IRVB 08

Chapter 08

“Ugh….”

That night, Rodi groaned, clutching his aching stomach. The bread he’d eaten earlier had been fine, but it seemed he’d overdone it when he saw the meat served at dinner and wolfed it down.

“Ugh… ngh.”

It felt like the meat inside his stomach had curled up, sprouting thorns that jabbed at him from within.

‘I should’ve eaten less….’

He’d been afraid he might not get another chance to eat like that tomorrow. Good food was something you had to eat as much of as possible when the opportunity came. He had devoured one plate in a hurry, asked for more, and eaten until he felt like he might burst.

Afterward, Gembil had shown him a nice room with a proper bed, blankets, and even a carpet, and told him to rest. Vendor had even brought him warm water.

Yet despite being in the most comfortable sleeping place he could remember, all Rodi could do was curl up in a corner, groaning in pain.

Just a little earlier—

“Thanks for giving me a nice room!”

“I’m just following orders. Helping you ends today. As you know, this isn’t an orphanage. Learn to find what you need on your own. That’s how you survive longer.”

“Don’t worry!”

Even as he felt his stomach starting to hurt while listening to Gembil’s blunt warning, Rodi had boldly answered back, leaving himself no chance to back out now.

“Ugh… it hurts, it hurts, it hurts.”

Cold sweat poured down his face as he continued to groan.

I’ll endure it.

I’m going to become rich.

I’m never going back to the orphanage.

So I have to endure.

Pain like this is nothing.

He absolutely refused to return to a life of starving for days.

But…

It hurts so much…

Rodi’s consciousness slowly began to fade.

Normally, he would’ve gone home already, but today Gembil was still stuck inside the guild.

The guild owned a massive structure that looked like a giant castle, formed by three large connected mansions of two and three stories. The second floor of the largest main building was reserved entirely for executives, who used it freely like their own home.

Padreed, who was working late, had given him a pleading look, and Gembil hadn’t been able to refuse, ending up helping him until now.

Finally lying down, Gembil let out a sigh.

Even though he was exhausted from the long day, he couldn’t fall asleep and kept tossing and turning.

It was because of that kid who had arrived today.

Since the child had started living here immediately upon joining, Gembil had arranged a room and given him the essentials. He thought he had taken care of everything, but an uneasy feeling lingered.

‘Will he go back tomorrow?’

Staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head, Gembil thought to himself.

Regardless of age or gender—

Surviving here and making money were things everyone had to figure out on their own.

Especially since bringing up one’s status was something Ikllis hated more than anything.

It was unusual for such a young child to become a guild member, but it was obvious he’d cry and demand to go back to the orphanage within a few days.

This place was not for children.

It was for those who had come to devote themselves to Ikllis and pursue their own success.

‘What if he’s holding it in because he doesn’t know where the bathroom is?’

He looked like the type who’d need to go often. Had I even told him where it was?

Gembil turned onto his side.

Ah, but how many meals do kids usually eat? Three? Should he eat more? What time was dinner again?

After lying there unable to sleep, Gembil suddenly shot up.

“Argh!”

I should at least go tell him a few more basic things.

At this rate, I won’t get any sleep worrying all night.

“Ah, seriously, this is bothering me!”

Gembil flung the door open and headed out.

Groaning, Rodi managed to stumble outside.

The pain and suffocation were too much, and he had come out to look for someone to help him.

But after only a few steps, he collapsed and curled up again.

‘This is bad….’

Closing his eyes, he let all the strength drain from his body.

Then—

A thick black mist spread behind him, as if it had a will of its own. It wrapped around his waist and lifted him into the air.

Sweating and panting, Rodi opened his eyes at the strange sensation.

“…Huh?”

“A face I’ve never seen before?”

A boy with jet-black hair and vivid red eyes was looking at him.

The colors matched, so although they didn’t exactly look alike, he somehow reminded Rodi of Ikllis.

No—his face was even prettier.

