Departure

“So there’s really nothing to worry about. I can set off on my journey with my head held high.”

Saying that, Jonah smiled brightly.

In his onyx eyes, there was neither regret nor lingering attachment.

“…I’m sorry, but I cannot give you a full year’s worth of medicine.”

“…!? Wh-why not!?”

“I adjust the dosage to match your current condition. Since your symptoms will worsen from now on, the medicine I give you today will likely lose effectiveness.”

“Th-then give me a stronger one…”

“That is exactly why I cannot. Listen carefully: medicine that is too strong can become poison instead.”

“Uh…”

At Günter’s irrefutable logic, Jonah fell silent.

But without medicine, the journey itself would become impossible.

And no other doctor understood his condition as precisely as Günter did.

That meant he had no choice but to convince Günter somehow.

“…Two months.”

“Huh…?”

“At the very least, come for a check-up once every two months. With ancient magic you can teleport here, so that should be possible, right?”

“Yes…”

Günter’s eyes held a firm resolve that said he would not compromise further.

With no other choice, Jonah nodded silently.

“Then let us move to the examination room. I cannot prescribe medicine without confirming your current condition.”

Since he had run out before the last examination, he couldn’t refuse now.

Jonah obediently followed and sat in the examination room chair.

“…You’ve already run out of medicine, haven’t you?”

“I used up everything I had left, including the reserves, exactly one week ago.”

“As I thought…”

Seeing Günter’s grim face, Jonah understood that his condition had worsened.

‘If this is how it is, I should have come for a check-up much sooner…’

Jonah regretted it, but it was already too late.

To live even one more day, he swore to himself that from now on he would take proper care of his body.

He could no longer waste even a single minute or second.

After the full examination, Günter prepared the medicine.

It was a familiar sight to Jonah, but today Günter’s figure as he ground the herbs carried an air of determination and resolve.

“Understood? You must come back in exactly two months.”

“I-I get it!”

Even when handing over the finished medicine, Günter pressed the point, making even Jonah grimace.

But since it was proof that Günter truly cared about him, deep down Jonah was happy.

“So, Lord Jonatan…”

“Dr. Günter. From now on I’m just Jonah. You don’t need to use honorifics or my title anymore—just call me by name.”

“Hmm… very well. Where are you heading first, Jonah?”

“For now, I think I’ll go in the exact opposite direction from Langheim territory.”

The ten years in the Langheim house were nothing but a past he wanted to erase.

That feeling naturally led him to that decision.

“I see… Will you travel by teleportation magic as usual?”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey, so I’ll take my time on a stagecoach. I have money, after all.”

“Haha, you’ve thought this through.”

Watching Jonah pat his purse, Günter broke into a broad smile.

“And… this is payment for a full year of consultations and medicine. Please accept it.”

“Hey, now…”

When Jonah pulled out the bag of money from his leather travel bag, Günter openly grimaced.

It seemed he had never intended to accept payment from the start.

“But then I wouldn’t feel right.”

“…Then I’ll accept only today’s payment. Since this is a transaction, I want you to pay for future visits each time you come every two months.”

“Haa… you’re stubborn.”

Jonah sighed and reluctantly handed over only the usual amount.

Of course, he understood this was just another way to make sure Jonah returned every two months.

And then—

“Please take care of yourself. Don’t push too hard, all right?”

“Yes, sir!”

As morning came, Jonah bowed deeply to Günter, who was seeing him off at the clinic entrance.

However, since they had talked until dawn, he was quite sleepy.

‘I’ll sleep properly once I’m on the coach.”

“Listen: eat properly. Without stamina you won’t last. And don’t let yourself get cold.”

“I know already! You’ve told me that a dozen times!”

Günter was apparently extremely overprotective.

Even Jonah had grown a little tired of it.

“Well then… see you in two months.”

“Yes! See you in two months!”

Waving goodbye to Günter, Jonah headed toward the stagecoach stop he had been told about.

What kind of encounters and emotions awaited him in the coming year?

His heart swelling with anticipation, Jonah ran awkwardly down the main street into the morning sun.

Leaving behind the tiny, precious fragment of a bond with the only person who had ever truly worried about him: the kind doctor.

“So there’s really nothing to worry about. I can set off on my journey with my head held high.”

Saying that, Jonah smiled brightly.

In his onyx eyes, there was neither regret nor lingering attachment.