Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: [Secret Clinic] Dream of 18cm
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A month had already passed since I started working at Yakseon Clinic.
During that time, by day I chopped firewood and hauled water like a farmhand.
Physical labor was just a warm-up for someone with Steel Body. No sweat at all.
The real challenge came in the afternoons during clinic hours.
"Madam, your complexion has improved tremendously."
"Oh, it's all thanks to you, Physician."
Inside the treatment room, Master Heo Seol's smooth, gentle voice mingled endlessly with the ladies' laughter.
Waiting outside, I quietly prepared herbs while listening in.
'He's the real deal.'
At first, I thought he was just a smooth-talking gigolo, but watching him up close revealed the man's true caliber.
The precise needlework in acupuncture, the solemn pulse diagnosis, the insight that pierced through patients' conditions, and above all, his near-miraculous technique in handling women's bodies.
'So much to learn.'
The title of divine physician wasn't won in a game of cards.
Hell, I initially dismissed it as some silly dick-measuring contest in the worldview.
"Hey, you! Finished chopping the wood? Then come sort the acupuncture kit."
"Yes, Master. Coming."
I set aside my work and went inside. Master Heo Seol tapped out his pipe and clicked his tongue at me.
"Have you been studying acupuncture lately?"
"I've been glancing at it here and there, but it's tough. Memorizing all those acupoints is no joke."
"Tsk tsk. Good with your hands but a blockhead. If you can't map the flow of qi through the body in your mind, you'll just skim the surface your whole life."
I scratched my head at his scolding.
Not a word of it was wrong.
I could keep up with massage using Mana Detection and strength control, but medicine's depths couldn't be faked short-term.
"Still, your massage skills have improved nicely. Madam Choi from the scholar's house can't stop praising how refreshing it was."
"All thanks to you giving me the chance, Master."
"Good, remember that. Refine your strength control and back it with theory, and I might take you as my disciple. You're not there yet."
"I'll keep it in mind and work harder."
Master Heo Seol was picky, but he looked after disciples who pulled their weight.
After Lady Min Jo-hee, he'd assigned me four more VIP patients I could handle.
My record was building steadily.
The skill had risen to D-rank.
But the road ahead was long.
To handle patients as freely as Master did, I was woefully short.
No time for complaints—just learn more.
"Let's close early today. I've got to enter the palace tomorrow, lots to prepare."
"The palace?"
"Yeah. Word from the royal clinic. The Queen's gravely ill. Need to pack herbs."
Palace entry.
And the Queen.
'Here it comes.'
The original story's episode.
Main event of early Master Heo Seol arc, and my real reason for entering this world.
The Fengyang Pill incident was about to kick off.
In the original, tomorrow Heo Seol enters the palace and diagnoses the Queen.
Treatment requires royal secret herbs, but the eunuch guarding them gets drunk at a brothel and loses the whole box.
Only the empty box turns up eventually, and Heo Seol uses ingenuity with substitutes to save the day.
Later, when the eunuch faces execution for the loss, Heo Seol saves him by crafting Fengyang Pills.
Hold on.
Am I forgetting something?
Recall how many Fengyang Pills I could get.
First, system quest reward.
Recover the lost box, get one from the system.
Second, the new ones Heo Seol makes.
If I snag one as in the original, that's plus one.
Total two.
That's what I originally planned.
Two makes 13.4cm.
Korean average already.
But.
'What if I recover the whole box?'
In the original, the empty box was found much later.
Someone picked it up, took the contents, ditched it.
But if I grab it right when or after the eunuch loses it?
The box holds royal secret herbs.
High chance of original Fengyang Pills or ingredients inside.
If I swallow them whole?
Realizing this now.
Almost lost precious 5cm.
1 + 1 + 1 = 3.
5cm each, total 15cm.
3.4 + 15 = 18.4cm.
"Heh heh heh."
18.4cm.
Big enough not to envy black guys.
A revolution.
Must get all three.
"Drooling again, you filthy mutt."
A familiar voice from beyond the fence.
Lady Min Jo-hee, her third visit already.
"Welcome, Lady."
"Where's the physician?"
"He just went to the inner quarters. Busy preparing for the palace tomorrow."
"Perfect."
She glanced around, then yanked me toward the storeroom with iron grip.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
My unintentional teasing was working too well.
"H-hey, what is this?"
"You... you're really gonna keep this up?"
