345 What Kind of Doctor is This? (1/2)
”If you were not confident, then why would you still bring me here? Aren't you just asking for trouble if I was not as skilled as you had hoped? The Shaman's son shouldn't be suffering from a normal illness, no?”
Leon was a bit speechless. Perhaps, he was giving Goldenrod too much credit.
”Brother Leonhardt might have already realized this, but the Venerable Shaman had been looking for skilled doctors to treat his son. Anyone who can cure his son will be entitled to take anything they fancy from the Venerable Shaman's store or make a single request of the Venerable Shaman.”
”All the medical experts have already tried their luck, but not a single one of them had been successful in treating the Venerable Shaman's son in the past 2 years.” Goldenrod quietly whispered to Leon.
There was a reason why he took Leon here. If Leon was able to cure the Venerable Shaman's son, the Venerable Shaman might also let him pick a few items as a reward.
Shortly after they entered the courtyard, the Old Shaman directed, ”Wait here for a bit.”
The Old Shaman did not provide any explanation and disappeared into his humble abode with Little Bone.
Goldenrod looked at the Venerable Shaman's disappearing back, before he continued to whisper to Leon in a lower voice, ”What you don't know is that for the past 3 months, the same doctor has been attending the Venerable Shaman's son. The Venerable Shaman is also very respectful towards this new doctor.”
”Oh? Sounds the Venerable Shaman met a capable doctor. If that is the case, what reason is there for me to come here?” Leon asked nonchalantly without a hint of emotion.
Obviously, he did not believe what he said. If the doctor was truly capable, it should not take more than 2 months to treat a patient.
That being said, the Infertile Plains lacked the environment needed to grow medicinal herbs, and Leon did not know anything about the local doctors' methods in treating their patients.
He was only speaking relatively due to the Old Shaman's respect for the person.
”Capable doctor? No, that person is a quack doctor. I have seen his methods, and I believe Brother Leonhardt has a better chance at curing the Venerable Shaman's son than that person.” Goldenrod said as he tried to bootlick Leon.
What else could he say? If the quack doctor does manage to cure the Venerable Shaman's son, wouldn't he lose the opportunity to upgrade his equipment?
Naturally, Leon did not buy into Goldenrod's bootlicking. Nevertheless, he was curious about what kind of illness the Old Shaman's son had contracted to cause all the doctors in the tribe to be helpless.
”Demon Possession.”
The one who answered his question was not Goldenrod, but the Old Shaman.
After the Old Shaman exited his abode, he glanced at Leon and said, ”Are you really here to treat my son? How can you not even know what he is suffering from? Such news should have spread to every corner of the tribe long ago.”
'I haven't even seen your son. How would I know what he is suffering from until I diagnose him?' Leon's mouth twitched, but he chose to remain silent.
Demon Possession was not an illness exclusive to the Old Shaman's son. Although it was not common, it was not exactly rare for humans on the Infertile Plains to suffer from this illness.
No cure had been found for people who suffered Demon Possession, but the Old Shaman had never stopped hoping that a time would come when there will be one.
”Venerable Shaman, if I may speak freely.” Goldenrod respectfully requested.
After the Old Shaman gave him an acknowledging nod, Goldenrod began to explain, ”Brother Leonhardt is not someone from our tribe, and I had brought him here shortly after the battle ended. This is why he is unaware of your son's symptoms.”
”Oh? I see I see. So, you're the Leonhardt.” The Old Shaman stroked his grey beard with a look of understanding, and his impression of Leon completely changed.
”You've heard of me?” Leon smiled plainly.
”Of course, I have. Don't underestimate how fast rumors travel, kiddo. You are the talk of the town right now.”
”Makes sense.” Leon nodded in agreement.
The Old Shaman gave Goldenrod a look and said, ”Leave us.”
”Eh?” Goldenrod was taken aback, but he recovered quickly with a bow and said, ”I pray for your son's successful treatment, Venerable Shaman.”
Shortly after Goldenrod left the courtyard to give Leon and the Old Shaman some privacy, the Old Shaman calmly asked, ”You're not from around here, are you?”