nymph

Originium, and war.

I'm so sorry!

Let's get down to business. I am wondering what it is that you would like to hire me to do?

Your resume says you're fluent in multiple languages... There are a lot of Infected refugees in Kazdel right now, and they'll need all kinds of help.

But most of the operators we have at the Rhodes Island office right now are Sarkaz. They know some basic everyday words, but it's not enough to help them fully understand the needs of Kazdel's new residents.

They also wouldn't be able to discern the smallest differences in the descriptions of symptoms.

I see. Even the tiniest error in language can be a matter of life and death to a patient.

It would be my pleasure to provide language support for Rhodes Island's doctors, but I'm afraid I can't make any medical decisions.

That's okay! As long as you're willing to help!

There's one other thing... and it's a little awkward to ask, but I will likely need your help to ask Hoederer for some time off. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend his literacy classes.

Um... You're learning how to read and write?

...I'm his substitute teacher.

Sorry! O-Okay, it's a promise, then. Thank goodness. I still have time to interview the next person... Good thing I brought the resume with me.

Mind if I take a quick look? It might be someone I know.

Wait, him? He's very famous on the battlefield. Even I've heard of him. That's how infamous he is. You'd best be careful.

What?!

H-Hello... Are you Mr. 'Metal Chain?'

Need something?

I'm in charge of hiring at the Rhodes Island office. You submitted your resume, so I'm here to give you an interview.

'Resume...' I know what that word means. Asked somebody about it. Yeah, I handed one in, but what's an 'interview?'

It's um... a little investigation. I'll ask you some questions, and you just... um, need to answer them honestly.

Haven't I already put everything worth mentioning on the resume? Why do you need to ask me about them again?

Um, you wrote all about your achievements on the battlefield, and that's very impressive, but I'm more interested in the 'temporary housing construction experience' that you only briefly touched on.

Oh?

The mercenary stands up with his blade. Immediately, Nymph finds herself shrouded in his enormous shadow.

U-Umm... If you don't want to talk about it, I-I'll...

You're interested in building houses, too?!

Nymph freezes. The mercenary in front of her is very... excited, like a kid who's showing off his toys to others.

How many are you going to build? How big's the plot?! What about the materials...? Never mind, that's the easiest part to solve.

Come on, spill it!

Oh, um... Okay! We're planning to build some sickrooms to house Infected in need of medical assistance. That's why I want to hire a foreman who has construction experience.

Foreman? I don't like gigs where all I do is boss people around.

But if it's for taking care of the wounded, then that's alright by me. I have a few brothers that I'll ask to help. You let us know how you want the houses. We'll figure out how to build them.

That's great, but... We aren't planning on hiring a whole construction crew just yet...

What's that supposed to mean? You think we're in this for the money? They don't need no damn pay. Hell, you don't have to pay me, either.

I can't stand anyone who leaves the wounded behind on the battlefield!

But this is not a battlefield... The war is over already. These are just sick people. People who came here from other places and happen to be sick.

'The war is over...' Right.

The mercenary crumbles to the floor.

Are you okay, Mr. Metal Chain?

Where are these sick people from?

All sorts of places. Places that won't accept them anymore.

And they don't mind coming to Kazdel and living in houses built by the Sarkaz?

To them, the houses might be their lifeline, and the builders of the houses are their saviors.

Alright. That's good enough for me. I'm taking this job.

Uhh... I guess the interview is... over, then?

How should I know? You're the one interviewing me.

The last resume's address should be right around here. Knows how to treat patients... A farmer?

But why is she still staying outside the city? I thought there were more patients in the city?

Nymph gazes at a hut a short distance away. There is a frail-looking Kuranta woman standing on a ladder and patching the roof.

A few children are nervously holding the ladder for her. All of them have clean bandages wrapped around their bodies.

Hello—

Noticing Nymph, the Kuranta woman sends the children back into the hut and climbs down the ladder before greeting Nymph.

Hello, Miss Gretel. I'm...

Hello, Nymph.

Is this about the resume?

Uh... Y-Yes. You wrote on the resume that you can treat patients. That's the kind of help we need at Rhodes Island's office right now...

I'm sorry, I lied. I can't treat anyone.

But...

A few Sarkaz who can't write came here from the city and asked me to help him write a simple resume in exchange for some wheat seeds, and I accepted.

As for whether he sold the resume to others after that, that's none of my concern.

I can't treat anyone, and my name is not 'Gretel.' Sorry for having you come all the way here.

Nymph wants to say something. She can smell the medicine that's being brewed inside, and she saw the children's bandages.

But the Kuranta woman has already turned around.

I've met you before, haven't I?

'Gretel' stops in her tracks and shrugs.

I've met a lot of people. When would that have been?

When I was still very small, I scraped my arm. You bandaged it for me... didn't you?

Nymph points at a child who is peeking through the door. On the child's ankle is a clean, white bandage tied up with a beautiful bow knot.

Nymph still remembers that light, beautiful bow knot. Just looking at it was enough to make her stop crying.

You used to be a doctor at Babel, weren't you?

'Used to.' Right, I used to be.

You treated me, and you are treating other children now.

So?

There are still lots of children in Kazdel who are waiting to be treated... and not just Sarkaz children.

The Kuranta woman turns around and wipes the sweat off her face.

I have nothing against Sarkaz children.

I just don't want to set foot in that city again.

The past is in the past. Everyone has their own choices. Nymph, you've known that since you were young.

I understand that... Thank you.

The Kuranta woman looks toward the hut and yells, as though reprimanding the children for not behaving.

But I don't understand. You still live at the foot of Kazdel's walls, and you wrote your actual address on the resume.

You want to say that I didn't have to do this, right? Like I did it to help you find me?

The Kuranta woman looks at the recuperating children and smiles sincerely.

Since he promised to bring me some seeds, I had to let him know where I live, somehow.

Right...

I am doing what Rhodes Island is doing as well. It's merely that I don't need another job that's in name only.

Goodbye, Nymph.

Nymph. Nymph!

There you are, Nymph! I put together a new resume! Please, take it!

Slow down. Sit down and relax... What's that bag in your hand?

It's a bunch of wheat seeds. I promised somebody...

What?! So it was you who started those phony resumes!

N-No, I didn't!

I only know how to write my name, so I told that doctor everything and asked her to help me write my resume, but then someone stole my resume!

So I wrote my name all over another sheet of paper, hoping you'll help me once you see it.

But then I figured I ought to write everything down clearly to prove to everybody what kind of person I am.

So I went to the consultant guy, and he taught me how to write everything word by word. I came here in a hurry to hand it to you.

Let's see... Your name is... Gretel?!

Right. The doctor gave me that name.