Chapter 80
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: A Royal Patient
“To kill me, I presume.”
It was as if he had been acting as normal as possible until just a moment ago.
Weariness showed on his face.
“On puwpose? Sendin’ a no-good physician to wet me die?”
“Yes, that’s right. They probably intended to dispose of the physician as well after the job was done. But since I was hovering on the brink of death, there was nothing they could do.”
“No wondew the viwwage was a mess.”
“My apologies. I was told the physician originally dispatched here is already dead. I requested a proper physician be sent, but… I lost consciousness. That’s why I am all the more grateful. If it weren’t for you, Physician.”
The lord gave a bitter smile.
“I wouldn’t have even dreamed of opening my eyes and seeing my beloved wife again…”
“…”
“My wife must be waiting, believing only in our promise to meet again… I don’t even want to imagine how she would feel if she saw my corpse.”
*Thud!*
It happened then. Startled by a loud noise, I turned my head.
A small cloud of dust was rising from the wall.
“…Dady?”
It seemed my father had punched the wall. Blood was trickling from his fist. His other hand was covering his face, his expression contorted.
His breathing was ragged.
“Dady!”
*Whoosh.*
An ominous wind began to swirl around my father.
“…My, is the knight you brought with you a wind mage? He doesn’t seem to be in a good state.”
The lord, shielding me protectively, extended a hand with a weary look.
A flame flickered at the tip of his fingers.
…Was this one a fire mage?
“Unless I misheard, I believe you called him ‘Dady.’ Do you require assistance?”
“Biyu…”
Heuk Gyewon was now also looking at me. Having grown up watching his Eldest Uncle, he must have sensed the danger.
I slowly shook my head.
“It’s otay. I’ll do it mysewf.”
I picked up the water bottle and soaked my hands.
Soon, a wave of water rose from me and enveloped my father. The diagnosis gave me a clear view of his condition.
“Dady, I think you’ve ovewwoaded.”
Remembering the lord was listening, I chose my words carefully.
“Get some sweep.”
A tendril of water retrieved a vial from my bag. It was a sleeping draught.
“Don’t put me to sleep.”
As if finally coming to his senses, my father shook his head vigorously. Even while suffering, he expressed his displeasure from within the water.
“Forget it. I’m fine. If I rest, who’s going to protect the physician?”
“Are Eldest Uncwe and Uncwe just fow show? Big Bwother Gyewon is hewe too.”
“I don’t trust them. They’re all a bunch of broken misfits.”
…Isn’t that a bit harsh on your own brothers? I wanted to ask if he was talking about himself, but that felt too disrespectful.
“And my nephew is still inexperienced.”
It’s no secret that Gyewon pouted at that remark.
Making a mess and hurting people’s feelings when you’re not even in your right mind.
After a moment, the diagnostic ability slowly faded. My father strode over and pulled me into his arms.
“This is enough for me.”
“…Am I a twanquiwizew?”
“Let’s just say it’s similar.”
He did say that being with me lessened his obsession with returning home. Was this a similar concept?
I decided to ask him later, since Lord Rederick was watching with an expression of interest.
“I’m glad to see it’s been resolved.”
The lord smiled.
“I’d heard that direct descendants of the Heuk family possess black hair and an inhuman beauty. I hesitated to ask for fear of being rude, but the warrior with you seems to have the features of a direct Heuk descendant that I know of.”
“That’s wight. Diwect wine. Me too.”
“Ah, so it is. I knew it.”
“…”
“When I first saw you, Physician, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
He sure has a way with words.
I wasn’t surprised, having become immune to being called a baby fairy.
‘He has the sense not to ask why my hair isn’t black, so he’s discerning enough.’
I gave a single nod and changed the subject.
“Sowwy we got intewwupted by ouw situation. Pwease ignowe the person howding me. Think of him as a statue.”
“Hahaha. A handsome statue, indeed. The more I see of you, Physician, the more I wish you were my own daughter.”
“Heuk Biyu, can I kill him?”
“…Pwease think of him as a tawking statue.”
“Haha, of course.”
Good grief, man. I know you’re on edge, but how can you threaten to kill someone over a joke meant to lighten the mood?
You’re the one who caused this whole scene.
‘Though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t secretly like it.’
I shook my head.
“Now that I’ve recovered, we should be able to provide you with as many supplies as you need. However… would it be possible to treat all of my people as well?”
“Of couwse. That’s why I came.”
“Please bill me for the costs later.”
“Wet’s tawk aftew the tweatment is done. Surviving comes fiwst.”
The lord subtly covered his mouth. I didn’t miss the flicker of unease on his face.
“…Well, this is… You are so different from the other physicians I’ve met that I’m a bit taken aback.”
I understood. The Western Continent was rife with war and battle.
Physicians there tended to be a bit more calculating.
They would decide who to treat based on who would bring them more money or more honor with their limited abilities.
The pioneering head of the Heuk family, Heuk Ahwa, who first settled on the Eastern Continent, despised this and established the family’s rules.
But in the present day, the Heuk family was no different.
“Don’t have any iwwusions about the Heuk Famiwy. I’m the stwange one. And I’m cawcuwating, too. Nothing’s fwee.”
“Haha. That’s a funny thing to say, especially after I’ve already experienced your treatment firsthand.”
Right. It’s postpaid.
In any case, the lord I had unexpectedly met was a sucker… I mean, a reasonable person. It seemed the treatments would proceed without any issues.
Or so I thought…
“And, Physician? I’m a bit hesitant to bring this up, but… there is someone you must see before you treat the villagers and my men.”
“Wha?”
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Are you trying to tell me you have a special VIP patient, too?
The lord looked troubled, but he lowered his voice and spoke.
“This will not bring you any harm. In fact, I am telling you this because I believe looking after this person will prevent harm from coming to you in the future.”
I made a sour face. Who on earth could it be? Is another lord here?
“…A member of the royal family is in this village.”
I froze.
‘Why is that name coming up here?’
I wasn’t the only one; I felt my father tense up for a split second.
Just as I was about to say something.
“Ugh!”
Heuk Gyewon, who had been silent, suddenly flinched.
He was wearing a bag on his back, and inside that bag was…
Raon.
The clever fox, Raon, had understood my request not to come out when strangers were present. He would usually lie quietly in the bag until we were alone.
But now the bag was bucking and thrashing about. He was causing a commotion.
“What the… Why is he suddenly acting like this?!”
“Big Bwother, give me the bag.”
My guess was that he’d woken up and gotten startled.
“I’m wight hewe. I don’t know what’s wong, but it’s otay…”
I hugged the bag tightly and reached my hand inside to stroke him. A moment later, I felt him licking my hand.
Phew, that’s a relief. It seems he was just startled.
He was still trembling, which was strange, but it seemed to subside a little now that I was holding him.
I looked at the lord while still clutching the bag.
My father was holding me, and I was holding the bag with Raon inside…
We must look like a strange father-daughter pair.
“Sowwy about that. Can you pwease continue?”