I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 120
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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120
Medical Chart 7. The Name of the Heart (2)
Though it had been a long time since she’d let out such rough words, her tongue seemed to remember as they stuck smoothly to her mouth. With only her tongue free, this was the only way she could vent her resentment.
Though she’d gotten used to speaking prettily and gently while doing childcare that was never in her fate, Maria was originally someone whose temperament was much better suited to the rough mercenary life.
During their mercenary days, Maria, Ella, and Bailey were famous for their fiery temperaments. Among the three, Maria was especially fiery – if anyone picked a fight with her, she’d argue back no matter who the opponent was. Of course, she never lost.
Who would have known? That Maria, the mad dog who would bite if hit once, would spend her days caring for a baby with “Is that so?” constantly on her lips.
Maria herself hadn’t known either.
Of course, Maria didn’t regret it.
Mercenary work, where the body was one’s asset, was a profession where income and safety decreased along with declining stamina as one aged. Though it had been an unwilling career change, thanks to it she’d met Shana, and various choices had appeared in her life.
Maria had originally been unable to resist dangerous gambling and adventures.
Though her decision to become a healer had been triggered by the conflict with the Apothecary Guild, it was also because she’d grown a bit bored when the quiet life continued without the attacks she’d been preparing for.
‘Lady Shana has Lady Ella and Lord Bailey too.’
Since there were other nannies performing the same role, she thought it would be fine even without her. She might be forgotten, but that would be fine too. Though they steadily exchanged letters.
Maria’s life had already changed greatly thanks to Shana, and she quite liked that. Enough to postpone her return date despite Bailey and Ella’s subtle coaxing to come back once she’d finished studying to some degree.
As a healer, she’d met many people. She’d met more people than she had as a mercenary. All those many people, almost all of them, had died.
“M-Maria…?”
A voice filled with shock trembled thinly. Maria barely regained her senses.
“I don’t remember your face, but you must be one of the children I met. I’m really sorry for making you go through such terrible things because of me…”
She really wanted to cry. Not shedding tears was her last remaining pride.
“…I’m sorry…”
“Aah, who did this to you! Maria!”
“Huh?”
Maria raised her head. The shocked face gradually contorted sadly, then became teary as if about to cry. Maria felt sorry that she couldn’t remember this child.
“Who did this to you… Wait a moment! I’ll untie you! Aaaah! I stepped on something! It was squishy! Huk.”
She was quite a flustered child. She must have grown up receiving plenty of love from those around her. Maria almost smiled, forgetting the situation.
‘Our Lady Shana must have grown at least this much by now…’
Though she was said to be rather short.
The child who had been running over seemed to finally notice what was at Maria’s feet. Maria wanted to cover the child’s eyes as they turned pale, but with both arms tied, she couldn’t move. The child who took a deep breath spoke a familiar name with trembling lips.
“Cordelia…?”
“Don’t look. If you know Cordelia, you must be a rabbit too… I’m sorry.”
“…”
“They’re crazy bastards. I don’t know what they’re doing this for, but they’re really crazy bastards…”
Maria stopped speaking and bit her lips tightly. The tears she’d held back to the end finally flowed out.
Cordelia was a child Maria had been very fond of too. Her cheerful personality was endearing, and the way she bickered with her older brother was like the twins and Shana, making longing well up. She had decided to return to Wentworth Estate after that village.
But then.
“Sob, sniff…”
She didn’t know how long it had been since she’d shed tears. Her cheeks were instantly soaked.
Then the woman who had been looking at the collapsed Cordelia and rabbits with a pale face tightly embraced Maria hanging on the wall.
“I’m sorry, Maria.”
“…”
“Everything will be okay. I’ll save you. I’ll definitely save you, Maria.”
She patted her as if comforting a small child, then spoke.
Maria blinked to let the gathered tears flow down. Through her cleared vision, she saw a young face. Maria thought the gaze looking at her was somehow familiar.
The way of comforting by fully embracing her head with both arms was also familiar.
As if…
“Let’s untie the shackles first. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Wait, these can’t usually be untied…”
Crunch!
“…that easily…”
“I’m a bit strong right now.”
‘Right now’?
Maria stared blankly at the white, slender hands kneading the shackles like clay. This wasn’t just ‘a bit’ strong.
