Chapter 3

Later, I would learn that the so-called "beasts"… cats, foxes, rabbits… I don’t know about lizards. Anyway, these beasts tend to be prolific. There are so many of them that they are often discarded.

Abby takes care of the "discarded" kids, basically those in such a position.

"One at a time," Abby said, and climbed the rope ladder first. With each pull, the creaking sound indicated that the rope ladder was quite worn out. If not replaced soon, it would eventually cause an accident.

My chest felt terribly uncomfortable.

I was about to vomit from the rising nausea.

In the end, I was the last to climb the rope ladder. As I was about to reach the top, the dwarf girl pulled me up by the hand. She was indeed stronger than she looked.

"You're light, Dee," she giggled.

Her face was dirty, as if covered in soot.

What was most noticeable was that all the kids were scratching some part of their bodies, as if they were itchy.

Living in the sewers, they probably had some kind of skin disease. It wouldn’t be surprising if they had some kind of infectious disease.

"..."

The cold wind washed away some of the discomfort.

The town, as seen from the wind, was made up of stone buildings like those in medieval Europe. They were neatly arranged and stood in orderly rows.

"Let's go. Dee, I understand how you feel, but don't look too much," Abby said, and I followed her advice and averted my gaze.

"You're so honest. That's good. People like you live long. I don’t dislike you."

From there, I followed Abby, who led the way, down the cobblestone street.

The town was a maze, more so than the sewers. I wouldn’t be able to find my way back alone. I held the dwarf girl's hand and followed Abby without losing sight of her.

"Dee, it's okay. I'm here, so don’t worry!"

"...Please."

For now, this dwarf, who seemed the most kind, was my only support.

Eventually, we left the stone buildings and reached a row of wooden shacks. There, Abby finally caught her breath.

"...Everyone is here. Keep going."

If it gets too difficult, divide the work.

From the looks of it, the 'demon girl' and the 'cat girl' were the oldest and more responsible compared to the other kids. If these two were at the back, leading the group would be easier.

This is a dangerous group.

There’s still a lot to confirm, but it seems that the responsibility is concentrated on the leader, Abby. Despite her appearance, she doesn’t seem much different from a dirty, ragged kid. ...She must have survived somehow and risen to become the leader of this small group.

While I was thinking about all this, the cat girl approached, leaned her face close to the back of my neck, and sniffed.

"You smell like incense. Did you run away from a church or something?"

You guys are the ones who smell. I thought that but said,

"Not really..."

"What, being so proper. You were discarded too, you know."

The cat girl then sniffed again, looking disgusted, and returned to the demon girl's side.

If you’re going to be mean, don’t bother.

I didn’t want to get into trouble, so I didn’t respond and followed Abby.

We passed a street lined with stalls that smelled good, but Abby didn’t stop.

◇◇

We arrived at an open square.

The ground was sandy, with short grass growing here and there.

The square was crowded.

There must have been a hundred people. They were standing in neat rows, forming several lines.

At the end of the lines, a few women in blue clothes were stirring large pots of steaming soup.

I was curious, and Abby said, sounding annoyed,

"They are the nuns of Asclepius. They’re boring, but they provide food. Absolutely no fighting."

Nuns... so they must be providing food.

We joined the line, and waited for the distribution to start.

What was being distributed was a bowl of porridge made with some kind of grain I had never seen before.

It was terrible. It was so bad that my first attempt at cooking, which I thought was terrible, seemed like a gourmet meal. The kids also seemed to think so, as they all ate with frowns.

The food was apparently nutritious, despite its awful taste.

After the kids finished eating in a group, Abby said,

"Alright. Let's go to Ada's place."

I didn’t know who this Ada was. It wasn’t in the memories I had of Dietrich.

"Who is Ada? If she’s called a 'granny,' she must be an old lady. What kind of person is she?"

The dwarf girl answered my question.

"Ada is Ada. She’s an old lady who looks like garbage."

I was taken aback by her crude language, which was completely opposite to her delicate appearance, and shrugged.

"Is that so..."

I answered briefly, took the dwarf girl's hand again, and followed Abby.

We passed through the street lined with stalls and headed into the darkness. We walked deeper and deeper into a dark and desolate alley that I would normally hesitate to enter.

On the side of the road, there were men lying down, indistinguishable between drunkards and corpses. I didn’t know if they were sleeping or dead. Among them, an old lady in a dirty, loose robe was squatting by the roadside. Abby called out to her.

