Chapter – 22
Awakening of the Power, Part 1
I had been told not to take care of Polka just to be safe, but I woke up at the usual time anyway.
“……?”
Something feels off in my body. I should have hit myself hard, but there’s no pain anywhere.
“I need to change the bandages.”
When I unwrapped them, there were no wounds at all. Could the ointment made by the mountain people really be that fast-acting? Or maybe the bleeding had looked worse than it was, and the injury wasn’t really serious to begin with.
“How’s your injury?”
Mutty must have heard a sound, because she peeked her head around the hallway.
“Ah, um… it’s fine. It’s completely healed.”
“…You’ve gotten a little better at lying than usual, but that can’t be right.”
“It’s not a lie. I’m serious.”
I insisted and showed Mutty my arm, completely free of any wound. I could tell her eyes widened in surprise.
“So you can use healing magic on yourself too?”
Mutty busied herself, stroking my arm and peering at my face.
“No. Probably, Lord Margus did something during the night.”
“Something… if he had that kind of skill, we wouldn’t be in this situation…”
Mutty muttered complaints, but quickly regained her composure and gave a small grin.
“You’ve awakened the power of healing, haven’t you?”
“That’s impossible.”
Even I, as a child, had worried about why I didn’t have the healing powers that my younger sister had, and had researched it in detail. The chances of developing such an ability later in life are almost nil. Occasionally, there are legends of great figures blooming late in life, but such cases are extremely rare—that’s why they are called legends.
“See, while we were at the Dragon Rider village, you somehow started being able to use your power, right? Maybe the anger at your crappy sister and that crappy guy awakened a new power.”
“No, that didn’t happen.”
Mutty, unusually displeased, puffed out her cheeks.
“If that’s how you feel, come with me.”
Mutty pulled me along to the stables, where Lactus was. He seems to prefer horses over dragons and always grins while brushing them… Well, I can’t really talk, so I’ve never commented on his grinning habits.
“Brother, is there anyone or any animal around here who’s unwell?”
“Foolish. There’s no one. The horses are perfectly fine. How’s your bird?”
Lactus glanced back and noticed my bare arm, one without a bandage, raising an eyebrow slightly.
“That one’s faking, so impossible. Anyone else in mind?”
“I might know someone. Come with me.”
Lactus pointed to the back gate, and I followed, dragged along by Mutty, out of the mansion.
“There’s a dog near that house that got hit by a carriage the other day and is limping.”
“Poor thing…”
Even if it’s just a dog, it doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem. If it’s in pain, I want to help ease it.
“Come on, let’s heal it. It’s black, big, dignified, and composed, but very friendly. It’s just like someone else… you’ll like it, I’m sure.”
“W-What do you mean, Lord Margus looks like that dog!?”
“My sister never said the dog looked like my husband in the first place.”
Lactus grinned and walked ahead. …I’d been tricked.
“Here we are.”
After leaving the noble district, we arrived at a rather fine house. They weren’t nobles, maybe merchants or scholars… either way, they must have a respectable occupation.
“This is the home of a retired former merchant. I heard from the driver that their dog got hurt protecting the granddaughter during a walk, and the girl has been crying ever since.”
Lactus, ever diligent with information, clearly knows this neighborhood far better than I do.
“But is it alright to just visit them like this? Do you know the head of the household?”
“No, not really. But we’ll manage somehow.”
Even so, when Lactus explained that we were visiting on behalf of the Browning family, we were allowed inside without trouble. So this is the prestige of a duke’s household…
“I never thought our dog would be receiving a visit from a duchess…”
The elderly gentleman, apparently the head of the household, seemed calm, but his eyes behind the glasses blinked nervously. His gaze was a mix of expectation and anxiety at the sudden arrival of a ducal envoy.
“I-I’m not really—”
“Shh. Just go along with your brother.”
Mutty warned me not to make things complicated, so I stayed quiet.
I had been brought along without understanding the situation, but if this attempt failed, it would be terribly awkward…
The dog was in the study with the granddaughter. Its lower body, where it had been injured, was fitted with a handmade wooden wheelchair.
“Sister, who are you? Are you a doctor?”
The girl lifted her tear-streaked face. Clearly, saying she had been crying constantly wasn’t an exaggeration.
“No, I’m just someone who takes care of dragon riders. But I might be able to make you a little more comfortable.”
“Really!? Will O’Neil be able to walk again!?”
The pure hope in her eyes focused on me made sweat appear on my forehead, even though I wasn’t hot.
