Chapter 11

                     The Quack Doctor of the Rebel Army

As Richard and I left the examination room and entered the research lab across the hall, Rick was sitting in a wheelchair while Louis pushed him.

“Oh, Dr. Aubert!”

Louis greeted me with a bright smile.

What is going on here?

I blinked in confusion as I looked at Louis and Rick.

“Miss Louis said she was testing its safety, so I tried sitting in it. I know it’s not proper to sit before the Master does, but…”

Rick explained awkwardly, his ears turning red.

Ah… he’s embarrassed. Cute.

“Rick weighs more than the Master, so if it’s safe for him, it should be safe for the Master too.”

Louis explained cheerfully. As if to prove he hadn’t done it intentionally, Rick quickly stood up from the wheelchair.

“So… are you going to bring the Master now?”

Louis asked, his voice full of excitement. It seemed he was thrilled at the thought of Jin using something he had made.

“That’s the plan. Do you want to come along?”

Richard said. Perhaps because he had known Louis for a long time, his usually stern expression looked a bit more relaxed.

“Would that be alright? It’s been a while since we last saw him.”

Not just Louis—even Rick looked like he wanted to see Jin. Since both had been taught by him, it was only natural they would worry about their sick teacher.

“Of course. You both can come.”

And so, Richard, I, and Jin’s two disciples headed to his bedroom together.

Thinking about it, I felt a bit worried.

Ever since Jin had fallen ill, almost no one—except Richard and a few others—had seen him. And quite a long time had passed.

He looked better than when I first saw him, when he was practically skin and bones… but he was still so fragile, like a candle flickering in the wind, as if he could die at any moment.

If everyone in the underground city saw him like this…

They would be anxious. Would that really be okay?

But when we arrived at Jin’s room, I realized my worries were unnecessary.

Richard had prepared everything perfectly.

He wrapped Jin in a warm wool robe and even put a mask on him, completely hiding his thin body. Then he effortlessly lifted him and placed him in the wheelchair.

Watching that, I realized that what I had been doing wasn’t overprotective at all.

But seeing Jin like this in the wheelchair…

Why does this feel familiar?

“…Why does he look like a wealthy chairman leaving the prosecutor’s office after an investigation?”

I couldn’t help but laugh internally.

He looked exactly like some chaebol boss released on bail. If we added sunglasses, it would be perfect. Should I ask Louis to make some?

But it seemed I was the only one amused.

Rick and Louis looked heartbroken as they saw their former teacher, clearly weakened by illness.

“Louis, Rick. It’s been a while.”

Jin greeted them.

His voice was already soft, and with the mask, it sounded like it was coming from ten meters away. That faint voice only made it more painful for them.

Louis’s eyes began to redden, so I quickly pushed the wheelchair forward so Jin wouldn’t see.

Then I frowned at Louis.

Wipe your tears. Our glass-hearted patient will get hurt.

Louis seemed to understand and quickly wiped his eyes. Thankfully, he wasn’t clueless.

“Shall we go then?”

Jin, my child…
I muttered silently to myself.

At that moment, Richard took hold of the wheelchair.

“I’ll push it, Dr. Aubert.”

Even though Jin was thin, he was still an adult man, and with the weight of the wheelchair, it was a bit difficult for me. So I gladly let Richard take over.

Richard seemed eager to get Jin to the greenhouse quickly and began pushing at a brisk pace.

“Hmm… I think it’s a bit easier to breathe here.”

After arriving at the greenhouse, Jin removed his mask and took a deep breath.

Right? Jin? My idea wasn’t completely wrong, was it?

I felt oddly proud, as if my ridiculous treatment method was actually working.

“Is that so? If he says that, then how about letting him stay here at night as well, Doctor?”

Richard asked happily.

Nope. Absolutely not.

“Plants release good substances during the day, but at night they release harmful ones, so that might be difficult.”

Good = oxygen.
Bad = carbon dioxide.

Not exactly “good” or “bad” scientifically, but for Jin, it mattered.

“Complicated…”

Richard muttered.

Yeah… if he were born in my world, he definitely wouldn’t survive in the science stream.

Same for me.

Richard gently laid Jin down on the newly installed canopy bed and hung his coat nearby.

I swear… I absolutely did NOT prescribe this treatment for this kind of scene.

Green plants, colorful flowers, flowing white curtains, sunlight-like lighting—and a handsome young man with long black hair in a white shirt…

It looked like a photoshoot.

Even the humidifier puffing out steam added a mystical atmosphere.

Seriously, this is like a magazine shoot. Why doesn’t this era have cameras? This should be preserved for generations!

Wow… good job, me.

“…The smell of grass. It’s nice.”

Jin looked at a flowerpot and slowly closed his eyes, his long eyelashes lowering gently.

At this rate, I feel like I’ll die before him… from a heart attack.

While I was lost in admiring him, I suddenly noticed Jin staring at me.

What… what?

I expected him to say something like “You’re mesmerized by my face again” or “I know I’m handsome, but you’ll wear it out.”

But instead, he simply smiled softly.

With the light behind him, it almost looked like a halo.

“…He’s beautiful.”

I found myself thinking that again.

That night, when I came to my senses, I was sitting at my desk drawing Jin.

Good thing Astrid is good at drawing.

Green leaves, white curtains, and Jin’s gentle smile…

How can someone smile so purely while struggling just to breathe?

It had already been two months and two weeks.

Soon… it would be the time when Jin dies in the original story.

I wasn’t confident.

I wasn’t sure my treatment would work.

My chest suddenly felt tight, like something was stuck.

Why did thinking about him hurt like this?

…Could it be that I liked Jin, like Astrid did in the original story?

No way.

I shook my head.

I’m a lifelong single.

I just admire him because he’s handsome. That’s all.

He just became my favorite character.

I listened toward the next room where Jin was sleeping, but the dwarves’ soundproofing was too perfect.

I couldn’t hear anything.

After hesitating, I stood up. I felt like I needed to hear even his faint breathing.

When I quietly entered, Gede approached me.

Since I insisted someone always stay with Jin, three boys were taking shifts.

Gede was one of them.

“Shh.”

I gestured, afraid Jin might wake.

Gede nodded and sat back down quietly.

Jin was fast asleep.

Seeing his chest rise and fall steadily reassured me.

Sleep well, Jin.

I smiled unconsciously.

Thankfully, my mask hid it.

I just… hoped nothing would happen.

That Jin wouldn’t die.

That he would stay—beside me, beside Richard, beside everyone…

Just like now.

A week passed since Jin started spending his days in the greenhouse.

And somehow…

His breathing really seemed to improve.

“…It’s actually working?”

Each time I listened to his lungs with the stethoscope, I was confused.

I never thought it would actually work.

As I lowered the stethoscope, Jin buttoned his shirt and stared at me.

W-what?!

Don’t look at me like that!

“Doctor, you look especially bright today.”

Well, of course.

Even though he still had coughing fits and sometimes coughed up blood, his breathing was definitely better.

His complexion improved, his skin regained moisture, and he even gained a little weight.

Which made his already handsome face even more dangerous.

His appetite increased too… though still not enough for his height.

“Our patient listens very well. You’re exercising regularly too, right? And taking your medicine?”

Now Jin could sit longer and even move around more.

Sometimes he even rolled around on the bed out of boredom.

Before, he didn’t even have the strength for that.

“Of course. Who told me to? If it’s you, Doctor… I’ll do anything. Anything.”

Jin said with a bright smile.

Now that he was healthier, he smiled more.

Which was… far more dangerous for my heart.

This guy… seriously.