Chapter 16
One of the uninvited guests who arrived in the village a few days ago.
His name was something like “Arno.” He seemed to have a smiling face at first glance, but it was clear that all sorts of schemes were wriggling beneath his expression—he was a middle-aged man. Moreover, there was an old cigarette smell lingering on his fingertips.
As if he had been waiting for this moment, he waved at Fiore.
“Hey there, Fiore! Are you coming back from a walk?”
“I just went out for a walk and ran some errands. I had some deliveries to make.”
“Oh, deliveries? I don’t think there are any factories in the village. Is there some kind of local specialty?”
“Craftsmen are doing good work here. If you ask Madame Adelaide, she might show you some of their products.”
Fiore gestured toward the management office with his chin. However, it seemed that this man’s intention was directed at Fiore himself.
Without even glancing in that direction, he matched his pace with Fiore’s.
“Do you handle deliveries all by yourself? That must be tough. I guess there aren’t many men in the village.”
“……”
“Next time you go out, let me know. I’d like to join you.”
“Are you offering to help? I don’t need it.”
“Why, do you think I won’t be of any help? You might see me as just an old man compared to a sturdy fellow like you, but I’m as strong as an ox.”
Even though Fiore intentionally cut off the conversation, Arno pretended not to notice and flexed his arm to show off. His arm, which looked soft with just the right amount of fat, suddenly revealed a bumpy ridge.
It wasn’t quite comparable to an ox… but then again, perhaps it was a misunderstanding to think of him as someone specialized in carrying loads rather than swinging metal objects.
In any case, the lingering smell of cigarettes on his fingers was far more bothersome.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. This doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”
“You’re sharp today—in more ways than one.”
Arno chuckled heartily.
“You’ve got it backward. I don’t have anything to say to you; I was just looking for someone to talk to while trying to avoid those people.”
There was no need to ask who “those people” were.
The pompous doctor who does nothing, and the fool of a doctor who’s reckless and foolish.
Arno grinned slyly.
“Do you understand my feelings?”
Fiore belatedly realized that his mouth had twisted into a smirk.
Arno didn’t miss that brief moment of empathy.
“Would you like to hear me out? After all, it’s not like I’m spitting on your face, so you won’t have to embarrass yourself later.”
Since he wouldn’t have anything particular to do even if he returned early, Fiore’s small curiosity turned the key.
They found a suitably open field. As Fiore set down the half-empty candy container, Arno spoke up.
“You seem to like sweets.”
“It’s not so much that I like them… but they’re great for forgetting unnecessary things.”
Crunchy and noisy, with a strong smell and cheap—these were perfect items for blocking out external stimuli.
Without needing detailed explanations, Arno understood this however he liked and smiled while offering something. It was a paper box decorated with caramel illustrations.
“I like sweets too, so we’re comrades in that regard. Especially when I can’t smoke, I go crazy for sweets.”
“Heh, is it okay to share such a precious thing? In our village, you won’t be able to smoke for a while.”
“I’ll regret it later; let’s enjoy ourselves while we can.”
Fiore chuckled as he accepted the caramel. It was useless to him, but there was no harm in taking it. Who in the village liked sweets again…?
At that moment, Arno opened his mouth again.
“I’m sorry. About what my lady did the other night.”
“Didn’t she go around apologizing yesterday? Why are you apologizing again?”
“I doubt she properly apologized given her personality.”
Fiore secretly agreed with him.
Though they had only met twice, during their brief conversations she seemed to scream with her entire being: “Never look down on me! I am your equal!” Could such a person even manage an apology?
Arno chuckled softly.
“Wow, you’re not denying it! You’ve talked with her at the restaurant too, right? Did she make any blunders?”
“She didn’t make any blunders. Even when giving good advice, she didn’t listen and instead got angry—this isn’t about making mistakes; this whole encounter is just one big mistake.”
“Ahahaha! Oh, I love your honesty!”
Though it had been said jokingly, upon reflection it seemed true enough. If he hadn’t approached her on the first day, their second meeting at the restaurant might have been a pleasant first encounter instead.
Well, her appearance—looking like a pitiful sparrow—was amusing enough as she cried and complained and got angry in rapid succession while her changing expressions were oddly entertaining…
“That’s why women shouldn’t be too smart.”
Arno’s annoyed voice interrupted his thoughts. He pulled out a candy and popped it into his mouth before continuing his speech.
“A woman who knows too much tends to complain more often. If they’re a little dumb, they laugh more, and in the end, they make the man laugh.”
“…That’s an interesting perspective.”
“I’m not joking! I’ve learned this from life experience.”
“That woman is smart?”
Arno’s eyes widened at Fiore’s question.
“What do you mean? She’s the only female doctor in the country. I don’t know if she caught the dean off guard or seduced a professor to get in, but if she graduated and became a doctor, she must be smart.”
“……”
“Of course, when I see her being treated like a spectacle and missing out on marriage while taking on tough jobs, I can’t say she’s wise… Ah, so that’s why you asked if she’s smart?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“What can we do? The world will change someday, but not now. If she stands out alone, she should be prepared to get crushed.”
Arno paused as he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. His eyes looked at Fiore as if seeking permission. Fiore momentarily set aside his desire to scowl at him and replied.
“What about you? How prepared are you?”
“Oh, sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
He quickly put the cigarette down and popped a second candy into his mouth without permission. Between the sound of candy clinking against his teeth, a sigh escaped.
