Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 492

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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 492
First, I inoculated the doctors who had been exposed to smallpox.
I stepped forward myself and was the first to receive the vaccination, setting an example for the others.
‘I’ve been saving this moment for a long time.’
When the Patriarch came forward to administer the inoculation directly, the others found the courage to proceed as well.
It was something we could accomplish precisely because we understood medicine so well.
“Well, even if it fails, we’d just catch cowpox, right?”
Smallpox is a terrible disease.
Even those who survived had to live with hundreds of hideous pustule scars covering their faces, and their appearance was so repulsive that people shunned them.
Finding employment was difficult enough, but people threw stones at them, claiming that merely standing beside such a person would transmit smallpox.
‘So this is where it begins.’
First, I had to save the patients, and prevent smallpox from spreading.
As for tracing the source of infection… in an era where smallpox is already rampant, it would likely be meaningless.
Still, I could at least prevent people from entering the homes of patients and arrange cremation for funerals instead.
‘Alright, let’s do this.’
Regardless, I had to save lives.
Anxiety washed over me as I wondered whether people would truly accept this.
* * *
“We’ve heard that if you catch cowpox, you truly won’t catch smallpox, so we’ve come.”
The next day, people from the slums arrived first.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Is it… safer than variolation?”
In the past, our country had also introduced variolation as a method to prevent smallpox, but its dangers were always a concern.
It was the same here.
“Yes, the side effects occur in only one in a thousand cases… and it rarely results in death, though high fever may be endured.”
How did I know that? Through what process did I discover it?
When such questions arose…
‘I can’t answer. I know this.’
In any case, those who caught cowpox didn’t catch smallpox, whether here or elsewhere—it was the same.
In modern times, it’s common knowledge, like how water falls from above to below.
But here, it’s knowledge that hasn’t yet spread.
Still, I couldn’t just let people die.
Without realizing it, I clenched and unclenched my fists from tension.
Then one person spoke calmly.
“May I be the first to receive it?”
“Yes?”
“The Divine One has said he knows the way to never catch smallpox in one’s lifetime, so it must be done.”
“That’s right. The Divine One will drive away the evil spirits with his mystical golden needle!”
…As expected, folk beliefs were mixed in.
‘Perhaps it’s more convincing to say that the disease vanished through the mystical golden needle imbued with inner energy, rather than that an incurable disease was prevented through the power of science.’
Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“Anyone who contracts smallpox develops immunity. There’s no need to receive it specifically from me.”
“I see. So you’re saying you’ll prevent us from catching smallpox?”
Well, I suppose all’s well that ends well.
Living in this era, I’ve come to realize that the people here aren’t any less intelligent than those in the modern world.
In fact, their memory often seemed superior to that of modern people.
But the difference between the modern world and this era seemed to stem from disparities in scientific and technological advancement.
The modern world was built upon countless discoveries and inventions accumulated over time.
This era simply hasn’t accumulated as much yet.
After all, it would take many more years before public education could teach how vaccines actually work.
That’s simply how it is.
“Still, thank you for coming.”
“We should be the ones thanking you.”
I wondered if I had perhaps underestimated the weight of my past good deeds.
Perhaps I had undervalued the power that my name carried in Hangzhou.
Jin Cheon-hee vaccinated everyone.
* * *
After vaccination, it was dangerous to care for a child with smallpox until immunity developed.
However, if the Medical Guild couldn’t care for one sick child, that would be no different from abandonment.
I deliberated greatly, but the matter resolved more easily than expected.
“Ah, I had cowpox before!”
Ha Uiwon, who came from Baekwhanhoo, raised her hand.
She spoke.
“In my village, the women herded the cattle and the men tilled the fields. So I caught it that way too. Now that I think about it, I’m fortunate.”
Baekwhanhoo gathered children from various backgrounds and regions.
I had never discriminated based on where they came from. Only their qualifications mattered.
As a result, I never expected that the kindness I had shown in the past would return to me in this way.
“Smallpox is something everyone avoids nursing. Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, Ha Uiwon let out a soft laugh.
“If I stay by the child’s side constantly nursing them and still don’t catch smallpox, then your claim is correct, isn’t it?”
“Yes!”
“It’s actually quite remarkable. My village had many cattle, so many people caught cowpox, and because of that, almost no one caught smallpox. Especially the village women—they were always healthy.”
Ha Uiwon pondered for a moment before speaking.
“If I remain healthy throughout this ordeal, will you include my name in a medical text later?”
Even in this situation, the terms were clearly established.
Jin Cheon-hee’s heart swelled with pride.
‘You’ve grown well. You’ve grown so well. My goodness… my student.’
Doing good deeds brings good results, but if there’s profit to be gained, one should seize it. I appreciate the cleverness.
This is the feeling a professor has watching a well-developed graduate student.
“Of course. Thank you.”
“Sounds good.”
‘Phew, I survived.’
I wiped my chest in relief.
* * *
While Ha Uiwon cared for the child, vaccination marks and the characteristic rash of cowpox appeared on my arm.
