Plague Doctor in a Peaceful World - Chapter 23

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: LilGuyBlastoise

◈ Plague Doctor in a Peaceful World ◈

Chapter 23: Cult vs. Cult

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[I’ll pack my bags.]

I resisted typing that immediately. I still did not know anything about the client, and I did not want to look like a money-crazed cultist.

Besides, I had agreed to work as Hertz’s manager’s assistant through tomorrow. As an adult, I should responsibly handle the work I had promised to do first.

I calmly washed up, dried my hair, and found my passport to check it.

I had made it as soon as I became an adult, just in case. Since I had never used it, it was spotless.

“Heh heh.”

I checked the DM Lee Mun-yeong had sent again.

Information about the client had arrived in the meantime.

It was similar to Grandma Park Bokseon’s case, but also different.

Attorney Kim Yeong-geon, who had been helped by Grandma Park Bokseon, had made the request for her. This time, the elderly patient had made the request personally.

He had urgent business to finish, but catching the flu had disrupted his schedule.

The location was Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.

[Monday works for my departure.]

-[Yes, I’ll let the client know. If you’d like, we can book both your flight and accommodations!]

I politely declined. That would mean handing over my personal information.

I would have to pay for everything with my own money first, but this was not a one-million-won job. It was a one-million-yen job. As before, I could assume expenses were included.

After arranging a time and place to meet Lee Mun-yeong in Japan, I packed my bags with excitement.

It was sudden, but I was finally going abroad!

* * *

Sunday evening.

Hertz’s fan meeting had ended.

Along with the manager, I carefully packed the gifts Hertz had received from fans into boxes and loaded them into the car.

“You really worked hard these past three days, Bongsik.”

“Come eat dinner with us too. You’re coming, right?”

“No, I’m fine.”

The fan meeting had been held after their music show appearance, so the Hertz members were still wearing their stage makeup.

Without the lights, it looked so heavy that it was awkward to look at them.

“I have an early flight tomorrow morning, so I don’t think I can.”

“A flight? Where are you going? Jeju?”

I smiled and bragged.

“I’m going to Japan.”

“Ooh, lucky. Alone? Or with your girlfriend?”

“Where in Japan are you going?”

“Fukuoka. And I’m going alone.”

My real destination was Nagasaki, but there were no direct flights there tomorrow, so I had decided to fly to Fukuoka.

“Alone? I’m jealous. Take me with you.”

“No.”

“Bongsik’s richer than us. He’s even going abroad alone.”

The Hertz members looked envious. Burns wore a disappointed expression.

“If you have an early flight, it can’t be helped. Have a safe trip.”

“Yes.”

“Come work part-time again if you have time, Bongsik. We’ll be waiting.”

“Sure. If the timing works out again.”

“Bongsik, we calculated your daily pay at 120,000 won. After taxes, it’ll be deposited on the twentieth.”

The original agreement had been 100,000 won, but it had gone up to 120,000.

I bowed deeply to the manager.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, right, Bongsik.”

Burns asked me.

“Jin Se-hyeok wanted your contact information. Can I give it to him?”

“Why?”

“He said he’d like you to help with his schedule too if you have time next time.”

I nodded.

Broadcast stations were good hunting grounds for Experience.

The more tickets I had, the better.

“Sure.”

It was already nine at night by the time I got home.

“I’m back.”

“You worked hard again today, son. What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Ten.”

“You’ll have to leave early.”

Woof! Woof!

“Yeah, Arong. Want to go for a walk with your big brother?”

Preparing to leave the country was important, but walking Arong was important too.

I would not see him for several days once I left tomorrow.

As I dressed Arong and put on his leash, I reminded him, “Arong, don’t catch a cold while your big brother’s gone. Got it?”

“What brought this on? Why are you suddenly going on a trip to Japan?”

“I want to have as much fun as possible before going back to school. I’ll be back after the walk.”

“Okay.”

“Hey, I’m coming too.”