“Anyway, it’s tough sitting around with those useless doctors who do nothing. Call me out sometimes, will you? Let me get some fresh air.”
“Sure, I don’t see why not.”
“Ha ha, thanks! But what does ‘treatment’ mean in the village rules?”
Now we’re getting to the point. It had taken quite a roundabout way to get here.
Fiore swallowed a smirk as Arno continued smoothly.
“I’m a bit of a coward, you see. Can I observe the treatment you receive? If it seems okay, can I also get it?”
“I don’t receive treatment.”
“Huh?”
“I said I don’t.”
The change in context didn’t clarify anything. Arno looked confused.
“The sign clearly says residents can receive it—”
“I’m a resident who doesn’t need to receive it. That’s why I’m the one doing all the delivery work.”
“Ah…”
The previously smooth expression suddenly faltered. He quickly recovered, but the feeling of having his bubble burst was quite enjoyable to watch.
‘Not as pitiful as that sparrow I saw the other day.’
Should I give him a good smack on that nose? Just enough to make sure he can’t make any more useless expressions in the future.
Fiore tightened his grip on the candy container and asked,
“I’ve heard it’s similar to taking a bath and wearing nice clothes before doing something important. Why don’t you ask directly? I can set up an appointment for you.”
“Oh no, not right now.”
Arno waved his hand.
“I’ll go see for myself later. I haven’t properly introduced myself yet anyway.”
“There’s really no need for formalities. We aren’t even close among residents.”
And Fiore spoke sincerely,
“You won’t be staying long anyway.”
“Why are you being so cold already? Thanks for the candy! Well then, I have prior engagements, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Yeah, I’ll enjoy the caramel you gave me.”
With that, Arno smiled again and walked away with a wave. He might think he’s showing friendliness, but if he wants to keep living with his left eye and right eye so close together, he should stop that behavior.
After the disgusting smell faded away, Fiore picked up the box of caramels Arno had given him.
If there was someone in the village who liked sweets, Madam Adelaide would come to mind first; but she would likely scold him in return for such a delicious gift.
Next came another suitable resident: Cherry—the patient who loved sweets.
She had been badly injured; she was probably still lying at home groaning.
The pleasant memory of ‘that woman’ he had thought of earlier was was quickly obliterated.
On the way to Cherry’s house, Fiore chewed over thoughts of the woman… only to set them aside. Too scrawny to even bother with. At least actual sparrows are cute…
“Here to see a corpse, Cherry. Are you dead, or just playing dead again?”
He opened the front door without asking for permission. Surprisingly, there was no one on the bed. Instead, Cherry slowly opened her eyes while dozing off in a kitchen chair.
“Oh? Fiore?”
Though she had injuries all over her body, Cherry looked better than expected. What stood out more was the bandage-like thing stuck to her nose.
“What’s that on your nose?”
“Don’t touch it.”
“Who said that?”
“The doctor.”
“…Which doctor?”
“The one who smells like dust. Soap smell on their hands.”
“How do you know all that?”
“Ugh, come on, you get it. Stop being annoying.”
Cherry snapped irritably. There was no point in continuing such an unproductive guessing game. Fiore sighed and asked one more question.
“Why aren’t you lying down? It’s time to sleep.”
“The doctor said not to lie down when I have a nosebleed; it makes it hard to breathe.”
“Do you have a nosebleed now?”
“Not yet, but who knows when it’ll start again? It’s not healed yet.”
“Okay.”
Upon closer inspection, Cherry’s nose bridge was shiny; someone must have applied ointment there.
Fiore was starting to get a clearer idea of which “doctor” had made an effort to help Cherry. If it had been that guy—the one who hadn’t budged from his spot recently—Cherry would’ve been boasting about being given “special treatment” to anyone who would listen.
That left only one possibility: someone who couldn’t even take care of themselves.
“…Seriously?”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Cherry, if that person comes back to treat you, share this with them.”
“Oh wow! Caramel? It’s been ages! Thanks!”
Cherry happily accepted the box of caramels.
“Aren’t you hungry? It’s been a while since you’ve eaten, hasn’t it?”
“I ate not too long ago.”
“Lucky you! You get to roam around far away, hunt, and fill your belly too!”
“Are you jealous?”
“Yeah!”
Cherry placed one caramel on her tongue and added,
“I’m so jealous, in fact, that for every meal you eat, kill one more person for me.”
“……”
Her eyes sparkled, full of envy and spite. Fiore’s lips twisted into a grin.
“Sure! If I have the time!”
***
Alice walked and walked with her body, which had not exercised in a long time. If she didn’t, the nonsense Nathan had said earlier would fill her head and pound against her heart.
‘Who has those kinds of feelings? To hear that kind of talk at my age, after leaving university…’
Alice shook her head.
She needed to think of something else. Did Arno manage to get information from Fiore? What happened to the errand boy who was supposed to arrive at lunchtime?
She returned to the clinic a bit tired. Fortunately, Arno was back, so she didn’t have to awkwardly face Nathan again.
Arno spoke up.
“Professor Nathan, don’t worry. I’ve decided not to go out into the village recklessly.”
“Like you’re doing me a great favor… So, you’re scared now? Afraid to go out?”
Nathan laughed childishly. But his mocking expression quickly froze at Arno’s next words.
“Today, I called an errand boy, right? I let him into the village and then sent him back out.”
“…What?”
“He’s supposed to return within half a day, so we’ll check on his condition and decide on our next steps.”
