The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 9

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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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“Fast Aging? What is that?”
Lionel answered Everain’s question.
“Good question. To understand Fast Aging, you’ll need to know the concept of Slow Aging first.”
Lionel began his explanation methodically.
“Slow Aging—the Slow Aging diet—is a type of diet that was once popular in Korea… well, in the Eastern Region. Simply put, it’s the claim that if you consistently eat foods good for your body, you can slow down the body’s aging process. There were actually many people who saw results.”
Since there had been a time when people practiced Slow Aging by eating nothing but beans, explaining the concept posed no difficulty.
As if suddenly grasping something, Kaylon asked a question.
“Then, a Fast Aging diet would be one that accelerates the body’s aging?”
“There you have it, Advisor! You’re sharp. Yes, exactly. So we’re going to feed the Duke a Fast Aging diet and observe how his body changes.”
Lionel began counting off the benefits—or rather, the harmful effects—of the Fast Aging diet, folding down his fingers one by one.
“The expected changes include weight gain, elevated blood pressure, skin problems, increased cholesterol levels, elevated blood sugar levels, and so on. Gastrointestinal disorders are also possible.”
After he finished, he suddenly realized something: this was irresponsible garbage talk from a doctor who had abandoned his ethics.
Everain ventured to speak to Lionel, who was beginning to feel pangs of conscience.
“Doctor. I confess I’m no expert in medicine, but what you’ve described sounds quite bad for the body…….”
“Quiet, Everain. If you don’t know, keep your mouth shut and just agree. Come now, you’re hardly less intelligent than someone whose brain has become pure muscle.”
Kaylon, who had by now become a complete devotee of Lionel, jabbed Everain in the ribs.
At this rate, he would applaud even if Lionel used a telephone pole to pick his teeth.
Everain closed his mouth with an embarrassed expression. Yet Lionel came to his defense.
“You’ve hit on it exactly, Chief…… or rather, Sir Everain. This is an experiment to ‘change’ the Duke’s body in some way.”
Lionel gestured toward the Duke.
To be honest, in terms of intellectual curiosity as a doctor, he wanted to preserve that body and use it as official educational material. However, to survive, he had to find a way to make him age to death.
“The Duke hasn’t eaten properly for three hundred years. So the idea is to stimulate his body with provocative foods and awaken the senescent cells within it.”
“Cells? What are those?”
“Ah, well. They’re the smallest units that make up the body. Countless tiny, tiny cells gather together to form our bodies.”
Lionel explained in the manner of reading one of those educational picture books about question marks that he’d enjoyed as a child.
Everain nodded, but still seemed full of doubt.
“Do you think it will be effective?”
“If he gains even a single gram or gets an upset stomach……. I think there’s a real possibility.”
The Advisor’s gaze, the guard’s gaze, and the physician’s gaze all turned simultaneously toward the Duke. Whether to attempt this experiment or not rested entirely on the Immortal’s will.
Blasion accepted it far more quickly than expected.
“Very well. Let’s proceed.”
“Oh……? Really?”
“Did I not say? I trust my teacher and will follow him completely. I will do whatever he wishes.”
A patient who follows orders so well—the best kind!
Lionel spoke, feeling hope bloom in his chest.
“Excellent. I’d like to implement the Fast Aging diet right away, but first there’s something to do. Advisor, could you prepare paper for everyone in this Estate?”
“Paper, you say? We can prepare as much as you need, but what will it be used for?”
Lionel smiled broadly.
“I’m going to start with a market survey.”
* * *
Several days later, I sat at the Clinic Room desk with a sheaf of papers.
The Duke sat across from me. He seemed quite interested in the “questionnaire” I had administered.
“Meat, fish. Fruits and vegetables……. Hmm, as expected, people hope to eat a variety of foods in balanced portions.”
“He’s content as long as his belly is full.”
“Duke. I’ve told you not to lump yourself in with other people.”
The servants had initially shown lukewarm reactions to the questionnaire, but the moment they heard the reason was to draw up a new meal plan, their eyes lit up.
“So we’re finally escaping this jerky hell?”
I nodded at the servant’s words.
“Yes, I’ll place orders for ingredients based on the questionnaire results.”
“My, I thought you were just a doctor, but a savior has come. Thank you!!”
So every last servant submitted their questionnaire, and on that basis, I created a meal plan with perfect proportions of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
At last, a splendid meal plan—like something out of a high school cafeteria—was complete.
