I Put all my Stats into Charm - Chapter 25
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
I Put All My Stats Into Charm Episode 025
I swallowed my dry saliva.
Jerome’s gaze staring intently at me felt like it was seeing right through me.
My face felt ticklish from his blatant stare, so I turned my head away to avoid his eyes.
After a brief silence, Jerome’s touch as he caressed my foot became more careful.
His touch became even softer and slower. When I wiggled my toes from the awkward silence and unfamiliar sensation, Jerome broke the silence.
“…How did you end up getting lost?”
“I got separated from the investigation team after getting lost during individual activities. That’s when I met Lord Blair.”
Jerome let out a low sigh.
“Miss Amerbeer needs to take better care of herself.”
He brought a dry towel. Jerome continued speaking while meticulously wiping the moisture from my foot with the towel.
“As you’ve probably heard, the number of monsters has increased rapidly recently, putting the entire empire in a precarious situation. Until you rejoin the Imperial investigation team, it would be best not to leave my party’s side.”
Usually he doesn’t talk much. But at times like this, he becomes talkative.
After wiping away all the moisture, Jerome brought some medicinal herbs and applied them to the wound. Then he brought clean bandages.
I stared intently at Jerome as he carefully wrapped bandages around my ankle.
“The Duke seems like a good person.”
Jerome’s hands paused momentarily as he was wrapping the bandages around my foot.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he answered in a calm voice while moving his hands.
“I’m not that good of a person.”
“That’s true. I’ve never met someone as prickly as the Duke in my entire life.”
Well, honestly, he could be annoying sometimes. Is Jerome just prickly?
Still, there was something I wanted to say to him.
“Where in the world would you find a perfect person? Everyone has good sides and bad sides.”
Even as I continued speaking, Jerome’s hand movements wrapping bandages around my foot remained calm and careful.
“The Duke has good sides too. You treated Lord Blair, helped me rejoin my party, taught me sword posture, and helped with treatment.”
“I simply helped someone in a dangerous situation. No one would just pass by someone who’s injured.”
“That’s what makes you a good person. There are so many people who would just pretend not to notice and pass by.”
“…”
Was it my imagination? Jerome’s touch as he wrapped the bandages seemed to become even slower.
“Isn’t that enough to be considered a good person? I think the Duke could be more generous with himself.”
Having finished the treatment, he raised his head. His blue eyes, deeper than usual and like they contained the ocean, gazed at me.
I stared back at him intently.
I didn’t feel the ticklish or strange sensation like before.
Then, Jerome slowly stood up from his position.
“The treatment is finished. It would be best not to use your foot for a while.”
Then, as usual, he turned toward the tent exit.
“Please rest comfortably.”
I quietly watched Jerome’s retreating figure as he left the healer’s tent.
The back of Jerome’s head, which usually felt resentful, seemed strangely unfamiliar today.
Behind his calm gait and the broad back silently walking away, some inexplicable warmth remained.
My gaze lingering on his back didn’t seem to be just from gratitude alone.
With my injured ankle, it was difficult to walk around the campsite. But staying inside was stuffy, so I got up and came outside the tent.
In front of Jerome’s tent, he and the soldiers were gathered around a table. They were looking at a map on the table with serious expressions.
Are they having a meeting?
I’m bored, so maybe I’ll watch. Since they’re meeting outdoors, it seemed like it wouldn’t matter much if I listened in.
I approached close enough to hear their conversation. Then I settled in an appropriate spot.
Among Jerome’s party were healers, mages, soldiers, and other personnel essential for travel.
What kind of important person are they looking for to bring along such high-level personnel?
It doesn’t seem like they’re just looking for a simple missing person.
Since I couldn’t join the meeting, I quietly listened to their conversation.
“We’ve searched this area, but couldn’t find any suspicious places.”
Jerome responded to the soldier’s report.
“It wouldn’t be a place that’s easy to find.”
Is the person they’re looking for a fugitive?
It was definitely someone hidden somewhere.
Jerome continued.
“We can’t rule out the possibility that it’s hidden or has illusion magic cast on it. Pay special attention when searching places like caves or ruins.”
Caves?
Illusion magic?
It’s too similar to the cave I discovered yesterday. More precisely, to the monster spawning ground the Imperial investigation team was looking for.
I carefully raised my hand.
“Excuse me, I know a place similar to what you described.”
“?”
Jerome turned his head toward me.
“Actually, I went to a hidden cave with Lord Blair. There was illusion magic at the entrance…”
“Could you give us a detailed explanation?”
Before I knew it, Jerome had stepped close in front of me.
He’s too close.
Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat and stepped back a few paces.
“It was a place hidden behind a waterfall. There were monsters inside.
“Could you tell us the location?”
His pupils were slightly larger than usual. There was a strange tremor in his low voice.
“Of course. But I think rejoining the Imperial Knights should come first. There were wyverns, brocksh, and brockshil inside, and I think there will be many other dangerous monsters too. Wouldn’t it be safer to have as many people as possible for the subjugation?”
“Understood. Then let’s first rejoin the Imperial Knights…”
Just then, a familiar voice was heard from afar.
“Lady!”
It was Lowell and the Imperial Knights.
Lowell approached with quick steps and embraced me tightly.
As I was held in his arms, Lowell’s characteristic soft and subtle body scent wafted over.
How does such strength come from such a delicate frame? He held me tightly with both arms and said.
“Where on earth have you been? I searched for so long, do you know how worried I was?”
“M-Master?”
Flustered by the sudden embrace, I flailed my arms, not knowing where to put my hands.
Only then did Lowell release me from his embrace and examine my body, asking.
“You injured your ankle. Are you okay?”
“I just twisted it briefly. The Duke treated it too. But how did you find this place?”
“I met Lord Blair. He told me Lady’s location.”
So he met Theodor.
I was relieved thinking that he had safely rejoined the Knight Order party too. He probably received proper treatment from the holy knights as well.
Then, Lowell approached Jerome.
“I heard you rescued Miss Aisha and even treated her. Thank you.”
“I only did what needed to be done.”
Jerome nodded lightly at Lowell’s greeting.
“By the way, what brings Duke Winston to the south?”
“The movement patterns of northern monsters seemed unusual, so I came to investigate.”
Jerome looked at me and continued.
“Speaking of which, Miss Amerbeer discovered something.”
“Lady did?”
The attention of everyone gathered there focused on me.
I felt slightly burdened by the sudden concentration of gazes, but I opened my mouth, drawing on my experience from company presentations.
“When I got separated, I discovered a hidden cave behind the waterfall. I encountered a Wyvern and Brocksh inside, but as you can see, I made it out safely.”
Lowell asked in a surprised voice.
“You met a Wyvern?”
“Yes. I was safe thanks to Theodor Blair defeating it.”
“The Temple can be useful sometimes.”
Lowell continued with a serious expression.
“We should investigate that cave. Do you remember where it is?”
“It’s a bit hazy…”
I trailed off. Since it was a cave I had discovered by chance while lost, I couldn’t remember where it was located. On top of that, I didn’t even know where we currently were, so I had no confidence in finding where the cave was.
Then, Jerome spoke.
“Would it work if we go to where we first found Miss Amerbeer?”
“Ah, yes!”
“Then we can work backwards from there to find it.”
Jerome Winston, well done.
How very clever of you.
He looked at Lowell and continued.
“May I join the investigation?”
“Good. Since our purposes are similar, a skilled person like the Duke is always welcome.”
How smoothly he’s joining in.
That’s when a question arose.
Didn’t Jerome say he came looking for someone?
The reason he told me is different from the explanation he gave Lowell?
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————