“What’s your name? Sorry I don’t recognize you.”
“Ah, my name… right now it’s Sena.”
Again, the qualifier ‘right now’ was attached. Maria thought it was strange but couldn’t ask. Because the girl had started gently laying down the people who had collapsed at her feet. Before Maria could even move, she laid them side by side and even closed their eyes.
“Sena, if you still have strength left, leave me behind and escape quickly. This place is a den of demons.”
“You sure like saying demons. They’re just pathetic losers.”
Sena gritted her teeth and grabbed the prison bars with both hands.
“Eeeeek!”
Maria glanced once at Cordelia’s face with closed eyes, then looked at Sena.
“Sena, please, I’m begging you. Even though I don’t remember you, if you sacrifice yourself for me again, I don’t think I could bear it.”
“Why would that be Maria’s fault! It’s the fault of the person who did bad things…”
Sena closed her mouth for a moment. Then she hesitated before speaking.
“It’s the fault of the person who made the potion Maria used.”
“Sena.”
Even though her name was called with a clear warning tone, Sena remained calm. Sena said.
“Isn’t that right? Maria just got caught up in it. This is all the fault of the bad person trying to find whoever made it and the person who made it and gave it to Maria.”
“If you speak carelessly, I won’t forgive you. Whatever you might know…”
“I know everything.”
When the bars wouldn’t budge no matter how much force she applied, Sena stamped her feet in frustration.
“You should have just told them everything.”
“…”
“If you had told them who made it for you, Maria wouldn’t have to be captured here and go through hardships.”
“…”
“All this trouble over some kid you haven’t seen in ages…”
“…It might seem strange.”
Maria wanted to get angry, but Sena looked even more frustrated and wronged, so she suppressed her feelings.
“But that child is like my own.”
“…”
“No matter how long I haven’t seen her, I can’t put her in danger because of me. So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak carelessly either.”
“…”
Sena didn’t look convinced at all.
Maria smiled softly. Even if she were Sena, it would have been hard to understand. Sena hugged Maria again with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you, Maria…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why are you thanking me?”
“Just because.”
“Such a silly child.”
Maria didn’t want to let this child die. However, not a single beastfolk captured at the manor had ever escaped, and they all met the same end.
“Seth, you’re here.”
“Yeah!”
“Aaaaah!”
A human head suddenly popped out from Sena’s shadow. Maria screamed in surprise, then felt a bit embarrassed and quickly closed her mouth.
She was supposedly an A-rank mercenary, yet she got startled just because a human head popped out of a shadow… Of course, even an S-rank would be startled by such a sight, but her pride was hurt.
“Send Maria outside the manor.”
“Don’t wanna!”
Sena’s eyes widened. The man who stuck only his face out of the shadow and wrinkled his nose teasingly shrugged his shoulders annoyingly.
“I’ll make a contract.”
“Oh, really?”
“Ten years of lifespan, how about it?”
“You want to hire high-quality personnel like me for just that? Isn’t that too much of a thief’s mentality?”
Just smash that mouth… Maria could easily read the curses written in Sena’s black eyes. Was the familiar feeling she’d been having because of this?
“A rescue team will come soon to save Raven anyway. I’m just asking you to get Maria out before she gets caught up in it. It’s not difficult.”
“I’m high-quality personnel, I tell you.”
“Says the one who gets treated like a lackey even by your own allies.”
“It’s true though!”
“Ah, fine, I get it. Ten years!”
“Fifteen years!”
In the end, Sena kicked the head that had emerged from her shadow with satisfaction. Despite the quite loud sound, the man only let out an artificial scream of “Kyaa!” which was infuriating. Maria thought that if only she weren’t in a weakened state, she would have liked to hit him herself.
“Ten years!”
“Tch, I’m being generous.”
“Hurry up.”
Maria couldn’t understand the conversation between the two and just stared at Sena’s innocent face. When their eyes met, Sena smiled brightly and said.
“It’s okay. It’s all my fault anyway.”
Seth quietly stared at Sena, then emerged from the shadow. Maria stared blankly at the seductively beautiful man with long hair. His beauty was unbelievable for a human. She never could have imagined this from just hearing his frivolous way of speaking.
“Well then.”
A large palm covered her vision.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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