I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 54

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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 the physician to the Divine Beasts.
#54
Even on vacation in Sokcho, I found myself being scrutinized by Baek Eun-ho, and I couldn’t help but pout, thrusting out my lower lip.
“…I understand.”
I kicked at the floor petulantly, my face twisted in a sulk.
I’d come all the way to Sokcho hoping to see the sea, eat something delicious, and have some fun. Yet here I was, confined to this workshop like a prisoner!
‘Ugh… I didn’t think this through.’
I’d originally planned to meet Ma Yun-sang for dinner and explore around, but those plans had evaporated.
Yun-sang, a soccer player, was currently in the middle of summer camp here in Sokcho, though he’d be able to slip away for the evening once training ended.
‘I even made a whole list of famous spots and restaurants!’
It was disappointing, but I tried to shake it off.
‘Well, there’s nothing I can do about it.’
Since things had come to this, I might as well tour the workshop. It wasn’t exactly an everyday experience, after all.
Besides, while it would be impossible to venture out to see the distant sea or wander through historical sites, I could at least step out briefly and grab something to eat.
‘I suppose I’m lucky the workshop is right in the middle of the market.’
With that thought, I comforted myself and began to wander slowly through the workshop.
“Just to be safe, I’ll reinforce the barriers around here a bit more. And I’ll keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”
Baek Eun-ho had just stepped away after saying this.
Apparently, this workshop itself was already layered with multiple barriers.
‘It’s like an armory and treasure vault for Divine Beasts, so of course security would be airtight.’
Still, unconvinced of safety, Eun-ho and the bodyguards had gone to inspect the barriers once more.
‘Won Jun had said I was free to wander around the workshop as long as I didn’t get in the workers’ way.’
Left alone, I wandered here and there through the workshop, then suddenly stopped in my tracks.
“…Oh?”
Won Jun was sitting at a workbench, crafting something.
It looked like he was tapping thin metal wire.
Unlike before, he wasn’t smiling or joking—his eyes didn’t even blink.
His head was slightly bowed as his hands moved busily. His platinum-blonde hair, caught in the light, tumbled down past his ears.
‘Unexpected.’
I held my breath, watching the scene unfold.
I hadn’t known Won Jun had this side to him.
‘To be honest, I figured he was just a flashy hooligan.’
It was then.
I heard quiet murmuring from nearby, directed toward Won Jun.
“It’s a shame. For someone who works so hard, he doesn’t seem to have much aptitude for this.”
“I know, right.”
I shifted my gaze.
In the corner of the workshop.
Other branch members of the Won Clan had gathered, whispering among themselves.
“That boy just doesn’t have what it takes to be Clan Leader.”
“Don’t say that. He was suddenly elevated to successor without enough time to train. If the old Clan Leader had just lived…”
“Exactly. If he hadn’t died in that accident, the workshop would be far more stable by now.”
I found myself listening idly.
“In the end, Won Young-ok, the Workshop Master, had to step back into the Clan Leader role. After he’d already retired, too…”
“Compared to Young-ok, Jun is still so far behind.”
Low voices murmured in my ears.
‘…’
So that’s how it was.
I could roughly piece together the situation.
The original Clan Leader was Won Jun’s father, but he’d suddenly died in an accident.
Won Jun, who should have succeeded him, had been thrust into the position abruptly, unprepared.
But he wasn’t yet ready to bear the weight of being Clan Leader.
So the previous Clan Leader, Won Young-ok—who had already retired—had to step forward once more to lead the Won Clan.
‘Won Jun…’
I pressed my lips together and looked at him again.
He sat with an oblivious expression, focused intently on his work.
And yet.
‘He can’t possibly be unaware of what people are saying.’
He must have heard remarks like that more than once or twice.
It didn’t feel like someone else’s problem anymore.
The sudden absence of a parent. Having to shoulder everything alone without any preparation.
Those things overlapped with my own situation, which was why I felt this way.
My heart grew heavy, and I let my eyebrows droop.
As time passed, evening came before I knew it. The sunset light filtered long and golden through the workshop.
“Go Yeon-hee.”
Won Jun spoke first.
“You had plans for dinner tonight, right?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m meeting a Divine Beast from the Horse Clan. You know Ma Yun-sang, the soccer player?”
As we were having this conversation, I noticed Baek Eun-ho approaching.
I asked naturally.
“I’m going to grab dinner with Yun-sang and head back. Want to come along, Eun-ho?”
Eun-ho thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“No, you two go. Yun-sang’s trustworthy, so I’ll just assign a bodyguard to you.”
“Fair enough.”
As Baek Eun-ho turned to leave, that’s when it happened.
Won Jun pushed something toward me.
“Go Yeon-hee. Take these with you.”
“Huh? What are these?”
I looked down at what he’d placed in my hand.
Two pairs of metal-framed glasses in cases.
Won Jun winked.
“Perception-Concealing Spirit Artifacts.”
“What now?”
“You’ve become quite famous on the internet, and Ma Yun-sang is on the National Team.”
He shrugged.
“If you two walk around the market like that, it’ll cause a scene. With these on, people’s eyes won’t focus on your features. They won’t remember you either.”
My eyes widened.
So that’s what Won Jun had been making earlier.
“Wow, thanks. You even thought of something like this.”
“Well, honestly… mine aren’t as good as my grandmother’s. The function isn’t perfect, the craftsmanship is rough. But it should work for a while at least…”
Won Jun scratched his cheek, muttering excuses.
Silently, I took one of the glasses out of its case.
I put them on and looked at Won Jun with a smile.
“Rough? What are you talking about? These glasses are so beautiful.”
I’d fully expected Won Jun to bounce back with his usual cocky grin, claiming he was just being modest or something.
But instead, Won Jun faltered.
“I… no, I… well. They are pretty, now that I look like this.”
Whoosh—
He stammered, and immediately his ears flushed a vivid crimson.
I blinked.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
I’d only said the glasses were pretty. Was he really embarrassed by such a simple compliment?
It was a bit surprising.
So he did have a cute side.
I let out a soft laugh internally and pretended not to notice as I gathered up the glasses.
“I’ll be back later then~”
And I stepped out of the workshop.
* * *

