Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: [Secret Clinic] Mastering the Technique
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"Hey, you brute."
The one calling me from beyond the wall was the head courtesan of the Dream Pavilion.
A woman wearing an ornate hairpin and a thin jacket so sheer it was practically see-through.
Even heavy makeup couldn't hide the raw sensuality dripping from her face.
"Are you talking to me?"
"Yeah, who else is a brute around here? You're built like a mountain."
The woman covered her mouth with a fan and let out a tittering laugh.
It was hard to tell if she was mocking me or complimenting me.
With my Charm stat at -2, the fact that she wasn't running away meant she either had a strong stomach or urgent business—one or the other.
"What do you want?"
"You look like you could lend a hand. Come help with this, won't you?"
"I can't move without the doctor's permission."
"Oh, so rigid. I'll talk to Heo the doctor for you, so don't worry and hop over. I'll make sure the pay is worth your while."
Oh, in that case, no worries.
'The head courtesan of the Dream Pavilion—what was her name again? Anyway, she's close with Heo Seol, so it should be fine.'
Plus, she's offering pay. No reason to turn that down.
I might be working under Heo Seol, but I didn't have a single coin to my name right now.
More than that, a place like this was a hotbed for all sorts of rumors.
Think of the Hao Sect, that famous info guild in wuxia worlds.
The setup varied by world, but courtesans were always part of the guild network.
With drinks flowing and dances underway, fondling a girl's breasts or ass naturally loosened tongues and high-grade intel.
Helping out and making connections wasn't a bad idea at all.
"What do you need help with?"
"Sharp ears for such a big lug. Come on in."
I opened the gate and stepped into the Dream Pavilion.
"Whoa, he really is a brute."
"Look at that build. Bandit material?"
"Face is rough, but the body's prime."
The courtesans lounging on the porch whispered as they eyed me.
All of them were scantily clad.
Cleavage on full display, skirts hiked up to bare their thighs.
I didn't know where to look.
But they were putting it all out there, so I might as well enjoy the view gratefully.
This world really was a tit farm.
Unlike real Joseon, flat chests were the rare breed here.
Even the smallest among them looked like at least a C-cup.
Still, staring outright would piss them off, so I snuck sidelong glances as I followed the head courtesan.
In one corner of the courtyard, massive sake barrels were stacked high.
Big enough that two grown men hugging it would struggle to budge them.
"I just need to move these, right?"
"Yeah, over to the warehouse. The laborers all ran off. They're heavy, so be care—"
Hnnngh.
Whoosh.
I bent down, gripped the barrel's rim, and hoisted it up effortlessly.
"—ful?"
The head courtesan's words trailed up at the end.
Her face was plastered with question marks.
"...Oh my?"
The other courtesans' eyes went wide too.
Can't blame them.
I'd lifted a weight easily over two sacks of rice without so much as a change in expression.
Thud, thud.
Thump, thump.
I carried the barrel like it was on display.
One, two, three.
A normal person would be drenched in sweat after one or two, but I hauled them solo.
Sweat beaded on my forehead, making my thin shirt cling to the contours of my muscles.
"Good lord."
"He's doing that alone?"
"Look at those forearms."
"She's drooling."
"Whoa, he really is a brute."
"Check out those back muscles. No joke."
The courtesans who'd dismissed me as bandit-like at first now had a different gleam in their eyes as my functional muscles were laid bare.
Makes sense. These weren't gym-rat balloon muscles pumped part by part.
They were battle-hardened, compressed from awakening [Steel Body], endless pickaxe swings in the [Abyss Mine], and fights with monsters.
'Even so, to get this reaction from muscles alone—man, manhwa worlds are something else.'
My Charm was -2.
Objectively, I had an ugly, fierce face.
Normal folks would've recoiled in horror.
Erika and Luna from the Abyss Miner days did exactly that.
Luna saw me at -20, sure, but even Erika at -2 was disgusted. Case closed.
But this was an adult manhwa world's red-light district.
To these women, a man's face was secondary.
What mattered was strength and stamina.
Good sex made up for everything.
A brute with that raw power and endurance? They'd expect beastly performance in bed.
That expectation was shifting their gazes.
By the time I'd moved the last barrel, courtesans had gathered around.
"Good work, brute brother."
The head courtesan approached and lightly stroked my forearm.
A sticky touch.
"Muscles like rocks. You've got real technique."
"This is nothing."
"If only your face matched. You'd be swarmed. Such a shame... but still..."
