So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

Chapter 48: Medical Ward (3)

“Researching food and herbs, and training physicians?”

As Master summarized my words and asked for confirmation, I nodded and replied.

“Yes.”

“I can vaguely understand researching food and medicinal ingredients, but is counseling something that requires research as well?”

“What about Eldest Senior Brother’s enlightenment or the incident with Third Brother.”

“Are you referring to the conversations you had with Jin-hak and Wan-pyeong?”

“Yes. And I had completely different conversations with both seniors. Even though it’s the same counseling, it’s better for the counseling to be conducted differently depending on the symptoms of the side effects.”

“Hmm… I think I understand what you mean.”

Although mental illnesses are often lumped together, the symptoms vary widely. And depending on the person or the symptoms, the counseling approach needs to be different.

Moreover.

“Leaving aside the side effects of our Demonic Arts. Let’s take an example from what the common people have known as ‘fire illness’. It’s a disease that erupts from suppressing and accumulating anger and resentment, right? If the patient of that disease has somewhere to express their hardship and anger, it could help them to manage their emotions.”

This was also something I had heard from Lee Ji Yeon, who had helped me recall my memories of coffee.

After being diagnosed with depression due to unreasonable complaints from citizens, she had completely turned into a fighter who would lash out at the slightest provocation from complainants. Just like when she argued with the citizen who stabbed me that day.

And according to her post-transformation self, she had realized the truth thanks to counseling with a psychiatrist.

Suffering alone in silence only hurts oneself. One must fight back against those who cause pain to prevent resentment from building up.

Wasn’t there a folktale about the king having donkey ears? Simply keeping something bottled up can lead to mental illness, and that mental illness can develop to the point of destroying the body.

Of course, I couldn’t bring up that folktale out loud to avoid unnecessary suspicion.

In any case, what mattered here was the act of “speaking” itself.

“People’s minds become much more at ease just by telling someone about the problems that are bothering them. The issue is when the content is something that’s difficult to share with just anyone.'”

Just like in the folktale about the king with donkey ears.

“That’s why the newly trained physicians must serve as confidants while being medical practitioners. A safe outlet where one’s secrets won’t be spread elsewhere.”

Unlike the bamboo field in the folk tale, we needed people who would protect secrets.

“And based on what the physicians hear and record from counseling sessions and patient stories, we can improve counseling methods and treatment plans. The content should be restricted so that only the physicians of the new medical division and the cult leader can access it.”

After listening to my explanation silently, Master frowned and replied.

“You are right, there is such an illness among the common people. Such people might indeed need counseling or a confidential outlet, as you said. However, it doesn’t seem to fit the warriors of our Cult. Above all, I believe relying on medicine might weaken the warriors of our Cult.”

It was a conclusion that reeked of old-fashioned stubbornness—that one must overcome everything with mental strength.

After pondering how to respond to Master’s conclusion, I decided to take a bold approach.

“What has the Cult achieved by adhering to this traditional method, Master? We were driven out of the Central Plains two hundred years ago and remain in hiding to this day.”

As soon as my words ended, a terrifying demonic energy erupted from Master.

It was completely different from during our sparring match earlier.

“What did you just say?”

Despite the absence of killing intent, the pressure of the energy was so strong that it was difficult to breathe.

Even though I was already exhausted from the earlier sparring, and it felt like I might faint at any moment, I couldn’t stop speaking.

“If two hundred years of tradition haven’t brought change, there’s only one solution: to create change, Master.”

“And you believe this change you propose will revive our Cult?”

“I can’t guarantee revival, but if we increase the number of medicines and physicians that help with side effects, the number of warriors will increase. Wouldn’t that greatly aid our return to the Central Plains?”

“Quality surpasses quantity in martial arts. One exceptional master who overcomes the side effects is more valuable than a hundred weak warriors who succumb to them.”

“Isn’t it obvious that the chance of producing one supreme master is higher among those who had succumbed to their side effects?”

After my final statement, Master didn’t respond but instead continued to press me with his menacing energy.

Even as my head spun and I felt like I might collapse at any moment, I gritted my teeth and endured Master’s energy and gaze.

And just as I was about to faint from the unbearable pressure—

Suddenly, the pressure bearing down on me vanished like a spring breeze.

“I understand your noble intention to develop our Cult. As you said, I think your opinion is correct that there can be no progress by simply following the past.”

As the terrifying demonic energy dissipated, I almost chuckled.

‘Noble intentions my ass.’

It wasn’t out of pity for those suffering from side effects or a desire for the Cult’s development.

The biggest reason I came up with the idea of a psychiatric ward in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was simple.

It was for my own mental health.

‘Having witnessed what happened to Kwan Mu-yeol, whose side effects were similar to mine, how could I just ignore it?’

