Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: A Flash of Memory
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It was a ball of fur covered in something dark red. I could barely make out the ears and tail to determine that it was… a puppy.
“Wat kind of puppy has ears dis big…”
I thought it might be dead, but its fur was moving with very slow, shallow breaths. As if it would stop at any moment.
I rummaged through my bag, took out a handkerchief, and carefully scooped it up.
‘I’ve never picked up an animal before.’
In a previous life, I was caught working at the market to gain experience.
Back then, the other children of the house beat me and tossed me into an alley.
‘A back alley like this suits you. It's filthy and it stinks.’
‘A back alley like this suits you. It's filthy and it stinks.’
Its abandoned state reminded me of myself back then. I couldn’t just turn away from the puppy.
“It’s too diwty hewe, so I’ll wash you and tweat you.”
Not long after I returned, my father came back with a sullen expression.
“I believe I told you to wait. Where have you been wandering?”
I grinned and showed him what I was holding in my arms.
“Say hello. To our new fam'ly membew!”
“...First herbs, then your uncles, and now you plan to raise a wild animal?”
Wait, something strange was mixed in there. Why would I be raising my eldest uncle?!
There was no time to explain.
After buying the last of our things, he simply flew off.
But unlike when we set out, I felt a little dizzy.
‘This guy… I don't know why, but is he being mean on purpose?’
Why am I suddenly getting motion sickness!
* * *
As evening approached, a smattering of stars began to appear in the sky.
The eastern wing where my father and I lived was backed by a mountain.
The grounds were so overgrown with trees and weeds that it was embarrassing to call it a garden, so all sorts of animals were often seen.
‘If we leave it alone for a few more years, it could become a small forest.’
It would be a good place for the healthy puppy to run around.
‘I should train it to go bite Heuk Daewi’s butt.’
Currently, the things we bought today, a special iron cage, and finally, the puppy I’d picked up were all floating gently in the air.
My father’s ability seemed so convenient.
I let out a big yaaawn, thinking of Uncle Woondeok and Jeok Yunha.
‘If she eats it again, she might die.’
‘If she eats it again, she might die.’
The shocked faces of Jeok Yunha and Uncle Woondeok were still vivid in my mind.
Was what I said at the end true?
‘It is true. A 0.0000001% chance of dying is still a chance of dying, right?’
As long as I was around, the probability of death converged to zero. Nevertheless, the reason I said that was…
‘If I put it that way, they’ll definitely find the culprit.’
Jeok Yunha would fixate on this and hunt down the perpetrator and the cause.
She would have found them even if I had spoken normally.
But that woman is governed by the power of fire. It’s much better to give her a reason to get fired up and obsessed.
‘In any case, she won’t die this time.’
Uncle Woondeok would have no reason to hate the Heuk family, and Jeok Yunha wouldn’t bid me an eternal farewell.
…Something like her never accepting me in the end—that won’t happen in this life.
‘It’s a good start. Everything’s going smoothly.’
This was all because my father had gone out with me.
I smiled until my cheeks turned pink.
“Dady… thank you.”
For some reason, my father didn't answer, just stared at my face for a long time.
A very long time.
“...Dady?”
Startled, I tugged on the hem of his clothes.
He let himself be pulled, so I cupped his cheeks and turned his head this way and that.
It was a physician’s intuition.
His reaction was serious.
“Awe you okay? Youw bweath? Can you bweathe okay?”
“Ah.”
For a moment, the objects floating in the air faltered and swayed.
‘Just as I thought, he’s not well!’
We’re almost home…!
I told you to eat properly!
We’ll be home soon, so I should make him a recovery potion…
Just as I thought that, my father staggered. The heaving of his chest was alarming.
“Dady!”
The staggering stopped.
“...I’m fine. Just a little dizzy…”
“What do you mean, a little! Youw face is pale as a sheet!”
“Is it not normally white?”
“Dis is no time fow jokes!”
*Phhht.* With the sound of escaping air, a large hand came to rest on my head.
“To make a physician worry… I’m a disgrace as a warrior.”
“How can you say that now…”
“I remembered something.”
I froze. What did he just…
“It was just a little… a little surprising and moving.”
“...Wha? What did you wemembew?”