Jo-hee looked up at me with resentful eyes.
Gone was the haughty noble lady from our first meeting; now she clung like she'd grab my pant leg.
"You did that last time, then nothing since? I've come so many times!"
"I told you. I'm not skilled enough without the physician's permission. Master said the time isn't right."
"Liar! You did Madam Choi from the scholar's house! Is it money? How much? Name it, I'll pay!"
Jo-hee seized my hand and pressed it to her chest.
Through the thin jacket, her pounding heartbeat and hot skin.
Soft, heavy touch.
'Driving me crazy.'
She's insanely pretty.
Who could push away a beauty begging to be held?
I hated myself.
If only I were bigger—a little average—I'd take her now.
"Feel it. So hot. Can't sleep nights because of you, going insane."
She guided my hand lower, pressing between her legs.
"Here too... already wet. Just your voice does this. Please... put it in. Fingers even."
Her voice desperate, almost groveling.
I'm a man too.
Impulse to drop trou rising to my throat.
'No.'
Current state in my pants: pathetic.
3.4cm.
Drop them, face her disappointed, contemptuous gaze? No confidence.
She expects a monster matching my build, not a worm.
That humiliation? Death before.
Hand stuff alone? No, I'd suffer more, remembering the thrill.
I gritted teeth, pulled away.
"Sorry, Lady. Master's strict orders. No procedures till my skills mature."
"You hate me? Not attractive enough?"
"Impossible. Where's a beauty like you?"
"Then why! Why not?!"
She pounded my chest, eyes brimming tears.
"Wait. Soon, really. When ready, I'll fill you more than you want."
"...When? When?!"
"Soon. Won't stop till you beg. Just hold on."
"R-really? Promise?"
"Yes, promise."
"...Fine. I'll endure. But then... prepare yourself."
Jo-hee eyed my crotch wistfully, licked lips, left.
"Whew."
Cold sweat.
Close call.
A bit more provocation, reason gone, I'd pounce.
"I'll get them."
For my pride as a man.
And to satisfy Lady Jo-hee's frustrations.
I tossed the broom, changed clothes.
Night was falling.
Hanyang's night streets were brighter than expected.
Curfew or not, pleasure districts were exempt.
Lanterns glowed, brothels leaked drumbeats and songs.
To hide identity, I wore black commoner clothes, wide-brim hat shadowing my face, prowling streets.
One goal.
The royal medicine box the eunuch will lose.
Not lost yet, so it will be.
'Issue is exact spot.'
Original comic vague on location.
Just eunuch's flashback scenery.
Background of the brothel where he drank before losing it.
Red lanterns hanging at entrance.
Big ginkgo in courtyard.
Stream beside, arched stone bridge over.
Find brothel with those three markers.
Hanyang has plenty, but not with those landmarks.
"Let's go."
Hurried steps.
Scout ahead, stake out from tonight.
Started north village.
High officials' area, fancy brothels likely.
"Not here."
"Nope."
Ginkgo but no bridge.
Bridge but blue lanterns.
Hunted memory's scene amid tiled roofs.
'Fuck, Hanyang this big?'
Hour running already.
Body Enhancement kept stamina fine, but anxiety built.
What if eunuch already lost it, someone grabbed?
Ruined.
'No. Incident hasn't hit.'
Master enters palace tomorrow, so time left.
Passing north to Jongno alleys.
Flashy lights leaked from one.
Powder, booze scents tickled nose.
'That?'
Leapt rooftops, dashed tiles.
Alley end: familiar sight.
Moonlit ginkgo leaves golden glow.
Stream below, arched bridge crossing.
Red lanterns dangling entrance.
[Drunken Moon Tower]
Signboard letters hit eyes.
"Found it."
Grin under hat.
Exact comic background.
'Timing now.'
Flattened on opposite roof corner, observed.
Activated Mana Detection, read auras.
Drunken nobles, fawning courtesans, rough thugs.
Many presences, but no ball-less oddity.
Eunuch's twisted yin unmistakable once sensed.
'Not here yet.'
Good.
Incident not started.
Master enters tomorrow, but eunuch might emerge tonight, tomorrow, or days later.
Now that I know the spot, wait and grab it.
'Camp here daily from now.'
After clinic, bolt here, stakeout.
Till that eunuch bastard drops the box.
Eat, shit here if needed.
That second-floor corner room in Drunken Moon Tower.
Etched the original's seat in mind.