A Healer’s Reluctant Dawn at the Back-Alley Inn
The back alleys lay just beyond the bustling main streets, where the air carried the faint scent of spices from distant caravans and the distant clang of guild bells.
Ahin’s lodging was closer to the Adventurer Guild than anyone expected.
Er’s eyes widened as she gazed at the two-story building that rose from the quiet side street. The structure looked substantial from the outside, yet the faded paint peeled in long strips, weeds choked the cracked sidewalk, and a few shards of broken glass glittered like forgotten promises.
“…Ahin, how much did you pay for this place?”
Er’s voice came out softer than she intended.
“…This shabby?”
Ahin stood on the threshold, golden eyes half-lidded, dark-blonde hair catching the weak morning light. He scratched his head and gave a lazy shrug.
“…It’ll do.”
“…”
Er pressed her lips together so tightly they almost vanished. The building’s exterior was a ruin, yet she had voiced the question without thinking.
“Looks like a ghost could move in any second.”
“If it does, I’ll… dissect… drain the blood…”
“…You really are the same, aren’t you.”
Ahin shook his head once, then straightened as though making a decision.
“Cleaning first, right?”
“Let’s see what’s inside.”
Er was still echoing his words when Jina slipped in behind them like a shadow, black ponytail swaying, blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
“If it was just an inn, we could have taken the cheap one. Two silvers a night.”
“You’re right, but…”
If you can afford it, it’s better to splurge on something comfortable.
Ahin stepped inside and paused, head tilting at the unexpected cleanliness. The floor was swept, the walls dusted, and the air smelled faintly of lavender rather than mildew.
“Whoa, the inside’s cleaner than I thought.”
“Don’t say that!!”
“Why? Did I say something weird?”
“Shut up!!”
Ahin spun around, suddenly loud, scanning the room as if Jina’s casual remark might hide a trap.
Inside really was cleaner than expected—no grime, no clutter, nothing that screamed “abandoned.”
“Feels like someone actually lives here.”
“But the corners are still dusty, and I see a few cockroaches.”
Ahin sighed, then asked, “Hey, Haru. Where do you even sleep?”
“The basement…”
“Better than here?”
“Magic, once every day or so…”
“…That’s convenient. Magic, huh.”
He shrugged off the heavy cloak he wore over his priest’s robes and hung it on the coat rack by the door.
“Clean first. Basement is on me—let’s do the rest of the place.”
“Do we really have to?”
“Too much dust is bad for your health.”
Ahin bent down and grabbed the broom leaning against the wall. Dust settled on the bristles as he lifted it.
Er watched his back and muttered, “He doesn’t look like the type.”
“He never does. He ignores his own mess but loses it the second someone else gets involved.”
His own room was a pigsty, yet the common areas always sparkled.
“Ah, that’s the annoying thing about him. His room’s a mess, though.”
“…Surprising.”
“If you’re just going to chat, step aside.”
Ahin waved the broom like a conductor as he spoke, and Jina answered without hesitation.
“I’ll help.”
“Me too.”
“I’ll… go then.”
“Haru, you’re helping!”
“Eeeek…”
Ahin grabbed Haru’s slender neck, her sleepy expression rare and pained.
“Use that cleaning magic of yours. Let’s see how clean we can make it.”
“The place is huge… it’ll make me hungry…”
“I’ll cook for you.”
“…Ahin?”
Ahin looked at Haru with distant eyes.
“Huhuhu… had to do it to survive. We’re the weakest, after all. The weak one always cooks.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Ahin bowed to my ruthless training.”
“You said rock-paper-scissors!”
Even now, the story hadn’t changed.
Haru watched Ahin swing the broom, tears welling in her sky-blue eyes, and lifted her long sleeve.
“[Fire Wave].”
“Hey, wait…!”
“That’s an attack spell!!”
The sudden surge of mana startled the others, but Haru didn’t hesitate. Flames exploded outward, sweeping the dust from the high ceiling in seconds.
“…Not as bad as I thought.”
“Yeah, it’ll be a bonfire soon.”
“Look up there.”
“The ceiling?”
Er pointed, and Ahin’s head tilted. A clump of gray dust clung to the unreachable corner, webs tangled in it. The spell ignited it, and the sticky mass rose into the air like startled birds.
“[Spinning Wind].”
The second spell hurled the dust out through the open window and door.
Cleaning the highest spots in one go, Haru turned her sleepy gaze to Ahin.
“Cleaning done.”
“…Convenient, but isn’t that it?”
“Enough…”
Ahin frowned.
“Ceiling first, then walls, then floor.”
“Everything burned?”
“At least a scrub is needed!”
“Then water…”
“No need to pour magic water everywhere…”
Before Ahin could finish, Er’s voice cut in.
“Ahin, don’t get so worked up.”
“I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t seen it. This place is where I sleep, and you want me to nap while it’s all dusty?”
“So do it slowly. We’ll all help.”
“Huh, me too?”
“You said you weren’t going to help?”
Er blinked at Jina’s dramatic tone.
“Just leave it to us!”
“That’s right. Good thinking.”
“Ya, you really good?”
“Jina, cleaning is…”
“Not like the old me, so it’s fine!”
Jina flashed a confident grin, but Ahin narrowed his eyes, suspicious.
Jina pretended not to notice and reached for the mop on the wall. Er smiled.
“Then Jina and Haru take the first floor.”
“Eh? What about you and Ahin?”
“We’ll handle the second floor. Haru, are all the bedrooms on the second level?”
“Yeah… but second floor isn’t cleaned often… it’ll be dusty.”
“Hah, what a relief.”
Er rolled up her sleeve as she spoke, though her expression remained perfectly serious.
Only the corner of Ahin’s mouth twitched with a smile he couldn’t quite hide.
●
The carriage wheels clattered to a halt outside the high stone walls of Carpe.
The driver, an armored veteran, scanned the disciplined soldiers standing at attention and confirmed the destination.
“Priest, we’ve arrived.”
“Thank you. It’s not much, but the fare was steep.”
His voice was unmistakably female, hidden beneath the white robes and deep hood.
The woman reached into her pocket, counted out a handful of silver coins, and pressed them into the driver’s hands.
“Thank you for the ride. May the gods watch over you.”
“You’re welcome, Priest… whoa!? Too much—!”
The driver’s voice barely finished before the woman had already turned and sprinted toward the gate.
He stared at the coins in his palm, scratching his head in bewilderment.
“Priest, what brings you to Carpe?”
A city guard stepped forward, hand on his spear, and tilted his head at the veiled figure.
“Carpe ever had knights?”
“First time here?”
“I’ve been a few times.”
The guard chuckled awkwardly.
“Orders from the upper levels. Record every visitor’s identity…”
“Is there trouble?”
“Ask me anything, I don’t know more than I’m told.”
The guard scratched his cheek, and the woman laughed lightly.
“Both of us work hard, huh.”
“Thank you for understanding. May I know your name and purpose?”
“It’s simple.”
She lifted the hood just enough to reveal her face.
The guard’s breath caught. No one in his entire life had ever seen such beauty.
White skin, eyes like polished emeralds set in an unblemished face.
He struggled to speak.
“Ma’am… your name?”
“Veronica.”
“Priest Veronica… I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere…”
“I’m here to visit the Carpe Temple. And to see some acquaintances.”
“Acquaintances?”
She smiled, sharp and pleased.
“I’m curious what my dear disciples are up to.”
The news spread through Carpe like wildfire:
The Undefeated Holy Knight Priest Veronica had arrived in the city.