Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 580

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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 580
Oh Dok-mun was still in a warm region, so bathing posed no difficulty.
Since rain fell frequently and water was abundant, bathing itself had always been simple.
But the North Sea Ice Palace was different.
Water existed, yet the temperature was far too cold.
Without firewood, bathing was little different from suicide.
‘Perhaps poverty is more terrifying than heresy after all. No, thinking about it, the two arrive together.’
The poor fall ill frequently, and the more often they fall ill, the weaker their spirits become.
Heresy exploits those weakened gaps.
Though Hyeolseonggyo truly does receive blessings from Yoseon when human sacrifices are made—it is a religion, after all—a modern person like me suspects it is less a religion and more something akin to systematic orchestrated slaughter.
In any case, after finishing the relief efforts, I reorganized my belongings.
“The Palace Lord hasn’t sent anyone? Could it be this matter hasn’t reached his ears yet?”
At Gongseon Yeong’s words, Jin Cheon-hee shook his head.
“It likely reached him well enough. There’s no way it wouldn’t have. Yet allowing it to continue is essentially tacit approval.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I’m not sure.”
Jin Cheon-hee released a small sigh.
“Now that I think about it, why didn’t you distribute the heating charcoal for free? That pittance wouldn’t hurt you much anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to win the people’s hearts and give it freely?”
At those words, Jin Cheon-hee shook his head.
“I used to think vaguely that way too, but it doesn’t work that way. Human psychology dictates that people value free things as worthless. The price doesn’t need to be high, but they must pay something.”
It was a lesson I had learned while conducting smallpox inoculations in Hangzhou.
“Hmm.”
“If I hadn’t gained that lesson in Hangzhou, things might have been different. But because I learned it then, I am who I am now.”
Saying so, I rose to my feet.
“I should prepare for tomorrow. Buy heating charcoal and hot spring water too… I’ll search around to see if there’s any way. It’s such a perfect bathing environment—it would be a shame. For only a handful of North Sea Ice Palace people to monopolize that water.”
“That’s true.”
Thus Jin Cheon-hee headed toward the merchant district to purchase materials.
While buying things for tomorrow, someone suddenly approached Jin Cheon-hee.
Though disguised, Hwang-gu recognized them.
That meant they were someone we knew.
[I am the Holy Maiden. Would it be acceptable to speak with you?]
This was the first time we had spoken directly.
The merchant quietly shifted one step to the side and gestured toward the back door with his chin.
The Holy Maiden gave a signal and entered the house first.
Jin Cheon-hee followed the Holy Maiden inside the shop.
The Holy Maiden cleared away the items one by one.
The practiced movements were evident.
Finally, a secret room small enough for a single person to squeeze through sideways appeared.
The Holy Maiden entered there.
Jin Cheon-hee’s group entered together as well.
* * *
The moment Prince Han-bing arrived at the secret chamber, he spoke.
“What is the meaning of this, Sister?”
“It has been a long time, Priest. I am truly delighted to see you in good health.”
It was a woman with a clear voice.
She removed her disguise and exchanged pleasantries with Prince Han-bing.
“Jin Sogakju. I summoned you in such secrecy because I need your help in containing the plague.”
She clenched her teeth.
“I shall bear all the expenses required for this endeavor. My father is no longer the man he once was. The father of today has abandoned his people. As the Holy Maiden of the North Sea Ice Palace and the Shuho Church, I cannot possibly overlook this.”
Though her voice was low and quiet, her eyes were resolute.
Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“I cannot manage this alone. What we need most right now is bathing and laundry, but doing these frequently in the cold north is a death sentence—unless we use hot spring water.”
“….”
The Holy Maiden closed her eyes.
After a moment, she spoke.
“Firewood alone is insufficient, then?”
“Yes. Firewood costs money too. Right now, people cannot even afford the cleanliness necessary to prevent confusion fever—it is a luxury.”
“….”
Prince Han-bing spoke.
“Providing funds in secret is one thing, but permitting the use of hot springs is difficult even for you, Sister. Our Master is certainly not the same person as before, and will undoubtedly impose severe punishment. Do not overextend yourself.”
“…No. Priest Han-bing. That cannot be.”
The Holy Maiden spoke.
“Even if Father’s nature has changed, I believe he would not take the life of his own daughter for acting in the people’s interest. I will find a way somehow.”
Sigh.
She drew a deep breath.
Throughout her life, she had conducted herself properly as a Holy Maiden and lived according to her father’s words.
Prince Han-bing clicked his tongue.
“My good sister, who always obeyed Master’s words, has come to such a resolve.”
“There is a limit to merely watching and doing nothing. This is the first time I will defy Father, so I am somewhat afraid.”
She had been raised delicately. She thought so herself.
Yet, even a delicate flower raised with care—
—was not without ambition and resolve.
“When I was born, my mother passed away. I have lived as a Holy Maiden and have not experienced much hardship or rough labor. I understand this is thanks to Father’s great affection for me, but even someone as ignorant of worldly matters as I am can see that if things continue as they are, the North Sea Ice Palace will crumble.”
“….”
“Priest Han-bing, you would know this—that something is amiss in how the North Sea Ice Palace is being run.”
Eventually, Han-bing spoke honestly.
“If one has eyes, one cannot help but see. The streets filled with beggars. The last time I came to the North Sea Ice Palace, it was certainly not like this.”
