Chapter 20
The Crown Prince That Sells Medicine Chapter 20
Episode 20. Medical Fee Claim (2)
[Skill Name: Medical Fee Claim Lv.1]
[Activates automatically when you successfully complete treatment for a patient. You can extend your life expectancy by receiving a percentage of the patient’s life expectancy that will increase due to your medical treatment. This settlement percentage will increase as your skill level increases. (The lifespan to be settled is a separate bonus lifespan, not deducted from the patient’s life expectancy.)]
[Current settlement ratio = 2000 : 1]
‘Huh?’
Rachiel’s eyes widened.
A message suddenly appeared before my eyes. It contained so unexpected content that I had never imagined.
‘what is this.’
While I was grasping the content of the message, additional messages kept coming to mind.
[The medical billing (Lv. 1) skill is activated.]
[Patient ‘Teodor Palermo Magentano’ received the benefit of an extension of life expectancy by 0.5 days through your hangover treatment. Accordingly, you are paid a bonus life equivalent to 1/2000 of 0.5 days.]
[The unit of life settled is too small.]
[The minimum unit of life that can be settled is 1 day.]
“….”
As I look at it, I get the general idea.
Although I still feel dazed.
Rakiel suddenly knew what these messages were telling him.
‘You get your life calculated? What if you treat a patient? ‘Will my life expectancy also increase at a certain rate as the patient’s life expectancy increases through my treatment?’
Moreover, it was said that the life expectancy was not deducted from the patient’s life expectancy. They said it would be settled separately to this party as a bonus.
‘So… from now on, there’s no need to worry about self-treatment?’
A realization that comes slowly.
The tremendous meaning contained in enlightenment.
Rachiel’s lips trembled without realizing it.
‘nice. Sincerely, Nice. Even so, I’ve been running out of a lot of the Demon Emperor’s Jasesintang medicine these days. I was still thinking about how to come up with another prescription. No, it was a situation where it was doubtful whether life expectancy could be extended further.’
Actually, I was a little scared.
This body of Crown Prince Rachiel truly seemed like a cursed body. My life expectancy is only a few months away. I have no energy every day and my whole body is a mess. No matter how much I checked, I couldn’t figure out the cause.
It just felt like the entire five organs and six parts were a waste of money with no answer. It looked like a body made to die young.
‘Even after repeated treatments… it felt like I was pouring money into my bank account.’
No matter how much I put the Demon Emperor’s Posture Godtang into the circle slot and supplied it to my body, and even if I controlled my body with periodic acupuncture, it was only a temporary solution. No, as time passed, I felt like my body was getting used to the ingredients of the herbal medicine, but it was becoming less effective.
I was worried.
Can we really continue to extend our lifespan? How long can we endure in the same way we are now? Is it really possible to survive, unlike what the novel says?
My doubts grew and my anxiety grew. Perhaps I was more immersed in preparing for this match to forget the fear that such doubts and anxiety brought on.
‘But… that problem has been resolved.’
There is no longer any need to focus on treating this body with low physical strength that does not require medicine.
All you have to do is treat others.
Helping sick people.
Take care of the injured person.
What if you treat patients like that?
‘I also receive a bonus lifespan as their lifespan increases.’
Rakiel clenched his fists.
I saw a new way forward. A flame of hope that had never existed before bloomed. And that wasn’t the only thing that was hopeful.
‘Billing for medical expenses… I remember seeing it on the skill opening selection list for the first time before.’
It was definitely like that.
Was it when the first skill was unlocked? At that time, there was also a ‘medical billing skill’ in the list of skills that could be unlocked. However, at the time, I chose the Jinmaek skill. The reason was simple.
‘I didn’t think it was a big deal to claim medical expenses.’
To be honest, I thought it would be a skill that would be paid for with medical expenses. So I didn’t even pay attention.
Because he is the crown prince.
Because there is so much money that it rots.
I just thought that I didn’t need the skills to get money from other people for medical expenses.
‘But the medical fee wasn’t money.’
I didn’t know it was a skill that calculates bonus life. I never imagined it would be such a sweet skill. It was truly a skill that gave us what we desperately needed.
‘Then what about other skills?’
Rachiel recalled other unlockable skills she had seen on the list at the time.
‘The things I saw at that time… were things like pulse acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, decoction preparation, herbal medicine identification, medicinal herb search, herbal medicine casting, medical billing, and vague mental techniques… I guess.’
Among them, I got my hands on the faint method of claiming pulse and medical expenses.
What about the rest?
‘It won’t be just the ordinary acupuncture or cupping moxibustion that I know. Just look at the medical expenses claims. I think the remaining skills that haven’t been unlocked yet will have some sweet features that I can’t even imagine.’
It seemed like that was probably the case.
