TFSG 01

Chapter 1

Imperial Palace of the Western Continent Empire, “Baiho.”

In a grand reception hall, only a few people were seated before an expansive table—so few that it made the room’s vastness feel unnecessary.

These were the heads of the most powerful factions that could sway the empire itself.

“So, we’ve decided to recognize your achievement in acquiring the so-called ‘elixir of immortality’—the medicine that neither ages nor dies.”

At the crown prince’s words, I clenched my fist under the table.

‘Finally!’

How many times had I fallen, crawled, and picked myself up to reach this point?

“You brought the item properly, I assume?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I smiled gently.

Then poured out my perfectly rehearsed lines.

“I roamed every mountain for this, chewing up every herb I came across! Swallowed poisons just to test their effects!”

Oh yes, it was a bargain!

“…You’re nothing more than a snake oil peddler.”

“Yes, a peddler indeed.”

That’s right. I am this empire’s top physician. The best potion seller there is.

Farewell to the day I cried and screamed over being reincarnated into some godforsaken book.

This empire was a brutal competition ground for physicians and pharmacists alike.

And me? I was an immigrant from the Eastern Continent.

Despite facing discrimination for being East Asian, I became the genius who created the elixir of immortality.

This moment was when I was finally acknowledged as the greatest physician and pharmacist in the empire.

“You may try it yourself before deciding.”

“Very well. You brought two doses, didn’t you? We’ll first test it on His Majesty, who is currently ill. Then I’ll try it myself.”

“Yes, it is an honor!”

I snorted inwardly.

‘Filial bastard. You’re going to test it on your sick dad first?’

The crown prince was infamous for his cunning, even in neighboring countries. In the original story, he repeatedly screwed over the female lead.

“Ahem, healer! Consider it an honor to have your medicine used on such a noble body.”

“It will be the pride of my family for generations to come.”

One of the lords turned red as I smiled. Disgustingly so.

“Ahem, what ‘family’? You’re nothing but a lowly Easterner…”

“And that vulgar family of yours? Completely ruined, wasn’t it?”

“Enough.”

The complaining nobles fell silent at the crown prince’s words.

“So, in exchange for offering the elixir, you said there’s a wish you want granted.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

What I wanted was a single treasure.

‘That’s all I need.’

I wouldn’t even mind saying I had devoted my life for it.

“But what should we do?”

“…Pardon?”

“Unfortunately, it seems we won’t be able to grant that wish.”

As knights approached me, I felt a surge of unease. And sure enough…

“We’re well aware of how expertly you heal your own injuries.”

“Cough!”

“So we’ve decided to kill you in one blow.”

I coughed up blood.

“You’re a genius physician who uses water in your healing, correct? But… isn’t your ability useless without clean water nearby?”

My eyes trembled.

‘Hardly anyone should know that—how does he?!’

I had made many enemies throughout my life.

Because I was Asian, because I was beautiful and young despite being Asian. But above all, because I was talented.

“Come to think of it, if you stay alive, you might create immortality elixirs for others as well. So how can I trust your word?”

“…”

“I have no need for any immortals but myself.”

“…”

The crown prince gave me a nasty, crooked smile.

“So you’ll need to die.”

I was about to shout in protest, but the pain was too great—I couldn’t make a sound.

“Even the best physician from the East can’t do much when caught off guard.”

I looked up.

All the nobles were grinning smugly.

“I knew something was off the moment that vulgar little Easterner started wishing for things.”

“If you don’t know your place, at least learn some shame…”

“Well, you were talented, I’ll give you that! Hoho.”

As I wiped away the blood, I thought to myself:

‘Honestly, I kind of expected this.’

I had become the empire’s top physician. A genius.

I had reached the place I had always dreamed of… and yet, when I looked beside me, there was no one.

No friends. No family. No household. No relatives.

‘They all betrayed me, or were destroyed.’

I let out a deep sigh.

I stopped wiping the blood.

“Dearest Crown Prince.”

“…?”

Instead, I smirked.

“Careful with your hair.”

“…What?”

“You secretly asked me for hair loss medication. Did you think I wouldn’t figure out who you were?”

The crown prince’s eyes went wide with shock. What did I have to lose now that I was dying?

“Your mean-spirited nature is what drove your hair away.”

“You little…!”

“Maybe stop wearing that wig so often, if you want to keep what little hair you’ve got left.”

The nobles who had been laughing froze and looked at the crown prince.

His forehead… did seem a bit large.

The crown prince’s face turned beet red.

“S-Stop looking at me! There’s no such thing!”

Sure, future baldy.

“And just yesterday, I secretly met with three other kingdoms. Told them I’d deliver the elixir of immortality to them, not Baiho.”

Everyone flinched.

The empire was on the decline.

In the fierce power race, the immortality elixir I created had become a coveted treasure among emerging powers.

The Western Continent’s greatest moneymaker? War.

In an age filled with war-driven economies, this elixir would be the perfect excuse for invasion.

‘Nervous, aren’t you, you bastards?’

Did you think killing me would guarantee your happy ending?

“I left behind undeniable evidence. Just try claiming that the elixir was never here.”

What happens after I die—whether war breaks out, or the collapsing empire crumbles—none of it matters to me.

‘It’s your karma catching up to you.’

Just how badly must you have treated other kingdoms?

“You damn brat!”

I laughed loudly as my vision blurred.

‘Tch. I guess it really is hard to do this alone.’

I had no one—no power backing me.

I thought if I became a genius who could overpower everyone, things would be different.

But I realized it too late.

Still… I knew I had one more chance.

“Goodbye, everyone! I hope you all get wiped out in the middle of a war!”

Die, all of you. Especially the ones who killed me.

“Oh, and by the way—once I die, my corpse will release poison, so good luck surviving that.”

And finally, there’s one last thing I had to say.

“Oh, right!”

I was not only the greatest physician and pharmacist who handled poisons and potions—

But also…

A con artist.

“That immortality elixir? It’s fake.”

Me?

I’ll be fine.

‘Tch. Guess I screwed up this life too.’

* * *

“Blaaaaargh!”

The moment I opened my eyes, I dry-heaved.

Of course, nothing came out.

This was just post-regression sickness.

Damn it, I failed again!

I kept coughing and gagging for thirty full minutes before I managed to lift my head.

A broken glass window came into view. My reflection shimmered in it.

Pale, squishy cheeks—but with slightly sunken parts.

Still, it was a pretty face.

My exact age?

Three years old.

“Damn it.”

Ahem. Ahem. More coughing as soon as I opened my mouth.

“Another failed run.”

I ruffled my hair roughly.

In the broken window, a baby with tousled light-purple hair stared back at me.

“I have to live another 20 years again?! Aaaaah!!”

My scream echoed through the empty space. No one came.

This was all because I got stuck in my friend’s favorite parenting novel—which I didn’t even like.