The Quack Lady - Chapter 12
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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 12
* * *
When is it that a person can never forget a favor?
‘It’s when you extend your hand exactly when that person needs it.’
And I judged that situation to be right now.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand why Mr. Pairon had introduced me as his daughter.
But if I wanted to secure a bit more for Mr. Pairon’s treatment fees, I had to show sincerity on my end too.
Besides, this was something only I could do.
However, there were problems with that as well.
‘If it’s cancer or a neurological issue, there’s no way to treat it in this world.’
After thinking for a moment, I established several guidelines before starting treatment.
First. Once I know the diagnosis, follow my prescriptions for treatment as much as possible.
Second. If I determine it’s a disease I cannot treat, I cannot cure it, so seek another doctor.
Third. During treatment, no matter what situations arise, if they’re part of the treatment process, endure and bear with them all.
Thinking how glad I was that I had learned to write from my mother, I looked proudly at the parchment I had written on.
Though it was chicken scratch, it seemed like everyone would be able to read this much.
With a satisfied smile, I rolled up the parchment and tucked it under my arm.
Then I confidently headed toward the treatment room.
* * *
The makeshift temporary treatment room was bustling with herbalists as expected.
As if they hadn’t stopped talking for even a moment on their way here, there were even twice as many people as before.
‘Wait, isn’t this number a bit much?’
My mouth fell open at the head count that roughly exceeded double digits.
However, I quickly shook my head and steeled my resolve.
‘I can do this. Treating people is the most valuable action of all.’
I prayed that my meager medical skills could save someone’s life again today.
Then, climbing onto the small makeshift platform, I spoke firmly.
“First, I am not an official doctor registered with the infirmary. Therefore, my medical skills may or may not be able to cure you.”
I let out a short breath. Immediately, I added in a confident tone.
“But I will do my best to treat you. So that your illnesses can be cured. However, there’s one thing I’d like to ask – you must not tell anyone that you received treatment from me.”
I started by telling the patients to keep quiet.
I’d already been thoroughly fooled once.
I couldn’t be fooled twice, right?
At my words, people nodded in unison, saying they understood.
A few raised questions about why that was necessary, but that was all.
Since everyone was in an urgent situation, the matter was glossed over.
Then I settled into the prepared chair to begin treatment.
…It was the start of my first medical practice.
* * *
The medical practice that began continued for several days and was progressing at a fairly fast pace, faster than expected.
‘Just as I predicted.’
Most of the guild members complained of sprains or pain in cartilage and ligaments.
Since they mainly climbed cliffs and mountains, it was unavoidable.
It was a kind of occupational disease.
“You get blisters on your fingertips frequently. For this, you can crush an herb called ‘Timet’ and apply it.”
“I’ve tried applying Timet before, but it didn’t help much… Wait, huh?”
The herbalist patient waved his hand dismissively as if he’d been waiting for this.
However, he soon opened his eyes wide upon seeing the bandage I had wrapped.
“It’s a mixture of Timet and Rutet. I’ve finished disinfecting it thoroughly, so if you unwrap the bandage after three days, it won’t fester.”
I used modern knowledge to carefully treat the herbalists one by one.
“Wow, this is really exhausting.”
Slumping back in the chair, I could barely distinguish whether this was my current life or past life.
‘Still, I suppose it’s fortunate that they’re mostly minor cases.’
If nerves had been severed, I would have had to perform reconnection surgery.
It was while I was treating people one by one like this.
“Hey, kid, this is the last patient.”
Hanel, with a sulky expression, peeked through the door and spoke.
“Yes, please tell them they can come in.”
Hanel looked extremely dissatisfied with my response and slammed the door shut as he left.
‘Dissatisfied with this, dissatisfied with that – that man.’
While I snorted and organized the charts, a man with a sturdy build entered.
Behind him, peeking out shyly, was a rather cute-looking boy with big round eyes.
“Hello. What seems to be troubling you?”
I asked the man in my usual manner.
Many patients often visited with children, so there was nothing strange about it.
However, the man hesitated at my question for a moment, then placed his hands on the child’s shoulders.
“Ah… well, you see, it’s not me who’s sick, but my son here.”
“Pardon?”
I stared at the child in bewilderment, and the child avoided my gaze, pretending not to notice.
My eyes trembled finely with confusion, and soon a smile formed on my lips.
Why?
Because the department I had specialized in during my past life was precisely…
‘Pediatrics.’
In other words, this little one had met his match.
‘Pediatrics.’
This department, abbreviated as pediatrics, deals with the overall symptoms of children.
People often think of children as small adults and believe you can just reduce the dosage of adult medications for them, but.
“You must not think of children as small adults. You must consider them as separate living beings with different heart rates and breathing patterns.”
Thanks to this, pediatric prescriptions were extremely meticulous.
Especially prescriptions for newborns, needless to say.
Anyway, my heart fluttered and pounded at meeting my specialty after so long.
“Ah, of course. Would you please sit here first?”
I tried to calm my pounding heart and put on a professional smile.
The child looked around cautiously, then quietly sat in the chair prepared across from me.
The caretaker, as if this was his moment, began pouring out his pent-up frustration like a waterfall.
“You see, a few days ago he started saying his stomach hurt, so I gave him medicine, but then he said his head hurt. Then now his teeth hurt, his arms hurt…”
The caretaker’s sharp gaze pierced into the back of the child’s head.
The child sat there completely deflated, alternately glancing between me and his father.
I gently patted the child’s head and asked.
“So, what’s your name?”
“It’s Flotian.”
“When did it start hurting? When you say your stomach hurts, is it here? Or a bit lower?”
I systematically palpated his abdomen, including the appendix area, pressing gently.
But the child didn’t seem to feel any particular pain.
“You know you’re going to get in big trouble at home if you get diagnosed with malingering again!”
“I told you it’s not malingering! It really hurts!”
The child shouted back angrily at his caretaker who was scolding him.
His slightly reddened eyes even had tears welling up.
But.
‘There really doesn’t seem to be any problem at all.’
The symptoms themselves—the violent outbursts—seemed strange from the start. I let out a brief sigh and asked the caretaker.
“When exactly did the child start getting sick?”
“It’s been about three months, I think. Anyway, this kid keeps saying he’s sick, so I haven’t been able to go to work for days now… Ugh!”
The caretaker sighed, but beneath it lay worry for the child.
Despite all the grumbling, he had come to find me immediately after hearing the rumors.
‘It’s not abuse, is it?’
Just in case, I carefully checked the child’s torso and other less visible areas.
However, the child’s body was clean.
I nodded slightly and asked the child.
“Now, I’m going to ask you a few questions. You need to answer honestly. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Before your body started hurting, was there anything that made you sad or troubled you?”
“Huh?”
“Well, even simple things are fine. Like fighting with someone or your surroundings suddenly changing.”
At my words, the child thought for a moment.
Then, after some consideration, he carefully continued speaking.
“What if it’s still happening now?”
Perhaps because of the child’s words, the caretaker uncrossed his arms and asked.
“What, is someone bullying you? Which bastard is it! Just tell me. I’ll make that son of a bitch pay right now…!”
“Caretaker, we’re in the middle of a consultation, so please be quiet for a moment.”
I calmly settled the caretaker down. There was nothing good about him making a fuss right now.
The child, who had been silent for a while, glanced at his father.
Then he said something unbelievable.
“It’s Father. It’s because of Father.”
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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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