Chapter 94

While trying not to pay attention to my worsening condition, the moment I became aware of it, the symptoms mercilessly began to wreak havoc. After being confined to bed by Captain Blanche, it wasn’t long before a slight fever escalated into a high one, and it didn’t take long for my consciousness to start fading.

(Cold...)

Even though I’m used to the harsh cold of the Marshall Raid, I can do nothing about the chills rising from within my body. I shivered violently under multiple layers of blankets until the fever peaked, and then I drifted into a state where I couldn’t tell if I was asleep or awake. Mrs. Laforgue, with a worried look on her face, brought in a healer, and I was woken up a few times to drink something with a unique smell. Then, sweet things were poured down my throat, and a warm lump (probably a hot stone) was placed on my stomach, and a cold cloth on my forehead.

As I spent my time like this, in a half-dream state, I met someone dear to me.

"Poor thing... You must be so uncomfortable with such a high fever. But if you drink this, you’ll feel better."

The one holding my hand and saying this was my mother, whom I can only meet in my memories.

"Mom, I don’t want to."

In my mother’s free hand was a bowl of medicine. This was when I was a child and had the flu, and I was throwing a tantrum because I didn’t want to drink the bitter medicine, causing her trouble. She had the same red hair and green eyes as me, and she was kind and warm, my beloved mother.

"It’s okay, I’ll drink it first. Then, Melfi, you drink it too, okay?"

With a gentle smile, my mother took a sip of the medicine in front of me. Then,

"Cough, no, no, cough, it’s bitter! This is bitter!"

She coughed and teared up after just one sip, her face contorting. Even my mother, who was used to eating unpleasant and bitter creatures, couldn’t handle it. I pushed away the suspicious deep green medicine.

"I won’t drink it, no matter what."

"But look, it seems really effective, doesn’t it?"

"It’s bitter, I don’t want it."

"Well, I’ll get a more palatable medicine. Wait here, Melfi."

My mother, who rushed out of the room in a fluster, never returned with that bitter medicine. I felt lonely and abandoned, and I cried, regretting not drinking the medicine properly.

(I really wanted you to hold my hand the whole time.)

When I opened my eyes, I was in a dimly lit room. As expected, my mother wasn’t there. Turning my head, I saw a bucket, a folded cloth, and a water pitcher on a side table.

(Water...)

Feeling thirsty, I tried to sit up despite my weak body and reached for the water pitcher.

"You shouldn’t, you need to rest."

I was startled by the unfamiliar voice of someone I didn’t expect to be there.

"Can you sit up a little?"

The person who spoke placed a few pillows behind my back and then handed me a wooden cup of water. Under the faint light of a magic lamp, a man in a white healer’s robe was by my bedside.

"…Healer sir?"

"Hmm, it seems your consciousness is clearer now."

The healer, who placed his hand on my forehead, muttered, "But your fever hasn’t gone down yet." The young healer with golden hair tied back neatly was gentle as he gave me water and placed a cold cloth on my forehead.

"Is there anything you want to eat? Anything you can eat is fine."

"My stomach isn’t empty."

"I see. Then, you need more rest. The people in the mansion were quite worried that you might have been overworking yourself?"

The healer, who removed the pillows from my back and covered me with a blanket, took my hand and smiled gently. His eyes were a rare purple. Even though it was our first meeting, his soft demeanor made me feel like I knew him.

"I’m sorry."

Thinking of the worried voices and faces of Captain Blanche, Natalie, Lillian, and Mrs. Laforgue, I apologized, and the healer looked sad.

"Don’t look so down. There’s no need to apologize."

"But I caused trouble."

"No one thinks you caused trouble. According to the chief healer… well, your symptoms are just a common cold, and your magic seems stable. You should rest for a while. I’ll be here tonight, so feel free to lean on me."

Why is it that, even though I’m with a stranger, I feel so at ease? Is it because he’s a healer, or is it because of him?

I inadvertently held the healer’s hand, and he squeezed it back. Feeling the warmth of his hand, I sighed in relief and closed my eyes.

"…It’s warm."

"I’m sorry, but it should be your partner holding your hand."

"Aristide is on duty… It’s my fault for collapsing at a time like this."

The image of Aristide riding a dragon towards Parivain Forest Park flashed in my mind. He might already be facing the Lagradragon. Even with heavy armor, he can still get hurt. He promised to return to me, but there’s no guarantee of his safety.

"It’s okay. I… There was a messenger bee from him to the mansion. It seems he’s planning to return tomorrow. He must care about you a lot."

