I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 112
CHAPTER 112
“Oh, she’s crazy!!”
“Run away!!”
“Aaahhh!!!”
The patients began to scatter in panic and run away.
It was only natural.
Ever since they contracted Rigonta’s disease, everyone fled at the sight of them.
“I’m sorry.”
“But it can’t be helped.”
Even their families drove them away.
They were rejected.
By their families, by their clans.
They were abandoned by everyone.
From then on, they wandered.
When they tried to enter a village to buy bread with the last money their family gave them before being chased away, stones were thrown at them.
Finger-pointing and curses were all too common.
Eventually, they ventured into the dangerously dense forest, where monsters might appear.
At night, they huddled together for warmth, and during the day, they resorted to theft as they couldn’t find food.
They got caught and chased away.
Life became even harsher.
That’s how they lived for a month, then two, then about a year.
Everyone instinctively knew.
They would wander like this until death.
No one would come near them.
They had to abandon the will to live… or so they thought.
“Kyaak! Get back here now!”
Where did the nobility’s dignity go?
A woman with her skirt strangely tied ran towards them at an insane speed, fluttering her clothes.
She even made strange noises.
Kyak? Aaahhh??”
Is that even human noise???
Could it be just an animal at that point??
“Damn.”
The person who had been running with all his might since being driven away shouted out.
“Help!”
Save them!
The plea for saving a human life came from someone who claimed to have lost the will to live.
“Enough!”
Using all my strength and with the power of Sylphid, I caught the last patient who was running away.
I caught them all.
Wiping the sweat off my forehead with a proud face, I said.
“What on earth is going on?!”
The man who was caught first looked at me with struggle in his eyes.
“What are you going to do with us?”
“I’ve heard everything since earlier. I’ll treat you.”
“Why?! Why would you, a stranger, help us?!”
Hmm. He must be in tremendous pain.
He had a better voice than ten-year-old Arkin.
“Well.”
Unconsciously plugging my ears and then letting go, I looked at the man and the patients sitting dumbfoundedly.
“Because that belief has kept me alive until now.”
The patients’ faces were filled with strong doubt.
Anyway, I quickly turned my head.
‘First of all, we need a house, right?’
They would need a fairly large mansion for about ten people.
‘As for the herbs, I’ll have Ringo fetch them.’
They probably wouldn’t need someone to nurse them.
Since they were running just now, their condition wasn’t too bad, considering they’d been sick for a long time.
If we help them partially, they’ll probably be able to take care of the rest on their own.
‘Then, a mansion, a mansion.’
Where to find one?
“Master.“
I turned around.
Lionel was standing there with a frown, holding a small box in one hand.
“Lionel, come here quickly.”
I smiled and walked over to him.
Meanwhile, as he finished surveying the surroundings to assess the situation, he let out a small sigh.
“I’ll go find a nearby mansion.”
“Okay!”
As expected of my disciple!
“While you’re at it, could you also send a message to Ringo for some herbs? The ones we need.”
“I already know all of them, Master.”
Lionel said with a grin.
“I’m your only disciple, after all.”
As he said that, his blue eyes briefly glanced at the patients before quickly returning to me.
“But, Master.”
“Hmm?”
“As you probably already know, Rigonta’s disease is highly contagious.”
Seeing the bandages tightly wrapped around bodies as if to hide every inch of skin, he seemed to have recognized the disease.
“And you’ve been through it once, haven’t you?”
Saying this, Lionel wrapped his arms around my waist.
“No matter how much medicine there is, if you get sick, it’ll tear this disciple’s heart apart.”
Whispering deliberately into my ear, he smoothly moved me away from the patients.
“I’ll bring some suitable people. So, Master, just rest and-.”
“Lionel.”
I raised my hand to his in a gesture of reassurance.
Lionel flinched slightly.
“As an herbalist, if I’m afraid of diseases, what good am I?”
I grinned.
“And I’m fine. Well, I’ve died once already, it’s not like I’m afraid.”
I had already survived for various reasons.
If I had developed a trauma each time, I would be afraid of even breathing now.
I had even experienced suffocation several times.
“…Well, that’s a relief.”
Lionel hesitated for a moment, then turned his head.
‘What’s wrong?’
