Chapter 85 - What is Truly Precious
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As I gazed at Zoack, who had slowly drawn his last breath, I could sense a small presence from the nearby bushes.
When I turned my gaze toward the direction of that familiar presence, the bushes rustled and a figure emerged.
"My business over there is finished, so I came to help, but I guess it's already over?"
She spoke with a casualness as if it were nothing, but in her hand was a man being dragged and treated like luggage.
"It's over. Flora is safe too."
"...I see, that's good."
When I pointed to Flora, whom I had leaned against the tree, Kurune also seemed to have confirmed her safety and let out a sigh of relief from the bottom of her heart.
"Well then, for now, I'll heal Aldo's injuries."
I stopped Kurune as she tried to approach with her staff.
"No, do Flora first. Her shoulder was slashed by Zoack."
"...What are you saying? No matter how you look at it, Aldo is more seriously injured, right?"
Kurune frowned as she looked at me, bleeding from various parts of my body, and Flora, whose shoulder was shallowly slashed.
"I'm used to injuries of this level. It's not life-threatening, so please heal Flora's wound quickly. When I think about how Flora got a wound on her body and might have a scar left because of me, I can't help but feel terribly sorry."
Certainly, no matter how you looked at it, Kurune's judgment was correct, but I just couldn't be satisfied with that.
Flora got caught up and injured because of my past.
And I absolutely could not forgive the idea of me, the cause of her being caught up in this, having recovery magic cast on me first to heal my wounds at the very end.
Even if I knew that was self-satisfaction.
"Haa— fine, I get it. I'll heal Flora-san first and then I'll heal Aldo! Even the time we're spending arguing like this is a waste!"
Perhaps sensing my firm will, Kurune raised a somewhat exasperated voice and walked toward Flora. She left the man she was clutching in her left hand discarded roughly on the ground.
"...Sorry."
"I know that Aldo is stubborn in strange ways!"
Kurune replied to my words without looking back.
As expected of my adventurer companion. She seems to understand my personality well.
After that, Kurune looked over Flora, who was leaning against the tree.
Kurune, who is well-versed in recovery magic, is more knowledgeable about physical conditions than others.
I don't think she's quite at the level of a professional doctor or pharmacist, but she has a considerable amount of knowledge.
...I have a certain amount of knowledge myself, but when it comes to Flora, I'm still worried.
"...Is there anything wrong with Flora's body? She was slashed with a sword coated in poison."
"Wait! Poison!? Say that sooner, you idiot!"
When I called out in worry from behind Kurune as she was examining her, she turned around forcefully and shouted.
"No, but I made her drink the antidote! I meant in the sense of whether any after-effects remain!"
"W-What. So that's it. If it were poison, my detoxification magic might not work, so I was seriously panicked!"
"Sorry, sorry."
I didn't intend to cause a misunderstanding, but I guess my words were a bit lacking; I did something bad for Kurune's heart.
A calmed-down Kurune checked Flora's complexion and pulse.
I watched over her with a feeling mixed with anxiety and regret.
"Her complexion is a bit poor, but it seems her color is returning, so there doesn't seem to be a problem. I'll cast detoxification magic just in case."
"Thank you."
When I said my thanks, Kurune held up her staff and began to chant the incantation for recovery magic.
Then, Kurune's staff glowed faintly, and a warm light-blue radiance enveloped Flora.
"The detoxification is finished with this. Well, it seems the antidote is working properly, so this only has the power of a slight boost."
If that can make Flora get well sooner, it's enough.
"Are there any other external injuries?"
"Yeah, I checked, but there don't seem to be any injuries other than the left shoulder."
I felt relieved hearing those words from Kurune.
Flora doesn't have a sturdy body like mine, after all.
"Then, please treat the left shoulder."
"Got it."
"Make sure not to leave a scar, okay?"
"...I'm not such a hack mage that I'd leave a scar from a wound of this level,"
Kurune muttered as if dissatisfied while chanting the incantation for recovery magic.
Then, this time, Kurune's staff glowed with a jade radiance, enveloping Flora's entire body.
The slash wound on Flora's left shoulder began to close as if it were being rewound.
And then, a few seconds later. Flora's left shoulder had become fine-textured white skin, as if there had never been a slash wound there.
"...Good. The wound is properly healed."
I stroked Flora's treated left shoulder as if to confirm it.
In that hand, her body temperature, which was proof of her being alive, was clearly transmitted.
"Well then, next is Aldo. If Flora wakes up and Aldo is covered in blood, she'll be surprised, right?"
"Yeah, you're right."
◆
Having had my injuries healed by Kurune, I was looking down at the man lying on the ground.
"...So, Kurune. Who is this man?"
"He was using a magic tool to spy on Aldo and Zoack from a place away from the forest."
Kurune took out a magic tool like binoculars from her pocket.
