CHAPTER 238: THE SHOWDOWN

“Oh. Ohhhh.”

Ethan explained the basics of acupuncture to Asclepius. Asclepius kept nodding and exclaiming in admiration.

“That god called Heo Jun, he’s really incredible! To think he developed such a unique technique. Hmm, excellent. To achieve such definite effects with this simple method. This won’t do, I’ll have to subscribe to him myself.”

Asclepius looked quite pleased.

‘To think I’d end up teaching a god instead.’

But it felt quite good to have Heo Jun’s acupuncture acknowledged.

“Excellent, excellent! So you’re going to combine this. This acupuncture is amazing, but your skill is even more so.”

Asclepius pulled something out from his chest.

“This is my snake staff merchandise. Originally, you’d need to get 15 likes, but I’m giving it to you out of gratitude, so don’t refuse.”

-Asclepius’s Snake Staff

The staff Asclepius carries. It enhances healing abilities.

When Ethan received the staff, it disappeared right in his hand.

“Like the merchandise in your eyes, you can take out the staff whenever you want.”

“So it enhances healing abilities.”

“Not just that.”

Asclepius said.

“It’s quite sturdy, so it’s good for striking down those you don’t like too.”

He meant it was quite suitable as a blunt weapon too.

Asclepius smiled contentedly and began explaining again.

Even though he had seen it in the video, Asclepius’s explanation skills were quite excellent to see in person.

“When using acupuncture…”

Ethan and Asclepius discussed how to best use Heo’s Acupuncture and Asclepius’s healing techniques.

“From what I hear, it’s highly likely that the pathways for mana flow have shrunk considerably. In the worst case, they might all be damaged. Normally, it wouldn’t be strange if she had died. The fact that she’s still alive means that some power of the sun is still dwelling in her body.” 𝖗𝖆₦ОＢĚṤ

“You mean the sun’s energy?”

“You said you took her pulse, right?”

“I didn’t feel any energy of the sun.”

“Then it’s hidden. Quite an excellent healer must have treated her. First, before treatment, we need to extract that sun energy.”

‘Impressive.’

Ethan had only explained Evangeline’s condition in words.

It would be difficult to know in such detail without directly examining her.

‘The title of being able to revive the dead is certainly not just for show.’

“Extract the sun’s energy, suppress the yin energy.”

“Then use Hygienic Healing to maintain a clean state, and temporarily enhance physical abilities through elixirs made with Radiant Herbal Arts, right?”

“You catch on quick.”

Asclepius grinned.

“I’ve done collaborations with many subscribers, but none understood my words as well as you. From what I’ve heard of your story, that disease will certainly be difficult to treat. But.”

Thud-.

Asclepius raised his snake staff and struck the ground.

A warm energy spread around.

“A doctor never gives up on a patient. Isn’t that right?”

***

After finishing the collaboration, Ethan immediately headed to Royal Gwyn, the imperial palace’s infirmary where Evangeline was waiting.

Befitting an imperial facility, Royal Gwyn had numerous healers.

Clerics handling white magic and divine magic.

Druid mages actively utilizing plants and herbs.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all of the empire’s treatment methods were gathered in Royal Gwyn.

“It’s been a while.”

There was a nameplate in front of Royal Gwyn.

[There is no patient we cannot treat]

Ethan passed by the nameplate and entered Royal Gwyn.

“You’re here.”

Evangeline, who had arrived earlier, greeted Ethan warmly.

Behind Evangeline were numerous healers, all of whom sent distrustful gazes towards Ethan when he arrived.

Their gazes were so intense it made his skin tingle, and the aura they emitted was tremendous.

Some even glared at Ethan while busily treating patients.

“The gazes are piercing.”

“They all became very sensitive after hearing that story.”

Evangeline smiled sheepishly. It was understandable. Ethan had asserted that he could cure Evangeline’s disease.

Flipping that statement around, it meant that these Royal Gwyn healers had failed to treat a curable disease.

‘Of course their pride would be hurt.’

But what could be done?

He had simply said it was possible because it was.

As Ethan appeared, one of the healers from inside approached. It was a druid mage with green hair.

‘An unfamiliar face.’