I didn’t want to live a life of a crackhead.

Especially after my realm skyrocketed again due to Jang Hwi’s ambush, that worry had grown even more.

The concern that I might truly become a madman consumed by side effects becomes increasingly real with each passing moment.

Therefore, the mental ward plan was insurance for my future.

I realized that I needed to cultivate medicine and train physicians who could treat me if the side effects became unbearably strong.

Unaware of my true intentions, Master seemed to have made some internal decisions and made an outrageous proposal.

“Then, how about you taking charge of this new medical division? You’ve experience in alleviating Jin-hak and Wan-pyeong’s side effects through counseling, and as shown with the Black Bean Demon Tea and other instances, you seem to have some knowledge of food and medicine as well. You’d be perfect for the role.”

“My ability to help my two senior brothers was merely a fluke. Also, my knowledge is limited to a few teas and foods, including the Black Beans. I know practically nothing about medicinal herbs.”

This old man was out of his mind.

I knew a few common facts because I came from the modern era, but I was a civil servant, not a psychiatrist.

I was a complete layman in psychiatry, which was precisely why I was advocating for the creation and development of a psychiatric ward.

After all, I lacked the knowledge to cure my future self.

Instead, having studied public administration, this kind of work was more suited to my aptitude.

While I couldn’t become a physician, establishing a system to train physicians was something I could do.

“First, we need to select a few people from the current medical division who can research medicinal herbs and counseling techniques, and then establish a system. I’ll share with them the conversations I had with Eldest Brother and Third Brothers, as well as the information I know about teas and foods. Furthermore, we should collect medical texts and folk remedies from Central Plains and foreign lands, use them as a basis to find medicinal ingredients and foods that can stabilize the mind and body, and then test them.”

“By test, do you mean feeding someone these herbs and foods?”

“If we start with small amounts and gradually observe the effects, there shouldn’t be major issues. Since we’re conducting tests based on medical texts and folk knowledge, there should be few cases where consuming small amounts causes significant issues. Besides, there’s also the case of Kwan Mu-yeol.”

Kwan Mu-yeol had been secretly using poisonous mushrooms as a remedy.

From the perspective of someone planning to build a mental ward, it could be considered an excellent success case.

“Hmm. It might not be a bad idea to reassign Kwan Mu-yeol from the Sacred Order to this new medical division and have him receive ‘various’ treatments.”

“That… that seems like a good plan.”

Kwan Mu-yeol had instantly become a lab rat.

I felt a bit sorry for him, but I also thought it was for the best.

It wasn’t that I was glad he’d be a lab rat for me. I’m not that much of a scumbag.

‘He’s already almost consumed by the side effects. Prioritizing treatment over training or duties would be better for Warrior Kwan. Yeah.’

Having quickly justified my thoughts, I swiftly changed the subject.

“As for additional physician training, how about selecting people currently receiving education in various parts of Xinjiang?”

“Hmm. Weren’t we planning to train talented children as warriors? It would be too time-consuming to teach them about medicinal ingredients, food, and counseling on top of martial arts. Moreover, what if they collapse under the side effects of Demonic Arts? Wouldn’t that create an even bigger problem?”

If a psychiatrist suffers from mental illness, it could be disastrous for patients. From that perspective, Master’s point was valid.

However, the ‘children’ I was referring to weren’t those children.

“During the two-year basic education program, there will be children who are smart but lack talent in martial arts.”

“!!!”

“You mean to raise children talented in martial arts as warriors, and intelligent children as physicians!”

“They don’t necessarily have to be raised as physicians. It would be good to divide them broadly into two groups: one learning medicine and the other learning administrative work.”

Master, initially impressed, then frowned.

“If we entrust administrative work to them as well, wouldn’t that weaken the position of warriors who have learned Demonic Arts? Our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is a group that values martial according to our doctrine. In the end, martial arts are necessary to punish evil.”

At Master’s remark, my mind raced, and I quickly responded.

“It should be fine if we put those who have achieved Transcendence as the heads of each hall or department, just like now. Experts can hold leadership positions, while these new recruits can handle the practical work as subordinates.”

After that, I continued to discuss the draft of the psychiatric ward with Master without pause.

While I had already planned some of it, my mind didn’t falter even under Master’s sharp questions.

It wasn’t because I was a genius.

—It’s still lacking!! Think of a more concrete plan!

—And? What if something goes wrong? What’s your plan?

It was because the side effects, which had calmed down a bit thanks to the grueling training, came flooding back like a tide.

‘Talk about irony. Damn it.’

I had come up with the idea of a psychiatric ward to prepare for the possibility of going insane from the side effects, but thanks to the side effects, a more systematic plan for the psychiatric ward was being created.