Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 758

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

Chapter 758
I obtained the Governor’s confirmation and official seal.
[Honestly, if you’re going to stamp it, stamp it all. Don’t be so stingy.]
[The kingdom will need to verify some things on their end, so wait a bit.]
I grumbled and tucked the documents into my robes.
After some of the seals were completed, the Governor spoke.
“Since the great famine ended, many have perished from starvation. Because of this, Rakshasa appear at night.”
“Rakshasa?”
My eyes widened slightly. Yeo Ha-ryun asked.
[Hyeong. What are Rakshasa?]
[They’re monsters from Celestial mythology. Rather than monsters, I’d say they’re similar to demons?]
Their bodies often took human form, but their faces frequently resembled beasts or malevolent spirits.
[Are they like Demonic Ghosts?]
[They’re different from those. Some have tiger faces, and others have forms like three-headed, six-armed creatures with four arms.]
Yeo Ha-ryun swallowed a drink before asking.
[Combat ability?]
True to his nature as Cheon Sal-seong, he was already thinking about taking their lives.
[According to legends, they possess abilities like creating illusions or shapeshifting. They grow stronger at night, but can also be active during the day. Those kinds of creatures.]
[Their diet?]
[Human blood and flesh.]
[As expected.]
The corners of Yeo Ha-ryun’s mouth lifted slightly.
[Now I’m finally gaining some enthusiasm.]
Cheon Sal-seong craves blood. Yeo Ha-ryun appeared to crave it as well.
He was a born warrior, an incarnation of violence itself.
A man who proved his existence through destruction.
‘If there are no enemies to fight, does that mean Yeo Ha-ryun’s very existence loses its value?’
In the original Jicheon Cheonma, true peace never came in the end.
Of course, temporary peace did arrive.
The typical ending where the villain crumbles while telling the hero, “Just wait! I will surely return!”
But it wasn’t left unresolved. Yeo Ha-ryun did everything he could.
He killed those who would become sources of calamity with his own hands.
A life of walking, walking, walking through a wasteland where both enemies and allies had vanished.
The bloodstained footprints could not be distinguished—were they the enemy’s or the ally’s?
Even the humanity he finally reclaimed, he could not be certain it was the same humanity he possessed.
There is no certainty. In nothing is there certainty.
‘Until the final moment, I can only fight and fight again.’
Will salvation come even to a broken axe?
I stroked Yeo Ha-ryun’s head.
[Why are you doing that?]
[Just like that.]
The Governor, unaware of the two people’s silent conversation, continued speaking.
“In any case, do not venture outside at night under any circumstances. I cannot guarantee your safety.”
* * *
After the banquet ended, I was guided to the guest quarters.
Just as at the royal palace, I was able to secure an entire private residence here.
It was truly a luxurious structure, with glass windows installed in the ceiling, their placement carefully calculated to allow moonlight to pour down.
“Wow, I’d love to build something like this at Baekrin Uiseon.”
A desire to construct a Taj Mahal-style domed building at the Medical Guild in Gangho began to bloom within me.
“Hyeolrin would build it for me.”
At those words, Jasi asked in return.
“Hyeolrin?”
“My Master.”
“He seems to be quite extravagant. Disciples should be taught through scarcity, as is the proper way.”
That was indeed the educational philosophy of this era.
I unpacked my belongings and then had a private audience with the Governor. It was a final desperate attempt to obtain sealed documents.
After returning thus.
“Phew, I obtained two more.”
“My Master is ruthless, and the Governor is ruthless as well.”
“I walked a precarious tightrope. If I pressed any harder, he might have thrown me out this time. Hehehehe.”
From my bright laughter, one could sense both joy and sorrow.
I had clung to him like a leech. The Governor’s endurance was no ordinary feat either….
‘Ah, so he brought back two more seals.’
It seemed he hadn’t completely given in.
I rolled the precious documents carefully as if handling treasure and placed them inside a bamboo tube. Then I sent them off through Noeji.
Whoosh!
“I thought you’d just keep the documents with you.”
“You never know—the castle could burn down. Ha-ryun. It’s better to entrust important documents to a safe place… rather than upload them. I mean, a safe place.”
Jasi asked Yeo Ha-ryun.
“Are all the bureaucrats of the Hwa Empire like this? What kind of paranoia is this?”
“…Do not speak carelessly of my Master.”
Yeo Ha-ryun unleashed a killing intent.
Even the legendary Jasi could not withstand Cheon Sal-seong’s killing intent and flinched in surprise.
Seeing this, I called out his name deliberately, syllable by syllable: “Yeo. Ha. Ryun.” Only then did he release his killing intent.
“My Master is praised as the finest administrator of the Hwa Empire. He moves for the sake of his people, so it is only natural that he leaves no openings.”
“Hahaha, how embarrassing.”
“Even if it appears somewhat paranoid, even if it seems mad, that is merely the perspective of the ordinary masses.”
…Did I just get insulted?
I pondered for three seconds whether this was a highly refined indirect insult, but Yeo Ha-ryun showed no such awareness.
Awareness was, after all, a quality possessed only by the weak.
Why would I need to develop perceptiveness when he already has such excellent instincts?
“By the way, it seems you went out while I was having a private conversation. Did you find anything useful?”
‘How did he notice that?’
Yeo Ha-ryun’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
‘So my brother’s sensory perception is that sharp.’
Jin Cheon-hee answered quickly.
“Ah, I noticed some dirt by the window. Since the floor and walls here are all white, footprints stand out. Ha-ryun.”
