TFSG 53

Chapter 53

The Terminally Ill Baby Doctor Doesn’t Hide That He’s a Genius

“‘We can just sneak out!’”

“‘The youngest will take full responsibility!’”
“‘Huh? What are you talking about? Are you crazy? That’s not okay!’”

The youngest uncle said he would sneak out, and the eldest uncle said the youngest would take responsibility…

They said it boldly and shamelessly, but would that really work?

Besides, if someone caught them breaking the rules, it would be troublesome. It could even affect what I’m doing right now.

I’d been told that if you go out with tracking incense, you’d be tracked.

If those who escaped were found to be at the doctor’s office where Heukbiyu had been working lately, it would be a problem.

“I also want to go out with Baek-bbu and Suk-bbu, but not now.”
“Hey! You said you want to go with us?”
“Ah, well, I can’t help it~ The princess is pleading to go outside with us…”

…What’s wrong with these people?

They were nitpicking more than usual, and I couldn’t help but scowl.

“Kiddo. I couldn’t lift the restriction on going out, but I solved the tracking incense problem. Then there’s no problem, right?”
“Huh?”

I didn’t understand the details, but they said I was no longer affected by the tracking incense.

So even if I snuck out, no one would notice.

I didn’t know exactly what happened, but it seemed related to being absent from the main building for several days.

Even when looking at Brother Gaewon, he shook his head with a blank expression as if he didn’t know himself.

Still, I hesitated, and then asked the youngest uncle, whose abilities were most useful, to come along…

And then the eldest uncle’s actions were a sight to behold.

“Why am I the only one left out! Left out! I’ll just lie down and cry~!”
“Fine, then hurry up! Aren’t you ashamed in front of the kids?!”
“No!”
“…I am ashamed, Father.”

Anyway, the youngest and second uncles were now involved in the outing.

Later, I heard that they had talked things out with the person in charge of the tracking incense and resolved it.

“…So it was really ‘talked out’?”

Maybe I was overthinking. That day, my father whispered.

“He seems to have a mind of his own, so leave him be. If it looks like he’ll be caught, I’ll handle it. As long as he’s not seen, it’s fine, right?”
“…Why does he sound like he wants to erase that person from the world?”
“Huh? If needed, I’ll do it.”
“No, no, no, no!”

Anyway, it was a good thing.

“Because it succeeded.”

Jeok Yun-ha was definitely competent, but her team wasn’t fully established yet. Among the people under her, none were strong enough to overpower a senior Shinion’s messenger.

“If we can go out anyway, we might as well use it.”

That’s why Dad, Uncle Baek, and Uncle Suk all coaxed me.

So I, along with Uncle Baek and Uncle Suk, carried out a diversion operation with Jeok Yun-ha.

I thought they would be competent, but they were even more competent than I imagined.

On the first day, they caught and dealt with intruders on their own.

Together with Kanin, they systematically captured those trying to mix low-grade herbs into the medicines.

“Haha, this is way easier than what we used to do.”
“Hey, this is too easy. Nothing else? Can we knock them out or something?”

Except that they were so capable they were bored.

It felt like using a former intelligence agent to catch local thugs.

Thanks to them, it was all resolved in no time. If I were alone, it would’ve taken at least a month.

“What did these people even do when they were healthy?”

Dad could roughly guess, but I’d have to ask properly later.

“These guys are done for today.”

That would also be the end of it. Once we obtained the decisive evidence, the rest would be destroyed using Jeok Yun-ha’s skills. This was all planned beforehand.

The large fire would probably also erase traces left by the eldest uncle’s lightning.

Additionally, illegal factories making fake medicines or mixing low-grade herbs, and places prepared to spread disease, would all be struck and burned.

“There aren’t many lightning sorcerers nearby, so it’s best to avoid it being traced to the eldest uncle.”

This opportunity would allow Jeok Yun-ha to grow even faster than in the third cycle.

“I’ll have free medicinal herbs for life. Hehe…”

My sister probably kicked me out in the third cycle. This time, I’d take everything from her…!

As I was lost in my playful thoughts, a voice pierced my ears.

“You seem happy.”
“Huh?”

Dad was resting his chin on his hand, watching me.

“Well… everything went well.”

Honestly, more than the gain, I was most relieved that Uncle Wondeok and Jeok Yun-ha wouldn’t suffer in this life.

“I hope Bima is happy, even if I have to give her all my luck.”

I truly wanted to be on their side.

I wondered how it would have been if I had become their ally when entering the final battlefield.

“Still… it’s boring that only Dad can’t run around like Suk-bbu and Baek-bbu.”
“…I’m not a crazy colt, you know.”

Dad, who had turned my older and younger brothers into mad colts, lightly tapped my head.

“I felt an obsessive urge not to leave my house and that tree… but it’s okay with you here.”

Important clue: the house and the tree where I first met Dad. What did they mean to him in the past?

“This place taught me a lot.”
“Taught you?”

Dad looked toward the door. It was a short break; Brother Gaewon and Tak Min-jae had been sent out to rest.

Even Laon, who had been running around, and the snake coiled around his wrist, were asleep.

Dad spoke quietly.

“Many parents brought their children here.”

Children need different treatment and medicines than adults.

“They cared in their own ways.”

Not many doctors know how to handle children properly, and some children even reject certain doctors or pharmacists.

“That’s why I learned a lot. I’ll try to use it.”
“Mm-hm.”

I didn’t know what exactly he meant, but I nodded. Maybe it would help me remember later.

“Dad… um…”

I asked cautiously.

“Don’t you remember anything about Mom?”

His face, usually softer, sank instantly.

“No, I don’t.”

He seemed to realize his mistake.

“… I don’t even know I got married.”

‘Arin.’

I recalled my dad’s face smiling brightly, unlike now.

It was time to change the topic.

“Dad…”
“Anyway, you seemed happy.”
“Huh?”
“Do you enjoy making medicines and treating people that much?”

Me? Did I?

I appreciated the change of topic, but it was sudden.

“It’s… fun…”

I wasn’t sure. I’d honed my knowledge and skills to survive in a family of doctors and pharmacists.

It started as survival, and in the third cycle, it became a means to go home.

“Mm.”

Still…

“Good.”

It was nice to see someone genuinely happy watching me. Not many in my past life.

“You seem happy seeing me. That’s good.”

I recalled my past memories and said it casually.

“They didn’t curse me. Didn’t hate me. Didn’t hit me.”

Dad looked slightly uncomfortable.

Then, the wind suddenly blew so strongly that it lifted my bangs.

Startled, I blinked.

“I’ll give you a brush and paper.”
“Mm-hm?”

A huge brush was placed in my hand.

It was too big. This is an adult-sized brush!

“Write them down in order: those who cursed you, those who hated you, and lastly… those who hit you. Make sure to write the last one.”

I was bewildered. What was happening?

“It’s natural to dream of revenge. It’s your right.”

Suddenly? But it was true. In the third cycle, I didn’t spare Heukdaewi who bullied me.

“This will be the proper first fatherly duty.”

I tilted my head and then laughed sheepishly.

“Then did you not act as a father until now?”