episode_0055

When I opened my eyes again.

My head spun, and I vomited. Since I hadn’t eaten anything anyway, only clear saliva came out.

“Ugh…” I barely managed to stand, leaning against the wall. My pants were sticky, stained with blood. I thought it was blood from my arm, but it wasn’t. It was menstrual blood.

“Ugh.” I gasped for breath, still leaning against the wall. Even breathing was difficult. There was nothing to eat. Nothing to drink. It was strange. Everything overflowed in this city. Yet I couldn’t even touch it.

“It hurts…” The merchant’s prophecy was correct. He said I would die within a week. At the time, I wondered why I would die. I thought it was a ridiculous thing to say. But he was precisely right.

“Ritsu…” If I die here, Ritsu will die too, right? Ritsu is lying on a sickbed, waiting for me to return. But what… what am I doing here right now?

I have to do something. I have to kill the merchant, steal his money and medicine, and send it to Ritsu. Then, even if I die, at least Ritsu can live.

I looked beside me. The knife that had stabbed my arm last night lay there. I instinctively reached for it, then startled, I recoiled my fingers. Me… killing someone? Did I really just think of such a horrifying plan without any guilt? I think… I’m going crazy. It doesn’t feel like me.

Stagger, stagger. I went out onto the street. I had lost my way. I had no purpose. I just wanted to walk aimlessly.

Thud! “Ah…!” Suddenly, a girl darted out and collided with me. The child glanced back at me once, then ran and disappeared beyond the alley.

As I tried to walk forward again. “Thief!” A woman pointed at me and screamed.

“…” “Catch the thief!” A guard, hearing the shouts, rushed towards me. Before I could even explain, my arm was seized, and I was shoved against the wall.

“Got her!” “I, I… it’s not me.” “What nonsense! Is this the one, madam?” “Yes! That’s her!” “No…”

They had no intention of listening to me. I didn’t even know what I was accused of stealing, but I was roughly thrown to the ground. It hurt.

“You’re under arrest. Come quietly.” “I… I didn’t steal anything…” “Then prove it.”

I was speechless. They didn’t even help me when I lost my Rose Shovel. Now they were accusing me of stealing something I hadn’t, and pushing me.

“How…?” “If you have money, you wouldn’t need to steal, so show me your money.” “…”

The guard sneered. “Of course you wouldn’t have any. Come quietly to the prison!”

Handcuffs were placed on my wrists. Before I knew it, people had gathered around. They hurled insults at me, calling me a thieving hussy. How did it come to this? I didn’t understand at all.

The guard grabbed the handcuffs and pulled hard. …I’m finished. Yes. Maybe prison would be better. At least there they’d give me a place to sleep and some bread…

It was the moment I weakly hung my head. “W-wait a minute!” A man suddenly stepped forward and stopped the guard.

“What is it?” “This child… has no, no fault. I’ll prove it.”

Clink. Then he slipped something into the guard’s pocket. The soldier felt the heavy jingle and smiled.

“He’s a good man.” Click. The handcuffs were released. The guard left as if nothing had happened, and the woman who had accused me of being a thief disappeared elsewhere.

My legs gave out, and I sank to the ground. The man who had freed me waddled closer.

“T-Tia. Are you okay?” I knew him. Though he stammered clumsily, had a potbelly like a pig, and a strange odor… This person, who was kinder than anyone.

“…Mister Fosao.” Tears flowed. “Sob. Sob… Sob!” Mister Fosao’s face was so welcome… that my tears burst forth. I kept crying.

“Tia!” This hand stroking my back was also soft and warm… So I cried even more. In this terrifying city where I thought I was abandoned alone. I was truly grateful that there was someone who knew me, helped me, and protected me.

“F-for now, climb on my back, Tia!” “Sob… sob…” I climbed onto his broad back. Mister Fosao’s back was like a cozy bed. It was large and snug. The warm heat healed my bruised heart. The familiar scent made me forget my loneliness.

…It was so comfortable. I ended up falling asleep.

***

I woke up to warmth. It was an inn. I was lying in a bed, and beside the bed, Mister Fosao was dozing off, nodding.

I wondered how to speak to him. Then I simply lightly shook his arm with my fingertips.

“Oh, oh?! T-Tia…?” Mister Fosao quickly wiped his drool.

“You’re awake? Heheheh.” “Yes.”

“H-how’s your body? Are you okay? You look like you’re in a lot of pain…” “…”

“Ahhh-! Th-this is no time for this! I’ve filled the b-bathroom with warm water… If you n-need to, you can go take a bath…”

I immediately headed to the bathroom. Just as Mister Fosao said, the bathtub was full of warm water. I threw off my clothes and lowered myself into the water. Splash.

“Haaah…” It’s warm. Suddenly, I had a thought that I might be dreaming. Perhaps I was still asleep beneath the city walls. If so, I didn’t want to wake up. I wanted to stay like this for a very long time.

“T-Tia?” Mister Fosao’s voice came from beyond the bathroom.

“I b-bought some clothes from outside. They’re in the basket… I’d l-like it if you wore them…” Slide. A basket was pushed through the slightly open crack in the door.

After washing for a long time, I took out the clothes from the basket and tried them on. Thankfully, the new clothes fit me well. I could feel Mister Fosao’s effort to get clothes as similar as possible to the style I usually enjoyed wearing.

