The Quack Lady - Chapter 40

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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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Episode 40

 

Rtemeia had an objectively quite pretty appearance.

 

Unlike her pure atmosphere, she had a mysterious charm, and her appearance gave off a feeling like white wildflowers blooming by a lakeside.

 

“Not only evil things represent demons. For instance, another world or…”

 

That’s when it happened. The playfulness disappeared from Hanel’s face as if he was pondering something deeply.

 

Peilon found this side of him puzzling but didn’t pay much attention to it.

 

Sometimes Hanel would make expressions as if he was looking at something very far away.

 

“If there’s divine power, that’s for the Temple to judge. The opposite case is the same.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Hanel soon waved one hand dismissively as if annoyed.

 

“Ah, I don’t know. Anyway, she healed your arm, so what does it matter.”

 

His gaze slowly turned toward the ceiling.

 

The ornate patterns drawn on the ceiling filled Hanel’s pupils.

 

Hanel, who had been staring at it blankly, muttered in a voice so small that no one could hear.

 

“Right… The truly important matter hasn’t even begun yet.”

 

* * *

 

Three weeks had passed since I came to stay at the Count’s Manor.

 

During that time, I visited Demian with Eruten every morning and evening to treat him.

 

This was possible because the Count, who had agreed that Demian needed a bit more treatment, extended Demian’s treatment period indefinitely.

 

Thanks to this, Demian and I, who now had plenty of time, would play chess like this or take walks together.

 

“Ah! Placing it there! I never thought of that!”

 

“I win again.”

 

I didn’t really feel like continuously beating a child.

 

But I can’t go easy on him just because he’s a kid.

 

“But what favor were you going to ask if you won?”

 

At my words, Demian rolled his eyes around.

 

“That… that is…”

 

His fidgeting was exactly like a nine-year-old little boy.

 

That sight was quite adorable.

 

I smiled like an adult comforting a child.

 

“If you tell me now, I might grant it?”

 

“Really?”

 

The child looked up at me with sparkling eyes.

 

His large eyes that seemed about to fall were shining like stars.

 

“Of course. It’s Young Baron’s request…”

 

“Then be friends with me. And drop the formal speech.”

 

“What?”

 

“What?”

 

At his sudden friend request, not only I but even Eruten standing behind me couldn’t hide his surprise.

 

“Why? Didn’t you just say you’d grant it?”

 

Even though he had been approaching without reserve, those were characteristics common to all children.

 

So I hadn’t thought much of it.

 

‘I didn’t know he was concerned about such things.’

 

Above all, since the Young Baron had asked to speak casually first, I couldn’t refuse.

 

After thinking for a moment, I figured it would be fine when we were alone together.

 

“Alright. Then…”

 

“No.”

 

At Eruten’s firm words as he suddenly stuck his head out, I looked to the side.

 

He was looking at Demian with narrowed eyes.

 

When I turned my head, Demian was also looking at him with the same expression.

 

“I wasn’t asking you.”

 

“Just offering my opinion?”

 

These two would growl at each other constantly.

 

‘They say kids need to fight, but…’

 

Eruten would use polite speech several times a day to get on Demian’s nerves.

 

However, he never crossed the line, so situations always ended with Demian making a frustrated face and sulking.

 

Knowing this fact well, I quickly stepped in to mediate.

 

“Anyway, since I said I’d grant the request, I should…”

 

Just as I was starting to appease him under the guise of permission.

 

“Then you should drop formal speech with me too, Young Baron.”

 

“Why should I!”

 

“Mia and I are friends. Don’t you want to become friends with Mia?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Demian seemed not to have thought that far and fumbled his words.

 

Then Eruten poured out words at him like a predator seizing an opportunity.

 

“If you want to become friends with Mia, shouldn’t you also have that kind of comfortable relationship with me to become true friends? Above all, Mia is a child who treats people regardless of whether they’re commoners or nobles.”

 

‘Hmm? Something’s strange?’

 

This was a tactic used by problematic adults I’d seen in my previous life.

 

But where did a fifteen-year-old learn that?

