Time Healer Ceres
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Chapter 3. Arnold Sanatorium
“Was this girl’s head just for decoration?”
The first thing Ceres did after returning to her room was, quite literally, assess the situation.
As she looked over the debts incurred so far and the amount of money that needed to be paid back immediately, Ceres felt a deep, long-forgotten surge of fury.
Her blood boiled, making the back of her neck stiffen.
“She borrowed this kind of money and thought it was a good idea?”
No matter how desperate one was for cash, there was money a person could borrow and money they should never, ever lay a hand on.
“135%?”
An annual interest rate of 135%.
Most of the places Ceres had borrowed from, using the house and land as collateral, had interest rates around this level. This meant the interest had long since surpassed the principal.
“Did she carry her head around just to look taller or what? What kind of guts does it take to use loan sharks?”
Back when she lived as Grace, there were people who ran money-lending businesses like this. Of course, they were places that had nothing to do with her throughout her entire life.
She had simply thought: I guess there really are people who borrow money at such ridiculous rates. Seeing them borrow even though they know it’ll ruin their lives, they must be truly desperate for money….
That had been the extent of her impressions.
‘But.’
The original owner of this body had actually borrowed that kind of money.
“She was surprisingly fearless, wasn’t she?”
Or perhaps she really was just brainless.
How could anyone see an interest rate like that and just impulsively decide to borrow money?
“Ha.”
The image of the girl she had first seen in the darkness came back to her. Crying pitifully, begging for help….
Was the reason that child took her own life because of money problems?
Because she couldn't handle it anymore?
‘I see why the little brat acted that way too.’
She had wondered why he barked so fiercely at the aunt who returned to her maiden home out of pity for her nephews, but it turned out Agne was the one who introduced them to all these loan sharks.
She had coaxed her into borrowing the money first, saying they had to save Yulia no matter what.
‘She wasn't wrong about that.’
Since she couldn’t just let her younger sister die.
“However….”
After finding all the medical expenses spent on Yulia and checking them one by one, Ceres became certain once more.
‘Arnold Sanatorium.’
The sanatorium where Yulia was currently staying was not a normal place.
The previous statements were no different. They were simply papers with an endless list of expensive medicinal ingredients.
“Is this place really a sanatorium?”
And not an apothecary?
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Once permission was granted, Antonion stepped inside cautiously.
A long sigh escaped the boy’s lips as he saw the table piled high with various documents.
“Will you even understand it by looking?”
He didn't seem to be trying to ignore her; he sounded genuinely curious.
“Mostly.”
“Is it true that Yulia can't get treatment unless we sell the shop?”
He had insisted in front of their aunt that they could never sell the shop, but young Antonion knew well that holding onto the shop until the end wasn't the answer when Yulia’s treatment was at stake.
“That shop… it was a place Father and Mother cherished very much.”
A stew shop situated right in the middle of the busy district.
The one who established it was the first Head of the Family of the Drow Barony.
The first Drow, who was an outstanding mercenary, achieved great feats in war and was appointed as a Baron in recognition of his service. He even had great business acumen and amassed enormous wealth.
When he died, he left only one will.
‘That shop is a sanctuary for mercenaries. You must never let it disappear.’
Everyone had upheld that wish for a long time, and Ceres's parents had also cherished and managed the shop dearly.
But three years ago, misfortune began when her parents, who had gone out, passed away in a carriage accident.
Not long after her parents' funeral, Yulia, who was four years old at the time, suddenly collapsed.
Many healers visited, but no one could find the cause.
‘I know a very capable healer at a sanatorium I'm familiar with. Why don't you send her there?’
At their aunt’s suggestion, Yulia was sent to the sanatorium, and from then on, massive medical bills began to be charged.
‘This is the only place that will lend you money right now.’
‘Shouldn't you save Yulia first? If you don't borrow money now, that poor child will die without even receiving proper treatment.’
Resorting to loan sharks had also been at their aunt's recommendation.
