The cave reeked of damp stone and faint ozone, a smell that made Jinwoo wrinkle his nose—not disgust, just calculation. His glasses sat crooked on his face, miraculously surviving whatever cosmic joke had dragged him here.
He squinted at the massive creature sprawled across the cavern floor. Its scales shimmered black-gold, moving like liquid metal as it shifted its enormous body.
Jinwoo crouched at a cautious distance. "Okay… oversized reptile with digestive issues, probably," he muttered. "Or maybe a cow? Definitely not a normal cow." He held up his hands, pretending to measure it. "Two tons of potential hazard. Observation first. Touch later. Profit… eventually."
A low rumble vibrated through the ground. Jinwoo froze, heart steady, mind racing. That rumble carried intelligence.
"…Human."
Golden eyes snapped open, pupils slit like blades. The voice was not a growl—it spoke directly into his mind, ancient and imperious.
"You… finally came."
Jinwoo blinked. Then smirked, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course. Talking livestock. Totally normal day."
He took a step back, satchel at the ready, evaluating his options. Approach? Dangerous. Run? Less profitable. Negotiate? Now we're talking.
The dragon's chest heaved; a faint heat radiated, and sparks danced across the cavern walls. Jinwoo's lips curved. "Not running. Not screaming. Just… observing. And maybe figuring out how to make this pay."
"…You dare to approach me?" The words drilled into his skull.
"I approach carefully," Jinwoo said aloud, tone casual. "One wrong move, I die. One right move, we both walk away richer. Fire-breathing patients aren't cheap."
A spark burst from the dragon's nostrils. Jinwoo's eyes followed every motion, calculating distance, angle, risk. He pulled out his satchel slowly, showing deliberate, careful movements: gloves, herbs, a vial of shimmering liquid. Nothing flashy, nothing to provoke the creature.
"Look," he said, voice teasing, "I'm not a hero, not a saint. I'm just a doctor. And you, oversized lizard, happen to be a very difficult client."
The dragon froze, nostrils flaring, considering. Then, a low rumble—curiosity mixed with incredulity. Jinwoo smiled. "Step one: survive. Step two: negotiate. Step three: profit."
"…You will treat me. You will answer when I call," the dragon said, voice like rolling thunder.
Jinwoo's grin widened. "Premium rates apply. No exceptions."
And just like that, his first case in this new world officially began—not heroic, not brave, just calculated, opportunistic, and, most importantly, profitable.
Jinwoo Ha crouched at a safe distance, observing every subtle movement of the dragon. Its chest rose and fell with a rhythm both mesmerizing and terrifying. He didn't touch—yet. Logic first; opportunism always.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, glancing at his kit, "let's figure out what makes you tick before I lose a limb… or a career."
He pulled out a small mirror from his bag, angled it to reflect the faint glow of the dragon's scales. "Reflection… check. Stress indicators… check. Appetite… questionable. Metabolism… off the charts. And yes, definitely magical interference." He scribbled notes with quick, precise strokes. "Patient is ancient, powerful… but still humanely negotiable. Step one: survival. Step two: fee."
The dragon's golden eyes narrowed. "…You analyze me like I am… livestock."
Jinwoo tilted his head. "Not like it, actually. You are livestock in terms of profit potential. Think of it as… premium client, large-scale, fire-breathing client. Very high risk, very high reward."
"…You dare mock me, human?" The rumble shook loose tiny stones from the cavern ceiling.
"Not mock. Business strategy," Jinwoo replied smoothly, tapping his pen against his notepad. "I observe. I calculate. You pay for results. No guessing, no theatrics. Efficiency is key."
The dragon exhaled a plume of smoke, heat washing over him. Jinwoo held his ground, adjusting his gloves. "See? I don't flinch. Confidence earns respect. And fear? Well… that's only useful if it leads to payment."
For a moment, the dragon seemed… amused. Or curious. Jinwoo noted the change, mental gears turning. "Aha," he whispered, "even apex predators respond to… subtle economic incentives. Lesson one in interdimensional vet practice: money talks, fire breath listens."
He reached into his bag, pulling a vial of blue liquid. "Now, open wide. I promise minimal risk, maximum efficacy. And yes, payment is expected immediately. Mana, essence, gold—pick one."
