The Genius Nurse and the Black Plague
East Forest, Audience Chamber of the Castle of Illusions.
A strange, peaceful silence hung over this place that had been filled with screams and madness for 300 years. Morning sunlight filtered through the shards of broken mirrors—not the red light of the Abyss, but light purified by magic.
The Illusion King, who had been sleeping like the dead on the latex mattress, slowly fluttered his eyelids.
“Mmm...”
He opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a man sitting by his bedside, peeling an apple. A white-coated, arrogant human doctor—Kang Jinhyeok.
“Awake? Good morning.”
Jinhyeok held out a rabbit-shaped apple slice. The Illusion King blankly took it. His mind was clear. The horrific nightmares that assaulted him when he closed his eyes, the whispers of specters circling his ears—they were gone. His body felt as light as a feather.
“Did I... actually sleep?”
The Illusion King's voice trembled.
“Yeah. A solid 15 hours. You were snoring so loud I thought the castle would collapse.”
“15 hours...”
The Illusion King looked down at his hands. The fingertips that had always trembled were now steady. His bloodshot eyes, which had seemed ready to bulge out, had calmed. A deep sleep after 300 years. To a demon king, it was a blessing more precious than victory in a conquest war.
“A miracle... This is a miracle.”
The Illusion King sprang up from his seat and grabbed Jinhyeok's hand.
“You saved me! You freed me from this damnable curse!”
“Not a curse—insomnia, like I said. Fix the sleep pattern, and it's fully curable.”
Jinhyeok replied flatly and handed over the bill.
“Save the impression for later. Time for discharge procedures.”
“Discharge?”
“Treatment fees. Nothing's free in this world.”
[Treatment Bill]
1. Psychological counseling and sleep anesthesia procedure: 1 Essence of Illusion.
2. Medication fees (including skin ointment): Exclusive medical rights in Arcana Hospital for the eastern region.
3. House call fee: Free passage rights in the East Forest.
The Illusion King scanned the bill.
[Essence of Illusion].
It was a part of his heart, a crystallized essence of his power as a demon king.
A normal demon king would have exploded in refusal at such demands.
After all, it meant giving away his own power.
But the Illusion King didn't hesitate for a second.
“That's all?”
“Pardon?”
“You gave me peace after 300 years, and you're settling for just one essence?”
The Illusion King plunged his hand into his chest.
Woooong—.
Purple light rippled, and a fist-sized [glowing gem] emerged from his chest.
An SSS-grade material radiating a mystical, iridescent aura.
“Take it. It's a part of my soul.”
Jinhyeok took the essence, stunned.
It was heavy.
The first part to replace his wife Yoo Isu's heart was now in his hands.
◈ Mana core containing the Illusion King's power. Ignores dimensional interference.
“And medical exclusivity? Granted. From today, all magical beasts and elves in the East Forest are your potential patients.”
With a wave of his hand, a magical contract appeared in the air and was stamped.
Thus, Jinhyeok became the 'official designated hospital' for the eastern region.
“Thank you. We'll handle after-service perfectly. Call if you need refills.”
Jinhyeok carefully stowed the essence in his bag. The watching S-rank hunters applauded.
Lee Shinwoo whispered to Jinhyeok.
“Whoa... squeezing a demon king like that.”
“Squeezing? It's fair pay for labor.”
On the way out of the castle after the checkup.
Legion Commander Kaila and the dark elves saw off Jinhyeok's group.
They now revered Jinhyeok like a god.
The benefactor who cured their itching.
“Director, come back anytime! We'll prepare the finest wine!”
“We've prepared a black panther palanquin for a comfortable journey!”
Extravagant hospitality. Jinhyeok waved from the black panther palanquin.
But a commotion arose from the corner of the castle gate.
“You filthy mutt! How dare you touch with your dirty hands!”
“S-sorry! I just... your wound looked bad...”
Smack!
A brutal impact echoed with a small cry.
Jinhyeok's brow furrowed.
“Hold up.”
He stopped the palanquin and walked toward the noise. It was by the castle wall, next to the trash heap.
Two dark elf soldiers in ornate armor were kicking a small girl on the ground.
The girl wore ragged rags, but her appearance was unique.
One red eye, one blue—heterochromia.
A small horn protruded from her head, and tattered bat wings from her back. A half-dark elf, half-succubus mix.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Jinhyeok's voice cut cold.
The soldiers startled and turned. Seeing their savior Jinhyeok, they bowed in panic.
“D-Director! It's nothing. Just disciplining this lowly mutt for touching a regular elf soldier.”
“Touching?”
Jinhyeok's gaze went to the girl on the ground.
In her hand was a crushed [bundle of herbs].
And on the soldier's leg was a training wound.
“She was trying to treat you, right?”
“Treat? Getting healed by a mutt's filthy mana would rot the flesh! Bad luck!”
The soldier spat on the girl.
The demon world was a strict class society and pureblood supremacist.
Mixed breeds were treated worse than slaves.
The girl huddled, trembling.
“Sorry... sorry... I just... there was so much blood...”
Jinhyeok sighed and crouched in front of her. His eyes glowed with the Eyes of God.
Hoo.
Jinhyeok's eyes sharpened.
Genius compounding?
