kscans

Chapter 110 - The Rescued Woman

"Well, I’m off," Kyle said as he left the base. We had given him a monster-repelling bell and a spare Potion. If all went well, it would take about two hours to cross the Tree Sea and reach the Royal Capital. He probably wouldn't encounter any monsters.

Just in case, Darius would guard the base entrance, and I would guard the captain's office where the magic circle was. We also had the other soldiers cooperate while taking breaks in shifts.

For his ailing friend, we secured a space for her to lie down at the base and in the tower. Mireille also brought treatment tools and medicinal herbs from the tower so she could act immediately.

Two hours after his departure, Kyle arrived at Julius’s townhouse in the Royal Capital.

He left his horse at a nearby stable. He likely wouldn’t be coming back for it, but it was a fine horse for the shop. They wouldn’t complain.

(...The real problem starts now.)

He had joked about being stabbed by the butler, but what was truly frightening was being surrounded by soldiers or being attacked from behind.

But when he knocked on the door, a butler appeared as if he had been waiting.

"I was instructed to give this to you by Lord Julius."

He took the bag and checked its contents. It certainly seemed to be a magic tool, but he could see no signs of explosives or other traps. There was no suspicious presence.

"Any message?"

"None in particular."

Tilting his head in confusion, Kyle put the bag in his coat and went outside, warily scanning his surroundings. But there was no one following him, no ambush.

He headed straight for the brothel where his childhood friend was. No attack here either.

But the moment he stepped inside, the owner called out to him.

"It’s been a while. You stopped visiting, so I thought you’d abandoned her."

"..."

"If you care for her, take her with you. She doesn’t have long. I don’t need any money. The smell of death is getting strong."

Kyle’s fist trembled. He swallowed his anger and replied in a low voice.

"...Then I’ll take her."

The owner walked away, looking relieved. Was disposing of the body too much trouble for him?

He opened the door, and there she was, covered in a skin rash, nothing but skin and bones, groaning.

"Aria... I’m here."

When he spoke, she managed a faint smile.

Kyle lifted her into his arms. She was too light. It was as if he were holding a doll. I’ll get you out of this place right away... His heart ached at the thought of her impending death.

He slung his bag over his shoulder and put on the bracelet. The next moment, he was enveloped in a floating sensation as if space itself was warping.

When he came to, he was in the captain’s office of the Tree Sea Defense Force. Leonhard and Mireille were waiting.

From his departure, only half a day had passed. Everyone’s eyes went wide at his unexpectedly swift return.

First, a High Potion. Everyone had completely forgotten what a luxury item it was.

But with just that, color returned to the dying woman’s face, and her lips regained a hint of red.

The skin condition, Mireille and Kyle cleaned her body, washed away the dirt, and wrapped her in an All-Purpose Bandage. By tomorrow, it would be clean.

What was even more surprising was that she was able to eat rice gruel. For a person on the verge of death to recover this much, the power of a High Potion was truly something to behold.

"But you can’t rely on it too much. It’s for temporary recovery. The illness itself requires medicinal herbs and treatment."

As Mireille spoke, she took samples of her saliva and blood to determine the compatibility of herbs for an all-purpose remedy. Kyle was moved by the sight.

The King, Julius, Rainer. None of them had helped her. But here, regardless of profession or status, they were treating her with care.

(What kind of people... did I try to betray?)

His chest hurt. Even if she couldn’t be saved, the very act of respecting her and trying to save her was a salvation in itself.

Kyle made a firm vow. At the Magic Furnace, he would risk his life to ensure that Leonhard returned to Mireille’s side.