“I think I’ve seen you from afar before.”
“...”
“But why did I turn away? The reason… Ugh.”
My father stumbled but didn’t drop me. Instead, our belongings were falling to the ground.
‘The pain is so great he can’t focus on controlling his power.’
My expression grew serious.
“Seeing that affectionate father and son today… it made me think.”
His gaze was losing focus.
I could see signs of a seizure or fainting spell. I had to prepare for the symptoms that would follow.
My outstretched hand was blocked. My father wore a desperate expression.
“Dady, let go. Dis…”
“I should have apologized to you first, shouldn’t I?”
His words stopped me in my tracks.
‘No, this man is not in his right mind.’
I was tempted, but I steeled myself. I am a physician.
‘Don’t waver.’
We can talk later.
“Okay, we can talk at home. Fiwst, put Biyu down.”
“You must have resented me. You must have been lonely, growing up alone.”
His voice, unusually warm, made my breath catch in spite of myself.
‘Don’t waver, Heuk Biyu. You are a physician.’
This isn’t good. I need to at least perform a diagnosis…
But that was only possible if my father let me go. I just squirmed, unable to break free.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“I’ll be the judge of dat!”
I scanned our surroundings. There was still some distance to go.
Could I get down and bring back my eldest or youngest uncle? I need to get help…
‘What if he collapses while I’m gone?’
“I thought about your name.”
Suddenly? Perhaps the treatment that helped him recover his memories this much had caused a problem.
‘I was too greedy. Anything sudden is bound to cause trouble!’
Even medicine, when overused, can worsen an illness.
To think a physician would make such a basic mistake…!
While I was fretting, my father lowered his head and hugged me lightly.
“Heuk Biyu. I think it’s a good name. Well-chosen.”
I needed to move, but I couldn’t do a thing.
‘…I’m so happy.’
‘…I’m so happy.’
It sounded similar to the gentle voice from my memory, the one that made me wonder if it was a different person.
“How is it that every time I recall a memory, I’m smiling like an idiot…”
That was my downfall.
“Dad!!”
My father fell to his knees, somehow managing not to drop me.
He clutched his face with one hand, his breath coming in harsh, ragged gasps.
He had a high fever. He was drenched in sweat.
‘A side effect has kicked in.’
If only I could use my diagnostic ability. But I couldn’t reach my water bottle.
‘Dad, I’m sorry!’
I pinched his hand hard. I really had to run and get my eldest uncle.
Or just let me go so I can open the water bottle, Dad…!
“I’m really okay.”
My father, still holding me, patted my back.
As he took a shallow breath, the luggage and the puppy that had fallen to the ground rose into the air again.
“You told me to protect you properly. A warrior’s duty… must be fulfilled.”
“If you staht talking about being a captain and a subordinate again…”
I managed to say, clutching his clothes, and heard a chuckle.
“Right. Let’s go home.”
My father insisted on using his power to get us home.
And collapsed the moment we arrived.
‘Is he dead…?’
*Slap!* I smacked my own cheek.
This was trauma.
I pushed away the memories of countless dying patients that flooded my mind and placed a hand on my father’s forehead.
‘He’s burning up, just as I thought.’
I looked at my father with a complicated expression.
The way he insisted on carrying me and our things right up until he collapsed.
‘I have a pretty good idea of what kind of person he was before he lost his memories.’
He must have been a terribly stubborn and responsible man.
I pouted.
‘Heuk Biyu. It’s a good name.’
‘Heuk Biyu. It’s a good name.’
My heart fluttered.
“You’w a patient with amnesia… Don’t give me somethin' like hope.”
* * *
“Hoo…”
Early in the morning.
Heuk Biwon wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Does this bastard live without ever tidying his own house? How did he manage when it rained?”
“You said it.”
The person striding over was Heuk Birang. He grumbled with his handsome face.
“Brother, the roof is full of holes too. You think that guy was planning to let the rain kill him?”
“My thoughts exactly, little brother.”
The two were currently at Heuk Bihu’s residence.
There was a reason they were replacing the messy yard and the broken, shattered roof tiles…
‘Dammit, this is where my niece is going to live!’
It was then.
The door opened, and Biyu came out, her eyes bright red.