The dragon hesitated, eyes blazing with ancient fury, yet it slowly lowered its massive head. Jinwoo's heart raced—not from fear, but from the thrill of a deal in motion.
"Good," he murmured, slipping the vial past her fangs. "Treatment administered. Step one complete. Step two: collect data."
As the dragon swallowed, Jinwoo observed every shimmer in its scales, every shift in posture. The aura of raw magic pulsed, gradually smoothing, the labored breathing easing. A faint glow returned to her eyes.
Jinwoo exhaled. "And that, my fiery friend, is applied modern veterinary science… with a touch of opportunistic brilliance. You just paid your first consultation fee."
The dragon stared, confusion and reluctant respect mingling in her gaze. "…You are… strange. Greedy, clever, fearless…"
"Greed pays the bills. Cleverness saves lives. Fearlessness keeps me in business. Simple formula," Jinwoo said with a shrug, closing his kit. "Welcome to your first appointment. Now, do not disappear mid-treatment or we renegotiate terms."
A low rumble echoed through the cave, the dragon's version of acknowledgment. Jinwoo tapped his pen on the satchel, a slow smile spreading across his face. Profit secured, reputation established, adventure… just beginning.
Jinwoo Ha crouched, his eyes scanning every rise and fall of the dragon's coppery-gold chest. He didn't rush—patience was key. In his mind: "Touching right away? No. One wrong move, and it won't be your bite that kills me, but that ego the size of a mountain."
"Alright, step two," he muttered, holding a small vial filled with the herbal concoction he'd brewed himself. "You're half-healed, but full diagnosis still matters. And… what else can I charge for this? Mana essence, maybe?"
The dragon narrowed her golden eyes. "Human… why do you linger? You are bold… foolish… or… opportunistic?"
Jinwoo tilted his head, a thin smile forming. "Bingo. Opportunistic. Always. Bold? Sure, if surviving apex predators counts as bold. Foolish? Only if I die before collecting the mana essence."
A low hiss escaped the dragon, smoke curling from her nostrils. Jinwoo observed her breathing pattern—not natural, layered with another rhythm hinting at magical interference. "Ah, interference… not just your stomach acting up. Magic residue, maybe an old curse. Quite the first-consultation bonus, huh?"
"…You… interpret me like a… common patient?" the dragon asked, her voice tinged with millennia of pride.
"Not like a patient," Jinwoo said casually, loosening his medical satchel, "but as a client with enormous profit potential. Premium client. High-risk, high-reward. And—very important—potentially story-worthy later."
The dragon stared silently. Jinwoo smirked, using a cloth to shield himself from the hot air wafting from her mouth. "Relax. A little drama is good for branding. Remember: I'm a doctor, not a hero. I sell results, not free lives."
For a moment, silence hung. The dragon seemed to weigh his words; her eyes shimmered with a mix of anger and… curiosity? Jinwoo stroked his chin, scribbling quick notes. "Response to intimidation: minimal. Response to logic and profit: high. Lesson learned: greed works on everything."
Carefully, he brought the vial closer to her mouth. "Step two: treatment. Not an experiment, not trial-and-error. This… is payment for your audacity, and the start of our contract."
The dragon exhaled, warm air hitting Jinwoo's face. He moved steadily, pouring the potion in small increments. Slowly, her aura calmed, her breathing evened out, scales regaining a faint shine. Jinwoo nodded in satisfaction.
"Perfect. Step two complete. Payment? Mana essence secured. Risk? Minimal. Profit? Maximum. All done. And don't even think about skipping the next consultation without extra fees," he added, snapping his satchel closed.
The dragon stepped closer, her gaze still sharp, but with a hint of… acknowledgment. "Human… you are… clever. Greedy… yet useful."
Jinwoo patted his bag, half-grinning mischievously. "Greed pays. Cleverness saves. You stay alive, I get profit. Everyone wins. Business model: simple. You? My first legendary client. Congratulations."
And for the first time, in that damp, magic-scented cave, Jinwoo realized: "This is it. New world. First patient. First profit. But the real adventure… just began."
