Chapter 25

Immediately, Hairo dragged Riko, who was barely conscious with a high fever, and brought her in.

Though she seemed to be conscious, Riko was dazed and barely responsive, slumping over the counter.

"Three-day fever."

"What...!?"

Gustav touched Riko's neck, asked Hairo a few questions, and then concluded.

"Three-day fever...! Isn't that a potentially fatal disease!? What should we do...?"

Gustav sighed and turned his eyes away from the panicked Hairo.

"Medicine, m-medicine!"

"Three silver coins."

Hairo, who was frantically asking for medicine, was calmly told by Gustav. Hairo was speechless at the words spoken over his shoulder.

"I don't have three silver coins!? Hey, old man, I'll do anything, please help...!"

"Anything, huh? Then bring me gold. Or something equivalent."

"I don't have that either! That's why I'm asking you!"

There was no room for negotiation.

"Excuse me,"

Unable to hold back, I spoke up.

Hairo looked at me as if he had just remembered I was there. Gustav turned around reluctantly.

"Would it be impossible to go to a clinic?"

Even without medicine, it would be fine if we could get her treated. There was no fixed donation amount, so Hairo could just pay what he could.

"It won't work."

Gustav easily dismissed that idea.

"There's no way a healer would treat a kid from the slums. They'll see you as an easy target, turn you away, and that's the end of it. Even if they do treat her, they'll do a half-hearted job and say, 'It didn't work.'"

"But, I—"

"When it was your turn, they knew Telet was on duty. He would treat you. I even assigned Nixky to make sure you'd be fine even if Telet wasn't there. With an adult around, they won't turn you away, and Nixky can use his judgment if something happens."

"That's true..."

Nixky had indeed said that she treats people from the slums without discrimination, and she was one of the few who did in this city. However, if having an adult around made a difference, there was still a way.

"Then, if not Nixky, could we hire someone else?"

"That won't work either. Or rather, it's meaningless."

He immediately shot it down and pointed at Hairo with his thumb, saying in a disappointed tone.

"Do you think this guy can afford to hire someone?"

Indeed, that was true.

"Can you afford anything?"

Suddenly put on the spot, Hairo frantically shook his head.

"No, no, no, it's impossible."

"That's the case."

Gustav frowned in dissatisfaction.

"If you had the money to hire someone, you could just buy the medicine. There's no need to bring an adult and go to a clinic."

"That's true, but—"

Something still didn't sit right with me.

The air in the room grew heavy. No one had any more suggestions. The two children had no way to help Riko. Gustav, who had the power to help, had no intention of doing so. He was truly a businessman.

"...I understand..."

Hairo spoke softly.

"I just need to earn some money, right? It's been tough lately because of the strange rumors and increased vigilance, but I'll just have to resort to pickpocketing again. I understand. I'll figure something out."

With that, he helped Riko to her feet and started to walk out. They left the shop without looking back.

Once they were gone, the shop became quiet. I could have left, but I felt uneasy.

Unable to bear the silence, I spoke up.

"You could have helped them."

"Huh?"

Gustav raised his head with a look of annoyance, his usual expressionless face.

"They're regular customers. Couldn't you have helped them a little?"

"I would if it seemed profitable."

Though he said it weakly, I knew it was the truth.

"I'm not a saint. If it seems like I can make money, I'll invest. You should be more like that. You made a fortune, after all."

He drained the water from a small bottle and shook it to let the last drops fall into his mouth.

"You said you got lucky. That's true. You are lucky. So don't put other people on the same level as you. Everyone has their own value. You have value, but they don't. People should live according to their status."

"I see..."

I couldn't argue.

I left the shop and went to look for the two of them. I just couldn't stop thinking about them.

In reality, Hairo was probably the only one taking action. Riko was likely resting somewhere. Their range of movement in this slum was limited, and Riko was probably sleeping at their base. I decided to go there first.

"Excuse me."

I called out and opened the half-ruined door. The single-room shack was covered in dust and spider webs. I carefully stepped onto the floor, which looked like it could collapse at any moment, and found Riko lying there.

Her breathing was rough, her face flushed, and she was delirious with fever.

"Ugh..."

Despite trying to be quiet, Riko must have sensed my presence and opened her eyes.

"Hey... Hairo isn't here..."

She raised her hand weakly and smiled.

"We met at the shop earlier... Hairo isn't here...?"

"No, no, that's not it. I came to visit you."

I had come without any gifts, but seeing her like this made me worried.

Three-day fever is indeed a deadly disease. But for those who can afford treatment, it's just a slightly severe and highly contagious cold. However, this is the slum. There are no savings for prevention, and few can afford the substantial amount needed for treatment. Everyone just survives each year by luck.

"I didn't bring any gifts, so I'll use what I have. I'll make an ice pillow."

I froze a bag of drinking water and wrapped it in a rag. I then placed it under Riko's head.

"Ah, this is nice."

She smiled slightly and placed her hand, which had a few bug bites, on the pillow.

"Ice can be used like this. It's a luxury..."

She seemed to doze off after that and fell asleep.

There was nothing more I could do by staying. I stood up and went outside to look for Hairo.