The Fool

[Part 1 · An Astonishing Appetite]

In the countryside not far from Three Sheep Town.

On a vast ranch, little Jack's beloved horse ran until it was gasping for breath, every last bit of strength drained from its body.

Little Jack fell from the swaying colt's back, more concerned about the Eastern man he had rescued by chance.

"Vincent! Mr. Vincent!"

He called the man's name, looking at the Eastern man's desiccated, corpse-like body. A terrifying, uncanny power had nearly drained all the energy from the burly man.

His once fairly healthy skin had lost its luster—and now it looked twisted and grotesque, with veins exposed beneath skin that had almost no fat to protect it.

Little Jack cried out in anguish. "Mr. Vincent! What happened? What's wrong with you? You can't die! I went to so much trouble to sneak you out of Sloth Town. I can't let this turn into a losing deal!"

Vincent's eyes rolled back. He had gone blind from blood loss.

After the attack from [Thyme], the bacteria in his body seemed to have fallen under some kind of fiendish curse. In just a few dozen minutes, they had multiplied and spread like mad, growing and dying in turn. They had drained all the energy from his digestive system, forcing his organs to start drawing on his fat reserves. That was what had left him looking less than human.

"Water! If I just give you water, you'll come around, right?! Mr. Vincent!" Little Jack hurriedly pulled out his canteen and fumbled to bring it to Vincent's mouth.

He wanted so badly for this Eastern man to keep living.

"Vincent... I'm sorry. I lied to you. I secretly kept a canteen. I didn't give you everything..."

As he spoke, he lowered his head in shame and