Chapter 44
Charlotte was already waiting in front of the familiars’ stable.
“Charlotte, I’m sorry! I kept you waiting!”
Feeling guilty, I hurried over to Charlotte, who smiled sweetly.
“No, I knew you’d definitely come, Fia, so I had fun waiting. Fia, meeting up with someone is fun, isn’t it?”
“W-Wait, what is this adorable thing to say? Charlotte, I’m going to be the best big sister ever!”
Charlotte was so adorable that she had me wrapped around her little finger in an instant.
Charlotte was holding a bottle against her chest. Inside was a green healing potion.
“Oh, Charlotte. Did you draw some healing potion from the spring? Thank you!”
When I thanked her, Charlotte smiled happily.
Wanting to make her smile even more, I tried imitating Zabiria with the puppet on my left hand.
“Hello, Charlotte. I’m Zabiri—”
Just as I was about to say the name, I remembered Commander Quentin’s advice that I shouldn’t say Zabiria’s name in front of other people.
“I’m Zabirinrin Ringoski! A blue bird-shaped monster. I’m a symbol of happiness, so meeting me will make you happy. Here, happy☆!”
I did my best to wave both hands as I used the puppet, but Charlotte’s smile turned awkward, and even Zabiria looked displeased, which was unusual.
...H-Huh? That fell flat? R-Right, I’ll stop.
I’m the type to read the room and not pry...
Changing the subject, I went into the familiars’ stable with Charlotte, and we began checking on the injured monsters.
It seemed Charlotte had already been spending a lot of time in the stable. She explained each monster in detail, telling me about this one and that one.
As I listened to Charlotte and we checked on the first monster, the second, the third... the smile gradually faded from her face.
Then, when we came to the fourth monster, Charlotte pressed her lips tightly together and grabbed my clothes. She stopped walking, so I stopped too.
“What’s wrong, Charlotte?”
Wondering what was the matter, I asked her. Charlotte furrowed her brows and opened her mouth.
“Fia, the monsters’ injuries are healing...”
“Hmm? They’re supposed to heal, since I’ve been giving them healing potions, right?”
...Come to think of it, Charlotte had been doubtful about how well these green healing potions worked.
I replied, thinking that since the monsters we’d checked on seemed to be recovering properly, Charlotte might have come to believe in the green potions’ effects.
“...That’s not normal at all. They wouldn’t heal this quickly. All these monsters had injuries that would take much, much longer to heal—another week or ten days, at least. Why have almost all of them recovered...?”
“The green healing potion boosts the user’s natural healing ability. Monsters already have strong healing abilities, so maybe that’s why?”
As I answered with complete seriousness, Charlotte gripped my clothes tightly with both hands. Her lips began to tremble.
“...Is this green water really a healing potion?”
“Yes, it is.”
When I smiled, tears began streaming down Charlotte’s cheeks.
“Huh? C-Charlotte? Wh-what’s wrong?”
“This healing potion... It’s amazing. No one suffers, and their injuries heal right away. ...I’ve wanted a healing potion like this for so, so long.”
I hugged Charlotte tightly and patted her back.
“Hehe. Then, after I return to the First Knight Order, you can teach the Monster Knight Order knights about the green healing potion. ...Our commander came to check on me earlier, so I think I’ll be returning to the First Knight Order soon.”
When I said that, Charlotte looked up as if startled.
“Fia, are you going away?”
“I belong to the First Knight Order, so I’m just going back to my original post. The First Knight Order’s barracks are in the royal castle too, so we can see each other whenever we want.”
I smiled and crouched down to meet Charlotte’s gaze.
“I have a favor to ask you, Charlotte. About the spring of green healing potion: fresh water is constantly welling up there, so the potion will become diluted if we do nothing. Could you channel healing magic into the spring once a day, as practice? The amount can be about the same as when we practiced together the other day. Be careful not to use too much, or you’ll run out of magic.”
I asked Charlotte what she thought, and she silently gazed at me.
“Fia, are you... a Saint?”
“Huh?”
“I’m a failure as a Saint, so sometimes the higher-ranking Saints give me instruction. When they do, they take my hand and teach me how to channel healing magic, but I never really understand. In the end, I never learn anything.”
Then, as if remembering something, Charlotte lifted her gaze a little and stared into space.
