The streets of the slums were filthy—dirt pathways covered in garbage, the air thick with the stench of rot and sewage.
Walking through narrow alleys and hopping over broken fences only reinforced how run-down this part of the city truly was.
'To think this used to be the old capital.'
More than a hundred years ago, when the empire first formed, this slum had been the heart of the nation. Built beside the sea, it thrived on fishery and trade, becoming the northern continent's largest commercial hub.
But as the Avalah Empire expanded, a grand citadel was constructed across the river to the west, drawing the wealthy and powerful to its gates. The privileged migrated to the new city, while those who couldn't afford to follow were left behind.
Though still functional, the slums had since fallen into decay, plagued by crime and poverty after years of neglect—a situation that only worsened with the outbreak of war.
Unfortunately, all that historical knowledge from the game's wiki did little to help my current predicament.
Kana glanced over her shoulder, her sharp eyes flicking to me as I lagged behind. "Keep up. You said you were going to help, not wheeze like an old man."
Already out of breath, I gasped, "Hah… I am helping. Just… appreciating the rich aroma of sewage and rotting fish."
She snorted. "Yeah? Get used to it. Smells worse when the tide's low."
"Fantastic," I muttered as she took another sharp turn into an even narrower and filthier alley. "You seem a little too comfortable in these streets."
"Grew up here," she said, her tone almost casual. "Not exactly a brag, but I know every twist, turn, and rat hole in this place."
"That explains why we haven't been stabbed yet."
She smirked. "Yet."
I sighed. "Great. Super reassuring."
For a while, we walked in silence, weaving through the maze of crumbling brick walls and makeshift homes. A stray dog gnawed on something I deliberately chose not to identify.
Then, Kana spoke up, her voice softer than before. "...You've been doing a lot for us lately."
I blinked. "What?"
"You know. The extra work. Cleaning our rooms, hauling bath water, keeping an eye out for us when the soldiers come around. You don't have to, but you do. Why?"
She didn't look at me when she said it, just kept walking.
I wasn't sure what answer she wanted, so I gave the one I had already prepared.
"Because you're all my family."
Kana's head tilted slightly, as if she hadn't expected that answer. "...Huh?"
"I grew up in the brothel. You girls are the closest thing I have to family," I admitted with a shrug. "So, even if we're not blood-related, as the little brother of the group, I want to help my sisters out."
She stopped walking for a moment, allowing me to catch up.
Honestly, even I thought that sounded a little cheesy, but it was the truth.
Though I had only been here for a month, between the original Kayle's memories and my own experiences, those feelings weren't far off from reality.
'It wasn't the only reason I decided to help, but it was one of them.'
I took the opportunity to catch my breath, waiting for Kana to start moving again.
Then, without warning, she reached over and aggressively ruffled my hair—like she was trying to scalp me.
"Well, aren't you sweet," she teased, laughing.
Unable to resist her rough handling, I just allowed her to do as she pleased.
Still smirking, she stopped messing with my hair as she continued. "C'mon, we're almost there."
Sighing to myself, I fixed my hair before following after her.
***
After turning what felt like the hundredth alley, we finally emerged onto a narrow street flanked by tall buildings that blocked out the sun. Unlike the rest of the slums, the buildings here were in noticeably better condition—still old, but well-maintained.
Walking up to a two-story building with a wooden sign displaying a carved herb symbol, Kana didn't hesitate to barge in without knocking.
A soft chime rang as we entered. The air was thick with the scent of dried herbs and a faint floral undertone. My eyes quickly scanned the cramped yet meticulously organized front desk. Shelves lined the walls, packed with jars of herbs, small critters preserved in liquids, and spice racks hanging from the ceiling.
As I took in the colorful assortment, Kana wasted no time. "Oi, Ave! You alive back there?"
A soft chuckle drifted from the back. "Barely," a smooth, amused voice replied. "And here I thought I'd get to enjoy a quiet afternoon."
A moment later, a young woman, seemingly in her late teens, parted the beaded curtain covering the doorway and stepped into view. She wore a tattered dress beneath a simple apron, her long blonde hair tied into a neat bun with a small flower accessory nestled within. Her deep blue eyes, hidden behind round spectacles, carried a tiredness that didn't quite fit her age.
I frowned slightly. There was something familiar about her, though I couldn't place why.
