Ch. 208
“What? You’re here already!”
“I almost missed you! Did you sleep on the way? How did you manage to borrow a carriage?”
“I got lucky!”
Enk and Gale soon crowded around as well. I hadn’t expected everyone to join up until tomorrow, so Chad’s appearance was all the more welcome.
“Chad.”
Ash, who had approached unnoticed, exchanged a brief look with Chad, and that was the end of the men’s greeting, bland as it was.
After going through life and death together, that’s it?
“Things worked out well. I quickly found someone willing to come with us. They even lent me a carriage because there was a patient. But there were some conditions.”
“What conditions? Is Lox in the carriage with the doctor?”
“Lox couldn’t come with me.”
“Is he dead?”
Oops, was I too happy?
I belatedly lowered the corners of my mouth, which had turned up. Guess I don’t need to take the ring off.
“It’s a long story, but while I was going around the village looking for a doctor, Lox… got… mugged again.”
“He got ripped off?”
“It’s a familiar occurrence now.”
“Luckily, I was nearby, so he didn’t lose anything… but he had ‘that’ with him, right? He almost panicked and wouldn’t listen to me. He was making a fuss about having to go to Elan right away.”
“So?”
Am I smiling?
“There was a pretty big mage’s tower in that village, with proper warp facilities… He left for Elan first. He said he’d entrust ‘that’ to a safe place and come to Helikke as soon as he got it appraised.”
Helikke was the capital of Heidrike.
The venue for the Sword Masters’ showdown and the festival we were heading to.
“What? Lox went ahead? That won’t do!”
“What about our tickets!”
“Traitor!”
What is Lox to these guys?
Maybe he’s not that important after all. I should read their minds later. Though it seems they’re only in this party because of Ash.
“Mwahaha! Don’t worry about that!”
Chad, anticipating Enk and Gale’s reaction, proudly pulled an envelope from his pocket. He looked like he wanted to be praised.
“I got a letter of introduction! The person written here said they’d help us if we took it to them!”
“Woo! Good job!”
“They said they’d send a telegram, so we just need to pick up the tickets!”
“Hooray!”
[Oh yeah!]
Amid the excited atmosphere, Ash’s eyes were saying that it was a good thing Lox wasn’t here right now.
We were as cheerful as siblings on a day without their parents, and Ash was the only one acting like an adult.
“Chad, you skipped something important.”
“…What was it?”
“What were the doctor’s conditions?”
“Ah! This doctor is also going to the capital to see the duel. Apparently, they’re looking for a doctor there. With people flocking in from all over the continent, it seems there’s a shortage of doctors.”
“Get to the point.”
“But they were having trouble finding a mercenary to take them there. So, in exchange for looking after our group, we agreed to take them there. They won’t even take money! They have a carriage and specialize in treating internal injuries! I managed to bring them along!”
Chad had every reason to be confident. It was definitely a good deal for both sides, and there was nothing to lose.
Even though I, the patient they were talking about, didn’t feel the need for a doctor.
“Hey, what’s that? Toomdra?”
“Right, you guys don’t know yet.”
“What is it?”
“The official name for the showdown has been decided. That’s what it is. The official name is Dra Toom Dra. I overheard it in the upper village.”
Dra Toom Dra.
In ancient language, ‘Dra’ means an outstanding warrior who can even catch a dragon.
Dra Toom Dra roughly translates to warrior versus warrior, but considering that ‘Toom’ itself implies ‘a duel to be revered,’ it felt very complimentary.
“Everyone, come here! I’ll introduce you to the doctor.”
Chad ran to the carriage ahead of us. And for some reason, he straightened his clothes before opening the carriage door and escorting someone out.
It was shocking. I didn’t know Chad was capable of escorting someone.
He told me I had animal-like recovery abilities!
“Come on out! Your patient is here to greet you.”
“Oh my, really?”
That gentle voice!
“It’s a woman!”
“A woman!”
“Hey, there’s one here too.”
These guys are ignoring me.
The person getting out was obscured by the carriage door, but Enk was fixing his hair at the speed of light, and Gale’s sparkling eyes showed what he was expecting.
“Doctor! This is the leader, Ash.”
“Nice to meet you, Leader.”
The doctor was a young woman with a gentle impression.
Her brown hair, loosely braided over one shoulder, looked very healthy, and the light freckles on the bridge of her nose suited the sunlight well.
Her intelligent green eyes harmonized with everything about her, shining softly.
“Thank you for coming.”
“I heard about you. You had an accident while searching for a dungeon, right? I’m glad you’re all safe. You can call me Akia.”
“Thank you. Akia.”
