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Chapter 39 – Waiting at the Guild
“Let’s disinfect the wound first. It would be terrible if it turned into tetanus or became infected.”
The girl doll said, holding up her finger. Clare held up her hand and pointed it at the boy who was looking at the doll with a surprised look on his face. A faint light entered Clare’s hand, and the small stones and dirt that were on the wounds on her hands and knees rose to the surface.
“Wh-what… magic?”
“Yes. I’m an apprentice witch. This is a purification magic.”
The girl doll proudly put her hands on her hips. When Clare held her hand, the phosphorescence disappeared and the mud and sand floating in the light fell to the ground.
“What is tetanus?”
“Well, it’s something that happens when you get injured and bacteria… toxins get into that area, and later on your health becomes very bad. I remember it being quite dangerous.”
“Ah–”
Griff seemed to have some idea or association, so he put his hand on his chin and spoke as if he understood.
“Your injuries aren’t serious enough to require a potion. Herbs should be fine.”
Clare took out herbs, a mortar and a pestle from her bag, crushed them on the spot and rubbed them on the wounds on the boy’s knees and hands.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“It has a mild pain-relieving effect. If you leave it like this for a while, the wounds will close up.”
These herbs are used as ingredients in basic potions, but since they are useful for treating minor wounds, Clare and her friends, who can make more advanced potions, often use them as they are without making them into potions.
“You’re very efficient. You saved me.”
“Thanks, um…”
“My name is Clare.”
“Thanks, big sister Clare.”
“No, no. But where is this child from? I don’t see anyone who looks like his parents nearby.”
“He’s from that orphanage. I know him.”
Griff pointed to a building diagonally across the street.
“I saw Griff-nii-chan, so I chased after him to surprise him, but then I fell over…”
The boy said with a guilty look on his face. Griff gave a wry smile, ruffled the boy’s hair, and said, “Be careful not to fall.”
“If it’s you there, then that’s a relief for now.”
The girl doll on Clare’s shoulder nodded. The boy looked puzzled by the doll’s movements.
“A moving… doll…”
“Hehe. It’s a doll my master gave me, and I treasure it because I can practice magic by controlling it.”
Clare said as she stroked the hair of the girl doll Lily.
“But… this building was an orphanage. It was a pretty impressive building, so I wondered what it was for.”
“It’s run by the Margrave Tolland family. I guess it’s because it’s so close to the Great Sea of Trees.”
“Yeah. I learned from my teacher that it’s run by the Margrave family.”
Not only soldiers and citizens, but even adventurers inevitably lose their lives to monsters. The Margrave family takes care of the surviving family members.
This kind of response also leads to the soil in which elite soldiers are raised. The Margrave also provides vocational training for orphans, which includes training as soldiers.
In fact, orphans who are confident in their strength tend to aim to become soldiers or adventurers. This is why there are many military officers who swear loyalty to the Margrave family that takes care of them and have a love for their hometown.
“Hey. Big Bro Griff, when will you come to visit next?”
“Yeah… I’ll come visit soon.”
“Great…! I’ll tell everyone!”
Seeing the boy’s happy face, Clare’s mouth turned a strange expression.
“He’s popular.”
“… Kids his age seem to admire soldiers and adventurers. I once visited the orphanage for a little something, and they asked me to come visit them from time to time. That’s why I do.”
Griff replied to Clare’s words.
He didn’t go into the details, but he probably asked me to come again because there was something worth it, and he continued to do so to not disappoint the children, Clare thought, thinking back to her memories of when she was hospitalized in her previous life.
If she had the time, she might visit the orphanage and show them her puppet show, Clare thought, as Griff continued speaking.
“I’ll probably see you again tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“If they told her they were in the capital, they’ll probably talk at the Adventurer’s Guild tomorrow.”
It seems that when Rona and her friends arrived at the capital, they were supposed to talk to the relevant parties and meet up. That’s why they were told not to leave the capital, Griff explained to Clare.
After parting ways with Griff and her friends and returning to the inn, Clare received a message from the guild. They asked her to show up at the Adventurer’s Guild tomorrow after breakfast.
“It’s just like what Griff said today.”
“Did you meet somewhere?”
“Yes. Near the orphanage.”
“Yeah… I’ve heard that she brings them snacks and helps with training.”
That’s why the kids were attached to her, Clare understood.
The next day. Clare and her friends showed up at the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Welcome, Granny.”
“Yes.”
Gwaine greeted Rona and her friends with a grin, and led them straight to the back room. There were Griff and Lucia, the investigators. Then there were two people Clare was meeting for the first time.
One was a man with a mustache, well-dressed and refined. However, Clare felt that the sharpness of his gaze and the sharpened magical power he exuded told her he was no ordinary person. Selena also froze a little when she saw the man.
The other was a woman. She was a stylish person wearing a monocle. Her magical powers were normal.
“My apprentices, Clare and Selena. And this is Margrave Tolland.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Clare.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Selena… I’m Phonet.”
“And this is Spica, my new familiar.”
Clare takes off her hat and greets the girl doll, picking up the hem of her skirt. Selena follows suit and greets, and Spica also appears and bows.
Since Clare is controlling the doll, she doesn’t seem nervous, and Selena introduces herself, including her family name, with the tact of a noble lady. Since there are few people, she thinks it’s possible to explain the situation and keep it a secret. Or rather, it’s more accurate to say that she disliked the rudeness of not giving her family name.
It was then that Margrave Tolland finally smiled.
“You’re the disciple of the rumored Rona. I’m happy to meet you. I’m Richard Toland. And your daughter is the daughter of the Count of Fornet.”
Richard paused, nodded, and continued.
“Let me introduce you to my daughter, Luciana. And then, Miss Angelia Cloverbart, who I’m asking to decipher the book.”
“That’s right. Since it’s about the Empire, it was necessary for the Toland family to join the investigation team. Luciana Toland.”
“I’m Angelia. I’m the daughter of a robed noble from the royal capital, but my interest in archaeology has led me to be entrusted with this kind of work. Well, I’m happy. I can’t thank you enough. I was thinking that I should thank you when I met you.”
Lucia greeted, gently moving her fingers together, and Angelia said in a good mood.
Lucia was her name as an adventurer. Today, Luciana was sitting in an outfit suitable for a noblewoman. Her attitude hasn’t changed at all since Lucia’s time, though.
Angelia isn’t from the capital city, but comes from a family of robed nobles from the royal capital. She isn’t explained in detail, but she can be said to be a leading researcher in ancient civilizations in the kingdom.
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