NOVEL WEB Chapter 80.2
Liar, Sickly, Stubborn
Yuuri, carrying Magg on his back with Urgus’s help, headed for the clinic. Along the way, they encountered multiple stares that seemed to say, “What are those kids doing?” However, most of them quickly recognized Yuuri and Rooks at his feet, thinking, “Ah, it’s that kid,” and were satisfied. What was that about?
Fortunately, the clinic they reached wasn’t crowded, and they entered without having to wait. They were greeted by Nina, a beautiful doctor with her usual kind smile, resembling a white rabbit. Her round glasses perched on her nose were utterly charming.
She looked at Magg, who was struggling in Urgus’s grip, with wide eyes. Yet, following their directions, she began examining him while they pinned Magg to the chair. Yuuri had said Magg had a fever, but outwardly, he looked perfectly fine, which surprised her.
“I don’t think it’s a serious illness, but I’ll prescribe something to reduce the fever. You need to take care of yourself too, alright?”
“…No.”
“Don’t say you’re fine. Both Yuuri and the doctor diagnosed you with a fever, so you’re obviously pushing yourself.”
“…No.”
“Stop saying it’s not pushing yourself.”
“…No.”
“I don’t care about your excuses. Just take the medicine quietly when we get home.”
“…No.”
“And don’t complain about it being bitter.”
“…”
Magg muttered denials to Nina’s words, but Urgus quickly shot them down each time. How did Urgus understand what Magg wanted to say from such short remarks? With his usual blank expression, Magg didn’t show much on his face. He seemed a little irritated, but reading his emotions was nearly impossible. The exchange between Magg and Urgus, almost like a comedy routine, left Yuuri and Nina blinking in confusion. Urgus’s role as a translator wasn’t just for show.
“…Urgus, you really understand what Magg’s trying to say, huh?”
“Ah… Compared to when he first came to us, he’s started showing a little more on his face and reactions.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. When I first met him, I seriously thought it was a life-sized doll moving.”
“…Huh?”
To Yuuri, Magg was a troublesome kid who got enchanted by flavors and umami and would cling to delicious food. He also had this oddly meticulous, almost craftsman-like precision about him. Though a bit off-kilter, he was still quite an amusing kid. Hearing him described as doll-like didn’t really make sense.
Afterward, Yuuri paid the fee for the consultation. Magg, who had been told by the doctor to “rest well,” was carried back by Urgus, despite insisting he could walk on his own. “Patients should rest quietly,” Urgus had said, forcing him into a piggyback ride. Despite his rough words, Urgus was quite a caring boy—a real leader of the pack.
“You’re way too stubborn, you know.”
“…No.”
“What’s different? Idiot. You’re clearly not okay. Normally, you’d be able to hold your own against me for a bit longer.”
“…”
Urgus was referring to their earlier exchange at the hideout’s entrance. The fact that he’d been able to pick Magg up so easily had surprised him. Magg was quick on his feet—catching him was usually tough. Even with Urgus’s size advantage, if Magg seriously tried to run, catching him would be nearly impossible. The fact that Magg was so easily lifted gave away his poor condition.
Magg buried his face into Urgus’s neck. As a small act of revenge, he dug his nails into the arms carrying him. Though Urgus complained about the pain, Magg paid no attention, letting the words pass from one ear to the other.
“Magg, you’re bad at asking for help, aren’t you?”
“…?”
“When you’re not feeling well, it’s okay to rely on others. You took care of me when I was sick, remember?”
“…That, was…”
“So now it’s our turn to take care of you, okay?”
Looking up at Yuuri’s smiling face from a different angle, as he was being carried by Urgus, Magg found himself at a loss for words. As Yuuri grinned and said “right?”, Urgus chimed in with, “Exactly, exactly.” Urgus knew—Magg, for some reason, let his guard down around Yuuri. He might ignore whatever Urgus said, but he’d at least consider Yuuri’s words. Hooray for Yuuri, the mother hen.
Faced with Yuuri’s persistence and Urgus’s support, Magg, perhaps exhausted by it all, softly muttered, “…Yes.” That word and reaction could be summarized as:
“He’s agreed to rest quietly.”
“Good, that’s the best. I’ll make whatever you want for lunch.”
“…Egg porridge.”
“Got it. I’ll make sure to use good broth from kelp and bonito flakes.”
“…Yes.”
Magg didn’t resist as Yuuri patted his head in approval. “You’re always so obedient when it comes to Yuuri, huh?” Urgus grumbled. In response, Magg dug his nails into Urgus’s arm again, as if telling him to shut up. Hang in there, Urgus.
The next day, Magg made a full recovery, acting as if nothing had ever happened.