Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Lucky Charm
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The news of the lady's recovery came from inside the carriage.
Rishir naturally had no idea who that lady was.
However, he could tell she was someone extremely special to the man before him.
The moment the words about her improving condition reached them, the man's sharp aura immediately subsided.
The man gave Rishir's group a quick glance before hurrying back into the carriage.
"Hoo..."
Left behind with the others, Rishir let out a deep sigh.
He realized he had been holding his breath without knowing it.
It was because of the pressure the man exuded.
His mind and body had been tense, as if facing an excited wild beast.
Tap tap.
Fienne nudged Rishir's arm from the side.
"Let's go."
She urged him with a serious expression to leave quickly.
Fienne had also felt the pressure from that man just now.
More clearly, given her higher level.
'5th Circle. At least.'
Unstable mental state paired with overwhelming power.
The worst possible travel companion.
"Wait... huff... it seemed like something good happened... huff... how about we wait a bit and ask again..."
At that moment, Rona jumped into the conversation.
Her tone was a bit peculiar.
Like a woman forcing a man's voice.
Her actions were the same.
Suddenly rolling up her sleeve to show off her wrist, taking exaggerated steps, slicking back her sweat-dampened bangs with a flourish.
Ever since becoming a slave, Rona had been straining to act like a man.
As if denying the fact that she had become a woman.
Of course, she wasn't as proficient as she hoped.
"Huff... huff..."
"You okay, Rona? If it's that tough, just let us carry it."
Despite Fienne and Rishir's refusals, Rona insisted on taking their luggage.
And declared she could keep up fine, no need to slow down.
The profuse sweat pouring like rain and her labored breathing like death rattles were the results.
Her exposed wrist was slender and trembling like an aspen leaf.
"I-I'm not tired...! Huff-"
Anyone could see Rona was bluffing.
"Not tired? Then why'd you mutter 'I'm saved...' when you spotted the carriage? And why'd you look like you were about to cry when Fienne said to just go?"
"I-I didn't!"
"Really? My mistake then? Well, if Fienne says go and you say go too, maybe we should. Wait, though—is it okay to treat a slave's vote the same as Fienne's?"
"...Y-You're right! If my master has to ride that carriage, a slave like me has no choice but to follow!!!"
Fienne, overhearing from the side, let out an "Ah" of exasperation.
"How did I end up traveling with idiots like you? Rishir, save playing with the slave for later. We need to leave now. That guy... bad vibes."
"Fienne, I've had this realization lately. Wanna guess what? You shouldn't judge people on first impressions. Pitiful girl... charming young man..."
"..."
"..."
The failed mind-control victims pouted in dissatisfaction but couldn't muster a rebuttal.
"So, what? Someone with a good first impression turned out to be trash, so that guy with the bad one must be a saint? That your logic?"
"I'm saying don't overreact. Why would someone riding a fancy carriage like that bother harming random travelers? Like Rona said, if he comes out again, just ask if we can hitch a ride. And hey, why's Fienne trash? Trash is Rona. Right, Rona?"
"...Do I have to answer?"
"No matter what anyone says, I think Fienne's a good person. So don't beat yourself up. Leave the self-loathing to Rona. Yeah, Rona?"
"...Y-Yeah."
"Got it, so shut up already."
Fienne snapped, annoyed that Rishir's nonsense had somehow cheered her up.
How much time passed after that?
The man emerged from the carriage again.
This time, he approached Rishir's group with calm steps, unlike before.
"Forgive the late introduction. I'm Dales of the Durayeg Family."
Durayeg.
Rishir mulled over the name.
Nobles memorized noble family names as basic etiquette.
To grovel before superiors and scorn inferiors.
A grave matter second only to that for nobles.
For Rishir, ignored equally by all nobles, it was another world—but he still kept a mental list of noble houses.
Durayeg was near the top, boldly inscribed.
Probably for most nobles.
Durayeg was an upper noble house with only a handful above it.
"Apologies for earlier. My fiancée's condition worsened suddenly at night, so I overreacted."
"I see. My regrets. Is your fiancée all right?"
The moment Rishir spoke, Fienne and Rona's faces twisted.
Who're you?}
Rishir was according Dales the respect befitting his station, with maximum decorum.
His tone and demeanor shifted dramatically.
A natural elegance shone through unforced.
"...If I may ask, from which house are you?"
Dales seemed equally surprised, belatedly inquiring about Rishir's origins.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I'm Rishir—the bastard of my house. Please treat me casually."
"..."
Dales's eyes widened.
He'd assumed some highborn scion, but a bastard?
Dales continued, visibly taken aback.
"To business, then. Rishir, state your purpose again."
"I was hoping to request passage if there's room in the carriage—"
Rishir trailed off, gauging Dales's reaction.
Mindful of the "ailing fiancée" Dales had mentioned.
Probably a refusal coming next?
Rishir hid his disappointment, but inwardly felt considerable regret.
'If we miss this too... how much later to Haeren?'
The spirit medicine neglected in his pocket.
Magic training halted mid-progress.
Wasting time pointlessly—he felt impatient.
Hmm.
Dales sighed then.
"Here's the thing—my fiancée says if you need help, she'd like me to assist."
Three choices floated before Rishir's eyes.
"...She's a kind soul."
Praising the fiancée, who seemed special to Dales.
Was it the right choice? Dales's displeased expression softened somewhat.
"Apt description. She's too kind for her own good. So—will you indulge her whim?"
"Grateful for the kindness."
It was her whim, and his too.
Dales, who had planned to send them away, now led Rishir's group to the carriage.
As they walked, Rishir introduced his companions.
"This is Fienne, my companion. And this is my—...slave, Rona."
"..."
