GDTEA Ch 52

Foolish Ones

Standing before the entrance of the village surrounded by sturdy log walls, Sharti exchanged glances with Ren.

‘It’ll be fine.’

To show that there was nothing to fear, Sharti stepped ahead of Ren.

Looking up at the village entrance from the mountain where the fog had cleared, it appeared majestic, but Sharti walked forward without showing any sign of intimidation.

Although she could feel watchful eyes, not a single person’s shadow was visible.

‘If they were going to drive me away, they would have thrown stones from the entrance like last time.’

The atmosphere seemed more like “come in if you dare.”

Sharti slowly entered the village.

“Master,” Ren called, deliberately using the formal title as he followed behind Sharti.

As Sharti had carefully instructed him, Ren didn’t look around the village or roll his eyes.

‘It’s been a while since I felt this.’

Sharti swallowed dryly.

As watchful gazes attached themselves to her, she felt her robe growing heavier—an illusion. It seemed like hostility toward outsiders still permeated the air.

At least with Ren behind her, she felt a sense of mission and stability from not being alone this time, making it quite bearable.

‘This must be difficult for Ren?’

For Ren, who suffered from amnesia, this atmosphere might be overwhelming.

What was familiar to her would likely feel stifling and intimidating to him.

With concern, Sharti couldn’t help but glance back.

“Why are you looking back, Master?”

Ren seemed fine. His complexion, expression, and breathing remained steady and calm.

He appeared unfazed by others’ gazes or the surrounding atmosphere.

If anything, he seemed familiar with it, stable and composed.

Thanks to him, Sharti also relaxed her tension.

“Doctor—”

Before long, Ashu appeared before the two of them.

Not just Ashu, but several rough-looking villagers were with him.

“I believed in you and waited. Thank you, thank you so much for coming.”

Ashu smiled broadly with smiling eyes.

Both Sharti and Ren could sense the anxiety and relief in Ashu’s eyes.

However, Sharti couldn’t immediately look for the patients.

“……”

It was because of the white-haired old man standing behind Ashu with an intense presence.

The elderly man, who looked much older than Vireta, exuded such hostility that Ren instinctively felt the urge to shield Sharti.

While Ren calmed his muscles that had tensed from the tension, Sharti looked at the old man without trembling.

“Grandfather, you must keep your promise. The Doctor has come to our village as a doctor, so please don’t be rude like last time.”

Ashu turned to his grandfather, demanding confirmation.

The white-haired old man with the notably long beard was Ashu’s grandfather. The deep wrinkles showed the years he had lived.

“……”

As advised by Sharti, Ren wasn’t wearing bandages and slightly raised his head when he felt the old man’s gaze.

Deliberately, he showed his bare face without any special measures.

He needed to display an attitude of having nothing to hide so they wouldn’t question the unexpected presence of an assistant.

“Doctor—”

Sure enough, Ashu’s grandfather shifted his gaze from Ren and addressed Sharti.

His voice, though weakened, came across surprisingly sharp.

“Have you come saying you can cure our village’s illness?”

Strong distrust and wariness were conveyed in just one sentence.

“If you cannot cure it, you won’t be able to leave this village. And if you do cure it, there might be a reason that will keep you from leaving the village.”

Ashu’s grandfather stroked his long beard while looking at Sharti.

“If you’re going to leave, now is your only chance.”

Isn’t that a threat?

Ren’s lips twisted.

These people cared more about the village’s existence than the village’s patients.

“…Master.”

Ren softly called out to the silent Sharti.

He meant that they should leave immediately, not caring what happened to such a village.

“…!”

However, Sharti answered by firmly gripping Ren’s hand.

Ren, who had inhaled sharply, glanced at Sharti, who was only staring straight ahead.

There was a strange tingling from his solar plexus to his chest at her reassuring look that seemed to say everything would be fine if he just trusted her.

While Ren was struggling with this unknown symptom, Sharti took out a note and handed it to Ashu.

<Where are the patients?>

“They’re over there!”

