The Quack Lady - Chapter 20

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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 20

There was no time to question why the panic attack came, or why it had to come now.

More important than recognizing it was a panic attack thanks to my past life memories was…

‘I can’t let anyone find out.’

I immediately squeezed my eyes shut tight.

Panic attacks weren’t a recognized illness in this world.

Moreover, if I were to gain a stigma like being called a witch or possessed by a demon…

‘Everything would turn to nothing.’

However, contrary to my feelings, the familiar embrace that had been holding me gently loosened.

Soon, I met eyes with Mr. Pairon, who was looking at me with worry.

“…”

Mr. Pairon only furrowed his brow and said nothing.

No, more precisely, he seemed unable to continue speaking.

‘Why is he making that expression…’

Looking at his expression mixed with sadness and pity, no words came out.

What had he seen in my appearance?

Mr. Hanel turned his head away as if he couldn’t bear to look at me anymore, and Mr. Pairon immediately pulled me into his arms again.

“It’s okay. Nothing will happen. Nothing…”

Unlike his words that sounded like a vow, his voice was trembling finely.

As if chanting a spell, he continuously comforted me with his moisture-laden voice.

“You protect the child here. I’ll go out with the medical tools loaded in the carriage and try to negotiate.”

Mr. Hanel spoke in a low voice, unusually subdued.

Just as he carefully reached out to grab the carriage door handle.

“But… it’s too quiet outside.”

At Mr. Pairon’s words, Mr. Hanel’s hand stopped abruptly in mid-air.

Soon he turned around with a terror-stricken face, and we silently looked only into each other’s eyes.

At that moment.

Bang-!

With a dull sound, the carriage door shook violently.

From that shock, even Mr. Hanel couldn’t easily go out and was at a loss.

Creak-

Soon the door opened with a squeaking sound.

And the boy who appeared there smiled brightly at me and said.

“Hello? Mia?”

* * *

The sound of birds chirping peacefully echoed through the count’s manor.

The count’s estate greeted the day as always with Ditten’s smile.

“Have you all been well?”

Ditten smiled faintly while looking at the bird in the cage. At the gentle countess’s smile, the bird tilted its head sideways with a chirp.

A maid approached Ditten, who was watching this scene with satisfaction, and asked carefully.

“My lady, they say the doctor has departed.”

At those words, the corners of Ditten’s mouth slowly drooped.

She slowly turned around and asked Rudel, the head maid.

“How many people?”

“One woman and two men, they say.”

“Flies have attached themselves.”

At her words, Rudel bowed her head and answered instead.

“They’re probably coming as caretakers worried about the child.”

She was only twelve.

‘Divine medical arts, was it?’

She raised one corner of her mouth while looking at the pet bird she was raising.

This was because she recalled Lenoven’s words when he came to find her in a hurry a few days ago.

“You’re saying such a person was at a treatment facility where commoners reside?”

At her pointed remark, Lenoven hesitated for a moment and then told her everything that had happened.

“It’s really true. There are more than just one or two people who recovered after receiving treatment.”

The child was only twelve years old at most.

Ditten scoffed at those words.

She had neither the leisure nor the need to indulge a twelve-year-old’s imitation of being a doctor.

“Do I look idle to you right now?”

However, Lenoven didn’t give up.

He even added that the guild master of Aphenus, one of the largest guilds in the eastern region, had received treatment from her while trying to persuade Ditten.

“For a child who hasn’t even reached adulthood to display such medical skills is nothing short of a miracle!”

At his repeated persuasion, Ditten hesitated for a moment.

These were stories that were hard to believe just from hearing them.

But.

‘What if a saint-like person really appeared?’

What if she would miss the opportunity to make first contact with such a saint?

Just the thought made anxiety surge.

All the indulgences she had bought so far, and Demian’s condition that wasn’t improving despite ongoing treatment.

Soon finishing her recollection, she bit her lips as if chewing them.

Then she closed the birdcage door with familiar movements and commanded.

“Yes, when the doctors arrive, don’t guide them to Demian’s room as usual, but guide them to the drawing room. There’s something I need to check first.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

Rudel bowed her head politely. Then she immediately turned around and left the countess’s room.

The door closed with a click. Soon Ditten’s eyes half-closed.

‘I can do anything for Demian.’

Steeling her resolve again, she clenched her finely trembling fist.

Along with the desperately shaking fist, the sound of birds chirping filled the countess’s room.

Like facing the most quiet dawn before a great wave surges.

* * *

When the dark hair caught the light, a navy blue color like the night sky sparkled.

When his sculpted, straight face was revealed along with long eyelashes, my mouth fell open without realizing it.

“You, who are you!”

Mr. Hanel immediately blurted out an awkward line while hesitating. Regardless, the boy’s gaze was directed at me.

“Mia. I’ll save you.”

“What?”

That’s when it happened. Eruten, who instantly thrust his body into the carriage, placed his hand on his sword hilt without hesitation.

‘What kind of situation is this!’

The anxious heart that had been trembling with tension just moments ago quickly disappeared. I urgently waved both hands at Eruten.

“No! These are people who are helping me!”

“What?”

This time Eruten furrowed his brow sharply.

Frowning first when he didn’t understand was his habit.

Having roughly grasped the situation, I immediately began explaining what had happened to him.

Throughout listening to my words, Eruten furrowed his brow several more times, but the hand on his sword slowly moved toward the ground.

“So they’re accompanying you as caretakers for this sudden proposal?”

“Yes.”

“And you were suddenly ambushed?”

Even though I had said these were sudden events, Eruten couldn’t easily believe it.

No, more precisely, he seemed to suspect those two men who had been by my side.

After pondering for a moment, he immediately plopped down on the carriage seat and said.

“Then that works out well. I’ll come along too.”

“What?”

“Hey, kid? Do you think we’re going on a pleasure trip?”

Mr. Hanel immediately objected, but Eruten shrugged his shoulders without any change in expression.

“But when another group of thieves might ‘suddenly’ ambush again, would you really be okay like this? Even the Count’s Manor’s escort knight ended up like this.”

He gestured toward the dead knight at his feet.

As if he’d been waiting for this, Mr. Hanel started retching.

“Urgh…!”

“Mia. Do you know this person?”

At that moment, Mr. Pairon, who had been quietly listening all along, asked.

Instead of answering, I nodded my head.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Eruten from the Ergerus Mercenary Group.”

“Ergerus Mercenary Group?”

Mr. Hanel, who had been dry heaving, suddenly turned his head.

‘Well, the Ergerus Mercenary Group is quite famous around these parts.’

Unlike mercenary groups that would do any job for money, they didn’t take on dirty work.

While there were many complaints in society about mercenaries being picky about jobs, commoners generally supported them.

“How can you prove it?”

At Mr. Pairon’s question, Eruten immediately placed his hand on the robe he was wearing.

“Oh dear… I have a robe fastening brooch, but I lent it out.”

“What?”

“What?”

Mr. Hanel and I gaped our mouths open as if we’d been waiting for this.

A brooch was an item used like a kind of identification badge.

Naturally, it was also something you shouldn’t lose.

Perhaps conscious of this, Eruten smiled leisurely and pointed behind him.

“You should know that I’m Mia’s friend, and I can prove my skills with this, right?”

Where he pointed, the thieves and knights lay scattered together in a tangled mess.

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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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