Reflection meeting with Granny Maria

Come to think of it, since I can make potions from my own flesh, I wonder if I could make a potion for the King's stomach cancer too.

Not that I'm gonna, though.

Anyway, time for a reflection meeting with Granny Maria. I was invited to another tea party, so off I go.

"… …"

"Sorry about that. Was it bad that I went and healed him on my own?"

"No, that's fine. It's fine, but… or is it? Hmm."

Granny Maria let out an enormous sigh.

Keep sighing like that and your happiness will run away, you know?

"Well, His Majesty was deeply grateful."

"I see. Health really is something to be thankful for. You don't realize it when you're healthy, though."

"That's true. But you see, the King's illness was a terminal disease that Healing Magic couldn't cure."

Hm? Is that so… oh right, it was cancer.

If you try to promote recovery on cancer cells, it would probably make things worse. That's likely why his symptoms were progressing locally despite there being no metastasis.

"The princes of our country might hold a grudge, though."

"One person's misfortune is another person's fortune, huh."

"Indeed. Especially when you're in a position like the King's. But well, thanks to you, His Majesty seems to have regained his composure."

According to her, the King had been afflicted with a terminal illness—a disease that neither Healing Magic nor restoration magic could cure—and had apparently planned this theft to use what little remained of his life to save the world.

Well, I healed him though.

Also, doesn't the Paverkant Kingdom have any other Divine Artifacts they could offer up? At least, it seems there weren't any within the King's knowledge.

Even if there were, they might be too integrated into daily life to touch, like Dungeon Cores.

Anyway, the King probably won't be stealing Divine Artifacts anymore going forward.

… …

"By the way, Granny Maria. Let's keep this whole incident a secret from Dea-kun and Kumin-san."

"Ah… well, there's no benefit for us in telling other countries about the King's rampage either. Sure."

Good, this way Dea-kun won't find out that I was unknowingly running a matchpump scheme.

If he were to find out, I'd be burying my face in my futon and flailing around for another day or so.

"But if that kid figures it out on their own, that's outside my jurisdiction."

"… Dea-kun is smart, so he might have already figured it out."

And there's a possibility he's realized it and is just staying quiet about it.

… No, that's definitely it, since he hasn't asked me who the mastermind behind Phantom Thief Hermes was.

He must have figured it out when I accidentally forgot to retrieve the fake Divine Artifact and came back to hole myself up in my room. Dea-kun is smart after all!!

"Aaaah, what kind of face am I supposed to make when I see Dea-kun!"

"Wouldn't it be easier to just come clean? It's your own fault anyway."

"Granny Maria's deeply meaningful and gracious words have dealt a direct attack on me. Gufuh."

Please stop, logical punches are super effective on me.

"Still, I never thought Kari-chan could cure terminal illnesses. Tell me about stuff like that ahead of time."

"Sorry about that. I was just going to fix the King's stiff shoulders, but when I touched him I found the illness, and since it seemed pretty easy to cure, I just went ahead and did it real quick, you know?"

"Easy!? What's gonna happen to you if the Church finds out about this…!"

"Huh, but the Church and I are friends?"

The Sister who's in every town, Siesta, is my colleague.

We even ate sweets together the other day.

"Then is it not a problem…? No wait, if it became known that you can cure terminal illnesses, there would definitely be huge repercussions. Make sure to keep that hidden, okay? You want to live a peaceful life, right?"

"Y-yeah. Well, that's true, but…"

"Speaking of which, you say you want to live peacefully, but taking the Queen of Tessin as your local wife, what kind of—"

"Ah, hey hey, I'll give you a massage too, Granny Maria. I'm gonna touch your body now, okay?"

"Aaaaah… w-wait, you think you can just change the subject like… zzz…"

Good, she's asleep. My, my, you were so tired, valued customer.

I've fixed up your stiff shoulders and lower back pain all nice and clean, so when you wake up you'll be bright-eyed and full of energy.

Well then, the tea party host has fallen asleep, so I guess I'll head home.

"Alright then, Bath-Friends Auntie, I'll leave the rest to you!"

"Wait, Kari-chan, give me a little bit too, just not enough to make me sleep. It seems amazing."

"Ehh?"

"Who do you think is gonna carry the soundly sleeping Lady Mariabel?"

"Can't be helped. Just a little, okay."

Thanks for your hard work, Auntie, I said as I tap-tap-tapped her shoulders.

"Aaaaah… oh! My shoulders feel so light! I feel ten years younger! Thanks, Kari-chan! I'll give you some candy as thanks. Here, take it."

"Yay! See you later then."

I took the candy from Auntie and quickly left the tea party.