I let out a deep sigh. Why on earth had I been staring at Rishar's face like that?
Damn this otaku habit of losing my mind whenever I see someone handsome or pretty. It's terrifying how scary it is.
I spent the day tending to the severely injured patient who was groaning in pain. He'd lost so much blood he must have been weakened.
Sigh, in dramas, time-slip doctors would check blood types and do transfusions right away, but me...? Pathetic. I didn't even know exactly what differences there were between blood types. What's the difference?
I didn't even know Astrid's blood type. How could I figure out someone else's when I didn't know my own? If Astrid was type O, she could donate to most people unless she was Rh-negative.
'Hmm... But couldn't I make normal saline? Even a little IV fluid would help so much.'
What percentage was normal saline? 0.9%, I think. Not sure, but I could donate some of my blood to Rick and have him check the salt percentage.
'Then, things to ask Lui to make right now...'
I sat at the desk and made a list of items for Lui. Sterile bottles for normal saline, IV needles to insert directly into veins, tubes, and even suture needles.
...I'm starting to do things that are too professional for a quack. Is it okay to do this without any medical training...?
Shaking my head, I left the clinic and headed to the lab.
* * *
Rishar tried to calm his pounding heart as he left the clinic. Astrid Ober... Why had she been looking at his face so intently with those sparkling eyes?
Astrid truly was an angelic woman. The rumors weren't exaggerated. The Angel of Aub Street really looked like a wingless angel descended from heaven.
Of course, their relationship hadn't been smooth from the start. There had been ups and downs. He'd even pointed a gun at her, albeit unintentionally, because Jin's life was at stake.
'Get a grip, Rishar. She's... the woman Jin has his eye on.'
It was truly foolish. Hearing that Jin liked Astrid, why had it made his stomach churn so much?
After much agonizing, Rishar realized he harbored feelings for Astrid too. No matter how dense he was, how could he be this oblivious?
The first woman he'd ever felt attracted to was the one his lord-like Jin had feelings for. What a ridiculous twist of fate.
Having realized his feelings too late, all he could do was avoid Astrid. He needed to shake this off quickly.
"Jin, I'm back."
Rishar sighed as he opened the Greenhouse door. It was where his friend—no, his lord—Jin waited, a man whose life he'd gladly give without regret.
But Jin was lying in a strange position on the bed. Half his upper body hanging off the edge, back arched backward. It was a pose he often did before falling ill.
He couldn't fathom why Jin was reading in such an uncomfortable position. His brilliant friend must have some purpose he couldn't grasp.
"You're back? How'd it go, Rishar?"
Jin asked without looking up from his book. He seemed convinced Rishar had achieved what he wanted. But...
"Sorry. We couldn't take the armory."
Rishar knelt and said. Jin reflexively sat up at his words.
To sit up so quickly from that position meant Jin had developed some abs too. Before, he couldn't get up without Rishar's help. He was glad his friend had grown much healthier, but...
Today's mission had been to seize the imperial army's armory. But after fierce fighting, the Liberators retreated to the Underground City empty-handed.
"Couldn't get it? Why? I calculated every variable..."
Jin said in disbelief. He was right. Jin's plans always accounted for everything: weather, imperial movements, even the fighters' conditions. Yet they'd still lost...
"...The Black Spider beat us to it."
It was absurd to encounter Black Spider members at a place they'd assumed was full of imperial troops. They even seemed to anticipate the Liberators' attack. Jin's plan had gone up in smoke.
The Liberators and Black Spider shared the goal of opposing the imperial army, but they were like water and oil.
The reason was their vastly different purposes. The Black Spider sought to seize everything the empire enjoyed for themselves. They were natural enemies of the Liberators, who fought for everyone's freedom.
And there was another hidden grudge. A secret known only to Jin, Rishar, and a few others.
At the mention of 'Black Spider,' Jin's eyes shook violently. Even improved, Jin was still a patient.
"Jin, you okay...?"
As Rishar approached the bed, Jin suddenly started coughing violently, barely able to breathe. It was the first major seizure since his recovery began.
"Jin, Jin!"
It didn't end there. Bright red blood poured from Jin's mouth.
"Jack, get Teacher Ober! Hurry!"
Rishar shouted almost screaming. Jack bolted from the Greenhouse in panic.
"Jin, Jin... Sorry. I..."
Panicked, Rishar felt tears welling. He hadn't expected Jin to react this badly. He'd thought his recovery meant he was fine now.
But...
"...Jin? Why all of a sudden...?"
Astrid rushed to Jin's bed. Her face was ashen too. Gripped by near-mad anxiety, Rishar clutched the bedsheet to steady himself.
Jin would be okay. Astrid Ober was... a god-sent genius physician. Rishar consoled himself that way.
* * *
"I think I can make all the things you mentioned today pretty quickly."
Lui skimmed the sketches and nodded. She flashed a friendly grin.
"Lately, you've been asking only Sis Lui... Don't you have anything for me?"
But pouty Rick was sulking behind her, glaring at me.
"Today, I do have something for you. Heh heh."
I smiled meaningfully and approached Rick. His face brightened at the words. Such weird kids. They enjoy being bossed around. Masochists, I guess.
"Could you make a drug that numbs the skin's sensation to block pain, but only locally?"
Rick's eyes widened in surprise at my request. Why? Was it weird?
"I-It's possible, but why do you need such a poison...?"
He asked in a trembling voice.
Ah, poison. Right... I hadn't thought of it that way, but anesthetic could be seen as a type of poison.
"Hmm, I need it for treatment. You can do it, right? Oh, and can you figure out what percentage of salt is in human blood? I can give you some of mine if needed."
At my second request, Rick freaked out and shook his head vigorously.
"N-No! It's fine. No need to go that far. Teacher's blood? I couldn't possibly accept that."
Couldn't possibly...? He spoke as if my blood was too sacred. It made me feel embarrassed, like I was someone important. Ugh.
Then the lab door opened. I flinched at any door opening now. Finn's terrified face from when he rushed in saying Jin couldn't breathe was still vivid.
Just like Jack's panicked expression now... Wait, Jack? Why was Jack running in so frantic?
"Teacher, you're here. I checked the clinic, but you weren't..."
Jack said hurriedly. My heart sank—could it be again? No way... Jin had been much healthier lately; no reason to call me urgently.
"The Leader's condition suddenly worsened..."
'No way' always hits hardest. Pale-faced, I bolted to the Greenhouse. This man really couldn't go a day without worrying me, or he'd lose sleep at night.
He'd clearly been recovering, no hemoptysis lately... Yet right before my eyes, Jin was coughing violently and vomiting blood again.
And most worrying was Jin's expression. I'd never seen him like this. Always composed, even after his heart restarted. Now, his face was filled with raw fear.
