Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Upping the Ante
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“What in the world are you doing, brother-in-law!!”
The third uncle-in-law, wielding a glaive, stepped in front of the aunt who had taken a step back. His face was contorted with fierce anger.
“My wife is a physician without abilities. Even if you've lost your memory, an ability user attacking a non-ability user is grounds for punishment, depending on the circumstances!”
Bright blue water droplets, conjured by the third uncle-in-law, scattered through the air.
However, the third uncle-in-law's furious ability never reached my father.
The sharply formed droplets froze mid-air, floating for a moment before dispersing.
The remaining droplets were devoured by a different-colored water. It was my uncle's.
“I might be the one who's lost his mind, but my daughter is brilliant. You said something hurtful.”
“...”
“So I just returned the favor.”
My father didn't withdraw his wind. The third uncle-in-law readjusted his grip on the glaive.
“Enough noise.”
The Matriarch's voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
“Lower your weapons at once. Bae Seonghyeon, as the captain of the Heukgak Guard, you should be ashamed of your rashness.”
“Matriarch...!”
“Heuk Bihu, you will withdraw your power as well.”
As soon as she finished speaking, my father's wind vanished. The third uncle-in-law gritted his teeth but lowered his weapon.
“This is my family, and yet... there is so much discord.”
The Matriarch's gaze then fell upon her children and the elders who had defied her command.
“So much chattering.”
Beneath her gentle tone was a simmering rage and fury.
“Do you find me amusing as well? What is it, because I'm the crippled physician who couldn't heal the emperor?””
“...Pardon? M-Matriarch. My apologies. Of course not...”
Everyone froze at the Matriarch's words, delivered with a serene smile. Even Heuk Haran.
*Woah, she's intense.*
*'That's why she's remained the Matriarch. At least, until our female lead shows up.'*
Although she had failed to heal the emperor ten years ago, she was still a figure who boasted overwhelming power and charisma.
“Haran, my dear, I thought that at least in your judgment, you took after me. Perhaps I need to reconsider.”
“I apologize, Mother. I was shortsighted.”
The first aunt bowed her head.
Accepting her submission, the Matriarch's gaze returned to the bottom of the stairs.
“It seems there are no more objections. Very well, then, granddaughter. You will go to ‘Cheimik’ in the west.”
The moment I heard the name of the region, I snapped my head up.
*What? That town is...*
An epidemic, the west, Cheimik.
An event naturally came to mind.
*'Oho, what a stroke of luck!'*
As soon as I'd heard the word 'epidemic,' several diseases and regions had already popped into my head.
This might just be the best-case scenario among them all.
*'I can't let it show.'*
I suppressed a smile and waited for her next words.
“I shall grant you a temporary qualification. If you wish to become an official physician of the family, you must go and cure the epidemic. With the skill you used to improve my sons' conditions, it shouldn't be a problem, correct?”
“Of course.”
I answered briskly.
“But that's not enough, Matriarch.”
“...W-What?”
The surrounding elders reacted with shock, but I paid them no mind.
“Once Eldest Uncoo and Uncoo are diagnosed by you, Matriarch, it'll be even more certain that they've improved, right? So, along with the credit for solving something no one else could, if I also come back after curing the epidemic, I think just the qualification of an official physician is not enough.”
Those with the qualification of an official Heuk Family physician can open their own clinics outside and advertise their affiliation with the family.
That's not what I want.
“If there is something you desire, speak.”
I smiled brightly at the Matriarch's magnanimous declaration.
“Please give me a place to open my own clinic within the family estate.”
“I will give you your own villa.”
The offer was made without hesitation, and an answer followed just as quickly. I was surprised for a moment, but then I raised the stakes.
*I'll see you and raise you.*
“Then, since you're being so generous, please hand over the entire eastern wing.”
“...”
Everyone was staring at me as if I were insane, but I kept my eyes fixed only on the Matriarch.
The Matriarch, who thinks only of the family, no longer sees me as a three-year-old.
So, shouldn't I make demands befitting that?
*'This is where the measure of my worth will be decided.'*
I learned that well enough in my past life.
To survive in this family, you need more than just skill as a physician.
*'There are too many hyenas here.'*
If I had shown even a hint of weakness, my accomplishment of treating my eldest uncle and uncle would have been downplayed, and I would have barely received a physician's qualification.
“Besides, isn't the eastern wing an abandoned place anyway?”
“Fine.”
I grinned inwardly.
Having roamed the eastern wing like it was my own home throughout my past life, I knew.
If I could use it properly, I knew just how many useful things were there.
“I will allow you to hang your own sign within the estate. The right to participate in meetings... I will also speak to the Physicians' Association and recommend you for a high-grade physician's license.”
“Matriarch!”
Even that last, desperate cry was utterly silenced by a single glance from the Matriarch.
*'Wow, thanks for not hiding that greedy look on your face.'*
I smiled and bowed my head.
*'Thank you for being so greedy for me, Matriarch?'*
I had expected this, of course. The matter was already settled.
“I'll be sure to cure it!”
Having seized a greater victory than I had anticipated.
***
“Are you... Are you really three?”
After everything was over, we couldn't return to the eastern wing right away.
We had to see my uncle off.
Heuk Birang was to remain here for a while to prove the improvement of his condition to the other physicians.
He would stay for as little as three days or as long as a week, proving that he no longer fell asleep.
*'In truth, I've only suppressed his narcolepsy for now, and he'll need gradual treatment...'*
But a week shouldn't be a problem.
We had stayed to say our goodbyes to my uncle, and now that we had, I was ready to leave.
“Do well, Uncoo. It won't matter who diagnoses you. If anyone twies to feed you something stwange, send Biyu a letter. Daddy and I will come wunning.”
“Huh? O-Oh...”
“I'm telling you again, don't just eat anything they give you!”
“Geez, am I a kid?”
He wasn't a kid.
Seeing him speak so confidently in front of the Matriarch earlier, I was reminded once again that he was, indeed, the female lead's father.
“You'we not a kid. I just said it because I like you and I'm wowwied, Uncoo.”
“Oh...? Well, I mean. If that's the case... *Ahem. Ahem.*”
My uncle's reaction was honest. He even cleared his throat as his ears turned red.
“Hey, wait, why are you ignoring my question? I asked if you're really three!”
“Of couwse I'm thwee, how old do you think I am? Stop asking useless questions. It makes my mouth huwt.”
“Seeing how cheeky you are, you're definitely the niece I know... Good grief. This is absurd. Where do you get the guts to shout like that in front of Mother? You talked back to me just like that when we first met, too.”
“Uncoo was like a gangster.”
“...A gangster?”
As my eldest uncle's and my father's gazes fell on him, my startled uncle quickly changed the subject.
“*Ahem!* Hey, you! What's-it-called, when are you going to Cheimik? Don't you dare think about leaving without me! You just wait. Got it!?”
At his words, I briefly recalled what the Matriarch had said earlier.