Luke had never dreamed that the Third’s shoulder was in such a shattered state.
It seemed like he had just casually fixed it by putting his hands in his pockets without a proper splint.
“Why didn’t you go to the hospital right away…?”
“I can’t go to the hospital.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t have money, and I don’t want to be found out.”
“Hmm….”
Money, as expected, was likely the biggest issue. It looked like he was also reluctant to reveal to someone that he was hurt.
For a child living in a back alley like this, injuries could be a weakness.
Besides, Luke himself likely wouldn’t have thought of a hospital if it weren’t for Yerna.
He couldn’t force someone into a hospital when he lacked the ability to cover the medical expenses.
In a modern era where even religious trials to weed out sinners do not take place, and temples and priests, paladins and clergy have vanished, medical magic had become quite expensive.
However, no matter how great a mistake he had made in the past, it should never justify treating a person like this.
Still, if he focused on street performances for a few days, he might just be able to help out, but it didn’t seem necessary.
In any case, if it was something that could be done with magic in this era, Luke could almost do it the same way.
Seeing the severity of the injury more serious than he expected, Luke moved towards the nearby hideout.
The hideout was a shabby abandoned house, and looking around inside, there was nothing that could even be believed to be proper goods, even if it was called a junk shop.
Luke was quite shocked at its appearance.
How had he managed to survive in a place like this all this time?
Still, wasn’t this a bit too much?
“Ha….”
After removing the Third’s upper clothing, Luke let out a big sigh.
He had thought it was just a case of being hit once, but it seemed he had actually been subjected to quite severe violence.
What kind of mistake had been made to treat someone like this? Luke couldn’t help but admire it in a bad way.
To someone who said they didn’t even remember the aftereffects.
Upon examination, it was quite a significant injury.
Had he come this far in this state? How thoroughly had he thought about his promise to himself?
If he had mentioned it beforehand, he might have postponed it to another day, or he would have gone to find him himself.
For now, he hurriedly administered first aid.
While he wasn’t particularly deep into medicine, he was a mage who had basic knowledge of human anatomy.
Setting and stabilizing the broken bone was definitely within the capabilities of a third-circle mage. He used a class magic incantation to temporarily compensate for the inadequate authority of the circle.
Once he enchanted the bandages and splints with a hastened effect for recovery, Luke knew his work was complete.
The series of actions caused the Third to be greatly impressed.
He had witnessed an emergency treatment skill he had never experienced before.
As he blankly watched the bandages wrapping around his shoulder, he soon regained his focus at Luke’s voice.
“Alright, it’s done. How about it? It’s not uncomfortable anymore, right?”
He moved his shoulder tentatively and confirmed that he felt no painful sensations or dislocation of bone fragments, exclaiming in awe.
Seeing him in admiration, Luke nodded proudly with a smile.
“…Thank you so much. For doing this for me….”
To express such a deeply moved reaction, how unfamiliar as a child must he be with kindness?
Luke waved his hand.
“No need to worry about it; I’ll be on my way for today. You need to rest now. I’ll teach you magic next time.”
Just as Luke was about to rise, the Third called out.
“Oh, wait a minute… Ugh.”
“Whoa, don’t move suddenly. What’s wrong?”
“The medicine sample you mentioned the other day….”
“Oh, that? I don’t need it right now. Hmm, where is it? I’ll go get it myself.”
“It’s in that drawer over there. I’m sorry for being in this condition.”
“It’s fine. Just stay comfortable.”
Luke moved towards the drawer the Third pointed to.
Upon opening the inside of the drawer, Luke frowned.
Countless syringes, which wouldn’t be a problem. The issue was the numerous cigarettes inside.
They were clearly shoddily made, something that could barely be called tobacco.
Moreover, they were of such seriously low quality that they could severely harm the user’s health, resembling drugs.
Luke picked one up and sniffed it under his nose.
He could easily imagine what wretched facility had produced this haphazardly.
Sighing, he held it up and asked the Third.
“What is all this? The quality is all trash. Where did it come from?”
“Um, it was made in my facility….”
“Such trash?”
Luke was astonished. How had they been selling something like this all this time?
It seemed the Third hadn’t been employed at a proper facility after all.
“It used to be quite popular in the back alleys….”
“Ha, selling things like this is why you can’t escape the back alleys.”
“….”
That statement was true. If it were decent products, they wouldn’t just be sold to mere drug addicts in the alley.
Luke had realized its quality just by smelling it without even trying to smoke it.
What incredible insight.
“Get rid of all this.”
“But….”
But how could products made with street vagrants turn out high quality?
He understood, but some things were unavoidable.
Just as he was about to retort, Luke spoke.
“Instead, I can teach you the proper method for making medicine, so for now, don’t go back to that facility.”
The Third’s eyes widened with excitement.
“Really?”
“Of course. My recipe will surely be much better than this trash. The process will be easier for you too. I’ll write down how to enhance the quality of this stuff, so you can experiment with it later.”
Luke picked up a piece of advertising paper that was just lying around on the floor and quickly jotted down the recipe on its empty side before handing it to the Third.
