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You're still pushing forward?

Without treatment, you're definitely getting infected.

Why would I believe a devil?

A devil, huh?

So many devils around me all the time, sometimes I forget we even have that word.

Gah, stop following us!

I've been keeping my distance.

And stop acting nice! If you're gonna kill us, just do it already!

Ru-Rublev, you really shouldn't provoke her...

Okay. We're going then.

Ignore her.

S-sorry!

I don't care if I get infected! We don't need a devil's help!

...Um.

Uh huh...

There's an abandoned hospital around here. Chernobog District Hospital.

Wanna know where it is?

Rublev...?

Don't listen to her. She's trying to trick us.

Let's ditch her... quick.

See that alley over there? You take that corner and I think we can get there in less than a minute!

Okay.

——Run!

They're fast.

H-How did she catch up to us so quick?! Agh!

Rublev... your leg! Th-the blood is turning black...

Ugh, I could've outran her if I didn't have to save you!

Sorry...

Whatever! Just be quiet.

Don't let her find us.

Head down that street, turn left, and you'll come to a ruined plaza.

On the west side, that big white building, that's the hospital.

The abandoned hospital.

...I think... she knows we're here...

Because you don't listen to me——fine.

Hey, devil.

Why did you tell us that?

Felt like it.

How do you two know each other?

I found him while I was out looking for food.

Rublev saved me...

And that's why you do what he says?

No skin off my back. Whatever you want. But now it's time for you to help out your savior here.

What are you gonna make him do?

Rublev...

Nothing. I told you, there's a hospital right over there.

I mean, Reunion isn't dumb, so they wouldn't waste perfectly good medical supplies... So if you wanna save your little pal Rublev, you're gonna have to steal.

It's a bunch of Infected thugs over there. Thugs who murdered your family and friends.

And that's the only place they'll have the drugs that can stop the onset of Oripathy.

So go steal, rob, loot, it's all good.

Just don't expect anybody to help you.

No! Don't listen to her!

B-But...

No?

He knows your name, Rublev. Do you know his?

What does that have to do with anything?!

Don't go! You can't do it! There's too many——

I——

I... I want to try...

Rublev isn't the only one who got hurt in the Catastrophe...

There's so much pain... I...

Why aren't you listening to me?!

I...

He doesn't have to listen to you.

It's good that you wanna save those people.

Just keep that hospital in mind. They keep the supplies down in an underground storeroom.

You could get in through the vents in the parking garage, or through the sewers, as long as there's not too much toxic waste down there.

You could die there though.

C'mon, your legs are shaking! You can't do it! We were dumb to even listen to a devil in the first place!

Let's get out of here!

I...

Eeep——

Wh-What was that?

Some things went down in Lungmen... wiped some stuff out here too.

Why wouldn't folks have their eye on a perfectly good battlefield hospital here in Chernobog?

Why do you think... a devil like me would know that hospital so well?

Because you——Umm, ah——

I... I...

That must hurt like a bastard. I'm starting to think he's probably beyond help at this point.

If you don't act soon..

You might just die right here.

Ah...

You, ugh, what are you doing? Stay away from me!

To go?

Or not to go?

Oh... but what if it's already too late, even if you did go? There's a riot going on, it might be too hard to sneak in and grab the goods——

I-I'm going.

——Yeah... you're dead.

Why are you still listening to her? I'm the one who saved you!

But I... want to try...

There's no way you can do it! We'll go to a drugstore, we'll find some food, that'll be enough!!

I'm sorry!

Hey... wait!

If you knew his name, maybe you could call out and stop him? Kinda sad.

You... you tricked him! You devil!

Tricked?

I haven't told a single lie.

But hey, whether or not you believe me, that's your call.

Whether or not you believe him, that's your call too.

...I, I'm gonna go find him, nnggh...

Why?

H-He can't do anything without me...

You're scared he's gonna run away.

You're thinking... why did he leave you alone with me? With a devil?

Am not!

Suka! A monster like you——

Shut up.

Wait here for him. Don't move.

Or I'll kill you.

Nnng——

Who do you think I am?

I'm a killer.

I'm the killer who destroyed this city, hurt your parents and friends.

Ah... haha. That's right.

I forgot you had that blade. Look, it's got a Sarkaz charm on the hilt, and it's still bloody.

Whose blood do you think it is?

*Whimper*... I, I don't know... you made him...

Go ahead and cry. Kids can cry.

It's all up to you... whether you live or die.

He can't do it...

You sure?

If I hadn't dug him out of those ruins, he'd already be dead...

He needs me.

Nope... nobody needs anyone.

Nobody does.

This ruined city got quiet again.

There's a lot less resistance, after that slaughter. That's a good thing. Less effort. Less death.

But it's quiet over at the hospital too. Nothing moving over there, as far as I can tell.

He... he didn't...

Huh?

Maybe... he didn't actually go...

It's been... Nng... so long...

He ran away.

But you saved him. Wouldn't he want to save you too?

...I...

Or maybe you're strong enough to save him, but he couldn't save you?

He... He can't do anything right!

Like when we went looking for food! He couldn't even tell there was someone else in the store!

It's all his fault my leg got——!

Where are you going?

I... I'm going home alone...

I already told you, you leave and you die.

But he already ran off!

Hah.

I can see it in your eyes. You hate him.

N-No I don't!

But if... if he did go... it's been so long... he must be...

——Shut up.

You won't know anything until he comes back.

You can sit here thinking he's coming back, or that he's not.

But if you're thinking that he's not, if you're doubting him, hating him, that's on you.

But you went right to thinking he blew it and ran off. Why?

Because you saved him? Because you're the strong one?

...*whimper*.

Waaahhh——

You're still strong enough to cry.

Settle down. Give it a minute and you'll be in too much pain to cry.

You're young, you're not Sarkaz. So if can't take it anymore, you can tell me.

I'll end it for you.

Wah... aahhh... waahh...

You're losing consciousness.

Ah well... guess he won't make it in time.

No... I can still...

I'll wait... for him...

You've got faith in him again. That's because you're scared to die.

Kids are a good judge of character. You won't get this kind of stuff out of me.

....Hnng...

But he's definitely taking way too long.

Got maybe ten minutes.

Don't worry. If it comes down to it, I'm not gonna let a kid die in pain.

...can't even whimper anymore, huh?

What are you thinking?

Do you hate me? Or him?

Or maybe you hate yourself for sticking your nose where it didn't belong, saving that kid, and getting yourself hurt?

...I don't...

You sure?

So you can still talk. Guess I misjudged you.

Look, Rublev.

What do you think it is that decides what a person's gonna do?

Is it a nature or nurture thing? Where they're born, how they're born? What kind of baggage they're weighed down with?

Nah, none of that matters.

It's the whole, complete, sum total of the influences on his life, all those changing thoughts and beliefs.

And just how strong he believes in those beliefs.

You saved that kid, but you didn't really trust him completely. You looked down on him, because you saw yourself as his messiah.

But him? He's easy. You saved him, he wants to save you.

When it comes to this stuff, he's stronger than you are.

Keep the blade. It's a Sarkaz blade, so I'm allowed to stand in for its owner and give it to you.

Wave it around, learn to swing it, sell it for cash. Whatever. It's yours.

That's the deal.

What... are you talking about...?

R-Rublev! Are you okay?!

Look!

I did it! I stole an entire box of medical supplies! Painkillers! Bandages!

Rublev...

Keep it... down. I'm not dead yet...

O-Okay. Let me bandage your wound...!

How do you use the bandage...? Is- is this the Oripathy medicine? I-I'll open it...

Aren't... your parents doctors?

Oh... they never taught me anything. But I'll try...

...You got hurt?

I'm fine. Just a scratch... Somebody hit me with a piece of metal...

Idiot...!

...Hehe...

Where's... the Sarkaz?

Oh... I didn't see her when I came back... Did she stay with you?

Rublev?

...Say, um... What's... your name?

Oh? Err... Andrey.

Your whole name...?

Andrey Fyodorovich Ostrovsky... heh.

What are you laughing at?

You finally asked, Rublev.

...Sorry.

N-No, you don't have to apologize...

All right. How do you feel?

Better...?

Great!

Let's go back home. I'll help you up.

The grown-ups will be very happy about this box!

I smiled, watching those kids.

If they were going to survive, they had to kill that seed of doubt.

You only suffer if you survive.

Like a moth to a flame, a worm in a hole.

You have to chase something, even at a cost.

Isn't that right...

...Talulah?