Chapter 42

"Since it's not good to just stand and talk," urged by Elise's younger sister, Aria, I entered the treatment room. Then, the three of us—me, Elise, and Aria—gathered around the table.

"Big sister, you haven't had lunch yet, right? I bought some, so let's eat together. Ah, Mr. Shiki, please join us too."

Aria started placing the food she bought from the street stalls on the table. ...I see. During the walk here, I thought she bought an awful lot, but it's fine since we're eating with Elise. That's right, she didn't say she would eat with just me.

The food looks delicious. Since the festival is approaching, various dishes that are not usually seen are lined up.

...But this situation.

After placing the food, Aria propped her cheek on the table and started looking at me with a playful expression, while Elise let out a deep sigh.

What kind of reaction will Elise have if she thinks I brought her sister home?

Will she get angry or be exasperated? Either way, it will likely lower her good opinion of me. But, I do have some points to make. Like, I was just looking and haven't actually hit on anyone yet. Besides, it was her sister who approached me first, so I'm not to blame.

Honestly, I doubt she'll believe me, given my usual behavior.

"Elise, this, um, there are, well, very complicated reasons that are hard to put into words..."

"...Not really. I won't get mad if you hit on girls in the city."

Surprisingly, she gave me permission. Not guilty. It's a not guilty verdict.

"Huh, you won't? After all the trouble of bringing her here."

Aria seemed surprised too, as she widened her eyes in shock.

"...You probably just found it amusing and approached Mr. Shiki, right?"

I thought Elise would assume I hit on Aria, but she didn't. It seems she understands Aria's behavior well. As expected of a big sister.

However, Elise then lowered her gaze and continued.

"Besides, we're not that kind of relationship."

...I don't think she needed to say that. You know, Elise could have been a bit more bashful and embarrassed. Like, "Don't get the wrong idea, we're not that kind of relationship!" I think it would have been better to have that kind of reaction.

"...Big sister, are you and Mr. Shiki not in a relationship?"

"We're not."

And there it is, the firm denial. Elise's stubborn expression. The atmosphere suggests she doesn't want to talk about it any further.

"Huh? What?"

Aria tilted her head at Elise's attitude. Perhaps Elise's answer was unexpected.

"...Hmm, I thought for sure... Misunderstanding? But the letter said... Ah, what?"

Aria muttered to herself, scratching her head. ...And then, the word "letter" caught my attention. I recalled Elise's behavior this morning, trying to prevent me from reading the letter.

Could it be that Elise's letter contained some raw, heartfelt words that led to Aria's misunderstanding? Maybe her attitude is stubborn, but her feelings are different. I'm starting to get curious.

"But, big sister, are you living under the same roof with a man who isn't your partner? ...Isn't this cohabitation?"

And then, Aria, who had been scratching her head, suddenly said this.

"!"

Cohabitation.

Elise, who had been looking away, trembled. She looked at Aria, her mouth opening and closing as if trying to say something but hesitating. She was clearly flustered.

"That's... that's because I'm worried about Yuel, and we have different beds...! There's really nothing going on! ...But, more importantly, aren't you supposed to help with the city's security during the festival as part of your knight school training? The room preparations haven't been made yet because it was sudden."

Ah, she's trying to dodge the question.

But this reaction is interesting. It makes me want to push a bit more. I want to say something like, "Hey, why are you living with me even though we're not in a relationship?" to Elise. ...No, if I do that, she might say, "Well, living together is strange," and leave. Elise is serious when she decides to do something. I've already been kicked out once.

"Hmm, about that. I initially planned to stay at this house while working. But unmarried knights have to live in the dormitory to be available for call-ups at any time. ...So, big sister, don't worry about me, and be happy?"

"Th-That's not it...!"

Aria seems to be teasing Elise and enjoying it. Moreover, it seems she wants me and Elise to get together. So, is this family approval? I feel like Elise's defenses are gradually being dismantled.

"Well, I don't think Mr. Shiki and big sister are a perfect match. But I'll give you a bit of leeway."

