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Volume 1 Chapter 22-1: Corroborative Investigation

 

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「nn…this…is?」

It seems I had been sleeping. When I opened my eyes all I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

Huh? Where am I? …I had been fighting the Floor Boss and…

「Master!」
「Ah Sistina, good mornin’.」
「Yes, Good Morning to you as well….wait!」

Sistina seemed to remember something and retorted as tears welled up in her eyes.

「Mou! …It’s been two days since you fell unconscious Master. I was really really worried.」
「I see…I’ve been lying in bed for two days? Thanks Sistina and I’m sorry for troubling you.」

I was sure that for these two days I laid here she had been caring for me. As proof, I could see some dark rings under her eyes.

「…I’ll get angry. Don’t ever think of such things as a bother.」

Puu* Sistina pouted her cheeks and was so unbearably cute that I couldn’t help but bring her into my arms. Her softness, warmth, and calming scent brought me peace and felt as though my heart was being healed. What kind of panacea is this? It’s too amazing!

As I hugged her, Sistina let out a small sound of surprise, but quickly relaxed into my arms.

「I’m so glad you’re alright Sistina.」
「Yes…I’m glad you’re okay Master.」
「What about Hotaru-san and Sakura-chan?」
「The both of them were hurt quite a bit so Hotaru-san said she’d heal them with 『Arms Repair』 but they would have to sleep for a while. They’re over there.」

I followed Sistina’s gaze to a table and saw Hotarumaru and Sakura in their sheathes lying there.

「They woke up occasionally to check how you were doing, but a little while ago they…」
「I see…」

As expected that battle was harsh in several ways. Even so, we all survived and made it back. None of us had to compromise what we didn’t want to, so the endeavor could be said to be successful. Aside from that…

「Sistina, switch with me.」
「Eh? No I can’t. If Master doesn’t lay down then…」

I was sure that Sistina had used her healing arts on my body as extensively as possible while I was asleep. My body should be mostly healed as I could feel that my previously broken arm was moving without an issue.

However, because of that it was probable that Sistina had only healed herself the minimum necessary while she cared for me.

She needed rest far more than I did at this moment.

「Then we can lay together. As we do can you tell me how we made it out?」

I moved to the side of the bed and lifted up the covers.

「Ah…okay. That’s fine.」

She blushed and agreed to my compromise. 「Then excuse me」, she said and slipped into the bed next to me. She turned to face my chest, let out a huge sigh of relief…………..and fell asleep.

…truly instantaneous.

I could see how tired she had been. I ended up worrying her so much. I had to be careful not to get us into crazy situations like that any more.

Well then…

「Are you awake Hotaru-san?」
『n…ahh, you woke up Soujirou ja』
「How’s your body?」
『You don’t need to worry. After using Arms Repair many times Sakura and I are in perfect shape as katanas. It’s just that we used too much magic power in our human shape ja. We have to rest. Well even if things were no longer bad…Sistina wouldn’t listen to us and take a break. I see you made her sleep ja. Truthfully, I was more worried about Sistina getting rest rather than us ja.』
「Haha…sounds like Sistina. Well, don’t worry I managed to get her to rest. But could you tell me what happened after I blacked out?」
『Ahh, I don’t mind ja. You remember up until you used me to stab into the Boss and twisted me to finish it off right?』

Un, well I don’t remember the part where I twisted it…well even if I didn’t remember it didn’t change anything. I nodded.

In summary Hotaru-san told me this…

First, my final blow managed to defeat the Floor Boss. But at the same time I completely lost consciousness.

Sistina treated herself until she could moved and carried Hotaru and Sakura (who had turned back into swords) and me. She began climbing up to the second floor, but she was completely exhausted and could barely move. The one who ended up helping her was Frey Howe.

Apparently she had only escaped to the boundary of the boss area and watched our fight. As expected, she didn’t have the courage to participate in the battle, but she felt guilt about being the one who caused us to enter such a terrible battle. 『I know you can’t trust me, but I still want to help』 she said while bowing her head.

Sistina finally accepted and the two of them carried us up to the second floor and jumped out of the exit window. In addition Frey made a vow not to ask anything about Hotaru or Sakura and to not say anything to anyone.

She promised that and said she would come to apologize another day after hearing where we were staying.

Once she left the Tower carrying me and emerged in the lobby, the manager and will dashed towards them while thanking her for rescuing the explorers. After hearing that we had defeated the Floor Boss he reported it to the Lord of Reitoku and we would be rewarded. We would have to head to the Lord’s estate when things calmed down.

Will talked without hiding his shock 「my eyes weren’t mistaken」 he said seeming emotional. After that he carried me to the inn himself. What a conscientious man.

Once we returned to the inn Sistina immediately began my treatment. She used her magic until it was almost depleted, slept a bit to recover, woke up, and did it all over again until I was healed. She really pushed herself.

『That’s it Soujirou…』

I let out a huge sigh after hearing everything from Hotaru-san and closed my eyes.

「Sakura-chan…you can move right?」
『Of course I can Sou-sama!』
「Can you understand what I want you to do?」
『I can sense what you want from me…but I don’t know why you’d want me to.』

I let out a wry chuckle at Sakura-chan’s words. She surely understood why I wanted her to do this. She was just making fun of my naivete.

「Sorry to bother you while you’re healing up. Be careful.」
『Okay~ No matter what state I’m in I just can’t refuse a request from Sou-sama~』

Sakura-chan instantly turned into a woman, instantly equipped her ninja clothes, and disappeared. Really, Sakura-chan’s invisibility and Agility Boost+ combo is amazing. I couldn’t catch sight of her.

『It’ll be a while til Sakura returns. Just sleep for a little longer ja.』

I should have had plenty of sleep, but looking at Sistina’s happily sleeping face made exhaustion wash over me again. I nodded and lay back down to hug Sistina before closing my eyes again. Thanks to the ultimate hug pillow I was able to fall asleep in the blink of an eye.

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