The Genius Physician Princess

So, it was really hard to say no.

“In theory, it’s possible. Knowledge accumulated by one person can leave an imprint in the world as a sort of ideology.”

“Then it really can…!”

“But it’s unlikely. I’m sorry, Yeo-ul.”

Yeo-ul’s face quickly fell with disappointment. Lantus felt bitter but continued explaining.

“For knowledge to leave an imprint clear enough for someone else to use, it has to be one of two things.”

“……”

“It has to follow a set procedure like with a successor, or it has to be driven by an extraordinary level of dedication that surpasses all procedures.”

“Oh, so my brother…”

“I’m not talking about ordinary dedication.”

Lantus cut her off, shaking his head.

“To transcend the laws of the world, it would have to be someone incredibly exceptional, the kind of person you might find once in a world. It’s very unlikely your brother fits that description.”

But Yeo-ul couldn’t give up easily.

“My brother studied a lot. Maybe it could be possible?”

He always tried so hard to find a cure for her illness.

“My brother was a really great doctor. All his patients said so, and his professors called him a genius. He knew everything, but still, it can’t be done?”

Yeo-ul’s eyes welled up with tears as she tried not to cry, gripping her hands tightly.

Watching her with pity, Lantus reached out and took her hand, gently opening her clenched fingers and softly rubbing the marks left by her nails on her delicate skin. The sight of the nail marks showing the sorrow she had swallowed made his heart ache.

“Yes, your brother was probably an excellent doctor, just as you said. But… some things just aren’t possible. I’m sorry.”

Yeo-ul squeezed her eyes shut, and Lantus asked gently.

“Is there anything else?”

Struggling to speak through her tears, Yeo-ul finally managed to say.

“A photo of my brother.”

“A photo?”

“It’s like a portrait, but we call it a photo.”

“Does the photo have any other functions?”

Yeo-ul bit her lip and shook her head.

Lantus closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

‘Her brother was everything to her.’

He couldn’t begin to guess what kind of life she had lived in her previous world. But one thing was clear.

In that life, her brother must have meant everything to her. Losing him left her with no attachment to the world she had lived in her whole life. 

That’s why a simple photo was the most precious thing to her.

Even so, he couldn’t just say, “Let’s bring over your brother’s knowledge.” 

The risks were too great. If there was nothing left in that world, she would lose her one chance.

‘But does that really matter?’

Anyway, the only meaningful thing in that world to her was her brother.

Would it be right to stop her from trying, even if it might come to nothing? 

Perhaps it would be better to let her try, even if she gained nothing, as long as she gave it her best shot.

Thus, Lantus could only arrive at one answer.

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

“What?”

“Let’s do it. Let’s check what your brother left behind.”

Yeo-ul looked at Lantus in shock.

Lantus smiled faintly and nodded slightly.

Yeo-ul asked in a trembling voice.

“Can we really do that?”

“Yes. But it won’t be easy. It requires a lot of preparation to open the passage.”

“Oh…”

“And even if we do open it, there might be nothing left. Or if there is, it might be too faint to use.”

“That’s okay!”

Her brother devoted his life to accumulating that knowledge.

If she could encounter even a trace of it again.

If she could use that trace to save even one person.

What could be more meaningful than that?

“It might take much longer than you think. Bringing over a person’s knowledge is far different from bringing over an ordinary object.”

Lantus gently wiped Yeo-ul’s tear-streaked face.

“First, I need to find Lady Medeia and ask for her help. That in itself won’t be easy.”

“Lady Medeia?”

“She’s very interested in other worlds. She’s one of the dragons Kite mentioned who gives me an allowance.”

Lantus spoke with a cheeky smile, and Yeo-ul, her eyes still red, giggled.

“Good. I like it when you smile.”

“Hehe.”

“Yeo-ul.”

“Yes?”

“Once the passage is opened, that’s it. If we don’t find anything, there won’t be a second chance.”

Lantus looked at her solemnly.

“Even the photo of your brother you mentioned wouldn’t be possible. Are you really okay with that?”

“Yes, I’m okay.”

Yeo-ul answered firmly.

Just moments ago, she had been crying, but now she was filled with hope.

For Lantus, this was reason enough to see this through.

But first, there were conditions to clarify.

