Episode 26 — Otherworld x Modern Knowledge
Several weeks have passed since the garrison was built right next to my house.
In that time, having Gustav and the others drop by every other day, I’ve started to get a better handle on who they are.
Gustav is thirty-five, Bartos is forty, and Elishua is twenty-three.
They all looked younger than I expected, and conversely, they seemed to think I was much older.
Strange—I thought the rule of isekai stories was that the protagonist always looks younger than they are… well, I’ll just blame it on my unkempt stubble.
I mentioned during one of our talks that they could be more casual with me, but the stiff-necked Bartos stubbornly refused to drop the “Master Zect” title.
Gustav, on the other hand, showed a lord’s flexibility and settled on calling me “Mr. Zect.” He still uses formal speech, but it feels like the distance between us has closed a bit.
Apparently, the mana stone issue was resolved. Elishua and her team of mages have nearly finished clearing the site for the new city.
That vast stretch of land is already in a state where the “shape of a town” can be formed.
(…That was fast. When you combine magic with an organized workforce, the speed of development is on a different level.)
It was the evening of the day I received that report.
The sound of heavy footsteps tore through the twilight forest. The gate’s intercom buzzed, and I looked up from the sofa.
The monitor showed Gustav standing next to a woman I didn’t recognize. The man who usually stands tall with the weight of the territory on his shoulders was now hunched like a shadow. The woman looked equally haggard, with deep circles under her eyes, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.
(…This isn't just a social call.)
I unlocked the door and let them in.
“Take a seat.”
The two sat stiffly on the sofa. I sat in the opposite chair and crossed my arms.
“So, who’s she?”
Gustav took a shallow breath and bowed his head slightly toward me.
“Mr. Zect… this is my wife, Lene.”
Lene gave a deep bow, but even that movement lacked strength. Her complexion was terrible; it was obvious at a glance that she hadn’t slept a wink last night.
The moment I saw their expressions, a prickle of unease stirred in my chest. The air was taut, like a string about to snap.
“What happened?”
When I asked, Gustav exchanged a single glance with Lene and let out a pained breath.
“Mr. Zect… actually, my son, Leon, has collapsed. He’s only seven. He suddenly developed a fever yesterday evening… and by this morning, reddish-purple spots began spreading across his body. On his chest and stomach… his skin is burning hot to the touch.”
He clenched his fists and continued.
“His breathing is heavy, he can’t speak… he can’t even move, as if his joints are screaming in pain… The spots have more than doubled since this morning. Neither healing magic nor medicinal herbs have had any effect…”
“He was… he was smiling normally last night,” Lene added, her voice trembling.
“If we leave it be, they say those spots may turn black and spread through his entire body… We don’t know what to do…”
I watched Gustav’s knuckles turn white from how hard he was clenching his fists.
“Mr. Zect, I beg of you. Please… tell us how to save Leon. No matter how small the possibility… I… I cannot lose that boy…”
I took a slow breath and stood up.
“…I get the picture. I’ve heard enough. Let me look into it.”
Leaving them there, I headed to my study.
The study was dim. As I switched on the PC, the fan started whirring, breaking the silence. I sat in the chair and opened a search engine.
(…Reddish-purple spots, high fever, rapid deterioration… seven years old…)
My fingers tapped the keys faster than usual. Search results flooded the screen. Bacterial acute inflammation, pre-sepsis, dermatomyositis—the word “bacterial infection” appeared in every diagnosis.
(…Just as I thought. Bacteria. No wonder magic doesn’t work on it…)
I exhaled and leaned back into the chair.
Suddenly, the faces of the two I’d left in the living room floated into my mind. Lately, with all the urban development consultations, Gustav had been coming to my house more often. At first, he was just a client, but before I knew it—
(…I’m starting to feel like they’re not just strangers anymore.)
Gustav’s desperate face. Lene’s trembling voice.
(…For a shut-in, I’ve developed some pretty troublesome emotions. I want the people in my circle to be at peace.)
I let out a wry smile and muttered to myself.