“Yes. And to form an alliance with Sadoren and wage war. There is a plague spreading through the North Sea Ice Palace right now, yet I cannot understand why Father made such a choice. Surely the Father of old was so cold-hearted that he sent the Bing Jeong Sword to Baekrin Uiseon to close the silver source.”
“Does the North Sea Ice Palace desire war?”
In response to Jin Cheon-hee’s question, the Holy Maiden answered.
“The strangeness began several years ago. Of course, until then, Father had grown harsh in his methods, but it was only in strictly punishing those who violated the precepts, so we could understand it. Everyone assumed it was merely their own perception and let it pass. However…”
She clenched her teeth.
“…However. As the plague spread, Father grew increasingly strange, and that is when the alliance with Sadoren was formed.”
“He changed as the plague spread?”
“Yes. Of course, he has not yet crossed into becoming a blood fiend. But I cannot be certain what will happen in the future.”
I pressed my forehead with my hand.
Between my pale, slender fingers, blue eyes gleamed.
“Then I must ask. How long has this man called Saint Germain been settled here?”
“At least ten years, if not more. He is a most admirable person.”
“I see. Is he trustworthy?”
When Saint Germain’s name suddenly came from my lips, the Holy Maiden tilted her head in confusion, but soon nodded.
“Yes. He is greatly respected in this region. I share the same sentiment.”
“…I see. One more question, if I may. What exactly does a Holy Maiden do in the church? Ah, haha. I am not questioning the religious aspects at all. It is simply that as an outsider, I am unfamiliar with such matters.”
I asked the potentially delicate question with careful cushioning.
The Holy Maiden did not seem displeased and answered readily.
“I am a guardian of the law and keeper of the sacred grounds. To ascend to the holy sanctuary at the peak of that great mountain, Cheonbingsan, one must undergo a ceremony that I perform.”
Prince Han-bing added a remark.
“In the Central Plains style, one might say an extraordinarily special formation array is deployed there.”
“Ah? Such a thing exists? How fascinating.”
“Furthermore, among the Holy Maidens of past generations, some have heard the voice of heaven and made prophecies, but I am ashamed to say I have never heard it even once.”
Perhaps some manner of precognitive ability.
In any case, she seemed embarrassed that she had never heard such a voice, and her face flushed.
Prince Han-bing quickly added.
“But you perform the ceremonies successfully. Sister, you are more than a worthy Holy Maiden.”
“Priest, thank you for the comfort. You need not worry about it.”
She said this, but could not hide her reddened expression.
Whether one could hear divine revelations seemed quite important.
I pretended not to notice.
“Ah… In any case, I have come one step closer to understanding the Guardian Church. I would like to compile what I have seen and heard here into a book someday. Thank you.”
I spoke with deliberate cheerfulness and asked again.
“Holy Maiden, how might we dissolve the alliance with Sadoren? Or is there perhaps some clue that could restore the Patriarch to his senses?”
The Holy Maiden fell silent at my direct question.
Then she spoke.
“If you investigate the Qingguang Crystal Mine, you might find a clue…?”
“Hmm?”
“After Father’s personality began to change, he started making frequent city inspections. He always visits the Qingguang Crystal Mine. Even now, he goes twice a month.”
“But the Qingguang Crystal is as important to the North Sea Ice Palace as ice crystals. Isn’t it natural to inspect it frequently?”
She shook her head at that.
“I tried to investigate it personally and discreetly. But I have been unable to do so due to strange interference. I even sent some of my trusted attendants, but they went missing.”
At those words, I smiled benevolently on the surface, but thought to myself:
‘Oh, you say you grew up sheltered and ignorant of worldly affairs. Yet you’ve been quite busy behind the scenes, Holy Maiden.’
Setting people to watch my father for suspicious behavior was one thing, but shouldn’t a few disappearances have made her more cautious, more fearful?
Watching her come to me personally and whisper in that small, shy voice that I had to stop this—I found myself thinking something.
‘…Ah. I must never become enemies with the Holy Maiden.’
There were people at the hospital with that kind of nature—soft on the outside, steel within.
Such people quietly did what needed to be done, and they had strong stress tolerance.
They were the type with real backbone.
They even smiled in that shy way, and then—
They recorded the hospital’s corruption and leaked it to the press.
It happened when I was just a fledgling at the hospital.
The hospital was turned upside down then, but with many people, including my senior, stepping forward, things improved for the better.
‘I didn’t understand it back then. My senior ran forward, so I ran too. My senior told me to go sign the petition, so I signed.’
Once my mind matured and I thought back on it, all those people stepping forward as if they’d been waiting—
Wasn’t it because that quiet nurse had already reached out to everyone for help and given them hints before making the revelation?
‘That quiet nurse resolved the matter and left.’
Nurses were in shortage everywhere anyway, so there was no need to worry, she’d said.
As long as the body wasn’t too worn down, there was no reason to sit idle, and she’d left various snacks on my desk.
For my senior who would stay behind, she’d handed over an entire basket overflowing with provisions.
She’d said in a small voice it was a gift for the comrade who would suffer the most going forward.
My senior laughed like a devil and distributed the chocolate bars to everyone.
‘It’s people with this kind of courage who change the world.’
And at the same time, it was people with this kind of courage who disappeared first.
How much effort I’d put into preventing that.
Those mistakes and regrets from back then became experience.
They became the spine supporting my heart.
“I understand. I shall return.”
“Thank you. Jin Sogakju.”
The Holy Maiden bowed deeply, her voice small yet her eyes resolute.

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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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