“There are two conditions. You have to promise to meet these two conditions before I start preparing to open the passage.”

“What are they?”

“First.”

Lantus gently held her hand.

“While you’re here, don’t try too hard. Live like a proper child.”

“What?”

“Regardless of how old you were in your previous world, you’re seven years old here. You might not think much of it, but I believe you should live like a seven-year-old.”

The image of her crying her heart out in his arms last night was still vivid in his mind. It showed just how much she had bottled up inside her.

So he hoped she could relieve some of that burden by living more freely and carefree.

“Complain when you want to, cry when you want to. Crying without worrying about others is a privilege of being young.”

“Lantus…”

“Leave complicated matters to the adults. Don’t try to shoulder everything yourself.”

Yeo-ul looked at Lantus with trembling eyes. His concern for her touched her deeply, and tears welled up again.

“Can you promise that?”

Yeo-ul hesitated, then finally spoke.

“I’m not very mature. I whine a lot. Is it really okay if I do that?”

“That would be more than enough.”

Lantus chuckled and nodded.

“And the second condition is…”

After a brief pause, he looked at her with firm eyes.

“I need to explain something first. Using someone else’s knowledge comes with a significant cost.”

“A cost?”

“Yes. Even as a successor, I have to pay a price to use the knowledge of my predecessors. There are many taboos I must observe.”

If he broke those taboos, he wouldn’t just lose his life—his soul would wander in eternal torment. It was a horrifying prospect, but Lantus didn’t go into detail. It wasn’t relevant to Yeo-ul.

“I don’t know what price you might have to pay for your brother’s knowledge. It could be entirely different from the price a successor pays.”

“I’m okay. No matter the price, I’ll do it. I’m not scared at all.”

Understanding what Lantus was trying to warn her about, Yeo-ul quickly responded.

But Lantus shook his head.

“No, I don’t want to hear that determination. I’m not warning you about the cost.”

“Then what is it?”

“If there is a price to pay, I will share it with you. You have to promise me that.”

“What? But that’s my issue. Why should you suffer because of me?”

“It’s not suffering.”

Lantus cut her off firmly.

“I’m your guardian here. As the guide of the wanderer and the adult responsible for a seven-year-old child. It’s my duty to protect you.”

“……!”

“A guardian protecting their child is never a burden. It’s something to be grateful for because it keeps the child safe. Every guardian in the world would feel the same way.”

“Song Yeo-ul. Are you going to keep saying foolish things? What suffering am I going through? Do you know how much other patients’ guardians envy me? Healing my family isn’t suffering; it’s a blessing, you stubborn sister.”

“No guardian wants their patient to fight their illness alone. Everyone feels the same way.”

Hearing her brother’s voice clearly in her mind, Yeo-ul’s breath quickened, and large tears fell from her eyes.

Lantus, unable to help but laugh, gently wiped her tears.

“Did your brother say something similar? See, all guardians feel the same.”

Then he gently hugged her, and she burst into silent tears in his arms.

“I know. I may not be able to care for you as much as your brother did, but here, you can rely on me.”

He patted her back gently, speaking softly.

“Think of it as having a new dad here. You can call me Dad if you want.”

“You’re too young to be a dad.”

“I’m not. I just look young thanks to my magic. If my first love had succeeded, I’d have a daughter older than you.”

Yeo-ul laughed through her tears at his cheeky comment.

“Who was your first love?”

“That’s a secret. I’ll just say she was too amazing, so she turned me down.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I got dumped.”

“She must be regretting it now.”

“No, she’s engaged to someone else.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Really. So, do we have a deal on both conditions?”

“Yes.”

Yeo-ul nodded, smiling through her tears. No more tears flowed. Lantus, satisfied, patted her head.

“Good girl. I’d be so lucky to have a daughter like you.”

“Hehe.”

* * *

“Brother’s first love was Princess Isolde of Fátima.”

“You crazy brat.”

Lantus, who was checking the teleportation magic circle for the last time before leaving the Holy Kingdom, looked at Kite in shock.

“Hmph.”

Yeo-ul, who had just accidentally unsealed Kite’s words, quickly covered her mouth in surprise.

Ignoring her, Kite began to proudly reveal Lantus’s romantic history.