Another Letter Has Arrived!
Initiium Imperial Palace, audience chamber.
A man strode confidently into the room.
"I see the great sun of Initiium."
"Guard Captain, what brings you here at this hour?"
"An urgent letter has arrived from the Squinoa Mountains."
"Read it."
At the emperor's command, the Guard Captain didn't recite the contents right away. Instead, he glanced around the room.
"This is a matter of grave importance."
"Everyone, leave us."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Once everyone but the emperor had cleared the audience chamber, the Guard Captain handed over the letter with a heavy expression.
"Surgeries on subhuman children have been discovered. The knights' morale has plummeted, and there's uproar among the mages. We should end this war here."
"Hmm..."
The emperor propped his chin on one hand, deep in thought at the Guard Captain's words.
"The mage behind it wasn't exposed, was he?"
"No, Your Majesty. But further experiments... will be difficult."
"It's about time to wrap it up anyway. We've gathered enough subhumans as test subjects by now. However... the problem resolved itself far too quickly."
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
The emperor's face hardened as the bowing Guard Captain spoke.
"Who uncovered this? The Tower of Truth again?"
"Yes. But we believe the Beauty Tower is behind it."
"Beauty Tower?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. A magic tower located next to Frederik Dungeon Zone."
"Frederik Dungeon Zone... That borderland in the West Continent?"
The emperor's tone urged further explanation, and the Guard Captain continued.
"It's famous for the Wind Tower."
"I've heard of the Wind Tower. The magic tower with the fastest blade in the West Continent, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor stroked his chin beard with interest at the Guard Captain's confirmation.
"Not the Wind Tower, but the Beauty Tower... Why do you suspect them?"
"A plague swept through the warzone."
"A plague? Why wasn't I informed?"
"My apologies, Your Majesty. There were almost no deaths from it, and it vanished soon after, so I only learned of it belatedly."
"It vanished immediately? Then was it really a plague?"
The emperor tilted his head, still puzzled.
"If I may be so bold, Your Majesty, it caused vomiting and diarrhea leading to severe dehydration. Word is that the Tower of Truth's tower master developed the cure."
"I've heard about the Tower of Truth. He stepped in and created a new treatment that avoids amputation, even for cases requiring it."
"Precisely, Your Majesty. But upon closer inspection, it turns out the Tower of Truth's tower master learned that new method from the Beauty Tower's tower master."
"Hmm..."
The emperor stroked his chin beard, lost in thought. The plague ended as soon as it appeared, and amputation surgeries—once deemed essential on the battlefield—dropped sharply, yet survival rates rose. With no knowledge of medicine, he couldn't make sense of it.
"The Beauty Tower's tower master is a suspicious figure in many ways."
"How so?"
"This man from the East Continent built a magic tower in Frederik Dungeon Zone and now holds his own domain called Gold Territory with his tower in it. Most notably, all this happened in less than a year since he appeared."
A glint appeared in the emperor's eyes at the Guard Captain's words.
"From the East Continent, you say?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. His appearance is that of a perfect East Continent native, but his clothing and behavior show no ties to anywhere there. The strangest rumor, though, is that this tower master has no mana."
"No mana, yet he heals?"
The emperor's surprised retort prompted the Guard Captain to continue without pause.
"What is certain is that he wields extraordinary medicine unlike any conventional treatment. Therefore—"
"We must bring him here before the Sky Tower takes notice."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A brief silence passed between the emperor and the Guard Captain.
"I command you, Guard Captain: Investigate the Beauty Tower's tower master thoroughly and report back."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
After finishing Orc warrior Hoknuk's surgery and sending him back to the Squinoa Mountains, Tower of Truth master Mac Dollar had publicized the subhuman child abductions.
Having one well-connected guy really pays off, huh?
Mac and I were both called tower masters, but while I couldn't use a scrap of mana as a pure muggle, Mac was an elite who'd walked the mage course. His declaration before the gathered tower masters sparked a wildfire of demands to investigate the chimera incident that ignited this war, crushing frontline knights' morale. And five days ago, the Initiium Empire announced a ceasefire with the subhuman alliance via imperial decree—promising a thorough probe to clear the Empire's name.
"Home! We're going home!"
"Sniff, can't believe we're finally heading back. I'd rather get blood drawn at the Beauty Tower every day than roll in the warzone."
"You barely did anything, yet you talk the most."
"Shut it, runt!"
