Chapter 23
Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Back on My Feet
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I tried standing on tiptoes. There was a faint ache, but no trouble moving.
I twisted my upper body this way and that to check it out. My left hand didn't grip as strongly as before, but the healer had said it would recover quickly, so I decided not to worry.
"Meal."
I ate the food the man named Guchi brought. The guy who delivered the meals was annoyingly taciturn. "Meal"—that was the only word I'd ever heard from him.
Most people coming and going here were tight-lipped. Sometimes I wondered if they could even speak.
"The less injured one—how's today?"
After I finished eating, the healer came in like always.
The old healer, with every hair from his crown to his chin snow-white, called me "the less injured one" and Perrun, who'd lost a leg, "the more injured one."
Even if I told him my name was Guchi, it didn't matter. His response was that he didn't care about the name of some guy he'd never see again.
"Very good. The pain in my leg is almost gone too."
"You've got a naturally sturdy build, so you're healing well. You and the more injured one should both be able to head home today."
"How's Perrun?"
"He'll be here soon. With a nicely fitted prosthetic leg. Better this way, honestly. If he'd lost it before fully grown, you'd have to readjust the settings every time he aged—headache waiting to happen."
I'd grown used to the healer's casual brutality. His mouth was foul, but his medicine was masterful. That was why his near-curses didn't grate.
"When you leave, repeat what the kids downstairs taught you like a parrot. You were attacked by a wild beast, not a magical beast. The amputation was unavoidable due to venom spread. Treatment was arranged through someone the branch chief knows."
"I've got it memorized down to my sleep-talking. No worries."
"The moment you breathe a word about this place, you know what happens? You've probably heard it a million times."
"Yes. I'll keep my mouth shut for life. Can't die, after all."
"Good, good. What's good is good."
The healer approached and began examining my hands and feet, prodding my elbows and knees with a blue-tinged metal rod before pressing gold plates etched with strange patterns against various spots on my body.
"Prognosis is good—no need to worry."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I'm just following orders."
The healer handed me a paper envelope. I took it and peered inside. White powder.
"Take a bit every night before bed for a week after you leave. Eyeball the doses."
"What's this?"
"Medicine. Prevents possible infections, so take it. Or toss it if it's a hassle. Once you're out of here, you're not my problem—pus or no pus."
The healer blew his nose into a handkerchief and stood to leave. Alone in the room, Guchi carefully tucked the white powder into his inner pocket.
Unknown ingredients, but no harm in following orders.
"Feels weird."
Perrun had returned. No crutches today. Looked like he'd gotten used to the prosthetic.
"Can you walk okay?"
"So-so. The ankle joint feels a bit stiff, but they said it'll loosen up with use."
Perrun sat on the bed and propped his prosthetic leg on a chair.
Flesh he'd lived with all his life was gone, replaced by a lump of dark metal. Top-quality prosthetic or not, it had to feel off.
"They say it's worth years of my wages. Looks expensive, that's for sure. Worth it?"
Perrun said, stroking the prosthetic.
"If money gets tight later, sell it."
Guchi gave a wry smile.
"I've been here days now, but still can't get used to it. Who'd think a place like this was under our sleepy village? No one'd believe it if I told them outside."
"They'd say you hit your head."
Controlled environment—no real look outside—but I'd glimpsed things moving with the healer.
Magic-engineered items rare as hen's teeth were scattered like farm tools. High-tech under a backwater village? Who'd buy that?
"Truth be told, I thought we'd never get out."
Perrun said.
"Me too, at first. We'd seen what we shouldn't."
"When the branch chief showed up smiling, I wondered what was up. How'd a guy like that end up here? In charge, no less. Did you know?"
He leaned against the wall.
"The Bank I knew spent more days boozing than at the guild hall. No secrets, easygoing, good drinking buddy—that's what I thought."
"Everyone in the village probably thinks the same."
The magical beast blow still stung when Bank's true face emerged. True face—just branch chief here—but it dazed me.
Thought he was open-book honest, top to toe. All fake.
"What the hell is Bank, anyway?"
Perrun lay back on the bed.
"He said he handles minor imperial errands. Probably that."
"Some lifelong-unseen high noble?"
"Maybe."
"Big trouble. Owe him quite a bit from all he's covered."
"Pay him back the second we're out."
We traded dumb jokes when the door opened. Bank entered, healer in tow.