He picked up the crushed herbs in her hand.
[Hemostatic Herb] and [Paralysis Antidote Grass] mixed precisely 7:3.
Not just stopping bleeding, but the golden ratio for pain relief too.
You couldn't know that without training—or innate talent.
“You make this?”
Jinhyeok asked.
The girl, Luna, nodded with terrified eyes.
“Y-yes... don't hit me...”
“Who said anything about hitting?”
Jinhyeok slapped the herb onto the soldier's leg wound.
“Agh! What are you doing, Director! Why put that filth on!”
The soldier screamed. But after 3 seconds.
“Huh...?”
The bleeding stopped, and the throbbing pain vanished. As effective as hospital ointment.
“See? The herb's innocent. Your discriminatory eyes are the rotten ones.”
Jinhyeok smacked the back of the soldier's head.
“S-sorry!”
The soldier fled under the S-rank hunters' murderous glares.
Jinhyeok extended a hand to Luna.
“Get up.”
Luna stared blankly at his hand.
No one had ever offered her a hand since birth.
She carefully placed her dirty hand on his white coat.
“What's your name?”
“...Luna.”
“Herbs—where'd you learn?”
“Overheard... and tried on sick forest animals.”
Clinical trials too. Jinhyeok smiled satisfied.
The hospital needed hands now.
Ma Dongtak was all brawn, no herb knowledge; Lee Shinwoo was germaphobic; Seo Jihu whined about cold.
They desperately needed proper [nursing staff].
Plus, a local guide was icing on the cake.
“Wanna come with me?”
“P-pardon? Where...”
“Hospital. Food, clothes, salary. Work's tough, though. I'm a bit of a bastard.”
Luna's eyes widened.
Food? Clothes? Salary?
Privileges for nobles.
A human offering that to a mutt like her.
“R-really? Can you take someone like me? I'm a mutt...”
“Mutt's fine. Mixed breeds are smarter and tougher.”
Jinhyeok pulled her up and called Legion Commander Kaila.
“Commander. I'm taking this kid. Body price covered by the earlier treatment fees.”
“Her? Hm... if the Director wants.”
Kaila was reluctant but couldn't refuse Jinhyeok's firm gaze.
Jinhyeok draped his spare coat over Luna.
Too big for her, dragging like a coat, but that white garment was her new ID.
“Introduce yourself. You're my No. 1 nurse assistant from today.”
“Th-thank you! Master!”
“Not master. Director.”
“Yes! Director! I'll work my life for you!”
Luna bowed 90 degrees, tears flowing. Jinhyeok chuckled and mounted Balakas.
“Let's go. Team Leader Yoo's waiting.”
[Arcana Hospital - Abyss Branch]
“Back?”
Yoo Isu wheeled out in her wheelchair—space magic chair lifted by Lee Shinwoo—to greet them.
“Yeah. We're back.”
Jinhyeok pulled out the [Essence of Illusion] from his bag.
A iridescent purple-glowing gem.
“That's... a demon king's heart?”
Yoo Isu stared in surprise.
“Yep. One down. Three to go.”
Jinhyeok stored the essence in the hospital basement vault.
Then introduced Luna hiding behind.
“Say hi. New hire starting today.”
“H-hello...”
Luna bowed nervously from the navel.
Yoo Isu stared, then chuckled.
“Cute. Horns too.”
“I-I'm a mutt...”
“Mutt or not, eaten?”
Yoo Isu's warm words melted Luna's tension. She shook her head, teary.
“Ma Dongtak! Food! Newbie welcome party!”
Jinhyeok yelled.
That evening's menu: [pork belly party].
Amid sizzling meat smells, Luna felt 'fullness' and 'belonging' for the first time.
The quirky doctor in white, the wheelchair warrior woman, scary S-rank hunter uncles.
Odd combo, but the perfect family to Luna.
Peaceful days continued a few days. Luna adapted fast.
She knew every Abyss herb and poison grass, magical beast habits.
Jinhyeok asked 'What's this grass?'—'Poison. Causes diarrhea.' Instant answer.
Treatment efficiency up 200%.
But calm before the storm doesn't last.
One afternoon, the northern wind's scent changed. Fishy, sticky, nauseating.
“Cough! Cough!”
Hyenas playing in the hospital yard suddenly coughed and collapsed. Not a cold. Black foam from mouths, red blisters on skin.
“Director! Patients!”
Luna shouted urgently.
Jinhyeok rushed out. His eyes hardened examining the hyena.
Eyes of God status window.
Disease: Black Death - Variant
Cause: Artificial dispersal.
“Contagion.”
Jinhyeok adjusted his mask.
“Not natural. Someone spread poison.”
Jinhyeok's gaze turned north.
Black thunderclouds gathered toward the hospital.
The sign of the northern ruler. Demon king of disease and death, the [Plague King].
“Daring to spray viruses in my turf?”
Jinhyeok shed his coat, pulled out hazmat suit.
“Emergency declared. All gear up for quarantine.”
“Going to fight?”
Ma Dongtak grabbed his axe.
“Nah.”
Jinhyeok shouldered a massive disinfectant tank.
“Quarantine run. Disinfectant beats germs.”
Second demon king raid.
This time, [germ warfare].