bldsk

Okay, the results are out. What's that Ursus saying again? Hmm, this young man is as lively as a wild burdenbeast.

Congratulations, boy. You are not infected yet.

Infected... You mean Oripathy?

That's right. These days, you're probably one of the luckiest ones around if you're both alive and uninfected in Chernobog.

Your friend there isn't quite as lucky.

Is something wrong with Yuri?

All I can say is we took care of him before it's too late, and you've got me. If Folinic had been in charge of the area, he probably wouldn't have gotten such a wonderful patch up job.

Ahem... If she heard that, I'm sure she'd be mad.

And what do I care if she's mad? She still has much to learn.

Can she figure out right away where the Originium crystals are building up just going by the changes in the smell of his blood?

For patients like him, who just started to show symptoms, we need to do more than just take care of their wounds to keep the infection from progressing. We also need to prevent the Originium that's already in their bodies from forming leisons around the wounds.

The suppressants that are out on the market can only alleviate symptoms. Even if I'm on the case, the most I can do is minimize the risk of the disease getting any worse.

Did you hang Yuri's leg up like that to help him?

Well...

Yeah... I guess? This is an idea I've wanted to try out for a while. In his case, it should be more effective by a few percentage points.

It's so low, I guess it's probably within the margin of error? I might need to find a few more patients to test this out on...

Ahem, Dr. Warfarin, if you keep going, the young gentlemen will start trembling again.

*Whimpers*...

I get it, you saved us.

Thanks...

You can thank me later. We need to keep your friend, this Yuri boy, under observation to see how his condition turns out.

If he actually becomes Infected...

Well, let's not go into that right now.

Hey, Anton? You can rest up a little here with Yuri. Once it's bright outside, I'll take you two to our camp.

Your camp?

That's right. We have a camp here. We'll be pulling out of Chernobog soon. When that happens, we'll escort you two to a nearby Ursus city.

That is... if Yuri doesn't show any signs of further infection.

There's Oleg and the others too. There are five of us. We're together.

Is that so? Okay. I'll look for them, then. Dr. Warfarin will give them a checkup too.

If all of you stay together, your will to live on will be stronger too.

Doctor...?

Hm?

I have another question...

What is it?

Are you... really a blood-sucking monster?

*cough*, *cough*.

(Brandishes fangs)

Makes you want to take a step back, huh? No? What a brave kid.

To be honest, I have known Dr. Warfarin for a long time, and I know she may seem like she has a few screws loose...

I heard that.

*cough*, she's a very skilled doctor. It's just... when you're strapped on the operating table all of a sudden, it does kinda give you chills.

That's just your instincts at work. I forgive you.

It's like sandworms running into a Metal Crab, or some other tiny meatbeasts running into more ferocious beasts. Of course you'd be scared coming face to face with a Vampire.

And you better stay scared. Most Vampires out there aren't nearly as nice as me or Closure.

Ha... Haha.

Hm... Back to our little buddy's question—

Maybe half-and-half?

Half-and-half?

My interest in blood doesn't manifest as thirst anymore.

So... a monster then?

So you don't get mad... if you're called a monster?

Well... to you, I am a monster, no doubt about that.

I've never wished for you people to treat me as your own kind, and I don't see the other races as my equals either.

And well, if I'm a monster just because I'm unlike the others... then everyone out there can be called a monster too.

For example, if your friend Yuri actually becomes infected, then a lot of people will call him a monster.

I won't. I won't call him a monster.

What about the others? It's won't be easy for you to change how they see him.

If they insist on calling him a monster, I'll fight them off.

See? You're mad, aren't you?

You'll fight them off, and they'll fight back. Even if nobody dies in all that fighting, it'll be a waste of time, don't you think?

A waste of time...?

Yes, a waste of time. While you're angry, your friend may die of his disease.

If you take a step back and think it through slowly, you'll find that, instead of being angry, it makes more sense to spend your energy working out more important or meaningful things.

For you, hm... I suppose that's figuring out how you want to live?

Live... Right, we want to live.

That's right! And if you want to live a better life, you need to learn to accept that you are different and then figure out how to get along with others.

One more thing, buddy. Once you grow up, be sure to travel to all kinds of places and see what it's like everywhere.

That way, you will probably come to understand that... being seen as a monster is nothing worth getting angry over.