10 – Unstoppable Rumors
“A needle in a sack!”
A person with exceptional talent can’t hide even if they try.
Kim Cheol-Soo wanted to live a sweet life, but rumors about him were gradually spreading.
Through Roland Viscount’s maids and the villagers, Kim Cheol-Soo’s achievements were being mentioned unknowingly.
“Becky! Your skin looks better these days. What happened?”
“Isn’t Penny from the next estate? Well~ hehe, it’s all thanks to bathing.”
“Bathing?”
“Yeah, you see… “
Becky spread the bathing culture through the errand-running maid Penny.
“I heard a rumor, Cotton! Did Sir Roland Viscount really recover? Was Reverend James so influential?”
“Oh! Reverend? It was Kim Cheol-Soo who healed Sir!”
“Kim Cheol-Soo?”
“Yeah, our estate healer!”
Kim Cheol-Soo’s name came up in the villagers’ gossip.
If Kim Cheol-Soo had seen it, it would have been a chilling scene!
However, the rumors had already grown uncontrollably, spreading beyond the neighboring estates to other regions.
Among many rumors, the bathing culture particularly spread.
While Kim Cheol-Soo’s surgical techniques were too complex for medieval people to understand, bathing was easy for anyone, soon reaching the capital city.
“When you take a bath, does the itching disappear, and many skin diseases are prevented?”
From Noble mtl dot com
In this era, not bathing is like common sense!
The idea that bathing is good has been embraced by the people of the capital.
Well, isn’t it human nature to try something once it becomes popular?
Most people followed suit with bathing, and although some scoffed initially at the lack of immediate effects, over time, the benefits of bathing became evident.
“Oh! The itching is much less. Even the red rash has diminished. This is revolutionary!”
In the medieval times when bathing and hygiene concepts were absent, the spread of hygiene was truly revolutionary!
As many people experienced the benefits of bathing and spread the word to family and friends, the capital was swept up in a “bathing craze”!
“Ah~ feels good!”
“Hehe, a day’s end is marked by a bath.”
Now, it has become routine for common households to draw water in oak barrels for bathing.
“You have been bathing incorrectly all this time. Let me teach you the proper way to bathe!”
Riding the trend, there even emerged a variant profession with a signboard saying “Bathing Method Instructor Waiting”.
With the situation as it is, even Count Roland’s Kim Cheolsu couldn’t escape the rumors.
Through the gossip-loving Becky, Kim Cheolsu heard the rumors.
“Oh? The people in the capital are bathing?”
“Yes, Bathing Sir! They say if you don’t bathe nowadays, you’re considered old-fashioned.”
“In the medieval times, didn’t European people not bathe? Hmm… Well, this isn’t Europe, it’s a different world, so it might be different.”
Could it be that my promotion of bathing has reached the capital? A suspicion briefly crossed Kim Cheolsu’s mind, but he shook his head.
Could it be that what I taught a few people here has reached the capital?
Of course, it was true that he had started it.
* * * *
It had been two weeks since Daisy’s surgery was completed.
I cared for Daisy at the same time every day.
After surgery, consistent care of the surgical site is crucial.
If not managed properly, it could lead to infection or scarring.
“The patient’s treatment doesn’t end with the surgery; hello~! It’s until the patient gets healthy!!”
Nursing the patient until they get healthy.
That’s the essence of nursing!
…Of course, in the severely lacking resources of Count Roland, “Checking pulse and respiratory rate, and disinfecting the surgical site” was all he could do.
Among them, the valiant comrade (cleric) Lady Lara would occasionally sanctify Daisy with her sacred power, so in reality, there wasn’t much for me to do.
Just observing Daisy’s condition?
Still, finally being able to do something more nursing-like made me feel familiar and at ease.
“Daisy, I’ll loosen the bandages to check the surgical site.”
“Yes.”
Having received an empty house from the villagers and living in bed, Daisy had adapted to this environment without realizing it.
Being told she had to stay in bed without moving for four weeks, Daisy was initially restless, but now she seemed more relaxed.
Now, Daisy would lie down without me having to say anything.
To make it easier to check the surgical site.
“How fascinating.”
When I removed Daisy’s bandages and looked at the wound, it was neat.
Normally, it takes quite a while for sutured areas to heal completely, but Daisy’s sutured area had already healed, looking normal on the surface.
“As expected, a hero’s regenerative power is outstanding… Well, that doesn’t mean I’ll shorten the recovery period.”
No matter how much of a hero you are, it’s a big problem if you shorten the recovery period and end up with side effects!
I wished for the patient’s recovery.
“Daisy, it’s been three weeks, so we’ll start rehabilitation exercises. If it hurts at all, let me know.”
