"I'm sorry. It seems we've put you in danger, Teacher."
Rishar pulled out the wanted poster and showed it to me.
Astrid's portrait had the name 'Astrid Ober' written on it. But... a bounty of 3 million lumen?
How much was 3 million lumen exactly? I had no sense of it. Astrid Ober came from a well-off family. Thanks to her father being a greedy doctor who only cared about money.
After her father died, Astrid had inherited 500,000 lumen. With that, she'd housed, clothed, and fed street kids for 6 years, and still had money left...!
Yet now there was a 3 million lumen bounty on my head... It didn't feel real. Not at all.
"3 million..."
My mouth gaped at the jaw-dropping number, and I muttered it aloud.
Then Jin held out his hand to me. It seemed he wanted to see the poster too. I sighed and handed it to him.
"Our doctor has become a huge celebrity. Same bounty as Rishar."
W-what? So now I'm tied for third on the Regnumia Empire's most-wanted list? I suddenly felt like a big deal, but also a bit scared.
I was definitely just an ordinary citizen... Of course, my first step in this world had been a prison break, so I couldn't be totally ordinary. Plus, hanging around heavyweights like Jin and Rishar.
"No need to be scared, Doctor. I'll protect you."
I nearly burst out laughing at Jin's words. The frail Jin boldly declaring he'd protect me was just too cute.
But oddly, hearing it made me feel reassured.
"Of course, Teacher. We'll protect you safely no matter what."
Rishar chimed in.
This was pretty solid backup? Two handsome guys vowing to protect me. Hehe.
"Uh... Thank you. Oh, is there anything else I need to hear? If not, I'll head out."
Scratching my cheek in embarrassment, I asked. Rishar shook his head. Looked like there was nothing more.
"Don't overdo it, Jin. Your temperature's a bit higher than usual today."
Leaving the Greenhouse, I practically flew to the clinic, humming cheerfully.
In the original story, Jin died about 2 months ago. Just by keeping him alive 2 extra months, the Masqueen Ducal House fell 8 years early.
At first, it was for my own safety that I wanted to keep Jin alive somehow, but now...
Apart from liking Jin, the longer he lived, the sooner peace would come here.
I was a Regnumia citizen now too. I wanted to oust the tyrant Solter III quickly.
Well, I felt a little sorry for stealing one of Rodent's future jobs—but maybe I should raise our smart Rodent into a real doctor? Hehe.
But arriving at the clinic, my happy mood cooled a bit. An unexpected patient was there. Rodent.
"Rodent, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
He'd been fine during the walk, so why did he look like a listless chick now, full of no energy?
"He said his stomach feels bad, like lunch isn't digesting. I brought him, Teacher Astrid."
Finn said, hand on groaning Rodent's shoulder.
Oh no, our Rodent. Maybe indigestion? I touched his hand. Cold.
"Come here, Rodent. Let's take some digestive medicine."
I gave him digestive meds first. But it didn't seem to go down. In cases like this... maybe a folk remedy like cupping?
'Wait, isn't cupping for indigestion a form of bloodletting?'
I really hated bloodletting. Jin's left wrist still had a thin scar from it. Seeing it, bloodletting was unforgivable.
Plus, cupping could cause infection.
"Rodent, want to lie on the bed?"
So I decided on 'a mother's touch is a healing touch.' Rubbing his belly might help.
"Finn, you can go ahead. I'll take Rodent back to the dorm when I finish."
I smiled at Finn. He looked worriedly at Rodent, then left the clinic.
No wonder Jin entrusted the kids to Finn. The kid was so reliable and kind.
"Rodent, did something upset you? You look down. Is it because you're sick?"
I gently rubbed his belly as I asked. It felt different from just being sick and low-energy. When we first met, Rodent was ill from hunger and cold, but not this limp and spiritless.
Rodent didn't answer. His face looked complicated, full of thoughts.
And after a long while.
"...That uncle Taud we met this morning said I was a hassle. I was worried if I was bothering Leader and you too much, when you're both so busy..."
