Treatment Master: "This is a curse, isn't it?"
After hurrying back to the village, I got Raphtalia to see the Treatment Master about her burns that I caused.
Treatment Master: "Even so, this kind is quite strong. Did the dragon corpse on the mountain have a curse that was this strong?"
Naofumi: "Ah... No... That is..."
Wondering how I was going to answer, I stammered.
Raphtalia: "Yes, I made a mistake and was accidentally cursed by the dragon."
Raphtalia smiled while looking in my direction as if to say it was a secret.
Naofumi: "Can you do anything about it? If it's money...I'll pay whatever you need."
Raphtalia is a girl after all. If she has black marks like this, she would stand out which would be troublesome.
Treatment Master: "It's not that it's impossible, but..."
During the preparation, the healers bring a bottle of transparent liquid to the room.
Treatment Master: "It's quite a powerful curse. Healing her immediately would be..."
Naofumi: "What is that?"
Treatment Master: "It's holy water. To remove a curse, it's best to use holy power..."
Naofumi: "I see."
It seems that injuries would take a long time to heal due to the effect of the curse shield. That curse is very dangerous.
There is no clear distinction made by the curse shield between friend and foe. Additionally there is a not a simple counter curse healing effect for allies. I must not even think about using it. Also, after looking at the shield tree, the unsealing wasn't progressing at all. It was only for a short time, but I know I cannot unseal that shield. I somewhat remember having that sort of hunch.
Treatment Master: "Soak the holy water into the bandage..."
The healers apply the bandage soaked with holy water to Raphtalia’s blackened wounds.
Treatment Master: "Sorry it's only this much healing for now. Please use the far more powerful holy water made by the church in a large town if possible."
Naofumi: "How much will it heal?"
Treatment Master: "To be honest... it's a fairly strong curse. I'm not sure whether it can be truly cured... when it comes to the curses of dragons..."
The truth is that I did it though. But to think the curse was so powerful that it could be considered the work of a dragon...
Naofumi: "Oh right. How much more medicine will be needed?"
Treatment Master: "This is all I can do for now. Saint-sama, please help the people who are suffering from the illness."
Naofumi: "Fine."
I left Raphtalia in the room with the Treatment master and head to the building where they gather the sick.
As expected of medicine made by a professional. The sickness that could not be cured with my treatment medicine was easily cured by his.
I felt relieved looking at the sick people breathing calmly in their sleep.
…… I want strength, but not from relying on that kind of shield. Saving someone from sickness is significant, but I still curse my weakness.
There may come a time where even Firo could get hurt. Thankfully, she was fine this time.
My head blanked in an instant when I thought she died.
I've thought this many times. This world is not a game.
Nobody will revive if they die.
I gaze at the graveyard behind the isolation facility deep in thought.
I was betrayed and swindled----But I want to protect the people who believe in me no matter what.
I returned to the Treatment room and spoke to Raphtalia who is wrapped in bandages.
Naofumi: "I'm sorry."
Raphtalia: "It's alright."
Naofumi: "But....."
Raphtalia: "I was afraid. Afraid that Naofumi-sama went somewhere far away."
Naofumi: "Eh?"
Raphtalia: "That power, it's trying to drag Naofumi-sama somewhere. That's what I felt. Therefore, this is a cheap price to pay if I was able to stop Naofumi-sama."
Raphtalia's laughing expression pierces my heart.
I must absolutely protect her. With determination, I swear not to lose to that shield.
Naofumi: "Raphtalia, is your sickness cured?"
Raphtalia: "It should be alright for now……"
Naofumi: 'Next time I administer medicine, stay close to me. It will serve as prevention."
Raphtalia: "Okay."
Thus, we slept in the village that night.
We worked on the extermination of the epidemic as hard as possible on the next day.
I asked the treatment master if I could help make the medicine and the work was completed earlier than scheduled.
When I wanted to learn, I felt something inside of me interfering.(!) [1]
The number of people suffering from the illness has been reduced to zero and the village became peaceful again.
Raphtalia: "Where will we peddle next? Did you ask the treatment master on how to make medicine?"
Procuring holy water for Raphtalia is top-priority now, but I do want to learn how to make High Class medicine.
Raphtalia: "Naofumi-sama? Won't the wave start soon?"
Eh!? That reminds me. What Raphtalia said returned me from my thoughts. I hastily open the arrival prediction window. There are only 3 and a half days left!
Naofumi: "This is bad! We only have a little over 3 days remaining!"
Preparations will be insufficient.
Naofumi: "Firo, let's hurry to the castle town!"