As the Third read the recipe, he was astonished.
“Is that… so!”
He had no ability to discern the truth of the recipe just by glancing at it, but he’d know upon seeing it.
The systematic and detailed manufacturing method was persuasive enough, especially since he knew very well that Luke never “lies.”
My goodness, a method to manufacture better quality medicine more easily?
What kind of facilities and technologies had they possessed before they burned down?
It must have been an amazing facility. It was a pity it burned down.
Having received such a recipe, he couldn’t even dare think that the “place where Luke said the medicine was being researched” was just an ordinary bathroom in a house.
With a recipe like this, it would surely sell exceedingly well.
If the quality Luke asserted was correct, this medicine might not only be distributed in the neighborhood alleys but possibly reach the entire continent!
If that were the case, he could undoubtedly make a tremendous amount of money, and then he could surely help his master…
“….”
No, perhaps he wouldn’t be able to do that.
Since he was bound to that “Dylan.”
It was undoubtedly the price of clear negligence.
He probably wouldn’t kill him immediately, but he would certainly be “used” until he died; he wasn’t the type to waste resources.
Ultimately, it was undoubtedly a situation tantamount to death.
Two days later, the Third’s expression darkened at the thought of Dylan coming to find him.
Luke immediately caught the change and asked.
“Why that expression all of a sudden? Is there something wrong with the recipe?”
“That’s absolutely not it. It’s just… I have another issue I need to talk about.”
“An issue? Go ahead and tell me. What’s going on?”
“That is….”
———–
Time passed, and the dark hours approached when they needed to conclude another day and look forward to the next sunrise.
Yerna, who had easily finished her preparations, felt slightly excited.
“It’s been a while since I slept next to Luke.”
And it truly was.
Yesterday, she had been overtaken by fatigue upon laying her head on the pillow, so this felt new now.
Yerna took a deep breath. As she did, a pleasant scent filled her nostrils.
It must be the scent from Luke’s body.
There was always a good fragrance coming from the bed when she slept with Luke, which delighted her.
The scent from Luke was always different, but it was all pleasant.
Some days it smelled like flowers, some days it carried the sweet scent of fruits. Other days it had a slightly bitter scent of grass.
It must be the combined smells of the potions, shampoo, and other personal care products and bath items Luke usually used.
Depending on the day, situation, place, or mood, Luke varied the products he used.
Recently, he had also been smelling of the perfume and cosmetics she had gifted him, so Luke could be said to be a boy carrying a variety of charms and scents.
“Okay, shall we go to sleep now?”
“…Yeah.”
Just as Yerna turned off the light and lay beside Luke, pulling the blanket over them, she noticed that Luke didn’t look too well.
His voice lacked strength.
Had something depressed him? Or was he just troubled?
Given the circumstances, Yerna couldn’t help but worry about Luke.
“Luke, do you have something on your mind? If you have anything to say, go ahead. I’m here to talk.”
As Yerna turned to prop her cheek with her palm and looked at Luke, he too turned his body.
It seemed he had thoughts of engaging in conversation.
“Yerna, for instance. Do you think a wrongdoing done while lacking memory can truly be considered a wrongdoing?”
Yerna didn’t take long to understand the meaning behind Luke’s question.
Luke, who lost his memory, and a wrongdoing from the past he couldn’t recall.
It seemed he had heard something after meeting the Third today.
Luke continued speaking.
“Just because I don’t remember it doesn’t mean the sin disappears, but is it really right to punish that?”
“What on earth happened?”
“There was a mistake made long ago that I had completely forgotten about, but if the other person hasn’t forgotten, what should I do to be forgiven?”
“Oh.”
Luke appeared to be deeply troubled, and his listless expression remained.
It seemed he had gotten into a fight with the Third over some past incident.
“I think the best approach would be to talk to the person involved directly.”
“I suppose so. You too think it’s best to discuss it, huh?”
“Yeah, are you feeling nervous? Then I’ll go with you! Let’s talk together!”
“Would you do that? Thank you, that really helps.”
Luke’s expression relaxed considerably; indeed, children should have such expressions.
Yerna smiled and asked.
“So, when will you talk to the Third again?”
“Huh? No. I’m not going to talk to the Third; I’m going to meet with the Third’s boss.”
“Uh?”
Realizing his mistake from Yerna’s bewildered expression, Luke exclaimed.
“Oh no, I didn’t explain it. So….”
Luke began explaining to Yerna about the Third.
He had previously advised him to seek out a proper job, but upon facing his boss, it turned out to be someone with whom he had made a significant mistake in the past. After that incident, he was severely beaten and was now facing a crisis of being ‘worked to death or worse.’
“So it seems quitting the job isn’t easy. He wants to persuade that boss positively, but he thinks it’ll be hard since he’s so young. If you’re thinking like I am, that would really help. You should come with me to see the Third tomorrow.”
“Uh…? Oh, okay… That sounds good.”
Although it was a bit startling, this much should be manageable…
The Third had a good relationship with Luke and was in a similar unfortunate situation, so helping him wouldn’t be a bad idea.