My sister hurriedly put on her coat and came out. I picked up Arong and ran for the front door.

“Hey!”

My sister quickly caught up.

“I said let’s go together!”

“I was going to have some quality time alone with Arong. Why are you interrupting?”

“I’ll do what I want. We’ll be back!”

Though it was chilly in the middle of winter, Arong scampered around happily. My sister said we should stop by a convenience store for a moment, then came back with ice cream and steamed buns.

“Is she crazy? Who eats ice cream outside on a freezing night?”

“This proves I’m strong. The weak can eat steamed buns.”

She gave me one, so I took it.

I had not eaten dinner yet, so I was hungry.

“What do you need from Japan?”

“This is why you’re so quick on the uptake, Kang Bongsik.”

“What do you need?”

My sister’s eyes lit up.

“Chick-shaped manju cakes and pudding! I heard you can get good hand cream cheap at the duty-free store too.”

“Okay. Give me money.”

“I’ll pay you back when I get a job.”

“Is that why you followed me? To mooch off your little brother?”

“Hehe.”

“Let go of my arm. You’re being creepy.”

“Hehehe.”

Early the next morning.

I arrived at Incheon International Airport.

Following the procedures I had studied on YouTube, I got through everything without trouble. After looking around the duty-free shop, I sat in front of my gate.

Click, click.

I took a few selfies to brag about on social media later.

A few hours later.

I safely picked up my luggage and came out into the Fukuoka International Airport lobby.

I had worried someone might give me trouble after seeing the bird-beak mask in my suitcase, but nobody said anything.

Well.

It was not dangerous. It was only a mask.

“Yes, Mom. I arrived at Fukuoka Airport.”

[Really? Turn on the video call and show me around.]

I showed my mother the surroundings through the video call.

[It’s nice. Always watch out for cars, people, and lightning.]

“Yes. I’ll send you pictures when I get to the hotel.”

[Okay.]

After reporting in, I followed my YouTube research and took a bus to Hakata Station.

I had a light lunch at Hakata Station. I took a train, transferred to the Shinkansen, and arrived in Nagasaki a little after three.

The world had really gotten convenient.

Even though it was my first time here and I was not good at Japanese, I had made it this far with just a smartphone.

I was supposed to meet Lee Mun-yeong at eight in the evening.

I still had plenty of time, so after checking into my hotel, I looked around nearby tourist spots, had some snacks, and took a taxi.

“Please take me to this address.”

The taxi driver looked at the translation on the Papago app, said he understood, and set off.

As we neared the destination, I put on a mask and sunglasses. If I wore the bird-beak mask, I felt like someone would immediately report me to the police as suspicious.

“Thank you!”

I coolly paid the taxi fare, far more expensive than in Korea, and got out.

“You worked hard getting all the way here, Mr. Plague Doctor.”

Lee Mun-yeong had arrived before our meeting time again today.

“It’s a little different seeing you without the mask.”

I gestured for her to wait a moment.

With my back turned, I rummaged through my bag and put on the bird-beak mask and black hat.

Lee Mun-yeong quietly laughed behind me.

“I’ll tell you what I could not explain fully over DM. The person seeking a treatment prayer is Hashimoto Kichiro, a Japanese businessman with close ties to Kang-geon Pharmaceuticals’ former CEO. He is also Kang-geon Pharmaceuticals’ second-largest shareholder.”

After organizing my bag, I turned to Lee Mun-yeong.

“He has been recuperating at this estate for some time, but the flu he caught recently will not go away. His pre-existing illnesses also limit what medication he can take. But…”

“...?”

I had been nodding along, but tilted my head.

Sigh.

Lee Mun-yeong wore a strange expression as she let out a deep breath.

“Mr. Plague Doctor, do you believe in curses?”

There was no such thing as...

No, wait.

There were Awakened like me who could cure a cold in one go. There was no reason curses could not exist too.