There were no other options.
She had stamped the documents as her aunt advised, and from that day on, enormous amounts of money began to be charged as massive interest was added upon interest.
Now, the only thing of value left in the Drow Barony was that one shop in the busy district.
‘In other words, this house is on the verge of being repossessed too.’
Ceres clicked her tongue inwardly.
Did this not mean that even at this very moment, interest was steadily piling up?
“Don't listen to anything Aunt says anymore! That shop is….”
“And if we don't sell the shop? Do you have another way?”
“That’s….”
Antonion couldn't answer and lowered his head deeply.
No matter how much he thought about it, no solution came to mind.
‘What should I do?’
Did they really have to sell the shop?
The place their mother and father had tried so hard to protect for so long?
Selling the shop didn't mean all their problems would be solved either.
Even if this month’s medical fees were resolved that way, what about next month? And the month after that?
If they couldn't even get the money they earned from the shop, how would they live in the future?
‘But then, what about Yulia?’
If they couldn't pay the medical fees this month, what would happen to Yulia?
‘…Pathetic.’
In the end, there was nothing he could do.
His own actions of boasting to his aunt that he would find a way felt immature all over again.
“Lift your head.”
Ceres's voice reached him at that moment.
As he slowly lifted his head, he saw Ceres with her brow heavily furrowed.
Antonion bit his lower lip hard.
His noona surely thought he was pathetic too. Thinking he was a useless younger brother who couldn't help at all….
Flick!
“Ow!”
Antonion quickly clutched his forehead. It was because Ceres had flicked his forehead quite forcefully with her finger.
“What are you doing?!”
At Antonion's startled cry, Ceres clicked her tongue, still not hiding her dissatisfied gaze.
“For someone who’s only twelve years old.”
“What?”
“Why is a little kid making such a fuss trying to solve everything alone?”
“Are you looking down on me right now—!”
Flick!
“Ow! That hurts!”
“You're the one doing the looking down.”
“…….”
“I'm your noona.”
“…What?”
“I said I'm your noona. One who’s eaten five more years' worth of rice than you, at that.”
Antonion, who was rubbing his aching forehead, looked at her with slightly dazed eyes.
Reach.
“……!”
As her hand rose again, Antonion flinched, thinking he was going to be hit once more.
Pat.
However, the touch of Ceres's hand on his head was much gentler and more careful than expected, making Antonion lose himself in thought again.
‘Tsk, just how unreliable must she have been.’
She didn't know the exact circumstances, but from what she had observed, it seemed Antonion had been taking responsibility for everything on his own.
‘Running here, running there.’
Perhaps the cause was that the original owner of this body had been far too untrustworthy?
From what she had gathered, it was a daily occurrence for her to be ignored even by the household maids.
She heard that even when she faced unfair or upsetting situations, instead of trying to set them right, she would just cry alone and endure it.
A noona who eventually even tried to take her own life.
‘What must that little brat have thought while watching such a noona?’
A burden far too heavy and large for a twelve-year-old child had been dumped on him.
Even the noona he should have relied on had become a being he had to care for and protect.
“Leave it to your noona now.”
“Leave it to you?”
“Kid, you stay out of it from now on.”
“…I told you not to call me that.”
Ceres lightly ruffled Antonion's hair again, as his face turned slightly red, perhaps angry at being called a kid.
“What are you going to do? Are you going to sell the shop?”
“First….”
Ceres's gaze turned toward the pile of documents on the table.
The words written largely on the topmost document.
<Arnold Sanatorium>
“I should go meet Yulia, that child, first, shouldn't I?”
*
*
*
“Gur Village.”
Ceres, who had found the only map in the house, carefully examined the location of the sanatorium where Yulia was staying.
“Even on horseback, it’ll take a good month.”
She had to check the child’s condition before deciding anything, but a month was too long.
“I wonder if that will open?”
Ceres lightly waved her hand, just in case.
