Chapter 3
“Grrr… purr… purr…”
A massive dome-shaped quarantine area.
Just moments ago, the place had been like hell, filled with yellow gas and a terrible stench.
Now, a strangely peaceful sound echoed through the room.
The source of that sound was none other than the Fire Dragon, Valakas.
The house-sized red dragon was lying on its back with its belly exposed, purring happily like a giant cat.
Standing in front of him was Jinhyeok, sleeves rolled up.
“That’s right. Feeling better now? Your stomach doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”
Jinhyeok checked that Valakas’s swollen belly had finally become flat again before scratching between the dragon’s hard scales.
Dragon scales were said to be tougher than diamonds.
But the moment Jinhyeok’s [Hand of Mercy] skill touched them, they relaxed and became as soft as rubber.
[Patient ‘Valakas’ Affection has exceeded MAX!]
[Status Effect: ‘Imprinting’ is in progress.]
“Mm… Mama…”
A clumsy telepathic voice entered Jinhyeok’s mind.
His eyebrows twitched.
“Who’s your mama? That’s creepy. I’m the doctor.”
“Mama… good… tummy feels nice…”
Ignoring Jinhyeok’s correction, Valakas rubbed his enormous head against Jinhyeok’s thigh like a puppy searching for its mother.
The only problem was…
That “puppy’s” head was the size of a dump truck.
“Whoa! Stop pushing! You’re going to knock me over!”
Jinhyeok struggled to push the dragon’s head away.
Everyone watching the scene stood frozen.
“Is… is that really Lord Valakas?”
“My goodness… He never acted this cute even toward the Guild Master.”
The expression on Kim Hyunseok, President of the Korean Healers Association, was especially priceless.
He stared blankly at the huge pile covering the floor.
Valakas’s waste.
To be precise…
Magical impurities.
“We… we were wrong?”
“It… it was just constipation? Constipation was the cause?”
His pride as an S-Rank healer shattered into pieces.
They had poured life energy into the dragon.
Cast countless blessings.
Tried every healing spell imaginable.
Yet none of it worked.
And all it took was one rubber plunger.
While packing his tools, Jinhyeok casually spoke to Kim Hyunseok.
“Mr. President, don’t just stand there. Help clean this up.”
“…Pardon? C-Clean what?”
“This.”
Jinhyeok pointed toward the pile on the floor.
“This is highly concentrated magical residue. If you throw it away, it’ll pollute the environment. If you refine it properly, it can be used as fertilizer or fuel.”
“You healers are good at purification magic, aren’t you?”
“Please clean it up. It’s bad for the patient’s hygiene.”
“W-What?! You’re telling us to clean dragon poop?!”
“Well, what else?”
“I performed the operation.”
“Do you expect the surgeon to do the cleaning too?”
“I thought you people were the assistants.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Jinhyeok had saved Valakas as the lead doctor.
Cleaning up afterward naturally fell to the medical team observing the procedure.
Kim Hyunseok trembled with anger.
But beside him…
Guild Master Lee Shinwoo gave him a cold stare.
Do it.
That single look said everything.
In the end, the nation’s elite healers could only tearfully pick up brooms and purification scrolls.
“Damn it… Is this really why I became a healer…?”
“Shut up. You’re letting the smell in.”
The unbelievable sight of S-Rank healers cleaning dragon droppings unfolded before everyone’s eyes.
Watching them, Jinhyeok nodded with satisfaction.
That settles the hierarchy.
Once everything was cleaned up, Lee Shinwoo walked over.
His expression was far softer than before.
No…
It was closer to reverence.
“Amazing.”
“Truly amazing.”
“I’ve witnessed many miracles in my life.”
“But today was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s not a miracle.”
“It’s medicine.”
“Hahaha!”
“Right.”
“Divine medicine.”
Lee Shinwoo accepted it without argument.
He gestured toward his secretary.
The secretary hurried over with a briefcase.
“I always keep my promises.”
“Here.”
He handed Jinhyeok a large envelope.
Inside were a property ownership certificate…
A key card…
And various legal documents.
