I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 38

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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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A veterinary doctor for Divine Beasts
#38
For now, I’ve decided to continue treatment by stopping by Jo Mi-so’s place before the clinic opens, getting acupuncture done, and then leaving.
There was good news yesterday, though.
After placing the needles and returning, I got a call from Detective Jin Do-gyeong.
— He said her reflex responses have become a bit more pronounced!
— It’s not consciousness recovery yet, but she’s definitely better than yesterday.

After hanging up, I held my phone tightly for a long moment.
A small warmth blossomed in my chest.
Of course.
From a medical standpoint, it could be coincidence, or the result of multiple treatments overlapping.
Still.
‘It’s better than nothing happening at all.’
Until Mi-so wakes up.
I’m resolved to keep placing needles like this, consistently.
With the heart of cheering her on as she battles fiercely at the boundary between life and death.
‘Now the urgent one is Detective Jin Do-gyeong.’
I was sitting in front of the clinic reception desk when I let out a small sigh.
Shoulder muscle rupture.
Both the acupuncture and Spiritual Energy treatment were responding more slowly than expected.
At this rate, it’ll take far too long.
If the detective can’t get back to the scene soon, those mugging criminals won’t get caught.
Without any clear solution, my mind just kept racing with urgency.
Ding—
Just then, the clinic door opened.
Followed by a familiar voice.
“I’m here, Yeon-hui.”
“Oh, so Yun-sang’s here?”
Ma Yun-sang came in with his cap pulled low and a mask firmly in place.
……But.
In that moment, the air in the waiting room seemed to shimmer subtly.
“Huh?”
“Wait, that person?”
“Could it be……?”
And then.
“Wow! It’s Ma Yun-sang!”
“He really does come here?”
Small exclamations burst out from various corners.
No matter how low Yun-sang pulled his cap or how firmly he wore his mask, it made no difference.
That tanned, burnished skin, that obviously athletic, muscular build.
Those broad shoulders alone screamed “national team athlete.”
“This is crazy……!”
“We couldn’t ask for an autograph, right……?”
People murmured excitedly as they approached, yet hesitated to move closer.
Yun-sang’s expression was so fierce and masculine that, in silence, he honestly looked rather intimidating.
Besides, the interviews I’d seen barely matched this with a kind image.
‘Don’t worry, everyone. Our colt doesn’t bite.’
I was awkwardly scratching my cheek when—
“……Is there something you need?”
Yun-sang opened his mouth first, speaking softly.
For a moment, the waiting room fell silent—
“Oh, yes!”
“Could we maybe take a photo……!”
“And a signature too! We’re fans, Yun-sang!”
Whoosh.
People swarmed toward him as if they’d been waiting for permission.
Yun-sang’s eyes widened slightly, and his ears blushed pink.
Even so, he quietly signed autographs, took photos, and accommodated everyone one by one.
Even when—
“Poke my cheek too!”
“……Like, this way?”
Poke.
At the request to poke her cheek, he awkwardly extended his fingers, and laughter erupted around the room.
Watching him, I bit back my own laughter.
‘See? Looks tough and expressionless, but the kid’s got a good heart.’
After finishing all the fan service—
Yun-sang finally managed to turn his body toward the treatment room.