“Your Highness, I’m terribly sorry to say this, but I can’t stay silent without saying a word.”

Looking quite displeased, the healer stared at Ethan as he spoke.

“Rendering, clearly state what you’re so dissatisfied about. I’m only tolerating your current disrespectful attitude because it’s you, Rendering.”

Evangeline said with a stern expression.

The druid mage Rendering bowed his head slightly and opened his mouth again.

“It’s been over a decade since we started treating Your Highness’s illness. You’ve been through the process with us, so you know. How much effort we’ve put in over these ten-plus years. But we’ve failed every time. The director said that this disease is so vicious that just maintaining the current state could be considered a success. I agree with that.”

Evangeline couldn’t bring herself to speak at Rendering’s words. It was true that Evangeline was alive until now solely thanks to their efforts.

“Sigh, alright. Go ahead and speak directly. It would be better for you to talk to each other rather than through me.”

As Evangeline stepped aside, Ethan and Rendering faced each other.

‘The healers of Royal Gwyn, they certainly have skills. But they’re too proud.’

They were so aware of how great their skills were that their faith in their abilities was immense.

The healer right in front of him was the same.

They had slowed the progression of Evangeline’s disease and kept Evangeline alive when she should have died young.

That achievement was great, but that was all.

‘Their thinking has become fixed.’

Because they couldn’t cure it at their level, they’ve come to believe it’s an absolutely incurable disease now.

So they dismiss Ethan’s claim that he can cure the disease as a lie.

“I am Rendering, the deputy director of Royal Gwyn infirmary. I hear you’re the one who told a lie to Princess Evangeline.”

“A lie?”

When Ethan briefly asked back, Rendering frowned deeply.

“I heard you said you could cure Princess Evangeline’s disease.”

“I’ve never lied. I simply said I could cure it because I can.”

“Hah, you can cure it? By what means?”

Swoosh-.

A needle had appeared in Ethan’s hand.

“With this acupuncture.”

At that moment, Rendering’s expression changed. At the same time, the gazes of the surrounding healers were fixed on the needle Ethan was holding.

“There was another healer who uses acupuncture?”

“I thought only Deputy Director Rendering could use it.”

“To think there was another place that had acupuncture as a tradition.”

From the conversation, it seemed the deputy director Rendering also used acupuncture.

“Mr. Ethan Whiskers, was it? I haven’t heard that the Whiskers family passes down acupuncture.”

“It’s not acupuncture passed down through generations. I learned it separately and realized it on my own.”

At Ethan’s words, Rendering frowned even more.

“That might be why. Acupuncture certainly has great effects. But it’s not omnipotent.”

Ethan turned his gaze away from Rendering.

Then he made eye contact with the surrounding healers.

Clap-!

When he clapped his hands loudly once, everyone’s attention focused on Ethan for a moment.

“I understand all of your feelings. You’ve been treating Princess Evangeline for over a decade, so you know well how powerful that disease eating away at Princess Evangeline is.”

These people harbor hostility towards Ethan.

But Ethan couldn’t just respond to that hostility as it was.

Even if things worked out well that way, their relationship would inevitably become strained.

‘Gently.’

What is the reason they’re feeling hostile towards Ethan right now?

“I understand completely that you all think I’m saying something ridiculous.”

Ethan said.

“So I’ll prove it to you.”

“Then, you wouldn’t mind if I test you?”

Said Deputy Director Rendering.

“By all means.”

“Then follow me. I need to verify your skills.”

***

Royal Gwyn is filled with numerous high-grade materials.

Ethan was able to secure many high-grade materials through David Merchant Guild and Garnet Merchant Guild, but there were materials in the world that even such great Merchant Guilds couldn’t obtain.

‘But at Royal Gwyn, even those materials can be obtained. That’s the power of the imperial palace.’

Therefore, it was much better to be on friendly terms with the healers here than to be hostile.

‘It’s not that they dislike me personally.’

It’s because they don’t know how skilled Ethan is.

Of course, many of them know Ethan’s identity.

The famous swordsmanship teacher at Ivecar Academy.

But that swordsmanship teacher says he can cure Princess Evangeline’s disease?

‘Of course they’d be suspicious.’

Moreover, Ethan is very young.