She raked me over with a suggestive gaze.
Zeroing in on my lower half, she licked her lips. Pure eroticism oozed out.
That brief look alone stiffened me down there.
But as always, my puny dick didn't even tent my pants.
Fuck.
"With strength like that, bet you're a beast at night too?"
The surrounding courtesans giggled at her words.
"Who cares about a rough face. Lights off, problem solved."
"Pounded by that body? My back'd snap."
"Play with us a bit, brother. Pretty please?"
"Yeah, oppa. Wanna crash in our room tonight?"
"Have a drink before you go, brute?"
"I'll do you free. Sis'll take good care of you."
Subtle temptations.
One flashed pale calves by hiking her skirt; another pressed forward to emphasize her cleavage.
Honestly? I wanted to fuck them senseless.
Drag one to a room right now.
'No.'
I clamped down on my urges.
Look at my current state.
3.4cm.
A cursed mouse dick clashing with my muscled frame inside my pants.
Even erect, it was thumb-sized—questionable if it'd pierce a hymen.
What if these courtesans, expecting a daytime servant turned nighttime emperor, stripped me and saw that cute little thing?
"Oh my, look at his wee-wee. Adorable!"
"What? Body like a mountain, but his dick's baby-sized."
"All hype, no substance—just like the saying."
And it wouldn't stop with me.
They'd gossip mouth-to-mouth, and it wouldn't end at the brothel.
Soon, all of Hanyang would buzz about the size of Heo Clinic's servant's prick.
I'd die of shame, unable to show my face in this world.
'Fengyang Pill.'
That comes first.
Once I pop it and sport a majestic 13cm+ beast.
Then I'll enjoy them properly.
"...Out of the way."
I scowled and shoved past the courtesans.
"Aw, what's wrong? Shy?"
"Busy. Doctor's calling."
"No fun. Why so stiff, man?"
"I'll come back next time."
I fled the Dream Pavilion.
Regretful voices chased my back.
"What a waste. Looked so sturdy."
"Come back soon! I'll treat you right."
Just you wait.
'You seductive bitches.'
Fengyang Pill, and I'll return.
Then I'll pound till the pavilion's pillars shake loose.
Won't hear "brute" from them again.
Chewing on the humiliation, I returned to the apothecary.
Back at the apothecary.
Afternoon consultations brought a flood of patients—no time to breathe.
Mostly women complaining of gynecological issues or mysterious pains.
"Relax your shoulders. They're too tense."
Smack!
Heo Seol whipped my back with his fan.
"Ow."
"No whining. Your strength is freakish—one slip, and there's no therapeutic effect. Just pointless mashing."
Heo Seol had decided to put me to real work.
Makes sense—the clinic was swamped, too much for him alone.
Especially run-of-the-mill muscle aches or fatigue; those were nuisances to him.
He could focus on pretty, wealthy VVIPs and still have lines out the door.
So as his assistant, I massaged countless backs.
Sprained ankles on young ladies, knotted shoulders on matrons, indigestion in guild wives.
Using [Mana Detection] to spot knots, I controlled my brute strength with finesse.
The more I did, the better I got.
Learning the pressure for screams, the angle for moans.
It was fun picking it up bit by bit.
Days passed like that.
"Aigoo, lad's got healing hands."
"Not quite the doc's level, but hits the spot."
Patients raved about my improving skills daily.
And one evening.
After sending off the last patient and washing up, a message appeared before my eyes.
💪 [Skill: Massage (F)]
Description: A technique that loosens knotted muscles and promotes blood circulation. Slightly reduces the target's fatigue.
"Oh."
A skill.
Obviously a downgraded version of [Hands of God], but now that it was an official skill, things changed.
System buffs would apply, levels would rise with use, amplifying effects.
Especially with my strength's pressure and precise control.
'Add Hands of God on top...'
I might surpass even Heo Seol.
A light tap on the lower belly could jolt the womb through layers of flesh, sending them into ecstasy.
"Didn't trust you at first, but your skills are visibly improving. Head's not total stone."
Heo Seol approached with a pleased smile.
"You're finally pulling your weight."
"All thanks to your guidance, doctor."
"Hmph, empty words. But you're still far off. Your hands are too rough—too crude for ladies' delicate bodies."
"So when will you give me a shot?"
"Don't rush. Opportunity comes to the prepared. Work harder, study diligently."
Heo Seol left a cryptic remark and vanished into the inner quarters.
And that opportunity arrived sooner than expected.