EPISODE 3

<Veterinarian Druid Episode 3>

As I left the office, Healer Dan followed behind me, apparently wanting to go to the stable with me.

As we walked down the corridor, I asked the healer, "Healer."

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Do you know about my fall?"

"Yes, I heard that you were severely injured."

"But I heard that I was quickly healed after receiving treatment from Sir Lloyd."

“I am familiar with Sir Lloyd’s mana healing technique. And I assume you also drank a potion?”

“Yes, I did. It tasted very bitter.”

It was probably the bone-mending potion made by someone named Wolftop that I had just recently consumed.

“Even though there is such an excellent healing technique and medicine, why are people making a fuss about horses getting injured? Isn’t it just a matter of drinking a few bottles of potion?”

This is exactly what I wanted to ask the Count.

Why is there such an uproar over a potent medicine that can mend bones?

“Don’t you know it too, young master? How expensive potions are… Ah, I forgot that young master can’t remember now…” Healer Dan suddenly stopped talking. I looked at him wondering why, and I saw Seigan, who had been following us, making an X gesture with both hands in a flustered expression towards the healer.

Healer Dan nodded and continued the conversation. "Ahem, well, that’s not important. Anyways, potions are extremely expensive, and it’s not something that anyone can afford just because they have money."

“Really? Is it that amazing?”

“Yes.”

“So, you mean potions are so expensive that they cannot be used for animals?”

“Yes.”

I never expected to hear the words ‘I can’t afford treatment because the medicine is too expensive’ here as well.

I suddenly thought of the guardians who lamented about the burden of medical expenses and surgical costs.

Medical expenses.

Money, money, money, that damn money.

Money is a problem everywhere.

“Then, do people usually seek treatment for animals when they are sick? If they see animals suffering, they wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing, right?”

“For simple illnesses, we provide treatment, but in cases where it’s not possible, we have to entrust it to the laws of nature.”

“Does that make sense? Shouldn’t we make every effort to help them get better, especially when there are medicines that can mend bones!”

As we walked and talked, I realized we were already standing in front of a building entrance. Spica, who was sitting there stood up and barked once.

Bam!

Then she walked towards me.

Though we were separated for a brief moment, Spica greeted me like a dog welcoming back its owner after a long journey as she wagged her long tail.

-Were you waiting?

[Yes, I was waiting!]

She’s so loyal. I patted Spica’s forehead and asked Healer Dan.

“What if there are many dogs as lovable as her who are suffering? Would people just leave them be?”

“Well, umm... Spica may not be a dog, but we provide treatment as far as the owner can afford it. However, the owner must be present.”

Suddenly, Healer Dan seemed hesitant with his words and kept his distance from me.

It appears that people here are also afraid of dogs like Spica.

Ah, I wonder if Seong Soo-ho is doing well? What about Dr. Yang? They wouldn’t be fretting over my disappearance, would they?

As I thought of Seong Soo-ho, who always seemed distressed whenever he had to treat large dogs, my heart felt heavy.

[Why are you feeling that way?]

As if understanding my mood, Spica looked at me with her warm eyes.

-No, it’s nothing.

Being comforted by Spica’s affectionate gaze, my melancholic heart began to heal.

That's how dogs are. When the owner is happy, they also become happy, and when the owner is sad, they share the sadness together.

When these animals are sick, the distress of their guardians is immense.

The people here must feel the same way.

I shook off my contemplation and refocused my thoughts.

Yes, I can fix this.

With the knowledge I have and the potions and mana techniques here, I can surely come up with something.

Let’s ask Healer Dan, starting from the basics.

“What kind of treatment did you usually perform? Or rather, what kind of animals do you primarily treat?”

“It varies. We treat horses, cows, pigs, and even animals cherished by the nobles. Sometimes, we even get the chance to treat rare and precious creatures like divine beasts.”

I understand treating pets, but what are divine beasts?

Seemingly aware of my curiosity, Healer Dan continued.

“Oh, there are hybrids like Spica, as well as noble creatures. The most recent divine beast I treated was a Hocat.”

“Hocat?”

A cat? Cats are truly beloved creatures everywhere.

Wait, what does he mean by hybrids? Is it a new species name?

Cane Corso, or rather Spica, who is a Cane Corso breed, is called a hybrid here, it seems.

Listening to Dan’s explanation, it felt like this place wasn’t much different from where I used to live. Now, onto the next question. I asked about the most pressing matter that directly affects me.

“But Healer Dan.”

“Yes, what can I help you with?”

“How did you deal with military service?”

“Military service? Ah, you mean mandatory service.”

“I was studying at the Healing Tower, so I was able to fulfill my service requirement through alternative service.”

The mention of alternative services filled me with relief.

“Healing Tower? Is it like a school, like the Knight Academy?”

“Yes, it is an academy that trains healers.”

Oh wow, oh yeah!

I found the way. That’s it!

Hehehe, the corners of my mouth went up involuntarily.

