"I heard that Dian Cecht's best prosthetics cost hundreds of millions of Valis, but I won't ask for much. I'll give you a discount — just V$10,000,000!"
At the unfamiliar voice, all the women turned around at once.
In the hospital room's doorway stood a young man completely wrapped in bandages, with only his dry gray hair visible. His pupils, shaped like Valis coins, gleamed brightly.
"Hey, did you see that, Lion? This guy wants a cash settlement! 10 million with a discount? I'll show you a real discount!"
"The world isn't what it used to be!"
"So greedy!"
"Taking a mile when given an inch!"
"Trying to climb higher and higher!"
"Shameless!"
"Despicable, shameless pervert!"
"This is what the Gods meant by... a trash romance protagonist!"
Lyra and Kaguya took turns hurling accusations.
"Ah, Kaguya, Lyra. If you keep going, this poor little brother will turn into a terrible villain." Alise hugged her head, imagining Kael transforming into a beast of lust and cackling wickedly, "No, just having a skeleton won't do!"
"Enough!" A solemn childish voice cut through the commotion, silencing all discussion.
When everyone assumed it was the straightforward elf girl who had finally spoken up, the shocking rebuke came, surprisingly, from little Airmid.
"This is too reckless!" Airmid's eyes blazed with fighting spirit as she clenched her tiny fists and glared at Kael, "You're being too reckless! How can you be out of bed with injuries like yours!"
She raised her arm, pointing at the treatment room door, and shouted in an uncompromising tone.
"Get... back! Lie down!"
"Uh... okay!" Kael trembled, suddenly realizing how scary this doll-like girl could be. "Actually, I think a cash settlement would be fine, I probably don't need treatment right now..."
"Get! Back!"
"Eep!"
Thud—
The door closed, and the hall fell silent.
Alise and the others were so overwhelmed by her commanding presence that they gulped cautiously.
Phew—
Only after Airmid let out a sigh did the tension in the hall dissipate.
"Um... Airmid-chan?" Alise ventured carefully.
Airmid glanced at Lyra and said flatly, "Do you think his current state is normal?"
"What?" Lyra scratched her hair, "How would I know? I'm not a doctor."
Airmid crossed her arms, her face expressionless, "Precisely because you're not doctors — but Adventurers — you should recognize what's abnormal."
"He... can still joke around at a time like this!"
"Uh..." Kaguya opened her mouth, beginning to understand.
Alise's eyebrows drooped, her jade eye flashing with divine light as realization struck, "Pain sensation..."
Ryuu's eyes widened, "Full-body penetrating wounds, extensive burns, and then Lyra's dismembering attack — a normal person would have passed out from the pain long ago, let alone be moving around freely!"
Kaguya rubbed her arm, "True, even though Adventurers are used to suffering, this is still..."
"Hey shortie, you didn't slice his brain, did you?"
Lyra glared, "I didn't cut his head!"
Unable to reach a conclusion, everyone silently turned to the doll-like girl.
Airmid drew upon her knowledge to explain, "After experiencing despair, the human body develops two self-protection mechanisms. One is unconsciousness; the other is extreme excitement. His current condition likely falls into the latter category."
"Probably?" Lyra caught the uncertainty.
"Mm." Airmid wrung her hands behind her back.
She wouldn't admit that the current young Dea Saint was still just a novice with incomplete knowledge...
"His current condition shows subtle differences from typical cases. I need more time to study it. Perhaps it's related to his unique abilities."
"Well... nothing we can do about that." Alise was curious but shrugged helplessly.
Every Adventurer's ability scores were Familia secrets that couldn't be casually investigated. As the leader of the Astraea Familia, she naturally wouldn't make an exception.
However...
"By the way, does that guy really need over 100 million Valis for treatment?" Lyra grimaced while calculating the clan's finances.
Though she was extremely reluctant to pay the fee, since their youngest member had spoken up, there was no choice, but...
V$100,000,000? For a Familia that was only Level 3 overall, it was an astronomical sum.
That could buy 3 million Jagamarukun — enough to fill the entire West Street.
Airmid froze, and the Silver Saint, still new to her duties, showed embarrassment on her face.
She nervously fidgeted with her fingers behind her back and stammered, "Y-yes, that's... that's right. Our prosthetics are currently the best, so naturally they cost more."
"So you're saying there are inferior products?" Lyra's question cut straight to the point.
"Uh... mm. Yes."
"Or maybe his injuries don't actually require prosthetics?"
"Complete restoration would actually cost even more in treatment fees." Airmid spoke more smoothly this time, "The old man said it's too troublesome to treat, so we might as well amputate and be done with it. Plus... plus we can use him as a living advertisement..."
"That's — that's demonic!" Ryuu was shocked once again by this treatment facility.
"That's too much! We're a proper medical institution!" Airmid immediately objected, then continued with less confidence, "It's just... well... the old man said this is a normal business model! Yes, that's it — 'business model'! However, compared to his physical injuries, I think the patient's mental state is more concerning. I suggest you report this to his patron deity. Having friends come to care for him might help his recovery."
Alise looked at Lyra, "So, does this guy have any close relationships? Like family, sworn brothers?"
Lyra rubbed her chin, "Well, in large Familias like the Soma Familia, people who adventure together usually have the closest bonds."
"But they're all dead."
"..."
No wonder he became so strange. Is he trying to forget the loss of his dear friends this way?
Ryuu thought silently.
In her journey fighting darkness, she had witnessed similar scenes countless times. This time... again they had arrived too late. So many people died, and they had almost killed an innocent person. In the end, she still couldn't do anything.
She bit her lip, silently vowing that next time she definitely wouldn't let such a tragedy happen!
Whap!
A heavy pat landed on her shoulder.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
Turning her head, she saw Alise's brilliant smile.
"Lion, are you blaming yourself again? Don't be discouraged — we protected the young man well, didn't we? Though it's unfortunate, we'll definitely make everyone smile again!" Alise thumped her chest, "It's decided. Since the young man has lost all his friends, we'll be his friends instead! While fighting darkness, we won't forget to care for people. Hehe~ that's exactly my style."
"Yes, Alise!"
Just as the two were feeling pleased with themselves, Kaguya placed a list in front of Alise, "Hey, before you get too generous, take a look at this... Even after Airmid cut out most of the excessive treatments and kept only what's needed for his basic quality of life, this fee is still outrageous..."
"Silly, it's partly Lyra's fault anyway, so we'll split it between all of us. It'll be quick." Alise took the list, and her eyes rolled back when she saw the number, "20... 20 million Valis? Hey, Lyra, maybe... maybe a cash settlement would be better?"