One extra comment. Plus, maybe because she teased too much, Elise sighed and looked down. She seems tired.

Well, even though we're living together, it's just a return to the arrangement when I was working and living in the treatment room after buying back the clinic. The only thing that changed is that the employment relationship is no longer clear. It seems Elise didn't think too deeply about living together due to the circumstances.

...But, I'm starting to worry that Elise might start thinking about the unhealthy nature of our living situation and decide to leave, or that she might leave after saving up enough money to pay me back for the clinic. I hope that doesn't happen. I believe it will be okay.

"...Well, I have to go to the knight barracks soon. I was told to show my face as soon as I arrived in the city."

Aria, seemingly satisfied with teasing Elise and me, stood up and said this.

"I'll come back soon, big sister! ...Ah, Mr. Shiki, I don't remember the location of the knight barracks very well. Could you show me the way?"

Then, I was pulled by Aria, who asked me to guide her, and we left the treatment room.

Aria walked down the street, swinging her ponytail, looking cheerful.

"What does Mr. Shiki usually do?"

"Help out at the clinic or explore the dungeon."

However, even though I was supposed to guide her to the knight barracks, Aria walked ahead without needing my guidance. Plus, she's been bombarding me with questions since we left.

"Dungeon! Big sister's letter said you have amazing healing magic, but you can also fight monsters! Wow, that's impressive."

"J-Just so-so."

I can beat a goblin one-on-one. It's not a lie.

"What weapon do you use?"

"A mace."

"Hmm, I thought you'd use a staff and magic."

Is that because it looks weak? ...Well, I'd like to use magic too, but I couldn't use it when I learned from a clinic patient. Maybe I should learn from someone more seriously next time.

"Ah, if you don't mind, would you like to spar with me sometime? I'm the top student in my class at the knight school, and I'm confident."

"Top student? That's impressive. Well... maybe if the opportunity arises."

I need to find a reason to decline. Or maybe I can get Yuel to substitute for me. A knight candidate, and the top student at that, is someone I can't beat.

By the way, top student. I don't know how many students there are at the knight school, but that's quite an achievement, isn't it? They must have seen potential in her from the start, sending her to the capital from this town.

As we talked and walked down the main street, a faint, warm green light caught my eye. Looking in that direction, I saw a woman treating an injured person amidst a crowd. She had beautiful black hair and was wearing an expensive-looking priestess outfit with decorations. She looked to be in her late teens. She was quite beautiful. No breasts, though.

Stopping to watch for a while, it seemed she was providing free treatment to the townspeople.

"That's a priestess from the Medine Church."

Medine Church. I remember Elise telling me it's a religion closely related to healing magic in this world. It might even be the state religion.

"Providing free treatment? That's quite generous."

"Is it rare? In the capital, they do it all the time. They gather donations by providing free treatment in front of a crowd. Since the festival is approaching, there are more people, so it's probably for that purpose."

"Hmm..."

The priestess treated another injured person. And that was an Ex-Heal... No, an Ex-Heal. That priestess must be quite skilled, even by the standards of a regular healer. She must have used up her mana with the Ex-Heal, as she was kneeling and breathing heavily.

By the way, this is the first time I've seen someone other than me use an Ex-Heal. I heard that only a select few high-ranking priests in the church can use it. Maybe this beautiful priestess is quite important.

As I was watching the beautiful priestess, my shirt was suddenly tugged.

It was Aria. She looked at me with a slightly scolding, pouting face.

"...Mr. Shiki, that's not good."

"Wh-What's not good?"

Aria let out a sigh and shrugged her shoulders. Then, her expression turned serious as she looked at me.

"Mr. Shiki, I've been thinking..."

Aria looked me in the eye and started talking. She had a serious atmosphere. What is it? Is she going to lecture me for looking at girls, saying something like, "Mr. Shiki, you've been looking at girls all this time. You have no principles"?

If she does, I won't have a comeback.

"I've been thinking... about big sister. She doesn't say anything, but with both her parents gone, she must be having a hard time, being all alone."

No, it's about Elise.