[Property Ownership Transfer Registration]
- Location: 1-1 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, plus three adjacent lots (Zeus Guild Second Headquarters)
- Building: Zeus Medical Tower (15 Floors Above Ground / 5 Basement Levels)
- Estimated Value: 520 Billion Won
Jinhyeok’s hands trembled slightly.
Five hundred twenty billion won.
Even if he spent his entire life working as a porter…
He would never touch that amount of money.
Even winning the lottery a hundred times wouldn’t be enough.
Yet…
One swing of a toilet plunger had earned him an entire skyscraper.
Being a professional really is the best.
He celebrated inwardly while calmly putting the documents away.
“Everything looks good.”
“The ownership transfer fees and acquisition taxes are being handled by the guild, right?”
“Of course.”
“Everything, including the taxes, has already been taken care of.”
“And…”
Lee Shinwoo glanced at Valakas.
The dragon still had his head resting on Jinhyeok’s leg with his eyes closed.
“That fellow seems unusually attached to you.”
“Normally he’d remain in this quarantine zone.”
“But… I think it’s better if you keep him with you for a while.”
“Huh?”
“Me?”
“With that huge guy?”
“Take him to your hospital.”
“That building is far too large for ordinary use anyway.”
“It’ll be perfect for Valakas.”
Jinhyeok thought for a moment.
Living with a dragon?
It sounded troublesome.
It would probably eat an unbelievable amount too.
But…
The more he thought about it…
The better it sounded.
A 520-billion-won building in the middle of Gangnam.
Security had been his biggest concern.
But with an S-Rank dragon acting as the guard dog…
Not even an ant would dare approach.
Besides…
Valakas himself was a living advertisement.
“Fine.”
“But the guild pays for his food.”
“He’s a picky eater.”
“Hahaha!”
“No problem.”
“We’ll provide only the best.”
“No mana stones.”
“We’ll prepare the high-fiber diet you recommended.”
The deal was made.
Jinhyeok lightly tapped Valakas on the nose.
“You heard that?”
“From today on, you’re our hospital mascot.”
“If you’re going to earn your meals, act cute for the customers.”
“Understand?”
“Mama… food… good…”
Valakas happily wagged his tail.
The powerful swing sent an S-Rank healer flying through the air.
No one even reacted anymore.
The next day…
The entire country exploded.
Every major internet portal.
Every SNS feed.
Every video platform.
The headlines were all the same.
[Shock! The Dying Fire Dragon Valakas Completely Healed Overnight!]
[Miracle Performed by Unknown Veterinarian? “I Only Treated Constipation.”]
[Zeus Guild Hands Over Entire Gangnam Headquarters—520 Billion Won Paid as Medical Fee]
Public opinion went completely wild.
[LOL no way. A dragon almost died from constipation?]
[The S-Rank healers are idiots. They thought it was mana overload when the poor thing just couldn’t poop.]
[Who is this veterinarian? Did you see the picture of him holding a plunger? He looks incredible.]
[The legendary Plunger Master LOL.]
[Where’s this hospital? Will he treat my slime too?]
Nicknames poured in.
“Plunger Master.”
“The Dragon’s Personal Doctor.”
“The Man Worth 520 Billion Won.”
But Jinhyeok ignored every interview request and TV appearance.
Because he was preparing for the biggest move of his life.
“Heave!”
“Hey, Manticore!”
“That machine is fragile!”
“Be careful!”
Outside the old veterinary clinic in Seongbuk-gu…
Moving trucks lined the street.
But strangely…
The ones carrying the furniture weren’t professional movers.
“ROAR!”
The Blood Manticore carried the X-ray machine on its back toward a truck.
Behind it…
A Shadow Wolf carefully held boxes of medicine in its mouth.
An Iron Bear casually lifted a refrigerator with one hand.
People walking by stopped in shock, taking photos.
A veterinary clinic where magical beasts handled the moving.
It was unbelievable.
“Director…”
“Are you really leaving?”
The owner of the supermarket next door asked sadly.
Jinhyeok smiled as he wiped away his sweat.
“Yes.”
“I found a bigger place where the kids can run around.”
“Thank you for everything.”
