Chapter 18: The Doctor's Dinner (1)
In Greiks City, there is a unique clinic.
The clinic is unique because the doctor is not human.
The doctor of that clinic is an elf.
Elena, the elf, had come to the human world with the intention of practicing her medical skills and had established her clinic in Greiks City.
“Rein, you have a severe burn,” said Elena, the elf doctor of Greiks City, her expression pained. Such an injury would be accompanied by considerable pain.
Seeing the severe burn marks, Elena felt a pang of sympathy.
“Yes, I made a bit of a mistake,” Rein replied calmly, though her facial expression was contorted with the effort of suppressing the pain.
“Don’t worry. I’ll heal it for you.”
Elena immediately used a healing spell, “Heal,” on Rein’s hand. With a bright light, the burn began to heal slowly but surely.
“For external injuries that aren’t too severe, the healing spell ‘Heal’ works fine. So, don’t worry. You probably won’t even have a scar.”
Internal injuries and major wounds were beyond the power of “Heal.” In such cases, medical skills were necessary. Elena was proficient in both healing magic and medicine.
However, she had recently begun to feel disheartened by her work. Perhaps it would be better to return to the elven village. These thoughts were weighing on her mind.
The reason was the attitude of the humans.
Treating patients was fulfilling. But most of the men who came to the clinic weren’t there for her medical expertise.
They were simply men desperate for her attention.
They were more interested in her as a biological female than as a doctor, which disappointed her greatly.
Such things never happened among the elves. Elena found it strange that human men were so fixated on her appearance.
She had left the forest with a difficult decision to settle in the human world because she wanted to help humans.
“Thank you! Elena, your magic is truly amazing. But you don’t look well these days. Is something wrong?” Rein asked, examining her healed hand.
“Yes, I haven’t been sleeping well lately…”
“Sleep? Do you have worries?”
Rein, with her characteristic nosiness, grabbed Elena’s hands, her expression eager to offer advice.
“No.”
“And your meals?”
“Yes, I’ve been eating vegetables from the market.”
Elena had never been able to eat meat since birth.
There’s a misconception that elves don’t eat meat, but it’s not true. They just don’t enjoy it.
However, Elena couldn’t properly digest meat due to her biology. Her digestive system was like that of a herbivore.
“That’s why you’re always so tired, eating only raw vegetables.”
Rein shook her head and suddenly clapped her hands, having thought of a good idea.
“Although it’s a bit far, why don’t you go to the restaurant on the hill after your clinic hours?”
“A restaurant?”
“They can make delicious dishes with just vegetables. El will take care of it.”
“What?”
Human restaurants were very predictable. While they did offer vegetable dishes, they were mostly salads. So, eating raw vegetables didn’t seem much different.
However, Elena didn’t have any particular complaints about the taste of the food. The problem was the constant harassment from humans.
“Still…”
She hadn’t made a single close human friend since coming to this city. She realized how difficult it was to get close to humans. She had once thought that many elves in her homeland were being unreasonable when they shunned humans.
Men harassed her, and women looked at her with jealousy.
Elena couldn’t understand why they looked at her with such envy. Perhaps because of this jealousy, very few women visited her clinic.
In the midst of this, Rein was the only one who treated her well. Elena thought of Rein as a kind human. If all humans were like Rein, she wouldn’t have these worries. This was Elena’s belief, as she didn’t fully grasp human nature.
“It’s been a long time since I had something delicious. Since Rein recommended it, I’ll definitely give it a try.”
“Yes. I don’t know what’s bothering you, but eat something delicious and cheer up, Elena.”
Elena nodded quietly.
But she had no expectations. It was just another human-run restaurant. She doubted there would be any food to suit her elven palate. However, she couldn’t refuse Rein’s considerate suggestion.
So, after her clinic hours ended, Elena left the city and headed up the hill.
As she walked, she thought the sunset was beautiful, whether in a human city or an elven forest. As she neared the top of the hill, she spotted a quaint little restaurant.
Seeing it, Elena thought it was in an oddly remote location.
“But the view is nice.”
Looking at the scenery, Elena felt a pang of homesickness for the natural beauty of her homeland. Her once noble conviction was fading. She became more resolute in her decision to close her clinic and return home.
“Hello.”
Upon entering the restaurant, she found it empty of other customers. The owner was nowhere to be seen either. Or was she? Elena wondered if the woman before her was the owner, as she was slumped over a table. It didn’t seem likely for a customer to be slouched over a dining table.
The woman Elena was referring to, of course, was Rurin.
Rurin, as usual, was sprawled over a table. However, since she wasn’t asleep, she rubbed her eyes and spoke up.
