Chapter 12

When I finally reached home, I entered the room with the hearth and laid the elf down on the grass that was spread out.

Ideally, an empty room would have been better, but since she had been submerged in water for a long time and her body temperature had dropped, I decided to put her here.

I dug up the embers left in the hearth and fanned them to reignite the fire.

As I added kindling and branches, the fire crackled and grew larger.

Now, the problem is the elf.

The left side of her shirt is stained with blood, turning a dark red.

I hesitate to look under her clothes, but since she is injured, there is no choice.

When I lift her shirt to check the wound, three lines run across her clean abdomen.

They are likely claw marks from a monster, and the wounds are deep, oozing blood.

There seem to be other minor abrasions and cuts, but the most urgent issue is here.

First, I need to clean the wound with water.

With such deep wounds, I might need to stitch them properly.

However, I don't have any needles or thread, so I can't sew them up.

It might be quite painful, but I could try using a very thin piece of wood that I've shaped with my abilities?

But I have no experience with stitching, and just thinking about it makes me wince. If it gets worse, it would be disastrous.

As I ponder what to do, my knowledge tells me to give her the medicine I made.

...Medicine? I can apply it to the wound and make her take it, but will it really work just by making her drink it?

The elf, lying on the ground, seems to be in pain, her face contorted.

She is the first person I've encountered in this world, and I don't want her to die.

Doubts and concerns run through my mind, but the knowledge inside me says it will work.

Since coming to this world, the knowledge granted by Elphira's blessing has never been wrong.

If that's the case, I should trust it this time as well.

I hurriedly returned to the medicine room and picked up the healing salve I had prepared in advance.

"Please, take this medicine."

She managed to drink the medicine I poured from the vial, though she seemed to be in some pain.

Her expression was one of bitter discomfort, probably because the medicine tasted bad.

I prioritized the effectiveness of the medicine over its taste.

As I thought this, the next moment, a faint green light enveloped the elf's body, and the gash on her left abdomen closed up in an instant.

It was as if I was watching the wound regenerate in reverse.

The elf's abdomen was now smooth, as if there had never been a wound.

Her pained expression softened, and her breathing stabilized.

I didn't expect such a dramatic effect from just giving her the medicine.

It must be due to Elphira's blessing. There's no other explanation. This phenomenon clearly goes beyond the scope of the medicine.

No wonder the knowledge insisted that giving her the medicine would be enough.

The ingredients for the medicine are from plants I grew in my garden, but perhaps that has something to do with it.

Or maybe, if I mix the herbs from the forest, I can achieve such effects.

There are many things to consider, but for now, I'm just glad the elf's wound has healed.

The tension I felt while tending to her injuries was suddenly released.

I'm glad I prepared the medicine thoroughly for emergencies.

I feel like I should praise myself for getting started on it so quickly.

"Still, what should I do? If she stays like this, she'll catch a cold."

It's good that the elf's injuries have healed, but her clothes are completely soaked.

Even if she is next to the hearth, if I leave her like this, she will definitely catch a cold.

I feel very uncomfortable about undressing a sleeping woman, but I have no choice but to remove her wet clothes.

However, I am a gentleman. I will only remove the leather armor and belt she is wearing, and leave the rest to Rent. This is my limit.

I will dry the elf's wet clothes in the room.

I covered the naked elf with a green deer's pelt as a substitute for a blanket.

"For now, I'll keep an eye on you."

Even though the medicine has healed her injuries, I don't know what other changes might occur.

Still, just sitting around would be a waste of time.

I'll use the divine knife to process the stones I cut today and make some cups.

◆

"Hmm..."

After processing the stones and making several cups, it seems the elf has woken up.

"Are you awake?"

"――!!"

As I approached and spoke to her, the elf jumped up and pounced on me.

It happened so quickly that I didn't have time to react, and I was pinned down.

My first encounter with another species in this world is turning out to be quite intense.

Being pinned down by a naked woman isn't entirely unpleasant, but her expression shows no such intent. It is filled with pure hostility.

I was excited about meeting another species, but my mood quickly dampened.

The elf tries to grab the divine knife I dropped, but she can't and her arm is deflected.

"What!?"

Perhaps the divine tools can only be handled by those with my permission or without harmful intent.

I tried to escape while the elf was taken aback, but Rent extended his arm and pinned her to the wall.

"Ugh!"

What? His arm is clearly about two meters long and has grown huge.

Rent, you can do that?

"Thanks, Rent."

The elf tries to move, but she is held down by Rent's giant arm.

"Can you calm down for a moment?"

"You're the one who came at me with a weapon! You undressed me and were going to do something inappropriate!"

"Huh? Weapon...?"

The elf's sharp gaze made me look at the divine tool on the floor.

Its shape is unmistakably a weapon.

Waking up in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar person approaching with a weapon is a situation where misunderstanding is inevitable. I acted without considering her perspective.

I should have put the knife down and spoken to her.

"I'm sorry. I was only using it to process the stones, not to harm you."

"You can't cut stones with a wooden knife. Don't lie."

She has a point, considering common sense.

"But, as you can see, it can cut like this."

"Really? ...What's going on?"

I picked up the divine tool and cut the stone, and the elf's mouth dropped open.

I understand her reaction. I was also taken aback when I first saw it cut through wood and stone.

"...Even if that's a tool, why did you undress me?"

The elf, who was still shaken, asked in a slightly calmer voice.

Perhaps she has relaxed her guard a little.

But now, I am being questioned about undressing her. It was a purely medical act, not an attempt to assault her.

"Do you not remember? You were injured, so I pulled you out of the river and treated you."

"Y-Yes. I entered the Forest of Death and was attacked by a monster and injured—"

Finally, the elf's face turned pale as she remembered and looked at her abdomen.

However, she can't see it because of Rent's giant hand.

"The medicine healed the wound, so it's closed up now."

"Medicine can't heal that quickly."

I agree, but it was healed by Elphira's blessing. I have no choice but to insist on that.

"But, it doesn't hurt when you move, does it? I'll have Rent loosen his grip so you can see for yourself."

I told Rent to loosen his grip, and his hand opened slightly.

A bit of her skin is visible between his fingers, but there's no choice.

"The wound from the Armored Bear is gone! And the other wounds too!"

Seeing her healed body, the elf gasped in shock.

Her eyes still held a bit of caution, but the hostility from earlier had dissipated.