Chapter 30

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"Thank you for the bookmark rating.

'Hey there, do you want to form a party with me?'

'...Huh, me?'

The day after I started hunting goblins alone, I was invited to a party by a guy who seemed a bit light-hearted.

'Actually, I accepted a quest to slay the Goblin King, but the guy who was supposed to go with me suddenly disappeared... And then you showed up with a bunch of goblin ears. Plus, I just got to this town and don't really know my way around.'

'Ah, sure, I can join you.'

I figured the guys from the adventurer school wouldn't team up with me anyway...

'Oh, really!? Thanks a lot! I heard the Goblin King is tough for newbies, so I'm really grateful!'

'I just registered yesterday myself...'

'...But you killed a lot of goblins yesterday, right?'

'Yeah, I went right after I registered.'

'...'

His voice clearly sounded disappointed.

'...Sorry about that?'

If that's the case, this party talk might be over. I thought I'd finally get to go on a quest with a party...

'Well, we need two or three more people then.'

'...So, the party talk is still on?'

As I was thinking about taking another goblin quest, the guy said it like it was obvious.

'If it's okay, I'd like your help.'

Come to think of it, he said he just got to this town too, and I want to get along well with other newbies.

'I'm good, let's go find the rest of the party members.'

'Alright!!'

We started looking for the remaining party members.

---

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'Ha, I wonder if there's anyone who can cure my daughters...'

After calling for excellent healers for a few days, I continued my duties as king.

In the end, those healers couldn't cure my daughters, and I've sent my subordinates to look for other healers.

However, I doubt anyone else can cure the illness that couldn't be cured by those healers.

Gripping my pen with a heavy hand, I continued my work today.

Knock knock

Suddenly, the door to my room was knocked on.

'...Who is it?'

I was suspicious of whoever came at this late hour but called out to the other side of the door.

Perhaps an excellent healer has been found.

With a mix of anxiety and hope, I waited for a response.

'---You'

'---Huh?'

Whose voice was that?

It's a voice that has spoken to me for years. Yes, that voice is---

'---Father'

Wait, is this a hallucination?

Could it be, a familiar voice. This voice---

I stood up from my chair and opened the door with trembling hands.

'AAAAAAHHHHH!!!'

I had been worrying. I thought we might both die.

Now, standing before me were my beloved wife and daughter---

'What happened!? Are you both okay!?'

They look healthy, but I can't help but ask.

'Yes, we're fine, dear.'

'Yes, the illness is cured.'

'That's great!! Really great!!'

My vision blurred.

I can't show this side to my subordinates, but today, no, right now, I want to be allowed.

I hugged them and cried out loud---

The guards came to see what was happening at the sound of my voice.

When they saw us, they must have realized the girls were cured and also cried out loud.

After a while, I finally calmed down.

Now, I've sent the guards back to their posts, and only my wife, daughter, and I are left in the room.

'So, how did you get cured? Did you recover naturally?'

After showing such an ugly side, I feel embarrassed.

'No, we didn't recover naturally.'

'Then how did you get cured?'

'By a healing spell.'

'...Was it you?'

If my daughter, who is the best healer I know, cured herself, I can understand.

'No, it wasn't me.'

'Then who cured you? The healers I called have all left.'

I think one stayed a bit longer, but they eventually left too.

'The other day, a thief broke into the castle.'

'Ah, yes, they did. They showed an illusion of cutting their arm and managed to escape.'

'Probably, that person cured us.'

'...Wait. If that's the case, you were cured a few days ago.'

The report of the thief's intrusion came a few days ago.

'Yes, that's right. However, there was a possibility of a relapse, so we stayed in the room for a few days. After confirming that we were fully cured, we came here.'

'I see. In that case, it can't be helped. Then, who cured you?'

'They left the castle immediately after curing us.'

'And this girl gave one of her earrings to that person.'

My wife added, interrupting my daughter's story.

The earrings my daughter has are meant to be given when she gets married.

'What!? No, I mean, it's not that I didn't think about rewarding the person who cured you... But, did you confirm their intentions!?!'

Both of them gave me a glare, so I hurriedly defended myself.

'Well, this girl didn't understand the meaning of the earrings and gave one to the person who cured her, saying it was for a reunion.'

'...'

I couldn't say anything more to my daughter, who was looking down in embarrassment. She must have been laughed at a lot by my wife.

'...Well, that's fine. In the worst case, we'll have to prepare something else.'

It's a family heirloom, but I want to be careful in choosing my daughter's partner.

'By the way, who cured you?'

I can't let this go without thanking them.

'...I don't know.'

However, my daughter said something unexpected. They were probably told not to say anything.

'You don't have to hide it. I would praise the person who broke into the castle to save you. They risked their life to cure you.'

'No, that's not it. They left without even giving their name.'

This is surprising. I can't even thank them.

'What did they look like? I'll have everyone search for them.'

I can ask the guild to investigate. It might take some time, but we should be able to find them eventually.

'Well, they were wearing a black cloak with a hood, so I couldn't see their face. The voice was male, though...'

'W-What...'

'Father?'

D, did they save the princess in a black cloak...?

T-That's---

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'Coolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll