Chapter 117 - Relief
"Oh, if it isn't Aldo, Lauren, and Kyle. Finished with the hunt already?"
As I carried the injured Lauren-san down the mountain and emerged from the forest, the villagers harvesting wheat called out curiously.
"Sorry, Lauren-san is injured and we're in a hurry."
"O-Oh, sorry for calling out."
Lauren-san's leg was wrapped in a cloth as first aid, but it was stained bright red.
Perhaps due to the loss of blood from his body, Lauren-san looked somewhat lethargic.
Given Lauren-san's physical strength, this was no time to be taking it slow.
The villagers seemed to realize this as well, and said nothing more.
"Kyle, I'm taking Lauren-san to my house, so you go to Kurune's house and bring her here."
"Understood!"
When I said that, Kyle nodded and ran off at full speed.
Since Kurune could use recovery magic, no major preparations were necessary. It would be less of a burden on Lauren-san to call her over than to carry him to her.
After seeing Kyle off, I hurried to my own house.
As I proceeded at a jog to avoid shaking him, my home soon came into view.
As I headed for the door, Flora happened to come outside carrying laundry.
"Oh? Aldo-san, didn't you go to the mountain to hunt...?"
"Lauren-san is injured! Sorry, but please help with the treatment!"
"S-Sorry."
"Y-Yes!"
Seeing Lauren-san, who spoke in a weak voice with an injured leg, Flora's face turned pale, but she immediately moved to open the door for us.
I stepped inside, kicking off my shoes, laid Lauren-san down on the carpet, and placed his injured right leg on the sofa.
By placing the leg higher than the heart, the outflow of blood can be mitigated.
"Flora, bring a clean cloth, a basin, and the water magic tool."
"Yes!"
When I asked, Flora hurriedly went to the bedroom and brought back the items I requested.
I equipped my magic tool bracelet and used mana to fill the basin with clean water.
Then, I moistened the cloth and wiped away the mud and blood clinging to Lauren-san's leg.
Even though recovery magic would be used, it wasn't good to have dirt around the wound.
I was being as careful as possible, but Lauren-san let out a faint groan, perhaps from the pain.
"...I-I'll help."
As I was working alone, Flora also picked up a cloth to help.
However, her complexion was very pale, and she looked unwell.
I could tell immediately that she wasn't used to such sights.
"Flora, it's fine here, so could you go call Lauren-san's wife? She'll be worried."
"S-Sorry. Understood."
When I said that, Flora seemed to grasp my intention and went outside, looking apologetic.
She had lived a life with little connection to such things. It couldn't be helped.
After wiping away most of the dirt, I used the magic tool to put water into a cup.
"Lauren-san, can you drink some water?"
"Y-Yeah, I can drink it myself."
When I handed him the cup, Lauren-san drank the water slowly.
Then, he let out a long breath.
"Kyle went to call Kurune just now, so she should be here soon."
"...I'm causing trouble."
While I was preparing another cup of water for Lauren-san, I sensed two presences running toward us in a hurry.
"Aldo, it's me! I'm coming in!"
Kurune entered as if she couldn't even spare the time to knock, and Kyle followed, diving in behind her.
"Kurune-san, will Master be cured!?"
"The wound is a bit deep, but it's no problem. I can heal this much with my magic!"
Kurune declared with full confidence, as if to dispel Kyle's anxiety.
"I've cleaned up the wound to some extent."
"Got it. Well then, Lauren-san, I'm going to take off the cloth and cast recovery magic, okay?"
"Y-Yeah, I don't really understand it, but please..."
Seeing Lauren-san nod, I slowly unwound the cloth wrapped around his right leg.
Then Kurune held up her staff toward Lauren-san's right leg and chanted the incantation for recovery magic.
Then, Kurune's staff emitted a jade-colored glow, and the light enveloped Lauren-san's right leg as if transferring to it.
The gash carved into Lauren-san's leg closed up as if being rewound.
"A-Amazing, the wound is gone in an instant...!"
He must have been seeing treatment by recovery magic for the first time. Kyle watched while letting out a voice of surprise.
Eventually, when the wound was cleanly closed, Lauren-san's expression improved proportionally.
"O-Oh, the pain is gone."
Perhaps finding the instantly closed wound incredibly mysterious, Lauren-san traced the place where the injury had been with his finger while looking bewildered.
After confirming there was no problem, Lauren-san moved his leg lightly and then suddenly stood up.
"This is amazing! Recovery magic! The injury healed in an instant—whoa!?"
No sooner had he raised his voice in excitement than Lauren-san slumped back onto the sofa.
"Please don't move on your own. Even if the wound is healed, I can't regenerate the blood you've lost."
"Y-Yeah, sorry."
Lauren-san could only nod obediently, perhaps overwhelmed by Kurune's somewhat forceful tone.
Kurune has a strange intensity at times like that.
