I Said It Can Be Removed
A day had passed since arriving in this isekai world. By the local calendar, it was July 9th, a Saturday, in the year of Ailene. I had come out with the little dragon to scout the Dungeon Zone where we were located. Market research was essential before launching my full-scale treatment business—no, my healing enterprise.
"Dragon... do you have to cling like that?"
"Th-there are too many people! What if someone tries to hurt me?!"
"..."
Unlike the perky attitude from yesterday, the dragon had turned into a trembling puppy the moment we stepped outside the hospital, plastering itself to my right shoulder. It weighed nothing, but the constant vibrations and the stares from passersby—making me feel like some pop artist—were getting on my nerves.
Well... everyone's outfits are flashy anyway, so maybe they won't care?
After twenty minutes walking along a forest path from the hospital, a scene straight out of medieval Europe unfolded: roads paved with small stones, flanked by one- or two-story shops, and people in all sorts of bizarre clothes that added a fresh touch of novelty.
I had a hunch... but Jeff and Ollie weren't the average here.
Were all populated places in isekai worlds the same? They all looked like ordinary Westerners.
Amid the parade of odd sights, one thing seized my attention: the shop drawing a buzzing crowd.
"Low-grade potions! Mid-grade potions in stock! Grab 'em before they sell out!"
Jeff and Ollie had told me potions were essential for adventurers heading into the dungeon like them, but far more people were just gawking than actually buying.
A drug that heals instantly? These medieval barbarians. Can't they see it's a scam?
As a doctor, it sounded utterly ridiculous. But seeing the shop selling them up close piqued my curiosity irresistibly.
"Dragon, if you don't want to get lost, hold on tight. I'll leave you behind if you slip."
"Okay! Don't let go of me!"
With the dragon clutching my nape suffocatingly tight, I pushed through the crowd into the potion shop.
"What'll it be? Low-grade stamina potions, low-grade mana potions, mid-grade stamina potions, mid-grade mana poootions! All fresh off the line today!"
As I approached the stall lined with glass bottles of red and blue liquids, a skinny middle-aged shopkeeper flashed a yellow-toothed grin before I could even ask.
"What's the difference between low-grade and mid-grade?"
"...?"
My simple question drew every eye in the place. They all froze, staring as if on cue.
Then...
"Krahahaha! Village bumpkin alert!"
"East Continent types are all like this!"
"First time in the Dungeon Zone? Go easy on him!"
"Hey, don't you even know the difference between stamina and mana potions?"
"Tsk, what's that smell? Village stink? Krahaha!"
"Quit screwing around and beat it, newbie!"
What the hell?
They mocked me in perfect unison, like their nerves were linked. Stunned by my first taste of this, I stood there dumbfounded.
"Miner hyung?"
"Big bro!"
"...?"
A cavernous bass rumble made the hairs on my neck stand up. Turning toward the voice calling my name, I saw two familiar hulks waving massive arms.
Jeff? Ollie?
As the giants approached, the mockers tensed, shooting sharp glares our way. It was only natural—they had faces that intimidated just by existing.
"Jeff, Ollie. What brings you here?"
Jeff leaned his huge, wicked mug close to my ear in surprise.
"First, let's move aside. Standing in front of a potion shop screaming 'noob adventurer' gets you nothing but grief."
"Ah... right."
I wasn't an adventurer, just a doctor. But sticking around would've made me a punching bag, so I let their beefy hands drag me to the next shop over.
"What about you, hyung? And what's with the hatchling? Snack?"
"Eek!"
At Jeff's habitual white-eyed glare, the dragon scurried behind my neck, hiding completely.
"Aw, come on, boss! It's a pet, right? No leash, though?"
Ollie shoved his equally menacing face toward my nape next. The dragon burrowed into my clothes, trembling harder.
"Just... a companion I live with. He's super skittish, so don't shove your faces in. He scares easy."
It sounded like I was defending the dragon, but really, their faces terrified me up close.
"Grahaha! Haven't seen a hatchling in ages. Thought it was cute, that's all."
"Boss, why're you drooling?"
"Eh? Was I? Grahahaha!"
Unable to stand the ticklish fur digging into my back, I fished the dragon out, cradling it like a baby, and continued.
