Why is everyone so quiet? Wait . . . is this m-magic really weak?! Is it so bad that it’s not even funny?! I have the power to treat injuries, right? Then why does it feel like we’re at a funeral?!
The king looked at me and cleared his throat.
“Having an aptitude for healing magic is unheard of. The ordinary mage can administer basic first aid, but there are very few healers in this country who can heal deeper wounds,” said the king with a mix of glee and bewilderment.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“N-No, not at all! You see it’s, um . . . w-well, why don’t you go to the infirmary in the castle town tomorrow?”
I knew this would happen! Now I’m just scared. What are these people hiding from me?
“You really should, Sir Usato!” The people around me chimed in to agree. “Indeed!”
“What a wonderful development. You simply must go to the infirmary, Usato-sama!”
Welcie’s hand started sweating, and it was getting worse by the second.
All of them sounded desperate. It was almost as if they were begging me to go.
“Wait, I thought you said there were other mages who could heal in the kingdom?” I said.
“Listen, those two are fine but that woman is no good! No good at all!” the king replied.
Who is this “woman”? And why is the king so afraid of her?
Everyone was nodding profusely, which made it clear that “this woman” was a force to be reckoned with. The moment I opened my mouth to tell the king I would go, a panicked soldier burst through the doorway into the great hall.
“Your Majesty! It’s Rose-sama! She’s here!”
“What?! Do not let her in the building! Especially not now!” the king said.
“Huh?! But . . .”
Wait. Who the heck is Rose?
The moment I heard her name, the men around begged me to hide, and to do it at once. I didn’t know if hiding would help me, but in any case, I couldn’t go anywhere because Welcie was still holding my hand.
You can let go of my hand now, Welcie . . . huh? Did you just say “I’m sorry”? Why are you apologizing to me?
I tried tearing free from Welcie’s hand as tears welled up in her eyes. Amid that struggle, the door to the great hall swung open.
“Your Majesty. No one told me the heroes were here.”
“Oh no . . .”
Welcie covered her mouth and quietly whispered, “she’s here.”
A beautiful green-haired woman entered the room. She may have been wearing a thick white robe that looked like a doctor’s coat, but the scar that sealed her right eye shut made it clear she was dangerous. She walked straight up to the throne and approached the king, who was now drenched in sweat.
“Why are you so surprised to see me? There somethin’ you don’t want me to know?”
“Of c-course not, Rose! Didn’t you take today off?”
The woman named Rose started glaring at me.
Ack. Who is this scary person? They don’t want her to know that I have an aptitude for healing, do they?
“Th-This boy is not a hero! As sad as it may be, our recklessness brought him here by mistake, the poor lad!” the king said frantically.
“You don’t say. Boy, what’s your name?”
“U-Usato.”
“Usato, eh? I’m Rose. Captain of the kingdom’s rescue team. At your service.”
Rescue . . . team? She saves lives? Looks more like she takes them!
I felt a droplet of sweat run down my face.
“Yes, yes, yes. Now you’ve met. Usato is quite tired so he should get some rest.”
“Makes sense. So, where’re the other heroes, Your Majesty?” she demanded.
“Oh, they’re right over—”
“Hey! Usato! Are you okay?!” Inukami asked.
Kazuki and Inukami had followed us into the room.
“You just took off, Welcie!” Kazuki announced.
The king glanced over at the two of them.
“There. There are the heroes.”
“Oh, nice and fearless, aren’t they?” Rose said.
Rose’s attention shifted to Kazuki and Inukami. The king was clearly relieved. I couldn’t blame him—I was also relieved to have escaped her piercing gaze.
“I’m okay, Kazuki.” I said.
“Whew, what was that all about? I don’t know what got into you, Welcie, but you really scared us back there. Especially after you looked all scared and dragged Usato out of the room when he made the crystal ball turn green.”
Crap. He said it.
At that moment I knew I was done for. I was once again hit with her piercing gaze.
“Did you just say . . . green?” Rose’s lips twisted into a smile.
The king looked as if he’d seen a ghost, and of course I looked the same. I was in grave danger for the first time in my life. Kazuki, the perpetrator of this crime, was standing close by. I know he didn’t mean to do it, but still . . . I wish he would’ve realized what was going on, at least.
Rose glared at me as my legs trembled with fear. She was eerily grinning as if I were her prey. She then turned to the king.
“All right, King Lloyd. I’m gonna borrow this runt for a while.”
“Welcie! Bring Usato to safety! He is an incredibly important guest in our country! Do not let her take him to that place!” the king ordered.
“To that place? You don’t mean . . .” Welcie began.
Welcie jumped out in front of me, wielding a staff. I hid behind her so I couldn’t see what was going on. When I moved to the side for visibility, Rose was already gone. Even Welcie uttered a bewildered, “W-Where are you?!”
Suddenly, I felt like I was floating. I was being held in someone’s arms! When I looked up, I saw that Rose was carrying me across the floor. I weighed a whole sixty kilograms and yet here she was, carrying me in one arm like it was nothing!
“Your Majesty, I’m gonna turn this kid into a proper healer and don’t you forget it!”
The king quickly stood up from his seat. “Wait! I beg you! I know you need a healer, but this boy was merely brought here by chance!” he shouted. But Rose was laughing too hard to hear the king’s plea. I had no idea what to do. Kazuki and Inukami looked just as perplexed.
Huh? What is this, a kidnapping?!
When I finally understood what was happening, it was too late. All I could do was avoid meeting the eyes of this woman who savagely smiled at me.