"Everyone, quiet down. The Beauty Tower's almost here."
"Ugh... Yes, Director."
"Understood."
Today was June 30th by the Ailene calendar. After two days of flight away from the medieval barbarians' warzone, we'd finally reached my hospital.
Shwaaaa!
Kuwhaaaang!
A blast of fierce wind erupted from beneath the sky turtle's shell as the carriage touched down. The door flew open, and Res leaped straight into Cache's arms.
"Cacheee!"
"Oh my, Res! Did you stay safe? Director! Everyone's okay, right?"
"Big bro!"
"Maener bro!"
Seeing Cache, Jeff, Ollie, and the half-elf family welcoming us back stirred an unexpected swell of emotion.
They've all been through hell wordlessly, so now they can rest—
"Director, a message from the territory office. They said come right away when you arrive."
"...Right away?"
"Yes, you need to arrive during business hours for the tax exemption and compensation payout—"
"Five minutes left! Why tell me now?!"
"Sorry, Director, I just got the message myself."
"...?"
Following Cache's nod, I spotted a territory office uniform on the circulating dungeon zone carriage.
"Carriage! Walter! Magic carriage, prep— No, carry me and run! Someone cast speed magic on Walter! Hurry!"
"Yes!"
Current time: 5:55 PM. Their petty tricks really made it feel like home.
"Gwehheee!"
It took one minute to reach the territory office. But I couldn't stop them from feeding the pigeons.
"W-Woah, Director! You okay?"
"Guhh, the ticket... Snail ticket... Hurry...!"
Walter hauled me in like luggage, grabbed a number ticket, and handed it over. I barely made it to the counter before the door shut.
"Right on time."
And today, as always, I drew number 3 at exit 3. Seeing Rachel's familiar face—smirking slyly as she adjusted her glasses—ignited a volcano of rage inside me.
Ah, home sweet home.
Today was Friday, July 7th. Tomorrow marked exactly one year since arriving in this isekai world.
Time flies... Back then, I thought I'd die clawing my way out of debt.
With the war on ceasefire and Frederik Dungeon Zone reopened, the first floor's Cash Shop buzzed with customers.
"Come on, everyone! Summer's here! Cat clown lifting! Ulthera! Special summer prices!"
"Gimme a mana meter."
"Yesss, one moment please!"
"No more potion discounts?"
"Hohoho, not lately. But mileage accrual continues! It works at all potion shops in Frederik Dungeon Zone too!"
Cache bowed slightly to the man asking about potions while bustling with packaging.
"But you know Wind Tower doesn't do mileage, right? Compared to them, our Cash Shop's a total fairy."
"True, mileage alone makes you better."
"Ohoho, buy today and get an extra plum-scented soap!"
"Got plenty of soap. Lotion or sunscreen instead?"
"Oh, greedy! Those you pay for, hoho."
A week had passed since returning to the Beauty Tower, and everything was back to normal.
No, better than before. Must be the rest refreshing things.
Frederik Dungeon Zone had two magic towers, but that was still too few. In Seoul, hospitals were steps from your door. High demand, low supply always fattened my wallet.
But even a week after returning, I'd only handled morning clinics. The witches and Jo family—rolling in the dirt for nearly two months—had leveled up massively in medical knowledge and skill. Morning shifts covered my absence fine.
With Cash Shop booming, time to head for training?
And my morning-only schedule wasn't just to hand off to the witches and Jo folks. It was for the Tower of Truth in Helle Gar Territory! Before handing over the medical tools Kellogg was forging underground, they needed training on usage and precautions.
No matter how great modern tools are, a shit-filled doctor's head makes them worthless.
Anesthesia needles conquering surgical pain could become eternal sleep poison without proper mastery—not temporary rest.
So after lunch, I fired up the crystal orb for video calls, cramming all my medical knowledge into the Tower of Truth master via free crash-course one-on-one coaching.
Lucky Mac Dollar's a quick study.
Not a genius like the witches learning ten from one lesson, but he'd grasp five from one. Plus, he cherished learning from me, so classes flowed smooth.
Today, too, I headed for the elevator to stuff his brain with fresh knowledge—when,
"Director! Wait, Director!"
"What is it, Cache?"
As I reached for the elevator button, a breathless Cache caught up and handed me a letter.
"A letter... Another letter has arrived!"
"...?"
The griffin emblem stamped clearly on the seal. This didn't bode well.