A small restaurant tucked in a back alley of the market.
People were flowing in and out continuously beneath the storefront sign.
“Yun-sang, this is the right place, yeah?”
“Yes, that’s right. This is the famous place for Squid Sundae.”
“I’m excited! This looks delicious!”
I checked the restaurant name on my phone once more and nodded.
Ma Yun-sang beside me adjusted his glasses and murmured with curiosity.
“It’s amazing… no one recognizes us at all.”
“Right?”
I let out a soft laugh.
We were both wearing the glasses Won Jun had given us—those Perception-Concealing Spirit Artifacts.
I’d been skeptical at first, but the effect was undeniable.
People passing nearby would brush past us without ever casting a glance our way.
‘It’s really incredible.’
Normally, the moment Yun-sang appeared, attention would snap toward him instantly.
We entered the restaurant without any trouble and ordered Squid Sundae and Spicy Squid Salad.
Yun-sang poured water into my glass and spoke with excitement in his voice.
“Big sister. I’d pay any amount of money for these glasses.”
“Really, that much?”
“Yes. Until now, when I go to crowded places, it’s been difficult.”
“A hassle?”
“No.”
Yun-sang shook his head.
“It’s not that. People swarm because of me, traffic gets blocked, things get noisy. I felt sorry… for everyone around me.”
“Wait, you disliked that?”
I touched the bridge of my glasses and looked across at Yun-sang.
“I suspected as much, but you’re really a good kid, aren’t you?”
“Oh, no, that’s… it just… bothers me, you know?”
The sight of this big, stolid-looking guy unable to make eye contact and stammering made me smile despite myself.
Soon the food arrived.
Steam rose gently from the plump squid sundae, and the vivid red spicy squid salad glistened with fresh vegetables and tender squid.
We eagerly picked up our chopsticks.
“Wow, this sundae is really delicious! It’s chewy and mild, but the umami is incredible.”
“You’re right. The salad is fresh too. No wonder it’s famous.”
I was chewing on a piece of sundae when I asked without much thought.
“Yun-sang, training must have been rough today. How was it? Is your body okay?”
In that instant, Yun-sang’s chopsticks froze in midair.
“What’s wrong?”
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Are you hurt somewhere, Yun-sang?”
“It’s not that…”
Yun-sang let out a long sigh.
Then he spoke words that stunned me.
“Big sister. What should I do.”
“Hmm?”
“I… I might get cut from the National Team.”
“What?”
I was so startled I nearly spilled my water glass.
“You, out of all people? What are you talking about?”
Yun-sang averted his gaze.
“In this camp, I have to prove myself so the coaching staff can finalize the roster.”
Behind the glasses, his eyes visibly wavered.
“But my form hasn’t been good lately. My performance keeps dropping, my stats are terrible…”
“…!”
Yun-sang? A Divine Beast of the Horse Clan?
Too shocked to speak, a memory suddenly surfaced.
‘So that’s why.’
A few days ago.
When Yun-sang came to the clinic, his expression had been oddly dark.
He’d mentioned the roster then too, but I’d just laughed it off, thinking ‘He worries about everything.’
‘But there really was something wrong.’
A small pang shot through my chest.
I felt terrible for brushing it off so lightly, thinking there was no way a Divine Beast could be pushed out by humans and cut from the National Team.
“You must have been struggling all this time.”
I spoke quietly.
Then I reached over and gently patted Yun-sang’s shoulder.
Pat, pat.
Yun-sang flinched slightly but didn’t pull away. If anything, he leaned slightly toward me.
After sitting like that for a moment, I carefully opened my mouth.
“But Yun-sang. What do you think the cause is? Is something bothering you physically?”

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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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