"Don't push! No responsibility for those trampled to death!"
"You ogre over there! Move your foot off my brother's head!"
"Ow! Whose tail just slapped me?!"
In front of the magnificent gates of the Benevolent Heart Clinic, it was currently as chaotic as a wet market.
Thousands of monsters, bruised and battered with missing limbs, were huddled together, fighting for a nebulous "registration spot," nearly causing a secondary stampede.
They looked at the grand building radiating a holy (evil) glow in the morning light, their eyes filled with fanaticism.
In their simple logic, any entity that could build such a "temple" overnight was surely an omnipotent god!
As for the previous terrifying legends of the "Pale Demon" or the "Chainsaw Butcher"?
Those were definitely rumors!
They were lies fabricated by certain ill-intentioned individuals to prevent them from bathing in divine grace!
The great doctor was clearly so gentle and kind!
"Sigh, such a sweet burden."
Victor stood on the second-floor balcony, looking down at the spectacular sight that resembled a holiday migration rush, and let out a humble-bragging sigh.
Too many patients were also a problem.
It didn't just affect the quality of medical care; it also made cross-infection easy.
"It seems it's time to establish a set of standardized, modern medical procedures."
Victor pushed up his glasses, a capitalist glint flashing in his eyes.
"Roadhog!"
He picked up a megaphone and shouted down below.
"Roar! (Coming, Boss!)"
The stitched abomination Roadhog, who was practicing "flying human hooks" in the backyard, immediately dropped the skeleton soldier he had been spinning until it was dizzy and ran over with heavy steps.
"Go stand at the gate."
Victor pointed at the group of monsters on the verge of fighting.
"Anyone who dares to cut the line or make a scene... use your hook to help them calm down."
"Roar! (Understood!)"
Roadhog pounded his chest excitedly and charged into the crowd like a heavy tank.
He stood at the entrance.
His body, over three meters tall and covered in metal patches while emitting a thick stench of rot, instantly suppressed the entire scene.
The previously noisy scene fell silent at once.
All the monsters subconsciously took half a step back, not daring to even breathe loudly as they looked at this legendary "Guardian Demon" stitched together from the corpses of countless experts.
"Very good, order has been restored."
Victor nodded with satisfaction.
"Next, step two."
He turned around and spoke to his financial manager, who was leisurely painting her nails behind him.
"Elizabeth, it's time for work."
"Oh?" Elizabeth lifted her eyelids, a hint of laziness flashing in her crimson eyes. "Are we finally going to start charging? I can't wait."
"Exactly."
Victor took out a prepared price list and handed it to her.
"Starting today, the Benevolent Heart Clinic officially cancels the 'free outreach'."
"It is now changed to—"
"A paid registration system."
...
Ten minutes later.
A huge price list made of the finest magic beast skin was hung in the most prominent position by the clinic's gate.
Written on it in flowing common tongue (in Victor's own handwriting) were the newest fee standards for the Benevolent Heart Clinic:
【Benevolent Heart Clinic Registration Notice】
General Outpatient: Preliminary diagnosis and basic treatment (such as bandaging, disinfection, and bone setting) performed by the clinic's Battle Sister nurse corps.
Registration Fee: One low-level magic core, or ten gold coins.
Specialist Outpatient: Surgery personally performed by the three major department directors (Alice, Elizabeth, Mia).
Registration Fee: One intermediate magic core, or one hundred gold coins.
Director's Special Needs Outpatient: Diagnosis and treatment plans personally formulated by Director Victor, with one-on-one VIP service.
Registration Fee: One high-level magic core, or a rare material of equal value. (Gold coins? How tacky!)
【Note: The above fees are for registration only and do not include surgery fees, material costs, medicine costs, or post-operative care fees. The clinic reserves the right of final interpretation.】
As soon as this price list was hung up.
The monster crowd exploded.
"What?! Seeing a doctor costs money?!"
A lame kobold screamed in disbelief.
"Wasn't it said that the great doctor came to save all living beings? Why is he charging?!"
"Exactly! One low-level magic core is enough for me to buy three wives in a goblin village!"
"Too dark! This is simply a black shop!"
However.
Complaining was just complaining.
Not a single monster was willing to leave.
