Suteko Ni Narimashita 25

Right after the incident, Hylo rushed Rico, who was burning up with a fever and barely coherent, into the store. Rico slumped against the counter, unable to hold himself up.

“It’s the Three-Days Fever,” Gustav concluded after checking Rico’s temperature and asking Hylo a few questions.

“What…?!” 

T… Three-Days Fever? 

“That’s fatal! What do I do… Now?”

Gustav sighed and turned away, leaving Hylo frantic. 

“Wait, there’s medicine, right? Do you have any?”

“That’ll be three silver coins,” Gustav said, unfazed by Hylo’s desperate tone.

 At this, Hylo was at a loss for words.

“I can’t afford that! Listen… I’ll do anything; please help him…!”

“You’ll do anything? Then bring me three silver coins or something worth that much.”

“I told you, I can’t—”

Hylo was left without options, with nowhere to turn.

Finally, unable to watch any longer, I spoke up. 

Hylo seemed to notice me for the first time, and Gustav reluctantly turned around.

“Why don’t you go to a treatment clinic?” I suggested.

Even without medication, proper care might be enough to help Rico. 

Plus, they have a pay-what-you-can policy.

“That’s not an option,” Gustav quickly dismissed my idea.

“No healer would even consider treating a child from the slums. They’d take one look at him and turn him away. If they did decide to treat him, the care would be half-hearted at best,” Gustav said.

“But when I was there—”

“I specifically sent you to that clinic because Telet was on duty. She doesn’t discriminate. If she wasn’t available, I ensured Nyxie was there to escort you. Clinics are less likely to turn you away if you’re with an adult. Besides, Nyxie knows how to navigate these things.”

“I see,” I muttered. 

Nyxie himself had mentioned that Telet was the only one in the city who treated people from the slums as equals.

Still, if Rico had an adult with him, he could receive treatment.

“In that case, we won’t bother Nyxie again, but could you hire an adult to accompany them?” I suggested.

“That’s out of the question. What are you thinking?” Gustav retorted, pointing his thumb incredulously at Hylo.

“Do you honestly believe he can afford to hire someone?”

He has a point.

“How much would it cost?” I asked.

Hylo looked as if he’d been doused with cold water. 

“No, no, no, I can’t possibly—”

“Exactly,” Gustav interrupted, his eyebrows knitting together in annoyance. 

“If he could afford to hire an adult escort, he wouldn’t struggle to buy the medicine.”

“Well, yes, but…”

I can’t let this situation continue unresolved.

The room fell silent. No one spoke another word.

We were at an impasse, and it seemed there was nothing children like Hylo and I could do to save Rico.

Gustav could have helped, but he chose not to. He was a businessman to his core.

“I get it, alright?” Hylo finally broke the silence. 

“…I need to make some money. I’ve hesitated because of those weird rumors, but I must return to pickpocketing. It’s the only way.”

With that, Hylo helped Rico to his feet and walked out of the store. They didn’t look back.

Once they were gone, the store fell eerily quiet. 

I wanted to leave, but something still felt unresolved. Finally, I broke the silence.

“Couldn’t you have helped them… ?”

“What?” Gustav looked up, his usual stoic face now showing a hint of emotion.

“He’s a regular customer… You could have cut him some slack.”

“I would have if it were profitable,” Gustav responded, his voice tinged with resignation but sincere.

“I’m no saint. I invest where I see returns. Like with you—I’ve made a lot of money from our dealings.”

Gustav took a sip from his canteen, shaking it so the last droplet fell into his mouth.

“You’ve said before how lucky you are to have money. That’s true, you are lucky. But don’t think everyone else is. Each person has their value. You’re valuable; they’re not. Live according to your worth.”

“Is that so?” I said, finding it hard to argue with him.

***

I left the Stone Shop, my curiosity getting the better of me, and searched for Hylo and Rico.

Given the circumstances, it was likely that Hylo was out trying to make some money while Rico was resting. 

Their options for places to stay were limited, being from the slums. So, I decided to check their usual hideout first.

“Hello…?” 

I cautiously opened the rickety door of the abandoned shack. 

The single-room interior was filled with dust and cobwebs. 

As I gingerly stepped inside, careful not to disturb the fragile floor, I found Rico lying there, asleep. His breathing was shallow and strained, thanks to his fever.

“Ugh…” 

I had thought my entrance was silent, but Rico stirred as if sensing my presence. 

“H-hey…”

I offered a timid wave and Rico managed a weak smile.

“Didn’t we see each other at the Stone Shop? Hylo’s out at the moment, so…”

“Ah, actually, I came to see how you’re doing.”

Initially, mere curiosity led me here, but seeing Rico in his frail condition filled me with genuine concern.

Certainly, the Three-Days Fever was a disease with a high mortality rate. However, for those who could afford proper treatment, it was just a highly contagious and somewhat troublesome cold.

But for those in the slums, the reality was starkly different. Despite understanding the risks of infection, they couldn’t afford preventative medicine, let alone cover treatment costs. Each year, their survival hung on sheer luck.

“I didn’t come prepared with much, but I can at least make you an ice pillow.”

I froze the bag of water I’d brought with me. Wrapping it in a cloth, I placed it under Rico’s head.

“Oh, this feels nice…”

A faint smile graced Rico’s lips as he patted the makeshift ice pillow. I noticed insect bites on his hand.

“So ice can be used like this…? What a luxury.”

Soon after, Rico drifted back to sleep.

There was no reason for me to linger any longer.

I stood up and left the shack, intent on finding Hylo.