Surviving as the Terminally Ill Young Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace - Chapter 47

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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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Chapter 47
This is ridiculous.
He posts a lecture syllabus and then questions why I applied for it.
“You opened the lecture, so I applied for it……?”
I answered respectfully, but Yak Seon was utterly unfazed.
“You eyes see that as an open lecture? In ten years, you’re the first person who’s ever shown up wanting to study something as useless as Herbology. The first!”
No senior students had applied for Herbology in the past decade? Seriously?
True, no one in the world actually wants to memorize herbs.
But aren’t warriors the kind of people who basically go out of their way to find places where they can get injured?
Hasn’t anyone wanted to study medicine as a precaution, or come hoping to glean some benefit from Yak Seon like I have?
“Then you wrote it with no intention of actually teaching?”
“That’s right, you fool! The Academy Director demands that anyone staying at the academy must post at least one class, so I just had to jot something down half-heartedly!”
Plenty of martial instructors had written their syllabi carelessly, not just Yak Seon.
I hadn’t grasped his intention until now.
But so what?
His reluctance to teach is his problem!
“I’m sorry to take up your precious time, but I truly wish to study Herbology. If it’s only once every ten days at a set time as you listed, I humbly beg you to share your knowledge with me.”
I had reasons for needing to attend this lecture.
The Director said to open it, and if a student shows up, I should teach!
“If you want to learn Herbology, you should become a physician. What are you doing at Cheonmu Academy?”
“I wish to study Martial Arts as well as develop an interest in herbs.”
Of course, rather than boldly assert my rights as a student, I clasped my hands together and made my request earnestly.
Learning Herbology would be nice, but my larger goal wasn’t to secure the class—it was to win Yak Seon’s favor.
Even if he’s here as a teacher, wouldn’t his heart soften hearing a student plead like this?
“Hmph. You may have talent as a warrior, but as a physician? You’re hopeless.”
……He didn’t soften at all.
What does he know about me to judge my aptitude as a physician?
But I couldn’t back down so easily.
“Yet when I brought you An-yu Herb and Byeok-seo Herb before, you said they were splendid. Please take me as your student, Master! If you do, I’ll gather whatever herbs you ask for whenever you need them.”
“There are plenty of people who’d jump at the chance to do chores around the academy without needing you.”
Register as his student now, and unlimited errand service!
I dangled a carrot.
“If the Academy Director told you to open a lecture for the Director, doesn’t that mean you must teach if I don’t withdraw?”
I even cracked the whip a little, though not quite.
“Do you not know that a master has the right to test a student’s aptitude?”
Yak Seon held firm.
“If you’re so confident, then answer me this: when is the best time to harvest Pinellia, and what materials are used during its Herbal Processing?”
“I……”
How would I know that?
I don’t even know what Pinellia is, and I have no idea about Herbal Processing!
“The question is too difficult. Since this is a lecture on memorizing herbs, test my memory instead. Give me a book and tell me to memorize it, and I’ll have it committed by tomorrow.”
I tried to negotiate, refusing to give up.
But Yak Seon wouldn’t have it.
“It’s the most basic of basics. If you’d shown even a shred of interest in herbs, you’d know it. Even the Academy Director would accept this test!”
Ugh.
Does he really hate it that much?
Should I just give up on the lecture and not bother him further?
Would it be better to keep my distance and play pitiful, asking him to save my friend in Beihaibing Palace?
In romance fantasy novels, the heroine boldly states what she wants and gets opportunities by proposing contract marriages.
Maybe I just don’t have enough to offer.
I could keep asking, but I should accept the failed test and back down……
“The name Pinellia derives from blooming around the midpoint of summer—the ‘half’ of ‘summer.’ It’s harvested in the fifth and sixth months, and I understand the period around the summer solstice is optimal.”
……or so I was thinking when Eun Hyun answered.
Wait? How does a student from Murim Academy know this?
How did he get that right unless he’s carrying around some kind of AI system window?
Could this be common knowledge in the Central Plains?
“And during Herbal Processing, typically Ginger Juice and Alum are used for boiling, with Licorice and Lime sometimes added as well.”
“…….”
Looking at Yak Seon’s expression, that wasn’t it either.