‘Let’s open them one by one whenever the opportunity arises.’
Rachiel was thinking about her future plans. I also reminded myself of my resolve to do better in the future.
It was then.
“…Why is there no answer?”
A heavy and dignified voice pierced my eardrums. Rakiel suddenly came to his senses at the sound of that voice. I got out of my thoughts and raised my head.
Then the face you see.
The emperor on the throne was there.
A solemn and sharp look in the eyes below the slightly raised chin. Those eyes were asking numerous questions towards us.
“I will ask you again. “Did you just use a foolish psychological technique in the confrontation?”
“…Yes that’s right.”
Rachiel quickly answered the emperor’s question. The emperor’s expression hardened even more at this answer.
“how?”
“I don’t know about that either.”
“You don’t know?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I looked around roughly.
It had to be that way.
Sometimes too much honesty can be toxic.
I couldn’t answer, ‘I deep-throated my body with self-acupuncture and took one shot of decoction, and the five organs and six parts gave me points and unlocked my skills.’
Rachiel glanced around.
‘All the people have already dispersed.’
The Roy-Harvey Bridge was very crowded when the confrontation took place earlier.
People were crowded on the main street on both sides of the river, surrounding the large bridge. It wasn’t just the main street. A huge number of people were sticking their heads out from the windows of the numerous buildings along the riverside boulevard and from the rooftop railings.
But now?
There was no one in sight.
Of course, it was near the Roy-Harvey Bridge. There wasn’t a single rat to be seen on the riverside road. All the windows of the buildings along the main street were closed and the rooftops were empty.
‘As expected, the emperor’s authority is enormous. ‘So many people who had gathered all of a sudden disappeared.’
As a result, only he and the emperor remained here on the Roy-Harvey Bridge.
The guards and attendants had also retreated.
‘Are you doing this because you have something to tell me?’
I swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
Fortunately, the wait wasn’t long.
The emperor’s mouth, which had been closed for a moment, opened.
“…okay. “The day you were born, Jim personally engraved a sad message on your heart.”
The emperor’s eyes are looking this way.
There was a strange feeling inside.
Is it regret or joy?
He was so expressionless that I couldn’t understand him.
The emperor continued.
“But now you have taken something that you couldn’t even use and used it to disrupt Jim’s plans and intentions.”
“….”
It’s not favorable.
Rachiel silently waited for the emperor’s next words.
“A promise is a promise, and a confrontation is a confrontation. Today you won against Jim. As you suggested earlier and he accepted, you won today’s battle, so I will not take away the crown prince’s title given to you. “But-”
The emperor’s eyes turned cold.
“Jim will continue to watch over you from now on. The throne should be given to someone who can bear the weight, and the burden will constantly doubt and test whether you have the capacity to bear the throne. Do you understand?”
“….”
Rachiel did not answer.
I just silently looked at the emperor.
To be honest, I felt a bit gutted on a human level.
‘Look at what this guy is saying.’
Since I defeated the 2nd prince, it is natural to protect the crown prince. I will continue to doubt and test your qualifications in the future. But I didn’t feel good about saying it out loud like that.
But Rachiel was not swayed by such feelings. Rather, I calmed down calmly. And I remembered the story of the novel ‘The Demon Sword Emperor’.
The beginning of the novel Demon Sword Emperor.
The events that take place there.
Among them, what happened to the emperor came to mind.
‘That guy falls down. ‘From a stroke.’
It was an accident without any signs or indications.
Unlike his eldest son, the emperor was very strong and strong. However, I was helpless in the face of sudden cerebrovascular disease.
Hunting for the entertainment of the imperial family. While aiming an arrow at a running deer.
The emperor fell.
And it never happened again. I became paralyzed. The cause was a stroke caused by a blockage in a cerebral blood vessel. Less than a year after Crown Prince Rachiel died, even the emperor fell.
It was the starting point of the fall of a huge empire.
‘That won’t work.’
Rakiel shook his head inwardly. It would be difficult for the emperor to fall, even for him.
‘I have a lot of work to do from now on. The medical billing skill I acquired earlier. Because I have to use it properly. But how to focus on that? ‘The emperor must remain strong and healthy.’
But what if the emperor falls?
He must run state affairs on behalf of the emperor. The number of things to worry about will increase enormously.
‘The time it takes to treat patients will be reduced accordingly. I won’t be able to properly use the medical billing skills I’ve acquired. That will never work.’
At best, I got a sweet skill.
Its lifespan ends before it can be used properly. Or, he died from overwork due to sudden pressure from palace duties.
An ending like that was definitely not a requirement.
To do this, the emperor must be strong.
Rakiel, who had come to his own conclusion, opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, you must not neglect your sword training.”
“…What?”
The emperor frowned.