It was a magic tool that allowed one to see further than normal binoculars by looking through glass-like lenses.
It's a magic tool used for important reconnaissance missions and the like, but the routes to obtain it are limited and the price is high.
This must be a retainer of the noble who was targeting us.
"Magic tools like this are convenient, but they're easily detected by excellent mages who can sense minute amounts of mana. Underestimating my power was his mistake."
Kurune said boastfully while holding the magic tool. The part about being 'excellent' was also quite emphasized.
Well, if it were within the range of normal binoculars, either I or Kurune would have sensed the presence.
Unless it's a first-rate assassin like Zoack, sensing an opponent's presence is an easy task.
I think that's exactly why they brought out such an expensive magic tool for monitoring us, but Kurune, who is sharp with her sense of mana, was there. This man was unfortunate too.
"...For now, let's wake him up."
"Yes, yes, alright."
When I said that, Kurune hit the man with her staff while looking a bit sullen.
I felt like she was venting her anger at not being properly praised onto the man.
I'll make sure to praise her properly later.
"...Ugh! Uuuu..."
The man, who was struck hard by Kurune's staff, sat up while grimacing in pain.
When I thrust my sword toward the man's throat, he let out a short scream, "Hih!?"
Perhaps sensing the situation after seeing the sword pointed at his throat and Kurune holding her staff without letting her guard down, the man slowly raised both hands.
Cold sweat was flowing from his forehead, but given that he was observing us without letting his guard down, he was likely thinking desperately about how to escape from this place.
"Who told you to monitor us?"
"...I-I can't say that."
When I pressed him with a voice lower than usual, the man showed resistance with words despite being frightened.
"Even if you die here?"
"............"
This time, I spoke with a voice even colder than before and pressed the sword against his throat, causing the man to gasp and fall silent.
This man's loyalty to his master seemed higher than I thought.
If it were an average guy, he would have started blabbing out of fear.
I glared at him with bloodlust for a while.
I judged that I couldn't force the words out of the man, so I lowered the sword I had pointed at him and released my bloodlust.
To the man who let out a sigh of relief upon seeing that, I threw some words.
"Your master is Clark Raymond, isn't he?"
"—!?"
When I spoke to him the moment his consciousness relaxed, the man clearly showed his agitation.
If he won't talk even when threatened, I just have to change my way of attack.
"...I knew it."
Kurune muttered while frowning after seeing the man's reaction.
Count Clark Raymond.
Among the nobles of Abalonia, he is a noble with a particularly strong desire to improve his status.
On the surface, he is a mild-mannered young noble, but behind the scenes, he is a noble who will do anything, such as hiring assassins, for the sake of his career. In fact, I've heard that he has climbed up by thoroughly eliminating his political enemies.
I had also heard that he was trying to become Kurune's fiancé.
That was surely aimed at improving his status in the Kingdom.
Perhaps having resigned himself after we reached the answer, the man opened his mouth while breaking out in a cold sweat.
"...Are you going to kill me?"
"Even if I did that, the same kind of thing would just happen again. It will soon be known that Zoack and you disappeared near here. So, from now on, I won't run away and will negotiate properly."
Yes, even if I disposed of the man here, the next retainer would just come soon.
This time we were saved because it was Zoack, who was only interested in me, but there's no telling what kind of madman or cold-blooded pursuer might come next.
I'm one thing, but I can't bear to have Flora and everyone in the village, who have nothing to do with this, get caught up in it.
"I'll have you be the Count's messenger."
"...Aldo, do you intend to negotiate with the Kingdom?"
Perhaps having instantly sensed my intention from my words, Kurune raised a suspicious voice.
"Yeah. So that this kind of thing never happens again."
"...That's true. We're one thing, but we don't want to involve everyone in the village."
Kurune also showed understanding, as she likely felt the same way.
It made me happy that Kurune liked this place enough to put everyone in the village first.
My expression was about to soften, but since this was a place for negotiation, I used the power of my will to tighten my expression and looked down at the man.
"At the very least, the achievement of getting me to the negotiating table should belong to the Count and you. That's much better than dying here, isn't it?"
Faced with my cold smile, the man nodded slowly.
◆
Once the man disappeared from before us, Kurune stood beside me and looked at me worriedly.
"Was this really okay? If you negotiate, the Kingdom might push something on you again, you know?"
"Don't worry. Now, what is precious to me and what I want to do are clear, so I won't let them take advantage of me."
If it were the me of before, who had vague goals, I would have eventually compromised if the Kingdom pushed something on me, thinking it would make me stronger, or it would be training. Or if it would result in money.
However, now it is clear what I truly hold precious and where I cannot yield. Even if the opponent is the Kingdom, I have no intention of destroying my current life.
That much is certain.
"...I see, Aldo has changed too."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, you've changed."