Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 304

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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 304
‘Damn it. There must be some condition attached to this. Is this something only passed down to the Emperor? But why do I have any obligation to do anything here?’
I shifted my perspective.
Why did I come to Bigo in the first place?
‘To obtain martial arts.’
Did I achieve that goal?
‘I did.’
Is there anything else I can gain from Eungryong here?
‘Unknown.’
Can I fulfill whatever ‘condition’ Eungryong is hinting at?
‘It doesn’t seem possible right now.’
Then what should I do?
‘Leave.’
Whether I exit through the ceiling or check if the stairs have reappeared and retrace that damned path back, I just need to go.
The decision crystallized in the blink of an eye.
“Ah, I see. Eungryong, then I’ll take my leave now.”
Right. I’ve seen one hidden secret of the world’s lore. That’s enough.
Why would I need to dig into some ‘threads of fate’ anyway?
-What?
“I didn’t even know what this place was when I entered. It seems I’ve caused you trouble because of that. I apologize. In the future, someone who properly understands their duty will come. I’ll be going now.”
Why waste time?
That’s when Eungryong stared at me intently before suddenly bursting into laughter.
-Krahahahaha! Genuine! You’re genuine! Standing before this Eungryong himself, you leave without a single shred of attachment! Krahahahaha! Krhahahahahaha!
Eungryong’s laughter reverberated through the cave, but I simply sighed.
‘This Eungryong doesn’t seem to have any intention of harming me, at least.’
That’s good enough. Later, some legendary hero will descend into this cave at the end times, receive an oracle from Eungryong, and pull Excalibur… ah, that’s a different genre.
“I came here just wondering if there might be any martial arts to learn. I don’t really know anything about duties or obligations. And I don’t particularly want anything from Eungryong either. It seems there are conditions of some kind, but I don’t care about those. So I’ll be going. Farewell.”
Right. Future chosen one.
Figure it out yourself.
Not my concern.
Just as I turned to leave.
-Wait. Stop.
I turned back to face Eungryong.
-To make me laugh after thousands of years. You’re an interesting one. A being who scatters the threads of fate, whose flesh should have been dead yet lives… Interesting indeed. Very interesting. Fine. In exchange for amusing me, I shall converse with you. If you have questions, you may ask. I shall answer.
Oh… really?
This creature resembles Jang Mun-in somewhat, probably because it’s a mystical being from a martial arts world.
If I had whined about wanting to know something and asked what price he wanted, he would have said ‘Insignificant human. Would this Eungryong concern himself with such things?’ and then ‘Hmph, so you too ultimately covet my power,’ before turning away.
But by saying ‘Go well,’ ‘I don’t care,’ and ‘I’m leaving,’ and actually turning away, suddenly it becomes ‘Oh, this one’s cool.’
Whether they’re mystical beings or humans, everyone living in the martial arts world seems to find this attitude impressive.
It’s romantic, if anything.
In any case, thank you for answering my questions.
“Then, what is ‘the Time’?”
Eungryong had mentioned the concept of “the Time” earlier.
I had a vague sense of what it meant, but it was best to clarify it precisely first.
-It refers to the moment when the balance of heaven and earth is shattered, and the master of the world changes. Who is the current master of this realm? Is it not you, descendants of Boggi, and the humans you protect? However, when humans themselves throw the world into chaos, the Time arrives. It is the moment when the master of the realm changes.
Are humans bringing about their own destruction?
It didn’t seem to be merely on the level of a righteous war against evil.
-When that time comes, humans will no longer claim to be the masters of this realm. The world will be washed clean with human blood, and a new order and rules will take hold. Even if Boggi bestows the Eight Trigrams to protect you, it will not be able to prevent this.
“That is… well…”
-Yes. It is the downfall of humanity. Not quite extinction, but the peaceful life you now enjoy will exist no longer.
That’s somewhat amusing.
From an Earthling’s perspective, humanity on this martial world isn’t exactly close to peace anyway.
As an inspector who recently went about suppressing magistrates, village chiefs, and bandits with equal enthusiasm, my assessment is accurate.
To truly enjoy peace while living on this martial world, one needs money, power, or martial skill.
You must possess at least one of these three.
And it must never waver.
Because if it does, you’ll be cast into a hell created by humans themselves.
‘A worse hell than this exists?’
Then a world-ending scenario would be necessary.
This Eungryong fellow certainly doesn’t seem to care much about human affairs.
‘Humans aren’t actually very peaceful either. In the Gangho of Dosan Swordforest, we’re all busy killing each other.’ If I said that, he’d probably just snort dismissively.
So my next question would be.
“Why do you come to me when the Time arrives?”
-To give you one last chance. However, even if you have that last chance when the Time comes, can you truly survive?
That’s quite a story… But thinking about it coldly.
‘It has nothing to do with me.’
After all, Jicheon Cheonma has an ending similar to most martial arts novels.
Defeat the Final Boss, achieve enlightenment, ascend to immortality, and it ends.
Of course, the process is so tragic that no one—not family, not brothers, not friends, not even subordinates—remains alive; they all die.
Yet despite this, though Yeo Ha-ryun was solitary, his martial studies did not end.
Doesn’t everything end once the protagonist defeats the Final Boss?
‘Though the protagonist lived happily ever after’ may not be the case.
But ‘This world became peaceful thanks to the protagonist’ becomes the novel’s ending, doesn’t it?
Usually.
-This time, I will ask. Since I’ve told you this story out of goodwill, you will answer me as well, yes?
“Yes, of course. What would you like to know?”
-What exactly are you?
“Pardon?”
*Ssshhh*
Eungryong unfurled his tail and settled into a more comfortable position.
-The karmic debt clinging to your body is of a level I have never witnessed before. It seems you did not merely save one or two lives through Gumyeong Jieun.
“Ah… You can see such things?”
-Hehehehe, I am Eungryong. I am the supreme being who observes all things.
“I… see. However, it is difficult for me to provide an answer.”
-Hmm?
I crossed my arms and fell into thought.
“First, my profession is that of a doctor. Saving lives is my livelihood.”
-You do not even know how many people you have saved?
“Well… there are those I have directly saved, but there are also lives I have indirectly saved by manufacturing new medicines… Ah, of course I have lowered the unit cost, but I am careful about supply. If resistance develops, there is no solution.”
To begin with, only the unit cost can be lowered; there are limits to production volume.
I cannot supply the entire vast Central Continent with the meager output from that small laboratory, nor should I.
To use Baek Rin Elixir, approval from a relevant specialist—that is, a Sang Ui-won—is required.
The method of use is also strictly regulated.
Of course, even with such measures, families of power and influence will eventually manage to keep one or two on hand at all times, but such powerful clans represent only an extreme minority of the total population.
Baek Rin Pills have had their unit cost reduced to a price that will not bankrupt commoners, but obtaining them still requires a prescription from a Sang Ui-won.
It is not possible here to purchase them as casually as one would buy cold medicine at a pharmacy on Earth.
I am striving to maintain balance between resistance and treatment, but this alone was of course insufficient.
“The doctors I have taught also save others. I have published books. I am working very hard on soap distribution, and recently I have begun distributing water purification tubes….”
Counting them off one by one on my fingers, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
‘I have done much since coming to this world.’
My sense of self-worth swelled.
‘So this is why people live doing good deeds.’
-Ha? Krahahahaha! A masterpiece! A true masterpiece! Ahahaha! I see. You are… an existence that appeared to delay the inevitable.
“Pardon?”
-The inevitable always comes. The creation and destruction of all things is an endless cycle, an absolute law of the universe. The end will also come to your human world—it is inevitable. Do you think you can prevent it?
The protagonist Yeo Ha-ryun will defeat the Final Boss and it will end, so what.
Yet for some reason, hearing Eungryong’s words made my heart stir uneasily.
It was the unease of one who knows the ending of a story.
‘What if Yeo Ha-ryun’s ascension to immortality was not the end.’
What would become of this world after the protagonist disappears.
No, that cannot be.
The story has ended, so all conflicts must return to their proper places.
Is that not the protagonist’s role.
I shook my head.
“I am simply doing what I wish to do.”
-What is it that you wish to do?
“Well, I must continue doing what I am doing now. Since I am a doctor. And if I am to be a bit more ambitious… I will travel around eating delicious food. I also wish to make it myself.”
-Krkrkrkrkrkrk. Save people and eat delicious things? Such purity without a moment’s hesitation or delusion. One might even call it madness. Then, descendant of Boggi, since I have taken a liking to you, I shall bestow upon you a gift.
In that moment, Eungryong’s horns shone brilliantly, and a round pearl the size of two finger joints materialized in the air before my eyes.
‘This looks exactly… like a gobstopper candy.’
Professor Jin had seen these sold frequently at the stationery store in front of his school when he was young.
-A fragment of my precious treasure. Take it with you and consume it. It will aid you. Others may eat this, but they will see no benefit from it. You must be the one to consume it. Remember this well.
I grasped the pearl almost reflexively.
“What are the effects of this…?”
Splash!
Without answering my question, Eungryong’s massive form sank back beneath the lake.
-It has been a long time since I enjoyed myself so. Should you remain alive until that time comes, find me again.
Only his voice echoed faintly.
Swish—
Mist began to swirl around me once more, obscuring everything from view.
This time, however, the fog parted only along the path leading to the exit, as if guiding me forward.
Eungryong’s intention was unmistakable.
I followed the only visible path.

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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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