The tiny nose was invisible because the skin was too shabby. Even the thin lips looked like a piece of flesh with no real shape. Dirt dominated her face. They mixed like dough on the surface. However, the stains around her cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose were no longer exposed because she had thick hair that hid the mess.
You can see how weakly her shoulders support her body. So much so that the head twists and turns without direction. The legs were like sugarcane stalks that had been milled, looking thin and boneless.
In this town, the rich are numerous, but the poor are far more numerous. Social status is determined by one's wealth and appearance. It didn't matter if one was a human being, if one was poor and had a bad appearance, then there was no humanity.
Sansega looked flatly at the person who callously kicked the shabby girl's leg until he fell down. Sansega's right hand was already clenched into a fist, but Bika grabbed his left.
"Don't interfere!"
"Why, isn't that a crime?"
"Look at how naive you are! It's a crime, but she'll also be a crime if you do se—"
However, in an instant he—the one who kicked the shabby girl—fell down miserably. Then, clutching the bruise piercing his chin while groaning in pain. Sansega stomped on the yellow—toothed man's chest that he believed was made of gold without sympathy.
"Isn't your work more important than bothering that girl, Sir?"
"Damn it! I don't have any problems with you! Is that ugly girl your lover? Then you two are indeed compatible. Both trash! Get off me, trash!"
Bika approached Sansega with a panicked look. He tugged at the man's arm.
"Let go! You can't torture him like that, Sansega!"
Sansega shot a spit right at the head of the man he was still stepping on. Then he lowered his foot. The people around the market began to whisper loudly. However, Sansega did not care.
He approached the shabby girl who was staring at the incident with a flat look. The typical gaze of the super-poor in this city. A look of despair that turned into an inability to express.
Since moving to Pyalpe City, Sansega often encountered empty eyes that greatly disturbed his humanity. He often gave them a piece of bread and a silver coin hoping for a smile or a happy twinkle. However, the few times Sansega did so, neither a smile nor a happy twinkle in her eye was ever seen.
How desperate were the super-poor people of Pyalpe City?
The question was always nagging at Sansega's mind.
While the rich and powerful people in Pyalpe lived in wealth without caring about the poor humans around them. There were even still those who complained when the food that entered their mouths did not taste as expected. It's really a bad form of city and people.
"Come with me!" Sansega held out a hand. However, there was no sign that the girl would respond.
"Feel it! An oversleeping hero like you is just doing nothing! She didn't even thank you!" scolded the golden-toothed man with a bulging belly like a football who was still glaring at Sansega vengefully.
As a doctor who had once been a swordsman in the Core Army of Rusk City—the capital of the Jegedi Empire—Sansega was eager to cut the man down. However, his priority right now was this girl.
"There is no need to be afraid. I am a doctor, if you have any complaints, you can bring them to me."
A few of them made surprised faces. The doctor profession was the rarest in Pyalpe. Only people who had money could come to treat their illnesses or injuries.
Not many people became doctors here due to the high cost of education. The nobles also chose to send their children to the knightly and business classes. Meanwhile, Sansega received a free medical school budget from the academy so he did not have to worry about the cost.
"So, come with me!" Finally, she accepted the helping hand of Sansega who was originally floating and swaying his body.
Sansega lifted the fragile body with both hands. It felt like carrying two light, dry cotton seeds. While Bika continued to grumble, he couldn't help but follow Sansega's steps towards the house.
If there was anything Sansega wanted to do now, it would probably be to feed this girl, clothe her, give her a proper job, and bring back her smile. It didn't make sense to most people, but it was his habit every time he met someone like this shabby girl in every town he visited.
Fifteen of the people Sansega had 'saved' were working in the hospital under his authority as a doctor. Most of them became cleaners and some became pharmacists after being educated. There is no way an ordinary doctor could do that.
In fact, Sansega was a doctor for the royal family who used to act in the palace. However, a few months ago the King ordered Sansega to keep an eye on Prince Hagarino—the 2nd prince—who had chosen to travel and he was required to become a shadow doctor.