Ashu, who had been anxiously fidgeting for fear that Sharti might leave immediately if offended, brightened up and stepped forward.

The white-haired old man’s white eyebrows twitched.

“You will stay?”

Sharti straightened her back and nodded.

“There are many foolish people who believe their meddling is goodwill. Do as you wish.”

With those final words, Ashu’s grandfather turned and left, supported by the villagers.

Ren watched the retreating old man and clicked his tongue inwardly.

These people were even more twisted in character than he had expected, more than what Sharti had told him.

It was beyond rudeness—it was inconsiderate behavior toward someone who had come a long way to save people’s lives.

“Doctor, I apologize on his behalf.”

Ashu carefully spoke while watching Sharti’s reaction.

“I convinced my father, but my grandfather is very strict about village rules…”

To Ren, Ashu’s excuse sounded pitiful.

Ren wanted to sneer at the notion that rules were more important than human lives, but he suppressed his irritation because Sharti was holding his hand.

<Where are the patients?>

Sharti shook the note again, seemingly unfazed as the reaction was exactly as she had expected.

Ashu hurriedly guided them to the sick patients.

<Have you isolated the patients?>

“Yes. We suspected it might be an infectious disease. Although, seeing that isolation hasn’t helped, it probably isn’t contagious.”

Ashu explained that even residents who had no connection with the patients and hadn’t interacted with others for a while were collapsing.

He added that there still hadn’t been any deaths.

“So my grandfather and the village elders say not to make a fuss, that it might be an illness that time will naturally resolve…”

“It’s pathetically pitiful to see people unwilling to empathize with others’ pain.”

Ren, unable to hold back, criticized sharply under his breath.

Sharti, feeling just as dismayed, didn’t stop him.

‘What secret could be so important?’

Their stubborn insistence on overcoming this on their own without seeking outside help was beyond selfish—it was grotesquely cruel.

“Is this village doctor still in hiding?”

At Ren’s question, Ashu glanced at Sharti and then shook his head.

His face revealed complex emotions that he was struggling to suppress.

“…It’s over there.”

“……”

Putting aside questions about the village doctor for now, Sharti looked at the several huts Ashu pointed to.

Sharti took out a cloth from her bag and handed it to Ren. Following them, Ashu also covered his nose and mouth.

“I’ve brought the doctor.”

Ashu briefly introduced them as they opened the door and entered.

Sharti skipped the greetings and quickly examined the patients.

“Ugh, ugh… sob…”

“Ah, ugh…, urgh…”

The patients, unable to even open their eyes, had blue fluorescent spots spread across their bodies, just as Ashu had described.

Ashu, who had been standing back, approached with an anxious face.

“…Doctor, do you know what this disease is?”

“Please don’t speak to my master while she’s treating patients.”

Ren immediately blocked Ashu’s view, stepping in front of him.

As a startled Ashu apologized and stepped back, Sharti discreetly slipped her hand into her bag.

Buzz—. The raw stone in the bag was vibrating strongly.

The stone, which had been continuously vibrating since their arrival at the village, was now reacting most intensely.

‘…Found it.’

Besides the stone, Sharti also discovered one commonality among the patients.

It was the same sense of incongruity she had felt when treating Ren in the cave.

‘Hmm…’

Having roughly guessed the cause of the disease, Sharti fell into contemplation.

The treatment method was surprisingly simple.

The problem was that convincing them would be difficult.

‘What to do.’

Sharti’s downcast eyes scanned the patients one by one.

‘They won’t die immediately, but they will eventually die if we delay.’

After checking the patients’ pulses, Sharti swallowed a sigh.

These people were merely hanging on by burning their life force.

‘They’ll probably argue about how to believe me. No, before that, they might try to silence me first.’

She could clearly envision what would happen as soon as she revealed her medical diagnosis.

The threat from Ashu’s grandfather wasn’t particularly concerning.

She was only worried about wasting time in useless arguments and missing the critical moment.

‘But I came here to save lives, not to stand by helplessly.’

Once she made the decision, what needed to be done became clear.

Sharti gestured to Ashu.

