Chapter 20: Lost Before Even Walking
In the pitch-black darkness, Seraph's mother hurriedly drove the carriage to take Seraph to the doctor. Seraph returned from the White Ring and sat up, looking at Somen with a shocked expression. Seria jumped and hugged Seraph, tears streaming down her face. "Huh... Huh... Is your brother okay? Is your brother okay? What a relief! What a relief!..." Seria cried heavily.
Somen looked at his son, who still had his expression straight. Somen felt like he had lifted a boulder from his back.
"Seraph, are you okay? Is there something giving you a headache?" Seraph shook his head. "I just fainted from training. I'm sorry."
Somen nodded, looking at his daughter, whose tears had almost dried up again. Somen watched Serin show off her skill at driving the carriage with a serious expression. "Serin, there's no need to rush. Seraph is awake, so please drive a little slower."
Somen walked over to steer the carriage. Serin rushed over and hugged Seraph. "What a relief, my son! Don't do that again. You almost gave me a heart attack! We're going to the doctor, so lie down for a while." Seraph followed Serin's advice and accompanied Seria to watch over her brother. The carriage, which had been speeding, slowed down.
In another location, a man in a white robe held a sharp knife. He looked like an old man with short, white hair. His name was Perron. In front of Perron, a young nurse, who looked like the one who had treated Baria, had her hand bound, her face full of despair. Perron smiled happily.
"Heh heh, heh heh. It's so expensive, but it can't even repair my finger. If that's the case, then die. People want to treat you, but they charge you money. It's so frustrating to see. So, this is your recompense for abandoning your patient. Go to hell and grieve." Perron prepared to butcher the nurse.
The nurse struggled, but she couldn't. The rope was so powerful, and the powerful anesthetic made the nurse lose her composure.
[This bastard! I'm just a nurse, not even capable of regenerating fingers, and you want me to use a rare magical item to fix your poor finger? Why would I do this? This is why I hate those penniless people. Back then, kids had way more money than you. So broke, asking for help? It's so infuriating.]
There was a loud bang from outside the house. There was a loud knock. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Perron stopped and looked at the nurse suspiciously.
[Who's coming to the doctor so late at night? They're still here, you idiots!] Perron hurriedly changed his clothes and ran to open the door. Perron opened it to reveal Seraph's family, who had arrived late at night. Somen spoke with lightning speed.
"Sorry to bother you so late. My son suddenly fainted, so please examine him. This child fainted using an energy stone."Let's go." Somen's expression turned serious. Perron immediately felt regretful.
[What the hell are you treating? I don't even know how to treat him. Just get past him and give him the medicine. No, these guys have seen my face. I need to silence these four first. If that woman disappears, they'll be the ones to get me arrested.]
Perron smiled. "Then please come in. If it's an emergency, it's fine." Perron stepped aside and let the four of them enter. But only Somen was waiting outside. Two women and a man walked in. Perron asked curiously. "And the other one isn't coming in?"
Somen shook his head. "A lot of people coming in is just a bother, so I'll stay and watch outside." Perron smiled.
"Then it might take a long time, so please wait a bit. [Tch, I have to go kill this guy again. If he comes in all at once, it'll be easier.]
Seraph walked over and sat down in his original spot, waiting for Perron to come and investigate. Seria, who was looking around, asked, "Brother, are you new? Why? Where's the nurse sister?" Perron's face turned pale. He answered Seria's question with a smile, "That sister's out on business, so it'll probably be tomorrow."
Seria smiled, looking at the neatly arranged bottles of medicine, some of which were secretly opened. Seria turned to look at Perron, who was checking Seraph and preparing his things. Perron began looking around, looking for something that seemed appropriate.
[Definitely dead. Definitely dead. This will be exposed. How do they use this test? I've never even been admitted to the hospital. I have to think about something that would make them less suspicious. What would be good? I think I have to let them down first.] Perron hurriedly searched for things and remembered something. [Yes, that's right. The moment the woman reached for it, it must be the equipment.] Perron was about to be happy.
Seria's voice rang out.
Seria ran up to stand beside Seraph, who had a calm expression. "Here it is, the testing equipment." It's your first day here, isn't it? So you don't know where the equipment is kept. I come here often, so I know what this thing is used for.
Seria picked up something that looked like a pillow and placed it on the table. The pillow was about half the size of Seria's shoulder, and it was white. It looked like a blood pressure cuff. She also picked up a bottle of medicine and placed it on the table, but there was no description of the medicine on it. "And this is your medicine, doctor."
Perron smiled. "Hmm, hmm, sorry, sorry. That was really helpful. I was just looking for that." [Shit! Someone else with knowledge is here. I have to find an opportunity to kill these guys.] Perron walked over and sat in front of Seraph, who still had a straight face.
Perron was analyzing the item in front of him to see what he could do with it so the three of them wouldn't suspect anything. All three of them stared at Perron intently. [What's the use of this again?]
Perron was fiddling with the medical equipment. Seria smiled brightly, awaiting Perron's performance. Perron stared at the equipment, unblinking. Seraph asked, "No need. You're not skilled in this area, are you?"
[According to the doctor's description, the examination should be performed normally. But because he knows that? I'm fine, so there's no need to examine me. I'm thinking of a way to make this more credible. Then it should be over. A martial artist must be treated by a martial artist. This doctor who's looking for the item might not be skilled in this type of treatment, so I hesitated about how to answer.] Seraph replied softly.
But it was Perron's turn. Perron's eyes trembled with shock. They trembled nonstop, sweat pouring down his face, and his heart was beating irregularly. [This guy, he knew all this from the start, yet he's testing me? And he even dared to say it like that. He knows who I am and what I'm doing. The young girl wondered why he knew. It was because he knew who I was, and the boy in front of him was a martial artist. I forgot about that guy sitting outside. He said that this kid absorbed an energy stone and fainted. This tells me that the kid in front of you is a martial artist. These guys were able to get this close, and I was trapped from the moment they got in. This means that the device in front of me isn't some pointless measuring device, but a device to capture and bind me. There are two options: either use the thing in front of me to punch myself, or take the medicine? What is this medicine? A dark path. This blonde kid, just walking in and sitting down without support means that his fainting story is a lie.]
Perron smiled in acceptance. He was still afraid of death. "I surrender." Perron surrendered because he was afraid of death, but Seraph's calm expression still looked at the old man with doubt. [Huh!?]