I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 53

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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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I had become a doctor to the Divine Beasts.
#53
After much winding trouble, we finally arrived at the Won Clan’s workshop.
I’d honestly expected the workshop to be hidden somewhere deep in a mountain valley.
After all, I’d heard it was where they crafted secret items for Divine Beasts.
But then.
“……This place?”
I blinked.
What lay before me was the very heart of Sokcho Central Market.
An utterly ordinary souvenir shop tucked into one corner of a bustling street.
“Are you serious? This is really it? You’re not messing with me?”
“This is it.”
Won Jun answered without hesitation.
I glanced around the shop.
The left display of the entrance held shells, conch decorations, postcards—all those typical seaside trinkets arranged exactly as you’d expect in a tourist shop.
‘Hide a tree in the forest, is that it?’
I looked up at Won Jun with genuine admiration.
“Wow, nobody would ever suspect. Anyone would think it’s just an ordinary souvenir shop.”
He gave a light shrug.
“It actually is an ordinary souvenir shop. We sell everything here to regular customers too.”
“Really?”
“Of course the things here aren’t Spiritual Items—just sturdy, quality products.”
I nodded and began scanning the display cases.
Leather bracelets, silver rings, necklaces made from sea glass, ornaments woven from shells.
There were also quite a few metal craft pieces—scabbards, short swords, small decorative blades.
“But the real workshop—”
Won Jun chuckled.
He spun around and walked toward the counter.
Then he opened a small side door.
Just like the attic door I’d seen before, it had a handle that was surprisingly elegant.
“In here.”
As we stepped through, the space changed entirely.
“Wow!”
I found myself catching my breath involuntarily.
A vast workshop stretched before us—impossible to reconcile with the small shop size outside.
Work tables scattered throughout. Upon them lay hammers, tongs, grinders, and countless strange tools whose names I couldn’t begin to guess.
Rings, bracelets, talismans, even small short swords. Completed Spiritual Items hung in rows along the walls.
‘Now this looks like a proper Divine Beast workshop.’
As I was turning in wonder, Baek Eun-ho spoke from beside me.
“Where is Clan Leader Won Young-ok?”
That’s when it happened.
“Haa-aaah—”
A leisurely yawn echoed from somewhere, and a shadow suddenly appeared.
Won Jun waved lightly toward her.
“Grandmother, I’ve brought some guests. You just woke up?”
“Yeah, I was making Spiritual Items all night yesterday, so I took a quick nap. Just woke up.”
The elderly woman said this while rubbing her eyes.
My eyes widened.
‘This is Clan Leader Won Young-ok?’
When I’d heard “Clan Leader,” I’d honestly imagined someone like Baek Ho-jung—a middle-aged man.
But what stood before me was—
An elderly woman with hair braided in two pigtails, snow-white, wearing denim overalls.
‘Pigtails and overalls?’
That was certainly… refreshing.
Moreover, from just waking, her cheeks held a soft rosy flush.
All together, despite her age, she had the air of a mischievous girl.
“You should at least consider your age.”
Won Jun sighed as he spoke.
“I keep telling you not to lose sleep, but you keep running out of energy like this.”
“What can I do? We don’t have enough hands, and the work those juniors do doesn’t meet my standards.”
The old woman snapped back sharply.
Her eyebrows twitched.
“And another thing, Won Jun—I told you to call me ‘Clan Leader’ and use formal speech in front of others!”
“That’s too embarrassing. I hate it.”
“Good heavens.”
The old woman rubbed her forehead.
“And I have to groom that shameless boy as my successor?”
Amid the commotion, I carefully bowed my head.
“Hello, Clan Leader. I’m Go Yeon-hee.”
The old woman looked me up and down in silence—a sharp gaze, as though assessing quality.
Then she spoke flatly.
“So you’re the Purifier who wanted to entrust that Spiritual Item? The half-baked Divine Beast, they said.”
The air froze slightly.
Won Jun immediately raised his voice.
“Grandmother!”
“What? Did I say something false?”
The old woman snorted.
Then she muttered loudly for all to hear.
“Tch. Why is the Purifier a halfwit anyway? Even if I craft a Spiritual Item for her, she probably can’t use its full power.”
Before I could respond, Baek Eun-ho stepped forward.
“Clan Leader.”
His voice lowered, measured.
“A Purifier’s worth is proven not by bloodline, but by results. And—”