<I’d like to look after the patients for a day before discussing further.>

“Doctor, do you perhaps…”

A glimmer of hope flickered in Ashu’s cautious eyes.

Sharti shook her head for now.

<I can’t be certain yet.>

Ashu was a good person.

He genuinely worried about the villagers and prioritized others’ pain over secrets.

But separate from that, Ashu was the eldest son of the village chief.

While his support would be reassuring, it also required caution.

“I understand. Temporary lodging and meals are prepared for you. I’ll guide you whenever you wish.”

Perhaps because he trusted Sharti, a small hope settled on his clear face.

After bowing politely, Ashu left the log cabin to avoid interfering with the treatment.

“I’ll bring whatever you need.”

As soon as Ashu left, Ren immediately spoke to her.

Meanwhile, he discreetly stood with his back to the windows and door. While pretending to point at the bed where a patient lay, Ren subtly held up three fingers.

It was a prearranged signal between him and Sharti.

‘Three people watching.’

When Sharti pretended her shoulder was stiff by tapping it lightly, Ren promptly brought a backless chair.

Sharti naturally sat with her back to Ren. Thanks to this, watchful eyes were still blocked by Ren.

“Please don’t overexert yourself on the first day, Master.”

His stiff tone of voice reflected his current feelings.

In simpler terms, he meant he didn’t like their attitude from day one.

“I believe in you, Master.”

He meant those bastards who distrusted Sharti were extremely despicable.

“You are all that matters to me.”

He meant he wouldn’t hold back if they crossed the line.

Sharti smiled softly, appreciating Ren’s firm stance.

Thanks to him, her tension eased.

<From now on, Ren, just say anything.>

“I’ll massage your shoulders.”

After glancing at Sharti’s note, Ren carefully placed his hands on her shoulders.

<I figured out the disease. But I lack evidence to support my claim. So, I need you to do something for me.>

“Please tell me if it hurts.”

Though just pretending would have been enough, Ren diligently massaged her shoulders.

Thanks to this, the shoulder muscles she hadn’t been able to relax gradually loosened under his firm touch.

‘Mmmmm…’

Though she needed to continue their written conversation, it was difficult to focus as Ren’s massage made her feel relaxed from head to toe.

Ren felt this too.

He devoted himself even more enthusiastically to the massage.

“Ugh, ugh…”

“…!”

But the groans of the surrounding patients quickly brought Sharti back to her senses.

Ahem, feeling embarrassed, Sharti continued writing.

<Could you walk around the village for me? Pay special attention to livestock and plants.>

“I’m not sure if you’ll be satisfied with my skills.”

He meant he doubted his own observational abilities could discover anything useful.

It was a self-doubting response from someone who couldn’t even distinguish between herbs and weeds.

<Just take this raw stone with you. Remember what it reacts to and what it doesn’t.>

“I’ll try my best to please you.”

Ren finished massaging Sharti and, pretending to kneel before her in respect, took the raw stone.

“Then I’ll follow that person to check where you’ll be staying, Master.”

Using Ashu as a good excuse, Ren left the log cabin.

Watching Ren’s retreating figure, Sharti wrinkled her nose and rubbed her cheek.

Now that Ren was gone, embarrassment belatedly swept over her.

‘What’s the use of all that practice?’

It was no easy task to be addressed as “Master” and be waited on so attentively by Ren in a real situation.

It also tickled her ears how Ren used formal speech instead of casual language.

‘Somehow Ren seems to be not just skilled but enjoying it.’

Although Ren deliberately maintained an expressionless face to avoid showing any weakness to Ashu and the villagers, Sharti caught glimpses of his composure in fleeting moments.

The composure visible only in front of Sharti seemed like a signal granted exclusively to her.

‘…A signal that I’m not alone.’

Sharti clenched her fist as she stood up.

‘I can do this well.’

Because Ren was there. Because they were together.

As her mind settled, she became more confident.

Her reddish eyes sparkled brightly.

And that night, Sharti called for Ashu.

<I was thinking of becoming a thief.>

Ashu’s face went blank.