“Finn, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
Seeing the scrawny, half-dead child from back then now grown so tall and sturdy filled me with unexpected pride. If the real Astrid could see this, how overjoyed she would have been.
“It seems you two are already acquainted. You can catch up later… This is the new child. Rodant, go with Finn. He’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”
But Rodant still clung stubbornly to the hem of my dress, refusing to let go. Clearly he didn’t want to be separated from me. Ah, my sweet, adorable Rodant.
“Rodant, go on. There will be lots of friends your age.”
I patted his back gently and spoke as kindly as I could. Only then did Rodant shuffle forward hesitantly, following Finn with small, reluctant steps.
“You knew Finn?” Richard asked. “That boy is in charge of looking after the newly arrived children.”
At his words, I rummaged through the hazy fragments of Astrid’s memories, frantically searching for the page on Finn.
“I took care of him briefly six years ago. He was twelve back then, so… he must be eighteen now. He’s grown so much.”
I managed—barely—to recall the exact timing and his age. Good job, me!
Yet when Richard heard my answer, his expression turned strangely subtle. What was that look? If only I could borrow Jin’s near-mind-reading ability right now.
“…I thought perhaps we had come to the wrong person. The rumors painted a very different picture. It seems I was rude earlier.”
Richard said quietly.
This guy—why did he keep jabbing at my sore spots? So what he was really saying was that I didn’t match the saintly image the rumors had built up?
“Rumors always get a little embellished, don’t they? Ho ho ho.”
I covered my mouth lightly and let out a dainty laugh, playing the modest lady. Richard gave a single, incredulous huff of laughter at the performance, then continued leading the way.
“This will be your room, Teacher Obert.”
It was a small chamber right next to Jin’s. Compared to his quarters it was modest, but it had a spacious bed, a decent desk, and—most importantly—a bookshelf crammed full of medical texts.
‘I’m going to have to throw all those medical books out.’
They were undoubtedly filled with nonsense about humoral balance—phlebotomy to drain “bad blood,” cauterizing wounds with hot irons or boiling oil. Absolute garbage. Perfect kindling, nothing more.
The best feature by far was the attached bathroom, unmistakably modern in design. That toilet, sink, bathtub… I turned the faucets on and off in a daze of delight, marveling at the hot and cold water flowing freely.
This was the thing I had missed most since arriving in this world. The simple bliss of a hot shower. After the prison, where proper washing had been impossible, it felt like paradise.
“But… how exactly does this plumbing system work?”
I couldn’t hold back the question any longer. Richard went quiet for a long moment.
“…I’ll arrange for you to meet our technician later. You can ask him directly.”
I had to bite back a laugh. This guy had no idea, did he? He was just bluffing because he didn’t know either.
After that, I was introduced to several more people. The first was an older woman with kind, weathered features.
“This is Betty. She’s in charge of the kitchens here in the underground city.”
Ohhh—so this was the person responsible for Jin’s meals. I immediately launched into detailed questions about his diet.
“Lately the leader has almost no appetite. He skips meals more often than not. We force a few spoonfuls down him, telling him he has to eat to get better, but…”
Betty’s face was etched with deep worry.
Exactly as I’d suspected. Sigh. Jin, you idiot. You were hastening your own death.
“From now on, please consult with me before preparing Jin’s meals.”
My medical knowledge might be patchy at best, but when it came to ingredients and nutrition, few people in this world could match me. Years spent researching every possible additive and “superfood” for new snack product development had turned me into something of an expert.
Ugh. Who would have thought my soul-crushing corporate life would prove useful here.
“The new attending physician is incredibly attentive.”
Betty looked genuinely moved. Apparently none of the previous doctors had ever bothered asking about Jin’s food. Idiots. The foundation of treating any illness begins with what goes into the mouth.
Next came the general workers who cleaned Jin’s room.
“Change the bedsheets every two days. Curtains at least once a week… Oh, and please wipe down everything near the bed with strong alcohol several times.”
Sterilization wasn’t possible, but basic disinfection was non-negotiable. When I laid out the instructions with strict precision, everyone stared at me as though I had turned into a germaphobe overnight.
‘I’m telling you, for a patient whose immunity is this compromised, dirt is literal poison. I’m not being fussy for no reason!’
I wanted to shout it in frustration, but what could I do?
Finally, Richard led me to what looked like a research laboratory.
“This is the shared workspace for our alchemists and technicians. Go on in.”
Heart pounding with anticipation, I stepped inside.
“Rick. Louie.”
At Richard’s call, a young man and woman—both appearing to be in their early twenties—approached.
“This is Rick, our alchemist.”
Richard gestured first to the striking young man with silver hair and vivid purple eyes. That appearance… and the name Rick… it felt vaguely familiar, yet I was certain I had never encountered it in the original novel.
“…Rick? Rika’s older brother?”
The name suddenly clicked, and I covered my mouth in surprise.
Rika was the girl Astrid—meaning I—had been unable to save. Five years ago, in the depths of winter, the memory of watching that frail orphan girl slip away still burned clearly in my mind.
“Teacher Obert…”
It seemed the underground city was full of children Astrid had once rescued. I had barely arrived and already encountered two of them.
Rika had been only eleven when she passed. Remembering the heartbroken expression on Rick’s face as he lost his little sister made my chest ache.
“Have you been well?”
“…Yes. And you, Teacher?”
“Yes.”
After the brief exchange of greetings, an unbearably awkward silence settled over us. Richard and the woman named Louie shifted uncomfortably, glancing between us.
“…Well, I should head back. I have some matters to discuss with Jin.”
Richard broke the tension and made a swift exit.
Running away, are we, Richard? Honestly, I want to run too. Ugh.
