After walking through the town for a while, Lanafit finally arrived once more at the front of the clinic.
Originally, she wanted to bring Wom directly to see Sandrina, but Wom said he wanted to pack up some of the belongings his foster father had left behind, so they agreed to meet again at the street corner that afternoon.
Having things worth remembering is always good, so Lanafit didn’t try to stop him, thinking that she would mention this to Sandrina first when they met, and only bring Wom over after everything was settled.
If Sandrina couldn’t make the decision, then she would just go to the local lord and donate ten gold coins, with the added condition that he look after Wom.
That Baron Fried should be arriving today, and given the current state of the territory, he had no reason to refuse an outside donation.
Besides, ten gold coins were enough to build an orphanage.
Over the past half year, Lanafit had earned a total of thirteen gold coins for travel expenses by selling potions, and now she was about to spend ten in one go, which would bring her back to the starting capital she’d gotten from Stat Village.
With the current investment in the orphanage children, if a child grew up healthy without any major illnesses, they might not even use up a single gold coin.
Even the sickly ones wouldn’t cost more than two.
While calculating all this in her mind, Lanafit glanced at the sign hanging at the clinic’s entrance—it still read “Closed for business.”
It was about eight in the morning now, and along the way nearly every shop had already opened, even the other clinics were already in business.
This Doctor Sandrina really was unconventional.
Wasn’t she afraid that the morning patients would go to other clinics instead?
But then again, with the lord backing her, maybe she really didn’t care about a little consultation fee.
She thought about just waiting there, but standing at the clinic’s doorway soon attracted a crowd.
People around her started to gossip and comment, making Lanafit feel intense pressure.
She was even considering whether she should start wearing a mask when she went out.
The gossip she could tolerate, but what she couldn’t stand were the obviously lecherous eyes constantly glancing at her chest and exposed thighs.
That, Lanafit couldn’t bear.
With a chest as flat as a brick, what the hell were they looking at so intently?
Are you perverts or what?
In the end, unable to stand the crowd’s attention, Lanafit slipped into a restaurant next to the clinic.
She hadn’t even been hungry for breakfast, but was forced to spend some unnecessary money.
She’d been to this restaurant yesterday—it was run by a middle-aged couple who had a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old daughter working as the waitress at the front.
Apparently seeing Lanafit’s predicament, and noticing the throng of men crowding in after her… hmm, there were even a few women, but somehow their gazes at Lanafit were fiercer than the men’s.
The young waitress boldly stood between Lanafit and the others.
“Dear customers, our restaurant only welcomes those here to eat. If you’d like to dine, please find a seat and call me after you’ve ordered. Please don’t disturb other guests, or else…”
As she spoke, the girl narrowed her eyes, revealing a hint of danger and cunning.
“I’ll have to ask the city guards patrolling outside to have a nice chat with everyone.”
Finally, the crowd stopped trying to squeeze in noisily.
Many who didn’t want to waste money here left, but some did sit down and start ordering.
Lanafit felt like the little waitress was using her as a money tree.
Even with most of the people gone, the small restaurant was still packed.
Newcomers had to share tables with others, which gave some people ideas.
Lanafit sat alone at a table for four, so people started competing to sit with her.
Lanafit wouldn’t have it.
She looked to the waitress for help, but the girl just returned her gaze with that same cunning look.
“Oh my~, what should we do, dear customer? Our restaurant doesn’t really have a reason to refuse their normal requests, but…”
The little waitress deliberately drew out her words, then made a very universally understood gesture with her right hand, looking every bit the sly little merchant.
“We also offer a private table service—no disturbances. Right now it’s only five silver coins for a table. What do you think? Would you like to consider it?”
“……”
Lanafit stared at the waitress, speechless.
Honestly, she really wanted to knock the girl on the head, but for her own peace, she still paid the five silver coins with a pained heart.
She’d only ordered a glass of juice, but ended up spending five silver and five copper.
What a loss.
Several self-proclaimed gentlemen offered to pay for Lanafit, but to avoid trouble, she refused.
Besides, she could afford it herself, and they weren’t even acquaintances—who’d want to accept their treat?
But as Lanafit took the juice, she suddenly realized something.