"About me?"

"It seems he only sent a one-sided message and doesn’t know you’re sick. So, rest well and greet him with a healthy appearance."

"Yes."

My consciousness started to blur again, and I felt drowsy. The warmth of his hand was comforting, and I was about to drift off when I caught something in the healer’s words and opened my eyes.

"Healer sir?"

"Yes?"

"Are you Aristide’s personal healer?"

The healer’s purple eyes widened in surprise. I wondered why I asked that. He seemed young, and he might not have been an adult when Aristide was in the royal capital. But the affection in his words made me think they might have been childhood friends.

"No. I regretted not being a healer back then. I was just a child and couldn’t even hold his hand… when he was fighting alone, I couldn’t do anything."

The healer sighed and smiled sadly. His shadowed smile reminded me of Aristide’s face.

"Don’t cry."

"Huh?"

"Don’t cry… Aristide… I…"

Seeing the healer as Aristide must mean I’m really sick. I cut off my words and took a deep breath. Then, I closed my eyes and let myself fall asleep.

"Sleep well."

"Good night… I’m sorry for the trouble."

"It’s my fault for rushing you. When you’re better, I’d be happy if you could protect me from the angry one."

Hearing those words, I found myself in a dream where I saw Aristide yelling at someone. I rushed to calm him down.

◆ ◆ ◆

"Ah, sneeze!"

Parivain Forest Park is far from the city, and a thin layer of snow has accumulated. The cold seeped into my body, making me shiver and sneeze.

"Ah, Your Excellency. Do you have a cold?"

The heavy armor with the red Langdias character for 'one' on the back is Chaos.

"I don’t have a cold."

"We’re almost at his lair, so be on your guard."

"I know."

Our heavy armor covers us completely, with identification numbers on our chests, backs, and shoulders. Since the heavily armored soldiers all look similar, it’s necessary to distinguish them clearly. I’m Red Zero, and Chaos is Red One. The Blue team is from the Myran squad, and the Green team is from the Ambry squad, with five members each.

(I wonder how much the kingdom’s knights, who can’t coordinate with us, will be of any use.)

The mad Lagradragon has endless stamina, and it’s impossible for humans to fight continuously. We switch teams every quarter of an hour, but it’s uncertain how long it will take to defeat it. Coordination is crucial in battling large creatures. If weapons break, the supply team must replace them; if someone is injured, the medical team must treat them. If the support and combat teams don’t work in sync, the worst outcome is death.

We’ve been walking for a while since the last break, and we could encounter the creature at any moment. I stopped and addressed everyone.

"Alright, let’s take the last break. Those who are sweating, change immediately! The reconnaissance team, go fifty furlongs ahead and return."

"Understood!"

I lifted my faceplate to catch my breath. As I changed my damp undergarments and put on my heavy armor again, a distinguished kingdom knight approached.

"Lord Galbraith, may I have a moment?"

"Ah, General Bayliew, what brings you here?"

Usually, a general wouldn’t participate in a creature hunt, but this is a mad dragon, a major event for the kingdom, so he was compelled to join. He had been fidgeting and seemed to have something on his mind since the initial meeting.

"Well, I apologize for bringing this up now, but my brother, Baygard—"

I gestured for General Bayliew to sit. His brother, Baygard, used to be a knight of Galbraith and is now in charge of Littlewood Fort as a kingdom knight.

"I saw him about two months ago, and he seemed well."

"Yes, I know. But, is it true that you and your fiancée stayed at Littlewood Fort?"

(Here it comes.)

It seems the rumors had already spread to the capital.

"Actually, I heard this directly from the king. Since His Majesty tends to mock me, I wanted to verify the rumors to prevent them from spreading negatively."

Although it’s a bad time, if this serious general starts the hunt with something on his mind, it could lead to an accident. Considering his unfortunate situation of being mocked by the king, I decided to tell him the truth.

"Yes. While I don’t care about rumors about me, I don’t want my fiancée to be tarnished. I did get engaged, and it wasn’t a political marriage; I wanted it. She is a rare woman who sees me for who I am, not swayed by rumors."

After the hunt, I’ll likely be summoned to the royal capital by nosy relatives. I’ll probably see this general there too. I don’t want Melfi to be looked at with curiosity by people who don’t know the truth.

"General Bayliew, if you see her in the royal capital, I hope you will genuinely bless her."

I infused my magic eye with power and smiled, and the general nodded hurriedly before returning to his team.

The first volume of the comic was released on October 29.

It is also featured in the December issue of Monthly Shonen Sirius.