Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Fake Lady, Real Lady. (4)
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How should I answer that?
I mulled it over for a moment as I took a sip of coffee. It carried a fragrance befitting the brew offered by a lady—one so rich it left my mind feeling pleasantly foggy.
"It's all right. Please, speak freely."
Abera spoke with such conviction in her voice that I found myself opening up honestly.
"She's not in good shape."
Not good? It was downright serious.
She'd tried to stab the man in front of her without a second thought and had been about to masturbate while steeped in drugs. No, she actually had.
And now, she was in even worse shape. Her personal physician—a total stranger—had sated her lust without giving her any drugs. Just thinking about Dia stirred up a whirlwind of complications in my head.
"Could you tell me more?"
Abera's follow-up snapped me out of my stray thoughts. I cleared my throat with a cough and replied.
"I'll answer any specific questions you have."
Abera hummed thoughtfully, rolling her eyes before fixing her gaze on me again.
"Then first, have you gotten close to Dia at all?"
"We haven't even exchanged greetings, let alone chatted."
Abera let out a refined chuckle, like "pfuhuhu."
"I see. That's just how she is. Let me apologize on her behalf."
"No need. There's no reason for you, Miss Abera, or even Miss Dia to apologize. She's just a sick patient."
"Mm... You're such a good man, Mr. Ganeghan."
As she said it, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. The corners of her mouth curved into a subtle smile.
[Valcun: Awakening Effect]
[Sao: Pleasure Mechanism Enhancement]
[Semi: Sedative Effect]
"What drug is Dia craving right now? Valcun? Sao? Semi?"
Abera named the narcotics common in this world, and drug descriptions popped up before my eyes unbidden.
Considering Dia's pursuit of physical pleasure, it was probably Sao.
"She was asking for Sao."
"Mm. I see."
Abera paused, swallowing a sip with an audible gulp.
Was she savoring the coffee's flavor? She wore a faintly bitter smile for a moment before breaking into laughter and speaking again.
"Then you could have given her Sao. Why the sleeping pill instead?"
I took a sip of my own coffee before answering. A bittersweet, sweet tang lingered in my mouth.
"I'm a doctor, not a broker. Handing drugs to a young lady who wants them isn't treatment."
"Wow..."
Abera widened her doe-like eyes, as if caught off guard by the response.
Then, as if genuinely pleased, she leaned subtly toward me.
A picture-perfect lady gazed at me intently. I couldn't read her intentions, and amid the beauty, it felt a touch overwhelming.
"That's a relief. It seems we've finally found a doctor right for Dia."
Her voice brimmed with excitement, yet she maintained her ingrained poise.
"...But what now? It only makes me feel more sorry."
Her hand reached toward my face—a sudden move. Her fingers gently brushed the cut under my eye.
"This was Dia too, wasn't it?"
"It's fine."
"I knew it. I'm sorry."
Abera's face fell a little as she murmured.
Whether it was her sister or herself, the name "Menesil" attached to it was unavoidable. She must have her own burdens.
With plenty left to say, her eyes grew misty as she continued.
"Dia used to be such a good girl. She followed me so well."
Until moments ago, there'd been no sign of it, but mentioning Dia made the lady look weary.
"That's why I brought her to this annex. I thought I was working hard and taking good care of her. I believed it was all balanced... but apparently not."
Her already stunning features shone even brighter, paradoxically, with the dampness gathering at her eyes.
"How lonely and tough must it have been for her to turn to drugs... It still breaks my heart thinking about it. Just imagining her pain tears me apart."
Before the tears could spill, I carefully offered the handkerchief from my pocket.
A rough plaid one, unfit for a lady. But it was the polite thing to do.
"Ahaha, thank you. To act like this in front of someone I just met... Why am I like this?"
"It's fine."
Abera accepted it graciously and dabbed her eyes.
After a brief silence, I spoke cautiously.
"Aren't you doing well, Miss Abera? All the servants respect and trust you."
"Hehe... True. That's why it's hard sometimes."
She shook her head lightly and went on.
"Sometimes I get silly and lost in fantasies. Like how nice it would be if there were magic drugs that boosted energy without side effects. Muttering things like that. Pretty foolish, right?"
"Not foolish at all."
"Oh, come on. You can be honest. There are no such things as energy boosters without side effects. They all demand a huge price... They took my sister's life. That's weird—I keep spilling my heart to a stranger..."
Her expression looked so heartbreaking.
Unthinkingly, I rummaged in my coat's inner pocket. I'd luckily had a sleeping pill for Dia.
No such luck this time, but since she voiced that fantasy, I felt bold enough to entertain my own foolish imagining.
What if truly good drugs were in my coat pocket...?
'What?'
I let out a dumb little sound.
Something really was in there. No time to hesitate—I pulled it out.
From the inner pocket came a vial filled with clear liquid.
[Manufactured Drug]
[Vitality: - 0 +]
[Sensitivity: - 0 +]
[Side Effects: -0+]
What was this? The question only lasted a moment. I understood right away.
The game's functions were still attached to me. Back when I played, I couldn't tweak those values and struggled, but now it was different.
Yeah. With my medical knowledge stats near max, things had changed. I mentally set the vitality to around 10.
[Vitality: 10]
It changed!
As expected. Just as I'd hoped, the drug's values shifted freely with my will.
Maybe that's why the sleeping pill had been in my pocket? Not impossible. If Alfred had checked thoroughly, this function explained it perfectly.
'A drug without side effects.' I pondered silently.
I wished there was one that just boosted energy. Like magic. That's what Abera had said. But with this ability? It might not be impossible.
"Mr. Ganeghan...?"
Abera eyed me suspiciously.
Well, yeah. Ignoring the conversation to rummage in my pocket and gasp like that would raise eyebrows for anyone.
I left side effects and sensitivity at zero, bumping vitality to 10.
And what I was about to say next? That would deepen her doubts even more.
"I have just the drug you're imagining. Want to try it?"
"...Pardon?"
Naturally, Abera looked flustered by the offer. Her doe eyes blinked rapidly as she swept her hair back repeatedly.
"What can I say? Hearing that makes me feel like the patient all of a sudden."
Her words made me realize how foolish I'd been.
"Ah, forget it. My apologies."
"No."
A sharp clink echoed, rattling the teacups on the desk.
Something else had been placed there.
A snow-white arm—Abera's.
"I spilled my symptoms first, in detail. And you say such a drug really exists? I'm curious now."
Light returned to her golden eyes, shadowed by melancholy. Her arm, like porcelain veiled in silk, was so flawless it barely seemed real flesh.
And she was entrusting it to me.
"But!"
As our sudden treatment agreement neared sealing, Abera smiled and added one condition.
"...Injection. Make it not hurt, okay?"