***

'It’s really amazing. How did he tame that fearsome Cohorde?' Dan, walking a little away from Marcus on the left, tilted his head.

He had heard about the young master being fond of animals, but it was still impressive.

The creature walking slowly beside Marcus is a Cohorde that was not only fierce but also reluctant to open up to people.

They called it a hybrid, but it was actually closer to a monster.

However, it was treated as a divine beast because it fought on the side of humans against monsters.

But that only applies if there was someone who could tame the Cohorde.

To ordinary people, it was just a vicious monster.

Then, suddenly, the Cohorde opened its mouth wide.

‘Heek!’

Dan’s neck instantly tensed.

He remembered hearing that it caught the necks of those ahead of it and never let go until they stopped breathing.

Dan’s footsteps slowed down.

He couldn’t let his guard down just because Marcus was next to that creature.

Dan tried to walk as far away from Marcus as possible.

To be more precise, he was walking away from Spica who was walking alongside Marcus.

'Argh! This curiosity. If it wasn’t for that, I would want to turn back immediately.' Curious about the treatment method Marcus mentioned, Dan clenched his fists tightly and walked towards the stable.

***

Dan and Seigan were walking a few steps behind, while I walked alongside Spica. I could tell that Spica was feeling burdened, so I gently patted her head to comfort her. In response, she raised her tail and seemed to be in a good mood. Her large tongue wagged playfully, making her undeniably adorable despite being a troublemaker. As a Cane Corso, Spica was loyal and didn't complain much. She was also very friendly. However, due to her strong appearance, people often found her intimidating. If only they knew how affectionate and adorable she could be. The stable was visible in the distance, but it seemed farther away than when I first arrived. We walked quietly, not wanting to startle the horses. After all, Dan was an expert in equine care, possibly even better than me. As we entered the stable, we could hear people talking. "What? He's not eating his feed?" "Actually, he eats, but not with the usual enthusiasm. His not touching his favorite grain anymore." "But he had an appetite until this morning, didn't he?" "He ate well until then." "What did the young master-nim do? Ever since he did something strange, this happened." "Seems like it. But..." "What?" "Well, is that really true?" "What?" "Is it true that young master's mental state...and that the Count is sending him away to the frontier?" "Oh no, you shouldn't say things like that no matter where you heard it. It'll be a big problem." "But still. Everyone says he is a disgrace to the Ulysses family." Aha! So that's why they want to send me to such a place? I can't let that happen. Should I start working now? *** "Ugh, what is this?" When Dan untied the cloth wrapped tightly around Terry's front leg. The healer's expression was grim, and everyone present shared the same expression. Terry, in particular, looked resentful. [Argh! I can’t believe I trusted someone like you, I must be crazy!] Terry sighed and spoke. [I don’t want to wither away like this. Just kill me.] -Who said anything about dying? [Look at me. Can't you see water coming out of my body? Ahh! It feels like my body is already drying up.] -Hey, stop talking nonsense. Okay? I glared at Terry, feeling annoyed. But then I heard murmurings from behind. “As I thought, young master-nim thought of drying up Terry and eating him. It won’t dry up just like that, you know?” “What are you talking about? Can’t you see that? It might take some time, but it’ll become dry like dry fish.” “That’s pickled in salt.” “Same difference.” You guys are good. I sighed and open my mouth. "Watch what I'm doing. You will all have to do it later." "Heuk!" "Understood!" It's fortunate that Healer Dan is responding. "See the exudate here? This is the exudate that was inside the hoof. It all has to come out." "Are you saying that this sugar will make the exudate inside this guy's hoof come out?" Oh-ho! As expected, Healer Dan understands my words. “Sugar prevents the growth of bad bacteria and helps with tissue regeneration. Simply put, it promotes tissue and epithelium formation.” “I don’t know what tissues are, but I roughly understand.” Healer Dan muttered in response. “It’s probably the same principle as fruits that become wrinkled as moisture evaporates.” While explaining, I cleaned Terry’s hooves with water and dried them with a towel. Then I place a towel under his hooves and sprinkled plenty of sugar on it. Terry muttered to himself as he watched me. [This guy told me not to eat and got starved for a reason. Without strength, I can’t even kick him.] -Even if you have strength, it wouldn’t be right for you to hit me. I’m here to save you. [Keep your saliva and stop spitting lies.] -Why would I starve you? Starving is animal cruelty. I finished wrapping the cloth around Terry's leg and stood up. "This is merely treating the wound, and I supposed I should also tell you about the cause?" "The cause? Isn't it because he's getting old?" said the caretaker.

