CH 41

When you say patient, you mean me, right? I turned my eyes and looked at the three faces in turn.

“Please call me Ei.”

“Yes, Miss Ei. Is it okay for Miss Ei to accompany us?”

What is she talking about?

The betrayal of the person I trustedㅡthe remark was grand, but my feeling was suchㅡmade me bewildered for a moment, yet the healer’s face was serious.

As soon as the healer spoke, the other two, who were glaring at each other as if they were about to bite each other, turned their heads. However, regardless of the gaze of the two, the healer continued talking.

“Coming to think of it, as expected, it bothered me that Miss Ei woke up so quickly.”

“Ah.”

That’s right, I got better in half a day, didn’t I?

“If you go to the capital and develop symptoms of poisoning belatedly… It might be more dangerous. Yet I can’t go to the capital together with you.”

I looked it up earlier and found out there is no resistance to Granault’s poison. My back felt cold for a while, wondering if the words I added had exposed me.

“I was always worried, but it’s good that you were on your way to Ronen Village. Miss Ei, would you please allow me to go with you and check on your condition?”

Her kind words eased the tension.

“I said earlier that it would be better to visit a doctor in the capital, but in fact, I’m much better than most doctors in the capital.”

It seemed like a playful addition, but I heard those who use healing magic are rare among magicians, so it felt like a well-grounded confidence.

As I kept listening to her, I could see why she was worried about me. The fact that I woke up sooner than expected wasn’t because I was recovering quickly, but simply because my symptoms hadn’t manifested yet.

I felt sorry for those who worried about me, but it wasn’t that the symptoms were delayed, I was really all better. Waking up must have been a sign that my body was fine, though?

But it’s also strange to say, “I’m sure I’m all better, I guarantee it.”

While I couldn’t choose between positive and negative, the kind voice continued.

“If Ivan says so, it seems that the situation is urgent, and since nothing will change significantly just because there is one more person accompanying us, we can go to the village together.”

“… ”

As I was passing by someone who had no connection whatsoever with me, words that the person who saved me said poured into my ears. However, despite the clear goodwill, I couldn’t bear to answer easily and only moved my lips.

Still, I can’t shake off a single doubt…

“Hey, Miss Healer?”

“My name is Lily. Please call me freely.”

Rather than complicate things, it was better to ask even if the situation was awkward. I gave up my hesitation and spoke in a low voice.

“Lily. I really appreciate your consideration, but… to be honest, I was nervous about blindly following people I met for the first time today.”

“Oh, my.”

Lily was taken aback for a moment, then quickly put on an apologetic look.

“I apologize. I couldn’t think of how Miss Ei would feel because we were only considering our position.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

On the contrary, her consideration overflows. I shook my head lightly, yet the apologetic expression didn’t disappear.

As expected, I felt awkward, but when I wondered whether the situation was roughly settled.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t even know the people from the merchant?”

Suddenly, Ivan interrupted the conversation. After spitting out the question first, he added as if he had realized something soon.

“Ah. Because you don’t know what exactly we are? Is that because our identities are unclear?”

“…You could say that.”

No, actually that’s right. To be honest, I was grateful to him for saying things that were hard for me to say out loud.

As I answered, I glanced at Lily, and she briefly looked at me as if she was thinking about something.

“Then… Will it be fine if your safety is guaranteed?”

“Well, it should be fine.”

It’s really fine. But how come I’m talking to these people like I’m going with them? Originally, I didn’t mean this, though?

The merchants’ carriage caught my eye belatedly as they were about to finish organizing their luggage. I’m sure, just a few minutes ago, I was confused about the fact that I had to get back to the capital in that carriage.

This situation where I have to set aside my personal feelings is…

Whether it’s fast or slow, a late realization came, but it was already after Lily started talking again.

“I’m sorry for trying to convince you again, even though you told me honestly. But I want you to think about it one more time.”

“Why do you keep trying to take someone who doesn’t want to…”

The man who had been keeping his mouth shut since Lily brought up the topic murmured softly. However, neither Lily, who was distracted by persuading me, nor Ivan, who was still upset with the man, responded.

“You said it took you a week to get here with the people from the merchant. Even if you have time to stop by a village in the midst of it, the treatment won’t be done quickly. And the longer the treatment is delayed, the poison that ends up with mild paralysis may cause breathing difficulties and eventually threaten your life.”

Lily, who spoke kindly but quickly, calmed down at some point.

“But I fully understand Miss Ei’s anxiety. Identity, um…”

After a moment’s pause, Lily pulled something of her own from her pocket.

“Will this be enough?”

Soon, something as flat as a plate was thrust in front of me. I didn’t bother to look closely, the shape of the object caught my eye in great detail.

It has wings, a national flag is embedded in the center, and it’s made of something that looked like gold, whether it really was or not.

The crest of the Empire.

“…”

I wasn’t a citizen of this country since I was born, but I knew because it was an undeniable fact that I had lived here for a long time.

It was like an identity card that high-ranking people carried when handling public affairs. It means the same as saying that everything these people do is authorized by the Empire.

There will be no more certain way to prove their identity than showing this. It was as if the Empire and the Imperial Family directly proved it, and it was something that wouldn’t be given to someone who would use this carelessly from the beginning.

My thoughts stopped as I encountered something unexpected. Lily spoke calmly, but I could hardly concentrate on the conversation.

“We’re a delegation sent by the Imperial Family for some reason. As long as what we do is done under the will of the Empire, there will be no danger to Miss Ei.”

Delegation? Even though my mind was complicated, the word wasn’t unfamiliar.

Apparently the merchants talked about it on the day we departed from the capital. There was a dispatch team going to the Magic Tower.

…I met people with the crest of the Empire on the way to the Magic Tower, wouldn’t it be more strange if it wasn’t the delegation?

“Miss Lily, even if you just reveal that fact…”

“But it’s not even a fact worth trying to hide. As long as it can reassure someone, that is enough.”

I could hear Lily and the man next to her talking in whispers. To be honest, I don’t know if I’m relieved, but I think it’s more like being surprised.

“Phew.”

If we had come this far, I couldn’t doubt them any more. And I couldn’t refuse.

The fact that I ended up with people I didn’t want to meet brought up subtle difficulties from the bottom of my heart, but I thought things might work out more easily if I thought positively.

…It would save time just because I didn’t have to go back to the capital. Yeah, I’d better think so.

“It’s so amazing that you’re going with me and even giving me medical treatment… I seem to be bothering you.”

With those words, Lily smiled broadly, as if realizing that I wasn’t going to refuse more.

“Not at all. Treatment is what I want to do.”

Why is this person so nice? I turned my eyes in bewilderment, and behind Lily, Ivan had a ‘good job’ look on his face.

In an atmosphere that seemed to be waiting for me to answer, I answered after hesitating for a while.

“If you give me a ride, I will be… really thankful.”

I’m not so thankful that I wonder if it’s really okay.

“That’s a relief.”

Another kind reply was heard, and soon Ivan came running with cheers. Wow, Sister! Now you can go see your friend! I couldn’t even give a proper answer to that cry, and only made a puzzled expression.

“Yeah, maybe I can meet him…”

It might work out like this. Really, all I could think was that I was glad. I also thought I had good luck.

Unlike the rest of the party, it seemed that someone didn’t like this situation, but at that time, I didn’t even care. No, on the contrary, it felt natural that someone wasn’t happy with it.

And what does that matter now, whether or not there is someone who doesn’t like it? It’s been decided that I will accompany them.

So, without returning to the capital, I went all the way to Ronen Village in search of a new companion.

With the help of the people who are going to see none other than Dante.

…It was something I really wasn’t expecting.