[You have finished a 1000 treatments.]
[As a reward, you will receive the Healer’s Grace.]
“Oh my! Thank you very much!”
Today marks the third day. Thanks to consistently treating people in the back alleys for three days, I’ve obtained what I needed.
I looked at the small item in my pocket, the Healer’s Grace.
“Master? What is that?”
“An ingredient needed to make your medicine. Well, we’re done here, shall we get going?”
There are no more patients anyway.
Thanks to diligently treating people with all my heart and soul for three days, there were no more people suffering from diseases or agonizing over wounds in the back alleys.
After receiving their words of gratitude and finishing the cleanup, I left the back alley with Sowol.
“Laila and the other warriors said they’re returning… What about us?”
“Do you want to play around more?”
“Well… if you want to play more, as your disciple, I should follow, right?”
You’re good at talking despite being so eager to play more.
“Then let’s just go.”
“…Yes.”
See? Completely sulking. Your lips are sticking out again.
“I’m joking. Let’s play before we go. We came all the way to the big city, it would be a shame to just leave, right?”
“Th-that’s right! Then what should we do? What should we do?”
Let’s see. The famous thing in Roberin City is the theater, but we saw a play last time, didn’t we?
Then we should do something else, but what would be fun?
“Oh, by the way, I don’t have any money.”
“Don’t worry, I have the money.”
Sowol smiled brightly as she showed her purse.
It’s nice to have a disciple with money by my side.
I patted her head.
Grinning happily, Sowol and I returned to the inn first.
As Sowol said, the warriors at the inn seemed quite busy, probably preparing to leave.
“Welcome back. We’re about to return. What are you and the young lady planning to do?”
“We’re thinking of staying a few more days before leaving.”
“Ah… I see?”
Laila, who seemed momentarily surprised, gazed intently at Sowol.
“Wow! That’s great!”
“Wh-what!”
“Hehe. If you two are staying, there’s nothing I can say! Oh, if you need travel expenses…”
“I have the money, so don’t worry about it.”
“Ah, is that so? Well then. Have a good time, you two. And Master,”
Laila grinned mischievously and winked.
“I haven’t forgotten our previous promise~!”
Previous promise?
Ah. She’s talking about showing only Sowol the play after making her work.
I wish she would just forget about it.
“I’ll make it up to you when we get back.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Would teaching her a decent sword skill or martial art suffice?
Laila’s talent is good, though not as much as Sowol’s, so I should be able to teach her quickly.
“Is that alright?”
“Yes! Have a great time!”
Laila left, rejoicing.
Watching her, Sowol looked at me with a slightly sulky expression.
“What are you going to do with Laila?”
“This and that, various things, I suppose?”
“….”
“More importantly, let’s think about what we will do. Hey, innkeeper. Is there anything fun around here?”
“If you want something fun, how about visiting Lake Rankin nearby? The lake is very beautiful and has great scenery. You can also go boating there… and I know a shop nearby. If you say you came on my recommendation, they’ll make you an excellent grilled trout.”
Sightseeing and boating.
With both static and dynamic activities, this doesn’t sound bad.
Sowol didn’t seem to have any objections either, as she nodded.
“Then let’s go there tomorrow.”
The next morning, Laila and the other warriors from the merchant group left.
Since they’re returning empty-handed, I heard they should arrive at the merchant group by evening.
By then, we’ll be at the lake.
“Shall we go too?”
“Yes!”
To get to Lake Rankin, we need to ride horses. I asked Laila yesterday to leave some horses for us, I wonder if she did?
Sowol and I headed to the stable and saw the remaining horse.
There was one.
There are two of us, but why is there only one horse?
“I don’t know how to ride a horse.”
“Don’t worry.”
You can just run alongside.
This is all part of your training.
“Should I ride in front of you, Master?”
“Huh?”
Oh? This isn’t right.
I watched Sowol innocently smile and hop onto the horse.
Her posture is quite good for someone who said she couldn’t ride.
“What are you doing? We should hurry. Don’t tell me you don’t know how to ride a horse either, Master?”
“Of course not.”
Basic horseback riding isn’t difficult.
“I was thinking you could run for your growth… Hey, don’t look at me like that. I was joking.”
Only then did Sowol soften her glare and sit demurely.
Watching her, I climbed onto the horse.
Naturally leaning her back against my chest, Sowol spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
“Well then, let’s depart!”
