WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: LilGuyBlastoise
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◈ Plague Doctor in a Peaceful World ◈
Chapter 26: Anyone You Want to Beat to a Pulp?
──────
I sent a calm reply.
[I cannot guarantee that Heaven will answer my prayer, but I will do my best.]
Contagious diseases had to be treated as soon as possible, before the damage got worse.
What was more, the target of this treatment prayer was a male tiger.
He had been born and raised in an amusement park, but a wild beast was still a wild beast. Since he would need to be sedated for testing and treatment, it would not be easy.
So I decided to go that very night.
* * *
“Creepy.”
The amusement park had closed for the day. Even with the lights on, it felt bleak somehow.
More so than a school in the middle of the night.
“Welcome, Plague Doctor.”
Lee Mun-yeong and I exchanged small bows.
“...Hello.”
I greeted the amusement park employee as well.
He looked a little flustered by my appearance, but instead of asking questions, he led us through the staff entrance.
Several iron doors stood along the narrow path, lit only by the minimum amount of lighting.
Without saying much, we walked on in silence.
“...”
“...”
It was strange walking through an amusement park at night, especially down a passageway only staff members used, so I kept looking around.
I was a little scared that something might suddenly jump out of the nearby darkness, or that something white might flash past.
Lee Mun-yeong was apparently not used to this either, because she cautiously looked around.
“This way.”
Clank.
The amusement park employee unlocked another iron door with a key. Once we entered, he securely locked it behind us.
Creak, click.
After passing through several more doors, we reached a large, long building.
The heavy, distinctive smell of a safari enclosure filled the air.
“Kongkong is in the indoor enclosure here.”
Kongkong.
That was the name of the tiger who would receive the treatment prayer.
Apparently, he had earned the name because he used to bonk his keeper with his forehead all the time as a cub.
“Would you like to see him from the regular viewing path first?”
I nodded at Lee Mun-yeong’s question.
The Plague Treatment skill would work even with a wall between us, so I could only hope Kongkong was within range.
But what if he was too far away for the skill to reach?
Then I would have to approach through the staff work area...
“This way, please.”
We went through several more doors.
Soon, we reached the viewing passage.
I had often come to this amusement park on school trips and field trips as a child.
But at night, the atmosphere was definitely different.
Grrr.
Rumble...
Dim lights were scattered throughout the area. Low growls and dull thuds echoed beyond the thick glass walls.
It was dark overall, but I could see them.
[Contagious Disease Patient]
[Contagious Disease Patient]
The bright green text.
“Kongkong is at the very end.”
Fortunately, Kongkong was close to the glass wall.
He looked cute in the photos, but up close, he was enormous. His paws were as big as a person’s face.
Still, seeing the tiger curled up so listlessly made my heart ache.
I carefully placed my hand against the wall.
[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Would you like to treat them?]
[(Expected MP Cost: 150)]
I’ll make you better, you giant cat.
I made the sign of the cross and clasped my hands.
The animals might be startled, so I did not play any music.
Mutter, mutter.
I hid the skill command amid the prayer I had roughly memorized.
“...Thus, Yeseu permits this treatment.”
A warm haze flowed from my hands, passed through the glass wall, and was absorbed by Kongkong.
[System]
-You have used Plague Treatment.
-Plague Treatment Proficiency +2
-Experience +7.38%
-Cat Treatment Bonus Experience +0.74%
-Cat Treatment Bonus Experience +0.74%
-Cat Treatment Bonus Experience +0.74%
[MP 10/130]
Huh? Was that an error?
Why did the bonus experience log appear three times?
Blink.
Kongkong suddenly raised his head.
His eyes, reflecting the faint lights, looked straight at me.
Grrr...
Kongkong slowly rose to his feet.
“Huh? He’s getting up.”
Lee Mun-yeong and the amusement park employee, who had been watching from a distance, came closer.
Thud.
Kongkong suddenly pressed his forehead against the glass wall.
Then he let out a short breath.
Huff...
“Kongkong...”
“What kind of reaction is this?”
