Chapter 35
“Understood. You said he’s the son of a healer, correct? Since he has acquaintances left, I’ll try sending a letter.”
Borbel picked up his medical bag. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back as if remembering something.
“Come to think of it, Lord Rubian used herbs to make medicine, didn’t she?”
“Yes. I heard she learned by observing over someone’s shoulder.”
It was a miraculous medicine that had shattered not only the knights’ hearts, but even the old master’s heart, which had been as hard as diamond.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all. Turning ointment into a patch was quite a creative idea, and the effectiveness was excellent as well. The contusion ointment made with Avellita herbs as well. Honestly, I was surprised.”
Leviathan raised one eyebrow. His body, which had been leaning back against the chair, naturally leaned forward.
“Well, in some kingdoms there are ointments that heal injuries overnight… Still, Lord Rubian seems to have solid skill.”
Borbel muttered while stroking his chin, but only two words reached Leviathan’s ears.
Solid skill. Creative idea…
“My lord? Why are you making that face?”
Borbel frowned as he looked at the duke, who seemed deep in thought.
“So… Rubi is…”
A deep breath drawn up from his core.
His expression looked as if he had resolved himself.
“A genius type?”
“Uh, I don’t think she’s quite that—ugh.”
Borbel’s knees buckled as he tried to speak his mind. When he turned around in shock, he saw Adolf standing there with a gentle smile.
“Adolf?”
“There was a fly stuck to you, so I took care of it.”
“……”
There was something like flames shooting from his eyes.
Do you want to live only this far?
It felt as though that voice was echoing in his mind.
Ah, so that’s how it is.
Borbel, whose life goal was long life and good health, quietly shut his mouth.
“Hm, hm. Anyway… if Lord Rubian has an interest in herbal medicine, may I teach her a bit?”
“You?”
“Yes. Since she already has basic knowledge of herbalism, studying healing medicine alongside it will surely be helpful.”
“Hmm.”
Leviathan narrowed his eyes. Reading the meaning in that gaze, Borbel cleared his throat loudly.
“O-of course, if Lord Rubian has any traditional herbal blending methods from her hometown, I’d also like to ask about those… if that’s alright?”
Iosia was a nation formed from many minority ethnic groups.
Each tribe passed down its own medical knowledge, and more of it remained undisclosed than what was known to the world.
“You’re too easy to read, Borbel.”
“I, well, if we get closer through that, she might let me examine her body…”
“Alright, that excuse just now was good.”
Leviathan pondered briefly before nodding.
“Do it if Rubi agrees. Don’t force it.”
“Of course. Naturally!”
Whose child had he brought back, after all? How dare he.
Borbel wiped cold sweat and stepped back.
Leviathan went on to instruct him to look into the owner of the herb shop as well.
He felt strangely uplifted.
Not because the child was a genius.
But because it seemed like he could allow her to do what she wanted in the North.
And if she also had talent, wouldn’t that be even better?
After wrapping up most of his paperwork, Leviathan headed to the knight order. It was about time to prepare for the spring subjugation campaign.
“Haah… seriously. She ran up to me saying ‘Dad,’ and it was just too adorable.”
His steps toward the armory came to an abrupt stop.
“Wow, the portrait alone is incredible.”
“The clothes are so cute. As expected of your wife’s craftsmanship. Share the fabric info with me too.”
The voices of young knights polishing their swords followed. It seemed to be a gathering of a few of the knights who were fathers.
“I just want to get off duty quickly and go see my daughter~”
“Honestly, I wonder how something like that treasure came from me. I feel like I’ve used up all my luck in life.”
In the North, girls were rare.
Children themselves were uncommon, but even among them, it was oddly skewed toward boys.
Perhaps it was divine balance, since they had to fight demonic beasts day and night.
An unknown matter.
In any case, girls—being relatively few—were cherished by everyone. As a rule, they were not assigned to harsh tasks.
‘Especially making a daughter into a knight… that’s practically taboo.’
Raising them with care, only to have them roll around battlefields bleeding?
Unless someone was insane, no parent would make such a decision.
That was also why female knights were rare in the Knight Order. Other territories might be different…
“Alright, monthly dues for the ‘Northern Knights with Daughters Association,’ aka the ‘Daughter-Obsessed Club,’ now collecting.”
“What kind of abbreviation is that?”
…There was such a group?
Leviathan tilted his head slightly.
“Hey, you lot. Keep it down. Don’t show anything in front of His Grace.”
It was Leon’s voice that followed in a low tone.
He seemed to have been steadily polishing his sword beside those fools until now.
“Of course. Bragging about daughters in front of His Grace…”
“Are you crazy?”
The knights muttered bitterly.
“……”
Leviathan leaned against the wall. It somehow felt even harder to reveal himself now…
“So Brad, you’re transferring to the Capital Knight Order?”
“…Yeah. Sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“Having a child made me selfish. I just want to raise them in a safer environment. To you all… I’m really sorry.”
“It’s fine. Hearing monster cries every day is worse. Going to the capital is better.”
“Yeah, if I had the leisure, I would’ve transferred too.”
The knights’ low voices of consolation could be heard.
So that’s why Leon said they needed more personnel.
Those who started families and had children often moved to townhouses in the capital.
Of course, their income would be reduced to a quarter, but in exchange, they were buying safety and peace of mind for their families.
“……”
This just made it even more awkward to go out.
In the end, Leviathan decided to postpone preparations. He swallowed a sigh and turned around.
For some reason, he felt like he wanted to see Rubian.
“Where could she be?”
Without hesitation, he started walking.
Bang.
I swung the door of the mana stone shop open without warning.
“She’s not here.”
Khalid Liorc was nowhere to be found.
“Eek, you scared me!”
The employee, who had been dozing at the counter, jumped up in surprise.
“Boss? What brings you here without notice?”
He was someone I had hired temporarily since I couldn’t always stay on-site. Of course, due to the shop’s poor finances, his salary came out of my uncle’s pocket…
“Need any mana stones?”
“No. Not today. But have you seen a pitifully handsome boy wandering around nearby with no home?”
“A boy? I haven’t seen anyone like that.”
In the end, he hadn’t even stopped by here.
“Tch.”
I had underestimated him too much. Still, the one who had blocked me once—why couldn’t he do it twice?!
Stomping lightly on the floor, I fumed. The employee carefully gauged my mood.
“Boss, is something bothering you…? Sales are always bad, but the cleanliness is decent.”
“……”
I couldn’t just show up and leave as a boss who vents stress on others.
Forcing a smile, I pointed at a box in the corner.
“You’ve been working hard. Please send me one more box of those purple mana stones. And if that sorrowful, beautiful boy I mentioned appears, please contact me.”
After hearing his acknowledgment, I left the shop.
“Hazel! I’m done with my err—”
My words didn’t finish. Because I saw the maid leaning against the carriage, spinning a jackknife with one hand.
“……”
Absolutely… I must never ask Hazel to cut my hair.
“Lord Rubian! Are you done?”
“Yeah…”
Hazel approached with a bright smile. She smoothly slipped the jackknife away with a flick of her wrist, leaving me speechless again.
“Just in case I ask… why do you have a knife?”
“Ah, my hands were bored.”
Her face, smiling under the sunlight, looked even more composed than usual today.
Uncle, I think there’s a top-tier talent for recruitment here in the knight order.
“Shall we head back?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Gasp, why are you suddenly speaking so formally…”
With a reluctant expression, I climbed into the open carriage. Or tried to.
“Hmm?”
My hand shot up involuntarily at the familiar silhouette in the distance.
“Grandpa!”
“Oh my, my soft little nose-pick!”
