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Chapter 04
“Post a notice. We’re hiring a healer.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Conrad was a bit surprised at Cain’s sudden order, but quickly responded. After all, it was often hard to read his master’s intentions.
“Also…”
Cain paused, as if he were thinking. Then he continued:
“If the pink-haired girl comes to the estate, report to me.”
“Understood, sir. Any other distinguishing features?”
“Hmm… her hair is fluffy…”
Fluffy? Conrad blinked. He didn’t expect the word to come from Cain—it sounded strangely cute, even from him.
Cain didn’t care what unholy thoughts his steward might have. His mind was oddly restless. Every time he thought of her face, an image tried to form but wouldn’t.
Squirrel? That was close, but no… something softer, more velvety…
“A squirrel?”
“Yes?”
Cain’s satisfied murmur revealed it: the soft, slightly curly hair reminded him of a squirrel’s tail.
‘And her face…’
Her wide eyes, scolding him like a child without knowing who he was. Truly a bizarre woman. He couldn’t help but smirk.
“She looks like a squirrel.”
Fearless, bold, and utterly unrestrained.
Conrad tilted his head. “Excuse me… a squirrel?”
He tried imagining a pink-furred squirrel, but only got more confused. Cain, however, didn’t explain further. He simply went on his way, acting as a typical, indifferent Dragon Blood.
The next day.
“Oh? It was true, huh?”
I rubbed my eyes at the notice plastered on the ivy-covered wall:
[Ashlern Ducal Estate is hiring a skilled healer.]
It hadn’t been there yesterday. Overnight, a new notice appeared, exactly as Cain had predicted.
‘If I meet the requirements, there’s no reason not to apply.’
As I read carefully, Catherine next to me gasped.
“Huh? The duke’s estate is hiring? I’ve lived here for ten years and never seen this before!”
Catherine was a friend I made in the village. Being around the same age, we often visited her mother in Heyron.
“Wow, no recommendation letter needed? They must be in a hurry.”
“Yeah… did someone quit suddenly?”
Even for hiring a maid, noble families were strict—background checks, introductions, everything.
But hiring a healer like this? It was quite unprecedented.
‘I could apply…’
The Empire had a healer qualification exam. It tested basic medical skills and potion-making. After passing, one could become a physician treating people, or a pharmacist studying medicines more deeply, like me.
‘Most choose to be physicians, but technically, I’m a healer too.’
Lost in thought, Catherine clapped excitedly, looking at me expectantly:
“Well, this is perfect! You’re going to apply, right? You came for a job!”
“I will, but don’t get your hopes up. It’s a tough position.”
The estate’s personal healer. My limited experience made it nearly impossible.
But I didn’t feel discouraged.
‘It doesn’t matter!’
My real goal wasn’t the job—it was meeting Cain. Even if I failed, I had nothing to lose.
Catherine patted my back, misreading my mood.
“With your skills, of course you’d get it! Remember last year? You cured my mother’s chronic illness completely.”
“That wasn’t serious. Anyone could’ve done it.”
She shook her head.
“Ah… geniuses, always too humble.”
Even Melody, quietly listening, shook her head in agreement.
“Melody, don’t you think Auntie’s right? Your mom’s amazing!”
“Uu!”
Melody puffed out her chest, beaming.
I laughed, and Catherine pushed my back seriously.
“Not the time to laugh. I’ll look after Melody, so go apply quickly.”
“Huh? Right now?”
“Good positions get filled fast. Don’t underestimate the job market.”
“Uu!”
Even Melody, clueless about the job market, nodded in agreement.
A short while later, I took my documents and headed to the estate.
‘The timing couldn’t be better.’
The Ashlern Ducal House didn’t really need pharmacists or physicians. Dragon Blood granted them regeneration and healing far beyond ordinary humans.
‘Though that doesn’t make them invincible.’
Some rare conditions still required medical expertise. A personal healer was truly unexpected.
‘Lucky me.’
All thanks to Cain’s earlier tip. If I met him again, I’d make sure to thank him.
‘…I wonder who he really is.’
If he were just an ordinary monster hunter, he wouldn’t know the estate’s affairs. Could he be a knight? The Ashlern Silver Dragon Knights were famous for hunting monsters across Winterwald and the Empire. If he belonged to them, everything made sense.
Then I noticed something odd.
“Huh?”
I couldn’t recall his face clearly. His striking features, which I remembered, seemed foggy, as if hidden behind mist. Even his voice was gone, like magic had erased it.
‘Maybe I was nervous.’
Still, something felt off.
I quickened my pace and arrived at my destination.
“Wow.”
The estate was more like a massive fortress than a mansion.
‘No wonder it’s called Ashlern.’
I heard their library alone could fill volumes beyond an encyclopedia.
The ornate architecture was breathtaking, yet intimidating. The guards at the iron gates made me shrink back slightly.
‘But no turning back now.’
I clenched my fists and approached the main gate.
“Ah, hello…! I’m here to apply as a healer…!”
The guards’ piercing gazes made me feel guilty, though I hadn’t done anything.
They whispered among themselves, their faces fierce.
“Seems right?”
“Definitely.”
What? Did I do something wrong? I hadn’t even caused trouble yet…
“Please wait here. Someone will guide you in shortly.”
“Ah, yes! Thank you.”
Relieved, I nodded. The guard went inside, fetching a well-dressed attendant.
“Deliver this to Conrad quickly. The pink-haired… ah, yes, the ‘squirrel girl’ is here.”
“Excuse me? Squirrel?”
“Exactly! Hurry! By order of the duke!”
I took a deep breath as I watched the attendant guide me inside.
Through tall corridors, we finally reached a reception room.
“The interviewer will be here shortly. Please make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
The room was more luxurious than outside, but I barely noticed. Nervousness consumed me.
‘I have to do well… hope the duke’s aide comes. Then I can request to see him.’
I rehearsed greetings and polite conversation in my head, fidgeting with my fingers.
The door clicked open. I froze.
Before me stood someone I never imagined:
Silver hair shimmering like moonlight, neatly swept back, a cold forehead beneath it. Eyes red as blood.
His face was beautiful yet inhumanly so, sending chills down my spine.
‘No doubt.’
Cain Ashlern.
The man who, in the original story, would be Melody’s father.
For some reason, the main character of the original work had appeared in person.