"Both cleared for normal life."
"Thanks for the trouble."
"Trouble? Grateful just to use this old codger."
The healer bowed politely and left. Even his foul mouth went meek before Bank.
"How's it feel? Custom-fitted, y'know."
"Ah, yes. Feels like my own leg. Thank you."
Perrun straightened up to reply. Bank twitched an eye and looked at him.
"Did I piss this guy off? Suddenly keeping distance—awkward."
"Didn't know? Perrun hates your guts."
"So that's why he bolted whenever I offered a drink."
Guchi joked to Bank, then eyed Perrun. Perrun flashed an awkward smile, sighed, and spoke.
"Yeah, sorry. I kinda hated you. Happy?"
Tension in the room finally eased. Bank grabbed a chair and sat.
"I get what you're thinking. Confusing, worrying—who wouldn't be? Facing this. Hell, I'm awkward too."
Bank rubbed his chin.
"Never thought we'd meet like this. Lifetime role: drinks with Guchi post-hunt, girl-talk; meals with Perrun griping about wife then bragging kids..."
"All an act?"
Guchi asked Bank.
"I'm human too. Some say less than machine, but feelings? Got 'em. Started for convenience—better buddy up with locals to operate here. But time and bonds are scary. I genuinely like and care for you both."
"Music to my ears."
"This is real. Otherwise, you'd be in Alpecia camp by now. Long stay."
Bank rolled his eyes side to side, then flashed his trademark roguish grin—joking. Guchi felt a chill down his spine.
"Not entirely funny."
"Didn't happen, so joke's fine, yeah?"
"Never gladder to call you friend. Hope we stay that way."
"Keep the secrecy oath to the letter, and we're eternal pals. Back to boozing and bullshit all night."
"You trust us? Mouths might itch, spread rumors."
Bank crossed arms, furrowed brows like deep thought.
"Maybe. Humans don't always toe the line. If so, I'd sadly order penalty fees for breach."
Guchi rubbed his nape unconsciously.
"My ask to go back to normal might be too much. Losing two drinking buddies sucks, but if you're uncomfortable, keep distance."
Guchi met Bank's eyes. Truth or lie? No telling. The Bank he knew and this one? Strangers.
"These days taught me: no one trustworthy."
"Sorry. The guy in front ain't reliable."
"But looking back, I never trusted you bone-deep. Felt some shady corner lurking."
"Hunter's eye, huh. Still drank with the shady bastard?"
"I'm no saint. Perrun neither."
Guchi smiled old-style, offered hand. Bank gripped it.
"From now on, you buy drinks, Bank. Got more cash than us two."
"When'd I not?"
Guchi squeezed lightly, released.
"What about Lander? Here like us?"
Curious about his savior. Asked healer a few times—got "worry about yourself."
"Told him plain and sent him off. Ex-military—knows secrecy cold. No education needed like you two."
"I see."
The man who'd raced in impossibly fast, slew the beast one-shot. No way lowly grunt. Maybe tied to Bank.
"Know Lander?"
"Me? High status—don't pal with just anyone."
"Joke or real? Can't tell."
"What's identity matter? You survived magical beast, I saved friends while keeping secrets. Enough?"
Placation and warning. No gain prying, can't anyway. Guchi nodded agreement.
"Like you say—most important."
Bank clapped once, stood.
"Sorry for the stay. Time to see loved ones. Perrun, you especially owe me. Calming Ans? You'd cry knowing."
Perrun grinned loose at wife mention. Couldn't fully rewind to ignorance, but drinking buddies? Viable.
"Shall we breathe fresh air?"
Bank said, opening door.
* * *
"Stop crying. This thing's pricier than my leg—way better."
Perrun barely soothed sobbing Ans, cracked joke—Ans pinched his arm, calling him senseless.
"Truly grateful, branch chief."
"What'd I do? Head home, rest. I'll cover duties awhile—take good care of Perrun."
After Perrun couple left, Bank brushed off, said he had business. Guchi asked about Lander as Bank turned. "Your inn," Bank replied.
Met Lander en route to inn. Backpack over one shoulder.
"You look healed."
"Thanks to you. Leaving today?"
"Yes."
"Got time? Wanna talk."
"Sure. Time before departure."
"Lewis's shop? Say goodbye."
"Was planning to."
Lander smiled with eyes. Guchi walked side-by-side to the shop.