Weren’t You the One Who Was Dying? Chapter 47

Inside a dark alley.

A stone crunched under the feet of the robed figure. With an irritated motion, he pulled out the listening device tucked into one ear.

“So they noticed,” he muttered to himself.

Well, pirates use this method all the time. He must already be used to it.

He hadn’t been expecting a big payoff anyway. He’d only been curious about how close Colonel Cloyden and his fiancée really were.

‘Luckily, it doesn’t seem like they’re that kind of relationship yet.’

Good. Those two must never become that close. Colonel Cloyden was the sort of man who wouldn’t bat an eye even if he drove his own fiancée to her death in the end.

‘But it seems he still doesn’t know.’

That what was stolen from the mansion that day wasn’t just a seal.

Yes, he wouldn’t know. Ehit Cloyden wouldn’t even know that room existed—the room hidden deep within the Cloyden estate.

It might be quite cruel for his fiancée, but small sacrifices are always necessary for a greater cause. Everything he did followed that same logic.

The figure in the red robe disposed of the listening equipment connected to the device, then left the area.

 

 

****

 

 

 

I don’t remember everything that happened at dawn. Burning with fever, I drifted in and out of consciousness.

In my half-awake state, I think I vaguely heard a conversation between a healer and Ehit.

‘Depending on the person… it could take their life….’

But even through the haze, one thought kept repeating in my mind: that Ehit was staying by my side.

Every time I opened my eyes halfway, Ehit was there, lips tightly pressed together, watching me as if he truly thought I might die.

Ehit was, if I had to say, rather cold toward me, and it didn’t seem like he thought of me as more than Cloyden’s fiancée.

That was why him sitting beside me all through the dawn felt a little unexpected.

Was he just trying to keep up appearances as a fiancé?

Or was I simply dreaming of the version of him I wished to see?

With the sound of heavy rain pounding outside the window, I opened my eyes again and reached out my hand.

The back of Ehit’s hand touched my fingertips. His skin felt slightly rough, but solid.

‘The sensation’s clear… so it’s not a dream.’

So Ehit really is here.

Like a normal fiancé, actually staying by my side.

Ehit placed something cold on my forehead.

Feeling the chill, I fell asleep again. This time, I woke after a longer while. Morning light was breaking outside the window.

“Mm.”

Thanks to proper treatment and a full night’s rest, my strength seemed to have mostly returned.

Squinting into the bright light, my gaze drifted toward my hand. My hand was resting on top of Ehit’s.

‘…Then why are we holding hands?’

“You asked me to,” Ehit said, as if he’d read my mind.

Startled, I immediately tried to pull my hand away. Instead of letting go right away, Ehit picked something up beside him and placed it in my hand.

A wet cloth.

“It’s a fresh one. Your fever hasn’t completely gone down yet, so keep it on.”

“…What?”

“I saw you were fine. That’s enough.”

With tired eyes, he stood up, and as always, left the room without looking back.

After sleeping a bit more, my fever finally broke.

I vaguely thought I saw Dellers while half-asleep, but given how out of it I was, that was probably just a dream too.

“Dapflen! Are you okay?”

It was Martha’s voice. When I opened my eyes, I saw Martha and Oliver looking me over.

“How many people did you even treat? Your divine power was completely drained.”

Oliver clicked his tongue.

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but think of a certain someone who kept nagging me to take better care of myself.

“That aside—Dapflen. Hey, did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“Well, uh… I can’t say it!”

“…What?”

“Martha, you say it!”

Oliver turned his back.

Martha hesitated awkwardly, then finally spoke.

“You know the medical institute quarters where you live, Dapflen?”

“Yeah.”

“Because of this flood… the embankment collapsed, and even the forest on Genard Hill came down.”

“Oh no.”

“So the medical institute quarters collapsed too.”

“…?”

Oliver, as if he couldn’t bear to look at my reaction, continued while facing away.

“Luckily, like you know, the quarters were about to undergo construction, so there weren’t many people there. Some were injured, but no one was seriously hurt.”

“And it’s a good thing you weren’t there, Dapflen. No matter what, life comes first!”

“Ha… ha.”

I flopped back down.

Only then did Martha let out a small, regretful gasp, and Oliver kept muttering “oh dear” before leaving.

‘This has to be a dream, right?’

Let’s sleep again.

When I wake up, I’ll definitely say, “Thank goodness it was just a dream.”