Jinwoo wiped sweat from his brow and leaned back against a jagged stone wall. He watched the dragon, her massive form coiled like a sleeping mountain, still radiating raw heat. His mind raced—not with fear, but with opportunity. "Okay… payment in mana essence. Not bad. Not bad at all. But how else can I monetize a fire-breathing client who can crush villages in one sneeze?"
He opened his notebook and scribbled furiously. "Step three: upsell sedatives. Step four: offer detox for magical residue. Step five: consider selling health plan subscription for apex predators."
The dragon shifted, golden eyes narrowing. "You… plot while I suffer?"
Jinwoo tilted his glasses, the cracked frame reflecting her gleaming scales. "Suffer? Oh no, you're actually quite comfortable. I'm plotting because opportunity doesn't wait. And neither do clients with premium potential."
A small puff of smoke escaped her nostrils. Jinwoo smirked. "Ah, yes. That's the acknowledgment puff. Means you're thinking I might be worth keeping around. Excellent."
He crouched, adjusting his gloves. "Now, step four: assessment of magical interference. I need to understand exactly what's making your stomach… well… not explode. And yes, that's my professional term."
The dragon hissed softly, amused despite herself. "You… speak with irreverence, yet… your hands do not tremble."
"Why would they tremble?" Jinwoo asked innocently, though his mind was already running calculations. "Fear doesn't pay bills. Greed does. And confidence… well, it keeps my hair from catching fire."
She exhaled a plume of warm, scented air, and Jinwoo took careful notes. "Reaction to minor threat: curious. Reaction to negotiation: optimal. Magic interference: traceable. Profit margin: rising."
He approached her side slowly, stethoscope at the ready. "See, even in exotics, the rule is the same: locate problem, neutralize risk, maximize gain. Your intestines aren't going to heal themselves, and honestly, neither is my reputation. Everyone leaves this cave a little richer. You in knowledge, me in… mana essence. Fair trade, right?"
A rumble vibrated through the cavern, subtle but distinct. The dragon's tone was now cautious, tinged with curiosity. "You… are… different from mortals. You do not fear me, yet you… bargain."
Jinwoo leaned casually against a stalagmite, balancing his notebook on one knee. "Difference? Easy. I don't treat clients as gods or monsters. I treat them as accounts receivable with claws and fire-breathing potential. Yours happens to be… spectacular."
Her eyes glimmered with faint amusement, sparks flickering across her scales. Jinwoo noted it. "Emotional response to flattery: minimal. Emotional response to profit-oriented charm: high. Potential for repeat business: astronomical."
He tilted his head. "By the way, once you're fully healed, we can discuss optional services: magical detox, rare herb infusion, stress relief for apex predators… maybe even a loyalty card. Ever consider loyalty cards, huh?"
The dragon blinked slowly, a sound almost like a chuckle escaping her massive throat. "You… negotiate with me… as if I were… livestock."
"Exactly," Jinwoo replied with a grin. "Livestock don't pay. You? You do. Premium, ancient, fire-breathing livestock. Same principles, higher stakes."
Her golden eyes glowed brighter, and Jinwoo could feel the cave itself respond to the raw magic coiling around her. He took careful steps back, adjusting his gloves and stethoscope. "Step five: maintain working distance. Step six: collect maximum profit while minimizing risk. Step seven: survive the first week. Business strategy: flawless."
The dragon exhaled again, less smoke this time. "Perhaps… human… perhaps you are… clever. Not merely greedy… yet… opportunistic."
Jinwoo tapped his pen against his notebook. "Opportunistic. Always. Clever? Sometimes. Lucky? Depends on how you count mana essence as currency. But rest assured, you're officially my first client in this world. And business, my fiery friend, is about to boom."
She stared at him long and hard, then shifted, curling her tail closer around her body. Jinwoo noted every micro-reaction, every subtle glow of her scales, already planning step eight: long-term care, emergency protocols, and upselling extra magical services.
"Alright," he said, snapping his notebook shut with a satisfying click. "Business done for today. Payment secured. Risk assessed. Client… mildly entertained. Time to plan the next consultation—and maybe, just maybe, expand my empire to the rest of this absurd world."
The dragon's rumble vibrated under his boots, a subtle acknowledgment. Jinwoo grinned, leaning against the wall. "Not bad for day one. Definitely not bad at all."