Dales's gaze turned to Rona, and his face twisted.
"A slave ill-suited for manual labor, it seems."
Rona looked like an ordinary frail woman, yet carried two people's luggage, sweating profusely.
"If I may, under what circumstances did you assign her such tasks?"
Disappointment crept over Dales's face.
"She tried to poison me and my friends. Then tried to drug me and assault me."
"...?"
"As punishment, she offered to serve as a slave to make amends. The luggage—she insisted on carrying despite my refusals."
Dales stared at Rona with a dumbfounded look.
"..."
Rona could only tremble in shame and bow her head.
"Ahem. Pretend I didn't hear. Follow me."
Dales guided them inside the carriage.
The roofed interior was magically enlarged—roomier than it appeared outside.
Already holding four, it comfortably fit four more.
In the farthest seat sat a woman wrapped in a blanket.
"Allow me—Todina, my fiancée."
Her skin and hair were dry, dark circles under her eyes.
Yet Todina greeted Rishir's group with a bright smile.
"Hello, everyone. Sorry if Dales startled you? I was so worried when he stormed out looking fierce. I should've stopped him—but I was coughing nonstop then."
Ugh.
Dales groaned beside her but didn't stop Todina.
"Lady Todina. I heard from Sir Dales. Thank you sincerely for your kindness."
"Hee hee. Thank him, not me. I just get stubborn, and he always indulges me. Oh, right—manners. This is Damin. My faithful maid who always cares for me."
The brown-haired maid beside Todina bowed amiably.
"And this is—Sir Topin, who came from afar at Dales's request to help me."
A graying elderly man gave a light nod.
"Topin here. I research healing magic in the Bloom School. This is my assistant, Eltni—"
"I'm Rishir."
Rishir reintroduced himself and his group.
Then, Todina covered her mouth with her fist.
Her body heaved with rasping coughs.
"Milady."
"...Thanks."
Maid Damin handed Todina warm water.
"Kuhk!"
After drinking, her coughing worsened.
After a dozen fits, Todina steadied her ragged breaths.
A sound no one could call pleasant—like an old man's dying gasp.
The carriage atmosphere sank instantly.
As silence fell, Topin spoke.
"Todina."
"Yes, Mr. Topin."
"As your soon-to-be primary healer, I must say this: meeting me in that condition was utterly unwise. Aren't you too lacking in self-awareness?"
"..."
Todina's face twisted bitterly.
"Sorry. I've been cooped up so long, I just yearned for fresh air."
"I dragged her out, so don't scold her."
"No, Dales. You just granted my wish. I should've listened to you. If I'd known it'd worry others..."
As the talk reached there.
"Rishir, was it?"
Topin turned to Rishir.
He'd openly shown discomfort when Rishir admitted being a nameless bastard.
A bastard here, of all places.
He continued in an authoritative tone.
"As you see, my patient needs absolute rest. This carriage has no spare attention for others. Surely you understand?"
Topin nodded toward the door.
"Mr. Topin...!"
"Todina. I'm your doctor now. I'd appreciate you deferring to me here."
"..."
Todina squeezed her eyes shut.
"Sorry... Mr. Rishir... because of me, you're in this mess..."
Topin jerked his chin at the door again, more irritably.
"Perhaps—"
After much thought, Rishir spoke.
"I might be able to help Lady Todina."
Tsk. Topin clicked his tongue.
"Rishir. Spare irresponsible talk before my patient."
"..."
"Or shall we hear it? How? What do you know? What'd you learn in this short time? For months, renowned healers pooled all knowledge to find a way to help her. To pinpoint what's afflicting her. All eminent healers. None succeeded. But you're different? What are you?"
Topin composed his breath, then spoke coldly again.
"I got too heated. Unprofessional. Rishir, for the patient's sake, I need optimal conditions—myself, surroundings. Time to go."
Rishir didn't rebuke Topin's rudeness.
He was just doing his best from his view.
Dismissing the bastard? Noble best-effort, whatever.
Anyway, Rishir's focus was elsewhere.
The incongruity from Todina.
Instinct from past experience urged closer inspection.
'Just once...'
He'd planned to examine her under pretense of diagnosis, claiming insight.
But the lead healer wouldn't tolerate that.
So, how to get close.
Reveal Unique Color? No.
How to confidently declare something even he barely grasped.
Especially now—brandishing expert terms like Unique Color would just challenge Topin's authority, sparking rejection.
"..."
After deliberation, Rishir pulled a coin from his pocket.
An ordinary coin, meaningless.
"Lady Todina. My lucky charm."
"Lucky... charm?"
"Yes. This charm's special power saved me many times. Lady Todina, would you accept it?"
As he spoke, Rishir inwardly scolded himself.
'Best you could come up with?'
Hastily contrived setup and plan—crude.
"Lucky charm...?"
Fortunately, Todina accepted the sudden gift without suspicion.
She glanced at Topin.
Topin reluctantly nodded.
"Won't I steal your luck, Mr. Rishir?"
"I'm too lucky—losing a bit's fine."
"...You're kind, Mr. Rishir. Despite the trouble I caused... Normally I'd refuse, but—"
Todina gently clasped Rishir's coin-holding hand.
"I'm greedy... If only that luck came to me too..."
That instant, Rishir focused all his mind.
On Todina's hand.
On the discomfort from her.
"Huuuugh!"
It happened then.
Maid Damin beside Todina writhed in agony.
All eyes turned there.
In place of the amiable maid girl sat an old man in maid attire.
The black mage's months-long scheme crumbled futilely.
"How!!!"
The black mage couldn't accept the inexplicable phenomenon consuming him.
"..."
"..."
Fienne and Rona felt disgusted by any kinship with the grotesque old man.