The next morning, I visited Count Aspheart. He was surprised by my visit. I explained my plans regarding the young healer and asked him to provide everything necessary for the production of the healing potions. After that, I took a tour of the estate to ensure that no further dangers were lurking.
Afterwards, I went down to the cell to visit the prisoner. His body was covered in wounds. The rats had done quite a number on him.
"If you tell me who supplied you with the poison, I will bring the healer", I offered. His response was pleading and begging, "I can't. I'm sorry, please forgive me!" Disappointed by his refusal, I drew my sword and beheaded him with a single strike. What a waste of time. "Clean this up".
At noon, I went to the dining hall. The atmosphere was more relaxed than the previous day. Ryota had been worried when Haru hadn't shown up for breakfast. Haru smiled kindly at him and greeted him politely with, "Good day, Ryota". Then he turned to me and also greeted me politely. I noticed that Haru didn't look at me with the same tension as yesterday.
As Haru reached for some bread, he noticed a moldy spot on it. The maid's reaction was exaggerated as she fell to her knees before him, begging for forgiveness. Haru, however, helped her up and reassured her with a smile. I watched as he used his magic to refresh the food and then enjoyed the bread. His reaction was remarkable and I couldn't help but suppress a soft laugh. "Be more careful next time" I said with a hint of sternness to the maid. She bowed in gratitude.
"After lunch, you will meet with Count Aspheart" I announced calmly to Haru. He seemed confused, and I explained further, "He will provide you with everything you need for your plan". His nod indicated that he understood, although it was clear he had no idea what I was talking about. I decided not to reveal any more information for now, as I found his reaction amusing.
"I have sword training soon", Ryota declared proudly, his shoulders straightening. His eyes gleamed with anticipation. Haru's offer to accompany him to training seemed to excite Ryota. I could see a joyful smile spreading across his lips. He hadn't smiled like that in a long time.
I, too, returned to work after lunch. There were still some documents I needed to go through, and I spent the entire day on it.
Before sunrise, I headed to the training grounds to get some physical activity and balance out the desk work. The knights arrived for their daily training a little later.
Sir Valerian and I stood at the edge of the hall, attentively watching the sparring. When Sir Valerian noticed the guest, I could hear the surprise in his voice as he said, "It seems we have a visitor today, Tatsuya". It was an unusual tone since he had used my name, but I ignored it for the moment and turned my gaze to the guest.
The air was filled with a mixture of sweat, metal, and dust. I could see that the young healer was visibly struggling in this environment. But then, suddenly, a bright light filled the room. I could feel his magic permeating the surroundings. A refreshing breeze swept through the hall and the knights' armor began to gleam as if freshly forged. The unpleasant heaviness of the air was neutralized by the fresh breeze.
The sudden silence in the hall was broken by hearty laughter from Sir Valerian. His laughter filled the room. The young healer seemed a bit embarrassed, saying, "Good day, Duke Drakonov and Sir Silverstar". We returned his greeting.
The knights in the hall lined up in a row and bowed before him. "Hail His Holiness!" they chanted in unity. This respectful reaction took him by surprise. I could see the confusion in his eyes, while Sir Valerian concealed his laughter behind his fist. I, too, had to stifle a smile at his awkwardness. He bowed again and responded uncertainly, "Greetings to you as well". It was clear he didn't quite know how to respond appropriately.
Haru then turned his attention to the wounded knights and began presenting his healing potions. When the first knight drank his potion and his cut visibly healed before our eyes, applause erupted. The other knights willingly volunteered as test subjects and the results were astonishing. The moment that stood out the most was when he regenerated a missing hand for one of the knights. Everyone present, including myself, could hardly believe their eyes. A sense of euphoria filled the room and I could feel the excitement welling up inside me. His healing powers appeared to be limitless, and I began to realize the potential that lay within him.
