I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 92

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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 Doctor of Eastern Medicine for Divine Beasts
#92
Beyond the low brick wall, a rust-red building came into view.
Beside the main gate hung a sign in neat lettering.

I looked up at the sign and asked.
“Saelbit? What does it mean?”
Jo Mi-so, at my side, answered.
“It’s a pure Korean word meaning the faint light that shines in the hours before dawn.”
“Ah.”
I looked up at the sign again.
Saelbit. Such a lovely name.
“It feels hopeful, doesn’t it? It makes you feel like you’re starting fresh.”
“Exactly.”
A faint smile bloomed at the corners of Jo Mi-so’s mouth.
“Director Sister always said something like that. She wanted to be a new beginning for the children.”
With those words, Mi-so pressed the intercom beside the main gate.
“Director Sister! We’re here~”
A moment later.
Beep.
The sound of the iron gate’s lock disengaging came through.
– Mi-so! Come on in.
A warm voice flowed through the speaker.
Jo Mi-so broke into a wide smile.
“Director Go, follow me.”
As we passed through the iron gate, the courtyard revealed itself.
Along one side of the courtyard sat rows of tomato pots that the children appeared to be growing themselves.
Though judging by the recent erratic weather, several of the leaves hung wilted.
Beside them, a yellow alley cat basked lazily in the sunlight.
“Kitty!”
“Kitty, come here!”
The children scampered after it calling, but the cat only flicked its ear once.
Then—whoosh—it leaped onto the brick wall and vanished.
“Aww!”
“It ran away again!”
Disappointed cries erupted from the children here and there.
I let out a light chuckle.
The windows where the sunlight streamed in were covered with drawings the children had made.
The place felt simple but warm.
“The entrance is over there.”
Jo Mi-so led the way with familiar steps across the courtyard.
As we entered the entryway, the sound of rapid footsteps running toward us echoed from inside.
“It’s Sister Mi-so!”
“Sister’s here!”
“Wow, it’s been forever, Sister!”
The children came rushing over in a group.
With practiced ease, Jo Mi-so embraced each child one by one.
“Look how much our Ji-won has grown.”
“Sister! I can do two hundred jumps with the rope now!”
“Really? That’s impressive!”
Jo Mi-so gave a thumbs up.
Watching her, my own spirits lifted.
Then it happened.
Soft footsteps.
Someone emerged slowly from the hallway.
It was an elderly nun in a black habit.
Fine wrinkles created by the passage of time were etched deeply around her eyes, lending her a gentle expression.
And yet…
Without thinking, I examined the nun’s complexion. Her eyes were slightly shadowed underneath, and her overall color wasn’t good.
‘She looks tired. Is she not sleeping well?’
Having that thought, I quickly shook my head.
Oh dear. My doctor’s habit was showing again.
‘That’s rude of me. Very rude.’
Meanwhile, the nun smiled brightly when she saw Jo Mi-so.
Then she naturally shifted her gaze to me.
“Mi-so, it’s been so long. And Director Go, I’m grateful to meet you. I’ve heard much about you.”
I quickly bowed.
“Hello. I’m Go Yeon-hee.”
The nun placed both hands before her chest and spoke.
“I heard our Mi-so came close to a terrible situation, but that you saved her. I’m truly at a loss for words to express my gratitude…”
I hurriedly waved my hand.
“No, it’s not like that. The medical staff in the Baek Clan hospital’s intensive care unit worked far harder than I did.”
“Even so, you came in every day to perform acupuncture. And on top of that, you found Mi-so’s daughter… I’m truly grateful.”
I noticed the nun’s eyes grow slightly red, and felt a bit embarrassed.
Shortly after.
We moved to the director’s office.
Warm barley tea was set down, and after exchanging pleasantries,
the nun spoke carefully.
“Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask of you today, Director Go.”
“Yes. Please, tell me.”
“We do our best to care for the children…”
The nun’s gaze turned toward the playground outside the window.
In the courtyard, children were running about playing ball.
“But there are over thirty children, and only two adults on staff—myself included. The other resident priest had to step out for a moment. He should be back soon.”
I nodded quietly.
The nun smiled bitterly.
“In any case, while we always try to look after the children, I worry there might be things we’re overlooking.”
“I see.”
“So if it’s possible, I was hoping you might check on the children’s health.”
I didn’t hesitate and nodded.
“Understood. I’ll take a look at the children’s overall condition.”
I’d been planning to do that anyway.
* * *
Jo Mi-so and I rolled up our sleeves.
“Good. Then how about I take the children’s vital signs first, and you do the Pulse Diagnosis?”
“Sounds good, Director.”
But then.
As soon as we tried to begin the examination, an unexpected problem arose.
The children were afraid of me.
More precisely, they were afraid of the doctor’s coat.
“Eek! Are we getting shots today?”
“I’m not even sick!”
The moment the children saw me, they backed away with a rush.
Oh dear. What do I do about this?
