Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The First Hurdle
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“What?”
“It's been a while since you and I have seen each other face-to-face, but you get what I'm saying, right? I have an incurable disease. Oh, and what a coincidence, so do you.”
“...”
My younger uncle seemed to chuckle, then swiftly lifted me up.
“This kid's the real deal.”
Then, holding me, he smiled. He sparkled like a young nobleman.
“We might be looking at a genius who'll become the best in this city, no... the country.”
“...My dear youngest brother, you're getting ahead of yourself.”
My eldest uncle seemed to frown for a moment before letting out a hollow laugh.
“All that sleeping has just made you better at bluffing.”
“What was that?”
Even as he said this, my eldest uncle stared at me intently.
“Hmm, Peep. According to my brother and my son... you know how to use your abilities, right? Are you planning on diagnosing me?”
“If you'll allow me.”
I nodded. As my eldest uncle suddenly approached, Heuk Birang stepped in front of me.
“Hey, don't shove your face so close. You already look ridiculously fierce. What if you scare the kid?”
“Oh? Is my youngest brother introducing himself?”
“What? The most handsome one has always been...”
“The second brother.”
They're both handsome... but my father is more handsome. Having seen my father's portrait, I had to agree.
“Then, Peep.”
Eldest Uncle asked, pushing Younger Uncle's face away.
“You seem much smarter than your age, and you understand the way things work around here.”
His red eyes were sharp, yet gentle.
“What is it you want from us?”
He's looking for a reason behind a three-year-old's actions. It seems he doesn't really see me as just three.
I smiled brightly.
“That's right. There's something I want... For now, I'd like you to grant me just one thing.”
I pointed toward the wall.
“Pwease take me to the apothecary mawket!”
Alright, now that I have future warriors on my side, it's time to become the greatest physician in the land!
*Or so I thought.*
“Hmm... about that, I'm afraid it will be difficult.”
My first plan shattered before it even began.
“My youngest brother and I. We can't be your guardians.”
* * *
Three days later.
A grassy field. I was grunting and groaning, trying to pull up a medicinal herb.
Calling it "pulling" was generous; it was more like I was hanging off the herb.
*‘Why is this body so light!’*
I strained so hard my face turned red as a beet, and beads of sweat formed on my brow.
I plopped down on the ground.
*‘Ugh, how am I ever going to get all this done?’*
I stared blankly at the herb I'd finally managed to uproot.
They say a rich family stays afloat for three years even after ruin. Our family is slowly declining under my grandmother's watch, but still.
This old estate, cultivated for over a hundred years, still had herb gardens scattered about. The abandoned eastern wing was no exception.
Of course, it was only decent for an abandoned area; it was by no means good.
I looked at the single ginseng root I'd managed to pull, dropped it on the ground with a thud, and lay down right there.
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
Even though no one was around, I threw a tantrum at the sky.
*‘Damn it, I need medicine to treat my uncles!’*
This was all because I couldn't go to the market!
Just over the wall is one of the top three apothecary markets in the empire!
There are so many ingredients I could gather there, but I can't leave, so here I am...
*‘Should I just sneak out by myself?’*
No, I can't. A three-year-old's body is too much of a hindrance at times like this. The outside world would be full of rough warriors.
As expected of a place that thrives on war, the people of the Western Continent are fundamentally coarse.
*‘At this rate, forget becoming the greatest physician in the land; I'll be lucky to even get noticed in this family.’*
There are so many reasons I need good medicinal herbs right now. To treat Eldest Uncle and Younger Uncle, and also...
“What's going on here?”
My younger uncle, striding toward me, came into my upside-down field of vision.
He looked bewildered.
“...Why are you on the ground, throwing a goddamn fit? Are you on drugs?”
“...You saw?”
I froze mid-struggle on the dirt ground.
When did he get here?
“I asked why you were acting like a maniac on the ground. You scared me.”
Such a potty mouth.
“I dunno. It's Uncle's fault.”
“What do you mean, you don't know? You just started freaking out. Are you a honeybee? Go crazy just because someone poked you?”
I retorted without budging.
“Then is Uncle a flower? 'Cause you can't live without me?”
“Well, look at you. Where did a little thing like you learn to talk like that, huh?”
“Owowowow, Bwother!”
This forest princess! You think you can do anything just because you're the heroine's dad? He keeps pinching my cheek.
Not to be outdone, I pinched Heuk Birang's cheek.
“Did you just pinch me? You pinched me?”
“Yeah! I pinched you!”