“Got it.”
Daisy’s cooperation was excellent.
I soon grabbed Daisy’s right ankle and pulled it straight down, then to the sides, 10 times each, for 3 sets.
Straight down! Straight down!
“Does it hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good~ This is a rehab exercise, so even when I’m not here, do it once in a while. It’ll help you recover faster.”
“If I get healthier, will I be discharged?”
“That’s right.”
“…Hmm, it seems a bit painful around the back of the calf where the surgery was done.”
“Huh? Didn’t you just say it was fine?”
“I don’t show changes in facial expression, but I do feel the pain.”
“I see…”
Well, if the patient says so, it must be true.
In Korea, when assessing a patient’s pain, we ask them verbally. How much does it hurt?
“Then I’ll stop the rehab exercise here. If you feel any pain, don’t do it.”
“Got it.”
After that, while changing the bandages, I chatted casually with Daisy.
Becoming close with the same patient over time is a common occurrence!
Honestly, I thought Daisy was the silent type, but she was quite talkative.
“I heard there’s a bathing trend in the capital these days, which is great.”
“Bathing trend? Washing with water?”
“Yes. No matter how much we emphasize hygiene, it’s never enough! I hope people bathe more often.”
“I see… I’ll make sure to do that too.”
“Oh, that’s good then.”
“Come to think of it, I’ve heard rumors about the capital as well.”
“Is that so?”
Bringing up current trends in private conversations is always convenient.
But Daisy’s mention of something that seemed to come to mind was something I couldn’t easily dismiss.
“They say the excellent therapist Kim Charles lives in the west.”
“Ki… Kim Charles?”
“It’s Kim’s Charles. Some also call him Thursday Ajeshi, so I’m not sure exactly what his name is.”
My complexion turned pale.
No matter how you look at it, Kim Charles is Cheolsu Kim, and Thursday Ajeshi is the bath uncle.
Roland Viscount is in the western capital, so this is a reference to me!
Daisy still didn’t seem to realize that Kim’s Charles was pointing at me, speaking with an innocent face.
“Viscount Jackson, who is acquainted with, asked to meet Kim’s Charles. I am not familiar with the western people, but… do you happen to know Mr. Kim Cheol-soo?”
“Ha… Haha… Well, I’m not sure.”
In my eyes, I could already imagine myself, a doctor who had heard rumors and came from afar, being busy and not sleeping all year while dealing with patients.
“Exhaustion… I’m dying from exhaustion!!”
Aaahh!!
Mateo!! I told you not to spread rumors!
I felt a strong sense of betrayal.
***
The capital bustling with a bath craze.
Among them, Viscount Jackson Pride, who lived near the capital, had long been a loyal subject to the royal family, known for his modesty.
Viscount Jackson had one worry, his youngest daughter Irene.
“Irene, I brought porridge. How about eating even a spoonful?”
“Ugh… I have no appetite.”
“…I see.”
Viscount Jackson pushed the servant holding the porridge aside and sighed quietly.
His youngest daughter Irene, lying in bed, had never lived an outdoor life.
Irene often suffered from headaches, vomited, and couldn’t walk properly without assistance.
Despite calling renowned healers from all over the country to treat Irene, they all shook their heads.
“We don’t know the cause. We tried administering sanctity to Miss Irene, but there seems to be no change.”
“Miss Irene doesn’t seem to have any illness, Your Excellency. If she were ill, the symptoms would be severe, but Miss Irene is just frail, isn’t she active in social circles?”
“Could it be a lack of exercise?”
It’s not just frailty.
Indeed, Irene frequently attended social gatherings such as dances and tea parties.
All with the support of others.
When Viscount Jackson asked Irene, “Won’t you exercise?” she shook her head.
Irene seemed to have no interest in anything besides social gatherings.
Just spending time in bed.
“She does have an illness.”
How can someone vomit and not walk just from being frail?
It was beyond Jackson’s common sense.
“Ugh, what should I do about this!”
Jackson felt dizzy.
He wanted to make his youngest daughter healthy, but he just didn’t know how!
He had called on reputable healers!
Sighing, Jackson weakly nodded as a servant bowed and requested to speak.
“Sir… what is it?”
“Your Excellency, haven’t you heard about the bath craze in the capital recently? I heard that an exceptional healer in the west started this bath craze, why not call upon him once?”
“Haven’t we already called many healers?”
“It’s just a rumor, so I’m not sure if it’s true yet… They say, ‘When he touches you, the itch disappears, and paralyzed legs are healed.'”
“Paralyzed legs?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… really?”
Viscount Jackson looked intrigued.
“His name is Moore, right?”
“It’s Kim Charles, Your Excellency.”