Chapter 5

Knowing about things like being able to see spirits, and that my protective stitching could heal injured spirits, and how these things could be problematic in terms of power dynamics... I was told that I should study more to gain a better understanding of societal norms.

However,

"Hey, Yui."

Early in the morning, Aunt Reine hurriedly pinched my cheeks with her palms.

"Your face is red, do you have a fever?"

"Huh?"

I had felt a bit sluggish and dazed since waking up, but I hadn't realized I was sick.

"You have a fever."

Incidentally, Aunt Reine and I share a room. She made me change back into my pajamas and return to bed. The spirits peered at me, and this was partly why I hadn't been aware of my condition. I had never been sick in that terrible environment before. Whenever I felt like I was catching a cold, the spirits would gather around and pet me, and I would mysteriously recover without getting sick. The same went for injuries.

When my younger sister threw a stone at me as a prank and cut my forehead, the spirits hurriedly gathered and petted me. My sister, who was surprised by the amount of blood, cried and made a fuss, and the maid, who seemed annoyed, tried to treat the wound, but it had already become a minor scratch. I was scolded and slapped for making such a fuss over such a small injury. The spirits gathered again, petting and licking me. The pain was intense at first, but it disappeared without leaving a mark, and my forehead healed beautifully.

Whenever I got sick or injured, even if it was just a minor scratch, the spirits would heal me like that.

"Hmm."

As I lay in bed, I gradually became aware of a strange feeling. My whole body ached, a pain similar to muscle soreness but different. I couldn't stay still, and when I turned over, a different kind of pain, as if my joints were dislocating, attacked me.

"Ugh."

When you realize you're in pain or feeling unwell, it can suddenly feel much worse, right? That's how it felt. It was hard to believe that just a moment ago, I was trying to get up and prepare for the day. I curled up into a small ball to endure the pain, and the elderly doctor who had examined me on the first day was brought in by Aunt Reine.

"Oh, Yui, what's wrong?"

"It seems she has a fever, as I just said."

"Let's see."

He took my hand, and I groaned.

"Yui? You seem to be in more pain than before. Please, do something quickly."

"Don't panic... It's just a low fever, but it is unusual."

"Could it be because of the spirit healing she received yesterday?"

"Try to calm down, can't you hear the blood flowing? Yui, does anything hurt?"

Aunt Reine seemed anxious, but a maid who looked like a doctor's assistant hugged her and pulled her away from the doctor.

"My body hurts."

Tears streamed down my face as I couldn't pinpoint the specific pain.

"Children with spirits rarely get sick or injured... Did you overwork her muscles yesterday?"

"Don't say such things, no one in this house would overwork a child like that."

The doctor's mention of "muscle soreness" made me realize something in my restless pain. Yes, I had experienced this in my previous life, though not to the point of having a fever, and I had almost forgotten about it.

This is...

"Sei... chu... tsuu?"

The doctor clapped his hands.

"Oh, oh, that's right, Yui is fifteen. It might be that her growth spurt has finally started due to better nutrition."

I am currently bedridden.

My body is overwhelmed by fatigue and pain, a pain similar to muscle soreness, and a strange, dislocating pain in my joints. I have a fever, and my head hurts, and the pain is accompanied by chills, making it very uncomfortable. Whether I stay still or move, different types of pain attack me.

Growth pains, like muscle soreness, are not something the spirits can pet away. Muscle soreness is a type of growth pain, after all. "Treatment" wouldn't be beneficial in this case. Instead, I am actively consuming drinks and food. My growth, which had stopped at around ten years old, has suddenly accelerated.

I endured a massage to loosen my tense muscles, screaming in the process. Everyone took care of me, even though I could barely move. They even helped me with the bathroom (tears).

Even the head of the household came to visit and patted my head before leaving.

"We'll discuss the details later when you're feeling better. I'll take the necessary measures first, so please rest."

Yes, thank you.

I had already decided to leave all the complicated matters to them.