“Just Akia is fine!”
She shook hands with Ash first, then shook hands with everyone else in order.
Enk quickly took his place, aiming for the next turn after Ash. Gale also gave a shy greeting.
Their reactions are so different from when they treat me?
“I heard the patient was a woman, is that you?”
Finally, she stood before me.
She was about the same height as me, so our eyes met, and it seemed like we were about the same age. I slowly unfolded my arms and extended my hand.
“Geenie.”
If I held her hand with the ring on, I’d hear her thoughts. It was my first time reading the mind of a woman my age, so I was a little nervous.
It felt like stepping into a maze…
“I’m Akia.”
-She’s my age. I hope we can be friends. How is her skin so radiant? Oh my, look at those fierce eyes. She’s like a beautiful beast.
“…How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-two.”
“You’re older than me.”
“Really?”
“Can I call you Akia?”
“Of course!”
-Yes!
I like her!
“Oh? You have a dog too. What’s this dog’s name? He’s so handsome! He looks like a wolf.”
“He’s not a dog. His name is Rai.”
“Rai… Does he bite?”
[I don’t bite. I’m handsome.]
With Lox gone, the new doctor was welcomed by everyone.
It felt like there had never been an empty spot in the first place.
***
Inside the carriage heading to Helikke were just me, Akia, and Rai.
Usually, the most distinguished person or someone physically weak rides in the carriage.
It’s rare to take a dog along. Nevertheless, Rai lay down at my feet as if it were natural, and none of the party members complained about the dog getting on the carriage.
The small, old carriage was already cramped with just two women, and it was a cheap model among the basic carriages, so it rattled quite a bit.
At times like this, my pampered upbringing would act up.
I’d prefer a more luxurious carriage, one that’s spacious, comfortable, with plenty of cushions, and that I can lie down in.
It was fortunate that I knew in my head that I should be grateful for even getting a ride in someone else’s carriage.
There was no solution to the carriage’s shaking, so it was best to get used to it quickly.
I leaned against the window and opened the mysterious book that Ash had risked his life to retrieve from the dungeon, while Akia was busy rummaging through her medicine bag, preparing medicine.
‘I told them to leave quickly because I didn’t want to take medicine…’
We were in a hurry, and everyone knew that time was running out until the Toomdra, so as soon as we joined up, we immediately changed course and headed to the capital, Helikke.
My calculation that I wouldn’t have to take medicine right away if we left was shattered when she started making medicine in the shaking carriage.
That doctor had an extraordinary level of professionalism.
I frowned and watched what Akia was doing.
The portable medicine kit she brought smelled unfamiliar, and the herbs and bone shapes symbolizing the hospital were marked here and there with red ink.
The heavy-looking bag contained dozens of medicine bottles and all sorts of herbs, which looked gloomy and complicated to my eyes, like a witch’s bag, but I could tell that it was systematically organized from Akia’s quick movements.
As she mixed the medicines, the smell I had recently smelled often began to fill the carriage.
I wanted to break the window and run away, but I was a strong person who had survived even the dragon’s hands, so I decided to endure it.
[Master, are you plotting a cool escape from the carriage right now? Keep dreaming. There’s no way you can do it. I bet you’ll roll around disgracefully.]
[Shut up. I told you not to read my mind.]
[Other people? I’m hurt that you’d say that between you and me! Reading Master’s mind and understanding her intentions is the mission of a Spirit! And it’s so much fun reading Master’s random thoughts… Cough.]
I kicked his snout hard with my foot.
It only hurts my foot if I kick anywhere else. He only peeks when he’s bored, but his excuses are good.
“Geenie, would you like to try this first?”
The moment had come.
Akia shook a long water bottle containing various mixed ingredients with a chaka-chaka sound, like a skilled bartender, and then held it out to me.
The carriage was cramped, so my and Akia’s knees were almost touching, and there was nowhere to escape.
I reflexively covered my mouth with the old book I was reading.
I really didn’t want to drink it. My lips were protruding because I didn’t want to drink it.
No, I don’t want to take medicine!
I reluctantly took the medicine Ash gave me, but thanks to this doctor, I’d have to take it every hour.
A groan of dissatisfaction rose from within, but I took the medicine for Chad’s sake, who had brought the doctor, for Akia’s sake, who had come all the way here, and for my social age and dignity.
My pride would never allow me to struggle because I didn’t want to take medicine.
If there was anything useful I had learned while growing up well, it was that I had the pride to maintain in times like this.
“This is a light medicine to diagnose your condition. It won’t be too bitter or unpleasant, so don’t worry.”
“…Really?”