I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 99

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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 physician to the Divine Beasts.
#99
Sunday afternoon, when Baek Eun-ho came to visit.
I was sitting on the wooden platform at Baek Myodang, sipping tea at leisure, while Alfred sprawled lazily across the bench, enjoying an afternoon nap.
“Go Yeon-hee. I found the whereabouts of that child’s parents—the ones you asked about.”
But the expression on Eun-ho’s face as he delivered the news was unsettling.
My heart sank in an instant.
“What happened?”
Baek Eun-ho fell silent for a moment, then exhaled slowly.
“They’re alive and well.”
“Oh, thank goodness. So they didn’t have an accident or anything like that.”
But Eun-ho’s expression was anything but relieved.
If anything, he looked even more troubled.
“Go Yeon-hee. Prepare yourself before I tell you.”
“Why…?”
Baek Eun-ho chose his words carefully, then opened his mouth.
“Dong-soo’s parents are abroad right now. On vacation.”
My mind went blank in an instant.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
I stared at him blankly.
I couldn’t make sense of it. Or rather, I didn’t want to.
“Wait a moment.”
I forced the corners of my mouth upward and asked.
“So they didn’t lose contact—they chose not to? There was no accident, no financial hardship?”
“That’s right.”
“Then why?”
My voice shook as I asked again.
“Why didn’t they take Dong-soo with them?”
Baek Eun-ho looked away, his fists clenching and unclenching before he spoke.
“They found him inconvenient.”
The world went quiet.
No wind, no birdsong. Nothing.
“……What did you say?”
“Apparently, at first they’d left him at the orphanage planning to retrieve him later.”
Eun-ho’s voice continued quietly.
“But living alone as a couple—it was convenient.”
I moved my lips, but no words came out.
Eun-ho finished bitterly.
“So now the couple is out traveling, living quite well.”
I slowly lowered my head.
My fingertips grew cold.
Eun-ho’s voice sounded distant.
“Go Yeon-hee. Are you alright?”
Alright?
I don’t know.
We were talking about Dong-soo’s parents, yet strangely, my mother’s face kept surfacing in my mind.
‘Perhaps…….’
Perhaps I had unconsciously wanted to believe, all this time.
That my mother didn’t abandon me—that she had her reasons.
That she wanted to come back but couldn’t.
But then.
‘So parents like that really do exist in this world.’
Parents who abandon their children because they’re inconvenient, because they want to live freely.
The moment I heard that news.
A faint hope that had lingered inside me shattered into pieces.
‘Perhaps my mother simply…….’
No. No, that can’t be.
But at the same time, another voice whispered inside me.
‘Go Yeon-hee. Why do you think it couldn’t be?’
Why do you think you’d be different?
“Yeon-hee!”
Then I felt hands on my shoulders, and I looked up abruptly.
“Ah.”
My voice cracked.
Only then did I realize my face must be on the verge of tears.
“I’m… fine.”
It was a lie.
I was far from fine.
“Go Yeon-hee.”
“I said I’m fine.”
Looking into Eun-ho’s pale blue eyes filled with concern, I forced a smile.
But the smile wouldn’t come properly.
A dull ache thrummed in my chest.
‘That little boy cries every night. And his parents are out abroad taking pictures?’
An unbearable anger surged through me.
Perhaps sensing my mood.
Alfred slowly climbed up onto my lap. Without a word, he pressed his head against me.
I absentmindedly stroked his head.
“…….”
For a long time, no one spoke.
Only the desolate autumn wind swept quietly across the yard.
* * *
That afternoon.
Unable to sit still any longer, I found myself heading back to Salbil Orphanage.
My mind was in turmoil the entire way.
‘I have to tell the orphanage about this…….’
The thought of delivering such terrible news made my stomach churn.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Mother Superior greeted me warmly.
“Go Yeon-hee? We were surprised to hear you were coming so suddenly. And you came alone today, without Mi-so. Is something the matter?”
I hesitated for a moment.
Gathering myself, I carefully relayed what I’d heard from Baek Eun-ho.
That they’d found Dong-soo’s parents.
That they were currently traveling abroad.
“…….”
As I finished speaking, I glanced cautiously at the nun’s expression.
Surely she’d be shocked.
But to my surprise, she remained calm.
“I see.”
“You’re… not surprised?”
Confused myself, I asked carefully. Mother Superior’s mouth twisted wryly.
“In truth, I suspected as much. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.”
I was at a loss for words.
This wasn’t the first time…….
Mother Superior continued matter-of-factly.
“At first, I too thought everyone must have their reasons. Perhaps they were in genuinely difficult circumstances, or had fallen ill, or met with an accident.”
She looked down for a moment.
“But this world contains so many different types of parents.”
I had nothing to say.
My chest felt tight.
Though Mother Superior spoke as if accustomed to it, that somehow made it sadder still.
It meant there were so many children like this.
“How is Dong-soo doing?”
I barely managed to ask. Mother Superior sighed.
“Actually, he caused quite a disturbance last night. The symptoms seem to be getting worse.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. He woke up crying and jumped out of bed. He even tried to run out to the front door.”
Mother Superior added quietly.
“Chuseok is approaching, you see. He seems to be under more stress thinking about family.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them.
My heart ached.
I knew how much words like Chuseok, holidays, and family could make a person lonely.
Silence stretched between us.
Then Mother Superior spoke carefully.
“I’ve been thinking of taking Dong-soo to a psychiatrist. I feel sorry relying only on your medical volunteer visits.”
I lowered my head for a moment.
In severe cases of night terrors, specialized sleep disorder treatment or psychiatric care is certainly a valid consideration.
But…….
After thinking for a while, I finally spoke.
“Mother Superior. Would it be alright if I took charge of Dong-soo?”
“I beg your pardon? You, Go Yeon-hee?”
Mother Superior looked at me in surprise.
“It’s already more than enough that you and Mi-so come occasionally for medical volunteer work. Are you saying you’d come separately because of Dong-soo?”
I nodded quietly.
I know. I know this is overstepping my bounds.
But I couldn’t ignore Dong-soo.
“I’m not saying psychiatric care is wrong. If it’s necessary, of course he should receive it.”
I explained my thinking calmly to Mother Superior.
“But I think what he needs first is trust before treatment. Right now, Dong-soo doesn’t trust anyone.”
Mother Superior nodded slowly.
Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she spoke carefully.
“Actually, I’ve already been looking into psychiatric treatment. I heard that for severe night terrors, they sometimes use sedatives or tranquilizers.”
I nodded.
In severe cases, medication is sometimes used even for young children.
“But…….”
Mother Superior’s expression darkened.
“When I heard about the side effects, I became hesitant.”
“What aspect concerns you?”
“There can be severe drowsiness, and depending on the child, they might remain in a dazed state even during the day.”
Mother Superior quickly added.
“Of course, if treatment is truly necessary, we should pursue it. But I worried about making the boy dependent on medication so early. If possible, I wanted to keep it as a last resort.”
She sighed, then asked me carefully.
“Go Yeon-hee. Are you saying you’d come every weekend?”
I paused to consider, then shook my head.
“No. Rather, I’m thinking of taking leave and coming here every day. Around the time the children sleep.”
“……!”
Mother Superior’s eyebrows shot up.
“Go Yeon-hee, are you serious?”
Saying it aloud, it did sound absurd.
But my mind was already made up.
“Yes. I need to observe how Dong-soo actually experiences the night terrors. To begin treatment, I’ll also need to build rapport
with the child.”

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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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