Chapter 28

"Well, it was amazing, you know? It was a monster over two meters tall, as big as a bear. I slashed it with this sword, you know? This sword, it has a bit of adamantite mixed in. I bought it a little while ago with the money I saved up."

A few days ago, Ruruka, who had missed out on the giant slime hunt, was complaining about whether to take on a monster extermination request from the knight's guild. And it seems that Ruruka, who had completed that request, had come to the treatment clinic.

"Well, in the end, I was surrounded by those monsters and got a bit injured. I really felt that it's tough to be the only front-liner in a party."

Saying that, Ruruka turned her gaze to Yuel, who was sitting next to me. Why is she looking at Yuel? I wish she wouldn't look at Yuel with such a greedy expression.

"Yuel won't do it... Wait, what? Hold on a moment. Didn't you say that there aren't many dangerous monsters around this town? Why are you fighting such a monster?"

I remember Ruruka saying that there weren't many dangerous monsters around this town. But Ruruka is talking about fighting a two-meter-tall monster and being surrounded by them. A two-meter-tall monster is dangerous in itself. Ruruka seems to have a casual personality, so it's possible she was exaggerating the story just now.

"Ah, ahaha, well... At first, we were just going to hunt some goblins and kobolds in the shallow part of the forest. There were a lot of rival adventurers around because the reward from the knight's guild was high. I thought I wouldn't make any money if I stayed there, so I went a bit deeper into the forest. Then it started raining and I got caught in the fog, and I ended up getting lost. I think I went quite deep into the forest. Luckily, the fog cleared up quickly, but I almost got lost."

Ruruka said this with a laugh. Whether it's because she has a strong heart or is just carefree, she can laugh after almost getting lost in a forest full of monsters. No, it's probably because Ruruka and her group have the ability to cut through a group of monsters with just a few injuries. They must have been confident that they wouldn't be easily defeated by the monsters around here. Even though she is injured.

"Well, I didn't expect to encounter such strong monsters even in the deeper parts of the forest. I guess I was just unlucky. But from now on, I'll take proper precautions against getting lost, so don't worry. ...Well, we've been talking for quite a while, but I think it's time to get treated, right?"

Saying that, Ruruka sat in the chair and placed her fingers on the hem of her shirt. After listening to Ruruka's long story, it's finally time. But Yuel is right here. I can't let her see what I'm about to do.

"Ah, right, Yuel. I'm thirsty. I want some hot tea. Can you make me some?"

"Hot tea?"

Yuel responded with a question. It's still spring, but it's a bit warm today. She's probably wondering why I want hot tea on such a hot day. It's because I don't want her to see what I'm about to do.

"Ah, hot tea. I want a steaming cup of tea made with boiling water. Got it? Make sure the water boils. And don't take your eyes off the fire, it's dangerous."

"Yes, Master!"

Yuel responded cheerfully to my words and ran to the kitchen. I feel a bit guilty, but there's no other way. There's no other way.

By the way, when was the last time I negotiated a discount with Ruruka? It feels like it was a long time ago. It must have been about two weeks. I can't miss this opportunity.

But then...

"Um, well, I don't need a discount today... It's fine."

Ruruka said this.

Then she showed me the wound on her abdomen. She lifted her shirt just a little.

...What happened to this girl?

Yuel is in the kitchen, and Elise is out on a house call to an elderly person nearby. Before, Ruruka would enthusiastically start a discount negotiation even in situations where Elise might be watching.

"Four hundred zeni, right?"

"Yeah. The price has gone up, I know. Please heal me."

This is strange.

The high treatment fee of four hundred zeni. Normally, Ruruka would definitely start a discount negotiation. If the injury was on her abdomen, she would lift her shirt to just below her chest, showing her well-toned abdomen and her slim, well-defined waist. If I said something, she would lift her shirt a bit more, showing a glimpse of her bra-covered cleavage. I would struggle and, after much internal conflict, reluctantly give her a discount. That's how it usually went.

But what about now?

Ruruka is lifting her shirt just a little, peeking at me. There's no glimpse of her cleavage or her slim waist, not even her navel. All I can see is a small patch of skin between her shirt and shorts, and a tiny cut on it.

"Hey, Shiki... hurry..."

While looking at the wound on her abdomen, Ruruka muttered.

What's going on? Is she going for a more demure and pure image? It's true that a bit of shyness is good, but Ruruka wasn't originally without shyness. I liked the way she would show me things while being shy.

"Are you sure you don't want a discount?"

The words slipped out of my mouth. I shouldn't be the one to suggest it, but I couldn't help it.

"I don't have much money... But Shiki, when you get excited... you go to the brothel, right? Maybe I should stop. It's not that I'm worried about it or anything."

"Misunderstanding! That's a misunderstanding..."

"Oh, so that's what it was. Ahaha, I jumped to conclusions."

"...I'm glad you understand."

While Yuel was making tea, I managed to clear up Ruruka's misunderstanding. I managed to, but...

"Master, the tea is ready."

As soon as the conversation ended, Yuel brought the tea on a tray and sat down near me as usual. Even if the misunderstanding was cleared, there's no time left for a discount negotiation. I took the four hundred zeni from Ruruka, patted Yuel's head, and drank the scalding hot tea.

After Ruruka left, I continued treating patients at the clinic. In the past few days, the number of patients at the clinic has increased. It's probably because the knight's guild issued a monster extermination request. This clinic, located near the edge of town, might be convenient for adventurers who have recently started hunting monsters outside.

While Yuel, who mistakenly thought I liked scalding hot tea, diligently brought me hot tea every time my cup was empty, I used Heal to treat the patients' injuries, occasionally used High Heal to treat serious injuries, and used Heal to treat a tongue burn.

Such a day passed.

That night, I was woken up by a knocking sound. It was still dark outside. It was probably midnight.

"...The front door. Someone's here at this hour."

Elise, who was in the bed next to me, sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes. Indeed, the sound was coming from the direction of the front door. Someone was knocking on the front door at this late hour. It's definitely not a burglar or a thief, but a late-night visitor.

"Shiki, Shiki! Please, wake up!"

Just as the knocking stopped, I heard a familiar, urgent voice. It was Ruruka's voice. Something must have happened. I headed to the front door.

"What's going on, at this hour?"

When I opened the door, Ruruka was there, out of breath, her shoulders heaving. She must have run all the way to the clinic. Her expression was desperate and anxious. It didn't seem like she came here because she couldn't control her urges at night.

"I'm glad you're awake! Please, come with me! Fran and Sera... they've collapsed!"