His face bore a look of utter shock—as if he couldn’t fathom how anyone could possibly know such a thing.
Ah, so it really was a problem I wasn’t supposed to solve!
Yet despite that, Eun Hyun had somehow managed to produce a perfectly correct answer.
“I’ve done my best to study from books on my own, but without a teacher, I’ve always felt the limits of my knowledge. I truly wish to receive instruction from you.”
With a gravity that surpassed even my own earnestness, Eun Hyun made his request of Yak Seon.
“And I would like to study alongside Student Seol Su-ryeo. Though she may have less experience in her studies, she is genuinely sharp-minded and will certainly not disappoint you.”
As if he knew me well enough to vouch for me like that.
He even asked to include me in the lectures, despite my failure to solve the problem.
Ah, I really did do well to cultivate this friendship beforehand.
“……Why on earth are both of you so desperate to attend this lecture?”
“There is a child I wish to treat.”
Eun Hyun spoke.
By coincidence, it was exactly the same reason as mine.
“You could simply show the child to one of the physicians scattered about outside the academy.”
“I did, but they could not cure the illness. I have studied on my own as well, but my knowledge proved insufficient. I humbly beg you to observe my shortcomings and guide me.”
“Ugh……!”
“I am in the same position. In order to surely cure the child suffering from Pulse-Severing Disease that I mentioned last time, I must absolutely learn Herbology.”
I joined forces with Eun Hyun, clasping my hands together and casting the brightest gaze I could muster.
“…….”
Still, this time something seemed to strike a chord with him. Yak Seon pondered for a moment, then took a step back.
“I will grant that you possess foundational knowledge. However, Herbology is not a discipline that can be mastered merely by rote memorization of what is written in books.”
“Then…….”
“Herbology includes the ability to distinguish quality herbs and to harvest them carefully. If you both pass this trial, I will accept you as my disciples.”
Brilliant!
“Thank you so much, Director!”
“Good heavens—physicians outside the academy have begged for a hundred days and nights without so much as a glance!”
I could see Eun Hyun’s expression brighten considerably.
He must have had patients depending on him too, given how earnest he seemed.
Yes, tests should always be conducted at such reasonable levels.
“I will do my very best.”
I bowed my head, fully confident I would pass.
I had gathered herbs on Yak Seon’s request before.
Recognition wasn’t particularly difficult, and since I’m not the impatient type, I was quite confident in my ability to harvest carefully without damage.
“Hmm…… Very well then. Bring me a superior grade Aconite. It is the young root of Monkshood Root—small bulbous offshoots that cling like knots beside the larger root, so remember the form well. It is an herb found in High Mountain regions, so I recommend starting your search from the peaks. Even the slightest contact with its sap is fatally toxic, so under no circumstances touch it with bare hands.”
This time, he was not being deliberately obtuse.
Not only did he show me the illustrated book he had displayed when he assigned me stone chamber chores,
he even took out an actual Aconite specimen from the medicine cabinet drawer for me to examine with my own eyes.
I carefully memorized the form of the processed root as well as the appearance of the flowers and stems corresponding to the above-ground portion.
“You’ve memorized this sufficiently, haven’t you? Registration closes tomorrow, so…… yes. I’ll set the deadline as the You Hour tomorrow. If you bring me even a single root by then, I will accept both of you as my disciples.”
Yak Seon smiled wickedly.
Judging by its form, I didn’t think I’d have trouble identifying it.
And he’d given me more than a full day to search.
Since there were no classes until tomorrow when registration closes anyway, if I spend the whole day searching the mountains, I should be able to find it easily.
“I shall search for it at once.”
I bowed to Yak Seon, expressing my gratitude for the opportunity,
and left the Medical Herb Hall with Eun Hyun.
“Let’s head to the mountains right away!”
“……Yes.”
Eun Hyun nodded with a peculiar expression on his face.
Surviving as a Timelimited Daughter of Beihaibing Palace (Serialized)
Author │ Sah-hyang Noru
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ 401, Ace Tech Tower 8, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
ⓒ Sah-hyang Noru 2026
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder, and no part of its contents may be used in any form or manner without permission from the publisher and author.
Violation of this will result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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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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