Chapter 28 (2/2)

400 Zeni is a high price compared to what it used to be. And usually she would rush into discount negotiations without hesitation. For a wound on her abdomen, Ruruka would show off by stripping her s.h.i.+rt until it just barely covered her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, starting with her perfectly tight abs then exposing her elegantly thin waist. Then when I raised my voice again, she’d lift her s.h.i.+rt a bit higher, giving me glimpses of underb.o.o.b. I’d be in agony, and at the end of my rope I’d reluctantly, with great hesitation, lower the fee. That’s how it’s supposed to go.

So what’s going on this time?

Ruruka can barely look me in the eyes, and she’s only lifting her s.h.i.+rt a little. Forget about seeing underb.o.o.b or waist, not even her belly b.u.t.ton is visible. All that I can see is a patch of flesh, no larger than my palm, in the gap between her s.h.i.+rt and her shorts. There’s a small cut on it.

「Hey, s.h.i.+ki… get on with it…」

While I’m looking at the wound on her belly and pondering, Ruruka mutters at me.

What’s up with her? Did she decide to change her image to become pure and lady-like or something? Sure, I like it better when there’s some shyness, but it’s not like Ruruka wasn’t shy before. Showing herself to me while still being shy about it, that att.i.tude was great. So why…

「Hey, it’s fine if you want a discount?」

I unintentionally let that slip. It’s not something that should ever be brought up from the hospital’s side, but I’m unable to let it go unsaid.

「I don’t have much money… but s.h.i.+ki, if you get turned on… you can just go to that… brothel, right? So I figured we should stop. N-Not like I’m bothered by it or anything, okay?」

「A misunderstanding! I’m telling you, that was a misunderstanding…!」

「Whaat, so that’s what it was? Ahaha, I jumped to conclusions, huh.」

「…As long as you understand.」

While Yuel was steeping the tea, I managed to sort out Ruruka’s misconception. I sorted it out, but…

「Master, I’ve brought your tea.」

The minute we finish our discussion, Yuel comes in carrying my tea on a tray.

Then she plops down right next to me as usual. What was the point of fixing the misunderstanding if we have no time left for price negotiations? I receive precisely 400 Zeni from Ruruka, pat Yuel’s head for bringing me the scalding tea, and down it indifferently.

After Ruruka goes back, I continue doing medical treatment at the hospital. In the past few days, the number of customers at the hospital has risen a little. It’s probably a result of the monster subjugation requests that the knight brigade has been sending out. Rather than the hospitals near the center of the city, this one near the outer edge is no doubt easier to use for the adventurers who’ve been hunting monsters outside the city lately.

Between sips of the piping-hot tea that Yuel (under the impression that I enjoy piping-hot tea) has been tirelessly making for me every time my cup is empty, I treat patients’ injuries. I use Heal for light wounds, an occasional High Heal for more severe injuries, and Heal again for tongue burns.

That’s how we’ve been spending our days.

That night, a knocking noise wakes me up. It’s still dark outside. Feels like it’s late at night.

「…It’s from the entryway. Who could it be at a time like this?」

On the neighboring bed, Eris sits up and rubs her eyes sleepily. Indeed, I can hear a noise coming from the direction of the entryway. Someone must be knocking on the front door, even though it’s this late at night. A visitor at this hour… though since they’re expressly knocking on the door, there’s no way it’s a prowler or burglar.

「s.h.i.+ki, s.h.i.+ki! Please, get up!」

Then I hear a familiar voice. It’s Ruruka’s. As I wonder what might have happened, I head to the entrance.

「What’s the matter, at a time like this?」

When I open the door, Ruruka is there, out of breath and shoulders heaving. It looks like she ran all the way to this hospital. From her expression I can tell that she’s desperate and in a hurry. I don’t suppose she was unable to endure her young body’s urges and came for a “night visit”.

「Thank goodness, you’re awake! Please, come with me! Fran and Sera… they collapsed!」

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