Kana waved impatiently. "Yeah, yeah, enough of that. We need medicine. Lena's got a fever."
"A fever?" Ave tilted her head, her expression sharpening. "What are the symptoms?"
Kana hesitated. "Uh… fever, obviously. And she—uh—"
Unable to listen any longer, I cut in smoothly, "She's been running a high fever since this morning and recently fainted—presumably from weakness. Strained breathing, excessive sweating. No signs of vomiting."
A brief pause.
Kana stared at me, eyebrows slightly raised. "...Huh."
Ave, however, was all business. "Fainting, fever, difficulty breathing..." she murmured, turning towards the shelves. Her fingers skimmed over the labeled jars. "Fever grass for the fever. Nutrient supplements for recovery." She pulled down a bundle of dried leaves and a few small vials. "Boil the grass into tea—twice a day. Give her the supplements with food." She glanced at us. "That'll be 120 crowns."
I nodded, memorizing her instructions. Despite her youthful appearance, she clearly knew what she was doing. There was just one problem.
Kana shifted uncomfortably beside me. "...So, funny thing about that."
Ave sighed, as if she already knew what was coming. "Let me guess. You don't have any money."
Kana bit her lip but didn't bother trying to deny it.
Ave crossed her arms. "Kana, I can't just give this away for free. I'm barely keeping this place running as it is."
"Come on, Ave, please?" Kana pleaded. "There's gotta be something we can do."
Ave rubbed her temple. "And what exactly are you offering? Any useful skills?"
Kana straightened. "I can clean!"
Ave gave her a long, skeptical look. "...You? Clean?"
"Hey, I can—"
"I watched you grow up, Kana. That's a hard sell."
Kana scowled. Before she could argue, I spoke up. "I can read and write."
Both of them turned to look at me.
"You can what?" Kana blurted.
Ignoring her, I focused on Ave. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed slightly. "You can read?"
Before I could respond, Kana yanked me aside and whispered harshly, "Brat, now's not the time to mess around!"
I shook off her grasp. "Trust me."
Kana hesitated, then reluctantly stepped back.
"If you don't believe me, you can test me," I offered.
Ave studied me for a moment, then a small smile tugged at her lips. "Alright. Read the labels on the shelves."
Following her finger, I began to read them aloud.
Luckily, everything was written in English, so it wasn't much different from Earth.
'God bless the devs for being lazy and not creating a foreign language setting.'
Kana's mouth hung slightly open as I listed the herbs. Ave, on the other hand, looked amused.
"Interesting," she murmured. "Not many people in the slums can read. And you said you can write, too?"
"Would you like me to prove that as well?" I asked, already prepared to demonstrate my writing and maybe even math skills if necessary.
Ave giggled. "No need."
Kana finally snapped out of her daze. "Since when could you read?"
I shrugged. "For a while now. Just never had a chance to use it."
"But—" Kana looked like she wanted to argue but held back. Instead, she sighed and turned to Ave. "Well, since Kayle can read and write, do we have a deal?"
Ave adjusted her glasses, her gaze lingering on me. "Can you clean?"
"I work as a servant boy at the Midnight Inn. Cleaning is my specialty."
"Great! Then you'll help me out in the mornings until the debt is paid off." Ave clapped her hands, looking rather pleased. "Given the standard rate, you'll need to work for about a week."
"Deal, but I can only work until noon. I can't miss my shift at the brothel," I added.
Ave didn't even blink. "No problem. I already accounted for that."
She smiled triumphantly, as if she'd just made an excellent bargain.
"Well then, I hope we get along, Ms. Ave." I stretched out my hand.
Ave hesitated before shaking it, awkwardly scratching her cheek. "Just Ave is fine."
With everything settled, we went over the details one last time. It wasn't ideal—I wouldn't get paid and would lose even more sleep—but if it meant getting Lena the medicine, it was worth it.
Kana, who had been quiet for most of the discussion, had taken to observing a colorful lizard in a jar.
"Here's the medicine. Remember my instructions." Ave handed over the bundle.
Kana turned back just as Ave stepped forward and gave her a brief hug. Kana stiffened but awkwardly returned it.
"It was good seeing you again, Kana. Take care of your friend."
Kana scoffed. "With a smartass like Kayle around, I won't have to do a thing."
Ave giggled before turning to me. "And Kayle?"
"Yes?"
"Don't be late." She smirked.