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Hyangrok took off his shoes and took a seat just as Hwang Jiho invited him to.
When he opened the carrier, a small jade mortar, and pot were followed by a series of vacuum-packed sachets of suspicious herbs and powders.
“Hwangho’s request this time was a little tricky, so I thought I should check everyone’s statuses first before making the medicine!”
Hyangrok diligently lined up the contents of the carrier.
He said his task this time was difficult, but he looked very excited.
Hwang Jiho’s request seems to have ignited Hyangrok’s passion.
Hwang Jiho was satisfied with this attitude.
“I’ll say it again, but ordinary recovery items don’t work on Jeokho. Only powers borrowed from superior beings can heal him. It’s no good if it’s an ordinary customized medicine either.”
“I’ll get exhausted if I use my light skill, but I’ll use it just this time!”
It wouldn’t take a measly penny to make the head of the Deer Clan come all the way here and use his light skill.
Hwang Jiho must’ve thrown away his money again.
There’s nothing wrong if he uses his money for Jeokho, but the problem is that I am included in this deal.
It was burdensome, but the fact that I’d be taking another customized medicine made me dizzier.
“Jo Euishin has been taking a lot of it. It would be a little tricky to adjust it so that there aren’t any side effects. It’ll cost a lot.”
“I’ll pay you well. Use your power and resources generously.”
“Okay! Oh, rather than cash, I’m fine if you give me another test specimen like last time.”
My internal crisis intensified the longer Hwang Jiho and Hyangrok’s conversation went on.
The more ingredients he puts in this medicine, I just know it would taste even worse.
When I realized that, I was put in a state of fight or flight.
‘Hwang Jiho can’t detect Jeon Muyeong’s Time Without Shadows light skill yet. I can still escape.’
When I weighed the possibility of an escape, I was brought back into reality by what was in my arms.
Whimper…?
My angel wagged his tail, asking me to stop spacing out and pet him instead.
I can’t run away with Olmu with me!
No, maybe I can?
When I thought about sneaking out with Olmu, I felt several eyes on me.
“…”
Baekho-gun was watching me quietly.
Baekho-gun, who also experienced the taste of the medicine, seemed to have seen through me.
I felt a little ashamed from being caught trying to escape.
“I’ll help you.”
Baekho-gun mouthed the words at me.
He will help me escape!
Maybe it would work if only Hwang Jiho was here, but I can’t get my angel Olmu or my playable character Baekho-gun in trouble.
Unlike Hwang Jiho who still seemed keen to tease me, both Olmu and Baekho-gun were genuinely worried about me.
Just like that, my desire to escape quickly dissolved.
“You know you can’t deceive me or Baekho with your red fog, right Jeokho?”
“…Yes.”
Jeokho must’ve thought about running away too.
I was relieved that I wasn’t alone.
Hyangrok has been preparing the medicine, and it seems like it was time to check our statuses.
Jeokho was the first to get examined.
Hwang Jiho looked at the preparation so far.
“I don’t think the ingredients you brought would be enough.”
“I couldn’t bring everything with me. I’ll have to make a batch first and then go back to make enough to last for a week!”
I have to take the medicine for a whole week!
A nerve became visible on Jeokho’s forehead, but Hyangrok continued to speak calmly.
“The medicine that Jeokho will take would probably not work very well. The burden is too great. But he has to endure and drink it all within the specified time. It’s difficult to put my strength into medicine for a long time.”
It wouldn’t have much effect, but Jeokho will have to drink the gross medicine within the deadline.
My heart hurt for Jeokho.
After Jeokho, it was my turn to get examined.
Hyangrok, as he did last time, moved his little finger wrapped in energy waves to feel my pulse.
While he checked the pulse around my neck, Hyangrok sank.
“Hmm…”
Is there something wrong?
Hyangrok retrieved his hand and looked at me.
Both of us sat on cushions, and the small Hyangrok looked up at me.
Although he was the head of the Deer Clan who makes bitter-tasting medicine, I felt bad for this child working hard to make it.
Having organized his thoughts, Hyangrok began to speak.
“Jo Euishin, do you perhaps hate breathing?”
“…What?”
What nonsense all of a sudden?
Is he asking me if I want to die?
There’s so much I have to do, and I definitely wouldn’t throw away my life to abandon everything.
I immediately denied it.
“No.”
It was an obvious answer, but Hyangrok blinked his little eyes quickly, as if in disbelief.
He replied after a short pause.
“Really? Okay, you have to tell me if you find it hard to breathe.”
Hwang Jiho, who was watching me and Hyangrok, asked.
“Is there something wrong with Jo Euishin?”
“No, he looks like he’s in pain, but there’s nothing wrong with him.”
There’s nothing wrong with me.
However, perhaps because of Hyangrok’s odd question, Baekho-gun seemed to be worried about me as well.
Baekho-gun raised his index finger and pointed at me, careful not to get noticed by anyone else.
‘…Is he doubting me?’
When Baekho-gun and I played chess, he put his index finger on my forehead and told me to control my energy waves.
— While we were playing, your energy wave was restraining your breathing.
— If it was a habit that greatly affected your life, others would’ve noticed it too. But I think it’s a habit that causes you some discomfort. Maybe pain too. Fix it.