I blinked awkwardly.
“Now, now, children. That won’t do.”
“That’s right. You should listen to the Eastern medicine doctor. She’s here to check on your health.”
Director Sister and Jo Mi-so tried to coax and comfort the children.
But the more they tried, the more the children shrank back.
I quickly raised my hand.
“No, never mind. Just leave it.”
“Pardon?”
“If I try to take their pulse while they’re scared, the readings won’t be accurate.”
The nun tilted her head uncertainly.
“Oh my. Then what should we do?”
I thought for a moment.
Then a good idea suddenly occurred to me, and I let a small smile play at my lips.
“Leave it to me.”
A moment later.
I watered the wilted tomato pot sitting in one corner of the courtyard.
As I did, I let an extremely subtle Purification Power flow into it.
And the drooping leaves began slowly to regain their vitality.
“Huh?”
“What?”
The children’s eyes grew wide.
“The tomato came back to life!”
“Whoa!”
“The leaves are standing up again!”
I set down the watering can as if I had nothing to do with it.
In the meantime,
the alley cat from the corner of the courtyard quietly approached.
The same one that hadn’t even looked at the children earlier, no matter how much they called.
And yet.
“Meow~”
The cat naturally rubbed itself against my leg.
I smiled and stroked its head.
Then the cat flopped onto its side and even showed me its belly.
“Gasp!”
“Whoa!”
“It’s never done that before!”
The children came rushing over.
I laughed while petting the cat.
“Looks like it’s in a good mood today. It’s asking to be petted.”
At my words, the children cautiously stretched out their hands.
The cat didn’t run away.
Instead, it narrowed its eyes and began to purr.
“Wow…”
“That’s really something.”
Wariness was replaced by curiosity on the children’s faces.
‘Phew. That worked.’
I exhaled with relief.
The truth was, I’d always been popular with cats.
Until not long ago, I didn’t understand why, but now I do.
‘It must be because I’m a cat folk.’
And thinking about it, whether I was keeping a goldfish for a school assignment or growing bean sprouts, things I took care of always grew unusually well.
That too must have been the influence of being a Purifier Bloodline.
In any case.
Thanks to that, I succeeded in opening the children’s hearts.
“Alright.”
In the gymnasium that had become a temporary clinic.
I crouched down to meet the children at eye level.
“Shall we start the health check?”
“Yes!”
The children who had been running away moments before now raised their hands eagerly.
And so the real examination began.
Jo Mi-so first measured the children’s height, weight, temperature, and other basics, and conducted an initial questionnaire.
“Oh my. Jeong-min has really grown taller than last time.”
“Really?”
Then it was my turn.
I took the children’s pulses, examined their tongues, pressed on their abdomens, and assessed their overall health.
“Hmm.”
As I was examining a boy’s tongue, I said,
“You’re a picky eater, aren’t you?”
“Gasp! How did you know?”
The child’s eyes grew wide.
“It shows on the tongue.”
“Really?!”
“Yeah. And if you keep avoiding vegetables like that, you’ll have trouble going to the bathroom and your stomach will keep hurting.”
“Wow! How did you know that too?”
Instantly, a crowd of children gathered around me.
“Doctor, look at mine too!”
“Check me too, please!”
Their enthusiasm made me smile.
Then a girl tugged at my coat sleeve and looked at me with suspicion.
“Doctor. Are you really an Eastern medicine doctor?”
Huh? Did my examination seem inadequate?
I asked in surprise.
“I’m really an Eastern medicine doctor, but why?”
“But why are you so pretty?”
“…What?”
In that moment, Jo Mi-so covered her mouth and suppressed her laughter.
I looked down at the child with a bewildered expression.
“What do you mean by that?”
“If you’re that pretty, shouldn’t you be an idol or an actress?”
“Well… I suppose…?”
Should I be thanking her for that…?
Anyway, I was in the middle of enjoying this warm time
when I noticed a boy standing alone, leaning against the wall, apart from the rest of the children.
With his mouth protruding slightly and sharp eyes, his expression was full of defiance.
‘Was that boy’s name Lee Dong-su?’
He stood out because he kept himself apart from the other children, and I’d been noticing him since earlier.
I gazed at Lee Dong-su with concern.
Then it happened.
“Dong-su!”
A boy of similar age approached with a ball.
“Want to play soccer with us?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“It’s annoying.”
“We’re short one person right now. If you just come—”
As the boy reached out to grab his arm with a smile, Lee Dong-su roughly shook off the hand.
“Don’t touch me! I’m not playing with you guys.”
The boy with the ball asked dejectedly.
“Why…?”
Lee Dong-su pressed his lips together and then blurted out.
“Because I’m not staying here long. My mom and dad are going to come pick me up soon.”
“…”
“I’m not an orphan like you guys!”
In that moment, everything around fell silent.

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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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