The Quack Lady - Chapter 58

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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 58

I had three main tasks to accomplish.

First. Developing medicine for the Duchess.

Since I knew what ingredients were needed, I just had to obtain them and adjust the quantities.

Fortunately, the medicinal herbs in this world were quite useful.

The second was preparing for a cesarean section.

After all, it involved putting a blade to the body. I had informed the caretakers about the procedure, but I needed to prepare the necessary tools and practice.

‘But I need an assistant…’

An assistant surgeon to help the primary surgeon during the operation.

Even if I could somehow manage the surgery alone, I needed someone to help me if an emergency situation arose.

Someone who had some knowledge of herbs and was also skilled with their hands?

“…Where am I supposed to find such a person suddenly?”

I was already busy making medicine. Finding someone was quite tight on time.

‘Oh well, I don’t know. I need to make the medicine first.’

I opened the door wide to the apothecary room I had found by asking around.

“Excuse me.”

However, no response came from inside.

I had no choice but to look at the medicinal ingredient storehouse filled with herbs…

‘This… the condition is quite serious, isn’t it?’

The medicinal ingredient storehouse was filled not with fresh herbs, but with dried and withered medicinal materials.

I thought I’d finally get some fresh air in my nostrils.

I was just rummaging through the herbs when…

“Who are you?”

At the low voice, I turned around to see a boy standing there.

A child with brown hair and ordinary emerald eyes, somehow giving off a feeling similar to Eruten.

“Ah, it’s nothing much, I came to get some herbs. I have permission from the Marchioness!”

When I hurriedly showed the Marchioness’s signature, the child tilted his head curiously but nodded.

‘Does he mean to follow him?’

I followed behind the boy. He led me to a secluded corner of the medicinal ingredient storehouse.

“This is where we store medicinal materials used only by the Marquis and his wife.”

The boy opened the door with a calm tone.

And.

‘Amazing…!’

Inside were herbs I had never seen once while working at the apothecary.

While my eyes sparkled, the child who seemed about my age held out a small booklet.

“You can read, right? It has the general effects and components of the herbs written down, so use it for reference.”

The boy tossed me the small booklet and went inside to start rummaging through something.

I glanced at the child for a moment, then turned my eyes to where the fresh herbs were.

‘My goodness! There’s even cordyceps!’

There were both Western medicinal materials and traditional Korean medicine ingredients in abundance.

Moreover, they were so well organized that I wondered if the same person who managed the storehouse in front could have managed this.

After looking around briefly, I poked my head between the shelves and asked.

“But where are the mortar and pestle and other tools?”

At my question, the boy casually raised his finger and pointed to one spot.

When I moved my steps, there really were mortars and pestles, scissors, herb-cutting tools, and so on.

Even the tools were well organized. At this point, I began to wonder who had organized all this.

‘Is that child the herb manager?’

Above all, seeing the neatly organized herbs and components, I thought he didn’t have ordinary knowledge.

‘Well, if he’s managing the Marquis’s herbs, he must be a quite skilled pharmacist, right?’

In the case of commoners, doctors both prescribed and directly prepared medicine, but it was different for nobles.

They received treatment from doctors and medicine from pharmacists.

It was quite systematic, I suppose?

Anyway, I gathered an armful of the herbs I needed and placed them neatly on the table.

“Can I take all of these?”

“…All of this?”

“Yes. I have something to research.”

“You’re doing research?”

The boy with disheveled hair looked at me with some bewilderment.

‘Is he looking down on me for being young, or what?’

It was a bit unpleasant, but I didn’t bother to show it.

“Yes. These are medicines to be used for the Marchioness.”

I glanced at the herbs in front of me.

Roughly, there were herbs with components like blood pressure reducers and painkillers laid out before me.

The boy let out a short breath and said.

“You know that Mitreina and Tumin shouldn’t be used together, right?”

Did he think I wouldn’t know, of course?

“Yes, I know well that the side effects are rapid heartbeat and nausea.”

“…!”

The boy looked at me again with some surprise.

‘That’s a look that wants to ask how I knew.’

I’ve been a doctor for years! This much is a piece of cake!

“Is that all? If you take large amounts, the heart will…”

That’s when it happened.

“…What exactly are you?”

Through his disheveled hair, the boy’s sharp emerald eyes showed.

‘Huh? This isn’t right.’

It seemed he had seriously misunderstood something. I quickly waved both hands.

“I’m a temporary obstetric… no, a midwife who came to help with the Marchioness’s delivery!”

“Mid… wife?”

He frowned deeply.

Right. Come to think of it, who would believe that I, only twelve years old, was a midwife?

…I’m screwed.

“Ah! That, that is, I’m not a midwife!”

I immediately began flustering and urgently explaining.

I added that these herbs would be used for the Marchioness and were absolutely not for harming or hurting her.

I also mentioned that I was even considering surgery for the Marchioness.

“Surgery…”

The boy who introduced himself as Tenoa wasn’t surprised even after hearing my words.

No, rather, he nodded low as if finding it interesting.

“But I can’t quite grasp what herbs are needed for surgery. This is the Western Region, and also…”

The biggest problem was that the herbs in the Western Region were often different from those in the Eastern Region.

“Do you need help?”

Help?

It was a word I had never once thought about.

That someone could help with surgery… wait.

“Do you happen to know which herb should never be used with Tramin?”

“Evolu.”

“…Then what are the main effects of Baonin?”

“Sedative, painkiller, cardiac stabilizer.”

My heart began to swell at the answers that came without hesitation.

I bowed my head deeply and muttered quietly.

“Found you….”

“Huh? What did you just say….”

I immediately spoke to Tenoa.

“By any chance, would you consider helping me?”

Seeing the assistant I found in an unexpected place, a smile naturally spread across my lips.

Found you, my assistant!

Unaware of my feelings, Tenoa quietly stepped away from me and said.

“But could you… step back a bit?”

“Pardon?”

Only then did I realize I had approached him while leaning my upper body forward.

“I’m sorry. I was just so happy.”

“…Happy?”

“Yes. I really need help.”

One corner of my mouth turned upward toward the sky without restraint.

He seems to have considerable knowledge about the human body, so teaching him would be easy, right?

With help on herbs, various experiments would also be possible, wouldn’t they?

Thinking about putting him to use, a satisfied smile spread across my lips.

Most importantly….

If I could get help with anesthesia, I’d be able to perform slightly safer surgeries.

However, contrary to my expectations, he hesitated for a moment then turned his head away sharply.

‘What?’

Suddenly, an ominous feeling flashed through my mind.

And usually, such premonitions tend to be accurate.

“Sorry, I don’t think I can do it.”

He had rejected my offer for the assistant position.

* * *

Returning to my room, I dejectedly placed the herbs I was carrying onto the desk.

‘If you can’t do it, you can’t do it, but what’s with ‘I don’t think I can’?’

He was clearly a minor just by looking at him.

So did he need an adult’s permission?

However, in this world, even commoners would go out to work once they turned fifteen.

Judging by his height, as tall as Eruten, he seemed to be at least fifteen.

‘Then why did he show interest when I mentioned experiments?’

But I couldn’t force someone who didn’t want to do it.

So I tried to give up, but the thought that he was the only useful person available here right now wouldn’t leave my mind.

“Most importantly, working together on drug research would be helpful….”

I looked at the herbs scattered messily on the desk.

“If we researched in two shifts, sleep would be guaranteed too….”

No matter how much I thought about it, only benefits came to mind.

Unable to give up, I decided to modify my plan.

‘Right, nothing beats sheer volume, right?’

After that, I conducted drug research while frequently visiting the apothecary room in my spare time.

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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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