Was I holding my breath unconsciously?
I haven’t played any chess lately though…
Jeokho, who was staring at the medicine with a firm face, broke the silence.
“It’s good that nothing’s wrong. Well, even if there is, he’d get better with some medicine. He won’t have to endure that taste for nothing.”
“What do you mean that taste! It’s your first time taking my medicine.”
“…I was right next to them when they took it. I can guess the taste based on how they reacted.”
“Hmm… Well, it can’t be helped 'cause it really does taste bad, but I’m making it with my own hands so there’s no way it’s ineffective! I’ll put more effort into yours, Jeokho.”
Jeokho’s words only motivated Hyangrok.
Now it seems like Jeokho’s medicine got a few notches higher on the “tastes bad” scale.
Jeokho regretted it when he saw Hyangrok’s reaction, but it was too late.
“I want to see your reaction to the taste, so I’ll wait here a bit after preparing it! Would you like some tea while we wait?”
Hyangrok took out a thermos, and Hwang Jiho prepared some teacups as if he had been waiting for this moment.
I took a sip of the fragrant herbal tea and felt warmth spread all over my body.
The taste and the effect of the tea were excellent, and I wish he would make medicine taste like this instead of poison.
Hyangrok began to speak again.
He talked about his encounter with Jecheondaesung.
“Jecheondaesung complained that it tastes bad, but he took the medicine well! I guess he cares about the taste when he makes his own medicine.”
Jecheondaesung was brought up because of Jeokho’s complaints, and it gave me insight into his current status.
Hyangrok continued.
“A while ago, he contacted me to borrow some precious medicine ingredients as if he was trying to make his own. But from the ingredients that he asked for, he seemed to care a lot about the taste.”
Jecheondaesung must’ve prepared it for Wu Zhiqi.
Yoo Sanghee treated her, but Wu Zhiqi was tied for a long time and used as an energy source for TC Research Institute’s artificial descent project.
It will take her some time to recover.
Jecheondaesung, who is also well-versed in medicines, will be helping to reduce her recovery time.
‘So Jecheondaesung cares about the taste. Unlike Hyangrok.’
My heart was relieved a little at the news of Jecheondaesung and Wu Zhiqi, but the pain returned again at the thought of having to intake poison.
With Jeokho and I in a mixed mood, Hyangrok quickly completed the medicine.
“Back off a little.”
Fwaaat!
Before Hyangrok used his light skill, he took out a thin cloth woven with energy waves and wrapped it around.
All the herbs, tools, and ingredients were hidden by the cloth.
“You don’t want to disclose the process?”
“No, there aren’t many who can duplicate this even if I teach them anyway.”
Hyangrok confidently said so, explaining that covering the cloth was to block the flow of microscopic energy waves.
The mythical tigers and their Shinsoo were present after all so he prepared a cloth to block their strong energy waves.
Behind the streams of energy waves, Hyangrok invoked his light skill and borrowed the power of a superior being, finally completing the medicine.
The whole process was mysterious and delicate, but the end product will always be a hell-tasting medicine.
“…Dinner isn’t ready yet.”
“You can take it before meals.”
Jeokho’s final attempt ended in failure.
I quickly surrendered and accepted the jade bowl.
***
The next morning.
I woke up in the hanok annex of the mansion.
‘I didn’t mean to stay the night…’
I planned to go back to my dorm after dinner, but somehow I ended up staying at the mansion.
It was partly because Hyangrok took a lot of time to prepare the medicine, but also because all my energy was sapped out when drank the hell-of-a-taste medicine.
‘I have to taste hell for the whole week!’
Even the fruits prepared by Hwang Jiho and the tea served by Hyangrok were unable to overcome the poisonous taste.
According to Hyangrok, Jeokho’s medicine was even worse than mine.
I don’t know how he endured it.
He’s a legendary tiger indeed.
“Hahaha! Alright, let’s have breakfast. You can take the medicine first or eat breakfast first. Whichever you want.”
As soon as I changed into fresh school uniforms prepared in the room, I heard Hwang Jiho laughing.
Jeokho was already holding a fresh pouch of medicine with a blank expression.
It seems like accepted his fate.
I decided to follow Jeokho and drink the medicine first.
Just like that, a painful morning of customized medicine passed.
“The weekend is coming soon, so why don’t you come to the mansion again? You’d have to receive medicine from Hyangrok anyway.”
We were walking on the way to school, and my expectations for the weekend plummeted when Hwang Jiho suggested that.
I hope I won’t have to take that medicine on the weekend.
Hwang Jiho has been in a very good mood since the morning.
“There’s a kid who will attend school today.”
I was intrigued by his words.
Someone in our class will start attending school?
“Gye Idam was discharged from the hospital yesterday. He’ll be attending school again today.”
The mention of the malicious commenter sent my mood to the ground.
Today was really the worst morning ever.
“Hahahaha! I can’t believe you hate him this much. There’s also a piece of news that you’d like though.”
Hwang Jiho’s smile reduced my expectations to zero.
“Do Wonwoo is going back to school. If he can’t go in the morning, perhaps he’ll come in the afternoon. Oh, and one more thing.”
In front of the Year One Class Zero classroom, Yoo Sanghoon was standing.
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