As soon as immunity developed, I met with Ha Uiwon.
She was exactly as usual.
“I’ve been taking your pulse daily, and you’re perfectly fine as expected.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Just to be thorough, I even injected you with bacteria from an actual smallpox patient….”
“Wha—cough!”
I panicked and waved my arm frantically.
Ha Uiwon’s eyes blazed with determination.
“Just a moment, Patriarch. I must reach the rank of Sang Ui-won.”
“At the very least, if you’re going to do something like that, you should have told me first.”
“But I was quite certain you wouldn’t contract it.”
“Aren’t you placing far too much trust in me?”
At those words, Ha Uiwon let out a soft laugh.
“I have experience from the village too. And… Hye… that friend trusts you.”
At that, I found myself glancing toward where Sama-hye was.
Since she received the vaccination on the same day as me, she would have the rash marks as well.
Ha Uiwon spoke.
“Of course, there are those born and raised in medical families to become doctors, but people like me who entered Baekwanhoo and became doctors have special feelings toward you, Patriarch.”
The path of children born to poor warriors, or children who lost their parents—it was always predetermined.
Rolling through mud, learning the law of the jungle, and ultimately climbing upward by killing someone.
Some turned toward the righteous path, but more often they walked the dark one.
That was because of the cost-effectiveness of evil that I had once felt.
‘You were the one who cut that off for us.’
Yet this beautiful man wore a sluggish expression.
“Oh, have you fallen for me?”
Making the same jokes I’d made to Manseondaejoo.
“Well, let’s say I admire your character.”
“Hehe.”
Of course, it wasn’t romantic attraction as a man.
Honestly, both appearance and character are remarkable, but if she became my spouse, I could clearly see the gates of hell opening.
Still.
Even without romantic feelings between man and woman, isn’t it acceptable to have reverence for a debt of gratitude?
Ha Uiwon spoke.
“We doctors of Baekwanhoo will always stand by your side, Patriarch.”
“About the monthly salary….”
“Of course, that’s assuming you maintain your current standard of work.”
Ha Uiwon spoke firmly, then thought of Sama-hye.
Sama-hye shared a room with this Ha Uiwon.
I wonder if the Patriarch knows how much this fellow talks about favors.
Rather, he spoke decisively.
“That’s a commendable mindset. People need money to work, after all. You must live with that spirit. Still, next time, come speak with me first. It could have been dangerous.”
I said as much.
Then, as if remembering something, I added another thought.
“In truth, this matter warrants a penalty. You understand? But… yes. Having heard such words, it’s difficult to scold you.”
I laughed wryly, then added with a grave expression.
“And your wrist.”
“Yes.”
He meant to take my pulse.
Thus I examined Ha Uiwon’s physical condition through pulse diagnosis for a long time.
Ha Uiwon suddenly observed me with my eyes closed.
‘He really is quite handsome.’
Why does this poisonous mushroom look so beautiful?
That’s probably why people of all kinds keep falling for the Patriarch.
Even knowing that if I truly fell, my insides would be torn apart, this man goes about his work with utter indifference.
Soon, long, thick eyelashes opened.
“Fortunately, you’re healthy. Still, just to be safe, receive a pulse diagnosis from me daily. And the medical treatise… well… let’s add your name to it as well.”
“Yes!”
I smile brightly.
“You must stay healthy.”
In that moment, Ha Uiwon’s heart skipped slightly.
Thump—
I’m done for.
In the end, I’ve consumed this poisonous mushroom.
This was madness.
* * *
Leaving Ha Uiwon to begin his fated first love, I started my duties.
First, caring for patients infected with smallpox.
Adults began arriving too, but as expected, children and the elderly were most numerous.
‘Why are there so many children and elderly in hospitals?’
I understand it intellectually.
Their immune systems are weak.
Hearing childhood stories from my parents, there were no shortage of people who constantly fell ill and treated the hospital like their home.
When an adult falls ill, they drink a cup of water and recover, but a child convulses.
Yet the same applies to the elderly.
Many would collapse from stress with a single gasp and arrive at my door.
Perhaps that’s why.
Emergency trauma from martial combat brings many young warriors, while diseases like this draw mostly children and the elderly.
‘The elderly, at least… they all prepare themselves mentally.’
They reflect on their lives lived, spending time with family and friends.
They’ve accumulated much, and they have ample time to ready their hearts.
But children are different.
A child cannot understand why they suffer, and parents tear out their own hearts each time their child falls ill.
Even the medical staff watching couldn’t help but struggle against the contagion of that sorrow.
This world was no exception.
The child’s body was covered in pustules.
I infused my inner energy into the child and continued nursing them.
It was identical to the cholera outbreak.
Without proper medicine, symptomatic treatment was all we could offer.
With a doctor’s power alone, I could neither prevent new pustules from rising nor end this suffering.
All I could do was keep them breathing until their body could overcome it.
‘How futile medicine seems when confronted with this.’
The world still held far too many diseases beyond our power to defeat.

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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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