His gaze fixed steadily on the old woman.
“Those results have already been thoroughly confirmed.”
“Tch.”
The old woman clicked her tongue.
Then she turned to me and extended her hand curtly.
“Anyway, since you’ve come this far. Give me the necklace.”
I carefully unfastened the necklace.
And I stepped closer to hand it to her.
That moment—
‘……Wait?’
I noticed something odd.
The area around the old woman’s cheekbones was slightly flushed, but it didn’t seem to be merely from her nap.
‘That’s the characteristic blood vessel dilation that comes from prolonged flushing.’
Now that I looked closer, Won Young-ok’s eyes were also slightly bloodshot.
Her breathing was subtly rough.
‘Staying up late all the time, lacking energy…’
I filed these observations away mentally and withdrew my gaze, my expression unchanged.
The old woman was already absorbed in the necklace and didn’t seem to notice my scrutiny.
“Hmm, this.”
Suddenly her eyes transformed completely.
The eyes of an absorbed craftsman.
Won Young-ok rolled the Mystical Stone between her fingers, held it up to the light, and then brought it beneath a magnifying apparatus.
“……This is fine work.”
Finally she spoke.
“The Mystical Stone itself is top grade, the craftsmanship is excellent. At this level, it would’ve been a family heirloom.”
I nodded slightly.
This time the old woman closed her eyes.
And she gathered her energy within the hand holding the Mystical Stone.
After a moment.
“Mm.”
She opened her eyes.
“Right now this necklace has three functions—protection, guidance, and Divine Energy storage. Correct?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise at her precision.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s also reflected a Corrupted Spirit’s curse once.”
The old woman let out a short laugh.
“If I work on it a bit, I can add another function.”
“What kind?”
“It’ll be able to temporarily hold one unique ability from another Divine Beast.”
“……!”
I could only blink, unable to speak.
Then Baek Eun-ho interjected from beside me.
“So for example, if I had her store my Dominion ability, she could use it once herself?”
The old woman nodded.
“It’ll be single-use and not as strong as the original, but it’ll do a decent imitation. However, it can only hold an ability from someone the user has made direct physical contact with, and using it will consume a lot of Divine Energy.”
I offered genuine praise.
“That’s incredible regardless. To be able to borrow another Divine Beast’s ability like that.”
“So? Will you strengthen it?”
Eun-ho answered immediately for me.
“Please proceed. Our clan will cover the cost. How long will the enhancement take?”
The old woman sighed, rolling her shoulders.
“Ugh…… In the old days it would’ve taken a day, but I can’t promise that now. Give me five days at least. Could be longer.”
I nearly let out a gasp.
Baek Myodang’s summer break is one week.
‘If it goes longer than that, I’ll be in trouble……’
The patients would be waiting.
Slightly worried, I pressed my lips together.
Meanwhile, Won Jun led me and Baek Eun-ho deeper into the workshop.
“There’s a dormitory attached to the workshop. You can stay there.”
“Oh, sure. Thanks then.”
And that’s how I ended up spending my summer break at the Won Clan’s workshop.
* * *

But then.
After leaving the necklace at the workshop, an unforeseen problem emerged.
“So without the necklace, I can’t go far, right?”
“Obviously.”
As I muttered in dismay, Baek Eun-ho cut in sharply from beside me.
“That necklace is your lifeline right now.”
“…….”
I pouted, but I couldn’t argue.
The Mystical Stone was no mere decoration.
It was a vessel for my Divine Energy, a defense against Corrupted Energy and curses entering from outside.
Without it, I’d have to get by on the Divine Energy already in my body right now.
“Seriously.”
I let out a long sigh.
Of course.
As a Purifier, I lean toward healing rather than offense, so I don’t usually expend Divine Energy recklessly.
‘But you never know what might happen.’
A Corrupted Spirit could attack.
I do have the bracelet Baek Eun-ho gave me, but in that case I need the necklace to deflect a curse even once to survive.
Baek Eun-ho watched me with stern eyes.
“Do you think the Corrupted Spirits don’t know you’ve left Baek Myodang? That’s why you can’t wander far from the workshop. And no going out alone either. If you need to go anywhere, tell me first.”

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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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