She could have just refused this extortionate price, left the restaurant, and found a quiet place to hide.
Why did she let herself get fleeced while boosting the restaurant’s business?
“……”
But the money was already paid, and the juice was in her hand.
Glancing at the waitress, she clearly realized Lanafit had caught on, so she quickly locked the money away in the drawer and smiled at Lanafit.
Fine, just count it as one big loss.
Mainly, Lanafit cared about her pride and was a bit shy by nature.
She really didn’t want to make a scene and ask for her money back—she’d already been stared at like a monkey, and if she did that, wouldn’t she die of embarrassment on the spot?
With mixed feelings, Lanafit took a big gulp of juice, as if it were some wine to ease her worries, and let out a sigh.
But it really was just a glass of pure, natural, pollution-free juice—not even carbonated.
As she lamented her fate as a born sucker, a plate of snacks was set in front of her.
Turning her head, she saw the grinning waitress.
“This is a little reward for you, dear guest. Thank you for bringing us so much business.”
Lanafit wasn’t having it, though, and gave her a resentful look.
“How many silver coins is this plate of snacks worth?”
“Uh…”
That made the waitress’s face instantly awkward—she had indeed been a bit greedy just now.
Holding her head, which still hurt from being smacked by her father in the kitchen, the waitress said with a pained expression, “Everyone wanted to sit with you, miss, so I had to come up with this solution, right? But don’t worry, I’ll give you your money back in private later. As for the snacks, they’re just a little token of appreciation.”
After hearing this, Lanafit eyed her suspiciously, but the girl didn’t look like she was lying.
But that greedy look from earlier didn’t seem like a lie either.
Taking the plate, Lanafit tried a piece.
It seemed to be some kind of deep-fried starchy tuber, a bit like a potato but sweeter.
In short, it tasted good.
Hmm, for the sake of the free snacks, Lanafit decided to forgive the girl.
After finishing the snacks, Lanafit did get her five silver coins back.
The waitress even tried to return the five copper, but Lanafit didn’t want them.
Seeing the girl on the verge of tears, seemingly forced by some terrifying stare to return the money, Lanafit had no choice but to accept.
After that, Lanafit dashed out of the restaurant before anyone could react, and quickly slipped into the alley behind the clinic.
After waiting for a while and confirming that no one followed, Lanafit finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At last, she was safe.
“I might as well just drink a potion to make myself ugly. If this keeps up, I’ll end up completely cut off from human society.”
Sighing to herself, Lanafit found a reasonably clean wooden crate and sat down.
Though, that was a bit of an exaggeration.
After all, it wasn’t every time that she drew so much attention or even caused a commotion.
It mainly depended on whether a group effect was triggered.
When people saw someone staring at something, others would be likely to look too.
The crowd would grow, and once it became a large group, it would gather even faster.
Today was just one of those unlucky days, and now Lanafit could only wait for Sandrina’s clinic to open.
When she glanced over just now, it was still closed.
It was nearly nine o’clock.
Just how much did this Doctor Sandrina love to sleep in?
Complaining inwardly about this irresponsible doctor, Lanafit continued to wait quietly.
The alley was close to the clinic, so if it opened, she’d be able to hear.
Even if she missed it, once the restaurant crowd dispersed, she could go check again.
Hopefully…This time she could really cure this Soul-Loss Syndrome.
Otherwise, if her teacher lost consciousness and collapsed on the road during their journey, it would be truly dangerous.
Thinking of this, Lanafit couldn’t help but sigh.
“It’s really strange. Witches are already revered as gods by the people of the lower realms, so why do they still get sick? I heard that powerful races like the Dragon Race never get sick.”
Maybe seeking answers on the Sky Islands would be best, but for now, Lanafit really didn’t want to go back.
She would try to get treatment here first, and only leave if it truly couldn’t be cured.
But at that moment…
Lanafit, who had been watching the end of the alley, suddenly had her pale green eyes go blank.
It seemed that the Soul-Loss Syndrome had relapsed.
But this time, she didn’t collapse.
“Witch of Curses and Calamity, now I convey to you the will of the Demon God.”
The familiar voice sounded again.
But this time, it wasn’t in her mind—it came clearly from Lanafit’s own mouth.