I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 69
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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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She had become a physician for Divine Beasts.
#69
That was the truth.
I’d grasped the situation one step too late.
After the three Divine Beasts departed, I remained alone in the Workshop and began methodically recalling everything that had happened—and then, piece by piece, the puzzle fell into place.
First, there was the strange conversation from a few hours earlier.
─ “Could you trust me and come somewhere with me for a moment?”
─ “Huh? Where?”
─ “I’m going to disguise Won Jun using a Spiritual Artifact. I’ll need your fingernails for it….”
─ “What?!”
So there was apparently a Spiritual Artifact based on the old folktale of “the rat that ate fingernails.”
Feed someone’s fingernails to a doll, and the doll’s bearer can temporarily assume the appearance of the fingernail’s owner.
That was why Ma Yun-sang had made that bizarre request for my nails.
Asking me to trust him and please not ask for details!
‘It was suspicious as hell, but since it was Yun-sang asking, I went along with it anyway.’
What came after was even more absurd.
Only after returning to the Workshop could I learn the full details of the operation.
Won Jun was to impersonate me and serve as bait, while Baek Eun-ho would ambush and interrogate the Fallen One?
‘And when I heard that Yun-sang had originally planned to confront that Fallen One alone before Eun-ho stopped him, I nearly passed out.’
On top of that, the Fallen One was Yun-sang’s own biological father….
I couldn’t shake the worry that Yun-sang might get hurt or lose himself during the operation.
The three Divine Beasts informed me of the plan and left before I could object.
All I could do was stay in the Workshop and wait.
But then, suddenly, something clicked.
‘Now that I think about it, Yun-sang’s been avoiding me lately—so it was all because of this!’
He’d been awkward around me out of guilt for deceiving me and trying to shoulder a dangerous burden alone.
I locked my eyes on Ma Yun-sang with a hard stare, and the surroundings went quiet.
Yun-sang dropped his head.
“…I’m sorry, Yeon-hee.”
I sighed and pressed my fingers to my forehead.
“What on earth were you thinking, meeting that Fallen One alone?”
“I thought I could extract information by pretending to be swayed….”
“Exactly! What if you’d gotten hurt doing that? What could that information possibly be worth—!”
My voice rose, and Yun-sang bowed his head lower. Yet he continued muttering excuses.
“Still… if I could help end the war that way….”
“And if the war ends, then what?”
“Then you’d be completely safe as a Purifier….”
My eyes widened. My words caught in my throat.
I already knew my existence was central to this war. I was aware that both factions kept their eyes fixed on me.
But that was no excuse for this fool to—.
I clenched my teeth.
“Ma Yun-sang. Don’t ever do that again. Your sacrifice won’t make me happy, not one bit.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Just then, Baek Eun-ho interjected from the side.
“Admirable loyalty, indeed.”
He was looking at us with a languid, bored gaze. For some reason, this situation seemed to displease him greatly.
I crossed my arms and asked, “By the way, when did you find out? That Yun-sang was playing spy?”
Baek Eun-ho shrugged.
“From the beginning.”
“From the beginning?”
“While keeping watch around the Workshop, I quickly noticed a suspicious insect trailing him.”
He glanced at Yun-sang offhandedly.
“Ah, Yun-sang. My apologies. He was still your father, after all.”
Yun-sang’s eyes darkened for a moment, but then he spoke with remarkable calm.
“No. An insect is what he was. He never treated me as a son—just as an experimental subject with some utility.”
“….”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t capture him alive this time, but I’m rather grateful he disappeared cleanly.”
I had nothing to say.
Baek Eun-ho continued matter-of-factly.
“Anyway, at first I really did think Ma Yun-sang was betraying the Divine Beasts. His acting was flawless.”
He laughed softly.
“But you said something, didn’t you? That Ma Yun-sang could never be the Fallen type.”
“Ah… yes, I did.”
“So I grabbed Yun-sang and asked him about it. He said he’d like to try his hand at espionage. That’s why we decided to play him as a double agent.”
I nodded awkwardly.
So that’s how it had happened.
While I was diligently treating the Won Clan members and investigating the roots of Yun-sang’s slump, an intelligence operation had been unfolding right around me—everyone deceiving everyone else!
‘Good grief.’
Though it was still ridiculous, the deed was done. What could I do about it now?
I turned my attention to Won Jun.
“Jun, that disguise artifact was flawless. It really startled me.”
