Cruze's Interruption, Congenital Hereditary Collagen Fiber Disease (Eh~)

"Beep~"

"Swish~"

On the third day, as Noer was idly staring at the ceiling, the door slowly opened.

"Hmm? Why is it you?" However, the person who entered made Noer's pupils contract.

Why? Although he didn't know this person's specific name, he was sure that the person before him was a cunning old fox!

A peculiar mask covered the upper half of his face, and wavy golden hair cascaded down, looking soft and radiant.

His slender and lean body was straight and tall, and the exposed part of his face beneath the mask was handsome and elegant…

If there was anyone in SEED who left the deepest impression on Noer, besides the protagonists who were always active, this person was one of them.

After all, it's impossible not to remember someone who constantly thinks about destroying the world, is clear-headed, has strong combat abilities, and is also highly intelligent.

But what is this person doing here?

Does he know me?

Or do I know him?

And why is this person wearing black clothes? Didn't he usually wear white?

"Do… you know me?"

Cruze, wearing the mask, noticed Noer's abnormality and couldn't help but ask hesitantly.

This person's gaze was a bit off, and his words, "Why is it you?"

The last time he saw him, he seemed to be in a coma.

"No." Noer replied from the specially made hospital bed.

If it wasn't absolutely necessary, Noer definitely didn't want any connection with this person. In fact, Noer felt that this person's intelligence in the SEED world was top-tier, comparable to Lacus and that councilor.

Cruze stood still for a moment upon hearing this. He carefully examined Noer and then said, "It looks like you've recovered quite well."

Although he was somewhat puzzled by Noer's attitude and tone, he wasn't a god and couldn't think of any other reason.

"Thank you for your concern. I've recovered reasonably well," Noer replied indifferently.

By the way, why is this guy here? I'm not destroying the world!

This person seems to be part of some team, and Athrun is his subordinate. If I want to join the protagonist group, wouldn't I have to follow him initially?

Thinking of this, Noer felt terrible.

Spending every day with someone who wants to destroy the world, will I be sold out by him?

Wait, I don't think I'm a Coordinator, and I can't pilot a Gundam, so I naturally can't join any special team. In that case… never mind.

Cruze was momentarily speechless.

He found it very strange. Why was Noer so wary of him?

And he seemed very reluctant to say more, which he couldn't understand.

According to the investigation, Noer was naturally reclusive and harbored extreme hatred for Earth Naturals. Furthermore, due to his young age, his way of thinking was relatively simple.

However, it seemed entirely different now. This person was completely unlike the one described in the investigation data.

This made his prepared speech unusable.

"Beep~"

"Swish~"

As the two stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the door opened again, and the familiar researcher pushed a small cart in.

"Rest well. We will meet again."

Cruze looked at the medicine on the cart and suddenly smiled. He left the ward under Noer's gaze.

Perhaps I was a bit too eager.

"Those words are a bit off."

Noer felt a chill down his spine from Cruze's smile, and a vague sense of foreboding filled him.

Recalling the fragmented plot memories, Noer really wanted to grab Cruze by the neck and say, We're not close at all! Please don't bother me!

"Do you know each other?" the researcher asked Noer as the door slowly closed.

"No." Who knows this crazy snake!

If it weren't for the fact that his body hadn't fully recovered and he could only lie there, unable to run, Noer would have already fled.

Was the food at my orphanage bad?

Or were the girls at the orphanage not pretty enough?

I'd rather stay at the orphanage than come here to die!

Speaking of which, I wonder how Asya and the others are doing. I hope everything is alright.

Although--

The researcher listened, clearly stunned for a moment, but didn't say much more. He simply picked up a syringe and walked to Noer's bedside to give him an injection.

"Right, how much longer until I can be discharged?"

Noer was pulled back to reality by the stinging pain in his arm. Watching the liquid slowly being pushed into his body, he really couldn't take it anymore.

When would this life of just lying down ever end?

Actually, his legs could still be used normally. However, according to the researcher, because he had accidentally ingested some Gene Potion No. 4, his body's cells had undergone widespread necrosis.

It was a bit like that~ Congenital Hereditary Collagen Fiber Disease, where bones were thin and brittle, unable to withstand impact. The newly awakened Noer would even fracture a bone just by turning over; it was simply life-threatening.

It was what people on Earth called Glass Bones.

However, this terminal illness on Earth was treatable in PLANT. Plus, since his Glass Bones weren't congenital, his body was recovering quite well.

The researcher's arm visibly trembled after hearing this. He feigned composure and retracted the syringe, saying, "Soon, you'll be discharged very soon."

"Really?"

Noer felt a little scared. I just asked when I could be discharged, why are you shaking like that?

"Really, but for some reason, you might need to continue taking medication after you're discharged," the researcher said, placing the syringe back on the tray on the small table without turning around.

"Take medicine? Is it expensive?"

Noer's first reaction upon hearing this was: Is it expensive! Can I afford it?

"Hm?" The researcher, with his back to Noer, was confused by what Noer was concerned about.

You're actually asking if it's expensive? Normally, shouldn't you be asking what illness you have?

"Is it very expensive?" Noer felt a little panicked seeing the researcher's expression.

"It's not expensive."

"Then..."

"One million per bottle."

"Soo... crack~"

"Send someone to Ward Six immediately! The patient has fractured bones!"

Time flew by, and an hour later~

Noer lay on the hospital bed, his body reinforced with countless splints, his expression devoid of life.

Beside him were five doctors who had applied the repositioning splints.

According to the researcher's explanation, the potion he used was a specially customized, high-end product.

Never mind that this potion didn't exist anywhere else besides here and wasn't available on the market.

Just considering the ingredients and the various research and development costs, its market price was probably around one million per bottle. Furthermore, one bottle only contained five courses of treatment, with each course lasting five days. Averaged out, that was forty thousand yuan per day!

And according to the researcher, he might have to take it for... a very long time.

The specific duration depended on how well his bones recovered.

But the preliminary estimate was at least... two years!

Forty thousand a day for two years meant over seven hundred days. 40,000 multiplied by 700 equals 28 million.

Adding various medical expenses, the total would be approximately...

"Maybe I should try to transmigrate back?"

Noer couldn't help but have this thought cross his mind.

"Oh, right, here are your letters and video."

Just as Noer was questioning his life, several doctors completely secured him to the bed.

At the same time, the researcher took out a video player and a few letters, placing them by Noer's pillow.

Noer looked at them with a lifeless expression.

"You don't need to be so despairing. It's only two years, and it will pass quickly. Moreover, if you recover well, you might not even need two years." The researcher was stimulated by Noer's gaze. It's just two years, is there a need to be this desperate?

"Heh." Noer gave a bitter smile. Is time what I'm worried about?

"Rest well."

After speaking, the researcher shook his head, turned, and left the ward with the doctors.