What does that mean?
Although he had just given his eldest son strict advice to be more nervous in the future. But what about the eldest son who heard that? Again, a sudden and unexpected request was sent.
“Recently, I heard that you have begun to lay down your sword to focus on national affairs. Then it won’t work. Rather, you need to move your body more to maintain your physical strength and loosen your tight muscles.”
“What…”
“And you need to increase your vegetable intake.”
“….”
“If possible, please quit smoking.”
“Are you by any chance talking to Jim?”
“It’s just my small concern and sincerity.”
“her.”
The emperor stopped laughing.
It was absurd.
The subject is still suffering from a chronic illness whose cause is unknown. Even the hope of inheriting the throne is extremely uncertain. I don’t know how long I will live as a human being in the future.
The request given as if he was concerned about the health of the emperor seemed trivial. It also felt shallow and insignificant.
“Are you trying to avoid Jim’s advice with such a meaningless request?”
The Emperor’s laughter disappeared. A faint sense of anger and disappointment permeated the empty space.
It was from then on.
The emperor’s scolding continued for a long time. In front of him, Rakiel just bowed his head and answered yes, yes. How long did the time of admonishment last?
“…Prince Hani, please do not forget my warning and instructions.”
“I will do so, Your Majesty.”
The crown prince, who was greatly troubled by this admonition, withdrew.
“…Tsk.”
The place where the crown prince retired.
The emperor, left alone, clicked his tongue.
I didn’t like it. In particular, I didn’t like the sad attitude that Rakiel showed in today’s match.
‘If you use it hastily with an unprepared and weak body, you could end up in serious trouble. ‘Tsk, tsk!’
Why was his eldest son so desperate? Moreover, what on earth was that mana eruption that was beyond common sense?
‘I wonder if I am using the mind method in the wrong way.’
I keep getting worried so I can’t do anything.
I will have to visit the villa sometime soon. I’ll have to take a closer look at its details myself.
That way… I think I’ll feel a little relieved.
‘Anyway. ‘He seems like a weak guy.’
But it looks like it’s struggling to survive, trying to do something with that weak body. The emperor closed his eyes tightly. But even if I closed my eyes, my eldest child’s desperate appearance could not be erased. Rather, it emerged more clearly through my closed eyelids.
That sight kept throwing me small pebbles of hope. A small pebble broke the emperor’s iron heart.
A child who lost his mother at birth.
A child who was sick all the time growing up.
‘I wonder if this hope is futile.’
The emperor sits on the throne and shakes his head.
The sigh of the father, not the emperor, deepened.
♣
‘My father also had a stroke.’
The sound of a carriage returning to the villa. Rachiel looked out the window in silence, feeling the vibration of the carriage carrying her.
But I couldn’t see outside the window. Only his own unfamiliar face was visible through the ornately decorated emerald glass. Beyond that face, a fragment of memory came to mind without hesitation. There was a part of me from my high school days.
While cutting palm trees and playing with friends.
After receiving an urgent call from my mom.
It was like he was rushing to the hospital.
‘Then why can’t you quit smoking…’
Rakiel scattered the pieces of the piece in a sigh. On the other hand, I refined my future plans. Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the villa.
“Zeuuuheonhaa-!”
“…Mr. It’s a surprise.”
The person who welcomed us most warmly (?) as soon as we got off the carriage was Sir Gardin. Rachiel frowned.
“Are you doing this on purpose? huh? To surprise me. Right?”
“No, Your Highness! I can’t do that. “These are tears of genuine emotion!”
“….”
“No, I really don’t think you could defeat the 2nd prince like that… hehehe!”
“….”
“How difficult was it? How tiring have you been? “You are truly magnificent, Your Majesty.”
“….”
“majesty?”
“That’s it. I’m tired. I’m going to rest. “I have a lot of work to do starting tomorrow.”
“yes? “There’s a lot to do?”
“I’m going to collect a lot of money for medical treatment.”
“…yes?”
Sir Gardin tilted his head.
Yeah, I have no idea what you’re talking about.
From now on, I plan to gain a lot of bonus life through my medical billing skills. Because at this point in the novel ‘The Demon Sword Emperor’, there is a patient that we can most definitely treat. Moreover, the patient’s age is very young, so the life expectancy that can be extended will be enormous.
“Do you know that this is Damian?”
“Damian… is that the person’s name?”
“uh.”
“I do not know. “This is my first time hearing this name.”
Sir Gardin frowned.
He said he had no idea what such nonsense was.
‘Of course it is.’
A faint laugh came out.
Neither Gardin nor other people in this world would know. But I know. It’s a name I’ve come across hundreds or thousands of times while reading the novel Demon Sword Emperor.
Damian Cayenne.
Because he is the original protagonist of this novel.