They looked at their own bleeding wounds, then at the castle as grand as a temple, and finally at the terrifying stitched abomination at the gate.
If they didn't get treated, they might die.
If they did, they might just die of poverty.
Anyone could figure out the choice even with their toes.
What was more...
"Hmph, a bunch of ignorant paupers."
A gryphon with a broken wing, still trying its best to maintain its noble air, snorted disdainfully.
It pulled a shimmering intermediate wind magic core from its chest and threw it onto the payment desk.
"Register me for a specialist slot."
It said proudly.
"My wings aren't something commoners can touch."
"Of course, sir. Please line up over here."
Elizabeth's eyes lit up, and she deftly swept up the magic core, a professional fake smile appearing on her face.
With the first one taking the lead, the remaining monsters also began to waver.
Especially those who were stronger or had some family wealth.
In their eyes.
Charging wasn't "dark"; instead...
It was very reasonable!
Think about it—even gods require offerings from their believers.
What was it for this doctor, who was comparable to a god, to take a small "sacrifice"?
Furthermore, the prices were tiered.
What did that mean?
It meant the great doctor gave them the opportunity to choose!
Those without money could go to the general outpatient; at least they could save their lives.
Those with money could go to the specialist outpatient and enjoy better service.
Only the truly strong were qualified to see the director himself!
This wasn't just about seeing a doctor.
It was a status symbol!
"That's right! The great doctor's time is so precious; how can it be wasted on small fries like us?"
"I just have a head wound from a rock; a general registration is enough."
"I... my horn is broken! This is the glory of my minotaur clan! I must register for a specialist! Have the best doctor fix it for me!"
The chaotic monster crowd actually split into three lines of varying lengths under the guidance of "price discrimination."
One line was the "civilian zone" for paying gold coins and low-level magic cores.
One line was the "middle-class zone" for paying intermediate magic cores.
And there was one more...
The empty "VIP zone."
After all, those who could produce a high-level magic core were regional overlords who wouldn't easily show their faces.
Victor looked at this orderly scene below and nodded in satisfaction.
"See that, Elizabeth?"
He spoke to his financial manager through the communicator.
"This is called the 'invisible hand of the market economy.'"
"Sometimes, free things are the cheapest. Appropriate fees can actually increase the brand's value."
As Elizabeth looked at the growing pile of magic cores and gold in the cash box, she felt a sense of agreement with this man's crooked logic for the first time.
Business thus got on the right track.
Because there were so many monsters registering, it even birthed a brand-new profession—
Scalpers.
A few clever goblins, taking advantage of their small stature, darted in and out of the lines.
"Hey, big brother up front, seeing how badly you're hurt, you won't get a turn even by tomorrow if you wait."
"I have a front-row spot I just grabbed. I'll sell it to you for just five extra gold coins. Want it?"
For a while, the clinic entrance presented a scene of prosperity that was both eerie and harmonious.
However.
Amidst this "thriving" atmosphere.
A cold aura carrying the salty, fishy smell of a sea breeze blew over without warning.
The monsters who were just arguing over a spot suddenly shivered in unison and subconsciously moved to both sides, clearing a path.
A semi-transparent figure emitting a faint blue light floated in mid-air, slowly drifting toward the clinic's gate.
It was a ghost wearing tattered captain's clothes.
Its body flickered in the sunlight, and its face bore the grayish-blue hue unique to the dead.
Most strangely.
As it floated, it used its semi-transparent hand to tightly cover its mouth.
Its cheeks were puffed out high, and its throat kept bobbing as if it were trying its hardest to endure something.
"Urgh..."
It floated to the registration desk, looking at Elizabeth who was counting money, and just as it was about to speak.
It couldn't hold back anymore.
"Blegh—!!!"
A mass of "vomit" made of spiritual matter, resembling white smoke, sprayed out of its mouth, covering Elizabeth's face.
Elizabeth: "..."
The professional fake smile on her face instantly froze.
In the next second.
"AAAAHHHHH—!!!!"
A furious scream belonging to the Blood Queen, loud enough to blow off the roof, resounded throughout the entire Eternal Night Peninsula.
"You damned ghost! You dared to vomit on my face!"
"I'm going to drain you dry! I'm going to turn you into lamp oil!!"
Rate on N.U.