Only then did Yeo Ha-ryun grasp the truth and nod.
“I should dust off my feet when entering.”
“Or just avoid stepping on that area.”
Jasi watched the two of them and thought.
‘Are they fools? Is Cheon Sal-seong a fool?’
It was a matter arising from his firm trust in his brother, but in any case, these two seemed strange to Jasi.
“I moved around with Heukseolmyo, but a peculiar scent was interfering with her sense of smell.”
“Hmm, and you, Jasi?”
“There are no spirits in this place. By nature, land without spirits cannot exist. This means the spirits in this region have been artificially killed.”
“Not driven away?”
“Spirits who have lived on the land for thousands of years typically choose death over abandoning their territory. If they had relocated, that spirit should be discovered in nearby domains. Otherwise, they would only leave if they made a contract to devour human souls and wear their bodies as disguises—but that also leaves traces….”
“I see.”
Jin Cheon-hee furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought for a while before speaking.
“Thank goodness I removed the important documents beforehand. Long live Noeji. I cannot entrust my precious mine shares to such a dangerous place, not even for a second.”
“Once the sun sets, we should conduct a more thorough investigation. Since we cannot contact my subordinates, we must prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
Ilkana was not someone who would die easily.
But the path Yeo Ha-ryun had walked was always a battlefield, was it not?
‘In the original novel, Ilkana died. Not in this manner, but….’
Jin Cheon-hee became anxious and scratched his head vigorously.
“It’s probably nothing.”
That was when it happened.
Knock, knock—
The sound of knocking came from the door.
“Come in.”
The servants set down the meal, each to their place.
Typically, such evenings featured the most lavish menu the castle had to offer.
Moreover, in a place with a guest-welcoming culture, they would feed you until you burst.
However, what was placed before Jin Cheon-hee, Yeo Ha-ryun, and Jasi was merely lamb stew and a few pieces of bread.
Jasi asked in disbelief.
“That’s all? Listen here. Who are you trying to insult with this!”
But the servants only wore apologetic expressions at Jasi’s irritation, offering nothing more.
After sending the servants away, Jin Cheon-hee took a spoonful of the stew.
“Hmm. Hwang-gu. What do you think?”
Clang!
“There’s no poison in it.”
With that, he took a spoonful of the stew.
“The flavor is decent enough. Though the seasoning is a bit bland.”
He then pulled out salt, pepper, and spices from his pack and adjusted the seasoning to his taste.
Clang clang!
“That’s right. Hwang-gu needs to eat dinner too. Noeji will hunt for himself while flying, but Hwang-gu can’t do that.”
With that, I pulled out a large chunk of meat and began heating it over the flame.
Sizzle sizzle.
Jasi asked.
“Are you giving that to us too?”
“That’s Hwang-gu’s meal.”
“What? A dog eating better than people!”
“We can hunt separately at night for ourselves. This meat is seasoned to Hwang-gu’s taste, so it would be too bland for people to eat.”
Pant pant pant pant!
Hwang-gu drooled profusely and licked my face eagerly.
“There, there. Just wait a moment. Dad will prepare your meal.”
Jasi found himself envying Hwang-gu.
He never thought the day would come when he’d envy a dog.
* * *
The meal portions were still insufficient.
I handed out grain balls one by one.
“These were made as combat rations, so they replenish energy well and taste surprisingly good.”
Crunch crunch—
Sunflower seeds, peanuts, and walnuts were hardened together in honey.
As they dissolved on the tongue, a sweet and savory flavor emerged.
“This is delicious.”
“You can buy them later at the Golden Blood Hall.”
“Strange. A fortress without food to serve guests, yet everyone seems fine. No one’s complaining about the meal.”
As he was chewing, the door suddenly burst open.
“You! You ignored my words and came in here anyway!”
It was the nameless young man I’d met at the entrance earlier.
His small fists were clenched tight, trembling as he struggled to contain his anger.
“Hello there, little one.”
The young man was startled by my greeting.
“Hello nothing! Get out of here! Now!”
“Hmm~ I wonder why our friend is so eager to kick us out?”
My voice toward the child was gentler than usual.
“When night falls, you will all die! The Rakshasa is coming! And my father too… Father will…”
At that moment, Jasi roughly grabbed the child’s wrist.
“Ow!”
“Young man. Explain this to me in detail. It is only right. Under the summons of a properly named spirit. You shall speak all that you know.”
Saying so, Jasi attempted to use sorcery.
“…No, why isn’t it working?”
Strangely, the sorcery had no effect whatsoever on the young man.
Jasi’s eyes widened slightly. Separate from that, the young man struck away Jasi’s hand and cried out.
“I warned you clearly!”
Saying so, he dashed off somewhere else.
Not long after the young man ran off, a voice calling for him could be heard.
“Young Master! Young Master, where are you?”
A soldier. The same soldier who had called out searching for the young master before.
“Forgive the intrusion, but did the young master perhaps not come this way…?”
I answered.
“He came and then left.”
At those words, the soldier’s face brightened.
“I see. My apologies for the disturbance. Then I shall take my leave….”
At that moment, I quickly stopped him.
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes. Is there something the honored guest wishes to ask?”
“There is one thing I would like to inquire about… I heard earlier today that rescue had come.”
I asked about the story of how salvation had arrived when the city’s people were on the verge of starving due to the plague.
The previous soldier had refused to answer, but what of this one?

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