Chapter 18

The first thing I did when I woke up that morning was check the weather. Today was the day I had promised to search for the illusory 「Lake of Shutom」 with Hector. If the weather was bad, we would have to postpone it.

The clear, cloudless sky made me smile, and I felt a little restless. The meeting time was two hours after sunrise, yet I arrived an hour early.

「Hey, good morning.」

「Good morning. You’re early.」

「Yeah. Both of us.」

It surprised me that Hector was already there, his face hidden by the hood, even earlier than I was. He laughed, saying he had come early because he was excited, and I nodded in agreement, because I had come early for the same reason.

…When was the last time I felt this excited? It was strange, how childishly giddy I felt, even surprising myself.

「I’m glad to see you’re having fun, Cyril-san.」

「Is it that obvious?」

「Yeah. Today you are very obvious… but I’ve also gotten pretty good at reading your expressions by now.」

When he said that, I touched my face. It was true that I’d been smiling more lately, but I thought I was expressionless right now. Thinking about it, my lips did seem slightly raised.

Perhaps because we had spent more time together, he had learned to notice even my smallest expressions. …Which meant he was watching me very closely.

「Alright, shall we go? Did you bring the map?」

「Yes. First, let’s head to the place where my father used to gather herbs.」

「Got it. Leave the protection to me, Cyril-san, you handle navigation.」

After confirming the direction using the map, we began walking side by side. Hector kept watch of our surroundings, while I chose the route, just like when I usually went gathering.

When he first said he would act as my guard, I really hated it. But now, it felt natural, and I could entrust him with it without worry. It’s so strange.

「It feels like we’re just doing the same thing as usual, even though we’re going out to have fun.」

「Well, what we’re doing is similar. But the purpose is different, right? I’m excited.」

I felt the same. We didn’t even know if the Lake of Shutom really existed, yet we were going to search for it. Still, the thought that it might be real, that we might find it today, lifted my mood and made my steps lighter.

Perhaps because of that, or because we had left early, we reached the gathering spot much earlier than expected, far too early to call it noon.

「We got here too early.」

「Yeah… it’s too early for lunch too, isn’t it?」

We had originally planned to eat here, but since it was still early, we agreed to continue exploring. We would search a bit more, then return here later for lunch.

After deciding that, I noticed a faint trace of an injury line extending above Hector’s head. It was slight, suggesting only a minor injury or a very low possibility, so I decided it was enough just to keep it in mind.

According to Hector, if we headed northwest from here, there was an area where knights sometimes got lost. There might be something there.

「For now, I can guide us that far.」

「Yes. Since it’s likely people get lost because of the Shutom flowers… please lead the way.」

「Alright. Leave it to me.」

About thirty minutes after we began walking under his guidance, he stopped and looked around, saying this was the area where people often got lost. And then I saw it, a large, pure white flower blooming in the dim forest. It seemed to glow faintly, making it stand out even from a distance.

「There it is. Shutom. It’s beautiful.」

「Huh? Where?」

It should have been a very noticeable flower, yet Hector couldn’t find it. As expected, Shutom must be a magical flower that interferes with perception. I could see it because I had magical power and strong resistance to it, but for ordinary people, it was difficult to notice.

「Here, Hector-san. This one.」

「…Whoa. How did I not notice that?」

He only realized it after I walked up to it and pointed it out. I believed Hector had some resistance to magic, but it clearly wasn’t enough to overcome this flower’s effect.

「That’s just the kind of flower Shutom is. It has a strong hallucinatory effect.」

「Then how can you see it, Cyril-san?」

「Well… I have various resistances.」

Ordinary people didn’t have resistance to magic. I had said something similar before when someone had laced cookies with insecticide, so I figured he’d misunderstand on his own.

But a dark blue line appeared above Hector’s head. Seeing his forced smile, I tilted my head, wondering if I had said something worrying.

「Cyril-san, it’s good to be dedicated to your work, but… you’re not taking strange medicines all the time, are you?」

I see. That dark blue line wasn’t anxiety, it was concern for me. Apparently, what I said during the cookie incident had worried him more than I thought.

I used to drink poisons to test antidotes, but I hadn’t done such extreme experiments lately, so I told him not to worry. That only made him more concerned.

「Normal people don’t drink poison to test antidotes, you know.」

「I see… I’ll be careful.」

「I’d rather you stop entirely.」

Since there was no other way to test them, I thought it couldn’t be helped. For now, I gave a vague nod instead of answering clearly.

「More importantly, Hector-san. If Shutom is here, there might be a cluster nearby.」

「…A cluster?」

「Yes. Shutom usually blooms in groups. This one must have been carried far away by chance. Let’s search around here.」

It didn’t take long to find where the Shutom flowers were gathered. There was a place where Hector couldn’t walk straight and would suddenly change direction, without even realizing it. It made sense, of course people would get lost like this.

