liver?　Is that what's causing these symptoms?"

They seem to know that there is a large organ called liver in the abdomen, but they are ignorant of what it does. But they are not the only ones.

"The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. Your Majesty's liver is in very bad shape.

Elsa gave the Prime Minister and the Prince a clear explanation.

"What is the cause ......?"

Alois III is not a drinker and only drinks during ceremonies. As for the other food, it did not seem to be due to his diet, as far as the chamberlain who served him was concerned.

"There is no arsenic in his body," she said.

Unlike the case of the Marquis Theoderic, this was not cirrhosis caused by the accumulation of arsenic in the liver.

"......?"

Without knowing the cause of the disease, even if it is cured by magic, it will soon recur. Elsa used the magic of Diagnose many times to find the cause.

However, the cause was not found.

"......It seems to be impossible after all."

Prince Edmond stares at the distressed Elsa with cold eyes.