Haru approached me and requested to test his remedies on individuals suffering from the mysterious illness that had afflicted Ryota. I agreed and promised to arrange an escort for him to travel to the city and continue his research. The possibilities that he and his remedy presented to me quickened my heart. I could see the joy on his face and the depth of his gratitude as he bowed to me.
When he handed me a bottle of his potion, I noticed that it looked different from the others. His explanation piqued my interest and I thanked him. His powers had the potential to change people's lives and influence the balance of power.
The next day, we set out for the city to further investigate the effects of the healing potion. The carriage jolted on the rough road as we left the estate. The idea of traveling in a carriage was unfamiliar to me; I usually preferred riding my horse. However, today was an exception. I could feel the skeptical gazes of Isabella and Raven on me, but I had my reasons for this decision. I wanted to ensure that our precious cargo remained safe.
When the carriage stopped in the city center, we get off. I was the first to step out, followed by Isabella and Raven. I reached out my hand to Haru. His palm felt soft and delicate. While the knights unloaded the crates, I watched as the young healer approached an old, dead tree. Suddenly, something remarkable happened: the tree bloomed once more, bearing succulent blue apples. Once again, Haru managed to surprise me.
He handed me one of the apples. I stared in fascination at the blue apple in my hand but refrained from eating it. Instead, I packed it away to examine later. Several afflicted people approached us and we were able to thoroughly test the healing potion. I was more than impressed by its power; it surpassed that of any healer. This power overpowered that of the Church and Duke Aurelius.
The day came to an end, darkness descended and our supplies of healing potions were running low. After bidding farewell to the residents, the knights began reloading the empty crates onto the carriage. However, before we could depart, a knight approached us in haste, his horse panting heavily. "Duke Drakonov, the scouts have spotted a horde of goblins to the east", he gasped. The faces of the knights and my own immediately turned serious.
"Kiyoshi, you stay here and inform the residents" I ordered, turning to the former one-handed knight. He nodded in understanding and set off to warn the residents. Raven approached me. "You ensure his safe return to the estate" I said curtly. There was no time to waste.
I mounted a horse, followed by the other knights and we rode off hastily. The news of the goblin horde had put us all on high alert. The cool night air filled my lungs as I saw the goblin horde rapidly approaching. Their repulsive silhouettes stood out against the dark night sky. My knights surrounded me, their tension palpable, but they were ready for battle. We formed a defensive line in front of the city wall and the torches illuminated our weapons, glinting in the darkness.
I raised my sword, feeling its weight in my hands. It was time. The first goblins reached us and I plunged into battle. My sword whirled through the air, severing limbs and piercing hearts. Each of my strikes was precise and deadly.
My knights fought as valiantly as I did. One warrior with a massive axe smashed the goblins' skulls, while another expertly skewered the leaders with a lance. The air was filled with their cries and our battle screams.
The fight was a wild chaos of blood and steel. My sword danced between offense and defense, deftly evading the enemy's blows. Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by two massive snow beasts. They were larger and stronger than goblins, but that couldn't stop me. With swift movements, I evaded their attacks and sought their weaknesses. A deadly thrust pierced the heart of the first and with a mighty swing, I decapitated the second. For such beasts, I didn't even need to use my magic.
The remaining goblins scattered in all directions. My knights stood, exhausted but victorious, blood and dirt covering our armor. I lowered my sword and took a deep breath.
"We've won, but we mustn't let our guard down" I told my knights. "Maintain the watch until the dawn breaks". Their approving looks confirmed that they were ready to fend off any further threats.
I accompanied some injured knights to the emergency clinic to have them treated. However, when I entered the room, I was shocked by the sight. The situation had spiraled out of control. When I saw him, continually pushing himself beyond his limits, I could feel the danger radiating from him. His magical glow had become too intense, his eyes glowing from excessive mana usage. I knew I had to act before it was too late.
My hands gripped his arms and I felt the heat emanating from his body due to overextended magic. "Enough! Stop!" my voice broke through, serious and commanding. But he seemed not to hear me.
