An hour had passed since then, and though it would’ve been completely in my power to treat Ted’s injury, I wanted to see how good modern doctors were, so I left it all to them. Instead, I climbed a tree and peered in through a window to observe how everything was going.
“It will take six months for a full recovery.”
“Oh...”
“Young Master, I know how much you’d like to run around, but you must restrain yourself.”
Six whole months? That’s a lot of time. No matter how bad his older brother had made things with his shoddy healing magecraft, it shouldn’t have made Ted’s injury get that bad. It seemed to me that doctors in this day and age just weren’t that good. As soon as I confirmed that the elderly doctor had left the room, I sneaked in through the window.
“Huh? Abel?”
“Yeah, how’s the leg doing? All better?”
“Heh heh. Of course. That was nothing but a scratch!”
He might’ve been acting tough, but he couldn’t hide how tired he was. Sure enough, after not too long, he dozed right off. He looks so ugly when he sleeps. His face really lacked any glimmer of intelligence.
“Well, I’m not waiting six months.”
I drew out a few spells in the air.
My first act was dispelling the poorly done Lesser Healing. Next was reconstructing the spell and redoing Heal, while activating Recovery to run parallel to it. Finally, I altered Body Fortification to amplify the strength of Heal.
This should do it. I’d undone Barth’s shoddy healing job and properly cast magecraft to reconnect the bones, before making Heal more effective. He’d be right as rain in no time.
“Sorry, Ted. I’m not that patient of a guy.”
It went without saying that I didn’t care one bit about whatever injuries his brother had sustained. I wasn’t about to lose my daily exercise partner, though. He was still incredibly useful to me. Get better soon, Ted, so that you can do more work for me.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Hm? Who’s there?”
It’d been a day since the duel, and now standing at the entrance of my home early in the morning was an unfamiliar young boy.
“Wait...are you Barth?”
I honestly wasn’t sure because of his new hairstyle, but if I looked close enough, he still had the same face and clothes as the older noble brat I’d come to know. It was jarring to see him, though, because his hair had been mercilessly shaved off. He looked so pitiful.
“Insolent knave! How many times must I tell you that it’s Lord— Ow!”
A man with a mane—no, a beard like a lion—smacked Barth on the head from behind. He had the same dirty-blond hair as Ted, but had Azure Eyes, signifying an affinity for water magecraft.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Evans Rhangbalt, Master Abel,” said the man. His voice was intimidating, but then he fell to his knees. “Please forgive what occurred the other day, Master Abel! I’m begging you—please forgive my fool of a son!”
Huh? Say what now? Forgive him for what? It’s not like I’m not angry or anything.
“Father! Why are you prostrating yourself before this commoner with inferior eyes?! He’s nothing but the little brother of the maid we hired!”
“You fool! Watch your mouth!”
Another sound rang out as a fist came into contact with Barth’s head. It was a good punch; he’d really put his weight into that one. Ted had most likely inherited his physical strength from his father.
“Listen, Barth. This is a good time to tell you the truth! We did not hire Lady Lilith! She hired us!”
“Huh...?” Barth looked dumbfounded by his father’s words.
So that’s how it is. I get it now. I’d been wondering about why a high-class demon like Lilith would ever serve humans. No matter how much times had changed, it was hard to imagine that a demon would ever work for a human, so why was Lilith doing so? Most likely, she’d become privy to a certain dirty secret and was holding that over their heads. Living among humans presented certain obstacles to demons, but if they had access to the resources and authority of human nobles, then it was completely feasible.
“Master Abel, please find it in your generous heart to forgive him!”
He was really prostrating himself right now. Even Barth was following suit, although probably not by choice. His father had forced his head down, though I could still see an expression of humiliation on his face. What dirt did Lilith have on them to make a proud noble go this far to beg for forgiveness? I’d need to ask her later.
“Raise your head. I wasn’t angry to begin with.”
“We are not worthy of your magnanimity! Thank you!” Evans proceeded to dig his head even farther into the ground.
Uh, I said to raise your head, didn’t I? Like father, like son. Neither of them were about to win any prizes for listening to others.
“What are you? Seriously! Who are you?!” Barth, on the verge of tears, moaned while being forced to bow his sad, bald head to me.