I blinked.
Why did he look unhappy?
“Master, I’ll contact the Duke’s residence now.”
Saying this, his arm slipped away from my waist.
After handing me the box, Lionel went somewhere for a moment.
“I’ve found it.”
“…??”
He had found a suitable place in no time.
He even gestured, and we all moved.
“What is this place?!”
Cries for help echoed one after another.
“Ughhh!”
“Waahh!”
Followed by the sound of pouring something shiny and colorful.
I also covered my mouth while looking at the herbal shop in front of me.
“What, um, is this?”
“It’s the largest herbal shop in the area. The first floor sells herbs, and the second floor is used as a clinic.”
“Is that so?”
“And it’s perfect because it’s far from the village due to the herb fields.”
“That’s perfect, indeed.”
With my mouth still covered, I looked at the two-story building in front of me.
“Who owns it?”
It’s a shop, so there must be an owner.
“Oh.”
Lionel grinned.
“It was too much trouble, so I just bought it. You can use it as you wish, Master.”
“….”
“Master?”
“Uh, no.”
With trembling legs, I stepped inside.
Well, since it’s already here, I should make good use of it.
Creaking open the wooden door and stepping inside, the strong smell of dried herbs wafted in.
“Lionel, could you take the patients to the second floor and lay them down? I’ll check the herbs.”
“Yes, Master.”
I brought a ladder and opened the herb box filling the wall.
From above came a variety of sounds: ‘Where are we again?’, ‘Ugh!’, ‘Yikes!!’
…that Lionel.
He just teleported them with magic because he couldn’t be bothered to explain.
‘Ugh.’
With a slight sigh, I quickly began sorting through the herbs to see what we had.
This one’s here, that one’s there.
Seems like we’re a bit short on this one.
Oh, there’s no white fluffywort.
We need that one.
‘I guess I’ll have to send it to the capital.’
As I came down from the ladder, I quickly listed the herbs I needed to replenish and acquire on a piece of paper.
“They’re all available at Upper Crescent Moon’s stall.”
When did he come down?
Lionel stood behind me, picking up the paper.
Tap, Lionel’s body brushed against mine.
“I’ll go get them.”
“Oh, okay.”
I nodded lightly.
“And could you bring bandages, clothes, and food too? Clothing might be necessary.”
“Yes, Master. But what herb is this?”
“Hmm?”
“This one here.”
Lionel tapped the paper he was holding.
“Is it fluffywort? Just regular fluffywort?”
“It’s not just fluffywort—”
I turned my head and met a pair of blue eyes filled with suppressed laughter.
It was an intimate distance, enough that if someone saw from behind, it might seem like lovers embracing.
‘This guy.’
I furrowed my brows.
“You pretended not to know on purpose.”
“But, Master…”
Lionel gave a gentle, teasing smile.
“I was curious when you’d finally acknowledge me.”
With his playful gaze, he naturally wrapped his arm around my waist.
Now I was trapped in his embrace.
“You know how much I desire your attention, yet you do not answer…”
With a coquettish charm, he leaned his face against my neck.
His golden hair swayed gently.
“…”
For a moment, I silently gazed at him.
Should I say this?
Or should I not?
‘If I say it, will he be shocked?’
Carefully, I raised my hand and brushed his neck where his hair tickled.
As I did, he subtly raised his head, meeting my gaze again with a bashful smile.
On the palm that had been gently caressing his hair, he placed a kiss.
Each action overflowed with unmistakable affection.
I felt a little choked up.
I closed my eyes.
Yes, just a little longer, then I’ll say it.
Just a little longer.
“Lionel.”
I grinned at my young disciple.
Thunk!
I lightly tapped his forehead with my fist.
“Hurry back.”
“Yes”
With a trailing word, Lionel smiled.
“I’ll bring something for Master to enjoy when I return.”
With that, he vanished in an instant.
“Phew.”
Alone on the first floor, I hesitated for a moment, then went up to the second floor.
And froze.
“Ugh! Eugh!!”
“…”
The patients, tied to their beds, were bouncing up and down like fish out of water.
Watching them bounce in place as if begging for mercy, I couldn’t help but smile.
This kid.
He’s dead when he gets back.