Without hesitation, I swung my right hand and struck the back of his head. A dull sound filled the air and he staggered before losing consciousness. It had been a necessary drastic step to stop him from self-destruction. I cradled him in my arms, feeling his shallow breathing. I carried him to his chambers and laid him down gently in his bed. Then, I returned to assess the extent of the damage and casualties. Thanks to the healer, there were hardly any fatalities. However, not everyone could be saved. I ordered everyone to remain silent about the dead. It was better not to tell him about the victims.
I continued to hunt down some stray goblins and tried to figure out where they had suddenly come from and why snow beasts were with them. I found some monster bait, confirming my suspicions. This time, the tracks had been sloppily covered. Either there was another perpetrator or he was in a hurry. One thing was certain, it was only a matter of time before I found him,and then I would let him drown in his own blood.
At sunrise, we began the cleanup and burial work. I wanted everything to be done before Haru woke up. The sight would undoubtedly disturb him. In the afternoon, as after every major battle, I hosted a feast to boost morale among the knights.
The knights' dining hall turned into a place of celebration that night. The night of the feast was lively and joyful. When Haru entered the hall, he was greeted with cheers of encouragement. He seemed visibly overwhelmed by the warm welcome, but his smile showed that he was comfortable. The knights enjoyed the company of the little healer, who was treated like an honored guest that evening.
A heavy pitcher of beer was handed to him. Although he seemed a bit overwhelmed at first, he held it with both hands, which made the knights smile. "Seems like the guest of honor has finally arrived", I remarked jokingly and my words were accompanied by cheers. Haru's smile grew wider. He sat between me and Sir Valerian, who had already emptied several pitchers of beer.
Valerian raised his pitcher for another toast and Haru followed it. He accepted the challenge and continued to drink while the knights laughed and told stories of past battles.
Suddenly, Valerian turned to Haru with a sly grin and asked, "Tell me, little healer, is there a special someone in your life?" The question surprised not only Haru but also piqued my curiosity. "No", he replied curtly.
Then, he was curiously asked about his type by one of the knights. At that moment, he looked at me and began to describe what he liked in a man. "He should be tall, have broad shoulders, strong arms, and thick hair" he said, his eyes resting intensely on me. I could feel the knights' gazes shifting between us and I couldn't help but be proud of my broad shoulders.
Suddenly, the room fell silent. "He?... The healer prefers men?" someone whispered softly, and the silence became even more oppressive. But before it could become an uncomfortable situation, Haru spoke up again: "Yes, I prefer men!" His words broke the silence and the knights raised their pitchers again as a sign of recognition and acceptance. I raised my pitcher too, as this information was more than useful to me.
As the night progressed, exhaustion showed in Haru's eyes. He leaned against me and his head briefly rested on my shoulder before he straightened up again. I smiled and stood up.
"Come, I'll take you to your room," I said. Raven offered to accompany him, but I shook my head. "That won't be necessary", I replied and extended my hand to him. Haru took it, and I could feel his grip tightening around my fingers. He was a bit unsteady on his feet, so I supported him and carried him. He was light. Too light.
On the way, he turned to me and whispered softly, "Aren't you disgusted by me?" I held him firmly in my arms and looked deep into his eyes. "Why would I be disgusted?" I asked seriously.
"Because I prefer men" Haru whispered. I answered curtly, "That doesn't bother me". In fact, it was an advantage for me. I could see the confusion and desire in his eyes.
Finally, we reached his room and he slowly released himself from me. Our gazes met again. But before we could get closer, I opened the door behind him and he seemed to deeply regret that our moment was interrupted.
"Goodnight," I said gently and took a step back to make room for him. Then I left. I toyed with the idea of making him mine, but I decided against it, at least not right now. However, the thought that he might become infatuated with me pleased me. That would make it much easier to control him.