A faint smile spread across the amusement park employee’s face, which had been grim the whole time.
“At least, it isn’t behavior he shows when he’s on guard. But is this... over?”
I opened my sketchbook and showed it to him.
[I will receive payment for the prayer after the test results come back.]
“So it is over. Yes, I understand. Thank you. Then...”
I gestured for them to wait a moment, then headed toward another enclosure we had passed earlier, marked [Contagious Disease Patient].
A tiger a little smaller than Kongkong prowled toward us.
[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Would you like to treat them?]
[(Expected MP Cost: 30)]
Either the illness was only beginning, or the tiger was recovering.
I took a tumbler of herbal tea and a straw out of my bag.
The amusement park employee stopped me with a startled look.
“I’m sorry, but drinks are prohibited here.”
Gasp. Even though it wasn’t visiting hours?
According to my experience notes, I only needed to gain 1% more to level up. Then I could cure this guy completely too.
“You need to drink that right now, don’t you, Plague Doctor?”
The quick-witted Lee Mun-yeong asked.
I nodded and held up one finger.
Just one sip.
While traveling in Japan, I had tested the effects of herbal tea myself.
The herbal teas confirmed as items were chamomile, jasmine, lavender, and peppermint.
The cooldown was six hours.
The tea had to be brewed to a certain strength. When it was warm, one sip was enough, but when it was cold, I had to take two or three sips.
That was why I had brought it warm in a tumbler.
I did not want to take two or more sips of something that did not suit my taste.
The amusement park employee hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes. Just one sip.”
I gave a small bow, turned around, and took the straw between my lips beneath my mask.
[System]
-You have drunk herbal tea.
-Immunity increases by 10 for 1 hour.
-MP has recovered by 10.
[MP 20/130]
I put the tumbler and straw back into my bag, then prayed toward the [Contagious Disease Patient] tiger.
Mutter.
“Treatment, yes.”
[System]
-You have used Plague Treatment.
-Plague Treatment Proficiency +0.5
-Experience +0.98%
-Cat Treatment Bonus Experience +0.09%
-Cat Treatment Bonus Experience +0.09%
-Cat Treatment Bonus Experience +0.09%
-You have leveled up!
-You have reached Level 10!
-The skill Immunity has leveled up!
[MP 140/140]
Oh.
Once I reached Level 10, the passive skill Immunity, which had not budged until now, leveled up too.
[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Would you like to treat them?]
[(Expected MP Cost: 10)]
I swallowed a smile and muttered the skill command.
Toward the cute tiger that kept tilting its head.
“Treatment, yes.”
* * *
The next afternoon.
I was sitting comfortably on the sofa watching TV when I received a DM from Lee Mun-yeong.
-[Kongkong’s test results are back, and all his numbers are normal!]
We had agreed that I would receive payment for the prayer that night.
Three million won.
Lee Mun-yeong said she felt sorry it was too little compared to Kongkong’s condition or value, but I was more surprised that the amusement park had paid this much for a suspicious treatment prayer.
They could have said it was probably just a coincidence and pretended they knew nothing.
Was it because Lee Mun-yeong was involved?
“Who are you messaging so much? A girl?”
My sister, sitting at the tea table, turned around and asked. On the table were chick-shaped manju I had bought in Japan and the herbal tea the Hashimoto family had given me as a gift.
“A friend. You’re going to the countryside next week too, right?”
“Do job seekers go to the countryside for the holiday?”
“Why not?”
“Because it makes you sad in a lot of ways.”
“They might give you more New Year’s money because they feel sorry you’re unemployed. Especially Grandpa.”
The corners of my sister’s mouth drooped.
“I feel like I’m going to get indigestion because of you again, Kang Bongsik.”
“Again?”
“Anyway, I can’t. I’m working that day. My boss said they’ll pay me more per hour.”
My sister worked three shifts a week at a nearby franchise café.
“And if I go too, who will watch Arong?”
“Whatever.”
“Pfft.”
My sister laughed while watching a variety show on TV.
I lightly nudged her with my foot.
“What?”