“When did you say the new cook would arrive?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Good. Then I’ll make sure cooking is done based on this meal plan.”
Phew, that’s one task done……. As I heaved a sigh of relief, I suddenly felt a gaze and looked up.
I saw the Duke’s violet eyes fixed directly on me.
“……Is there something you wanted to say?”
“Teacher, you work with such diligence. Since when have you been working so hard?”
I let out a quiet chuckle.
“I’ve always worked diligently and with integrity.”
“Yet it seems you weren’t appreciated at your last workplace.”
To dredge up such a painful memory so suddenly—I narrowed my eyes and fixed Blasion with a sharp stare.
“Do you understand what it’s like to be a contract worker? Don’t speak carelessly when you don’t even know what I’ve been through.”
“What have you been through?”
“Don’t even ask. When I worked at the hospital, the Director made such a fuss about introducing me to some wonderful man that I actually showed up to the meeting. I went thinking, how impressive must this fellow be.”
“And? Did he turn out to be impressive?”
“No. The madman himself—the Director—showed up. ‘Surprised?’ he said.”
Blasion turned his head sharply for a moment, then straightened it again. In that brief instant, I was certain he’d nearly lost his composure trying not to laugh.
He asked with a perfectly neutral expression.
“So what happened?”
“What happened? I walked out immediately. I wanted to quit the hospital on the spot, but I had debts to settle, so—”
“It’s not too late even now. If you wish, I can have him dealt with.”
Blasion spoke in a low voice. I thought it was a joke and laughed it off, but when I realized he was serious, I shook my head firmly.
“That’s kind, but there’s no need. His wife caught wind of his games anyway and beat him right outside the hospital. He left the job first.”
“Well, that turned out fortunately for you.”
“In a way. Though I got fired just as quickly for helping the cafeteria workers organize a union. So it didn’t amount to much.”
My hospital days had been bittersweet and short. I finished the story with nothing but that bitterness sitting heavy in my chest.
“You must promise me—absolutely promise me—that you’ll never attend a blind date meeting. Let’s maintain a strict boundary between employer and employee, understood?”
“I won’t go. You can rest assured.”
We both set our faces serious and drove home the nail: we would never see each other at a blind date.
‘Good. This sort of clean, professional relationship. Perfect.’
Satisfied, I turned my attention back to the graph.
I thought we would return to our respective work.
“I’m not foolish like that Director.”
“…?”
“I can’t lose a dedicated, passionate worker like you—someone of real quality—to some petty desire.”
With only those words left behind, Blasion left the clinic room. I stood frozen for a moment, staring after him.
“…A compliment?”
Was that a compliment? He was praising me for working hard, wasn’t he?
The praise hit me all at once, and my cheeks burned. I placed my hands over both cheeks, trying to cool the heat.
“Dr. Frencia. The questionnaire results are—oh? Are you unwell? Your face looks quite red.”
Just then, Kaylon entered the room. I quickly turned my head and responded as though nothing was wrong.
“Oh, it’s nothing. More importantly, Assistant—I have a favor to ask.”
I handed him a slip of paper I’d prepared beforehand.
“Please order the items on this list. They’re ingredients exclusively for the Fast Aging menu.”
“Of course, understood.”
Kaylon glanced over the note and then asked me,
“You’ve ordered an awful lot of chicken? A whole bag of sugar, a whole bag of garlic? Why do you need so many spices?”
“Spices?”
I immediately objected.
“Garlic is not a spice. It’s a survival crop.”
“I—?”
“Roasted. Boiled. Eaten raw.”
I watched his green eyes waver slightly.
He seemed to be weighing whether to contradict his respected physician or simply let it pass.
In the end, Kaylon changed the subject. He was a man who knew how to navigate social situations.
“So… what are you going to make with all this?”
The core drivers of Fast Aging are chronic inflammation, reactive oxygen species, and AGEs.
What accelerates these are refined carbohydrates that spike sugar rapidly, excessive sweeteners, processed meats, and fried dishes.
I was planning to create a menu of pure superspeed aging—far beyond mere Fast Aging—collecting only ingredients that perfectly met every one of these conditions.
To leave a stain, myself, upon Blasion’s perfect body.
“What am I going to make?”
I broke into a grin. The thought of something delicious brought a smile unbidden to my face.
“Fried chicken and tanghulu.”

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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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