Ariane and I are currently following the boy through back alleys
We seemed to be heading in the direction of the southern gate, close to where we had transferred into Hoban.
As we leave the immaculate downtown area that surrounded the feudal lord’s castle, the number of beautiful houses and people gradually reduced, giving way to an area with a deserted atmosphere.
The boy stopped once we reached the slums that lined the southern wall of the city.
The peculiar smell of decay and animals covered the land, a rather unsanitary smell, and Ariane had to grimace even in the depths of her cloak.
“Here.”
However, seemingly accustomed to the smell, the boy just walked down the complex network of narrow alleyways before he entered one of the shacks
The roof was rather low so I had to bend down while entering, and the drafty shack was rather crowded with four people inside.
There was a single girl sleeping under a blanket of old rags inside the shack, and the boy quietly approached the girl before gently shaking her awake.
“……Onii-chan?”
There didn’t seem to be more than a year’s difference between the boy and the girl that called out to him.
She had black hair like the boy, but hers was rather long and unkempt.
“How’d you get those injuries? Did the guards do this to you?”
When the girl was fully awake, she slowly sat up and looked worriedly at her brother while tears started to gather in her eyes.
“This much is nothing. I brought a person that can heal your legs with me.”
The boy wiped some blood from the corner of his mouth as he answered before turning his eyes in my direction as if prompting an introduction.
The girl followed the boys line of sight and finally noticed our presence. When she saw me, she became scared and hid in the boy’s shadow
“No need to fear, I’m not one of the feudal lord’s soldiers or knights. I’m Arc, just a simple traveler. The person behind me is my companion. Forgive our intrusion.”
The girl silently opened her mouth as the cloaked Ariane offered a small nod with her eyes still covered, and Ponta began to briskly wag her tail while she was still held close to Ariane’s chest.
The girl’s expression slightly relaxed when she looked at Ponta.
“Mister Arc, please heal the legs of my sister Shea. I beg you.”
The boy had an earnest expression as he lowered his head to the floor.
While giving a generous nod, I pulled back the blanket of rags from the girl called Shea to look at her legs.
The girl’s thin legs were both set by pieces of boards tied together with strings.
“I asked an old man in the neighborhood to examine her legs, but he said that they couldn’t be healed……”
The boy explained the origin of the boards while looking at his sister’s legs.
The boards were acting as supports for her legs since both them had badly fractured bones. I don’t know if she would be paralyzed or not even if she did heal on her own. The intermediate level recovery magic of the bishop class would be required.
When I gently moved her legs, Shea got teary-eyed and grimaced in pain.
The bones don’t seem to have set yet.
“It’s been nearly a month, but they show no signs of healing……”
I looked at the boy to see that he was making fists and was on the verge of tears.
It necessary to have proper nourishment in order for bone fractures to heal, and considering the state of this place it’s unlikely that she’s been receiving proper meals.
“You can trust me. 【Major Heal】.”
I place my right hand over Shea’s legs and cast the bishop class spell. The area overflows with an ambient light.
The brother merely watched the fantastic scenery in utter amazement
While Ariane only sighed and shrugged her shoulders as she watched from behind.
When I moved my hands, Shea looked down at her legs and touched them out of sheer amazement.