...How is this a conversation with an adult? Hey, let go already!
Just then, I saw Heuk Gyewon approaching in the distance and quickly let out a scream.
“Aigoo! Biyu is gonna die!!”
“What's this drama queen talking about?”
“What are you doing, Younger Uncle!”
“Huh?”
I quickly pretended to be in pain. In truth, it didn't hurt that much.
“Sob, sob, Biyu's cheek is gone now...”
My cousin scrunched up his handsome face and said.
“Honestly, how many times must I tell you? Biyu is only three years old! You slept all day yesterday, so I see you still haven't had enough.”
“Hey, wait a minute...? I'm being framed here.”
“Enough, sit down!”
“I don't want to!”
“What is there to be framed about? I didn't realize Younger Uncle was so ignorant of common sense. Shall we have a little chat while we're at it? An hour should be sufficient.”
“Why are you talking so fast...? And are you my teacher? Hey, you want me to waste my precious time on you—Ow, that stings! Whoa, did you just use lightning? You little fledgling?”
“Shall I go get my father?”
Overwhelmed by his aura, Heuk Birang hesitantly sat down. The fact that he was actually listening to him was hilarious.
Although that was probably because his older brother, Heuk Biwon, was behind Heuk Gyewon.
“This won't do. Let's move. We'll go to where my father is.”
I'd only been watching them for two days, but I'd figured one thing out.
Heuk Birang found his eldest brother awkward and avoided him.
“...Playing dirty, are we?”
I burst out laughing at the sight of my uncle's back as he grumbled but couldn't bring himself to smack his young nephew, trudging after him instead.
In my mind, I recalled the moment three days ago when I'd asked my eldest uncle to take me to the market.
*‘My youngest brother and I. We can't be your guardians.’*
*‘My youngest brother and I. We can't be your guardians.’*
It was like a bolt from the blue. Eldest Uncle's explanation went like this.
*‘My youngest brother and I have a history of snapping and hurting people.’*
*‘My youngest brother and I have a history of snapping and hurting people.’*
...Huh? Heuk Birang, too?
I glanced at my younger uncle then, and he was looking away with a disgruntled expression.
*‘We're also forbidden from going out.’*
*‘We're also forbidden from going out.’*
I don't remember this from the original story. Is it because this is before the novel began?
*‘Our bodies are marked with a tracking scent. The moment we step outside, we'll be captured and punished.’*
*‘Our bodies are marked with a tracking scent. The moment we step outside, we'll be captured and punished.’*
*‘Then what do we do...? Is there no way?’*
*‘Then what do we do...? Is there no way?’*
This can't be happening. I was looking forward to the market so much.
It's a crucial part of my plan!
*‘I'm still too young to go out alone!’*
*‘There is a way.’*
*‘There is a way.’*
Eldest Uncle subtly exchanged a look with Younger Uncle.
*‘Peep. In this eastern wing, there's only one patient who isn't forbidden from going out.’*
*‘Peep. In this eastern wing, there's only one patient who isn't forbidden from going out.’*
I had a feeling.
*‘And that's your father, Heuk Bihu.’*
*‘And that's your father, Heuk Bihu.’*
At that moment, I couldn't say a word.
To be honest, even if I couldn't go to the market right away, I had thought of other methods.
However, in my past lives, I'd never gone out at the age of three.
*‘First life, I lived like a slave. Second life, I did nothing but study. Third life, I ran away early on.’*
The children of the Heuk family find it difficult to go out alone before they turn fifteen, and must be accompanied by a guardian to leave the estate.
This was because the Heuk family produced many apothecaries and physicians with outstanding abilities, so there were factions that would kidnap the children.
Even if not for that, their unique appearances were considered valuable enough to be sold.
*‘Is there no other way...?’*
*‘Is there no other way...?’*
Seeing my speech become clipped, Eldest Uncle's eyes widened for a moment before he laughed heartily.
*‘Nope.’*
*‘Nope.’*
“...”
“...”
He had a mischievous look on his face.
*‘Ah, there is one thing. If your father transfers his guardianship rights to us, then maybe we can talk to the family... perhaps?’*
*‘Ah, there is one thing. If your father transfers his guardianship rights to us, then maybe we can talk to the family... perhaps?’*
*‘Eldest Brother probably won't be approved. His past is way too colorful. But I'd pass, kiddo.’*
*‘Eldest Brother probably won't be approved. His past is way too colorful. But I'd pass, kiddo.’*
In any case, it means I have to meet my father and negotiate, doesn't it?