“Do you have anyone you want to beat to a pulp?”
“Why? You’ll beat them up for me?”
“Just wondering.”
I wanted to know the exact criteria for identifying a False One, but I could not exactly point a staff or stick at just anyone.
Was it simply reacting to liars, or was it reacting to cult frauds who used God’s name to deceive people?
Considering Divine Punishment had activated, the latter seemed more likely, but that was still only an untested guess.
“You don’t?”
My sister seemed to think for a moment, then smirked.
“Hey. If there were someone like that, I would’ve taken care of them already.”
“True.”
My sister turned back toward the TV.
“Pfft.”
“...”
Kang Hyunseo seemed to be hiding something from me.
I had no idea what it was.
Night came.
Instead of my conspicuous bird-beak mask, I wore sunglasses and a face mask when I met Lee Mun-yeong.
“This is the payment for Kongkong’s treatment prayer.”
I politely accepted the thick envelope with both hands.
“I have received separate compensation equivalent to a brokerage fee, so you do not need to worry.”
As I put away the envelope and was about to take out my sketchbook, Lee Mun-yeong got ahead of me.
“And this.”
She handed over another thin envelope.
“These are tickets for the musical Nara is appearing in. Go to this website, and you can choose the date and time you want yourself. I’m giving them to thank you for always trusting and helping me, so please accept them without feeling burdened.”
Once again, I accepted them politely with both hands.
“Are you really sure you don’t want tickets to attend the Unknown Singer finals next week?”
I nodded.
The date was the day before Lunar New Year, so it would be difficult.
“All right. Then I’ll see you again.”
Scratch scratch.
[Get home safely. Happy New Year.]
“Yes, Plague Doctor. Happy New Year to you too.”
After parting with Lee Mun-yeong, I walked for quite a while before getting into my car.
Click.
Only after securely locking the door did I check everything inside the envelopes.
Three million won and two musical tickets.
I started to grin, then stopped.
“...”
I should not start believing this was really money I had earned with my own ability and become arrogant.
What if I developed bad habits without even realizing it?
I returned home.
“Mom, Dad.”
“Oh, Bongsik. Unknown Singer is about to start.”
“If I ever start acting arrogantly because I have a lot of money, please set me straight...”
“Do you have more money than we do?”
My father was peeling and eating a tangerine, looking unimpressed.
“More than this apartment is worth?”
I immediately fell to my knees in humility.
“I’m sorry. I briefly lost my senses. Please forgive me.”
“Very well.”
I watched Unknown Singer with my family. It was the latter half of the special stage recording that Park Jaeyoon and I had attended.
They said Park Jaeyoon and I had not appeared in last week’s episode.
I hoped we would not appear today either.
“Oh? That’s Kang Bongsik.”
When Happy Quokka’s performance began, my face appeared briefly as I held up [☆Happy Quokka’s Clear and Lovely Roar☆] on my phone.
My phone covered my nose and mouth, but my family recognized me immediately and burst out laughing.
“Hey. What do you mean, roar?”
“Hahaha.”
“Our son looks surprisingly good on camera too. But...”
My mother suddenly looked me over.
“What is it, Mom?”
“Bongsik, your skin looks much better. Even when you were on screen just now, you were the only one glowing.”
I tilted my head.
“Really?”
I did not pay much attention to my skin, so I had not noticed.
Could the Immunity skill be affecting my body? I had thought it referred only to immunity against contagious diseases.
Bzzzz.
“Yeah, Yunjeong. ...Me? I’m watching TV. ...Now? ...Okay. I’ll be right there.”
My sister hung up and stood.
My father checked the time.
“Sweetheart, where are you going at this hour?”
“To Yunjeong’s house. Nobody will be there until tomorrow, so she told me to come sleep over.”
“Bongsik, take your sister there.”
Lee Yunjeong’s house was a three-minute walk away.
I was about to say I did not want to because it was a hassle, but then I saw my sister glance at me and stood up.
“Okay.”
“...Hehe.”
My sister laughed belatedly and went to her room to get her coat.
I grabbed my coat and Arong too.
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