Indeed, Elise has had a tough time recently, with mounting debts and selling the clinic. But considering Elise's personality, she probably wouldn't tell her sister about the debt or selling the clinic, especially not Aria.

I'll stay quiet too. It's already resolved.

"The letter seemed forced, trying to sound cheerful... I was a bit worried. So, I came to see her... I'm relieved to see big sister looking well."

"...I see."

"Big sister is stubborn and puts up a front, but I think she has some feelings for you. She wouldn't live under the same roof with a man for no reason."

Aria said she wanted me to guide her to the knight barracks, but maybe she just wanted to talk to me alone.

What kind of person is Elise's housemate? And is Elise doing well?

I thought she was just teasing me, but it seems there's more to it. Then, Aria scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed—

"So, please take care of big sister. I want her to be happy."

She said this with a smile.

After that, I escorted Aria to the knight barracks and returned to the clinic. And then, immediately—

"I'm leaving this place."

...Without any preamble, Elise said this with a serious expression.

What does this mean?

I haven't even asked, "What did you write in the letter to your sister?" or "Why are you living in the same room with me even though we're not in a relationship?" I haven't done anything to make her angry... Is it because of the flirting? No, maybe it's because she was teased by Aria.

That's not right, Aria. Didn't you say Elise has some feelings for me?

"Is it because of what happened just now...?"

"...It's not related to what happened just now. I wouldn't leave the clinic over something like that. But, I've seen Aria, and I'll be using the dormitory, so it's a good opportunity."

"Good opportunity?"

I've been putting up with living with me, but after being teased by Aria, she might have re-evaluated me and decided she doesn't want to live with a frivolous man who flirts in the city. If I were Elise, I wouldn't want to live with such a man either.

"...I've been thinking about this since you went on the monster hunt with the knights."

The monster hunt must be referring to the Crankheit Turtle incident. But it doesn't connect. Why would Elise decide to leave the clinic after I went on a monster hunt?

"...What do you mean?"

"Back then, after you left, I kept thinking... Why couldn't I go with you?"

Elise's serious expression. I remember, back then, Elise was worried about me. When you went on the hunt and when you returned, she seemed a bit different from her usual self.

"Besides, after the poison fog entered the city, I couldn't run the clinic alone... You used such amazing healing magic. ...So, I want to at least be able to use an Ex-Heal and become a competent healer."

If she could use an Ex-Heal, she might have been able to join the hunt. ...But, being able to use it means she's not just competent but elite. Maybe it's because of me, but I feel like Elise's sense of proportion is off.

Elise isn't a failure. During the Crankheit Turtle incident, she treated quite a few people, and as a healer, she should have a normal, or slightly above normal, amount of mana.

"So, I'm going to the capital to train at the Medine Church. I want to be retrained there from the beginning."

When I first came to this world, I asked Elise. The church in the capital trains serious healers, and while other cities' churches do some training, if you want to aim higher as a healer, you should go to the capital.

Elise's resolve is firm. But, that's not good. I'll be in trouble. I need to stop her.

"H-Have you thought about what will happen to the clinic?"

"I'll close it for a while."

This is bad. Elise, who is serious about her work, is closing the clinic. She's dead serious.

"Yuel probably doesn't want to leave either, right?"

Yuel, despite everything, is quite attached to Elise. She'll probably be sad if Elise leaves.

But Elise frowned and slightly lowered her head. Then, she whispered.

"But I want to have the ability to go with you. I don't want to be the one waiting alone for someone to come back."

...Now that I think about it, there was something that bothered me. At the lord's dinner, Elise looked at Ruruka with envy. From Elise's perspective, Ruruka being there meant she had gone on the hunt. In fact, Ruruka had gone as a guide. That look of envy was probably for Ruruka's ability to join the hunt.

And it seems being alone at home was quite hard on her.

I have an idea. The incident where Elise's parents died in an accident. Maybe, if she was alone at home, the letter that came was not from her parents but a death notice.

And I came back to the clinic covered in blood, looking like a rag. That might have