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"Ugh, hmm..."
I managed to get into bed, but... I can't sleep.
Gai's body, which I left in the room, covered in cracks, keeps flashing in my mind.
And then there was Teal-chan, worrying about Gai even while in pain.
I guess if I use magic to disappear, no one will see me.
If I fly at full speed and return to the inn by morning after I'm done, I won't have to worry about being suspected... so it's possible, right?
"Alright, I'll fly for the first time in a while."
I check if Kreiman is sleeping properly, saying something like that.
Just in case, I'll cast 『Nightmare Sleep』 on him.
It would be a problem if he woke up, so I'll let him have a happy dream.
As soon as I cast 『Nightmare Sleep』, he started sleep-talking "Sophia~" with a disturbingly happy smile. ...I can easily guess what kind of dream he's having.
Leaving Kreiman, who was smiling like that and inexplicably hugging his futon, I left the room.
However, to leave the inn, I have to go through the reception once.
Even though it's night, it's not that late, so the innkeeper is probably awake.
While thinking about how to get past, I hide and observe the reception area.
"Huh? Why...?"
For some reason, Cecilia is sitting on the sofa at the reception. There's tea on the table, so she's probably waiting for someone.
I'm curious, so I'll try calling out to her.
"Cecilia, what are you doing here?"
"What do you mean... I was waiting for Youki-san."
What does she mean, waiting for me?
Cecilia stood up from the sofa where she was sitting and handed me a bag.
"It contains the medicinal herbs I gathered today. Please give it to Seek-kun."
"Huh? But..."
"Please ask Seek-kun to go along with the story. And tell Teal-chan too, once she regains consciousness."
"Ah, ah, I understand."
I took the bag from Cecilia and put it in my bag containing magic ore.
"Sophia-san seems tired from her first request in a while, so she fell asleep quickly. I don't think she'll wake up until morning unless something happens."
"...I'll try to return by morning."
"Is that so? I told the innkeeper that I'd call if anything happened and went to eat dinner. If you're going out, now is the time."
It seems the innkeeper also managed to help me out.
Still, this efficiency is amazing.
"I understand, thank you. ...But why were you making these preparations? I just..."
"I thought Youki-san might go. Actually, this is the third time I've asked the innkeeper to step away. ...At this rate, I'll be suspected next time, so if Youki-san didn't come, I was going to return to the room."
Seeing Cecilia speak with a slight smile, I thought I should have acted sooner.
Cecilia was also worried about the two of them and was supporting me, thinking I might go.
...I really have to be grateful.
"Thank you for everything. Well then, I'm off."
"Please be careful not to be seen by anyone."
"I know, see you then."
After saying goodbye to Cecilia, I left the inn.
Then, I cast the invisibility magic 『Banish Wave』 on myself and left the village.
Once I was completely away from the village, I returned to my demon race form.
"I can't fly at full speed in this form. Well... I didn't want to return to this form if I could help it, but it can't be helped."
I muttered to myself in the empty grassland, and then flapped my wings and took to the sky.
From there, I flew silently, aiming for Minerva, and arrived at the inn where I was staying.
Of course, I entered the inn after hiding my form and infiltrated my room. I wonder why I have to sneak in when it's my own room.
Well, considering my current form, I guess it can't be helped.
Looking at Gai, he seemed to be unharmed.
The cracks had spread more than when I left, but he hadn't collapsed.
He should still be able to be saved.
I tried to wake Gai up, making sure not to cause any vibrations.
"Hey, Gai, wake up!"
However, Gai didn't wake up. Is he sleeping very deeply, or...?
"Was it too late...!?"
I start to think that even though his body hasn't crumbled, Gai might already be dead. No. I should still have about two days of grace.
"Hey, wake up instead of sleeping. Ah, come on, you moving lolicon stone statue! I found a way to save you. All you have to do is eat this magic ore!"
".........!"
I saw Gai's body twitch slightly.
It seems he reacted a little.
If this continues, he might wake up if I keep calling him.
"Wake up already! Let me tell you something. I won't forgive myself for dying while still having tricked such an innocent girl. So..."
"Geez, you're noisy!"
Just as I was about to complain freely, Gai's eyes opened.
It seems he wasn't dead after all.
"Good, I made it in time."
"What's good about it, brat? You interrupted my sleep, which might have been my last. And you said a lot of things you pleased while I was asleep."
"Huh? You could hear me? I thought you were... because you didn't wake up..."
"I was awake! It's just that my body was already at its limit. It just took time to move."
It seems he heard everything.
"Alright, then eat this no matter what!"
If he was awake, he must have heard my story about finding a way to fix him.
I don't have time for detailed explanations, so I forcefully shove the magic ore from my bag into Gai's mouth.
"Hey, brat, what are you doing suddenly... Mmph!?"
"Explanation later. Just eat, quickly!"
Gai reluctantly started eating with a crunching sound.
I kept shoving magic ore into his mouth faster than he could eat it.
"Mmph, mmg, nguu"
Gai holds out one hand towards me, trying to convey something.
"I don't know what you're saying... Wait! Ah!"
Looking at the arm he extended, the cracks that were there until just now were gone.
It seems to be healing thanks to the magic ore.
"Mmph!? Mugguh..."
Gai also seems surprised looking at his arm, and he must have realized the effect of the magic ore.
After feeding him magic ore until about half of the contents of the bag were gone, the cracks on his body completely disappeared.
"Half of it is left... Still, I can finally relax."
