Chapter…05

After that, I met several people.

The first was an elderly woman.

“This is Betty. She is the head chef of the underground city.”

Ah, so she’s in charge of Jin’s meals.

I immediately asked her in detail about his diet.

“The leader hasn’t had much of an appetite lately, so he often skips meals. I do force him to eat a few bites because he needs to recover… but…”

Betty answered with a deeply worried expression.

Just as I thought.

Ugh, Jin—you’re basically accelerating your own death.

“From now on, please coordinate his meals with me.”

My medical knowledge might be questionable, but when it came to ingredients and nutrition, there were few in this world who knew more than me.

When I worked at a company, I studied everything from snack ingredients for product development to all kinds of supposedly healthy foods.

Ugh, I really don’t want to remember my corporate life—but it’s actually useful here.

“You’re very meticulous, Doctor.”

Betty said emotionally.

It seemed that previous doctors hadn’t cared at all about Jin’s diet.

Idiots. The foundation of treating illness starts with controlling what goes into the body.

Next, I met the workers who cleaned Jin’s room.

“Please change the bed sheets every two days. And at least once a week, the curtains as well. Ah—and wipe down the area near the bed with strong alcohol several times.”

If I couldn’t sterilize things properly, I had to at least disinfect them.

Everyone looked shocked at my strict instructions.

I must look like a cleanliness-obsessed freak.

‘It’s not obsession—it’s basic survival for an immunocompromised patient like Jin!’

I wanted to shout, but I held it back.

Finally, Rishar took me to what looked like a laboratory.

“This is the workshop shared by the alchemist and technician. Please come in.”

My heart pounded as I stepped inside.

“Rick. Louis.”

At Rishar’s call, a young man and woman in their early twenties approached.

“This is Rick, the alchemist.”

He pointed to a handsome young man with silver hair and purple eyes.

That face… that name… why does it feel familiar?

It wasn’t from the original novel though…

“…Rick? Lika’s older brother?”

I covered my mouth as a memory surfaced.

Lika was a girl I—no, Astrid—had failed to save.

Five years ago, in winter. I could still vividly remember the moment we had to let go of a sick orphan girl.

“Doctor Ober…”

It seemed this place was full of children Astrid had once saved.

I had only been here a short time, yet I had already met two of them.

Lika had been only eleven when she died.

Thinking of Rick’s sorrowful face when he had to send his little sister away made my chest ache.

“How have you been?”

“…Yes. And you, doctor?”

“I’m well.”

After exchanging greetings, an awkward silence settled between us.

Rishar and the woman named Louis stood awkwardly, sensing the tension.

“…Ah, I should head back. I have things to discuss with Jin.”

Rishar finally broke the silence.

Running away, are you?

Honestly, I wanted to run too.

After Rishar left, the already awkward atmosphere deepened.

Lika had died long ago—this wasn’t even my fault—but why did it feel so uncomfortable?

“Are you here as the leader’s physician?”

Rick finally asked.

At last, the heavy silence broke. I sighed in relief and forced a smile.

“Yes. How did you know?”

“I was the one who recommended you.”

That answer surprised me.

I had thought Rick might resent Astrid—but he was the one who had recommended me?

“You don’t hate me?”

Rick turned his face away with a slightly sulky expression.

“Why would I hate you? Lika admired you so much.”

His ears were slightly red.

What is this kid—some kind of adorable mascot?

Then I realized something.

Rick, Louis, Finn, Betty… none of them were mentioned in the original story.

Because after Jin’s death, the Liberators scattered—some died, others disappeared.

And the cause of it all… was Jin’s death.

Something inside me burned with resolve.

I had to save that fragile, overgrown weakling.

Silence fell again.

To break it, I spoke.

“I didn’t expect you to become an alchemist.”

“Leader taught me alchemy,” Rick replied a little grumpily.

Jin really is something else.

He had taught literacy to a boy who couldn’t even read properly—and now that boy had become an alchemist creating advanced cleaning agents in just five years.

“Incredible. That cleaning solution—what is it? It’s amazing.”

It looked just like modern soap foam.

“Its properties are a bit complicated… substances that like water and dislike water coexist… interfacial tension…”

Rick began explaining.

I listened blankly—but honestly, I understood nothing.

Rick, I’m sorry, but I’m from the humanities department.

You could explain it forever and I still wouldn’t get it.

“I named it a surfactant… it’s a mildly alkaline liquid that helps remove dirt and oils…”

At the words “surfactant” and “alkaline,” I perked up.

Those were the only terms I recognized.

In other words—it was basically soap.

I grabbed Rick’s hands in excitement.

“Rick, you’re a genius!”

He blinked in confusion.

He probably didn’t realize he had invented something that could extend human lifespan by decades.

“Doctor… you seem a little different from before.”

His face was slightly red.

Realizing I was still holding his hand, I quickly let go.

“R-really? I don’t think so.”

I tried to act calm.

Astrid probably wouldn’t have grabbed someone’s hand like that.

“You seem more cheerful. I like you better like this… you feel more human. Before, you felt almost… transcendent.”

At that, my face heated up.

Transcendent? Like an angel?

Was Astrid really that distant and saintlike?

“Thank you… I just made it because I hated how sticky my hands got after experiments.”

Rick said shyly.

Even though he spoke modestly, I couldn’t stop being amazed.

Soap existing here at all was incredible.

“No, Rick. This will really help me.”

As I continued praising him, Rick turned away in embarrassment, his ears bright red.

Meanwhile, Rishar hurried back to Jin’s room.

He had things to discuss with his friend—and also couldn’t stay away for long.

Before entering, he remembered Astrid’s warning.

Wash your hands. Wear a mask.

Though irritated by how she treated him like something unclean, he complied.

After washing his hands, he wrapped a black cloth over his mouth and nose.

“This should be enough…”

He opened the door.

No response.

His heart dropped.

“…Jin?”

Then he saw him.

Breathing.

Asleep.

Relief washed over him.

“Scared me, Jin…”

He touched Jin’s forehead.

At that moment, Jin opened his eyes.

“Did I wake you?”

Jin shook his head.

“Don’t sleep yet. I still have things to say. Help me sit up.”

Rishar helped him up.

Jin’s body was light—too light.

Even before he was sick, he had always been thin.

“What’s with the mask? Did you start listening to the doctor?”

Rishar didn’t answer.

“Doctor Ober… what do you think of her?”

Rishar asked.

Jin smiled faintly.

“A strange person. She has knowledge in some areas that even surpass mine.”

Rishar scoffed.

Jin frowned.

“Don’t laugh. I mean it. She’s difficult to understand.”

“Rumors said she was like an angel.”

“Yeah… but she’s different.”

Jin’s expression darkened.

“I don’t think I have many months left.”

“Don’t say things like that.”

Rishar’s voice shook.

Doctors had already declared Jin would not live past three months.

Rishar had been desperately trying to keep them from telling Jin.

But Jin had already figured it out from their eyes.

“…Rishar. You need to start thinking about how to lead the Liberators without me.”

“No.”

Rishar clenched his fists.

“I won’t let you die.”

The words he couldn’t say stayed trapped in his throat.