"Ada, wake up. It’s Abigail... Abby."

"..."

Ada didn’t respond, so the demon girl, losing patience, kicked her shin.

"Get up, old lady! We have a customer!"

"Ouch...!"

Ada woke up, lifting her face, which was covered in freckles and large scars.

"Damn, I thought it was someone else. It’s you, Ashita. You’re as rude as ever. You should just die."

"What did you say, old hag!"

This bickering was annoying. As I was getting tired of it, Abby pushed the demon girl aside and stepped forward.

"Ada, I have someone I want you to see. I’ll pay. Take a look."

"...Hmph."

Ada glanced at the demon girl and then glared at Abby.

"A thousand sheeps. Not a single sheep less. Pay up quickly."

"Alright."

Abby took a copper coin from her sleeve and handed it to Ada.

"Hmm... It’s rare for a miser like you to not haggle. This new arrival must be a promising one..."

Abby clicked her tongue awkwardly and nodded, signaling me with a nod.

I was being called out.

The demon girl pushed me from behind, and I stepped forward.

"..."

Ada was looking me over from my toes to the top of my head, as if appraising me.

Her gaze was unpleasant, as if she could see through me. I couldn’t help but look away—

"—Boy, look at me. Don’t look away."

"..."

I had no choice but to meet her gaze.

...But she’s a dirty old lady. She was as dirty and smelly as the kids. From the scars on her face, it was clear she had some strange disease. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

Ada, still looking at me, said to Abby,

"...I’ll take ten thousand sheeps..."

At this, Abby glanced at me, nodded seriously, and took a silver coin from her sleeve, handing it to Ada.

"..."

The silence continued.

Ada occasionally smiled as she looked at me. It was some kind of character reading, but I didn’t like being scrutinized like this.

"...Old lady. Are you sick? You look like you’ve recovered, but it’s concerning. Why don’t you get a proper check-up...?"

It was nothing. I just said it because the staring was awkward.

However, my words made Ada unexpectedly happy.

"...Then, why don’t you examine me..."

"Me...? Why don’t you get a proper doctor to look at you?"

"That proper doctor is you."

At this, I heard the kids, including Abby, swallow hard.

"Alright, I’ll examine you..."

Her creepy gaze didn’t change. Ada was looking at me with interest. I...

"...You had a serious illness. One that could have killed you. I can tell you’ve recovered. It’s remarkable. The scars are all over your body. Do you still have itching... or any pus or bleeding?"

"No."

"Then you don’t need treatment. Your right eye is probably blind. It’s too late to do anything about it. Other than that, stay clean and eat properly. You have a deathly appearance, but you’ll be fine for a while."

"For a while... How many more years do I have...?"

"Probably a year at most."

"..."

The silence deepened, a mysterious silence.

What is this...

I just said what came to mind. I don’t know why I could say such irresponsible things...

Ada smiled.

"...Priest. You have a great talent. You’re a well-bred young man. For your age, you’ve accumulated good karma. You believe in God. You’re clumsy but warm. Your cold words are a reflection of your sense of responsibility. The real you is compassionate... Abby."

Abby looked around cautiously and nodded seriously.

"...What?"

"I’m not saying anything bad. This boy should be in the hands of Asclepius."

"...Why?"

"Why? Because this boy is beyond your control. He’s drawn to a strong destiny. Surely—"

At that moment.

Abby pulled a knife from her sash and stabbed Ada in the chest.

"What—"

The queen bee, Abigail, said coldly.

"Shut up, old lady. I was the first to mark him. Dee is mine."

"A, ah..."

From Ada’s throat, a disturbing sound came as she was stabbed.

"What are you doing..."

It was too late. I’m not a doctor or anything, but I knew instinctively that it was too late.

Blood gushed from her mouth, but Ada didn’t take her eyes off me. She groaned,

"...This is also... fate..."

"..."

I had no words, and I shook my head.

At that moment.

I heard a prayer in my head.

This one is all and one. All and many.

This one is many and all. All and forever one.

The two hands of Asclepius.

One heals, one takes away.

"...!"

A thunderous headache hit me, and I crouched down.

In my fading consciousness, I saw Abby repeatedly stabbing Ada.

Ada, making a disturbing sound, still had a creepy smile on her face.

Then... surprisingly, the demon girl’s worried face as she held me up.