Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: A Nasty Trick
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Peyman prided himself on having seen many physicians in his long life. Among them were even those with abilities far beyond his own.
Those who crafted medicine as nature-based healers?
He had encountered them.
But even among them… none could create medicine so quickly and in such large quantities.
‘Even the one renowned for his speed took two days to make a single curative dose!’
The young child's ability stirred an instinctual fear in him, a fear felt as a fellow physician.
A genius beyond measure.
No, could anyone even compare?
Before he knew it, his hands were trembling.
The fear that he would lose everything because of someone like this washed over him.
The realization that this fear was becoming his reality made Peyman want to flee.
Finally, the wave-like torrent of water receded completely, and the medicine arrived before the three patients.
“You just have to dwink it, so I didn't say anything special. Misters, your skin was weally itchy, wight? And your thwoats were swollen too.”
“Uh, uh… yes, no, I mean, yes…!”
Heuk Biyu beamed.
Her bright, fairy-like smile disarmed the wary patients.
Without much hesitation, they drank the medicine Heuk Biyu offered.
Shortly after, the red spots on the patients' bodies vanished.
Kanin had deliberately chosen patients with symptoms that were glaringly obvious.
He had said that the more severe their cases, the more dramatic their deaths would appear.
And at this moment, it proved to be the worst possible choice.
“G-Good heavens…”
“The boils are gone! The spots too!”
“It's a miracle!”
“A miracle! She really is a genius physician!”
“Wooooah!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
No one could help but marvel at the sight of the patients, who were clearly and completely cured.
“Hooray!”
“Hooray! Please stay here for a long, long time, Physician!”
“I knew I could believe in you!”
Amidst the cheers and gasps of amazement pouring in from all sides, Peyman was powerless.
‘What do I do? What am I going to do?’
Had his back ever been this soaked in sweat?
Not even when treating a high-ranking noble, or when taking his licensing exam, had he ever trembled this much.
It was his turn next.
The remaining two patients looked at Peyman with expectant eyes.
Eyes full of hope that they, too, would be cured like the ones before them.
Peyman wanted to strangle himself for ever agreeing to this contest.
‘Damn it… Damn it all!’
He should have realized from the start. It was an absurd bet!
‘What do I do? Is there no way to escape?’
Only then did Peyman realize that he had been the blind one, but it was already too late.
“I finished the tweatment. When are you going to do it?”
The child spun around. Her small body. Her adorably braided hair. Outwardly, she might have passed for an ordinary, small child.
Peyman grew afraid of the child who barely reached his knees, as if she were a fearsome beast encountered in the mountains.
An ability of unknowable depths.
Medicines that he couldn't even begin to comprehend…
How could she possess such power?
His teeth chattered.
“But something's stwange?”
The child's voice cut clearly through the sound of applause.
“The patients…”
In that instant, Peyman realized.
That the abyss was not just before him—he had already fallen into it.
“Why did they dwink poison?”
The realization came far too late.
* * *
‘Damn it, you crazy bastards.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Since that bastard was the one who brought the patients, I'd figured there was some kind of scheme afoot.
‘Like the patients being in on it.’
But what I discovered was the worst of all possibilities I'd considered.
‘Bastards who use innocent patients for their own gain.’
It would have been better if they were all just accomplices.
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
What Peyman had done was the one thing I despised most.
Using patients as tools to prop up a physician's pride, sense of superiority, or power.
Isn't that proof that they have no pride at all?
Because the true essence of a physician, of an apothecary, is to heal people.
As proof, even when I prioritized my own survival in all my past lives, I never once used a patient for the sake of my pride.
And yet.
‘I'm furious.’
I clenched my fist. Hitting him with this tiny fist wouldn't even hurt. That damn son of a bitch.
How could he use such a vicious poison?
“…Are you all right?”
I glanced up. It was Dad.
“You don't look well. Is it because you used your ability?”
I gave a small smile.
“Of couwse not. How much could I have possibly used…”
I treated a patient for a bit this morning, and now I've only just treated three more.
“I once tweated an entire village…”
I once spent a month treating an epidemic that had spread through a village.
I'd done it prepared to die myself.
It was a village all physicians avoided since it was where the poor lived.
As for why I went to a place like that…
Back then, I wanted to prove it.
That I wasn't as wicked as the rumors claimed, nor was I a witch.
And once I was there, I forgot even those thoughts and devoted myself to healing.
It was during my prime, but I've treated a village of over a hundred households before, so this is nothing.
‘The problem is that my body is so young.’
Even though I said I was fine, Dad's gaze didn't leave me for a while, as if a physician were making a diagnosis.
‘Did he not hear me mumbling?’
His stare was so persistent that I felt an odd itch and scratched my cheek.
“As long as you're not in pain, that's all that matters.”
“Yup, not at all. If I got tiwed fwom this, I'd have to give up my physician's license.”
“Even though you don't have one?”
At his playful words, I held my head high.
“Tell the impewial family to bwing me the highest-level physician's license.”
It'll be mine in this life, too.
Dad couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
“How dignified.”
“Of course.”
*Even though I don't have a state-certified license yet?* I grinned back.
The crowd was still cheering.
So the words I'd said just a moment ago.
‘Why did they dwink poison?’
It seemed no one had heard it.
‘What should I do…’
Of course, that physician bastard standing nearby seemed to have heard it just fine. The way his face had turned deathly pale was quite a sight.
The cheering was starting to die down. As I stood there, still hesitating, Dad approached my side.
“Physician.”
…I blinked at the unfamiliar title. *Excuse me? What did you just say?*
When a man who already stood out for his appearance deliberately raised his voice, it was impossible not to draw everyone's attention.
Having reclaimed his spot as the center of attention, my father looked at me and curled his lips into a smile.
My eyes widened.
‘…You can smile like that?’
He was clearly forcing the smile. But…
‘He looks happy.’
‘He looks happy.’
It resembled the face from his past that I'd seen in his memories, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
Dad glanced around at the crowd, his gaze finally landing on the trembling Peyman.
Dad's eyes narrowed. A chill settled in them.
“Did you say the patients had ingested poison?”
At Dad's single sentence, a stir went through the crowd.
“I heard you say so quite clearly.”
Strangely, though his voice wasn't loud, it carried as if through a megaphone, reaching everyone present.
‘Don't tell me, is this also his wind ability?’
As if to confirm my guess, I felt a faint breeze.
Wow, that's super convenient. It's practically a microphone.
In an instant, the surroundings fell silent.
As if he'd been waiting for this moment, Dad spoke to me.
“Is it true?”
Ah, so we're confirming the kill? I gladly accepted my father's help.
“Yup, the patients dwank poison.”
My gaze took in both the cured patients and the ones Peyman had yet to treat.
“And faiwly wecently, too.”
“…”
“If it wasn't fow me, they would've died.”
The people looked as if they couldn't believe their ears.
It was unbelievable.
“…Gasp! What? Poison?”
“That's insane. Could that be true…?”
I'd answered calmly, but it was unexpected support, so I was a little dazed.
‘…My dad, he's certainly effective.’
He seems to be recalling his memories bit by bit, and seeing him act so proactively… how should I put it?
My chest feels all tingly…
‘It's like a flower is blooming in my heart.’
Even Peyman's disciples were shaken by Dad's words.
One of them even gave his master a quizzical look, as if it was the first he was hearing of it.
There were three of Peyman's disciples who had brought the patients.
‘Huh?’
I didn't miss the way one of their faces turned pale.