"We'll be there soon. I hope you like your new home."
"You're always so kind! I don't understand the way you think, Sansega!" Bika finally spoke up after a long silence.
Bika was a cousin who was also Sansega's assistant. They had both graduated from the medical academy in the capital. However, Bika's lack of achievements meant that he could only be Sansega's babu—assistant.
"Sansega is good," he said, making Bika even more annoyed.
His two eyes stared at the girl in his arms. The girl's eyes were closed and there was an occasional heart-wrenching cry. Sometimes Sansega wondered if Bika was even human. He didn't even have the slightest empathy.
The sound of people passing by could no longer be heard. They arrived at a house far from the city facilities. The white walls with a wooden-floored terrace and some greenery around it always managed to make Sansega let out a long sigh. Because they looked messy.
Sansega and Bika were rarely in this house. Of course, they were busy watching Prince Hagarino who was still traveling around Pyalpe City. Thus, a horrible sight dominated the house. From the grass that was taller than a grown man's chest, to the dried leaves playing merrily on the terrace, to the rows of strawberry plants that... Sansega was angry now!
"Bika! Who made my strawberries look this bad?!" He set the girl down on the porch and gave Bika a sharp look.
"Ar–aren't I always with you? So, what are you asking me for?" Bika stammered. He spoke like a horse with a cold because he had seen Sansega angry so many times. Angry in the sense of fighting with rebels and brutally killing them.
A doctor and a martial arts expert, wasn't Sansega perfect? Ah, no one is perfect in this world. The proof was that he couldn't even take care of his plants properly.
"Those must be the neighbor's goats. They often—"
"Engh." A whimpering sound escaped the shabby girl's lips. Her eyes blinked weakly.
"You don't need to get up. I'll take you inside."
As a person who had lived for more than thirty years, Sansega always got surprises that were no longer surprising. Take the girl brought into the house earlier, for example. After the dark-haired man fed and watered her and gave her milk to restore her stamina, she thanked him and kissed his hand.
No, he meant that Sansega was surprised because the girl behaved like a resident of Inlane Country. The country directly bordering the Jegedi Kingdom.
If that was the case, why would she be stranded here? Especially being a miserable hobo.
"So, what's your name?"
The dust-covered face seemed to move with the activity of blinking eyes. Sansega was still waiting for an answer until a small voice was heard.
"Osie."
Sansega nodded slowly. Not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable, he immediately gave her a piece of clothing made of plain cotton. Actually, it was a casual T-shirt that Sansega usually wore. It was certain that Osie would look like a scarecrow when wearing it.
"Clean your body and replace those shabby clothes with this."
"Tha–thank you, Sir."
Again, Sansega just nodded and left her to the living room. There Sansega found Bika fast asleep on the sofa.
A piece of paper caught his eye. The royal seal became his focus. At the same time, he sighed in annoyance. The letter from the kingdom was very important, but Bika casually put it on the table just like that. What if someone came in and read it or worse stole it.
Sansega began to regret Bika's arbitrary performance. However, he did not prolong it and immediately snatched the letter and read it.
Sansega, Hagarino sent me a letter. He said he doesn't need a shadow doctor. What do you think? If you agree, go back to the Palace, but if not, keep an eye on Hagarino.
Signed
Hugofara
The official letter that looked more like a brother-to-brother letter was placed back on the table. Sansega's back was fully resting on the sofa.
So, back? The second prince was indeed too mysterious and independent. Even since he had been watching over him, only three times had the prince been affected by health-related calamities.
First, when he was pecked by a poisonous snake. Second, when hid accidentally inhaled poisonous gas on Mount Igen, and lastly he faced a group of bandits. Hagarino had sustained deep wounds around his abdomen that Sansega had appeared to treat on all three occasions.
Now... he had his father pull Sansega back to the Palace. Sansega did not doubt his abilities, but to be honest, he—Sansega—enjoyed this trip quite a bit. Seeing the dark side as well as the light side of a region across the kingdom was amazing.