Recovery

Small-fry monsters attacked on the way back, but they were no match for Alexia and Evalin, who still had energy to spare.

In fact, Puppe Number Three scattered them before anyone else needed to step in.

They were dispatched in no time, and only the magic stones were collected.

Everyone made it back to the cottage safely, and Finn felt a wave of relief.

Azu and Elza were fully conscious but still couldn't move due to the backlash.

Azu aside, this might have been the first time Finn had ever seen Elza this drained.

What on earth had they done to that eerie hole?

There were plenty of things to deal with, but first and foremost was checking on that man's condition.

That was the whole reason they'd gone through all that trouble. If he wasn't on the mend, it would've been a total loss.

"Welcome back, everyone."

Orleans had been diligently tending to Yohane in bed.

She had wrung out a cloth soaked in a basin of water and placed it on his forehead.

"How is he?"

"He had a fever until recently and seemed to be in terrible pain, but just a short while ago the fever broke. Those frightful marks are gone, too."

"I see. Good. Thank you for your work."

"Not at all. This is the least I can do."

Finn checked his face as well.

It had been deathly pale before they left, but now healthy color had returned to his skin.

He was sleeping peacefully, not a care in the world.

If they left him be, his strength would recover on its own.

They couldn't just leave the two immobile girls lying outside, so Finn boiled water and, with Alexia's help, stripped their clothes off and gave them a quick wipe-down with warm, damp towels to clean off the grime.

Only women here, so it was fine.

When they told Azu and Elza about Yohane's condition, both looked visibly relieved.

To be worried about this much, that man had it good.

"Thank you…"

Azu's voice came out barely above a whisper.

Finn just told her not to worry about it.

Elza, meanwhile, was apparently giving Alexia instructions on how to wipe her down.

Once cleaned up, they were dressed in spare changes of clothes and settled in a corner of the cottage to rest.

She wasn't sure about Elza, but this wasn't Azu's first time ending up like this.

Given time, she'd be able to move again.

Between that and the bit of poison she'd inhaled, fatigue suddenly hit Finn all at once.

"Sorry, but I'm going to sleep for a while. The problem's been dealt with, so that should be fine, right?"

"Sure… It's true that the Mosquito Monsters have disappeared since the forest spirit was dealt with. Rest as long as you need. I'll do a sweep of the perimeter just in case."

"Knock yourself out."

A yawn escaped as drowsiness took hold.

She hadn't even done that much this time, and yet she was exhausted.

She'd leave everything to Alexia and Orleans for now and get some sleep.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

He drifted awake from a long, hazy dream.

Whatever he'd been dreaming about, he'd already forgotten.

It might have been a good dream; it might have been a nightmare.

The chills and nausea he'd felt before falling asleep were gone, as if they'd never existed, and for the first time in a while, he felt truly healthy again.

Glancing to the side, he found Finn sleeping with her arm as a pillow.

It was rare for Finn to let herself sleep so openly around others.

He gently stroked her hair, then poked her cheek. No reaction.

She was out cold.

There was a smudge on her cheek, so he wiped it off. She stirred slightly and mumbled something in her sleep.

"Finn-sama was very tired. Azu-sama and Elza-sama are asleep as well."

"I see. They really gave it their all, huh. Thanks for looking after everything, Orleans. You took care of me too, right? I appreciate it."

"Those words alone are more than enough. Here, please have this."

What Orleans offered him was a plate with three slightly yellow pieces of fruit.

They were warm to the touch. The browning showed they'd been cooked not long ago.

He took a bite, and the texture and flavor were, strangely, just like bread.

But it wasn't bread.

A peculiar experience.

"Is this breadfruit? First time I've had it."

"Isn't it strange? It's a fruit, but it tastes just like bread. It's even better with butter."

"Let me try."

The butter paired wonderfully with the breadfruit, and being hungry as he was, he polished off every piece in no time.

"If you can eat that much, I'd say you're well on the road to recovery, sir. There was a time when I wasn't sure you'd pull through."

"Sorry for worrying you. Where's Evalin?"

"She went out to check on the forest. As for Alexia-sama…"

Right on cue, Alexia walked into the cottage.

She was carrying a basin of water.

"You're awake. I figured you'd be fine once the curse was lifted, but it's good to see you up and well."

"Alexia, mind filling me in on what happened?"

"I can only tell you up to a point. While that elf and I were holding off the forest spirit, Azu and the others did something. Here, sit up."

"O-okay."

She was apparently going to wipe him down.

She dipped a towel in pleasantly warm water, took off his clothes, and wiped his body clean.

He must've been sweating, because it felt amazing.

Back in the early days, he never would've imagined Alexia being this attentive.

Well, maybe that wasn't quite right.

Alexia had always been kind at heart. Back then, everything had piled up and pushed her into a corner, making her lash out.

People said that your true nature came out when you were cornered, but he disagreed.

What came out in those moments was just how you acted when cornered.

Panic made you do things you didn't mean, say things you didn't believe.

He'd once known a merchant who'd gone bankrupt and lost everything.

Driven to desperation, the man had done things that were far from admirable.

Some called it his true character, but he knew that after years of hardship, the man had recovered and properly made amends.

"There, all clean."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it. I think of this as part of my role. Don't you agree?"

She said it with a soft laugh.

Slipping into fresh clothes, he felt completely restored.

But both Orleans and Alexia told him to stay put, so getting up would have to wait a bit longer.

Before long, Evalin returned.

Azu and Elza had recovered enough to move, so he decided it was time to hear what had happened.