part lll : there is still kindness in the world Doctor Ellis did not answer immediately.
Instead, he slowly walked toward the large window overlooking the eastern district.
The city beyond had already begun disappearing beneath the darkness of night, countless mana lamps replacing the fading sunlight one by one.
From this height, Ashhaven looked peaceful.
Beautiful.
As though monsters had never existed.
As though the world beyond its walls wasn’t constantly stained by blood.
The elderly physician remained silent for several moments before finally speaking.
“When you disappeared…” His voice was calm.
“…I truly believed I would never see you again.” Drake lowered his eyes.
“So did everyone else.” Doctor Ellis nodded faintly.
“The Dead Ruins have claimed far stronger Hunters than you.” His tired eyes slowly turned toward Drake.
“And yet…” “You came back.” There was curiosity in the old doctor’s voice.
But not suspicion.
He had spent decades treating Hunters.
He understood better than most that some experiences could not be explained with simple words.
Drake remained quiet.
He couldn’t tell the truth.
He couldn’t speak about the relic.
About the Bonefang Alpha.
About becoming something that was neither completely human nor completely monster.
Not yet.
Fortunately…
Doctor Ellis didn’t press the matter.
Instead, he slowly walked toward Luna’s bedside and began checking the readings displayed by the mana stabilizer.
The soft blue light reflected across his aged face as his expression gradually became heavier.
Drake noticed it immediately.
His heartbeat quickened.
“…She’s getting worse.” It wasn’t a question.
Doctor Ellis quietly nodded.
“The Mana Decay Disease is unlike any illness modern medicine has managed to understand.” He gently adjusted one of the stabilizer’s crystal modules before continuing.
“At first…” “It merely weakens mana circulation.” “Most patients complain about constant fatigue.” “Then…” “The body’s own mana begins attacking itself.” Drake listened silently.
He had heard parts of this explanation before.
But today…
Doctor Ellis continued further.
“The human body and mana exist in balance.” “When that balance collapses…” “The body begins consuming its own life force simply to maintain basic functions.” The old doctor looked toward Luna.
“Eventually…” “The patient falls asleep.” “Not because they’re tired.” “But because the body has determined that unconsciousness consumes less life than remaining awake.” Drake slowly looked down at Luna’s peaceful face.
She wasn’t sleeping.
She was surviving.
Every breath…
Every heartbeat…
Cost her a little more life.
His fingers slowly tightened around the bedsheet.
“There has to be a cure.” Doctor Ellis smiled sadly.
“If there were…” “My job would be much easier.” Silence settled between them once again.
Only the rhythmic pulse of the mana stabilizer disturbed the quiet.
Finally…
The elderly physician reached into the leather folder tucked beneath his arm.
He carefully removed several documents before placing them upon the small bedside table.
Drake immediately recognized the first page.
The bright red seal.
The words burned into the paper.
**FINAL NOTICE** He had seen countless families receive similar documents over the years.
He had simply never imagined one would eventually bear Luna’s name.
Doctor Ellis lowered his head.
“I’ve delayed this for nearly two months.” “The hospital board wanted to transfer Luna much earlier.” Drake looked up.
“…You delayed it?” The old man nodded.
“I signed the extension requests myself.” “I paid for several of her mana stabilizer replacements.” “And…” He hesitated for the first time.
“…some of the nursing staff have quietly been contributing part of their own salaries.” Drake froze.
“What…?” Doctor Ellis chuckled softly.
“You really think you’ve been paying for everything alone?” Drake couldn’t speak.
His thoughts became completely blank.
The doctor smiled gently.
“You’ve spent nearly every day in this hospital for over a year.” “You greeted every nurse.” “You helped move patients whenever we were short-handed.” “You fixed broken equipment despite never being asked.” “You even repaired the garden outside because one little girl said she missed seeing flowers.” The elderly physician slowly folded his hands behind his back.
“People notice kindness, Drake.” “They simply don’t always say it aloud.” Drake felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.
All this time…
He had believed he was fighting alone.
He wasn’t.
The hospital had been carrying part of Luna’s burden with him.
Doctor Ellis sighed quietly.
“But…” “The board has reached its limit.” “The hospital simply doesn’t have enough resources.” “There are too many patients.” “Too many families.” “If I continue making exceptions…” “I’ll have to deny treatment to someone else.” Drake slowly nodded.
He understood.
The doctor wasn’t choosing between Luna and money.
He was choosing between Luna…
And dozens of other patients.
It wasn’t cruelty.
It was reality.
Drake reached beneath his jacket.
Carefully…
He untied the small cloth pouch hanging from his belt.
Doctor Ellis watched silently.
Drake slowly opened it.
A soft blue light immediately illuminated the room.
The elderly physician’s eyes widened.
Inside the pouch rested the Mana Crystal.
Even beneath the dim hospital lights, its brilliant blue glow remained perfectly clear.
Unlike ordinary mana crystals harvested from modern dungeons…
This one looked almost pure.
The mana flowing inside resembled liquid light trapped beneath flawless crystal.
Doctor Ellis unconsciously stepped closer.
“…Where…” His voice barely escaped his lips.
“…did you find this?” Drake hesitated.
“I found it…” “…inside the Dead Ruins.” The old doctor’s expression changed instantly.
He carefully picked up the crystal.
His experienced hands trembled ever so slightly.
“This…” He slowly rotated the crystal beneath the light.
“…this isn’t ordinary.” Drake frowned.
“What do you mean?” Doctor Ellis remained completely focused upon the crystal.
“I’ve treated Hunters for forty years.” “I’ve seen thousands of mana crystals.” “Low-grade.” “High-grade.” “Even A-Rank crystals.” He slowly looked toward Drake.
“I’ve never seen one this pure.” The room became silent.
Neither of them realized…
Several floors below…
Someone else had just noticed the unusual mana signature radiating through the hospital.
Far outside the building…
A man dressed in black slowly stopped walking.
Around his neck hung the silver insignia of the Ashhaven Hunter Association Intelligence Division.
He slowly turned toward the hospital.
A small crystal device inside his pocket had begun glowing.
Softly.
Almost imperceptibly.
His expression became serious.
“…An ancient mana signature?” Without another word…
He disappeared into the night.