"Anyway, what are you two doing here? Shopping?"
"Yeah. Was supposed to hit the dungeon today, but with Ollie still like this, nothing to do but browse. But hyung!"
"Yeah?"
No matter how I looked, his mug didn't scream casual speech.
"You really don't know potion differences?"
"Nope. No such thing where I'm from. Don't tell me..."
Recalling webnovels I'd read, I asked,
"Stamina potions restore stamina, mana potions restore mana... right?"
"Whoa, you do know?"
"Heh, mana potions yes, but stamina potions are a bit different."
"...?"
As Jeff chimed in, a young woman's voice came from inside the shabby shop ahead.
"I'm Cache from the general store. Couldn't help overhearing your chat out front."
A woman with citrus-orange hair and a face full of freckles beamed as she joined us.
"Mana potions refill your body's depleted mana—magic power, basically. But stamina potions don't restore stamina directly; they boost recovery rate."
"Recovery... rate?"
I tilted my head, and Cache smiled sweetly.
"Exactly. More precisely, they speed up healing. Take Ollie's arm wound: low-grade takes an hour, mid-grade a minute, high-grade heals instantly. Scars remain regardless, though."
She called Ollie casually, so they knew each other. But that wasn't the point now. This was huge.
Wounds heal that fast? Does that even make sense?
Befuddled, I couldn't hide my shock. Cache continued with her freckled smile.
"You know healing magic from mages or priests? Think of stamina potions the same way. They accelerate recovery, like artificially speeding up the wound site."
—I can do healing magic too!
The white furball in my arms proudly stuck out its belly telepathically, but I just patted its head dismissively. Not the time for potion tangents.
"I'm from out of town, so I didn't know. Does healing magic or stamina potions fix any wound?"
"Heh, no. Even high-grade can't save massive blood loss victims, from what I've heard. Never seen it myself."
Speeds recovery but can't handle heavy bleeding... no blood regeneration?
"Sorry, got carried away. Hot day—fresh goat milk?"
Oh ho, smooth. Explanation into seamless sales pitch.
Her shabby clothes and shop belied solid business savvy.
"One, please. How much?"
"Bottles only. 3 copper each."
"One bot—"
"Here."
Before I finished, Cache tore the cloth seal off a glass bottle of milk and handed it over—like no refunds.
"...Thanks."
I gave her a silver; she returned 7 copper smoothly, like a pro.
"Dragon, drink this."
"Whoa! Thanks, Miner!"
No processing on the raw milk, freshness dubious—I passed it to the dragon. It wagged its tail wildly, gulping it down eagerly.
"Grahaha! Miner hyung likes Cache too, huh? She's sweet to out-of-towners like us."
"Boss is right. Nothing to buy here, but we end up chatting anyway."
"Aw, you adventurers are the sweet ones."
Even potentially grating words from Jeff and Ollie got a laugh from Cache. I activated my micro-expressions read.
Not bad?
People chalk my success to brains and looks, but there's a hidden edge: micro-expressions. Spotting fleeting 1/25-second facial cues reveals lies or thoughts. Top salespeople master it.
Cache's mouth smiled wide, but her eyes were forced—pure sales grin.
Love the name, love the moves even more.
Unlike my Earth right-hand, Manager Lee, but I adore anyone who sniffs profit. Time for a test.
"Thanks. You made settling in easy, Cache."
"No problem. Pop by anytime, even if just curious—no purchase needed."
"Will do. And this is a little thank-you gift."
I pulled samples from both pockets—items prepped for potential sales demos.
Handy now.
"Eh... a gift?"
Her eyes went wide like a rabbit's—perfect, genuine-seeming reaction, delighting the viewer.
This one's a gem.
She couldn't know what they were from my vague pitch, yet she bounced like a kid getting her first present.
Train her right, she'll be useful.
Passed round one: situational judgment. On to round two. Humans adapt; in this world, build my team fast.
"Tricky to use or need more? Come to my hospital. Not for sale elsewhere."
"H-hospital?"
"Hospital" blanched her confident face.
"Just so you know, we don't do amputations. We handle beauty treatments—like removing your freckles, Cache."
"...Pardon? What did you say?"
Hook, line, and sinker.
"I said it can be removed."