Episode 2: Secours

“Secours? What’s that?”

Cosette looked at Glow.

“A snake that parasitizes the human body. Secours survives by sucking nutrients from its host prey. This is the first time I’ve ever seen the real thing. It’s almost like you’re a snake charmer.”

Glow beckoned the boy closer and began observing Secours.

“Huh. So that’s how it works. Incredible…”

“Hey! Hurry up and help him already!”

When Letia smacked Glow on the head—just as he’d started keeping observation notes—and snatched away his pen, Glow clicked his tongue.

“You violent woman. That’s why you don’t get customers.”

“Shut up. Useless.”

A shiver of tension ran between Glow and Letia.

“Um… you two…”

Unable to watch it anymore, Cosette spoke up.

“Ah, sorry. I’m used to her—so it’s always like this.”

With a wry smile at Cosette, Glow gently patted the boy on the head.

“Now then—you understand, don’t you? This snake isn’t a bad thing.”

The boy nodded.

“Secours doesn’t kill people. It only tries to coexist. And in exchange for the nutrients it takes, it protects the host from outside threats. It’s a good bodyguard.”

“Then… there’s no need to cure it, is there?”

When Cosette said that, Letia shook her head.

“That’s true if it had parasitized an adult. But with a child, Secours steals too much nutrition and their growth stops. This kid—believe it or not—he’s about the same age as you.”

“Wha—!?”

Cosette stared at the boy.

He looked like a little brother.

“The one we have to cure is… what’s your name?”

“Aust, Doctor.”

The boy answered with a laugh at Glow’s dopey question.

“Aust, huh. Good name. Right—until Aust becomes an adult, we’ll put Secours to sleep. In other words, we’ll make it enter a state of suspended animation.”

Glow took a sheet of paper from the drawer of his filthy desk and handed it to Aust.

It was a simple map.

A very, very simple one…

“And here’s the thing. I want to cure you, but I don’t have the ingredient—Firefly Bewitching Grass. So go get it for me.”

“Y-you’re telling the patient to go gather the ingredients by himself?!”

“That’s why I gave you a map so you won’t get lost.”

“This is just a few lines on paper! How is this a map?! There aren’t even any landmarks!”

Cosette’s shouting right next to his ear was so noisy that Glow covered his ears.

“Then you go too.”

“Wha—”

“And if you do, I’ll give you a love potion. Fast-acting. With that, your beloved will go down in one shot.”

Glow grinned.

“Leave it to me! I’ll find it for sure!”

“H-huh?”

Dragging Aust along by the arm—the one without Secours—Cosette sprang out with gusto and slammed the door shut.

“Now that I think about it…”

Cosette suddenly stared at the closed door.

“What is it?”

At Aust’s question, Cosette tilted her head.

“Why was Letia so knowledgeable about your illness, I wonder? Even though she’s a prostitute.”

“Now that you mention it…”

Aust tilted his head too.

But more importantly, they had to give it their all for the sake of that love potion.

“Come on, we can ask about that later. Let’s go!”

For coexistence with Secours, Aust. For the love potion, Cosette.

Relying on the map, the two of them started walking.

Leaving behind Glow and Letia, smiling pleasantly.

“You’re clumsy too, you know—being deliberately cold to people. Though, well… it’s something they have to find themselves.”

Letia placed a hand on Glow’s shoulder from behind as he sat in his chair.

It held a gentleness you’d never guess belonged to the same hand that had been smacking him over the head moments ago.

“And you. Maybe it’s time you stopped dressing so flashy? You’re my assistant, after all.”

Glow turned back and gave Letia a kind look—nothing like before.

“I can’t shake my old habits. The ease of being a prostitute—and the way I dressed—just suits me. Besides, even if you say I’m an assistant dressed like this, nobody would believe it.”

Letia laughed.

“Alright then. Let’s get ready to compound it.”

“Yeah.”

The two of them took on the faces of doctor and assistant, and quietly began their preparations.

While waiting for Cosette and Aust to return.