Back in the pharmacy room, Kael assessed his situation.
Dian Cecht had already left, and his injuries had been mostly treated — except for the incurable curse on his body that only Airmid's magic could lift.
"Once the severe injury status is removed, my flesh should recover quickly, but..." He looked at his nearly exposed bone.
Perhaps due to [Working Like a Dog] or the anesthetic effects of alcohol, he felt no pain — instead, his thoughts were particularly sharp and active.
A bold idea crystallized in his mind, "My magic... has found its direction!"
These injuries were crucial for perfecting his plan. To maximize their benefits, Kael decided...
"I'm breaking out! No, wait — I'm escaping from medical care!"
He had only one chance to try his method. If he failed, his early development would surely be hindered. Like a snowball effect, a carefully crafted plan utilizing all available conditions was necessary to stand out in these turbulent times.
On the other hand...
He had to admit, the humanitarian radiance of the Astraea Familia was too dazzling — so dazzling that even he, this fake liquor, found it blinding.
Just standing near them made him instinctively want to distance himself.
Even though in his previous life he would dare to banter with and tease that self-proclaimed detective, he couldn't bring himself to do the same with these young girls who had dedicated their lives and ideals to "liberation" at such a young age.
Sighing, he looked around. The infirmary wasn't a prison — seven or eight windows lined the wall, with evening breeze lifting the curtains to reveal the clear moonlight.
Kael poked his head out.
"Good, no one's here!"
He pressed one hand against the windowsill, leaped out, and landed smoothly with slightly bent knees.
Blood seeped through the bandages on his chest, staining them red, but he was already numb to it. At that moment, only one thought occupied his mind: [Working Like a Dog] is awesome!
Taking a few quick steps through the garden and out of the courtyard, he inevitably ran into some passing nurses, who let out startled cries.
Kael gave an apologetic greeting before disappearing into the silent moonlight.
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Shortly after, outside the pharmacy room, Airmid was discussing future treatment matters with the Astraea Familia when screams echoed from beyond the door.
A Chienthrope girl with long brown hair and drooping dog ears sauntered in playfully:
"My, Miss Thyasanare. To let a patient escape right under your nose — it seems Dian Cecht is heading toward its end..."
"What are you saying, Erisuis? I don't recall inviting someone from an enemy Familia into our faction."
Kaguya wasn't surprised to see the visitor.
Within Orario, she was Naaza Erisuis, an executive of the Miach Familia — a healing Familia that rivaled Dian Cecht Familia.
The 'feud' between the two Familias had been inherited since their divine origins, maintaining a love-hate relationship. Due to their similar operations, conflicts occasionally erupted. In the Gods' words, they were business competitors.
"What do you mean by what you just said?"
"You... don't know yet?" Naaza raised her eyebrows, "Everyone outside is talking about the rumor of an anatomical model escaping from the laboratory."
"Anatomical... model?" Airmid recalled the plaster figure covered in muscle anatomy drawings and felt a strong sense of déjà vu imagining it moving.
Three minutes later, having grasped the situation, her face turned frosty.
She violently kicked open the hospital room door, and seeing the empty room with gently swaying curtains, she suppressed her killing intent and ground out between her teeth:
"Ka—el!~"
Lyra leaned against the doorway, poking her little head out.
Looking at the empty hospital room, only one thought crossed her mind, "Hey, Alise. Does this mean we don't have to pay the medical fees?"
Thunk—
Alise's fist landed on her head, "No way. This is a serious matter — we must make sure little brother Kael gets proper rest. Let's go bring him back."
"Eh~, but he clearly doesn't want treatment. Besides, Orario is so big, where would we even find him?"
Kaguya agreed, "There are many more evils waiting for us to vanquish. Let's not waste time on someone like him."
Alise scratched her head, "But didn't Airmid-chan say his condition isn't right? If he ends up hurting someone, wouldn't that sin fall on our heads?"
Ryuu pecked like a little chicken, "Alise is right. It's all Lyra's fault — we can't bring shame to Lady Astraea."
Kaguya held her head in both hands, completely unladylike, "Ah~ I'm tired. You girls go look for him. I'm going back to enjoy the bath Lady Astraea prepared."
"Me too~" Lyra copied her head-holding pose while whistling.
Ryuu put on a stern face, "Lyra~, whose fault is this anyway?"
"Look, Ryuu, you're just being too serious." Kaguya said, waving her hand, "People die in Orario every day. Rather than waste time, we should conserve our energy to save more people. Besides, if he ends up hurting someone, wouldn't that prove Lyra didn't cut down the wrong person, just like those Evilus lunatics?"
"How can you compare the two!" Ryuu shouted in protest.
If someone falls into evil because of misguided justice, how tragic would that be.
"Enough, this is a hospital. If you want to argue, do it outside!"
Airmid's cold voice cut off the four's bickering.
She took a deep breath and continued, "Also, losing a patient is our responsibility. I'll take charge of finding him. We must cure him properly before letting him go! Otherwise, it would be an insult to our reputation!"
"Is this also... business competition?" Lyra glanced at Naaza's smug face.
"Exactly!" Naaza nodded with folded arms, "The Miach Familia would never let something like this happen! Please feel free to entrust your patients to us. This Familia that only knows how to make money has no human touch at all!"
"Hmph~" Airmid ignored her teasing and turned to give orders to her Familia members.
In an instant, hundreds of young men and women wearing white healer's uniforms streamed out of the medical facility, dispersing throughout the city.
"Hey, Lyra. Don't you think these precious kids running around the city might get attacked by the Evilus..." Alise nudged Lyra's shoulder.
The Pallum's face immediately fell, "Oh, no... we overlooked something so important!"
The Evilus had been unusually active lately, and it seemed they were planning something big and mysterious. Now, with nearly half of the city's medical personnel scattered individually, if they became targets, Orario's entire medical system would collapse.
Lyra held her head, "What's going on? How did things turn out like this? My hot spring, my bath!"
Kaguya sneered, "Stop talking nonsense—you should have just cut him down in the Dungeon back then."
Alise said, "Kaguya, don't say such cold-hearted things. Let's all work together to find him."
"I remember he's from the Soma Familia. Shall we check there first?"
"Alright..."
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In a hidden alley of Northwest Street, Orario.
Surrounded by crumbling brick walls, a few crooked trees peeked out from beside dilapidated houses. The path was dimly lit, with only sparse magic stone lamps swaying gently in the darkness.
Kael suddenly sneezed.
"Who's thinking about me?" Rubbing his nose, he walked in the moonlight, turning several corners before stopping in front of a rundown room with no signboard.
He reached out and gently knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
An elderly voice came from inside, accompanied by the scraping of a stool.
"A customer."
The door creaked open, revealing a sparse, simple room devoid of decoration.
Yet the presence of the diminutive elderly figure standing before him lent the humble shop an air of majesty.
"Welcome, new face, to the Gnome's General Store. How may I assist you today, esteemed customer?"