Chapter 63

After asking Marianne for the use of the horse and carriage, I moved to the Lastock garrison to take care of the chairman. Since there was a little time before noon, I peeked at the training, and it indeed looked intense.

From what I heard from the classmates I rescued, the knight-type training initially involved real fights, but due to the severe injuries, they started to pretend and determine the winner and loser, acting it out. However, since the training was under the watchful eye of the Reisenburg knights, it couldn't be completely fake, and the result was a continuous state of minor injuries.

But now, the battle unfolding before my eyes doesn't look like an act at all. They stare at each other with bloodshot eyes, ready to stab at any moment, engaging in fierce combat. It seems that the only way to survive is to become strong, and the thought that weakness leads to certain death is evident.

After the battle, several people are crouched, groaning, and the thought of the chairman treating them all alone is disheartening.

Moving to the examination room, I saw the chairman, who had been treating the injured with a blank expression, like a Noh mask. Since the five people who were initially rescued and declared dead, she has continued to act, and there is no longer the sight of her smiling and interacting with the Lastock residents who came for treatment.

"What happened to her...?"

"It's as if she's changed..."

"Something must have happened to her comrades... I wonder if she'll ever smile like before..."

The Lastock residents who come for treatment don't know the reason for the chairman's blank expression, and worried voices can be heard. As the rescued classmates finish their training, the residents who are not in a hurry for treatment leave the waiting room.

"The holy maiden's companions have arrived, let's go later."

"Yes, we can't burden the holy maiden any further..."

Originally, the Lastock residents were supposed to be prioritized, but seeing the chairman's attitude and the severity of the classmates' injuries, the residents began to voluntarily refrain from treatment.

"Come on, everyone, go inside and prioritize those with severe injuries."

The chairman, who had been expressionless until then, took a deep breath and began to treat the injured with all her might.

"Kent... The holy maiden's healing magic has leveled up..."

"Is that because she's been pushing herself to the limit every day?"

"Probably... Magic gets stronger the more you practice..."

Originally, the chairman had used the magic eye crystal to the point where her eyes almost went blind, so the degree of her level-up must be high. She treats fractures and severe lacerations one after another, but with each person treated, her complexion worsens, making me worry. Since I can't cast healing magic on her, I give her a pill to help her recover her magic power.

"Next... Ah..."

"Hey, Yui, are you okay? You're not overdoing it, are you?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I have a prince, you know."

"Ha... Really, just talking to Yui is a help."

Again, the girl waiting for treatment softens her expression, even though she's a bit exasperated by the chairman's dreamy talk.

"It'll be okay, I'm sure a prince will come to save you someday. Don't give up hope."

"Yes, that's true. If Yui says so, it must be right."

I'm not a prince, but I renewed my resolve to meet everyone's expectations.

After treating the classmates, the chairman, looking wobbly, collapsed onto the sofa. Elna, the caretaker, silently covered her with a blanket and bowed silently before leaving the examination room. I asked Fred to keep watch and went outside, where the chairman opened her arms for a hug.

"Stupid Kenji... You smell like a girl again..."

"Sorry... Manon is helping everyone get used to their work..."

"No, I won't forgive it... Hug me tighter..."

"Yui..."

I poured all my healing magic into the chairman, who was clinging to me strongly. Her body, which felt a bit cold, seemed to warm up, making me more aware of Yui's presence.

"Kenji... How many more days?"

"Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow night, I'll come to get you."

"Definitely... It's a promise... Everyone is at their limit."

"Okay, just a little more."

"Understood..."

We hugged until Elna returned, then left the examination room. Let's head back to Volzard and arrange the sleeping potion. Visiting a small pharmacy on a side street, I was greeted by Muell's master.

"Hello, Corey."

In front of the wall with drawers full of various medicines, Corey, who looks like a typical magician, is an old lady with deep wrinkles. Her appearance is so aged that she could be mistaken for a mummy, and she's a bit scary. After staring at my face for a moment, she smiled, showing her two missing teeth.

"Welcome, handsome, you're here with two today..."

"Ugh... Yes... That's right."

"Hehehe, don't look so wobbly, or you might get stabbed. I'd be in trouble if I lost a regular customer..."

"Hehehe, I've lived a long time, but I've never met someone who can cast magic without incantations. How do you do it?"

"Umm... I'm not quite sure myself."

"Hehehe, you're a really interesting kid... If you're going to, you might as well take Muell for yourself."

"Eee... No way..."

"Hehehe, you must have thought about it, didn't you?"

"Ugh... A little..."

"You show your thoughts on your face. You're not cut out for negotiations."

"Ugh... That's true. Ha, I'm worried about the negotiations ahead..."

"Hehehe, you might as well wear a mask."

"Ah, that's a good idea..."

Thinking that wearing a mask might be a good idea if my thoughts are so obvious, I was laughed at by Corey.

"Ahahaha, that's a masterpiece. Who would take you seriously, wearing a mask to negotiate?"

"But I'm from another world..."

"Ho... You really are interesting. Here, take this..."

Corey placed a small vial on the counter.

"Um, what is this?"

"That's a booster. If you take it, you can fight without running out of magic power for half a day... However, you'll need to rest for about three days after the effect wears off."

"Um... Is there a milder one?"

"Hehehe, if there was, I would have given it to you already."

"Right..."

"To enjoy my old age, you must come back... Here, you're busy, right?"

"Yes, when things calm down, I'll come visit again."

Corey nodded and waved her hand to send me off. I left the small pharmacy on the side street, slipped into the shadows, and moved to Reinhardt and the others.

Reinhardt and the others said they would be clearing out monsters and improving the road around the highway today. The subordinates were at a location near Reisenburg on the highway, filling in areas where rainwater had accumulated. Alth and the others were digging up the soil on the side of the road and filling in the holes where rainwater had collected. Looking closely, they had all the tools needed to level the road.

"Reinhardt, where did you get those tools?"

"Of course, from the Lastock garrison's warehouse."

"Really? I hope no one notices..."

"They were in the back of the warehouse, covered in dust, so there's no need to worry. They were probably prepared to be used when the forest was cleared after the training of your classmates."

"True, it's a correct use in a way..."

Looking in the direction where no work was being done, it seemed that the work was already finished, and the road was neatly leveled. Since only a few caravans passed through, the road had been in poor condition, but now it would be a comfortable carriage ride.

The Republic of Lanzhelt, of which Volzard is a member, was originally part of Reisenburg, but after the encroachment of the Demon Forest made travel difficult, the seven lords declared independence. Therefore