Chapter 9
The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away – 9
EP.9 Unveiling Talents (3)
“Then let’s begin.”
Empress declared solemnly.
It was a prayer room foundation also used for gatherings. A small church within the mansion grounds.
Our family servant brought two transparent vials. The liquid inside them shimmered, and it was holy water.
Father and Empress were in a serious mood.
Their reasons might be different.
Empress, perhaps, invested a considerable amount in gambling, hoping that I would somehow unlock the talents of a saint, making her spine tingle.
Father, on the other hand, was worried that I might go astray.
Everyone is so serious.
It’s not worth getting so tense.
“If you brought it, don’t just stand there, give it to me quickly.”
I took the holy water from the servant. He focused on my hand, fearing that the vial might break.
Don’t worry. I have no intention of wasting it either.
I opened the cork of the holy water and sniffed the scent.
“Isn’t it spoiled? It smells sour or something.”
“Eh? It’s the finest holy water made by our family’s healers. Holy water wouldn’t go bad in the first place…”
“Haha, just kidding.”
Without hesitation, I poured the contents of the vial into the holy grail in front of me.
It’s the process to activate the holy grail’s ability.
It doesn’t matter if the liquid inside is ordinary water, but they brought the finest just to make it look fancy.
Might as well use orange juice. People in this era lack vitamins.
“When Young master drinks the holy water in the holy grail, his talents will bloom. What it is will be indicated by the pattern left on the surface of the remaining liquid in the cup.”
Empress explained.
So, it shows as a pattern here.
I can find out through the status window.
“Then please recite the prayer.”
Empress requested Father. He took out the scripture and opened its pages.
Inborn talents don’t change just because you do something like this. It’s like a folk belief that if you go through a ritual, a 5-star result will come out during a draw.
The outcome is already predetermined.
Without further ado, I downed the contents of the holy grail.
“Wait, no!”
“Ugh, it tastes awful.”
I wiped my mouth with my sleeve and grimaced, prompting Empress to burst into laughter.
– Thunk–
I placed the holy grail on the ground.
“Now, let’s start the confirmation.”
As I took a sip, the surface of the remaining holy water rippled, and a pattern appeared.
Empress immediately fell forward, pressing her nose to the ground. Laughter involuntarily escaped her.
Sakura? Sakura!*
The lines I felt compelled to say naturally reached the tip of my tongue. I barely restrained my instincts and focused on the status window.
“Hmm.”
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through my head, and I winced at the throbbing in my temples.
I barely managed to suppress the urge to vomit, which almost overwhelmed me.
It must be because the taste of the holy water was disgusting.
It had a flavor reminiscent of fermented vinegar, which had been brewing for months.
‘Oh, feeling a bit dizzy.’
The text in the status window warped.
The focus of both eyes seemed off, and my vision blurred as if there were double layers.
Wonder what kind of great thing they gave me.
[Effect of the Holy grail of Revelation is activated.]
[Talent lock is released.]
Yeah, I know. I just took a one-shot.
Quick, tell me what it is. I’m dying to know. I need to know before I faint.
[Talent has been unlocked.]
[Medical (S) skill tree is liberated.]
“Oh.”
I distinctly had two talents.
One of them was [Medical].
‘Medical is undoubtedly a skill tree that shouldn’t exist in the original work, right?’
It’s a concept that doesn’t exist in this world at all.
Is it because the knowledge and talents I had before the transmigration were seamlessly continued and transformed into skills?
Now I understand why I had two talents.
‘I like it.’
I check the basic skills I currently possess.
○ Medical D
A skill treating targets based on modern medical knowledge.
ㆍ Diagnosis D
Partially assesses the patient’s condition.
ㆍ Prescription D
The condition of the treated patient improves slightly.
ㆍ Emergency Treatment Mastery E
Speeds up emergency treatment a bit.
‘It starts with D. It’s a system where you accumulate experience points to raise to higher ranks or when the next skill is unlocked, the rank increases. It means you can raise it up to S.’
These are the best skills I can utilize in this world, based on the knowledge I have. Right now, I can only see Diagnosis and Prescription, but later, could there be cosmetic procedures or something similar?
Originally, even among doctors, dermatologists were famous for having low labor intensity and making good money.
This is amazing.
The corners of my mouth naturally lift.
“It’s here! This pattern…!”
Empress exclaimed as she looked at the cup.
Now that I think about it, there was one more.
It’s related to the talent that Lars Gothberg originally possessed, not my current mental state.
‘I wonder what will come out of this.’
Empress, quite foolishly, doesn’t know that talents like those of a saint or a saintess don’t actually exist.
What Neria had was a divine talent, enhancing her healing abilities. Being chosen as a saintess is something that happens much later.
Might as well make good use of what I receive.
Holding my dizzy head, I scroll through the status window to check the next statement.
