I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 152

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story 1-2

Inner Thoughts (2)

#Evelyn

My small, adorable puppy.

The voice whispering in her sleeping ear was sweet. Small hands stroking her cheeks, lips habitually kissing her round forehead, a face that would look at her with honey-sweet affectionate eyes and then smile brightly. Evelyn sat beside the sleeping Shana, recalling such things.

While rolling around on the streets, Evelyn made a vow.

She would kill every human who tore her mother to death.

She would slaughter all those who tore the skin of her blood relative before her eyes, drew blood, and carved up flesh.

Evelyn once had nothing but a desire for revenge. Her instincts, closer to beast than beastfolk, felt shame at being kicked around by those lowly creatures back then. That shame made her vow revenge even when she was on the verge of death.

‘But.’

How could I kill you. The person who saved me.

How could I not love those eyes and hands that cherished and loved me unconditionally.

“I wish I could be a substitute.”

Shana often had nightmares. Once, while holding her tightly and crying, she heard someone’s name from her lips. She knew that sometimes when looking into her black hair and black eyes, she was longing for someone.

Evelyn gladly wanted to become a substitute for whoever Shana was longing for.

But Shana was kind, so even though she might miss them sometimes, she would never use her as a substitute.

Since Evelyn had decided to live for Shana, she was willing to be used however she wished. Even though Shana would dislike hearing this, Evelyn was sincere. She could do anything if it would just be helpful.

“What kind of dreams are you having?”

“Don’t go too far away.”

Don’t long for places too far away.

Don’t long for places that are too far away.

Stay here with me.

The Wentworth couple probably let their precious daughter do as she pleased because they felt the same way as Evelyn. They wanted to help Shana love this world more, cherish it, and form deeper attachments to it.

Don’t sacrifice yourself for anything, be selfish.

#Raven

“If you do anything foolish, I’ll kill you.”

“…”

“If you do anything foolish, I’ll kill you.”

“Shana will be sad.”

“Neither you nor I can do anything that would make Shana sad. That’s a good thing.”

Raven tilted her head and looked at Evelyn.

‘Just like me.’

Raven and Evelyn recognized each other as kindred spirits at first sight.

“…”

He was so careful not to damage his collar that his movements were restricted, yet he found even that endearing. Though he was half-Fenrir and should have been as fierce and cruel as any monster, he acted like an obedient, fragile young beast in front of his master. And he smiled as if there could be no greater happiness than being loved this way.

“Leave this to me and go.”

“I told you I won’t do anything stupid.”

I can’t do anything anyway.

“Yeah. Don’t get up.”

“The first thing you say upon opening your eyes.”

Her eyes that had opened with difficulty closed again and her pale golden eyelashes trembled. Shana was born with a weak body. She spoke so tough that when her eyes were open you often forgot, but when she was lying down like this, that frailty really hit home. She looked around and soon grasped the situation.

“I’d be fine alone though…”

“Haha.”

“Hahaha…”

That would be just like Evelyn. She had no qualms about making someone as busy as Raven stand guard as a caregiver. Shana slowly blinked and let out a shallow breath. She had many things she wanted to say but almost nothing she could say. Whatever she said, he wasn’t someone who would listen anyway…

“Raven.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Your dog is really going to leave you all alone.”

“Haha.”

“He was grinding his teeth because even though he hated me, he didn’t want to leave you alone.”

“Hahaha….”

“…”

That was just like Evelyn. She wouldn’t hesitate to keep someone as busy as Raven tied up as a caregiver. Shana slowly blinked and let out a shallow breath. She had so much she wanted to say, but there was hardly anything she could say. Besides, even if she did say something, Evelyn wasn’t the type to listen…

“Raven.”

“Why.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“…Is this something a sick person should be saying?”

When Raven frowned with a seemingly offended expression, Shana chuckled softly.

“Well, yeah. I don’t dislike you either.”

“I probably won’t be able to come to your side….”

“Life is long. Let’s wait and see.”

Raven knew full well that he was doing something pointless. You can’t get what you want just by being considerate of the other person.

