TFSG 81

Chapter 81

The Terminal Baby Doctor Doesn’t Hide Being a Genius

The Heuk family and the imperial family weren’t exactly on good terms.

Especially after the head of the Heuk family failed to treat the emperor ten years ago.

Still, no one could ignore the influence of the Heuk family on the empire and the western continent. There wasn’t any overt pressure, but the name alone made people on edge.

At least, from what I knew, the imperial family always acted like hyenas, constantly sniffing out weaknesses in the Heuk family.

I recalled something.

“No wonder. It must be in the records.”

Back when I was researching a cure for the Cheimik disease, I’d read about it in some documents.

They said that the emperor’s imperial envoy had died in Cheimik Village.

That incident was what made the epidemic in Cheimik more widely known.

“I heard that the important envoy who had a crucial mission quietly died… and the imperial family was embarrassed too late.”

The one who had told me this was my only “friend.”

“Ah, don’t even mention it. At that time, my father was scolded endlessly. I think they ordered him to find something.”

“If the imperial family was searching, it must’ve been really valuable.”

“I don’t know about that… But you smell something, did you notice?”

“Stop saying nonsense and take your medicine.”

So, the imperial envoy had the misfortune of dying from the disease in this village.

“But did the envoy know the epidemic had already spread here? Or did he come unaware and then catch the disease?”

Just then, Lord Rederick gave the answer.

“I heard he came here about three days ago, and he was already in serious condition. I reported it, but what could I do? I myself had been at death’s door.”

“……”

“Once they find out I cured him, they’ll come to threaten you.”

I pondered for a moment and then said,

“I understand. He wasn’t even part of the imperial family, just an envoy, right?”

Lord Rederick, briefly surprised, soon nodded.

“I see the Heuk family must’ve received news. Yes, he was an envoy.”

Surely, if the envoy died in this village, even if everyone else survived, the blame would fall on the Heuk family.

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“Not at all. If there’s anything more I can do to help, please let me know, Doctor.”

“Of course.”

I hugged Laon’s bag and smiled faintly.

“I won’t forget your help this time.”

Lord Rederick probably had ulterior motives, but he genuinely helped me.

“…We should tell the secretary to send a letter to your mansion faster.”

“It’s fine. Once he recovers, he can go personally.”

“No, I want to see the people recover before going.”

Lord Rederick scratched his neck.

“Of course, I want to see my wife too…”

I felt my father flinch behind me.

I started to get a sense of things.

“He seems to react whenever his wife is mentioned.”

Should I test him a bit more?

“Are you close with your wife?”

Lord Rederick smiled warmly, though only for a moment—until the noise interrupted.

“Lord! Count Rederick!”

Boom! The sound of the door opening.

This was the house of the village chief.

The chief himself was bedridden, so the lord had to stay here temporarily.

The soundproofing wasn’t good, so every creak from the entrance could be heard.

The voice was unmistakably that of Coma, the mid-level doctor Rederick had sent earlier.

But the footsteps in the hallway weren’t just one person.

“Several people…”

My father picked me up.

“They’re knights in combat formation. They look dangerous. Should we just take them down?”

“What? Wait…!”

Before I could say anything,

Crash! Bang!

“Aaah!”

“What? Why did you fall?”

“I… tripped over something!”

Amid the chaos and the sound of the floor breaking, people screamed.

I was stunned.

Clearly, this was my father’s doing. Given what he said about tripping, it was probably some wind trick.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up at my father, who was holding me. He looked unusually proud, like a wildcat who’d caused trouble but acted innocent.

“We must point out the rudeness of entering without knocking.”

“…Yet you have no manners yourself.”

“What?”

Well, it wasn’t entirely unhelpful. Both the lord and I got a moment to regroup.

Soon, the door swung open fully.

“We’re here!”

A knight in a pristine white uniform stepped in.

But the uniform was stained with dark red blood in places, and his face looked worn from hardship.

“I heard that Count Rederick has opened his eyes and recovered.”

Three knights had come, and Coma was trembling beside them.

“How far has he gotten in such a short time?”

Coma looked away, apparently frightened from what he had experienced with his uncle and great-uncle.

The oldest-looking knight, who seemed like the leader, was startled to see Count Rederick sitting upright.

“Lord, you’ve truly recovered.”

“Sir Trahan.”

The knight’s eyes, which had been scanning the room, finally stopped on my father.

“Are you the doctor who restored him?”

…Was my father being misunderstood again?

“Well, it’s to be expected.”

At this point, maybe it’d be better to make my father a figurehead and act as the behind-the-scenes powerhouse.

Thinking this, I rested my head against him.

It seemed like Lord Rederick was looking at me. I secretly puckered my lips and put a finger to them in a “shh.”

Lord Rederick smiled slightly for a moment.

“Uh?!”

My father grabbed my lips. It didn’t hurt, but it was ridiculous.

“What are you doing?”

“Mmmph!”

I had to be released to speak!

“Don’t do that to just anyone.”

…So, what exactly?

“Ha ha, your father is quite jealous. Well… I’d probably be the same.”

Lord Rederick laughed charmingly. He looked like he understood everything but didn’t say it aloud.

“Didn’t you hear? He asked if you’re the doctor.”

The knight had approached my father, asking directly. My father just glared at me with a slightly pouty expression.

“Hmm, maybe he’s reminded of the wildcat earlier.”

Behind my father’s face, I could see the shadow of a huge feline-like beast.

It was the feeling of seeing a cat before it caused trouble.

I nodded toward the knight.

My father frowned, not understanding the gesture.

“Exactly!”

I quickly pointed at my father.

“He’s the doctor! My dad!”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

Both the secretary and my father’s eyes turned toward me. They looked like they were asking what I was thinking.

“…Huh?”

Especially my father’s gaze—it was intense enough to almost poke my cheek.

• Just to let you know, I don’t know how to treat patients.

I heard my father’s voice in my ear, gruff and muttering.

Who wouldn’t know that already?

• Your voice can’t be heard now, so just speak.

“The lord doesn’t know yet? Those two knights came to bring the doctor to the emperor’s envoy.”

Since Coma came along, he probably knew all the circumstances.

“The Heuk family’s doctor came and instantly healed the lord. That’s probably the story.”

However, they didn’t know I was that doctor.

If I revealed it here—“I’m that doctor!”—I’d have to repeat the explanation I gave when I first met Coma. Too bothersome already.

“I just want to focus on healing the patient.”

I decided to brazenly demand that.