“This is… what is it?”
Anger spread across Empress’s face as she heard the explanation from the patriarch.
Of course, the reaction is because I am not a saint.
Suppressing a smirk, I confirm my second unlocked talent.
[Talent has been unlocked.]
[Alchemy (S) skill tree is liberated.]
‘Alchemy?’
This is unexpectedly interesting.
“Alchemy! It has nothing to do with being a saint!”
Empress, realizing that it’s not related to being a saint, jumps up from her seat.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Oh dear, was I supposed to become an alchemist? Father, should I go into some mine right now and start digging for copper? Just a little sprinkle, and I’ll instantly become rich!”
Ignoring the seriousness of the situation and throwing a joke, Empress pulled my ear.
“Oh my, I trusted this fool… Oh dear.”
“Yes? Empress, it seems like I heard some strange words just now?”
Empress chewed her lips thoughtfully.
“You must have misheard. Congratulations on unlocking your talent, Young master.”
“Oh, I’m going to take the physician’s exam. Where would I use alchemy? It’s not that great of an artifact. Empress, would you like to try it too?”
I picked up the holy grail.
As I did, the holy grail, from the handle I grabbed, started to become mushy and melted away.
Naturally, it’s a disposable artifact.
“Oh, it was expensive, but it’s so poor. Kukuku.”
“…I must be really crazy.”
Empress turned abruptly and walked out of the prayer room, muttering to herself.
I continue checking the status window.
○ Alchemy D
A skill that enhances or changes the properties of the target substance.
-
- Enhancement D
One property of the substance improves slightly.
-
- Compression E
Maintains the properties of the substance while reducing its volume.
-
- Synthesis E
Synthesizes substances with the properties of two materials.
‘Oh? This… ‘
Seeing the explanation, an idea popped into my mind.
Originally, alchemy in this world is a skill belonging to the support job category.
In other words, compared to talents like swordsmanship or magic, it’s considered inferior.
It’s typically used only on metals, like improving iron to reduce costs in armor production, mainly a supplementary job for blacksmiths…
‘But it’s not limited to metals, is it?’
It can be used on any material.
Combining this with medical skills…
‘It would be the same as Pharmacy skills.’
In a world where healing can only fix wounds, can I create medicine?
I’ll sweep in money with this.
‘This is amazing.’
Satisfied, I stood up from my seat.
“Lars, are you okay?”
Father asked me with concern. I nodded.
“Yes. Apart from feeling a bit dizzy, I’m fine.”
“Let’s go get healing first. I’ve prepared for it.”
Father seemed concerned about the side effects of the holy grail.
I appreciate the trust, but rather than receiving frustrating healing, I’ll see for myself.
“Once we get back and rest, I should be fine. Don’t worry too much… Cough, cough, cough. Don’t worry.”
“Well… if you say so.”
“Yes. Cough, cough.”
Strangely, the cough continues.
Somehow, it feels like I’m having difficulty breathing.
I continue checking the status window.
[Debuff acquired.]
[Health Decrease E (Growth, Irremovable)]
What is this?
“Father.”
“Yes, Lars.”
“It’s nothing much, but cough, perhaps a little support might be needed…”
“Lars? Lars!”
I couldn’t finish my sentence and lost consciousness.
====
***
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[Health has decreased.]
[Health has decreased.]
[Health has decreased.]
“Well, that’s how it is.”
This debuff deducts 0.1 health with every breath, and health reaching 0 means death.
“How troublesome. Cough, cough!”
The next day, as I woke up in my room, I coughed, spitting out blood-tinged phlegm.
My current maximum health is 4.
What’s left is around 2.8.
Fortunately, while sleeping, the natural recovery value is greater than the diminishing value during sleep.
“Neria had a less stressful situation, and it was over.”
Why am I in a life-threatening situation in a few days?
I’m already in a precarious situation, engaged to a villainess who wants to kill me.
“Still, I unlocked two talents.”
Alchemy and medicine.
One of them didn’t just spring up from the ground.
The knowledge I had before the transmigration turned into skills.
I always thought I was running on a squirrel wheel, but somehow, it feels good to be acknowledged.
“Erasing the bad ending should be easier now.”
But before that, if I collapse first, it’s useless.
Is this the price of talents?
“What a fair price.”
It definitely seemed like my luck stat, if displayed in the status window, would be plummeting into the negatives.
“Then I should overcome it with my talents.”
Shouldn’t I be the one to fix my own body?
It’s just a little decrease in health, I can bring it back up.
“Medicine, alchemy.”
Let’s prescribe and make some medicine.
The patient is myself.
It’s time for Dr. Makeshift’s first appointment.
Translator Note: it seems that this is a Korean phrase from the movie “타짜” (The Big Swindle). It plays a pivotal role in a tense card game scene. Not really sure the reference.