* * *

These days, Ma Yun-sang still comes regularly for Migraine Treatment from me.
Beyond that, with all the soccer he plays, his knees and thighs bear the wear and tear, so we’re managing those too.
Today I was in the middle of placing needles when he spoke.
“Noona.”
“Hmm?”
Yun-sang, still lying on the treatment bed, glanced up at me.
“Your expression looks off today.”
I paused for a moment.
“……Does it show that much?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Your mouth corners.”
With that, Yun-sang pulled down the corners of his own mouth with both index fingers.
This kid really does.
Have surprisingly keen observational skills?
I deliberately smiled playfully as I spoke.
“Huh, didn’t expect such good observation skills.”
“So what’s going on?”
At his question, the smile gradually faded from my face.
After a moment’s hesitation, I sighed it all out.
“Well, actually…….”
And I explained how a regular patient had become a victim of a new mugging crime and now lay in a coma at the hospital.
On top of that, I matter-of-factly summarized how the Divine Beast detective investigating the case, Jin Do-gyeong, had also badly injured his shoulder.
Yun-sang’s brow furrowed instantly.
“Ah, those ba—”
He clenched his teeth and started to mutter something lowly, then caught my eye and swallowed it back.
From his expression, it looked like he was about to unleash some serious curses……?!
After a brief silence, he continued with considerably toned-down language.
“……Man. They’re really bad people. But you said the one in the coma did show some response after getting your needles?”
“Yeah. Very faint, but.”
“Then she’ll wake up.”
I laughed weakly.
“I hope so…….”
Yun-sang was quiet for a moment, then suddenly looked straight at me and spoke.
“But noona.”
“Hmm?”
“If she doesn’t wake up, you’re blaming yourself for all of it, aren’t you?”
It felt like my heart was stabbed.
“……A little, yeah.”
I finally admitted it honestly.
“I’m worried that Mi-so won’t wake up because my abilities aren’t enough.”
Yun-sang fell silent in thought for a moment, then said something unexpected.
“I’m not great with words, so I’m not sure if this is the right comparison, but there have been a few times when match results depended on my shoulders.”
“I bet. You’re the national team ace. You’ve carried more than one game.”
I nodded.
Yun-sang continued matter-of-factly.
“Of course it was stressful. But whenever I felt that pressure, I deliberately didn’t look far ahead.”
“Didn’t look ahead?”
“No. I erased all thoughts about what the rankings would be if we lost this game, what the schedule would be afterward—everything.”
Yun-sang gently clenched and unclenched his fist.
“I just focused on this one goal. This one move, right now. Just that.”
“Ah…….”
“And before I knew it, the match had gone well.”
I blinked slowly.
Those words struck me in a way that felt strangely necessary.
The weight pressing on my chest since earlier began to feel lighter.
‘That’s right. There’s no point worrying about the distant future from now.’
All I can do right now.
Is give my all to each moment of treatment, day by day.
And I was truly grateful that Yun-sang, who’s usually taciturn and quiet, would draw on his own experience like this to comfort me.
I lifted the corners of my mouth slightly.
“Thanks, Yun-sang. I’ll buck up now.”
Yun-sang nodded, relieved at last.
“Detective Jin’s shoulder really does sound serious though. If even a famous healer like you can’t fix it…….”
“Please. What am I? I’ve still got a long way to go.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
Then Yun-sang suddenly spoke with complete seriousness.
“No. You’re a healer on the level of Seol Un-hwa, noona.”
Seol Un-hwa.
A legendary figure in the Divine Beast world, on the same tier as Heo Jun and Hua Tuo.
My face grew warm for no reason.
‘This kid too? Saying something so embarrassing without even smiling.’
I quickly changed the subject.
“The detective’s shoulder muscle rupture will probably take a long time to recover from.”
“If the muscle is torn…….”
Yun-sang paused to think, then casually said—
“I wish we could just stitch it back together.”
“Ha, if only we could——”
I was answering with a laugh when—
My words trailed off and I froze.
‘……Wait?’
Stitch it back together?
Something flickered in my mind like a spark catching light.
A treatment that delivers continuous stimulation, as if stitching muscle fibers back together.
‘Maybe that could work.’
My heart began to race.
I broke into a broad smile.
“Thanks, Yun-sang.”
“Huh?”
“A great idea just came to me because of you!”
Yun-sang scratched his head with a bewildered expression.
“I’m not sure what I even did…….”
“No, really. Talking with you and Ra Bit sometimes sparks these good ideas.”
At that, Yun-sang laughed shyly, his fierce appearance belying his bashfulness.
“So you’re making me a clever colt too, noona?”
“Sure, sure. Clever colt certified.”
“……Hehe.”
For some reason, Yun-sang looked extremely satisfied.
To think I’d initially mistaken such a pure and kindhearted kid for a dangerous person.
‘Looking back now, he’s just the type who went through an all-boys middle and high school, so he’s a bit awkward with words, but actually he’s just a good kid, right?’
As I finished the acupuncture treatment, I laughed along with him.

* * *

After Ma Yun-sang left.
I immediately sat down at the PC in the director’s office and opened the messenger.
‘To get what I need for that treatment, I should probably…….’
I scrolled through my contacts and tapped the name of one person.
Lee Han-na.
One of the three people in the group messenger room called “Gyeong Shin University Korean Medicine Department Beauty Trio.” (For the record, she was the one who came up with that room name.)

Hey Han-na, you busy?

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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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