A proud smile played at the corners of Won Jun’s mouth. He shrugged.
“That’s Grandmother’s handiwork. It’s a high-grade piece that can even mimic your Spiritual Energy, so it took considerable effort.”
“Wow… that’s incredible.”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
Won Jun spoke with genuine seriousness.
“It was only possible because you restored Grandmother’s condition.”
Won Young-ok nodded beside him.
“That’s right. Without that, we couldn’t have crafted such a high-grade item in such a short time.”
“Your grandmother seems to be in her prime again?”
“Mm. The Purifier’s medical skill is truly impressive.”
Won Young-ok laughed without denying her grandson’s words.
I laughed too. Then I offered some light advice to the two Won Clan Divine Beasts.
“Tonics come in many varieties. If you don’t use one suited to your constitution, your condition can actually worsen. Please be careful going forward. And adequate rest is essential, of course!”
“One would think you’d know better.”
Baek Eun-ho’s reproachful gaze poked at me pointedly.
“Constantly depleting your Spiritual Energy and collapsing from exhaustion.”
“Tch. Eun-ho, be quiet! We have patients here!”
I quickly pressed my index finger to my lips, and laughter erupted.
In the now-relaxed atmosphere, Ma Yun-sang spoke up.
“Yeon-hee. I owe you greatly for this. Thanks to you, I kept my place on the front line, and we extracted a lot of intelligence from the Fallen Ones.”
At Yun-sang’s words, Won Jun paused briefly, then called my name.
“Yeon-hee. I’m grateful to you too.”
“Hm?”
“It’s thanks to you that I’ve been recognized for my abilities for the first time. It means so much to me.”
Jun looked away for a moment, then met my gaze again.
“I… honestly struggled after Father passed. My confidence kept eroding.”
“Ah….”
“But because of you, I believed I could do it.”
His usually playful face now held genuine gratitude and swelling emotion.
I blinked for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“What are you saying? You were always capable. You’ve just found the right direction now.”
Looking embarrassed, Won Jun scratched the back of his ear, then suddenly winked.
He extended his hand.
“So, take this.”
“Hm?”
I looked down at what rested in his palm.
An elongated, round plastic case.
It was the eyeglass case I’d borrowed from Jun when we went out to Sokcho Market some time ago.
“Isn’t this a Perception-Concealing Spiritual Artifact? Why are you giving it to me?”
“It’s a bribe.”
“What?”
I immediately reached to return it.
“No, isn’t this expensive? Why would you just give it to me?”
“So you’re saying I should demand payment from my benefactor?”
Won Jun put his hands behind his back and smiled brightly.
“Just take it. Think of it as a friendship token—a promise that we’ll keep getting closer.”
“A friendship token….”
“You have to keep being my friend, okay? I’ll keep improving and make plenty of high-quality Spiritual Artifacts for you.”
But then, suddenly, his eyes took on a cold glint.
He spoke in a low voice, each word biting.
“And now I know the Fallen Ones killed our father.”
“….”
“The Won Clan can no longer sit idle.”
Won Young-ok beside him also nodded with a hardened expression.
“That’s right. They dared to lay hands on the Won Clan’s patriarch. They’ll pay the price.”
Her eyes flashed with cold anger.
“And such a battle will ultimately require a Purifier.”
Won Young-ok’s resolute gaze turned toward me.
“The Won Clan intends to actively support the Purifier from now on. We won’t charge for the necklace reinforcement either. If it’s for the Purifier’s cause, we’ll help anytime.”
I pondered for a moment, then finally sighed.
“Very well. In return, I’ll check in on your health regularly. Let’s help each other.”
“Good.”
We smiled simultaneously.
I looked down once more at the eyeglass case in my hand.
And suddenly, I recalled a question that had been lingering in my mind all this time.
“Oh, that’s right! There’s one thing I’ve been meaning to ask you, Leader Won Young-ok.”
“Yes?”
This Myo’anseok Necklace… does it talk to its owner?”
“The necklace speaks?”
When I pointed to the necklace, Won Young-ok raised her eyebrows.
“Yes.”
I nodded seriously.
Even though it had been months ago, the memory of that day remained vivid.
“When I first became a Purifier, some sort of semi-transparent window appeared before my eyes. It told me to follow the Myo’anseok’s guidance, that I’d achieve Awakening if I succeeded at quests. What was all that?”
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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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