The Quack Lady - Chapter 1

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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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Episode 1

“You… Because of you, our son…!”

Eyes filled with madness, trembling hands held a blade so long it was difficult to even speak of it.

“P-please calm down first…”

I raised both hands and spoke slowly toward the man.

It was someone I had never seen before in my life.

Was he someone’s guardian?

‘What the hell is this situation!’

I’d been slapped and grabbed by the collar before, but having a knife pointed at me was a completely different matter!

“F-first, let me call the attending physician for the patient. I’ll resolve this somehow, so please put that down…”

Despite repeated attempts at persuasion, the guardian didn’t budge an inch.

Just as this inexplicable standoff continued endlessly.

He said something incomprehensible.

“Do you know how much I suffered to get here? It’s all because of you. To avenge our son…”

“Avenge?”

Who could this complete stranger be referring to as his enemy?

It was then, as I stood there stunned in confusion.

Stab-

After a sharp sensation in my abdomen, something warm flowed down.

Contrary to my expectation that it would be extremely painful, cold rather than pain settled throughout my body.

‘At this rate, I’ll go into shock from excessive bleeding…’

As a doctor, I knew better than anyone what would happen next.

Unfortunately, there was no one in the small examination room to help me.

Clatter-

Soon, the sound of something falling was followed by a shrill scream.

“Kyaaaah! Dr. Do!”

With that sound as the last thing I heard, my vision became blurry and soon turned black.

And all of this was my last memory of my previous life.

In other words, it was the final memory of ‘me’ who lived as a doctor in the modern world.

* * *

In the deep dawn when the low-hanging moon settled through the window cracks.

I bolted upright as if struck by lightning.

“Huff… huff.”

As I exhaled my excited breath, I finally saw the completely worn-out desk and chair.

Beads of sweat had formed on my forehead. My whole body was damp with tension.

I buried my face in both hands as if washing my face dry and muttered.

“Another dream of my previous life.”

It was a dream that started a week ago, after I happened to see a doctor who was stabbed by a patient while running an errand for herbs.

At first, I thought it was some crazy dream.

‘But it had the same face as mine.’

Moreover, the dream content was unfamiliar yet all familiar. As if I had actually lived through it myself.

Afterward, I came to realize.

That I had been a doctor in my previous life.

However.

“This damn dream. When will I stop having it!”

I spat out some random curses and lay back down. Then I pulled the blanket up over my head.

Why?

Because in this Lindhaven Empire, my previous life’s knowledge was completely useless.

Especially for me, who was just an apothecary ‘maid.’

“Whatever. Let’s just sleep.”

So I forced myself to seek sleep that wouldn’t come.

Without knowing what would happen to me starting tomorrow.

* * *

The place where I am is St. Seitrant Clinic.

Simply put, it’s a place that treats commoners.

Naturally, most of its operations are funded by noble support. You could think of it as a free volunteer organization.

Until now, I had been living fairly well as an apothecary maid.

But from the moment I started having that damn dream, this place became hell for me.

‘I can’t get involved with patients anymore.’

The sharp sensation of a blade piercing through the abdomen.

Of course, then and now are different, but perhaps because the dream was too vivid.

The environment here, still mingling with patients, gave me extreme anxiety.

‘Right, let’s use this opportunity to open the second act of my life. I don’t have to be a doctor, do I?’

Having lived as an apothecary maid, I could read basic writing.

Moreover, thanks to that damn dream, I even knew various suturing methods.

“With such suturing methods, I could make quite decent money with needlework.”

I swept the dust from the apothecary room with a broom while imagining my new life ahead.

Honestly, being a doctor might be more stable income-wise, but…

“Not a chance in the Empire.”

In the Empire, theocracy was quite powerful.

Goddess Euphraesia, who founded the nation, was a hero who appeared during the world’s end and saved it.

Being a country created by a god, the power of religion was unimaginably strong.

So much so that all diseases were considered divine punishment.

As a result, medicine naturally failed to develop, and the world became full of quacks.

Only Imperial Physicians became doctors through examinations, and most doctors were unlicensed. They were literally pseudo-quacks relying on totemism.

“Following the damn dream, it’s a damn mess too!”

I swept the innocent floor with loud bangs.

Anyway, due to these circumstances, I decided to escape from this place.

Given the situation, I was quite worried about my future too.

Wait.

‘Should I think of it as severance pay and sneak away with a few herbs?’

Just leaving like this wasn’t a good choice.

Even if I don’t have a sword to protect myself, I should at least have some herbs.

After briefly weighing between morality and poverty, I threw down the broom.

“Right, I need to survive first.”

This time, I decided to be a doctor for myself, not for others.

Then, very carefully, I locked the door handle of the apothecary room.

* * *

The clinic’s apothecary room was structured like a library with long rows of bookshelves.

The names of herbs written in crooked letters, supposedly to make them easier to read, came into view.

‘Once upon a time, this was my entire world.’

That damn dream also made me realize that not all diseases could be cured with herbs.

Very regrettably so.

“Still, I need to take some. They might help if I really get sick.”

I quickly shook my head and began putting herbs in one by one.

“Mentra has menthol components, so it might be useful. Let me take some…”

Still, that damn dream had its advantages too. By fusing with existing knowledge, I could finally see the essence of herbs.

“The bitter taste of Teirathium was vitamins. It could help when tired, so let me take some.”

Just as I was carefully collecting them one by one.

“Aaaaah!”

A painful scream that seemed to pierce my ears had descended.

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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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