He looked about four or five years older than Rodi.

‘Is this a dream…?’

Rodi realized he was floating in the air.

The black, intangible mist wrapped around him—and the boy seemed to control it freely, like it was his own hand.

“Lord Lexiard.”

Gembil, who had just burst out of the room and was heading toward Rodi, froze when he saw them in the hallway.

“I didn’t expect you to come today.”

He bowed respectfully.

“I just felt like stopping by. But this kid looks strange. Who is he?”

His voice carried a peculiar mix of gentleness and indifference, yet despite his young age, it held an unusual weight.

“Ah, that child is—”

“It hurts….”

“Hm? It hurts?”

Lexiard turned his head away from Gembil and leaned closer to Rodi, his voice softening.

Still floating, Rodi clutched his stomach and groaned.

Lexiard slightly raised his chin.

“Looks like management is lacking. A child is wandering around in pain.”

“I’m sorry. He’s the one Ikllis brought in today. I was supposed to take care of—”

“What are you doing? Stop acting incompetent and call a doctor.”

Rodi lay back in bed.

A doctor had appeared almost instantly and completely treated his aching stomach. The discomfort hadn’t fully disappeared yet, but he was told that after taking another dose of medicine in two hours, he would be completely fine.

Rodi liked anything edible.

So even though the medicine was bitter, he gulped it all down without hesitation.

As soon as the medicine settled his stomach, sleep came over him uncontrollably.

After groaning in pain for so long, he had exhausted all his strength.

I should say thank you…

If it weren’t for that boy in the hallway, he might have suffered much longer.

Who was he?

His eyelids grew heavy.

Rodi reached out and grabbed the nearest hand.

Lexiard, who had been about to stand up, paused as his hand was caught.

“Tha…”

Thank you. What’s your name?

He wanted to ask—but before he could finish, Rodi fell asleep.

Soft snoring followed.

Lexiard looked down at the smaller hand gripping his.

As Rodi sank deeper into sleep, his grip loosened and slipped away.

Lexiard stared at it for a moment before gently taking Rodi’s hand and placing it back on his stomach.

Tilting his head slightly, he seemed to recall the sensation from earlier.

“…Soft.”

That was Lexiard’s first impression of Rodi.

“…Ngh!”

Stretching while still lying down, Rodi wriggled under the blanket.

“You’re awake.”

At the deep voice, he peeked his head out.

“Sir!”

Gembil had stayed by his side all night, sitting in a chair.

It had been Lexiard’s order—but even without it, he probably wouldn’t have been able to leave, too concerned to return to his room.

“It’s Gembil. Does your stomach still hurt?”

Having sat with his arms and legs crossed for so long, Gembil groaned as he stood up, feeling stiff.

At the question, Rodi sat halfway up and rubbed his stomach.

It had hurt so much yesterday, but now it was completely gone.

The medicine had been incredibly bitter, but he hadn’t expected it to work this fast.

“It doesn’t hurt at all.”

Even as Rodi stared in amazement with wide eyes, Gembil didn’t seem fully convinced. He stepped closer and placed a hand on Rodi’s forehead.

“Ugh! I can’t see!”

His hand was so large compared to Rodi’s face that it covered not just his forehead, but his cheeks and chin as well.

“You’re not sweating anymore.”

Finally reassured, Gembil pushed the chair aside and headed for the door.

Fiddling with the blanket, Rodi quickly realized that Gembil had been taking care of him all night.

He had never received much care when he was sick before—at most, a teacher would throw an extra blanket over him—so even a little attention was easy for him to notice.

But since he had been told he had to survive on his own, it felt like he shouldn’t rely on others anymore.

“Thank you, sir! I won’t bother you anymore!”

Just as Gembil reached the door, he stopped.

“I told you, not ‘sir.’”

“Oh, sorry. Sir. I won’t call you sir anymore.”

One of Gembil’s eyebrows twitched upward in irritation.