“The other day, when we practiced making healing potions at the spring, you held my hand, Fia. For the first time, I felt the flow of magic inside my body. I was convinced there was no way you could be a Saint, so I didn’t realize it then. But afterward, you also helped me adjust things, like how much magic I was releasing from my left hand. ...The higher-ranking Saints’ lessons were so different from yours that I didn’t notice, but after seeing how amazing this green healing potion is, I understand. You’re a Saint, Fia. And an incredibly powerful one—the strongest I’ve ever seen.”
“Ah—... Charlotte...”
“To turn an entire spring into healing potion is something even ten higher-ranking Saints working together couldn’t do. ...Hey, Fia. There’s a portrait of the legendary Great Saint in the church. She has vivid crimson hair that reaches her knees and golden eyes. Fia, you have the same coloring.”
“...”
“Fia, if people find out you’re a Saint, they’ll elevate you to a supreme being because of your immense power and your resemblance to the legendary Great Saint. They’ll hide you deep inside the temple and worship you.”
“Ah—... Well, that’s a bit...”
I couldn’t help making a sour face as I thought, “Please spare me...”
I hadn’t lived such a suffocating life even in my previous life.
Charlotte opened her mouth with a determined expression.
“I’m on your side, Fia. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”
As she spoke, she gripped my hand tightly with both her small hands.
“You made a spring of healing potion for the injured monsters, and you guided me to use a Saint’s power properly. Everything you say and do is just like a Saint. So I think you must have a reason for hiding that you’re one. I won’t tell anyone anything.”
After saying that much, Charlotte looked straight at me.
“Let me thank you, Fia. Thank you for making me a Saint. I’ve always wanted the power of a Saint. I wanted to save everyone with a Saint’s power. So I’m very happy that I’ve become one. Thank you, Fia.”
Charlotte’s words landed squarely in my heart.
“You’re welcome, Charlotte. Congratulations on becoming a wonderful Saint. And thank you for respecting what I want.”
As I sat there, lost in the sentiment of the moment, Zabiria murmured softly.
“Wise of you, little Saint. If you’d tried to do something Fia didn’t want, I would have dealt with you.”
...I sensed something ominous in Zabiria’s words, but since the matter seemed to be settled, I decided not to interfere.
“Well then, Charlotte. Shall we check on the rest of the monsters?”
I deliberately spoke in a cheerful voice to change the mood.
After that, Charlotte and I checked on the remaining monsters. Most of them seemed to have recovered, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
When we reached the last monster, Charlotte murmured softly.
“This green healing potion really is amazing. It heals most injuries with just one dose, and all the monsters that use it become friendly...”
Now that she mentioned it, the monsters that had bared their fangs at us yesterday morning were quietly following our instructions today.
“Fia... You don’t seem surprised at all, but compared to the clear healing potions on the market, this potion is so much better that it might as well be a completely different thing. If people find out a healing potion like this exists, I think it could cause a lot of trouble.”
“Huh? It’s that amazing?”
...Now that she mentioned it, drinking the clear healing potion had caused an unbelievable amount of pain.
But that was because I could use healing magic, which made it react badly and caused excruciating pain. I don’t think an ordinary person would suffer that much...
Ah, but maybe it heals much faster than the clear healing potion?
When I used it myself, I healed myself before it had a chance to take effect, so I still don’t know about that.
Right, when you want to improve something, you have to understand the current situation first. So maybe I really should try that clear healing potion myself at least once... Ugh, human experimentation. I’m not keen on that...
Just as my thoughts began heading in another direction, Charlotte brought me back to the conversation.
“Hey, Fia. I think we should keep this green healing potion just for the monsters here for a while. If we say it’s cloudy because it’s made specifically for monsters, everyone will accept that.”
“I see. ...You’re surprisingly thoughtful for a child, Charlotte...”
I agreed, a little impressed.
Zabiria and Charlotte are both so clever for children...
I have to do my best too!
As I tried to motivate myself, Zabiria murmured softly.
“I think you’re fine just the way you are, Fia. When you get motivated, all I can see is a terrible future...”
Oh, Zabiria. I can be pretty useful too, you know!
I murmured, “Just you wait,” and Zabiria replied, “Please don’t.”