A life that could bring good to others.

For days, that sentence had preoccupied Claude’s mind. It was a naive ideal if not coming from Chloe. After being told so many lies, Claude could tell someone was being dishonest at a glance. However, he couldn’t feel any dishonesty from Chloe at all. Was it possible for someone to be that altruistic?

A soldier… No, a person who took lives now wanted to be good to other people. That was unlikely. Claude couldn’t believe people could change their ways of life.

“Claude, your hand is idle,” Chloe scolded the Drifter, “Are you still feeling down?” she asked.

Claude, who was tasked to put the chemical reagent, quickly got to his work. He replied, “N-No, not at all. I feel fine. It’s just…” The man looked at the massive collection of plants, crystals, and reagents on the shelves. After the previous night, feeling indebted, Claude asked Chloe if there was anything he could do to help. Chloe was delighted to have Claude helping her at her store.

“You have a quite collection here. I’m at lost.”

Chloe smiled lightly. “It’s my hobby to collect these while I was on missions. There are plants from all across the continent, crystals from the deepest caves, and even innards of some legendary monsters. I could even say my arcadium rivals those from the big cities. Perhaps even The Bunga Lentera’s!”

Claude wasn’t surprised anymore. Looking at how magical the collection was, it dawned on him that he truly was inside a fantasy world. Though he was curious, Claude took a rainbow crystal and asked, “What does this thing do?”

Chloe looked elated. “Ah, you’re interested too? This one here, you see, is Cyara Tears. It’s rumored to be a fossilized god’s tear, from when one was about to dissipate. Don’t know if it’s true or not, but Cyara Tears is a potent immunomodulator,” the girl took a bright yellow flower from the shelves, “Pulverize it to dust and add this flower, The Sun Widow, and you could regenerate some tissue with ease. But be careful, the abuse of this substance could create cancerous tissue instead.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Even a lost limb?”

“Well, if it’s a simple tissue like fingers, yes. But the nerves strangely can’t be regenerated with Cyara Tears, leading to useless and immovable limbs. So, we usually use it for deep cuts on tissue or a broken limb.”

Huh, that was surprisingly complex and modern. Claude crossed his arms and wondered if the medicine in this world worked better than his.

As they continued their work, Claude couldn’t help but marvel at the intricate knowledge Chloe possessed. She moved through her collection with practiced ease, explaining the uses and origins of various items. Despite his initial skepticism, Claude found himself captivated by her expertise and the sincerity in her voice. Perhaps, she really was trying to help other people.

“Chloe, are you a doctor?” Claude asked.

Chloe paused, a wistful smile crossing her face. “No, I’m not. An elf like me could never attend a College. I was just fortunate that on my last mission, a kind doctor rescued and tended to me. That's when she taught me all about this. Over time, it kinda became a passion of mine.”

Claude nodded, “So, it’s like you’re in a bridge between two worlds—the one of destruction and one of healing. The past wouldn’t let you go and you couldn’t be in the future you wanted, because the world didn’t let you.”

Chloe’s eyes widened, “… That’s an interesting way to describe it. But yes, I’m not a doctor, I can’t officially treat patients. I’m not a certified pharmacist, so I can’t make drugs. I’m not a nurse, so I can’t nurse someone back to health. I am, at best, what you’d call a medicine woman.”

But the girl confidently said, “Well, this is the only skill I have to help other people. Better to do the best, rather than let the odds shackle you, right?”

Claude couldn’t help but admire her resilience. Despite facing discrimination and having a past that shackled her, Chloe didn’t stop. She truly wanted to change her life for the better. Claude, on the other hand, wondered if he could be like Chloe.

He was a doctor—a very good one, actually. But now, he was afraid to help people. Remembering the crude and awful treatment he received in his world stunted his desire to help others. Compared to Chloe, who tried to atone for her sins, Claude felt he might be the evil one.

He didn't want to be a doctor anymore, even though he had the means to be one.