Chapter 39

"Ask the guardian beast to find Marion and report on her condition!"

"But, a guardian beast..."

I look at Daru.

"Waf?"

Daru tilts his head cutely.

If the guardian beast is like Daru, I'm worried whether it can find Marion.

Even if it finds her, I doubt it can understand her condition.

Daru is a dog, but I feel he might get lost if he goes out of the house and walks for a while.

Moreover, even if he uses his dog skills to find her, I doubt he can observe her condition.

"Rest assured, Luria. Guardian beasts are smart."

"Hmm~"

"Caro and Korko are also guardian beasts."

"Is that so!"

"Kyu-kyu" "Kou"

Caro and Korko are more reliable than Daru.

It seems not all guardian beasts are like Daru.

"Besides, the guardian beasts I'm asking are the birds in the courtyard."

"Really! Those little ones are guardian beasts too?"

"Yes. They know Marion's face and are smart, so they are the right choice."

"Got it."

That makes me feel better.

Still, it seems there are more guardian beasts than I thought.

It's reassuring.

While I was thinking about this, my mother pulled back the blanket.

"Oh, Luria. What are you doing under the blanket?"

"Mmm. Meeting!"

"It's hot, your face is all red."

"It's not hot!"

I said that, but I was huddled under the blanket with Daru, Korko, and Caro, so it was hot.

"What did you talk about in the meeting?"

"It's a secret!"

"Oh, dear."

After eating breakfast with my mother, I moved to the courtyard with Crow and the others.

I bowed to the birds that had gathered.

"Everyone, I need you to find Marion."

"Please."

"Ho-ho"

"Marion is in the west—"

Crow seemed to have gathered some information.

After Crow finished explaining, most of the birds took off.

Only a large hawk remained.

"If you guard, Crow will feel at ease."

"Kuru-ru~"

From then on.

I spent the mornings in the library reading medical books.

They were very difficult, and I could only understand half of them.

"This disease occurs when magic power is lacking!"

"Wow!"

I studied while learning from the surprisingly knowledgeable Crow.

In the afternoons, I practiced swordsmanship.

Without physical strength, it's hard to use healing magic.

I'm still young. My body isn't fully developed, so I don't think I can use magic power effectively.

Besides, I'm not a saint like in my previous life.

I can't freely use the endless magic power I borrowed from the spirits in my previous life.

So, I can only use the method I used to heal myself when my magic power and physical strength were exhausted in my previous life.

"Magic power... is not enough..."

"I don't think that's the case..."

"If something happens, can I count on you, Crow?"

Even if I'm not a saint, if I can borrow power from the spirits, I might be able to use a slightly stronger healing magic.

"Of course, I'll lend you the power, but is it meaningful?"

"It might not be. But please?"

"Understood."

I understand why Crow thinks it might not be meaningful.

To receive magic power from the spirits, to incorporate it into myself, and to use it to cast magic, each step requires different skills, talents, and physical abilities.

"I might not have the right body and talent, but I have the skills!"

I have the skills I cultivated in my previous life, so I'm fine.

To improve my physical abilities for manipulating magic, I need to build strength through swordsmanship practice.

Of course, improving physical abilities doesn't happen overnight.

Building magical circuits in the body takes time, and the muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness needed to support them don't improve easily.

Even if I start practicing now, it's just a last-minute effort and won't make much difference.

Still, it's better than doing nothing.

"Huff! Huff!" "Waf! Waf!"

The maids said, "Today, Miss Luria seems more determined."

After dinner, when the family gathered, I didn't forget to bring up Marion.

I am a strategist, after all.

"I'm worried about Marion."

"Yes... Her illness seems to be lingering."

Mother also looked worried.

Father and my siblings also had slightly sad expressions.

"Mother, have you known Marion for a long time?"

First, I need to gather information naturally.

"Yes. Marion is the daughter of a baron from a branch of my family."

So, she's a baron's daughter.

I know Mother is the daughter of an old marquis family.

My grandfather, Mother's father, is deceased, but I've met my uncle, the current marquis, a few times.

He usually visits around summer.

The marquis, my uncle, is about twenty years older than Mother and is very kind.

"What kind of person is Marion's husband?"

This is also something I need to know.

"He is the son of a knight who served my father, Luria's grandfather."

"Knight and baron—"

"My father, Luria's grandfather, highly regarded Marion's husband's father... This might be a bit complicated for you, Luria."

"Mmm."

So, it seems the marriage was arranged by the late marquis, my grandfather.

From what I understand, Marion is the only daughter of the baron.

In this country, it's generally difficult for women to inherit, so her husband was chosen as a son-in-law to take over the baron's family.

He is the son of an excellent knight who was loyal to my deceased grandfather.

Now, he has inherited the baron's title.

Since he was chosen as a son-in-law to take over the branch baron's family, Marion's husband must be very capable.

"Is Marion in the baron's territory?"

"No. She's in the mansion in the capital."

It seems that nobles with territories have mansions both in their territories and in the capital.

Marion is in the baron's mansion in the capital.

I'm currently in my father's mansion in the capital.

So, Marion isn't that far away.

I've obtained the information I wanted.

Crow, who can't be seen, must be listening.

If Crow is listening, the birds should also know.

"... Hmm. Marion is in the capital, huh."

I deliberately speak louder so Crow can hear clearly.

"... Luria, you're not planning to meet Marion alone, are you?"

"N-no, I'm not!"

"Of course not. Can you promise me that?"

"Y-yes."

To avoid being asked to make more promises, I change the topic.

"More importantly, I want to see the wet nurse!"

"Wet nurse? Yes, but..."

"Marion must be lonely because of her illness. If Daru is petted, she'll feel better."

"Waf? ... Waf!"

Daru wagged his tail enthusiastically.

"Hmm."

Mother seems a bit hesitant. I need to push a bit more.

"Is the wet nurse sick?"

"She's not sick."

"Then, she can't spread the illness, right?"

"That's true, but..."

"Father! Luria wants to see the wet nurse!"

I also need to persuade Father.

"Luria."

Father picks me up.

"The outside is dangerous."

"Mmm. Hide my red hair?"

"Yes. That would be better. Amelia, is it difficult?"

"Hmm, but..."

"Luria is already five years old. She can't stay in the mansion forever, right?"

"Yes... Some preparation is needed, though."

"Yay!"

I can see the wet nurse sooner than I thought.