Chapter 010
Jin silently watched his attending physician scribble something fervently into a notebook. She referred to that notebook as a “chart.”
Every time Astrid pressed that strange device developed by Louis against his chest to listen to his breathing, she would let out a faint, pained groan, muttering, “Oh, dear.” Today was no different.
It was a situation that somehow moved him to laughter. One did not need his superior intellect to realize that Jin’s condition was deteriorating by the day. Astrid, quite simply, had no talent for concealing her emotions.
And above all, he felt it himself, with agonizing clarity. With each passing day, drawing breath became a more arduous labor.
Despite this, Astrid lied to him constantly, telling him his condition had neither improved nor worsened—even though she knew he could see through the deception. It was a white lie, born of her own particular brand of consideration.
Jin leaned languidly against the bedpost, observing Astrid’s actions. Although her face was half-hidden by her mask, making it impossible to read her expression entirely, watching her was a genuine source of entertainment.
Astrid appeared to be tracing something in the air with her fingers when she suddenly clapped her hands with an “Aha!” Jin watched her with an amused smile, intrigued by her eccentricity.
As if struck by a sudden revelation, she dashed out of the room without so much as a parting word. It was truly incomprehensible behavior. What on earth could she be thinking about so intensely?
‘She is a truly fascinating person.’
Her knowledge seemed to exist beyond the boundaries of anything Jin understood. Thus, it was impossible to predict what thoughts occupied her mind.
Yet, she was so unskilled at hiding her feelings that the emotions she experienced were plain for all to see. It was this contradiction that captivated him.
To Jin, Astrid Aubert felt like an unsolvable puzzle.
At first, it was mere curiosity. But gradually, he found his gaze lingering on her—drawn to the scent of lavender that clung to her clothes and hair. He reached out a hand, attempting to catch the fading trail of that lavender scent as she hurried away…
But the fragrance scattered and vanished. Jin chuckled to himself and lay back down. It was a meaningless gesture.
“Jin.”
It was Richard’s voice. Jin, who had been about to sleep, opened his eyes and sat back up against the post.
“Richard, what is it?”
The expression visible above his friend’s mask appeared remarkably bright. It’s been nearly two months since I’ve seen Richard’s face without a mask, Jin thought. It was a lonely realization—that everyone who approached him now did so with half their face hidden.
“Your color has improved significantly, Jin. Teacher Aubert truly is as skilled as they say,” Richard remarked.
On the surface, it appeared that way. Since Astrid had become his physician, Jin’s outward appearance seemed to improve daily. He coughed up blood less frequently than before.
However, there was a secret known only to Jin and Astrid. Though he looked better, the reality was that his condition was worsening with every passing hour.
“……I suppose so. She is a strange woman. She knows I’m going to die soon, yet she refuses to give up. I’ve never had a doctor exert themselves for me like this.”
As Jin smiled hollowly, Richard’s eyes wavered. It seemed Richard still couldn’t bring himself to let go. Richard shouldn’t have hope, Jin thought. It will only lead to greater… frustration.
“Jin, I—”
Richard’s voice grew thick with emotion. Jin finished his friend’s sentence for him, a phrase he had heard a hundred times before.
“I told you not to speak so weakly. I know, Richard.”
Jin forced a weak smile, and sadness settled into Richard’s eyes. His friend was foolishly upright, unable to hide his true self.
After I am gone, Richard will have to lead the Liberators……
‘How am I supposed to close my eyes in peace like this, Richard?’
Jin swallowed the words he could never say aloud, grateful for once that his friend could not read the minds of others.
They spent a long while discussing matters regarding the leadership of the Liberators when a knock sounded at the door. There were no expected visitors. Jin signaled Richard with a glance to open it.
“Teacher Aubert, what brings you here at this hour……?”
As the door opened, Astrid Aubert stood in the threshold. Her face was flushed from running, her breath coming in quick gasps, but her face was brimming with joy.
“Ah, the mask.”
Astrid hurriedly pulled her mask on. It had been a long time since Jin had seen a bare face. It was, in truth, a rather lonely thing—that everyone who dealt with him had half their face covered.
“I’ve thought of a new treatment, Richard!” Astrid said excitedly. Jin pricked up his ears to listen to their conversation. A “new treatment”?
“Please set up a bed in the greenhouse. We are going to have Jin live there during the day.”
Richard seemed to struggle with the concept. Even Jin found this difficult to grasp.
“Um, you see…… plants release components during the day that help with Jin’s illness. Being in the greenhouse will provide some relief.”
The greenhouse. He had been trapped in this room for so long it had become a prison without bars. Though Richard hesitated, Jin felt that anywhere would be better than here.
“Richard, make it happen. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the greenhouse anyway.”
* * *
Moving Jin to the greenhouse was a more involved task than expected. The original greenhouse was too vast and difficult to manage, so we planted new specimens in a smaller, adjacent vacant greenhouse.
I scoured the Encyclopedia of Herbs, searching for every plant known to aid the respiratory system.
Borage with its star-shaped purple flowers; Anise, whose tiny white blossoms bloom like fans. There were balloon flowers imported from the East across the sea, and incredibly sweet honey-herbs from the continent of Occasium far to the west.
The claim of wealth was no lie; Richard easily procured rare flowers that grew on other continents.
Time flew by as we set up the greenhouse plants alongside Jin’s bed, the humidifier, and the air purifier Louis had scrambled to build.
“Scrub that area thoroughly. You need to wipe it down several times.”
I was in the greenhouse again today, preparing for Jin’s move. The canopy bed had just been installed, and workers were wiping down the posts with alcohol.
“Teacher Aubert.”
I turned at the sound of Richard’s voice. He was leaning against the wall, watching me.
“You are always so sensitive about cleaning.”
I felt like a germaphobe again today. It’s not my fault, it’s because Jin is so fragile……
“Dust is lethal for patients with respiratory diseases. We must be diligent with cleaning.”
I used visible dust as an excuse instead of the invisible viruses and bacteria I was actually worried about—a result of two months of careful mental maneuvering.
“I see. Ah, Teacher Aubert. The clinic is ready. Would you like to see it?”
The clinic was something I had requested from Richard. Besides Jin, there were quite a few people who came for treatment after being injured in battles or during excavations of the Underground City. Treating them in my bedroom had become increasingly inconvenient.
“Let’s go.”
The new clinic was directly across from the greenhouse and the laboratory. It was the perfect location. Now I could work Rick and Louis even harder—no, I mean, we could “research together.”
It featured three simple cots, a bookshelf for patient charts, and shelves stocked with various medicines I had squeezed out of Rick. It was perfect.
“Since your arrival, Teacher, the number of patients suffering from infected wounds has decreased significantly. Recovery is faster, too. We are grateful.”
Richard’s words made me bashful. I looked down at the floor, fidgeting with my fingers. I had only enforced basic hygiene; receiving praise for it felt embarrassing.
Come to think of it, Richard hadn’t liked me much at first. Our first meeting hadn’t exactly been pleasant—I still remember him pointing a gun at my head.
Still, his attitude toward me seemed to have softened lately.
“By the way, I heard the ‘wheelchair’ for Jin is complete. Was that the right name for it?”
I brightened at Richard’s words. The distance between the greenhouse and Jin’s room was substantial; if he tried to walk it with his current stamina, it could end in disaster.
That was why I had shown Louis a sketch and had her build one.
“The greenhouse is ready, and the wheelchair is ready. Shall we go get Jin?”
As I spoke enthusiastically, a small smile flickered across Richard’s stoic face.
“Let’s do that. Lead the way, Teacher Aubert.”
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