Time Healer Ceres

“Why would that be thanks to you? I made it!”

“You couldn’t have researched it without that ice-attribute mana stone.”

“That’s exactly my point! Why does that make it your achievement? Ceres gave it to me!”

“I believe I told you before that I was the one who told her to give it to you.”

“Wow. You really know how to take credit for things.”

The two were still at it. Cheion gave Kainel an exasperated look.

Kainel wasn’t wrong. The blue stone had played a major role in creating the protective stone. After all, it was only through studying Bluey that he was able to make a protective stone capable of attacking monsters with ice while protecting them at the same time.

Like I said, Ceres gave it to me because she likes me!

Of course, Kainel had provided the ice-attribute mana stones used to make the protective stones. He had even given them to Cheion for free, despite their rarity and the fact that they could only be found in the Principality of Persia.

Getting them, however, hadn’t been quite so easy.

“Give me some mana stones. Ice-attribute ones.”

“What’s the catch?”

“Oh, come on. Why ask for something in return when we’re dating...?”

Schwing.

“Whoa, whoa! Why are you drawing your sword?! I was joking! Just joking!”

In any case, Kainel had come through with the ice-attribute mana stones for the protective stone.

But that’s not all.

Before that, Cheion had spent a long time studying an incredible protective stone Ceres had given him, until he managed to reproduce it himself. Now, it was proving effective enough to withstand even a massive S-rank monster.

“Still, I did most of the work.”

“I did.”

“Ah, seriously!”

Slash!

[Gyaaaaargh!]

Kainel had already sliced off another arm, a leg, and one of its three heads. He shook his head lightly.

Its regenerative abilities and physical strength are definitely worthy of an S-rank.

Still, there was something about it that didn’t quite measure up to a true S-rank boss. Maybe it was the reaction speed or the simplicity of its fighting style. It was nothing like the S-rank bosses he had fought long ago, which had taken him days on end to defeat.

Whoosh!

Crack!

Slash!

[Skreeeeeee!]

Under the combined assault of Cheion’s magic, Kainel’s ice-attribute attacks, and the sword imbued with aura, the massive S-rank monster crumbled helplessly.

Thud...

[Graaah...]

In the end, the giant chimera monster collapsed to the ground, its body hacked into pieces.

“That’s brutal. You chopped it to pieces.”

“You’re hardly one to talk after setting its head on fire.”

“Burning it makes it cleaner. That’s not cruel.”

“.....”

...What kind of logic is that?

“How many is that now?”

“Five.”

“Then we have five left.”

Cheion grinned as he looked around at the surroundings, which were gradually growing brighter as the tall black trees disappeared.

Ceres was still angry with him over secretly giving Julia the teleportation scrolls. He had diligently written the letter of apology Kainel had told him to write, but...

“This isn’t enough.”

...She had rejected it.

Instead, Ceres had made one demand. If they were ever asked to help with a strange Black Forest that appeared somewhere, they had to lend a hand at least ten times.

Of course, there was one condition. The two of them had to go together whenever they entered one.

Ceres was certain that if the three dukes had each cleared a Black Forest on their own, Kainel could easily clear one as well. So as long as the two of them went together, there would be no problem.

“Then let’s go find the next Black Forest.”

“.....”

Unlike usual, the two were working unusually hard to clear Black Forests.

“Are you feeling sick?”

“No.”

“Then why are you working so hard?”

Cheion’s secretary, Luca, had even asked them with a serious look if something was wrong. Neither of them was the type to go out of their way to do something they weren’t told to do.

“Fortunately, no one seems to have been seriously injured. Let’s go.”

“......”

After taking a quick look around, Cheion and Kainel disappeared from the spot. They were already off in search of the next Black Forest.

***

“Hmm...”

“Are you tired? Shall we go back inside?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Tell me right away if you’re tired. Don’t push yourself.”

“All right.”

Fortunately, Herion had already treated the other symptoms of the poison before Ceres arrived. As expected of the head of the Ellesia family, she knew what she was doing.

The final antidote, a medicine made from Eskela flowers, had worked remarkably well. Duke Schweiss’s condition was improving rapidly.

He even came out for a walk today. After spending so long confined to his room, he was now slowly making his way along with Ceres supporting him.

Ceres kept a close eye on Duke Schweiss throughout the walk. He had recovered considerably, but there was no reason to overdo it.

“...Does he look sick to you?”

“...No.”

“He’s pretending, isn’t he?”

“He doesn’t need to be supported like that.”

Quietly following behind them were Duke Nora and Duchess Elkein. They watched Duke Schweiss as he walked more slowly than ever with Ceres supporting him.

Had that man always walked this slowly? Besides, the Duke Schweiss they knew would never accept someone’s help just because his stamina had declined a little.

“Just look at him.”

“Did you see him groaning like he was in pain just now?”

“...And he’s deliberately walking that slowly, too.”

“...What a sly old man.”

A route that normally took ten minutes at most had already taken over thirty, all because he kept pretending to be in pain and exhausted. He was taking his time as much as possible.

Well, they couldn’t exactly blame him for feeling that way.

“I should’ve been the one who got hurt.”

“Tell me about it.”

Should I get myself injured next time?

Knowing how badly Ceres would scold them if she found out, the two never stopped glaring at Duke Schweiss.

“Your Grace.”

Just then, the butler who had served the Schweiss family for many years hurried over. His voice was calm as he addressed the duke, but there was a hint of agitation in his expression.

“What is it?”

“Lord Harua has arrived.”

“.....”

Ceres felt Duke Schweiss stiffen as soon as he heard the butler’s answer.

Harua? Who’s that?

Schweiss rarely showed his emotions, so seeing him look surprised and slightly flustered made Ceres curious about who Harua was.

“I suppose we should end our walk here.”

“Yes.”

Duke Schweiss patted Ceres’s supporting hand before walking ahead. The butler moved to support him, but Schweiss immediately waved him off and strode away.

“See that? He’s perfectly fine.”

“Good grief. What a sly old man.”

The two dukes watched Schweiss go and shook their heads.

“Who came?”

At Ceres’s question, the two finally realized something and let out a deep sigh together.

“Shouldn’t we get out of here?”

“Let’s pack our things. Quickly.”

“.....”

Their reaction only made Ceres more puzzled. Why were they suddenly packing?

“Lord Harua is the former duke.”

“The former duke...?”

“Yes. That fellow’s father.”

***

“.....”

“.....”

An hour had passed since Duke Schweiss and Harua came face-to-face, yet neither had said a word.

Silence hung over the drawing room.

They’re at it again.

This is why I told you we should pack up and get out of here.

...Am I not supposed to say anything?

Yeah. If you say anything now, it’ll just give our Ceres a headache.

Let’s all stay quiet.

Three others sat beside them, having spent the past hour in the drawing room without saying much as they watched the two men.

Harua had asked to see not only Duke Schweiss, but Duke Nora, Duchess Elkein, and Ceres as well.

Hmm... so that’s what Uncle looks like when he gets old.

Ceres gazed at Harua. Seeing Duke Schweiss and Harua sitting together in the same room was strangely fascinating.

They look alike.

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