Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 279

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 279
“Becoming stronger…?”
“Haven’t you felt that the martial arts of Seorim alone are insufficient? I shall teach you techniques that complement what you’ve already learned.”
“….”
Her words were far too sweet.
She closes her eyes again.
Air brushes against the inside of my ear. My mother’s voice murmurs.
“And so… and so… what do the White Dragon Brothers gain from this?”
“Will you help us research Chakratant and the sorcery that renders the body transparent as a spirit form?”
“Ha, how unfortunate, Brothers. This technique is only possible if one sacrifices a portion of their soul to the old gods in childhood. Adult souls are not accepted, and after death, one dwells in hell. Ah, I used that term because the Assassination Cult’s heaven would be hell to heretics. Please don’t misunderstand.”
At those words, I nodded.
“That’s fine. I’ll just study the theory.”
“Pardon?”
“Usually, the more you study anything, the more utility emerges from it alone.”
“…why go to such lengths… Brothers?”
“For the progress of humanity and the prosperity of mankind. And furthermore, to save more people.”
I declared this with a solemn expression, unlike before.
“Did you hear me?”
Progress of humanity and what? Ilkana’s expression instantly flooded with bewilderment.
“As you can see, I’m a doctor.”
To Ilkana, I pointed to myself and spoke.
“A doctor’s duty is to heal people. To treat those afflicted with illness, to ensure that no one dies—that is the profession. And I love my profession dearly and take great pride in it.”
To Ilkana, who stared at me with an expression that screamed ‘What does that have to do with anything? What nonsense is this?’, I launched into an earnest explanation.
“That’s why. To save more people, endless research is necessary. Your techniques will also become a cornerstone of such human progress. Do you understand?”
Faced with an unexpected answer, she stares at me blankly.
‘This bastard… those aren’t the eyes of a normal person. Are all the people from Jegallga like that?’
I reached out, perhaps slightly exasperated.
“I’ll make you exactly five times stronger.”
“Five times over?”
“In exchange, just teach me the theory. Let me confirm how it operates. I’ve formed a hypothesis, but I have no other way to verify it.”
“….”
Are all the people from Jegallga like this?
I spoke again.
“I’ll provide a proper employment contract. Including severance pay. In exchange, come to the research facility once a week. I’ll give you additional compensation.”
“…no… Brothers… you’re insane….”
Thus, for Gungwi, a useful new recruit was gained.
For Yoo Ho, one more task was added.
* * *
After releasing the pressure points on her shoulder and pressing my seal to the contract.
“I’ll overlap two copies, so please stamp here as well.”
Press.
“I’ll fold it in half so it won’t damage even individual pages.”
Press.
Ilkana had come to understand something.
This man’s claim that he sees the future—it actually seems to be true.
Her real identity was something even the assassination cult didn’t know.
Learning things no one could possibly know—that would be impossible unless one could read the future.
‘But… this madman… he’s truly insane…’
Now I understood why the Middle Kingdom people specifically called him the “Radiant Dragon.”
“Baekui Gwangryong. What is your true purpose, brother?”
“To understand and establish the theory of chakra tantra and spirit body techniques, then write and publish related research papers…”
“…No. Spare me such nonsense. I mean your true purpose. There must be an ultimate reason behind doing such things, yes?”
“Ah!”
“Why are you answering as if you’re hearing this for the first time?”
This handsome young man was truly difficult to read.
Even a veteran assassin like her found it hard to predict his behavioral patterns.
Among the fanatics of the Serim Church, it was rare to find someone this mad.
What was even more amusing was that he had no religion at all.
It would have made sense if he were at least a demon cultist descended from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Jin Cheon-hee rubbed his chin and answered thus.
“Well… saving people, I suppose. To put it without sentiment—saving an indeterminate multitude.”
“Saving them?”
“Yes. So they don’t suffer, don’t die. To help them live as long as possible. I dislike sick people. Especially children being sick—I hate that most of all.”
The conversation he’d had before signing the contract was now spilling out in greater detail.
“…”
Perhaps childhood memories had surfaced. Ilkana furrowed her brow.
Meeting her gaze calmly, Jin Cheon-hee continued speaking.
“Do you know what soap is? Its purpose isn’t simply to clean hands and smell pleasant—it exists to prevent disease. The more it spreads, the longer humanity’s lifespan naturally becomes. The number of patients will decrease as well. The Life Straw I recently created… ah…”
That term was difficult to use in the Middle Kingdom. Jin Cheon-hee immediately switched to their terminology.
“The Pure Water Drinking Tube. It operates on the same principle. For these reasons, I want to prevent war between the Serim Church and the Hwa Empire. Though I’m concerned because the Sultan seems to subtly desire war.”
“Subtly? Brother, there’s not a single citizen of our church who doesn’t know our glorious Sultan openly desires war.”