Among the healers gathered at Royal Gwyn, there was no one younger than Ethan. There was only one person around his age, but that person lacked skills and wasn’t entrusted with important tasks in this infirmary.

So they assume that the equally young Ethan lacks expertise and skills.

From the beginning, they glared at Ethan with contemptuous looks as if looking at a con artist.

‘I’m curious. How will he test me?’

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know the situation would turn out like this.”

Evangeline said with a troubled expression.

‘There’s no way she didn’t know. If the princess had spoken firmly there, the healers wouldn’t have been able to say much more. The reason she didn’t is because Princess Evangeline is also curious about my skills.’

What if Ethan, who volunteered to treat her, made a mistake? If he performed a treatment that did more harm than good due to lack of skill, it could collapse Evangeline’s body condition that had been barely balanced.

‘It’s a matter of various interests.’

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

The sound of a rooster crowing was heard from somewhere.

What Deputy Director Rendering brought were two chickens.

And he brought a bundle of long acupuncture needles.

“It’s a simple proof. You’ll perform acupuncture on this chicken. You must insert a total of five needles, but the chicken must not die or suffer. If you can insert all five needles without issue, I’ll acknowledge your skills without further argument, Mr. Ethan Whiskers.”

‘An interesting method.’

When it was announced that Ethan, who had come to Royal Gwyn, would have an acupuncture showdown with Deputy Director Rendering, even the healers who were elsewhere gathered in the common space inside.

Roughly counting, about thirty healers were all watching Ethan and Rendering.

“Then let’s begin.”

‘It’s certainly a good method to check acupuncture skills. Unless you know the location of all the muscles, internal organs, and acupoints of a chicken, the chicken could suffer or die.’

If one is proficient in acupuncture, they could even make the chicken receiving acupuncture feel comfortable.

“I’ll go first.”

Ethan picked up one long needle.

“I just need to insert it until it’s not visible, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Then Ethan inserted the needle without hesitation.

Even though it went in so deep that the needle wasn’t visible at all, the chicken didn’t move a muscle.

“Wow…!”

Then Rendering also inserted one needle. Rendering’s chicken also remained still.

Swoosh-.

Ethan continued to insert needles.

The second one.

And then the third and fourth, he inserted the needles very easily. Those long needles went in, but the chicken didn’t make even a small cry.

At that sight, Rendering’s eyes trembled for a moment. While Ethan had quickly inserted four needles, Rendering was still examining where to place the second needle.

Swoosh-.

Rendering relaxed his tension and inserted the needle a bit faster. He inserted up to four needles like Ethan, and indeed, Rendering’s chicken also stayed quiet without making a sound.

“I can’t tell who’s better…!”

“No, they both inserted four, but Mr. Ethan Whiskers was faster.”

“No way! Does that mean Mr. Ethan Whiskers’ skills are higher? He looks about the same age as our youngest.”

Ethan glanced at the healers. Now that he had shown his skills, their gazes were already changing.

Even Rendering seemed quite tense at Ethan’s skills.

“The last one.”

Ethan inserted the fifth needle without much difficulty. Seeing that, Rendering took a deep breath and inserted the fifth needle.

“Wow…!”

“It was true! To think he has acupuncture skills on par with the deputy director!”

“To have such acupuncture skills at that age!”

The gazes of the healers looking at Ethan in admiration had changed. Evangeline also secretly clenched her fist in relief.

Rendering also came to acknowledge Ethan’s skills.

“You certainly have skills. I’m sorry, I…”

As Rendering approached Ethan to apologize, he stopped in his tracks.

It was because Ethan inserted one more long needle into the chicken.

The noisy surroundings suddenly began to quiet down.

Six needles. Yet the chicken was still quiet.

“I said I could definitely cure Princess Evangeline’s disease.”

Followed by the seventh. Rendering’s whole body trembled. This was impossible.

Even for himself, who had practiced acupuncture for many years, it took nearly 5 years to perfect inserting five needles into a chicken.

But now the man in front of him was inserting seven needles. No, it wasn’t over yet, he was still raising his hand.

Eight.

And nine.

The chicken with nine needles inserted didn’t die, let alone suffer.

“Are you more curious about my skills?”

No one could answer that question.

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