In other words, we just had to move in the direction he unconsciously avoided.

Marking trees along the way, I pulled on Hector’s sleeve and guided him forward until we reached it.

The first thing that caught the eye was the mass of large white Shutom flowers in full bloom. The water collected in the clearing, free of trees, was more like a pond than a lake. Sunlight poured down only in that spot, making it shimmer beautifully. Perhaps because people rarely came here, the greenery was lush, and various plants besides Shutom bloomed vividly.

It was so beautiful it took my breath away.

「…Am I seeing things? I feel dazed… and this isn’t what I imagined at all.」

「Who knows? If you’re seeing the same things as I am, then it might not be an illusion.」

「I see a really beautiful body of water. There are all kinds of flowers… I just can’t see the Shutom.」

「Then aside from the Shutom, you might be seeing the same things I am.」

They appeared wrapped in a bright white light. It was a shame he couldn’t see the glowing white flowers, but even so, the scenery seemed beautiful enough to him.

Maybe it would be nice to just sit and enjoy it for a while.

「Shall we take a break?」

「Yeah, let’s rest a bit.」

We both agreed, so we spread out a cloth and sat down. Since we were already here, maybe we could have lunch now. I had made a variety of sandwiches, just as Hector requested, and packed plenty.

I wondered if he would be pleased.

When I took out the lunchbox and opened it, an orange line of happiness extended above his head, at the same time, a red injury line suddenly stretched sharply.

「Eh?」

Just a moment ago it hadn’t been dangerous, so why had it suddenly grown?

The probability of injury had just increased. That meant that something I had just done, something not originally planned, had triggered danger.

The only thing I had done was decide to eat here and take out the lunch.

But that alone had drastically changed the future.

We shouldn’t have eaten here at this time. I didn’t know why, but if we did, he would get injured.

I hurriedly closed the lid and put it away, but the line didn’t shorten. It seemed that taking it out at all had already sealed it.

「What’s wrong?」

「Hector-san, stay alert. Something might be coming.」

Beyond the cluster of Shutom flowers, something seemed to flicker. I realized it wasn’t my imagination when a roar echoed, shaking me to my core.

Bursting through the white flowers came a black-furred wolf, with twisted horns. A magical beast.

Before I could even take out a deterrent potion, Hector had already drawn his sword and rushed forward.

「A magical beast! Where is it!?」

(He can’t see it!?)

It was the worst possible situation caused by the Shutom. The wolf, its red eyes filled with hostility, kicked off the ground and charged toward us, scattering white petals.

I tried to think of something I could do, but the medicine I had brought was only meant to momentarily stun a magical beast. I couldn’t throw anything explosive near where Hector stood.

「Straight ahead! You can’t see it because of the Shutom!」

「…Stay back!!」

It seemed Hector couldn’t see the wolf among the flowers. Only when it leapt into the air, leaving the Shutom, did it finally come into view.

The wolf lunged, baring its massive fangs. Hector thrust out his right arm.

The sound of bone crushing. Red splattering across white petals. Silver glinting in the sunlight.

It all happened in an instant.

「…gh…」

「Hector-san…!!」

Using his right arm as bait, he drew the wolf in and slit its throat. The beast collapsed, but his arm was in terrible condition.

I rushed to him to check the wound, but it was so deep the flesh was gouged open, far beyond what simple first aid could handle.

「Ha… I never thought… I wouldn’t be able to see it… That was unexpected…」

「You’re in pain, so don’t laugh…!!」

He should have been in unbearable agony. His bone was exposed, why was he smiling?

Even though the pain line stretched long above his head, he said 「I’m fine」 a lie so obvious it didn’t need the lines to confirm.

(…At this rate, he might not make it back.)

I could tell that from the black line of death slowly extending above him. This wasn’t something medicine could fix anymore. He might bleed out before we returned, or even if we made it back, infection could take him.

(I have to heal him.)

The color of death disappeared instantly. Once I reached that conclusion, there was no hesitation.

My power must never be revealed. But no secret was worth more than a life, more than my friend.

And more than anything, this was something I had caused. I had to take responsibility.

「Hector-san… please don’t tell anyone.」

I gently held my hand over his right arm. I focused, drawing out my power.

I would heal everything completely.

The wound closed in an instant. As it healed, the pain vanished. Confirming that the line of pain above him had disappeared, I released my power.

…Healing such a severe injury was, admittedly, exhausting. But that was all.

「You… what are you…?」

In mere seconds, the wound torn open by the wolf’s fangs had completely healed. His arm and clothes were still stained with blood, but once washed, not a single scar would remain.

That was healing magic, the power to preserve life.

「I am a healing mage. Surprised?」

I smiled gently at the stunned Hector.