I used to get injured often, so she used to warn me like that too. Even so, I would do reckless things and get injured, so Kurune seemed to be thoroughly exasperated...
"Here, this is a pill that has the effect of creating blood."
"Ugh, what is this? It smells terrible..."
Lauren-san grimaced as he received the pill Kurune held out.
Ah, that thing. The effect is perfect, but unfortunately, the smell and taste are...
I've been in its care many times, but before you get used to it, you feel like you're going to choke just by smelling it.
In fact, Kyle, who was nearby, was coughing from the smell.
"That's just how it is. Please make sure to take it."
"U-Understood."
Lauren-san popped the pill into his mouth and washed it down with water.
As for the taste, Lauren-san's face wrinkled up so much it looked like it was collapsing.
A while after swallowing the pill, Lauren-san's complexion gradually regained its redness.
Seeing that, an air of relief drifted through the living room, and then the front door was thrown open with force.
A woman with a slightly plump build who looked strong-willed. It was Martha-san, Lauren-san's wife.
I thought Flora might be behind her, but there was no sign of her.
She probably couldn't keep up with Martha-san, who had rushed out in a hurry.
"Aldo! Is my idiot husband safe!?"
"Yes, thanks to Kurune's recovery magic."
"I-Is that true!?"
Even though I spoke to reassure her, Martha-san began checking Lauren-san's leg, perhaps still concerned.
"Hey, Martha. At least knock—"
"Shut up and stay quiet."
Martha-san silenced Lauren-san with a single word.
Just seeing that scene made their relationship as a couple, or rather the power dynamic, clear.
But the look in her eyes as she checked Lauren-san's injury was nothing but worry and care.
On the way to the hunt, he had said that his wife Martha-san's send-off was cold and so on, but there was properly love there, wasn't there?
After all, she was worrying this much from the bottom of her heart.
"Hey, hey, my idiot husband really did have an injury on his right leg, right?"
"Yes."
I nodded firmly to Martha-san, who asked with some bewilderment.
"Magic really is a startling thing, isn't it?"
It couldn't be helped that Martha-san felt that way.
Kurune's recovery magic had treated it without leaving even a trace of a scar.
If it were an average mage, they might not be able to heal it perfectly in one go, or there might be aftereffects like the skin being unnaturally connected and tight, or a scar might remain.
The fact that none of those existed was, needless to say, due to Kurune's skill.
After confirming Lauren-san's right leg, Martha-san turned toward Kurune.
"You're Kurune-san, right?"
"Y-Yes."
"Thank you so much for healing my husband's injury this time."
"No, we help each other in times of trouble. Also, it was Aldo who carried him swiftly from the mountain."
"That's true. Thank you too, Aldo and Kyle."
"No, it's only natural since you help us out daily."
Lauren-san has been looking after me ever since I came to the village.
I was happy that I could return that favor even a little.
However, the expression on Kyle's face as he was thanked was very dark...
"I-I don't have any right to be thanked... My master got injured because of me."
"What are you talking about? It's only natural for a master to look after and protect his own disciple. If anything, it was my idiot husband who blundered."
"I was the only one at fault this time. So, don't you worry about it."
"...Yes."
Martha-san and Lauren-san spoke brightly, as if to blow away the feelings of Kyle, who was looking somewhat awkward.
However, it seemed they couldn't immediately wipe away Kyle's guilt and regret.
Well, even if told not to worry, he probably isn't the type of person who can switch gears immediately.
"Huff, huff... is Lauren-san's injury healed?"
Following behind Martha-san, Flora also returned home.
She was out of breath and her face was red, showing that she had run here desperately.
I handed a cup of water to Flora, who was sweating from her forehead.
"Th-Thank you... phew."
Flora gave her thanks politely even while breathing hard, and drank the water in one go before exhaling.
"Lauren-san's injury was completely healed by Kurune's recovery magic."
"I-I see. I'm so glad."
Flora placed her hand on her chest and wore an expression of relief.
Then Flora turned a gaze toward me that was mixed with anxiety, as if to confirm something.
"What's wrong?"
"U-Um, I've been worried this whole time, but are you injured, Aldo-san...?"
I see. Not only did I enter a mountain where monsters are present, but Lauren-san also got injured.
It was no wonder Flora was worried about me.
"Oh, I'm not injured at all. The blood on my clothes is also Lauren-san's."
"I-Is that true? Actually, you're being considerate of everyone and just enduring it... wait, let me check!"
I spoke in a soft voice to reassure her, but Flora was still worried and began fumbling over my body.
"W-Wait, Flora! I'm really fine! I mean, everyone is here, so don't try to strip me!"
"Ah! S-Sorry!"
When I said that, Flora seemed to come to her senses and looked down with a bright red face.
The living room was filled with exasperated gazes and an atmosphere like they were watching something heartwarming.