 

 

****

 

 

“Is this place full too?”

“So many buildings were damaged this time. Try somewhere else.”

I’d hoped desperately, but it wasn’t a dream. After facing reality, I was now searching for a place to stay.

There was temporary aid money for those who lost their quarters—but it was barely enough to buy a few snacks.

‘Am I supposed to buy snacks and sleep on the wrappers?’

Finding a decent place with that money was nearly impossible.

Even worse, while I’d been unconscious, people who’d already lost their homes to landslides had snatched up almost everything available. It was like trying to get a holiday train ticket during peak season.

And at that level, the best I could find was—

“How about this room, miss?”

“Isn’t there… another room?”

“Nope.”

A shabby room where you probably wouldn’t even notice if the wall collapsed while you slept.

“Are you sure there’s nothing else? Not even one?”

“Nope. Try somewhere else.”

This was the sixteenth real estate office I’d visited—and the last one. If there was nothing here, there was really nothing.

“I’ll… take it.”

Staring blankly at the run-down room that made me feel sick just looking at it, I swallowed my tears and prepared to hand over my snack money.

That evening, after sending apology telegrams to the areas where my house-call appointments had been canceled, I moved into the room for the first time.

“…You know, it’s better than I thought?”

I lied to myself.

“The wooden walls look antique!”

Even if the wood did look a bit rotten.

“It’s cozy! I bet I’ll sleep great here. This is basically a five-star hotel!”

Well, more like minus five stars.

Still, having a place to lie down was something. I wasn’t in a position to be picky, so I had no choice but to accept it.

“Hoo…”

Turning off the light and lying down was nice—at least I couldn’t see how bad the room looked anymore.

Let’s just pretend it’s the quarters. Sure, the hard sheet seems to say, “No it’s not,” but I’ll ignore that much.

Lying there, all kinds of thoughts came to mind.

I’d lived such a busy life that I’d rarely reflected on myself, but lately I’d been lost in thought more often. Now that I knew how my story went in the original work, it was basically like being given a second life.

Things couldn’t stay the same as before.

‘Is this what it’s like to know the future?’

Did Ehit think like this too when he learned the future? Did he struggle, worrying about what to change?

Then again, “desperately struggling” didn’t suit him at all. He’d probably just change the future with ease.

‘Has Ehit ever regretted anything?’

He was outstanding in every basic way, and on top of that he knew the future. It almost seemed harder for him to create regrets.

‘What a lucky guy…’

Thinking that, I fell asleep. The bed was hard, but I was exhausted enough to sleep anywhere.

If I’d known who I’d meet the next day, I might not have slept so easily.

“Is your place okay, Dapflen?”

While walking around the plaza with my medical institute colleagues, Oliver suddenly asked.

At the mention of my lodging, my expression darkened instantly. Everyone else’s eyes wavered.

“Y-Yeah. It’s… livable.”

At my answer, Oliver burst out laughing and said that was a relief. He offered comfort at about one-sixteenth strength, saying that even if the world collapses, there’s always a way out.

Still, my face kept growing darker.

Then suddenly, Martha grabbed her trembling gaze and spoke.

“Um—by the way, Dapflen, you looked… good?”

“…Me?”

Was there anything about me that looked good?

Nothing came to mind, which made me nervous that something had happened without me realizing.

“With Colonel Cloyden, I mean. He stayed by your side all dawn, and he was so gentle.”

“Exactly. They say he’s cold and sharp, but maybe not with you, Dapflen?”

Eden, the youngest at the institute, chimed in too.

They all seemed to be trying, in their own way, to cheer me up with kind words.

“Ha ha… yeah…”

I forced a smile and stepped forward a bit faster. At this rate, they might summon Ehit right here.

‘They say a true master smiles more the sadder they are…’

While I struggled not to look like a complete amateur, the road stretching from the plaza led to a seaside promenade.

With the blue sea behind it, I could see a harbor full of white ships at anchor. The weather was nice, and along the coastal road, shops had set up outdoor stalls with various goods.

“Does it really grant wishes?”

“Of course. One costs one Hark.”

What caught my fellow healers’ attention was a wish bracelet.

‘Selling superstitions like this…’

Apparently, if you put it on the person you want to grant your wish, they’ll fulfill it without realizing.

Who would believe something like that?

“I’ll take one. Wait—do I only need one?”

…I believe.