Rodent said glumly.
I never imagined he'd think that. So young, already watching adults' reactions. It was pitiful. That must've made lunch sit heavy.
"What are you talking about, Rodent. Teacher likes you so much. Leader likes you a ton too."
Rodent's eyes grew misty.
Oh dear, how starved for affection was this kid...
Since I'd kept Jin alive anyway, I wanted Rodent to grow up loved and happy in the Underground City.
Let the adults like Jin and Rishar handle liberating the empire's citizens—kids should just grow up happily!
"Teacher, I think I'm okay now."
After rubbing his belly a while, color returned to Rodent's face. Phew, good. I grinned and stroked his head.
"Next time, even if your head's full of worries, chew your food well. Got it?"
Rodent nodded eagerly. Sniff, not my biological child, but is this what raising one feels like?
"Teacher, you're amazing! You can cure anything. I really want to be a doctor like you when I grow up!"
Rodent said, eyes sparkling.
Saying that to a quack like me... My mouth felt bitter. It felt like deceiving those bright eyes.
"No, Rodent. I have so many diseases I can't cure."
Rodent wasn't disappointed.
"Then I'll study harder and become an even greater doctor than you. I want a world with no sick people, a happy world."
Of course, even without being a doctor, Rodent was destined to make this world happy. He was the protagonist.
"Yeah, yeah. Our Rodent's so smart, he can do anything. So don't mind weirdos like Uncle Taud. Got it?"
Rodent nodded at my words.
"Mm, and just in case, let's skip tomorrow's walk, Rodent. I know it's a bummer, but rest when sick. Don't grow up like Leader, working through illness. Got it?"
Talking, I unwittingly badmouthed Jin. That workaholic—what to do? He overworks at the slightest recovery, then gets sick again.
"Yes, Teacher."
Rodent replied glumly.
But watching him agree to skip a day so readily, I thought Rodent was way more mature than Jin.
Anyway, Jin the kid... Tantrum king. Wait, was it a beauty trap? Knowing I'd cave to that pretty face...
Ugh, who to blame? I always lose to Jin's face.
"Sleep well, Rodent! Come to the clinic tomorrow when you're free. Gotta check you're okay."
I walked him to the kids' dorm and waved goodbye. Rodent waved back and slipped into his room.
What a hectic day without doing much. A smug merchant uncle pops up out of nowhere, I become a huge bounty fugitive, and sturdy Rodent suddenly gets indigestion.
Even showering in warm water and lying in my fluffy bed, the astronomical bounty on me left me feeling oddly unsettled.
* * *
Another day starting with this hellish nightmare.
Jin died again.
Dreams are opposites, they say—if so, Jin might live forever. He's died so much in my dreams.
Usually I'd wake right after Jin died, but not today. A woman's voice I hadn't heard before rang out. She cackled horrifically at Jin's corpse.
Waking from inexplicable terror at the voice, my body shook. Chills in this summer? Bad feeling today.
"Hey, who's this? The wanted doctor?"
Entering Jin's room, he cheekily reminded me of my huge bounty. He'd found perfect ammo to tease me. Sigh.
"Thermometer. Water."
I shoved my head away and put the thermometer in Jin's mouth. He watched me, eyes crinkled with amusement. What was so funny?
Oh, but Jin's condition looked great. Temperature at a nice 36.9℃. Wow, first time below 37℃ since inventing the thermometer.
"Looking good today, Jin. Slept well?"
Auscultating his lungs, I asked. Breathing sounded clean too. If only every day was like this.
"Yeah. Slept through without waking once."
Since Jin would say that anyway, better ask his night guard.
"Jack, is that true?"
Jack replied brightly.
"Yes, Teacher. Leader didn't cough once all night and slept soundly."
My dream was just nonsense. Bad feeling my foot! Yes, stay healthy like today forever, our Jin kid.
...That's what I thought back then. Never underestimate human intuition.