“Alright, alright. Let’s go.”
Today is a day off, so it’s not right to make her train. Yes, let’s rest today.
Riding a horse, it didn’t take long to reach our destination, Lake Rankin.
However, I noticed Sowol was a bit stiff while bouncing along.
She clearly shows signs of only having ridden in carriages, being raised as a noble lady.
Maybe I should teach her horseback riding too…
There’s a lot to teach.
I rested my chin on Sowol’s pink hair in front of me.
Startled, Sowol fidgeted as Lake Rankin came into view.
“Wow…”
A small exclamation escaped her.
Lake Rankin was beautiful enough to impress even Sowol, who had grown up seeing only the best things.
The lake sparkled as if a large blue mirror had been placed there, surrounded by lush green forests.
Quite a few facilities were available around the lake, proving its worth as a tourist spot recommended by the innkeeper.
Although it wasn’t seen in the game, I don’t think I would’ve appreciated it as much as I did now.
“Master! Let’s go quickly!”
I heard Sowol’s excited voice.
I thought she wouldn’t like this, but seeing her happy isn’t bad.
“I’ll speed us up, so be careful.”
Then I should hurry.
I wrapped one arm around Sowol’s waist to secure her and shook the reins with one hand.
As the brown horse started to run quickly, I could see Sowol, firmly held by me, stiffen.
“Oops. Was that too fast?”
“Ugh… N-no…”
What do you mean, no?
She’s clearly scared.
No matter how strong she’s become and how able she is to use sword energy, it’s understandable to be nervous when riding so fast from such a high vantage point.
I slowed down and loosened my grip on Sowol.
“Ah…”
“Is that better now?”
“W-we can go fast…”
As if it would be fine.
Maintaining a walking pace, we arrived near the shore of Lake Rankin.
“Looks like they do boating over there. Shall we go boating and then have lunch?”
“…Yes.”
I wonder what she’s dissatisfied with now, her voice has dropped so low.
Is this the stormy period?
Talking to kids entering puberty is indeed not easy.
But what can I do? This is a master’s duty.
I roughly ruffled Sowol’s hair, and only then did she seem to cheer up a bit, grinning as she followed me.
“Master! That flower boat! I want to ride the flower boat!”
“Alright, alright.”
You’re paying, so why not?
Sowol confidently walked up and rented a flower boat.
It’s like a gondola decorated with vibrant flowers.
Sowol lightly jumped onto it and patted the rowing seat, smiling brightly.
Huh. Asking her revered master to even row the boat. This cheeky brat.
But today is a day off. It wouldn’t be bad to show some generosity as a master.
“Do you know how to handle a boat?”
“This much is basic.”
I grabbed the oar and moved it lightly.
Maybe because the boat is good?
The flower boat glided lightly over the lake, which looked like a blue mirror.
“This is nice…”
The wind created by the moving boat must have felt good.
Sowol, her pink hair fluttering in the breeze, tucked a strand behind her ear, and she certainly made a pretty picture.
Whatever her personality, the fact that she’s a beautiful girl is true.
“Master, have you ever ridden a boat like this before?”
“I have.”
“…With whom?”
“With Rubalkan. An old dwarf warrior who’s good with an axe.”
We cleared a pirate event on a boat like this back then.
“Ah, ahaha. What about with High Priestess Serin…”
“Why would I ride this with her?”
Besides, she gets seasick, so she can’t even ride boats like this.
At my denial, Sowol smiled even more brightly, seeming pleased.
“Oh! It looks like the boatman on that boat is performing music. Maybe we should have hired a boatman…”
“I know how to perform.”
That boatman is playing a lute, but I can do this.
“What’s that?”
“A flute.”
I learned it before because music was the only healing remedy for me.
This flute is an item I got from a previous event.
I took out the flute from my chest and played a simple tune.
It was a bit awkward since it had been a while, but it wasn’t bad.
“…Why are you making that face instead of applauding?”
After finishing the song, I looked at Sowol, her mouth wide open and eyes round.
What? Is it surprising that I can play an instrument?
“I didn’t know Master could play such a romantic tune…”
“Well, they say the flute is the instrument of romance.”
It’s fun doing this after so long.
Maybe I should practice more when I get the Sage qualification later?
“…I feel like I’ve learned a bit more about you, Master.”
Saying that, Sowol smiled softly, seeming quite pleased.