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Chapter 73
The Terminal Baby Doctor Doesn’t Hide She’s a Genius
“What in the world do you think you’re doing, brother-in-law!!”
The third uncle, wielding his crescent blade, blocked Father’s way as he stepped back from Aunt. His face was twisted with fury.
“My wife is a powerless physician. Even if she’s lost her memory, for an ability-user to attack a powerless person—that’s punishable depending on the case!”
Blue droplets of water scattered as the third uncle summoned his power.
But none of it reached Father.
The sharp-edged water droplets froze in midair and floated there, before dispersing into nothing. The rest were devoured by water of a different color—it was Uncle’s power.
“If I’ve become a fool in the head, fine. But my child has a brilliant mind. Don’t insult her.”
“……”
“I only repaid you in kind.”
Father did not withdraw his wind. The third uncle adjusted his grip on the crescent blade—
“That’s enough noise.”
The clan head’s words sliced through the tense atmosphere.
“Put your weapons away at once. Bae Seonghyeon, as captain of the Black Horn Guard, you should be ashamed of your rashness.”
“Clan head…!”
“And you, Heuk Bihu, withdraw your power as well.”
At those words, Father’s wind vanished. The third uncle ground his teeth, but still lowered his weapon.
“This is my family… yet there’s far too much clamor.”
The clan head’s gaze soon shifted to the children and elders who had voiced opposition earlier.
“Such endless chatter.”
Beneath her calm tone lurked fury and menace.
“Do you all take me for a fool? Is it because I couldn’t cure the Emperor, so I’m just some useless physician?”
“Wh–what? Clan head, no, forgive us! We would never—”
Everyone froze at the clan head’s smiling words. Even that stern Heuk Haram fell silent.
Whoa. She’s terrifying.
So that’s why she’s never been replaced as clan head. At least not until the heroine appeared later.
It was true that ten years ago she had failed to cure the Emperor. But even so, she was an overwhelming figure—both in ability and charisma.
“Haran, I thought you shared my discerning eye. But perhaps I must reconsider.”
“I apologize, Mother. My thoughts were shallow.”
The eldest aunt bowed her head.
The clan head, satisfied with her submission, looked once more toward the stairs below.
“It seems no one else objects now. Very well, my granddaughter. You shall go to ‘Cheimik’ in the west.”
The instant I heard the name of the place, my head snapped up.
What? That village…
Epidemic, west, Cheimik.
A certain event rose immediately to mind.
Oh-ho, what a stroke of fortune.
The moment the word “epidemic” was mentioned, countless illnesses and regions flashed through my head.
And among them, this was the best possible opportunity.
Don’t show it.
I bit back a smile and waited for her next words.
“I will grant you temporary qualifications. If you wish to become an official physician of this clan, cure the epidemic. If you had the skill to improve my sons’ conditions, this should be no problem, yes?”
“Of course,” I answered brightly.
“But that won’t be enough, Clan head.”
“…W–what?”
Gasps of shock rose from the elders around us, but I paid them no mind.
“If Great-Uncle and Uncle receive diagnoses from you and show clear improvement, that will be undeniable proof. Then, along with the merit of solving an epidemic no one else could… wouldn’t mere physician qualification seem insufficient?”
Those who held the official physician title of the Black Clan could open clinics outside, proudly bearing the clan’s name.
But that wasn’t what I wanted.
“If there is something you wish, speak it.”
The clan head spoke magnanimously, and I smiled.
“Please give me a place within the clan to open my practice.”
“I shall grant you the East Wing.”
The answer came without hesitation. Surprised for a moment, I quickly pressed my luck further.
Strike while the iron is hot.
“Then why not be generous and give me the entire East Wing?”
“……”
Everyone stared at me as if I had lost my mind, but I only kept my eyes fixed on the clan head.
She cared only for the clan itself. She no longer saw me as a mere three-year-old.
Then shouldn’t I make demands worthy of that?
This is the moment that will decide my standing.
From my previous life, I knew well—
To survive in this clan, skill as a physician alone was not enough.
This place is crawling with hyenas.
If I showed the slightest weakness, my achievements in curing my uncles would have been diminished, and I’d have been left with nothing more than the bare minimum of qualification.
“The East Wing is abandoned anyway, isn’t it?”
“…Very well.”
I grinned inwardly.
In my past life, I had roamed the East Wing like my own home. I knew how many useful things could be found there if one used it properly.
“I shall let you hang your own plaque within the clan. You’ll have the right to join meetings… and I’ll recommend you for Senior Physician rank in the Physicians’ Association.”
“Clan head!”
A desperate protest rang out, but one sharp glance from her silenced it completely.
Well, thank you for not hiding your greedy face.
I bowed with a smile.
Thank you for coveting me, Clan head.
Exactly as I expected—but the outcome was already sealed.
“I’ll make sure to succeed in the treatment!”
And so, I came away with a far greater victory than I had imagined.
“Crazy… are you really three years old?”
After everything ended, we didn’t head straight back to the East Wing.
We stayed behind to see Uncle off.
Heuk Biryang was to remain here a while longer, proving before the physicians that his illness had indeed improved.
He would stay anywhere from three days to a week, demonstrating that he could remain awake without issue.
Of course, his sleepwalking had only been suppressed temporarily. He would need gradual treatment later…
But for about a week, it would be fine.
Once farewells with Uncle were over, we prepared to leave.
“Rest well, Uncle. No matter who examines you, it’ll be fine. If anyone tries to feed you something strange, send a letter to Aunt. Father and I will come running.”
“Huh? O–oh…”
“And again—don’t just eat whatever they give you!”
“Geez, do you think I’m a child?”
No, not a child.
Seeing him boldly speak even before the clan head reminded me once again—yes, he really was the heroine’s father.
“You’re not a child. I just worry because I like you, Uncle.”
“…What? W–well, if that’s what you mean. Ahem. Ahem.”
His reaction was honest. His ears turned red as he cleared his throat.
“Hey, wait. Why are you ignoring my question? Are you really three years old?!”
“Of course I’m three. What else would I be? Don’t ask useless questions. You’ll just waste your breath.”
“From the way you talk back, you do sound like my niece… Tch. Unbelievable. Where did you get the guts to shout like that at Mother? You snapped back at me the very first time we met too.”
“You just looked like a thug, Uncle.”
“…A thug?”
Uncle froze as Father and Great-Uncle’s eyes fell on him. Startled, he quickly changed the subject.
“Ahem! Hey, hey! What about Cheimik? When are you going? Don’t even think about leaving me behind! I’ll be waiting, got it!?”
At those words, I recalled the clan head’s orders from just moments ago.
