It's been half a year since I ran away from the magic tower. I heard people talking about what happened that day. Of course no one really knew the details but I was there. I knew and watched what was going on. I saw the crown prince slaughter mages, well I saw the corpses and I saw his soldiers. The prince himself would never get his hands dirty himself but in my opinion he already did so.

I was sitting at a bar while I ordered some food.

"Did you hear what happened over at the magic tower?"

Here they go again...

Let's see what nonsense this is this time.

"I did."

"Can't believe the king sent some soldiers over to kill these poor people."

Not really the king but you are not that off...

"I heard the opposite."

"What opposite?"

"The mages tried to summon a demon and that is why the crown prince took them on personally but died in the results... well some say he fled because he was too scared."

"NO! Heck no! Believe me when I tell you this."

"Huh, how do you know?"

"My sister was one of the crown prince's servants. She came back scared and all she told me was how nasty our crown prince was. He is a true demon. It wouldn't surprise me if he created all that fuss and then got into hiding."

"Really? What happened to your sister?

I didn't really care what they were talking about the sister at all since I was a bit busy myself. Once I got out of the forest, I found a nearby abandoned mine and lived there for a bit as a dragon but I also soon found out the trick to shift back and forth. I was just lucky I found some adventurer who thought that I was abandoned as a sacrifice and gave me some clothes and food and brought me to the next village. They also told me to register as an adventurer which I did and that was the only thing keeping me alive. Of course I took the part up to heal people but I never exposed myself to anyone whenever I would go around being that mysterious healer everyone was talking about. Well I got to earn money somehow. This was the easiest way and I didn't like fighting demonic beasts or demons or anything like that at all. So my task as an adventurer was mostly gathering herbst.

Today was my first day in this small town and I just immediately went to the inn. I intended to stay here for a bit before continuing my way to the capital slowly of course. I had enough time to grow and I needed to be prepared for anything. As of now, I was pretty good at shifting back and forth from my dragon and human form, healing of course and some fire as well as telekinesis.

Alright, it seemed as if these guys knew about the story the right way...

At least I don't have to interfere here.

Though spreading some good words about the duchy wouldn't hurt...

Ah screw it let's do that!

I was minding my own business till I decided to get over to the other table and sat down right next to the guys.

"Sorry to interrupt but I heard you were talking about the magic tower incident."

"Ah yes we are. Are you curious?"

"A bit. I heard from a soldier who was there that the beast duke came and helped them out to stop the lunatic of a crown prince!"

"The duke?!"

Both of these men were stunned when I mentioned that. By now I was used to this reaction. After all, for the past couple months, I was just wandering around and telling this story making the duke and the tower master be the heroes of the day. Not as if it wasn't entirely false at all. However people talk and while people talk, the truth is being twisted. I knew if I would focus on putting the duke in a light spot, they would all throw themselves at that and the story was getting exaggerated as it was being passed from one person to the next one.

"MH!"

"So what happened!"

And here it comes....

"I was gathering herbst nearby when I found this one soldier and he was wounded. I got all the information from him so it must be true."

"You are lucky you didn't face any danger."

"Hahaha, you are soo right."

"What did the mate tell you?"

"He said they were ordered to go in and if not they would all die."

"I KNEW IT! See, I told you the crown prince was a rotten bastard."

"Wow... I really never thought he would be one..."

"Right but I told you, my poor sister. They told her she should be happy that she was still alive! Can you believe that?"

"Damn..."

"Well anyways, that soldier told me that the duke came and that it was only thanks to him that the whole situation got solved."

"Why did they even march there?"

"I was wondering the same thing."

"The crown prince wanted to frame duke Underwood for everything and let the tower and the duchy fight it all off."

"Oh shit! What a rotten bastard."

"I agree."

I was really happy about this conversation on how it was going on. Normally people wouldn't believe me till I would start to leak some information about the crown prince's behavior and why there was such a demand for new servants. It made sense and after I would drop that bomb, people usually started believing me. Well it was easy to start a rumor and sooner or later people would for sure see the duchy in a different light. I was positive about that.

"Say what is such a young lad like you doing here?"

"I am helping the mysterious doctor."

"He is here?"

"Mh! He is resting in his room right now and will be wandering around tomorrow."

"What great news! Maybe he can heal my sister's scar!"

"We should spread the news about his arrival."

"Please don't."

"Huh, why not?"

"We just arrived and are pretty tired. I would like to give him at least one day's rest."

"What a cute girl caring about others.... I wish my daughter would be like you."

These two guys were really nice and although it was true that I was here to be the wandering doctor, I had a completely different goal in mind. First of all, I needed some rumors about a mysterious all curing doctor and then if the truth would come out that it would be me, I could be displayed as a saint. Well that would be the first case. The best one was me getting some more experience as the wandering doctor and then abandoning that one identity of mine.

"So how is it traveling around?"

"I've been traveling for the past 6 month and it is really nice."

"Six months?!"

"Mh!"

"So you've been picked up by the doctor?"

"Where he is, I'll be there as well."

"We were worried the old guy must be very lonely traveling around."

"You were?"

"Everyone is! Didn't you know about that?"

"No..."

"He helped soo many people and got people who believed that they could only die back to live. So of course people start to worry."

"I didn't know that. I know about the miracle hence the name mysterious doctor but not how people felt about him."

Well not as if he exists but I am kinda really happy that they think like that about me.

It was kinda nice sitting here and talking with these guys about everything. We first started talking about the rumors about the attack in the magic tower, got to the mysterious doctor and even talked about the crown without any kind of worries. One thing was for sure, the king was angry about the loss of the crown prince that there was a lot going on. However the civilians in this kingdom were also not happy what happened due to the rumors I was spreading. It was a precaution that I took.

Besides I kinda owed it to the duke. He was not that bad and yes he was scary but I also kinda knew that he came to the magic tower when I left. It was something about a couple minutes after I left that the old duke, my grandfather, came personally without any kind of escorts to bring me back home. It only showed me that he cared for his family and was only that strict because he had to be strict. He just wanted the best for his family after all and this was survival of the fittest with all the assassins and the hate around them. There was just no other way and I knew that much. I also understood that fact but I felt sorry for the kids who grew up like this and needed to hide their emotions and everything so as not to give anyone any kind of weakness at all and if they did then they had to be strong to be able to overcome any kind of hardship.

"Come to think about it... what type of person is the duke? I only heard very weird things about him."

"Same here."

"I heard a bit. Well mostly about their strength and all but they do take care of their people quite well."

"Oh really?"

"Mh the doctor is from that reagan."

"NO WAY!"

"It's true tho..."

"You don't say."

"Well he told me that."

"Guess you can't believe everything you hear."

"True but don't you think that the duke has to seem cold since the crown spread such nasty rumors and everything?"

"Ah right... the crown princes wanted to blame them after all."

"No, from what I know they hate each other for much much longer. My sister told me that a maid once said the duke's family name but was immediately executed for that. Another one had their tongue removed."

"You're joking, right?"

"I would never joke with that and you should know that my friend!"

"Sheeeshh"

After this we continued to talk about the duke and the more I was talking about the man the more I felt as if I was changing people's minds. These people were quite open but no matter where and when, people were skeptical about the duchy and their people. However the moment they hear about the mysterious being for the same reason they immediately change their minds. I don't know how many patients I healed so far but it is quite an astonishing amount and if they start talking and spreading positive rumors then that is a new beginning for this empire.

It was for sure a small start after all.

Bit by bit but it was helping out in the long run. I just had to be patient.