Chapter 77

"Are you okay? Theo?"

"Yeah, I'm... not okay."

My name is Theo. I am a farmer who lives in the Bauwieste territory and will turn twenty-one this year. As the eldest son, I am supposed to take over the family farm, and I got married three years ago, with my first son born last year.

Recently, there has been a lot of debate within the territory about whether Kurt or Vendelin is more suitable to be the next lord. Personally, I think such matters are decided by important people, and there's nothing we can do about it.

However, Vendelin has been developing uncultivated land and expanding rice fields, and he even helped us reorganize our fields to make farming easier.

Considering this, I guess it's a fair competition.

I'm just a farmer, so my daily life is busy no matter who becomes the new lord.

I think that's the wisdom of the common people.

So, I'm busy with farm work today. Also, although I'm not particularly well-built, I'm rather slim and light, so I'm good at climbing trees to pick fruit.

After finishing the farm work, I went to the forest with my neighbors to pick akebi (a type of fruit). But, unexpectedly, I made a mistake while climbing a tree. Was I distracted? I slipped and fell from the tree.

"Theo, is your right arm broken?"

"It's broken, alright."

Immediately, Grandpa Cloud, who lives next door, splinted my arm and wrapped it with cloth. If a bone is broken, it's best to keep it as straight as possible before splinting and wrapping it.

That's how it's been done for a long time.

Actually, I should go to a clinic or to a priest who can use healing magic. Unfortunately, there's no such convenient place or person here.

Priest Master is a good person, but he can't use healing magic. However, he is skilled in herbal medicine and can prescribe medicine for illnesses.

"Broken bones are painful. I'll be a burden to my wife."

"Don't worry. We have Lady Elise now."

"Oh, that's right."

Grandpa Cloud had been suffering from back pain recently. But Lady Elise, who was substituting for Priest Master due to his back pain, healed him with healing magic.

"Back pain is gone, and Lady Elise is beautiful. She smells good when she casts healing magic."

Grandpa Cloud spoke with a radiant expression about his treatment by Lady Elise, but he was scolded by his wife later.

"And those breasts. I'd like to touch them just once."

I think that extra comment was the fatal blow. If Lady Elise stops treating people because of such lewd comments or feelings, Grandpa Cloud would undoubtedly be ostracized by the village.

"Anyway, you can't do anything with that hand. Go get Lady Elise to heal you."

"Alright."

I was extremely calm, thinking that if I didn't get treated, it would affect my farm work from tomorrow. But inside, I was excited as I hurried to the church.

Lady Elise is Vendelin's fiancée, so I shouldn't show any lewd feelings or attitudes. But being treated by such a beautiful woman is something to be happy about.

"Still, Vendelin's wives..."

Lady Elise, of course, is beyond words. Such a beautiful woman is rare in the Bauwieste territory. Louise, who is a candidate for a concubine, is cute despite her young appearance. And Iena, well, being scolded by a woman like her might even be thrilling.

But I didn't make the same mistake as Grandpa Cloud, saying something unnecessary and getting scolded by my wife.

"Still, looking forward to the treatment is a strange feeling."

As I approached the entrance of the church, there were no other patients waiting, which was unusual. It seemed that the number of patients had decreased because Lady Elise had been treating them diligently.

"Anyway, I should see Lady Elise's beautiful face... Excuse me!"

I tried to suppress my excitement as I opened the church door, but an unexpected event occurred.

Instead of the beautiful Lady Elise, who looked like a goddess, there was a middle-aged man with a muscular build, wearing a priest's robe that was clearly too small for him, waiting inside.

Is this person really a priest?

He had such an intimidating presence that he could easily be mistaken for a mafia boss. In fact, even a mafia boss might run away barefoot.

"Oh, lost sheep! What brings you here?"

I don't look like a lost sheep; I look like a lost prey.

Where is the beautiful and elegant Lady Elise?

Why is this muscular giant, who gives off a sense of impending death, addressing me?

It seems that there are many things in this world that even God can't fix.

"Um..."

I hesitated. But I did break my arm, and I don't need to rush to get treated today. If I come first thing tomorrow, I might see Lady Elise's goddess-like smile.

No, I definitely will.

"Oh! You have a broken arm! It's my turn to help!"

"Can the priest use healing magic?"

It's rude to ask such a question, but I was trying hard not to be treated by this muscular giant.

"Indeed! I suddenly learned it yesterday! And I'm not a priest, so you don't need to be nervous!"

Yesterday, Vendelin went to inspect uncultivated land, and something happened there. Herman said it would be announced officially later, and the situation is unclear now.

Perhaps that's why Lady Elise is not here.

"Normally, my niece Elise, who has the qualifications of an assistant priest, should treat you. But she has been working non-stop, so I'm taking her place!"

He claims to be Lady Elise's uncle. I don't see any resemblance, and I should thank God for that.

Moreover, I was already his patient. If I ran away now, something terrible would surely happen in the village.

"Sir, I broke my arm..."

"Oh! That's terrible! I'll start the treatment immediately!"

As he said this, a bluish-white light, like flames, rose from the muscular giant's body. I think it's the light of healing magic, but it feels different from what I've heard about Lady Elise's.

"I'm still inexperienced with holy healing magic! Please bear with me!"

"Thank you for treating me with healing magic."

"Your words are very encouraging! Now..."

The muscular giant spread his arms wide and started to hug me tightly. Not just a hug, but a real, bone-crushing embrace.

"Um... Sir?"

"Yesterday, I tried various methods, but this was the only way I could use healing magic. Now, let's finish it."

(My arm is healing, but other parts are breaking!)

In the end, my arm was healed before I got more fractures. I think he was trying to control his strength, as it wouldn't make sense to heal one fracture and cause multiple others.

Why does he have to hug so tightly? A normal hug would be fine, wouldn't it?

"It's good that it's healed."

My arm was healed by being hugged by the muscular giant. Although the injury was healed, I felt somewhat unsatisfied.

Also, this muscular giant is Lady Elise's uncle and the head mage of the royal palace. He doesn't look the part, and everyone else envies me for being treated by such an important person.

But I still felt unsatisfied. I would have preferred to be treated gently by Lady Elise.

"Uncle, thank you for taking my shift today."

"No problem! It was perfect for practicing the holy magic I just learned! I've become much better at healing magic!"

"Um, can you use it without hugging?"

"No, I tried many times, but it's impossible! Well, it works, so that's good!"

That evening, Elise thanked the instructor who had taken her shift. However, the holy magic still required physical contact to work, and I sympathized with the villagers who were treated by the muscular instructor.