Chapter 25: Sisters (Questionable) Quarrel

"...Although I really don’t want to say this as a doctor, Oleg’s condition is not optimistic."

Natasha pinched the bridge of her nose, her eyes tired as she glanced back at the man still lying on the operating table.

His skin was dark, and he appeared to be in his fifties. His muscular frame, once sculpted and strong, was now covered in scars and fresh wounds. The most severe was a puncture wound on his abdomen.

Natasha had done her best to stop the bleeding, but the rest was up to him to endure.

If not for Venti secretly using his powers to disperse the crystalline elements clinging to Oleg’s bones and aiding in his treatment, he might have either died or been left with chronic ailments.

Now, the fact that he was out of immediate danger and had fallen into a deep sleep was the best outcome.

Though Natasha had her suspicions, she hadn’t fully pieced things together yet. She simply said in a low voice,

"More importantly, after this battle, the clinic’s medical supplies are critically low. If we don’t replenish them soon, most of these people will end up permanently disabled."

While Bronya was still processing her words, Seele, standing nearby, clenched her fists, her eyes filled with hatred as she growled,

"Damn it, if it weren’t for those idiots refusing to listen and resorting to reckless mining, the tunnel wouldn’t have collapsed, and the rift monsters wouldn’t have shown up."

"Those idiots?"

Venti, who had been about to go fetch medicine for Natasha, instinctively pressed for more details.

He had initially thought the Wildfire members had been caught in a mining accident, but it seemed there was internal conflict involved.

"Who else? Those spineless scum who only know how to attack their own people!"

Seele was in a foul mood, her language coarse and laced with Lower District slang.

"Where did they get such powerful explosives?"

"I don’t know. But those homemade bombs are unstable. Not only did they take out a bunch of their own people, but they almost buried the boss and the others who went to negotiate under the mine."

She scratched the ends of her hair in frustration, clearly angry that she hadn’t been there at the time.

"I was guarding the outside, so I was lucky not to get caught in it. But the monsters drawn by the explosion showed up right on time, and that’s how we ended up in this mess."

Seele explained quickly, and though the details were sparse, it was enough for everyone present to understand the situation.

"...What a terrible day."

Even Venti couldn’t help but sigh.

"No, the more I think about it, the angrier I get. I need to go back and teach those bastards a lesson."

Seele, growing more furious by the second, hoisted her scythe and was about to charge off to the raiders’ camp to wreak havoc.

"Seele, wait!"

Natasha stopped the impulsive girl. Faced with the kind doctor, Seele couldn’t act recklessly and had to suppress her agitation, listening patiently.

"The priority right now isn’t revenge against them—they’ve suffered heavy losses too. What we need is to find enough medical supplies to treat everyone."

Natasha spoke sternly.

"...They have supplies too."

Seele muttered stubbornly.

"If you do that, won’t you be just like them?"

Natasha’s tone grew even harsher.

"But—!"

Seele felt a surge of frustration and anger, but when it came to arguing, she was no match for the well-read Natasha.

So, when she looked to Venti, hoping he’d say something, Bronya, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"Um, may I say something?"

"Who are you?"

"Uh... didn’t we just talk earlier?"

"Who cares about that? I mean, where are you from? The Mechanical Settlement? Some vagrant family? Or—are you actually from the Upper District?"

This seemed to touch on a secret Bronya desperately wanted to keep hidden. She immediately denied it.

But Seele, sharp as ever, caught the fleeting panic in her expression.

Back when Seele used to try lying to Oleg or Natasha, she’d make the same face.

Now, with someone from the Upper District showing up at such a time, clearly disguised and acting suspiciously, it was obvious they were up to no good.

"No? Then why are you so nervous?"

Seele’s expression darkened, and the way she hefted her scythe left no doubt in Bronya’s mind that she wouldn’t hesitate to use it if she didn’t get a satisfactory answer.

Bronya hadn’t brought her custom sniper rifle on this trip. Even if she had, in such a confined space, she’d be at a disadvantage in close combat.

The atmosphere grew tense, and Natasha looked to Venti. She knew this girl had come with him.

If Venti vouched for her, Natasha was willing to extend her trust.

As everyone’s eyes turned to him, Venti finally stepped in, spreading his hands.

"Natasha’s right. What we need now is to treat the injured, not waste time on suspicion."

Seeing Venti take a stance, Seele’s attitude softened slightly, though she still grumbled,

"That’s easy for you to say, but what if she’s a spy from the Upper District..."

"I’m not!"

Bronya, who had been unfairly doubted and antagonized, finally snapped.

This drew unnecessary attention, and she quickly pressed her lips together, though her gaze remained stubbornly fixed on Seele.

Seele, never one to back down, glared back, her expression clearly saying, You want a fight? Let’s go.

It wasn’t until Venti stepped between them, breaking their heated stare-down, that the tension eased slightly.

Natasha seized the moment to ask,

"Venti, who is she?"

"She’s Bronya. A—"

Venti seemed to deliberate how to introduce her, dragging out his words until Natasha gave him a reproachful look. Then he smiled and said,

"Someone like me, who has a kind heart and wants to help the Lower District."

"That’s it?"

Seele still found it hard to believe, so Venti came clean.

"Alright, fine. She’s actually the Supreme Guardian’s heir, way above my station. She’s here to understand the people’s plight and help improve life in the Lower District."

"Do I look like an idiot to you? Someone from the upper echelons wouldn’t lower themselves to care about us outcasts."

Seele scoffed.

Though relieved her true identity hadn’t been exposed, Bronya felt a mix of guilt and helplessness at the hostility in Seele’s words.

The Lower District had long since turned its back on the Supreme Guardian, even hating the Upper District by extension. But this resentment wasn’t without reason...

"While that might be true, who’s to say? Maybe she just felt like coming down here on a whim!"

The mischievous bard added with a grin.

"And Seele, though you’re a bit clumsy, stubborn, and fall asleep after two pages of reading, I find your honesty about your shortcomings quite endearing."

"W-who’s endearing?! You smooth-talking bard!"

Seele’s cheeks flushed red as she tried to hide her embarrassment, though her scolding lacked bite.

"And don’t think I didn’t catch you calling me stupid!"

Meanwhile, Bronya watched the lively exchange, feeling a twinge of jealousy and a hint of resentment toward the bard.

He’d thrown her into this mess, then casually solved it, leaving her to stew in her worries!

And not long ago, he’d complimented her name and said all sorts of sweet things. But now, he barely paid her any attention, too busy chatting with others. He wasn’t even doing his job as a "guide." No wonder he had such an unflattering nickname.

"Huh? What’s with that look? It’s really annoying! If you’ve got nothing to do, why don’t you just leave already?"

Bronya, who had been quietly observing, was once again dragged into the fray by Seele, who easily riled her up with a few words.

"Why do you always have to pick on me?!"

Just as the two were about to start arguing again, a chilling gaze made them both freeze and turn toward its source.

Natasha stood there with a faint smile, her usually gentle expression now slightly terrifying.

"I said, since the three of you have so much energy to argue in the clinic and disturb the patients, why don’t you go fetch some medical supplies for me?"

Though phrased as a question, her tone left no room for argument. Even Venti, the instigator, didn’t dare fan the flames any further.

Kicked out of the clinic, the three stood awkwardly outside. Seele snorted coldly and moved to stand beside Venti, making Bronya’s eye twitch.

As if to emphasize their closeness, Bronya also stepped closer to Venti, nearly brushing shoulders with him, which almost made Seele lose her composure.

Feeling the tension, the bard quickly stepped aside, taking the lead as they set off.

The third stop in the Lower District, the purpose has changed————————