Baby Pharmacist Princess

“Cherishe. Finally…”

I must have misheard.

But as I thought that, the beautiful boy looked at me and called my name again.

This time, it was the name I go by in this world.

Cherishe.

His presence had a fleeting, almost floral fragrance, like a delicate blossom. His impression was lavish but utterly expressionless, making him seem like a crafted figure rather than a human. He was so beautiful it was almost scary, and I found myself unable to move a step, my breath caught.

Then, the boy smiled as if reassured.

His cold demeanor transformed with the smile, changing him completely. It was like watching a flower bud bloom, attracting bees and butterflies.

‘Oh.’

I was captivated.

The realization hit me just as the boy lost consciousness.

He staggered a few steps before collapsing to his knees.

I snapped out of my daze and rushed to him.

“Ugh, what a terrible smell.”

The shop owner nudged the boy with her foot and pinched her nose.

I only smelled blood, but I hurried over while the other dragons in the area slowly backed away.

Dragons aren’t usually indifferent enough to ignore an injured human.

“It smells awful.”

“A sacrifice.”

“Why is a sacrifice here? In the sacred territory of dragons.”

The gathered dragons murmured amongst themselves.

But they made no move to help, just watched with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

So, I decided I had to step in.

‘This kid looks about eight, but he’s not a dragon.’

No horns on his forehead, and if he were a hatchling, the adult dragons wouldn’t have just stood by.

So, I couldn’t expect him to heal like a dragon.

‘The wounds… are severe.’

Seeing the blood-soaked robe, he seemed to be from a temple.

His appearance suggested the same.

Jet-black hair, skin whiter than jade. His veins and the pulse in them were visible under his skin.

His red lips matched the blood on his cheek, giving him a holy aura.

He seemed untouchable.

I shook myself out of my reverie and shouted for help.

“Please, help! He’s hurt… needs treatment…!”

He knew my name.

He knew exactly who I was.

I would have helped anyway, but since he called my name twice, I couldn’t ignore him.

“Well, I’d love to help as you wish, but sweetie, the smell is too awful to get close.”

“It’s just blood…”

“No, I smell something else.”

I tried to argue, but the shop owner shook her head, clearly unwilling to let him inside.

So, I had no choice but to treat him outside.

I struggled to remove his outer garment and examined his exposed arm.

His tight black sleeveless shirt made it easier to see the wounds.

‘First, disinfect.’

Where did he come from?

He doesn’t seem to have had a fight with dragons, so why is he in this state?

I had many questions, but cleaning the wounds came first.

I carefully poured the disinfectant over the injuries.

Without sterile cotton, this was safer.

‘Next, stop the bleeding.’

I bit the end of a bandage and pulled hard.

The dusty surroundings worried me, but I had to act fast to stop the bleeding and prevent him from losing too much blood.

“Sweetie, your little hands must be struggling. Let me help. Need more bandages?”

“Yes, please… Thank you…!”

“No problem. I’m giving these to you hoping they’ll cover up the smell a bit.”

Do dragons dislike the smell of blood?

I wondered, but focusing on the patient was more important.

‘Found it! Hemostatic powder!’

I tipped over the box the shop owner had given me, and a bottle of hemostatic powder fell out.

I turned it upside down to sprinkle on the worst wound when suddenly,

“Gasp!”

The boy’s body trembled and started to grow.

I was shocked but didn’t drop the powder.

‘He’s growing.’

He had seemed about eight years old, but now he looked eighteen, a fully grown man with more severe wounds.

“…”

Have you ever seen bruises and wounds bloom like flowers?

It looked like his wounds were continuously forming.

As if an invisible attacker was still fighting him.

The unknown patient alternated between a boy and a man, his body writhing in pain.

I couldn’t find a moment to sprinkle the powder, so I decided to wait until the strange transformation stopped.

If something felt off, I’d run, but I couldn’t leave him because he was my patient.

At first, I thought he was a child, but seeing him grow and shrink rapidly made me reconsider.

Where did he come from, and why is he so badly hurt?

“This guy’s time is in turmoil. His destiny’s time is tangled.”

“Time…?”

“He keeps growing and shrinking. Something must have happened in his future. Maybe that’s why he came to the past, and it messed with time.”

As I stared in confusion, the shop owner, holding a handkerchief to her nose, bent down.

Her pupils contracted vertically again, indicating she was assessing his condition.

I noticed the strange light in her eyes and waited quietly for her explanation.

“And it looks like he forcibly merged with his younger self.”

“That’s not good, right?”

It felt ominous.

Many stories involve time.

And they all have one rule: never reveal yourself to your past self.

He not only broke that rule but tried to merge with his past self?

That seemed reckless, like something would come to punish him.

“Of course not.”

The shop owner smiled at me.

Her nonchalant attitude made me more anxious.

So, who is this person who broke such a rule and knows my name?

“About his wounds. What’s happening to his future self is affecting his younger body, causing these wounds.”

“…He needs treatment.”

“I’d like to help, but magic doesn’t work on him. He’s got divine energy.”

“Oh.”

“Like those blessed by dragons.”

I understood somewhat.

The person, who kept transforming, finally stabilized as a robust man.

Even as a boy, his arms were muscular, but now he was even stronger.

Is he a fighter?

‘But his clothes look like a priest’s.’

What kind of fight leaves such wounds?

[♡Surprise Quest Activated♡]

An unknown person is injured and collapsed.

You don’t know who they are, but a patient is a patient!

Treat their wounds.

♡Reward: 10 gems per wound

I had almost forgotten this was a game due to the gruesome wounds.

But the heart-shaped quest window reminded me.

It helped me refocus.

‘Alright, let’s treat him. Hemostatic powder, ointment, hydrocolloid bandages, and bandages.’

I carefully did what I could with my small hands.

Soon, either I got used to the smell, or the shop owner’s magic helped, because she started assisting me.

She used magic to unfold and cut the bandages, making things easier.

Tightening the bandages, which my small hands couldn’t manage, was also her doing.

“So, what should we do with him now?”

“Are there no doctors?”

“Doctors? Dragons don’t need doctors.”

Well, that’s true.

Royals with Dragon Hearts can heal themselves, so real dragons don’t need medical help.

“And he probably didn’t come to ask dragons for help.”

“Then why…?”

“Maybe he came to find you.”

Why me?

Though I didn’t understand, he remained unconscious.

‘And he keeps getting wounds.’

His well-defined muscles were visible through his torn clothes.

The problem was the numerous bruises and wounds.

Suddenly, a scar appeared, and blood flowed as if something had cut him.

‘At least he doesn’t need surgery.’

The wounds were superficial but bled a lot, manageable for me to treat.

“…Ugh.”

“Ah!”

Then, he shrank back into a boy.

The bandages loosened as his body shrank, needing re-tying.

I stared at him blankly, then started working again.

I was about to treat his wrist when,

Thud.

He grabbed my hand.

“?!”

He’s conscious?

I turned to look, and the boy was indeed awake.

“It’s… you…”

“Ah, it’s you…”

Huh?

His words were too significant to ignore, and he gripped my hand tightly, whispering,

“…I found you.”

His hoarse voice carried deep relief, making it impossible to pull away.

I had never encountered such a character, and he had no reason to be this way towards me. I could leave him, but Shami and Hanna would panic if they found my bed empty.

But I felt like I was under a spell, unable to move.

“You… found me?”