Suteko Ni Narimashita 30

Waking up in an abandoned house, I was startled by Hylo's dramatic exclamation, 

"He opened his eyes!" 

His face was uncomfortably close. 

"Back off a bit, will you?"

"I thought you were dead!" Hylo exclaimed.

"I just passed out. Used too much magic," I explained.

I recalled it had been years since I last collapsed from magical exhaustion back in the pioneer village. 

Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes, still slightly blurry, and surveyed my surroundings. Nothing seemed to have changed since I lost consciousness.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"About fifteen minutes…?" 

Hylo guessed uncertainly.

"That sounds about right," Rico said, looking much better.

"Let's continue the treatment then," I suggested, feeling my magical power had partially replenished. 

I hadn’t fully recovered but believed I could manage another round of purification.

Rico looked surprised. 

"More treatment? But I'm feeling better!"

"We've made progress, but you're not fully cured yet," I explained. 

"The fever might return if we don't completely eradicate the underlying cause."

Hylo, who also seemed well, interjected with concern, "So, the fever could come back?"

"Yes, exactly. Persistent fever could last for years if the original cause remains. You're only truly cured once we're sure it's completely gone," 

I clarified, watching Rico gulp nervously at the prospect.

"This time, it should be simpler. It'll be over quickly, so sit still for me, okay?" 

I told Rico, preparing to tackle the dormant parasites in his liver. Having already dealt with his blood, I felt more confident about this next step.

Gently, I placed my hand on Rico's stomach. He tensed up initially but soon relaxed into the treatment. I focused on his liver, comparing its cells with my own as a reference. It reminded me of the days I'd use magic to search for insects in the soil – different context, but the principle was the same.

I destroyed several microorganisms that appeared to be malaria parasites. Fortunately, there weren't many, sparing me the need to create another filter. A bit of telekinesis was sufficient this time, and I wrapped up the task in about half a minute.

"All done," I announced, removing my hand. 

Rico looked visibly relieved and even managed a weary smile. 

"Do you feel any better now?" I asked.

"Absolutely! I think I'm finally free from the Three-Days Fever," he replied, using the local term for malaria. 

With the symptoms gone and the parasites eliminated, I was more convinced than ever about my diagnosis and treatment.

"Ah, but…" 

Rico hesitated, his expression turning apologetic.

"What's wrong?" 

I asked, wondering if there was another issue.

"I don't have any money to pay you," he admitted, looking down.

"Oh, that?" 

I brushed it off. 

"Don't worry about it. I had my reasons for helping you. No payment necessary."

Rico, however, insisted, his tone firm. 

"No, I have to repay you somehow. You saved my life. I may be inexperienced, but I know better than to ignore such kindness."

I tried to reassure him, "Really, it's okay. Children rely on others as they grow; it's only natural."

But Rico seemed surprised. 

"Aren't you a child too?"

I couldn't deny it. 

"Well, yes," I admitted. 

It was an uncomfortable truth.

After leaving Hylo and Rico, I decided to head home. I planned to catch up with Gustav and report on the day's events tomorrow. Drained of magical power and physically spent, I felt an overwhelming tiredness.

Arriving home, I collapsed onto the rubble that served as my bed. ‘Sleep,’ I thought, ‘Would be lovely tonight.’

***

"I told you not to get into fights!" 

Gustav scolded me, and his frustration was evident. 

I had gone to the Stone Shop to continue our conversation from yesterday, but things had taken an unexpected turn.

"I'm sorry. I had to defend myself, or I might have been killed," I explained, feeling a bit sheepish.

Gustav sighed, rubbing his temple in exasperation. 

"So, you fought with an adventurer, huh? News travels fast in these parts."

I nodded. 

"It looks like someone hired Reshid to get rid of any 'thieving' slum dwellers."

His eyes narrowed. 

"How did you find out?"

"I did some digging to see who was behind this," I replied.

We both seemed to have the same suspect in mind. 

"You're thinking it's Haman, the ironsmith, right?"

"Yes, I felt it was him," I confirmed. 

Honestly, since I rarely ventured into the city, Haman was the only likely suspect that came to mind.

‘What a slimy, troublesome guy,’ I mumbled about Haman.

Gustav's words were a mix of admonishment and understanding. 

"You may have acted in self-defense, but you went too far."

I agreed with a nod. 

"I've been thinking the same."

"The situation is different this time," Gustav added, which piqued my curiosity.

"Different, how?" I asked.

"Did you end up beating Reshid, the Hound, and those two craftsmen?" he inquired.

Without hesitation, I nodded in confirmation.

"That's not an issue, especially not with Reshid," Gustav said, somewhat surprising me. 

"Why's that?" 

I wondered aloud.

"Reshid is an adventurer. Injuries are part of his job. Plus, losing to a kid like you will keep him quiet out of embarrassment."

"So, he's staying silent to save face?" 

I surmised.

"Exactly," Gustav confirmed with a nod. 

"But now the story being spread is that someone from the slums randomly attacked two craftsmen. There's no mention of Reshid."

"He's keeping his involvement a secret, then?"

Gustav let out a sigh, his expression distant. 

"What a pain. But how is this incident different from the last one?"

"Haman isn't involved this time," Gustav pointed out.

I was puzzled. 

"If no significant figures are involved, shouldn't the incident seem less serious?"

That was the logical conclusion, but Gustav's expression suggested a more complicated reality. 

‘Why would Haman's absence make the situation worse?’

"If Haman had been there, people would've been more doubtful," Gustav explained. 

"Last time, many suspected he was the instigator."

"So, if Haman was involved, people might have seen it as his revenge?" I clarified.

"Exactly," Gustav agreed. 

"Like the slum dwellers, he's not well-regarded."

"So the current rumors…" I pondered aloud.

"Portray 'innocent craftsmen brutally attacked by a notorious slum thug,'" Gustav finished the thought with a hint of frustration.

This was indeed frustrating. None of this would have happened if Hylo hadn't been caught stealing. But they didn't just catch him; they beat him severely. If I hadn't stepped in, they might have killed him. And now, I'm the one being vilified in the rumors.

"It looks like they specifically hired a skilled adventurer, prowling the slums to provoke a reaction," I deduced.

Gustav nodded solemnly. 

"It seems they were ready to cause harm, and you fighting back played right into their narrative.”

"'Innocent craftsmen' indeed," I scoffed. 

"And they say 'severely injured'? Hylo's injuries were far worse."

Gustav, unfolding a piece of paper, interjected, 

"There's a bit of bad news. Given the reported attacks on these 'innocent craftsmen,' the guards are being sent to the slums."

"That figures," I muttered, understanding the implications.

He continued, dabbing his quill in ink with a deliberate movement. 

"In plain terms, they're coming to arrest you."

I wasn't surprised. 

"So, the guards will be swarming around my place, hunting for me?" 

Memories of a previous difficult encounter flashed in my mind. 

"What do you suggest… I do?"

Gustav hesitated for a moment, perhaps weighing his words. 

"Well, why not turn yourself in?" he finally said, a hint of amusement in his tone. 

It was hard to tell if he was serious or just finding enjoyment in my predicament.