“Uh? A customer?”
“Yes, Rein recommended this place… Are you the owner?”
“Nope! But, wait, aren’t you an elf?”
Rurin, curious, jumped off the table and landed on the floor, then approached Elena until she was right in front of her. Elena took a step back, slightly startled.
“Y-Yes?”
“It’s my first time seeing a female elf. One of El’s old companions was a male elf. So, you’re a female elf, huh!”
“That’s correct, but a male elf?”
“Hmm, all elves are beautiful. Really beautiful!”
Elena tilted her head in confusion. The woman before her had a beauty that rivaled that of any elf. Honestly, Elena had never seen a human woman as beautiful as her.
However, unlike Elena, no men approached Rurin. Though she didn’t intentionally exude her dragon fear, a subtle aura of intimidation always surrounded her, keeping human men at bay. Thus, no human could handle Rurin, except for El.
“You are truly beautiful yourself…”
“Do you think I’m beautiful? Hehehe. But I’m not human, you know? Can’t you tell? That useless male elf who was El’s companion couldn’t handle me at all!”
Hearing this, Elena was taken aback and stared directly into Rurin’s eyes. After a moment of deep eye contact, Elena suddenly realized and dropped to the ground.
“Oh, great being…! Forgive my rudeness!”
Elena began trembling. It was a natural reaction. A dragon was a supreme creature one couldn’t even dare to converse with.
Elena couldn’t comprehend why a dragon would be here. Perhaps it was for amusement. If so, it wasn’t entirely out of the question.
Elves were naturally endowed with the ability to discern falsehoods. Rurin’s comment about not recognizing her was because of this ability. When an elf gazes deeply into someone’s eyes with intent, they can perceive the true nature of things.
“I dislike humans, and elves aren’t particularly to my liking either. I also dislike dragons who bother me. So, I dislike everyone.”
Looking down at the trembling elf, Rurin started to rant. This was a statement that she disliked elves, which should have deeply frightened Elena.
“I also have a bit of… discomfort with humans.”
So, Elena could only agree. It was the best she could do.
However, she soon realized this wasn’t the time for agreement.
Dragons who hated humans had brought great calamities to the continent. Historically speaking.
Dragons had destroyed kingdoms, empires, and brought about significant dangers. Rurin’s words carried such a terrifying aura that Elena had to feel immense fear.
Such events could even affect the elven forest, her homeland.
As a peace-loving elf, Elena, gathering all her courage, dared to ask.
“But great being, if you dislike humans, why are you here… enjoying your time, may I ask?”
Rurin shook her head vehemently at Elena’s words.
“I dislike humans. But I was wrong to say I dislike everyone. Hehe. El is different. As long as El is here, nothing else matters. Understand? By the way, elf, you know my identity now? El said I mustn’t reveal it.”
“Th-That’s not it! The elves have never hindered the leisure of a great being! We know well the disasters it can bring… I’ll never reveal it, so please… have mercy…”
Elena bowed her head in fear.
“I didn’t say I’d kill you. Then, elf, be my subordinate. I have no subordinates. I’ll spare you since you praised me!”
But at that moment, Rurin was suddenly grabbed by the scruff of her neck.
“What the…!”
“What do you mean, what? Why are you scaring the customers?”
The one who grabbed her was El, who had appeared from the basement. He pulled Rurin close to him by the scruff of her neck.
Rurin’s head rested against El’s chest.
El was trying to figure out what was going on. Meanwhile, Rurin, already scared, started feigning ignorance.
“When did you get here? I don’t know. This elf bowed first!”
Of course, it was true that Elena had bowed first. That was true.
“Elf?”
“Yes!”
Rurin waved her hands and stomped her feet. It wasn’t until El heard the word “elf” that he looked at Elena, nodding upon seeing her ears. If she was an elf, she must have already known their true identities.
“Stop fooling around and take over. Go downstairs and start digging. I hope you realize you’re supposed to be working hard to build your home! Now, go!”
“Is it already my turn? It feels like you just went down…”
As El glared at her, Rurin shrugged her shoulders and slowly walked towards the back of the restaurant, muttering.
“Fine, fine. I’ll do it.”
Elena, peeking out, watched the scene. The man before her wasn’t a dragon. No matter how she looked, he was human. There were no traces of polymorph.
How could a human treat a dragon like that? Elena, facing an incomprehensible reality, was plunged into confusion.
To Elena, the very act of grabbing a dragon by the scruff of its neck was a tremendous cultural shock. A dragon obediently following a human’s orders was beyond a cultural shock—it shattered her very sense of values.