"...Hey, brat. Don't stuff it into my mouth forcefully. I understood the effect of this stone when I saw the cracks on my arm disappear! Let me eat it more slowly."
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I was in a hurry because I thought I had to feed it to you quickly."
"Hmph, it's fine if you understand... There's still some left. Feed me all of it."
Gai snatched the bag from me and put it all in his mouth.
I wonder if he liked it. I can't tell, as I don't understand a gargoyle's taste.
Gai ate the magic ore like a Rock Eater, crunching it all down.
"Whoa, whoa, that's too much. Are you okay...?"
"Hmm... It was quite delicious. I'd like you to bring more."
It seems he liked the magic ore.
I'm not going to go get more, it's too much trouble.
I took the bag back from Gai and checked its contents.
It should still contain the medicinal herbs that are ingredients for the medicine.
"Hmm...?"
Besides the bag of medicine ingredients, there's something else in the back of the bag.
Curious, I took it out and found something like a claw.
It's the same color as the magic ore, but...
"Mmph, is there still some left? Give it here!"
"Ah, wait a minute."
Ignoring my warning, Gai put it in his mouth.
I suspect it's not magic ore, but the claw of a mutated Rock Eater.
It seems he mistakenly brought something that broke off during the fight.
...I wonder if a claw won't be noticed? I'm worried.
"This tastes completely different... What, my body is getting hot!?"
"I told you to wait! That's not magic ore!"
Wondering what would happen, I watched Gai.
Then, the missing arm and wing slowly began to bulge.
Gai writhed in pain, saying it was hot, but I watched the phenomenon intently.
Eventually, when the bulging stopped, his arm and wing had completely regenerated.
"..."
"..."
We were both speechless.
Gai and I looked at the arm and wing that hadn't been there until just now.
"Well... let's not think too deeply about it. We don't have time, and I still have places to go, so see you."
Bewildered, I left Gai, who still hadn't understood what had happened, and quietly left the room.
Then, similarly hiding my form, I infiltrated the Aquarain family's mansion.
I enhanced my sense of smell to find Seek and woke him up while he was sleeping.
"Ow, it hurts... Who is it?"
"Be quiet. It's me, it's me."
"Huh? Captain, why are you in that form? Also, what time is it... It's still the middle of the night! Good night~"
"Don't sleep!"
I was extremely worried he might still be groggy, so I splashed water on him and forced him to wake up to explain the situation.
He was rubbing his eyes sleepily, but I managed to get him to make the medicine.
"Faaawn. I'll make the medicine and prescribe it to Teal-chan. I'll do as the Captain says~"
"Ooh, I'm counting on you. Well, I'm going back before I get suspected."
"Bye-bye~"
Seek is a carefree guy, but he should be reliable in this field, so I can trust him.
I used magic to disappear and flew back to the inn where Cecilia and the others were staying.
I landed a little ways from the village, disposed of my horns and wings, and returned to my usual form. The sun was about to rise.
"Crap, I have to hurry!"
I used magic to disappear and entered the inn without being noticed.
When I entered the room, Kreiman was still sleeping, hugging his futon.
Ignoring Kreiman, I got into bed.
"I'm exhausted... Finally, I can sleep..."
I immediately drifted off to dreamland... but.
"Youki-sama, Youki-sama. Please wake up."
"Hmm, huh? Why is Sophia-san in our room...?"
"Youki-sama and your husband haven't woken up, so I came to wake you. You said you wanted to return to Minerva quickly, so the carriage is already prepared."
I remember saying something like that yesterday.
There's no need to rush now, but... I can't explain the situation, so I quickly got ready.
By the way, Kreiman was woken up normally.
He seemed to think he was still dreaming and hugged Sophia-san. He was immediately blown away, though.
In any case, we immediately got into the carriage and departed...
"Youki-san, are you okay?"
I hear Cecilia's voice. It's natural since she's sitting next to me.
I can feel my neck bobbing with the jolts of the carriage.
The reason is simple: I'm sleepy.
"Hey, hey, didn't you sleep properly yesterday? What were you doing staying up all night, honestly."
"Are you one to talk, when you overslept?"
Kreiman and Sophia-san are having a married couple's manzai routine, but I can't even laugh or retort in this situation.
"Sorry, let me sleep..."
I just collapsed and fell asleep.
When I woke up, I noticed Cecilia's face was above me.
My consciousness is still hazy from just waking up, but I manage to sit up.
"You're finally awake. We're about to arrive in Minerva, Youki-san."
It seems I slept quite a bit in the carriage.
Well, I was up almost all night yesterday.
Still, why is Kreiman grinning at me?
"You're living quite the life, aren't you? I won't be responsible if a young lady's fan stabs you, you know?"
"What are you talking about all of a sudden... Did I do something?"
"...You were sleeping on Cecilia-sama's lap the whole time."
"Seriously...?"
Being given a lap pillow by the girl I like... for a moment I think I'm finally a real-life achiever... but I stop myself.
I remember collapsing when I fell asleep, so maybe I made her feel obligated.
"I don't mind that much, so it's okay. Besides, a lot happened yesterday... you know."
Cecilia gave me a knowing glance.
She's probably referring to me flying around last night.
...I'll accept it as a reward, yes.
Gai's body is healed, and if I leave it to Seek, Teal-chan will be fine too.
"Alright, I'm going home to sleep."
"What, you're still going to sleep? You're even lazier than I am."
"Leave me alone."
The two women laugh at Kreiman and my exchange.
This group might actually be pretty good.
I thought this while swaying in the carriage, and then headed home.
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