 

“Eruten, that kind of talk is problematic…”

 

“Fine. I’ll be friends with you too.”

 

“What?”

 

“Good.”

 

The two smiled at each other as if they had never bickered.

 

…Kids really are incomprehensible.

 

* * *

 

Early evening when dim night was falling.

 

Demian seemed very happy about being able to speak casually with me, so he went outside and ran around for a while before falling asleep.

 

I pulled the blanket up to the child’s chin, then raised my index finger toward Eruten.

 

When I quietly closed the door and came out, Eruten suddenly stuck his face close.

 

“Did you really want to be friends?”

 

It was an expected question. I carefully let go of the handle and answered.

 

“What’s so difficult about that.”

 

Honestly speaking, it wasn’t difficult. This was probably also a result of my previous life’s memories.

 

However, I was aware that I should be careful.

 

But Eruten seemed to think otherwise. He quickly hardened his expression and asked.

 

“Is it that easy?”

 

“Huh?”

 

The awkwardly settled darkness hid even his expression as he hung his head low.

 

I had no choice but to approach him.

 

“What’s wrong, Eruten. Young Baron is nine years old…”

 

“You said you hated nobles.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Come to think of it, one of the reasons I became close with Eruten easily was that he disliked nobles.

 

I had vaguely disliked them because Mother had avoided nobles.

 

Unlike me, he seemed to have some kind of story.

 

The kind of story he couldn’t tell me either.

 

“That’s not the issue.”

 

“Then is it because he’s special?”

 

His face was slightly flushed as if expressing emotions he had suppressed for a long time.

 

However, I was someone who had become skilled at dealing with children.

 

It was just as I was about to speak to him in a soothing manner.

 

“Give me a definite answer.”

 

At those words, I felt like I had been hit hard on the back of the head with something.

 

‘Don’t tell me he’s sulking at me? Did he really hate that I became close with Demian?’

 

Suddenly, knowledge from my past life came to mind.

 

Children who experience loss in their early years react particularly sensitively to new relationships.

 

‘Right, Eruten lost his parents at a young age.’

 

Children’s clumsy emotions sometimes appear like obsession, sometimes like possessiveness, sometimes like stubbornness.

 

And considering that Eruten, who lost his parents at a young age, thinks of me like a younger sister…

 

‘He might think his sister was stolen from him.’

 

Only then did I understand. I smiled at him as if to reassure him.

 

“Everyone in the world is special, Eruten. I’m one person, and you’re one person too.”

 

When I tapped his shoulder with my index finger, the child rolled his eyes around.

 

“I’m… special to you too?”

 

“Mm… Of course.”

 

When I nodded readily, his lips curved upward pleasantly between his deeply bowed head.

 

I didn’t know what that meant at the time.

 

Really.

 

* * *

 

From somewhere rumors spread, and news of Demian’s recovery quickly spread beyond the Eastern Region.

 

However, when word got out that there would be no celebratory banquet despite this, nobles rushed to gather in front of the Count’s Manor.

 

Thanks to this, the previously empty front of the Count’s Manor bustled with nobles trying to make an impression on the Count.

 

Therefore, Lenoven among them stood out distinctly.

 

“He says he has something to say about Teacher Rtemeia.”

 

The Count nodded toward Lenoven sitting across from him with an indifferent expression.

 

It meant to state his business.

 

“F-first, let me greet you, Count! I am Lenoven, who serves as the director of the treatment facility in the Eastern Region!”

 

“So. What is your reason for seeking me out.”

 

Lenoven cleared his throat briefly, completely overwhelmed by the high noble’s intimidating presence. Then he began to recite the words he had prepared in advance.

 

“As you may know, the child called Rtemeia is from our treatment facility’s maid background.”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t know what words she used to persuade you, Count, but the child’s medical skills are full of problems. She’s a child who hasn’t properly learned medicine, after all.”

 

He then gave examples of quacks who called themselves doctors and compared them to Rtemeia.

 

“It seems that child deceived you into thinking she was a doctor, just as she did to me.”

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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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