When I came out wearing the crisp new clothes, Mister Fosao complimented me, saying they suited me. Before long, a waiter brought in dinner. It was salad, apples, hot grilled mero, warm mushroom soup, and lobster. I ate frantically.

Mister Fosao quietly watched me without touching a single thing. Just as I was finishing every last bite. A private doctor arrived.

He examined my arm and said it was a great relief the wound wasn’t deep, then applied medicine and changed the bandage to a clean one. With my hungry stomach full and the treatment safely completed. It was then that I finally remembered this was Mister Fosao’s room.

I looked around. A single rugged bag. Large clothes strewn here and there. Since Mister Fosao lived alone, of course there was only one bed. And most of all, I could smell the strong body odor remaining on the blanket and pillow.

I see. I… came into Mister Fosao’s room. It was the first time I had entered a room where a man lived alone, other than Ritsu’s.

Mister Fosao asked. “Tia. W-what happened during this time?” “Well…”

I told him everything that had happened since we parted ways. Mister Fosao, who had listened with a serious expression, let out a deep sigh.

“S-so that’s what happened… I’m sorry.” “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about, Mister.” “I sh-should have helped Tia… I’m s-sorry for just leaving.”

“…It’s okay.” I pulled my knees up. After arriving in Deseo, we said our goodbyes, deciding to each do our own work from then on. And as we shook hands, Mister Fosao looked at me with worried eyes.

Even when we struggled to climb the unnamed mountain range and when I was sick. Mister Fosao had that look in his eyes, so I knew. …But Mister Fosao chose to simply part ways. I think I knew why. Because I didn’t like him. Because I hadn’t forgiven him for past events yet, and kept trying to maintain an uncomfortable relationship. Mister Fosao had deliberately kept his distance out of consideration for me. Even up until then.

“I, I… I want to help Tia. The money you need is, is one thousand gold… right?” “Yes.” “Tia. C-can I be honest?”

Mister Fosao was looking directly at me. When I gave a slight nod, he spoke in a serious voice. “…Actually, I, I only have this much.”

Mister Fosao showed me his pocket. Inside were five 10-gold coins. 50 gold… that’s enough living expenses to stay in Deseo for about two weeks.

And yet, Mister Fosao had prepared such luxurious food for me, called a private doctor, and even bought me new clothes. “Mister… why are you doing all this for me? When you don’t even have much money…” “Ah, heheheh. Well-”

Mister Fosao scratched his head. “Money spent on T-Tia… not a s-single bit of it is wasted.” “…”

I quietly buried my chin between my knees. He really is… consistently foolish.

“Now, shall we s-sleep?” “I’ll sleep on the floor. This is your room, Mister.” “No-no. I, I’ll sleep on the floor. Tia’s still sick… I’m u-used to sleeping on the floor. Heheheh.”

Saying that, he plopped himself down on the cold, bare floor. Mister Fosao insisted on the floor, claiming it was more important for me to rest well. In the end, I had the bed all to myself.

Rustle. I pulled the blanket all the way up. A comfortable feeling permeated my body. I took a deep breath once.

It was soft, warm, and smelled like Mister Fosao. Being like this reminded me of the time I slept in the hut, covered by a worn-out coat. I didn’t know if he was awake now. I closed my eyes and whispered with sincerity.

“…Thank you.” There was no reply. I hesitated, wondering what else I should say.

Snore. A snoring sound came from beneath the bed.

“…Heheh.” A laugh escaped me.

Well, I guess it’s okay. There’ll be another chance to express my thanks tomorrow.

Snore! Why was it? Tonight, Mister Fosao’s snoring didn’t seem particularly loud. Instead, listening to that sound made me feel even more at ease. Because I knew the person protecting me… was right beside me. Tonight, I could fall asleep without any worries.

***

The next morning. Mister Fosao put on his coat and said, “Oh, I think I’ll be late today.”

Mister Fosao had originally planned to leave Deseo today. He had only stopped in Deseo briefly for a business contract and said he had finished all his personal errands yesterday. However, after hearing my situation, he changed his plans to stay a few more days. And he prepared to go out, saying he would try to find a way to secure 1,000 gold starting now. Even though it was cloudy outside and a heavy rain was pouring down.

“You don’t have to overdo it.” “There’s n-no time. Ritsu needs to get well quickly…” “Then I’ll go with you.”

“Ahhh- No, no. Tia, you stay here. You still n-need to rest a bit more. The doctor said so too.” “But…”

I clutched my bandaged arm. The doctor had told me not to strain my body until the wound had fully healed. Also… my period hadn’t ended yet. As Mister Fosao said, it seemed better to rest quietly for now.

“T-Tia getting well quickly is helping me. Heheheh.” “…Understood.”

“I’ve p-paid for the lodging and meals. The waiter will bring all your food. T-Tia, just rest well and regain your strength first…” Saying that, Mister Fosao opened the door.

“Mister- Mister.” “Huh?” I stopped Mister Fosao without realizing it. Somehow, I felt like saying this would lessen my worry a little. I offered my greetings in a small voice.

“…Please be careful out there.” Mister Fosao smiled brightly.

“Uh, uh-huh! Then I’ll g-go and be back! Heheheh!”