“Even after going to hospitals and calling doctors, Mr. Hashimoto’s health did not improve, so it seems his family called in a monk. He is very different from Korean monks. Anyway, he is that kind of religious figure.”

Lee Mun-yeong turned her head.

I looked at the long wall surrounding the estate too. The carefully tended garden trees swayed in the cold wind.

Whoooosh.

It felt a little creepy somehow.

“They said it was because of a curse placed on this family. Even the cat Mr. Hashimoto cherishes is sick.”

Scratch, scratch.

[How old is the client?]

“He is in his eighties.”

“...”

“Exactly. It is because of his age and chronic illnesses, not some curse. Anyway, the monk is inside too, but I asked them to make sure you would not run into him, so do not worry too much. Besides, you are a guest Mr. Hashimoto invited personally.”

I followed Lee Mun-yeong through the main gate.

It was an enormous estate. It was old, yet exceptionally well maintained.

After passing through the tranquil garden and large building, we went farther inside and reached another gate.

“As I mentioned over DM, Mr. Hashimoto’s personal secretary is waiting in front of the annex.”

We passed through the gate and arrived at the annex.

A middle-aged man in a suit stood in front of the door.

Apparently he had heard about me beforehand, because he bowed without looking surprised.

“Welcome. I am Sato.”

His Korean pronunciation was perfect.

“I will guide you to the chairman.”

We entered the annex and took off our shoes.

After passing through the maze-like interior, we came out into a corridor overlooking a brightly lit courtyard.

I stopped.

“Why…”

Lee Mun-yeong, who had been walking ahead, stopped.

Mr. Sato also furrowed his brow and spoke in Japanese.

The Papago app I had turned on in advance just in case translated it.

[I told you to move aside.]

Because my goggles restricted my vision, I had to crane my head to the side before I could see what they were looking at.

In the corner of the courtyard.

A monk dressed like someone out of a Japanese manga stood there blankly.

[I’m sorry. But bad energy. I worry about the chairman’s health. Please understand. Is that person?]

Was this translating properly?

The monk’s words were much longer than the translated sentence.

The monk looked at my appearance and openly frowned.

[Isn’t that a Western cultist?]

Oh, that one seemed to be translated correctly.

Lee Mun-yeong started to say something, then looked at Mr. Sato.

Mr. Sato stepped forward.

[The chairman invited this guest personally. Please move elsewhere.]

[I will protect this place. Bad energy. I will drive it away.]

“He does not look like he will back down easily. Mr. Plague Doctor, I’m sorry.”

Scratch, scratch.

[It’s fine.]

I lightly clenched both fists, circled my index finger, then sharply pointed in the direction the other two had originally been heading.

Let’s go.

Lee Mun-yeong smiled and nodded.

“Yes.”

The Japanese monk quietly watched me with a solemn gaze.

I held back a laugh.

The vivid yellow [Contagious Disease Patient] label growing closer made it very clear that this was not a curse.

A cultist insisting a curse existed when it did not.

A cultist pretending to be a religious figure who had come to offer treatment prayers.

Cult versus cult, then.

Though I would win.

* * *

[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Would you like to treat them?]

[(Expected MP Cost: 190)]

The [Contagious Disease Patient] did not seem surprised to see me either. He merely nodded from his bed.

“How are you feeling? Can you recover?”

I knelt beside the bed and nodded to Mr. Sato.

Since he said he could not leave just me alone with the patient, I asked him to stand some distance away. He obediently stood beside the door, along with Lee Mun-yeong.

I took out my phone.

Music on.

Da-ra-ran, da-ra-ra-ran.

Music that made me feel peaceful just listening to it began to play.

[Today’s Prayer.]

Da-ra-ra-ran.

Bbee-ri-ri.

I made the sign of the cross and pretended to pray for a moment.

Da-ra-ran!

At the brief swell in the music, I muttered, “Treatment, yes.”

A warm-colored haze was absorbed into the [Contagious Disease Patient].

[System]