Firo: "Roger~"
Village Chief: "Uhmm Saint-sama…this……"
I was presented a bag full of money by the village chief.
Village Chief: "Saint-sama this is the money you asked for. Please accept it."
Come to think of it, my real identity is still hidden.
Naofumi: "Yeah……"
I receive the bag of money and count how much is inside. ……I put half into another bag and returned it to the village chief.
Village Chief: "Eh?"
Naofumi: "It wasn't my power alone. This is for the outstanding treatment master who is in this village. Hand it to him."
Village Chief: "O-okay……"
Yup, it would have been really dangerous this time if that treatment master was not here. Because just suppressing the illness is my limit. That person contributed just as much.
Naofumi: "See ya."
Village Chief: "Ah, thank you very much!"
The group of villagers saw us off together. When these guys know my real identity, will they look at me in disgust? It's a complicated feeling. I stow that thought away in the corner of my head, because there are more important things to do.
I can't worry about the condition of the carriage at a time like this! So we push the carriage to top speed and head to castle town. There was a rumour about a carriage that was roaring down the road with frightening speed after that day.
On the way.
Firo: "Master~ something is-"
Naofumi: "Hm?"
I come out of the carriage.
Wild Philorial A appears!
Wild Philorial B appears!
Wild Philorial C appears!
Wild Philorials: """Gua!?"""
Firo looked at the Philorials with an astonished expression.
After Philorial A, B and C looked at Firo with the same expression, they ran away.
Naofumi: "What was that?"
Running away right after encountering us…… That is the behaviour pattern of rare monsters that have delicious experiences points and money. Though, I can't expect a lot of experience from Philorials in such a place. Maybe they were just surprised to see a Philorial Queen and so they ran away.
Firo: "They look delicious. Whenever a travelers pass by us, I think of that."
Naofumi: "They are from the same family as you."
I noted that Firo is licking her lips. Is there anything this fellow doesn't see as food? It’s scary as it’s easy to visualize her performing cannibalism.
Firo: "Master, if we chase now we can still kill them~"
Naofumi: "…… Stop it."
It's still not too late now? This fellow has no sense of tension at all. That reminds me, I did not check our levels after the fight with the zombie dragon.
Me Lvl 38 Raphtalia Lvl 40 ★ Firo Lvl 40 ★
★...... Star?
Naofumi: "Hey, do you guys know of the star next to your levels?"
I have a bad feeling. What could it be?
Raphtalia: "No……"
Firo: "Firo has no idea."
Hmm..... Let's see, Help. …… I don't understand it. I can't find anything on the ★.
At long last, we arrived at the castle town.
Naofumi: "Let's go to the Old Man and get some weapons and armour to prepare for the wave."
After a long absence, the Old Man from the weapons shop just watches us with a hand on the middle of his forehead and seems to be lost in thought.
Old Man: "Hey lad, don’t just appear so suddenly."
Naofumi: “Don’t you know sudden events go hand in hand with business?"
Old Man: "Well, that's true. So, what's your budget?"
Naofumi: "Let's see."
I put my month's earnings on the counter in front of the Old Man. It's about four large bags of money.
Naofumi: "I think this is all the silver coins I have."
Old Man: "Count properly lad! But more importantly, how did you make such a killing!?"
Naofumi: "Hahaha, this is the result of peddling."
Old Man: "Seriously…… What a surprising hobby for you to have."
Naofumi: "It's not unfortunate."
Old Man: "Well, did you count how much there is?"
Naofumi: "Uhh..."
The contents of the money bags were counted by Raphtalia, the Old Man and me.
Old Man: "So, how did the missy get injured?"
The Old Man points at Raphtalia while counting money.
Raphtalia: "Uhh, earlier I received a powerful curse attack by a powerful demon."
I stop counting and looked at Raphtalia.
Old Man: "Ah yeah, curses are troublesome. Did you get any treatment?"
Naofumi: "Yeah, after this we will go buy some holy water at the church."
Old Man: "I see."
Why are you lying……? Is it because it's a curse that I gave? I can only sigh.
Naofumi: "After buying equipment, can I request a carriage made of metal?"
Old Man: "Don’t order anything from me, lad."
Naofumi: "You can't do it?"
Old Man: "Well…… I'm familiar with working with metal."
Though the amount of silver coins may look like a lot, after converting to gold coins, it looks like there’s very little.
Old Man: "This is equivalent to 70 gold coins! Lad, your earnings are tremendousǃ"
Naofumi: "I am aware of my business talents."
Though I'm not sure if I actually possess such talents, I still feel proud of myself