Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Fool Who Only Knows Patients, Dodo - 1
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Dodo.
I had to find the foolish bird, Dodo.
'Still in the same spot as before, huh.'
And it wasn't hard at all. I reached her place in no time.
Knock knock—
As I knocked, the wooden door creaked open cautiously.
Peeking out was a woman who looked incredibly gloomy.
Her brown bangs nearly covered her eyes, her legs and gaze fidgeting restlessly. Anyone would think she was shady at first glance.
"Wh-who are you? Wh-what do you want?"
Right. She always stuttered.
Her nickname, Foolish Bird, came to mind again.
She really was an idiot.
But it wasn't the kind of stupidity that meant low intelligence.
She was the type who never considered what she needed to do to survive, stubbornly sticking to her beliefs. That was Dodo.
This building looked like a rundown general store, but it was actually a clinic. One that treated drug addicts.
She was secretly helping patients from Wonderland's fentanyl territory, dodging Ellis's watchful eyes.
"It's Florian, you idiot."
Others might call her a fool for her stutter, but I thought it was because she cared more about others than herself.
Who would've thought I'd have business with this fool?
People really do live long enough to see all sorts. Or in my case, maybe die once first.
"Eh... Fr-from Ellis Manor... a servant?"
She scanned my outfit up and down, visibly flustered. I calmly replied.
"Nope."
"But your clothes..."
"Woke up wearing them."
"......?"
Dodo stared at me with eyes full of utter confusion.
I pondered how much to explain, then decided to just do things my way.
"I'm going to treat every drug addict in this territory. You're in charge."
"Wh-what? Suddenly...?"
Through her messy bangs, I could see her eyes spinning wildly. She stuttered a few more times before continuing.
"D-did I miss a delivery? I swear the potions and hides were exactly the right amount..."
"No more deliveries of that stuff."
"Huh?"
"Ellis Manor won't make drugs anymore. It'll produce medicine to treat people instead."
Her face stayed blank, like she couldn't process it.
"S-sorry, but why are you doing this... Seriously, why...? I don't know anything... D-did I do something to anger Lady Ellis?"
"No. Ellis won't touch you anymore. I'll make sure of that."
"Oh... Ar-are you a patient? Did you do drugs?"
I let out a deep sigh. Talking it out wasn't working.
"Just move."
I could've shoved her aside, but I didn't. Unlike Ellis, this one was honest.
As I gently pushed past, she grabbed both my arms.
"W-wait a sec. Make it clear. Are you a servant? A patient? Or something else? I c-can't let you in without checking."
"Name's Florian. The man who ousted Ellis and will wipe drugs from this territory."
"...You're a patient, then."
"Think whatever you want."
I brushed her off by force and stepped inside the store. Without hesitation, I headed up the stairs.
"W-wait, wait! That's the storage room! Opening doors randomly can ruin the p-potions or spoil them. D-don't!"
"Want to be a patient too?"
"...Huh?"
"Nothing."
Bang—
The door swung open to reveal about a dozen beds arranged at even intervals. Pale-faced patients lay on each one.
Dodo dropped to her knees.
"S-sorry! It's all my fault. Just l-let these patients live, please."
"I was going to anyway."
I placed my hand on the neck of the nearest patient by the door as I replied.
Obviously, his condition was bad.
Sweat poured like rain, his skin bluish. How cheap was the drug he took to be this dehydrated?
Activating the stigma was simple again. The moment I willed it abstractly, my thoughts soared high.
"...Ugh!"
A tingling sensation raced up my arm and through my body.
"Haaah!"
The unconscious man grabbed my arm with both hands and started thrashing. I ignored it, pouring more stigma power into him.
"St-stop! Kill me instead. Please!"
By the time Dodo desperately grabbed me and shouted that...
"Hoooh!"
The man's breathing stabilized.
His bluish skin regained its natural color. Dodo's eyes went wide.
"Wh-what...?"
"Told you. I'd save them."
The twelve patients now slept peacefully. Dodo brought two cups of tea and spoke.
"...I was really shocked. What was that power?"
"Restoration Stigma."
"I-I see. First time seeing it for real... But it's as amazing as they say."
"Of course it is."
When I got betrayed and dumped, dodging with this thing was hell.
Crossing continents... Ugh, hate thinking about it. I stopped.
"Huh?"
Dodo suddenly tilted her head.
"...Come to think of it, Restoration Stigma? I heard it only fills through physical relations... Is that it?"
"What're you mumbling about?"
"Oh, n-nothing."
She cleared her throat and continued.
"Anyway, thanks for offering to help. B-but if you have a plan, I'd like to hear the details first."
"Sure. Answer one thing first if you want details."
"Wh-what?"
"Would you do anything for your patients?"
"Yes. Anything."
I nodded as she did.
Her feelings for the patients were genuine.
'Thinking about it, Dodo got her limbs torn off and head hung on a roof.'
If her words were lies, she wouldn't have suffered that. No doubting this answer.
"Good. Down to business."
I shifted to a serious tone.
"First off, you know treating patients one by one with the stigma isn't ideal, right?"
"Y-yes. I'm worried about that too."
Dodo nodded.
"If drug addicts recover in a day, we'll get caught eventually. Wonderland's not that blind."
"Exactly. That's why you have to do it yourself, Dodo."
"Me...?"
"We'll make antidotes at Ellis Manor and distribute them secretly. Use them to keep treating people like you do now."
Dodo's head tilted slightly.
"Th-that sounds great, but is it really possible? We're not some organization that can stand against Wonderland."
"That organization is being built right now. By you and me."
"An or-organization...?"
"Yeah. We already took Ellis Manor. The rest is easy. We'll manage the whole Wonder Fentanyl territory."
"The population is qu-quite large. Will everyone accept it?"
"Give them an offer they can't refuse. No excessive demands, kids go to the academy, protection from outsiders."
Dodo listened intently, more serious than anyone.
She mulled over every word, then finally asked.
"That's cool. B-but one question..."
"What?"
"I want the people we help to remember you. No organization name?"
"Organization name, huh."
Did we need one? But I didn't ponder long.
"Elbalom."
Dodo repeated it a few times, then beamed.
"The 'El' from healing goddess Elisis, 'Bal' from paradise Valhalla, 'om' from justice god Romhark? I l-love it."
"Hm."
Short for Elfriede Shitbalom.
I left the store, leaving Dodo moved behind.
I'd gotten her promise to cooperate. Handle Ellis Manor right, switch drugs to antidotes, and we're good.
Time to head home and sort my thoughts...
'Oh, right.'
I don't have a home. Yeah, that tracks.
Whatever. Ellis Manor is my place now. As I took a step toward it...
"Hey."
A rude voice hit my ears. I knew it was aimed at me right away.
Three men in black robes blocked my path.
On their shoulders were tiny hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds lined up.
'Wonderland.'
Ran into Wonderland goons sooner than expected. Ellis said they shouldn't show this fast.
Whatever.
"What."
"What?"
The three men chuckled in unison.
"Heard Ellis got a Wonderland fiancé. But our orders didn't mention that."
"So."
"Impersonating? We'll kill you here. Not? Show Wonderland proof."
Wonderland proof.
It could be a physical token or a passphrase. Changes per mission.
Even low-ranks don't get punished for not recognizing superiors. That's Wonderland's structure.
So their reaction was natural. Natural, but...
I thought for a moment.
"You got proof?"
"Obviously, asshole. Don't dodge."
Got it. They have proof.
I nodded happily without thinking. Then added,
"Thanks."