Dorothea

No matter how carefully opened packaging was restored, there would always be some difference. Besides, someone might have left a secret mark on it. She had seen plots like that in novels, such as agreeing to tie a few hairs somewhere.

Fortunately, the girl before her did not seem to care much about the packaging. She simply unwrapped it, then carefully inspected the contents.

Only then did Vanessa breathe a sigh of relief and look around, studying the woman across from her as well.

But the longer she looked, the more something seemed off. Vanessa realized that the woman across from her looked rather familiar.

She had some impression of her, but could not remember who she was just then. Watching her deftly pick up the surgical instruments, Vanessa grew increasingly puzzled.

Was she a doctor? A doctor who would come here?

No, think about it another way. Doctors she had met...

Vanessa's eyes suddenly lit up. She remembered now. This was a medical student! She had seen her at the university!

Vanessa worked as a teaching assistant at Miskatonic University, but she taught in the archaeology department and had little to do with the medical school. She was also rather reserved and had few friends.

But this medical student was quite famous. She was supposedly the top student in the medical school, and her name was... Dorothea?

The medical school!

At those words, Vanessa could not help feeling a little longing and envy.

Its students never had to worry about finding work. Her archaeology degree, which left her with no option but to stay at the university, could hardly compare. But why would someone with such a bright future get mixed up with a gang?

Forget it. What did that have to do with her? Knowing too much would do her no good...

"Are you a medical student?"

The atmosphere in the room froze. The girl across from her slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with wariness and suspicion. Vanessa's eyes went wide.

She hadn't said that! She hadn't wanted to ask! It was the entity possessing her!

Damn it, why had that will just blurted it out? Was that something she could say?

Was she about to be killed to keep her quiet?!

Dorothea stared fixedly at Vanessa, trying to read something from her face. After a while, she clicked her tongue in annoyance. Vanessa's expression was utterly flawless.

-She had no expression at all!

"Why would you say that?" Dorothea narrowed her eyes.

"..."

Vanessa and Dorothea stared at each other for a moment. Then, to her surprise, Vanessa discovered that the will seemed to have stopped controlling her.

Under the scrutiny of the girl opposite her, her face twitched.

Elliot watched with some disappointment as the keyboard sank beneath the desktop.

It seemed he could only exercise this control during specific tasks. Now that the goods had been delivered, the girl's card popped out and returned to the table.

All he could do now was fret helplessly and stare at the dialogue panel, hoping the girl could handle this obviously important character.

His gaze fell on [Dorothea].

When they first entered the room, this card had still been [Mysterious girl]. After the thought [I think I know her...] popped up, the card was suddenly drawn into a slot. A moment later, it emerged as [Dorothea].

Honestly, this was a really good design. It was far more immersive than simply having an NPC named Dorothea appear.

It was just a shame he could no longer type to communicate.

Elliot's gaze returned to the dialogue box.

Meanwhile.

Vanessa realized awkwardly that the entity seemed to have said just that one sentence, then left everything else to her.

How could it do this! What was she supposed to do?! Vanessa cried inwardly.

The girl's gaze grew increasingly hostile. Vanessa could only steel herself and speak. "I'm from Miskatonic University too... Uh... we've met before..."

"You're from the university?" Dorothea looked unconvinced.

"Y-yes... I have two degrees!"

"Two degrees?" She looked Vanessa over, then suddenly asked, "Which is heavier, an ounce of gold or an ounce of cotton?"

"Obviously, they weigh the same... No... gold... No, the same... No, gold..." Vanessa froze.

She had meant to say they weighed the same, but then remembered that ounces could also measure volume, in which case gold would be heavier. Then she recalled that ounces only measured volume for liquids, while solids were measured by weight, so they should weigh the same. But gold was measured in troy ounces, while cotton was measured in avoirdupois ounces, and those two ounces did not weigh the same...

And so she got stuck there.

"Pfft..." The woman suddenly laughed. Looking at Vanessa's blank expression, she unconsciously relaxed a little. "All right, I believe you have two degrees."

Thanks to the Empire's complicated unit conversions, even a university graduate with two degrees could not work out whether cotton or gold was heavier.

"Well then, fellow student, what did you want with me?"

"My name is Vanessa. Um... I remember your name was... Dorothea Ramsey?"

Dorothea nodded and stopped looking at her, returning to her inspection of the medical instruments.

Looking at the scalpel in her hand, Vanessa suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "You're... practicing medicine illegally here!?"

"More or less."

"But why? Why practice illegally? You're the medical school's top student with a bright future ahead of you. If word got out that you were practicing illegally... why take that risk?"

"I'm just short on money. Besides, so what if I'm the top student? You need surgical experience to get into a hospital, and the university can't give you that." Dorothea lifted her eyelids, her gaze settling on Vanessa's face. "Don't you work for a hospital too? Haven't you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"The new Poor Law is about to be introduced. Practicing medicine without a license will be formally prohibited."

"In other words, interns without a diploma won't be qualified to practice medicine and can't get hands-on experience, while getting a diploma requires passing a practical exam." Dorothea gave a cold laugh. "Understand now?"

"Then wouldn't that mean no one can graduate?"

"Of course not. Wealthy merchants and nobles can easily find ways to get practice. It's only commoners whose path to studying medicine has been cut off."

Vanessa was dumbstruck, unable to say a word.

She had just been wishing she had enrolled in medical school. Now it seemed that even if she had studied medicine, she might not have been able to graduate.

At least she had obtained her diplomas in history and archaeology.

"But you don't need to worry. You make deliveries for New Scandinavia General Hospital, don't you? Tsk, tsk, what a fine place. They have quite a way with treating psychiatric patients there... Unlike me, stuck practicing illegally here, terrified someone will recognize me."

For a moment, Vanessa did not know how to explain. She did work for the hospital, but perhaps not quite in the way the other woman imagined...

And she was not even a medical student!

Bang!

With a tremendous crash, the door was kicked open. Both women in the room jumped and looked outside in alarm and uncertainty.

People crowded thickly in the doorway, weapons in hand, pointing them at the two women inside.