“The hell is wrong with me? Caring about people like this…”
My mutterings were swallowed by the silence of the study.
I pulled out my phone and opened Lumina Shopping. A newly added category was glowing.
[Medical & Treatment]
(…There it is! Antibiotics…)
However, I froze when I saw the price.
[Antibiotics: Extremely Effective — 50,000,000L]
(…Fifty million? You’ve gotta be kidding me…)
“Hey, Lumina! What’s with this price?! A human life is on the line here! I’m not trying to start a mass distribution. Just do something for me this once…”
There was no way I could reach that with my current points. I put the phone on the desk and pressed my palm to my forehead.
(…What am I supposed to do now…?)
In the silence, a thought suddenly struck me.
(…The first aid kit.)
I opened a cabinet and dragged out a white box pushed far into the back. When I opened the lid, I found an old medicine bag.
(…Here we go. Leftovers from the last time I had a fever…)
Inside the bag were a few antibiotic tablets.
(…I don’t know if they’ll work… but it’s better than doing nothing.)
Clutching the bag, I returned to the living room.
“Take this. These are leftovers I used before. I can’t guarantee they’ll work… but it’s worth a shot.”
Gustav took the bag with trembling hands.
“Mr. Zect… I will never forget this debt…! Thank you!”
The two bowed deeply and hurried away.
--- Gustav’s Manor ---
The bedroom was still thick with the presence of night. Young Leon’s hair was matted to his forehead with sweat as he gasped for air. Reddish-purple spots covered his chest and stomach, radiating heat.
Gustav held a water pitcher with a shaking hand and took out the tablet he had received from Zect.
“Can you drink this…? Just a little.”
Leon feebly opened his eyes and gave a tiny nod.
“Slowly now… you’re doing great.”
Lene supported Leon’s back as Gustav brought the tablet to his mouth with a sip of water. Leon’s throat moved painfully, but he managed to swallow it.
“Good boy. You did it.”
After that, the two simply sat in silence, watching their son’s breathing.
It was a long, long silence, long enough for their sense of time to blur.
A few hours later—Leon’s breathing finally began to settle. The frantic rising and falling of his chest smoothed into a steady rhythm.
“…Father…”
A raspy voice was clearly audible.
Tears welled in Gustav’s eyes.
“…Yeah… yeah…! You don’t have to speak… You’re feeling better, aren’t you?!”
Leon nodded weakly and closed his eyes with a peaceful expression.
---
The next morning. The intercom rang, and I headed to the door. When I opened it, a breathless Gustav was standing there.
“Mr. Zect…! My son’s fever… it’s started to break!”
As I welcomed Gustav into the living room and listened to his story, a notification chimed from my phone.
I gave a short nod and opened it. One new notification.
[Emergency Limited Special Price — Antibiotics: Extremely Effective — ~~50,000,000L~~ → 1,000L (SALE)]
(…See, Lumina? I knew you could do it if you tried.)
I immediately hit the buy button. Right after the order was confirmed, the gate’s intercom rang.
When I opened the door, a small box was sitting on the welcome mat, with no one in sight as usual.
(…Your delivery system is as creepy as ever.)
I brought the box inside and opened it.
“Here. Yesterday’s were just my leftovers, but these look like sugar-coated tablets that are easier for kids to take. They should go down better than the ones from last night.”
“…Sugar-coated?”
“It means they’ve been processed so they aren't bitter. It’ll be easier for him to swallow.”
Gustav took the medicine with trembling hands.
“Mr. Zect…! Truly… thank you…!”
“You and your wife might be infected too. If you start showing symptoms, take them.”
Gustav bowed deeply and departed.
I sank back into the sofa.
(…Lumina. You were listening to my complaining yesterday, weren't you? Well… I guess you saved me this time.)
Tama hopped onto my lap and flicked her tail.
“Prrr. (Hmph. You have a foul mouth, but you’re a softie at heart, aren’t you?)”
The morning sun began to pour into my silent sanctuary.
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