“Haha, quite right. And I also wish to stop the Hyeolseonggyo.”
Jin Cheon-hee swept his hair back.
His long, unbound hair flowed through his fingers.
“It’s just… like this. I dislike sickness, dislike war. But if I try a little harder, things might improve a little. So… that’s all it is.”
“…”
She looked at Jin Cheon-hee and burst into laughter as if finding him utterly absurd.
“You’re quite an amusing person, brother.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. You seem meticulous, yet you have gaps. Your goal is clearly grand, yet there’s no hypocrisy. One thing is certain, brother.”
“What is it?”
At my question, she twisted her lips.
“Baekui Gwangryong. I see the rumors are true—that you’ve gone mad obsessing over saving people.”
“Haha…”
Even if I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t find the words.
My actions thus far had already proven her words true.
Ilkana fell into thought before finally dropping her pretense entirely.
That meant she had abandoned her facade, and what she was about to say… meant she had cast aside her calculations as well.
“I cannot fully trust you, brother. I have walked a certain path. I have seen countless people. Brother.”
“…”
“Humans are fragile. Weak. Even draped in gold and jewels, we are barely a mouthful for beasts. Our bodies and hearts are soft, liable to change at any moment. That applies to you as well, brother. Soon, pursuers will come to take my life.”
Speaking those words held great significance for Ilkana.
A forbidden utterance—something one must never say if they wish to live.
Something cracked within her.
“I do not trust you, brother. How could I, when you are so utterly mad? But… yes. It seems I once harbored similar thoughts. Long ago.”
Before the scars came.
Once, tender wings believed they could be of use to this world.
“You took me in for five years, brother, and made me strong. So I cannot help but know—the sect will come to kill the blade that did not take its own life. That will become your burden, brother. Are you prepared for that?”
“Could you not simply depart for the Middle Kingdom?”
“Yes, brother. The Middle Kingdom is different from the outside world. Even there, it will not be easy. But if there is an opening, they will surely… I am an apostate, brother. Am I truly worth such effort?”
Ilkana asks in return.
Questioning her own worth.
In her eyes, I saw Ilkana’s future alongside Yeo Ha-ryun.
I empathized with her rage, and with her death.
It was a short life.
A life like a flame.
If one were to ask whether something so easily extinguished held meaning…
I would answer as a witness.
Because the few hundred won in small coins I had spent were her traces, and every day spent together during that time was her footprints.
“I don’t see why determining value is so difficult.”
The surgeon grinned with bravado.
“Then…?”
“If they come, I’ll crush them.”
Different from Yeo Ha-ryun’s direction, but it too was a tyrannical path.
Woof!
Hwang-gu barks loudly, as if reminding me not to forget him.
“And this beast is here as well. You’re underestimating Baek Rin’s Medical Guild, aren’t you?”
She did not know.
Among warriors who walk the grey path between black and white, there is none without a story.
And that Gungwi unit was composed of such warriors—experts in dealing with those very stories.
“Ah… it might take some time to adjust.”
A hellish training regimen awaits, after all.
Still, five years. If I’m to make them five times stronger, that much effort will be necessary.
* * *
Several more days passed.
Both Ilkana and the Third Prince had recovered considerably.
I thought Eun Wang-ya would come and demand answers, but she simply refrained.
Instead, she dutifully prepared dinner for me each evening.
‘She’s not refraining from questioning because of the food. Rather, I feel guilty about this.’
I’m grateful she hasn’t thrown a fit, threatening to drag me in for interrogation no matter what I say… but still.
I can’t fathom what’s really on her mind.
‘At least I’ve figured out that Eun Wang-ya is absolutely obsessed with freshly fried potatoes.’
So I’ve been diligently frying potatoes and presenting them, careful not to upset her mood.
And so time slipped by.
The day arrived when Eun Wang-ya was to bestow the reward.
This time, she had commanded that Ilkana accompany me as well, so she came along.
As Jin Cheon-hee and Ilkana prostrated themselves side by side, Eun Wang-ya regarded the two of them with a crooked gaze.
“Yes. I intended to give you a reward… but a blemish has appeared.”
“Haha…”
But you summoned that blemish yourself.
Eun Wang-ya’s sides were flanked by her attendants, and behind her stood a masked… Eunuch General.
‘Of course, information wouldn’t have failed to reach her.’
During this time, she must have conducted additional investigations into Ilkana and surveillance and inquiries regarding myself.
And she likely also investigated the current state of affairs in the Saerim Kingdom.
“You don’t seem to think I’ll remove that blemish?”
“…If… you wished to remove it, I believe you would have done so long ago…”
“For someone prostrating after so long, your tongue certainly works well.”
“I… I was merely expressing my gratitude…”
“Enough. Rise.”
“Hehe.”
“You’re the only one who would relax like this before me.”
‘If only you knew. My insides are wound tight as a drum.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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