A Hospital in Another World?

A Hospital in Another World?

Despite experiencing something indescribable, Garrett was very happy. Feeling the contractions was a good thing—it meant that the mother could sense her own condition;

Feeling the contractions meant that the mother could coordinate with the contractions of the uterus, actively pushing the baby downward;

Feeling the contractions also meant that the *Alleviate Pain: Epidural Version* could be used for childbirth pain relief, and technically, it was possible!

And it was cheap! This was an apprentice-level spell! Even beginners in spellcasting, once they mastered the method, could perform it!

The next morning, Garrett gathered all the spellcasters from the Oak Grove Clinic and the Love Baby Medical Center. With great spirit, he pulled out a stack of scrolls and slammed them down in front of them:

"Starting now! All spellcasters! Learn this spell together!"

Unified learning, unified assessment, pass the exam, and get down to the wards to cast childbirth pain relief magic on patients!

The spellcasters learned with great enthusiasm.

This spell was wonderful, an art that does not burden the bearer, pain-relief magic, always handy. Once learned, it could be used not only in childbirth care but also for leg and abdominal surgeries.

If all else fails, one could use it to relieve pain during their own adventures—

Learn!

Study hard!

Study desperately!

Learn one, it's one gained!

"Ah, do we need to learn it too?"

A necromancer in the back row raised his hand shakily. Before Garrett could respond, Leon Carlos turned his head and raised his voice:

"Of course, you must learn! It's free for you to learn, why ask more questions? Have you used up all your spells at work every day? If not, follow down to the wards and cast spells on patients!"

"I'll add something," Garrett said with a grin:

"Colleagues from the Black Crow Swamp, when you come up front, remember to bathe, change clothes, and scrub your hands, follow the aseptic procedure rules. Anyone who scares my patients or contaminates the ward will be fined~~~"

"Yes, Lord Nordmark!"

The necromancers answered in unison.

As the spellcasters progressed in their learning, the magical version of pain-free childbirth also gradually rolled out. When 2nd level Mage Clarece O'Connell arrived at the Oak Grove Clinic with her family, she received this good news:

"Can it be cheaper? It doesn't have to cost 2000 gold coins? Can I give birth without pain?"

"Yes!" Garrett nodded with a smile:

"We've found a way to pain-free childbirth. Of course, it's not completely painless, because the spellcasters need to take turns on duty, and the duration of one casting is about 2 to 5-6 hours. After the spell wears off, it needs to be reapplied, there's always a gap..."

The couple nodded understandingly. A childbirth can last a day and a night or more; no spellcaster can withstand casting for such a long duration—lack of sleep means no spell slots. Taking turns was necessary and mandatory.

"Considering the different durations, you might feel pain about seven or eight times at most, each lasting only a few minutes—"

A few minutes, that is the time it takes for a spellcaster to be notified and rush into the delivery room.

He gestured, and a skeleton nurse in a leather coat stepped forward, handing over a new fee schedule:

"Cast by an intermediate spellcaster, childbirth pain relief costs 500 gold coins. According to the agreement with the council, you only need to pay 250 gold coins."

Hmm, this point must be quickly negotiated with the council to be added to the agreement, but it should be acceptable to them as it saves money:

"If you really can't give birth and must switch to a cesarean section, the cost will be additionally charged. However, according to our current statistics, less than 10 out of 100 need a cesarean section—"

"emmmm…"

Clarece lowered her head in contemplation. If after laboring for half a day, she still couldn't give birth naturally and had to switch to a cesarean section, wouldn't those 250 gold coins just be thrown away?

She was torn between the risks and benefits of spending the money, unable to make up her mind immediately. Meanwhile, her husband, already greatly moved, nudged her arm continuously, making urgent eye signals:

250 gold coins is great!

That's so much less!

Magicians have a relatively rich income, but their expenses are also high. He himself is a 3rd level mage, his wife is a 2nd level mage, and saving 1000 gold coins had been the result of scrimping and saving over the two years of their marriage.

Although opting for

a cesarean section for his wife's safety and health was a gritted choice, paying that money would immediately deplete their savings by a large margin...

If they could just pay 250 gold coins, then after childbirth, his wife could have better recovery conditions, having money in hand, not panicking!

It's just about enduring pain for seven or eight minutes! And it's intermittent!

"Alright, then we choose pain-free childbirth! Mage, please!"

Finally, Clarece made up her mind, looked up in response. After speaking, she pressed one hand on the table and supported her waist with the other, struggling to stand up. Garrett personally escorted the couple into the delivery room, helping her lie down on her side, and activated *Detect Magic*—

One, two, three, four, five, six. The sixth thoracic vertebra was located, fingertips rested near the spine on her back, *Alleviate Pain: Epidural*, activated!

Clarece gasped on the bed. Her husband immediately bent down, tightly grasping her right hand, fingers pressing deep dimples on the back of her hand:

"What's wrong? What's wrong?"

"Hey, it really doesn't hurt anymore!"

"If it doesn't hurt, then give birth well." Garrett smiled at them briefly, quickly scribbling a few strokes in the bedside book, recording the casting time:

"It's now 9:35 AM. I'm a 6th level mage, my casting duration is 6 hours, remember to call the midwife at 3:30 PM to notify the spellcaster to come and recast—"

"Absolutely! We will!"

The husband thanked him profusely as he followed him out to pay. 250 gold coins, such a bargain!

Completely within their financial means!

Having a home birth, hiring a midwife, and calling in a divine caster just in case, the home visit alone would cost 10 gold coins! If healing was needed, casting *Cure Light Wounds* would cost 50 gold coins!

Clarece stayed at the Oak Grove Clinic for three days under the care of pain-free childbirth magic, safely delivering a baby. Bringing the baby home immediately caused a sensation among their circle of friends and relatives:

"What? Only 250 gold coins?"

"Not 1000 gold coins, just 250?"

"We can afford 250 too! A 1st level mage, earning over a hundred gold coins a year, save for two years, and avoid suffering during childbirth—it's totally worth it!"

The Pareto principle is particularly apparent among mages. Over 80% of mages are low-level, never reaching 5th level.

For them, especially for young mages, pulling out 1000 gold coins is a bit hard, but 250 gold coins, that's much more manageable. Besides mages, even rich merchants, minor nobility, and wealthy farmers followed suit:

"It's just 500 gold coins! I can afford that! I want to give birth at Oak Grove Clinic! Staying in the corridor is fine too!"