“There may be several reasons, but right now, this is the reason why he’s in pain.” I pointed to a place where a pile of beans and corn piled up. "Grains?" "Yes." "That's ridiculous. These are supplementary food for horses. "That's right." "What?" “But you feed him too much of it. And this is the result.” I don’t have the confidence to explain the correlation between the overconsumption of forage, gastric fermentation, histamine and blood vessel dilation, and blood vessel congestion to these people. So I took a different approach. “Healer Dan, you mentioned that the horses at the training grounds also eat the same feed, is that right?” “That’s correct.” “Do they always eat that?” “Not exactly. They only eat it for a certain period of time before an event.” “So, do all the horses at the training grounds eat the same grain?” “That’s not the case. Grain is expensive…Ah, I see. I think I know what you’re trying to say.” I smiled at Healer Dan. Perhaps I could communicate with the animal doctors here. For some reason, I felt a strange sense of camaraderie. ***

A week had passed since Marcus confidently declared that he would treat the incurable hoof disease. The Countess, who came to the Count’s office, began to complain. “Are you really going to throw our youngest into trouble?” “Since he spoke so confidently, let’s see what he can do.” Knowing the Count’s personality of never retracting his words, the Countess became frustrated. “You know what state Marcus is in right now.” “Hmm.” “Even if you don’t like our youngest, to push that small and delicate child into danger.” The Count was taken aback when the Countess shot him a resentful look. “Darling!” “Our poor youngest son. In the end, he is being abandoned.” “Abandoned?” “Sigh!” Finally, the Countess shed tears. It was said among the animal doctors that if someone came forward to treat or cure hoof disease, they would instantly become rich. That’s how deadly the disease that Marcus is trying to cure. Anyone could see that Marcus would be drafted into the Border Defense Unit. “Sigh, our poor youngest.” Meanwhile, the stable was like a festival. “Wow! He stood up!” “Oh, I knew it. Our young master is amazing!” “Wahaha, Marcus is truly our Master!” “Hurrah for Ulysses! Hurrah!” “Hurrah for Master Marcus! Hurrah!” The cheers and applause were so loud that the stable seemed about to take off. Just a few days ago, the servants were mocking him as a crazy master, but now they had completely become Marcus’ followers. With all the noise and excitement, the horses should have been getting agitated, but they weren’t. They were excited but in a good way. [Terry, you’re amazing!] [Ohoho, Terry, you’re alive! You’re alive!] [Terry, you’re not going to die. I’m so happy!] They were moved as they watched Terry walking on all fours. “Wow, I never thought something like this would happen…” “Yes, I can’t believe it even when I saw it with my own eyes.” “He cured the incurable disease. Young master Marcus is truly a genius. A genius!” Dan couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched Terry, who couldn’t get up before, now trotting around. Of course, he didn’t forget to capture the moment on video. -Neigh! Even the horses seemed to be in a good mood, happily snorting and tapping their front leg. Dan spoke up.

“Young master Marcus asked why we didn’t use potions.” “Using expensive potions would only provide temporary relief. We gave up because we couldn’t completely cure the disease. It’s cheaper to buy a new horse than to pay for treatment.” Despite the successful treatment, Dan felt conflicted. Countless horses had lost their lives to this disease, and even now, many horses all over the Empire were dying. ‘Why didn’t we know that there was such a simple and inexpensive method? If Marcus knew, then someone must have tried this treatment before.’ He had been too complacent. From now on, he would not neglect his research. As Dan watched Marcus examining the treated horse, he thought to himself. ‘It could be a coincidence once. But if this happens again, then I have to acknowledge it.' If that happens, this will become an incredibly valuable treatment that cannot be measured. ‘We have to claim it before others find out.’ Dan, who serves as the president of the Animal Therapy Association, looked at Marcus with a glint in his eyes. *** [Thank you.] -Huh? [I said thank you.] Terry spoke awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. [When you first came, I genuinely wanted you to kill me.] -Why? [Because the pain was so bad that I thought dying would be better.] Even though he wanted to live. Terry gave a faint smile. Seeing him like that reminded him of when he was hit by a car. He was on the way home after a week of being on duty at the animal hospital. I wonder if that cat with the yellow medallion was okay. Did it land safely on the ground? I hope it didn’t get hurt. [I felt that way at that time. But now, it feels like I could fly. Now, I’m okay.] -Oh! [Thank you. It’s all thanks to you. And forget about the insults I hurled at you.] -I’ve already forgotten, dude. And if you ever feel sick, let me know. Don’t grow ill. Thanks to Terry, I was able to snap out of my thoughts. Brushing away bitter memories, I gently patted Terry’s back. That’s when it happened. Golden letters flickered above Terry’s head. [Conditions have been met] …[Awakening as a Druid] [Congratulations on becoming a Druid] “Uh…?”

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NOTE: Cane Corso is called "Cohorde" in this word. Apparently, they are half-beings which is a half-god and a half monster. I could imagine that Spica seems is those gigantic and

Cane Corso will be called "Cohorde" starting from the next chapters, since in this world, I think Cohorde is what they call the Cane Corso breed. I may be wrong tho so I'll follow what was said in mtl. Tbh, some parts are harder for me to translate. But I hope you all understand the chapter! Thank you so much for reading!