“Oh dear…”
“Who’s going to trim Poppy’s nails now?”
“Gangnam is too far.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll send someone for house calls.”
“I’ll have Shadow Wolf pick Poppy up.”
Jinhyeok looked up at the old sign one last time.
Arcana Animal Medical Center
Three years ago…
After awakening…
This had become his home.
Back when everyone looked down on him for being F-Rank…
This was the only place willing to accept him.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Take care.”
Leaving behind a brief farewell…
He climbed into the passenger seat of the truck.
Driving was Park Cheolwoo, the raid captain personally assigned by Lee Shinwoo.
“Let’s go.”
“To Gangnam.”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’ll get you there safely, Director!”
Park Cheolwoo gripped the steering wheel with military discipline.
The convoy of trucks rumbled forward.
Their destination…
Cheongdam-dong.
The wealthiest district in South Korea.
Arcana Animal Medical Center – Gangnam Main Branch
The building was magnificent.
A fifteen-story glass tower.
Originally built as a VIP hospital for hunters…
It was equipped with the latest medical technology.
“Wow…”
“It really is huge.”
Jinhyeok admired the marble floors and crystal chandeliers.
Using a place like this as an animal hospital felt almost wasteful.
“Director.”
“We renovated everything according to your instructions.”
Park Cheolwoo guided him through the building.
“Floors 1 through 3 are for small magical beast treatment and grooming.”
“Floors 4 through 10 are patient wards and rehabilitation training areas.”
“The five basement levels are quarantine zones for large magical beasts.”
“Lord Valakas is staying in the luxury room on Basement Level 5.”
“It used to be the training hall.”
“Perfect.”
“Excellent.”
Jinhyeok nodded with satisfaction.
Now…
He couldn’t blame poor equipment or lack of space anymore.
All that remained was to prove himself with his skills.
“Well then.”
“Let’s put up the sign and open for business.”
He pressed the activation switch.
The giant electronic display at the top of the building lit up.
OPEN
We Heal Every Beast in the World.
Humans Not Accepted.
The moment those words appeared above Gangnam…
“Um… Director?”
“What is it?”
“I think…”
“You should look outside.”
Park Cheolwoo pointed nervously toward the window.
Jinhyeok turned his head.
Then…
He laughed.
The boulevard in front of the hospital was already packed.
They hadn’t even announced their opening yet.
Hundreds of people had gathered.
Or rather…
Hundreds of magical beasts.
At the very front stood the famous S-Rank Hunter known as the Ice Emperor, holding his partner, an Ice Penguin.
Behind him…
Top-ranked hunters from famous guilds stood in line with terrifying monsters.
Some had even pitched tents while waiting.
“My pet won’t eat!”
“My griffin’s wing is broken! Can you operate?”
“I’ll pay anything!”
“Please just give me a waiting number!”
It was complete chaos.
Gangnam had turned into a neighborhood gathering for monsters.
“Director!”
“What should we do?”
“Even the security guards can’t control them!”
“Leave them.”
“Tell them to line up.”
Jinhyeok calmly put on his white doctor’s coat.
Freshly pressed.
A gold nameplate on his chest gleamed.
Director Kang Jinhyeok
“They’re the desperate ones.”
Not me.
He took a sip of coffee.
Then pressed the intercom connected to Basement Level 5.
“Valakas.”
“Can you hear me?”
—Mama? Why?
“The customers outside are making too much noise.”
“Come upstairs.”
“Don’t roar.”
“Just show them your teeth.”
—Okay! I’ll earn my food!
BOOM!
The building trembled.
An overwhelming S-Rank dragon’s presence rose from the underground floors.
The terrifying aura spread through the first-floor lobby.
Outside…
Every hunter…
Every magical beast…
Stopped breathing at once.
Pure instinct.
The apex predator lived inside this building.
“There.”
“Much quieter now.”
Straightening his tie…
Jinhyeok opened the examination room door.
Now…
His real life was beginning.
No longer just a neighborhood veterinarian.
But the man who held the leash of hunters from all over the world.
“Next patient, please.”
His voice echoed throughout the entire hospital over the speaker system.