‘If she were someone I could twist and force into my grasp, it wouldn’t be difficult at all.’

If that were the case, he wouldn’t have hesitated.

Though it might seem pointless to some, Raven was confident that his approach worked best on Shana. When Shana couldn’t say anything more and closed her mouth, Raven reached out his hand. He firmly grasped the slender hand hidden beneath the blanket. Shana glared at him.

“Hey, taking advantage of someone when they’re sick.”

“Didn’t you know? I’m an opportunist.”

“…That’s nothing to be proud of…”

“So you don’t need to worry about whether I’ll be unhappy. I take good care of myself.”

“I wasn’t worried.”

Shana sighed as if she found him pathetic. Was it really okay to be this happy over something so trivial, as if he’d won some prize? This guy must be popular too…

The hand he held tightly was firm.

In the not-so-distant future, would the bachelor Emperor who frequents the slum hospital outside the castle to avoid his vassals chasing him to get married be able to wed before he dies?

That’s a story no one knows yet.

***

#Renate

“There, it won’t hurt anymore… Shh, good girl.”

Shana skillfully soothed the small child. The small child with a fluffy tail and large ears was a squirrel beastfolk who had been on the verge of death from severe injuries just moments ago.

When she held them close as if breathing warm life into them, the wounds miraculously disappeared without a trace. Only the bloodstains remaining on Shana’s hands that had lifted the child were the sole evidence of the injury.

How ironic. When he thought this was proof that God hadn’t abandoned the beastfolk race, he only saw the healed wounds. But now that he knew the source of this power was life itself, only things like the bloodstains on those white hands caught his eye. There were often cases where injured patients would bite those hands in their pain, and while she could wash away others’ wounds completely, she couldn’t do anything about her own injuries, leaving scars.

Those who knew her wouldn’t bite Shana, but patients brought to the hospital with serious injuries were usually from outside.

She would get hurt during treatment, and there were many times she was called in at dawn.

‘And yet she talks as if she just plays around.’

Renate handed the child, now with a comfortable complexion, to Ron who had been waiting, and returned to the clinic.

“You had a fever, didn’t you.”

Renate placed his hand on Shana’s forehead. A slight fever remained. Shana answered with an embarrassed expression.

“I’ve been fine since yesterday, but Evelyn wouldn’t let me go out.”

“Don’t let her be so willful. Evelyn doesn’t know moderation.”

“It’s not like she’s treating me badly or anything.”

Shana laughed and added that Evelyn was the one who had a hard time nursing her. Renate thought this was exactly why she was getting spoiled.

Sitting in the clinic wearing a doctor’s coat, Shana looked quite like a proper healer. Of course she did – she’d been running the hospital for several years now and was doing respectable work.

Since beastfolk often had sudden accidents or were involved in illegal activities, Shana naturally ended up working night shifts. With Maria handling human patients during the day, the day and night shifts were naturally divided.

‘I didn’t want her working nights though.’

That damn lifespan was sustained by taking from others, but… it still felt unsettling. In urgent cases, Shana would probably save others even if her own life was nearly exhausted.

If that happened, he’d have to hold a knife to his own throat and threaten to die immediately if she didn’t take his life.

She seemed to have learned that no one would be happy if she sacrificed herself now, but Renate didn’t let his guard down. From the first time they met in the snow plain, Shana had never once moved according to his expectations.

The responsibility for Shana choosing this life would weigh on Renate for the rest of his life. Renate gauged where his heart, which had far exceeded mere responsibility, might be.

It was closest to paternal love. Even without blood ties, from the day they met in the snow plain, Shana had been a member of his pack. A life and existence he had to take responsibility for.

‘Though that’s probably not everything.’

You don’t necessarily have to put a name to everything.

The one thing that was certain was that whatever kind of life Shana lived in the future, he would be by her side.

Even if she someday gave in to that pathetic bachelor Emperor’s pleas and entered the human castle, Renate would remain by Shana’s side in some way. As a guard or even as a dog – he could find a way somehow.

‘I’m in no position to mock others for not knowing moderation.’

Renate couldn’t help but laugh.

Side Story. Inner Thoughts -fin.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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