"He fell ill again just before summer. It’s his heart. The doctor said it’s dangerous to leave it untreated. If we entrust him to a proper clinic, they say he can be saved. They can strengthen his constitution and improve his condition."
"Is he... not going to get treatment?" Bao Bei asked quietly.
"It costs money. A lot of it," Wilde replied. "What I’ve saved up so far isn’t nearly enough. That’s why I’m working so hard like this."
Bao Bei and Judy were shocked. The idea of not being able to play freely—and even being in danger of dying—was hard enough. And to think the boy might be suffering even now, while his father couldn’t even be by his side because he had to earn money.
They looked down at the bag of sweets in their hands. They had eaten most of it already; only a little remained. Wilde must have wanted to give those treats to his own son originally. He had probably given them away because he was kind—because he was a gentle father who truly cared about his child.
That man is a kind, loving father, Bao Bei thought. A father who treasures his child more than anything.
"Uncle..." Bao Bei murmured.
He timidly approached the front of the wagon where Wilde sat on the driver’s bench. Then, after fumbling with his hands, he rolled up the hem of his coarse linen shirt. From beneath the waistband of his trousers, he carefully pulled out a cloth pouch that had been tied tightly for safekeeping.
"Here. This is the fare we didn’t have to pay for the wagon ride, and also some pocket money we got from Brother Finnick. I want you to have it. I’m not going to use it. I want your kid to have medicine... okay? Please take it."
Wilde’s eyes widened. It was a small sum of money, but clearly, it was everything Bao Bei had—his entire savings. And yet, he was saying he didn’t need it, that he wanted to give it away.
Then Judy also pulled out her hidden pouch of coins and offered it to Wilde.
"Mine too. I don’t need it either. I probably wouldn’t use it even if I kept it. Please... let it help, even just a little."
"You two are really good kids," Wilde said, his voice rough with emotion. "But it’s your money. You should keep it safe."
"But you already spent it on sweets for us," Bao Bei insisted. "Please take it. I want to be friends with your child. Even if I’ve got bunny ears like this, I hope it’s okay. If he could be my friend, I’d be really happy."
Wilde felt a sting behind his eyes at Bao Bei’s words. He couldn’t refuse the kindness of these children any longer.
"Thank you," he said softly. "My son’s name is Kesi. I’ll accept this gratefully. Really... thank you. He will be so happy to have two new friends."
At Wilde’s words, Bao Bei and Judy’s faces lit up with joy.
"Kesi! A new friend!"
"Kesi! We’re fwiends now!"
The two of them looked at each other, beaming with happiness, giggling in delight. Seeing them like that made Wilde’s chest ache.
These good kids... I was going to sell them.
Even the sweets he gave them, the kindness he showed—it was only because his conscience had been gnawing at him. He had acted out of guilt, trying to atone for what he was about to do. And yet here they were, smiling so innocently, trusting him so completely, even saying they wanted to be Kesi’s friends.
I nearly lost my way. I nearly lost the right to face Kesi as his father.
Wilde tightened his grip on the reins.
Up ahead, the road split deep within the forest. If he went straight, the forest would grow darker and denser, eventually leading to the longer route to Gustglen Town. If he turned right, he’d arrive at the small settlement that had been his original destination.
But Wilde pulled on the reins, setting the horse’s nose straight ahead toward the deeper path.
"Hold on tight, boys! Sit low and keep your heads down! Don’t fall off!"
With a sharp crack of the whip, Wilde urged the draft horse forward, speeding up the wagon’s pace.
The forest became denser and darker. The path narrowed. Tree roots jutted out, wagon ruts were filled with muddy water, and potholes made the road rough and uneven. Still, the fact that there was a road at all felt like a blessing. Wilde drove the cart forward as fast as it would go.
Bao Bei and Judy braced themselves against the wooden floorboards of the cart bed, clutching the bouncing cargo as they swayed and lurched. They held onto each other to keep from being thrown off by the rough jolts.
The road they had taken curved wide through the vast forest, diverging from the one used by regular stagecoaches. It was a path meant for the scattered, hidden settlements dotting the region.
However, beyond this road lay something else—it marked the border between the western side of the forest and the human nations to the west.
On the side of the beastmen, there was only a vague sense that beyond the forest lay the world of the humans. But on the human side, they had drawn a clear and rigid border of their own accord.
Just outside of Gustglen, there was a human fort that guarded the border. The beastmen had no particular desire to engage proactively with humans, but the humans kept a close watch on anyone who passed through the road.
They patrolled the border route daily, maintaining constant surveillance and security.
Thanks to this, the number of dangerous beasts and magical creatures that wandered out from the forest into the roads had significantly decreased.
For merchants like Wilde, it was a welcome development. It meant they could safely travel as far as the settlements near the border to do business.