Enthus 3

I asked Alex what he planned to do while the ship was being repaired.

"I've taken on a separate assignment at the guild until the ship is ready, so I'll be focusing on that. As a result, I'll be leaving here for a while. I've been asked to transport and guard the wood meant for the ship."

"Understood. You won't be able to return to the empire for a while, right? I'll be handling William's requests for the time being as well."

"...This is merely my personal opinion, so please consider it just as a suggestion. Try not to get too deeply involved with the noble families of the kingdom. Noble houses with such a long history can be quite troublesome. There are rumors they're looking for an excuse, as signs of war are beginning to appear. Be cautious."

"I understand. I'll set a limit on the requests for treatment and pull back accordingly. I also want to investigate the legend of the hero in the capital city."

The date changed, and Alex set out on his mission. I also had something I wanted to ask again, so I headed toward the noble's mansion.

I circled around to the back of the mansion. I’d arranged for the gate guard to let me pass by face recognition during a specific time window. I arrived right on time and climbed up to the tower where Miss Lina resided.

As expected, climbing this tower was quite strenuous—feeling almost like being imprisoned at the top. No, actually, that might be exactly what’s happening.

I finally reached the room.

"Rina, it's Taro. I have something I'd like to discuss with you, so I've come again today."

"......Please, come in."

? There seemed to be a slight tension in her voice. Something must have happened.

I stepped inside.

"What's wrong?!"

"My legs hurt, but I'm almost done. Please wait just a little longer."

I didn't know if I was allowed to use a healing gem, so I could only watch. After a while, the pain seemed to subside, and her expression softened.

"Since when has this pain started? When did you begin feeling like this?"

"...Please don't tell my brother. It started a while after I first fell ill. At first, when the magic stone appeared on my body, I felt nothing. But as the stone grew larger, my entire body began to hurt."

"I see..."

The likely cause is the activation of the magic stone within my body. But how exactly is the stone becoming activated? How does a magic stone even get inside the body in the first place? And most importantly, how can I remove the stone attached to my body? I want to solve at least one of these problems.

Given yesterday's incident with the magic stone extraction, I feel hesitant about observing it directly. So, I'll conduct an interview-based investigation.

There might be things I'm unaware of myself. I'll ask the maid who takes care of me to help out.

"How do you spend your day?"

Is it mine? In the morning, I pray right after waking up. After finishing breakfast, I usually read books. After lunch, I pray again, and in the afternoon, I often watch the knights training in the garden. In the evening, after dinner, I read or draw pictures to end the day.

Hmm...

Where in this routine could the activation of the magical stones be coming from? Could it be something in my meals? But if that were the case, it'd be strange that others aren't showing similar symptoms.

Among researchers in Akau Village, some even claim that magical stones are abundant in nature, making it impossible to avoid them entering the body.

Perhaps it really is impossible to determine without direct observation?

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. Hastily reverting my disguise and using the borrowed voice-altering magic stone, Anne, the maid, entered.

Upon seeing my appearance, Anne asked about Linna's condition. The primary cause—magic stones in the blood—had been identified. However, when told that no related factors concerning the stones could be found,

"I'm astonished. Even the renowned physicians of the capital couldn't solve this mystery, yet you've identified the cause in just one day."

"It's because of past experience. If possible, I'd like to understand the factors contributing to the condition through everyday life. I'd like to extend my stay and conduct further observation."

"That... is not permitted. Even if there's a chance of treatment, your presence in the manor poses a danger. It could affect the future of Master William and Lady Linna."

Anne, please let me follow his lead this time. William has brought something truly important. I have a feeling he'll eventually resolve this issue. Besides, I don't think I'll be around much longer. William might even fall ill. So I want us to uncover the truth about the illness now, just in case it happens.

He said that, looking outside the window with a sorrowful expression.

"There's no need for that. Miss Lina will be saved too....I grant permission for Lord Taro to stay. Please, save Miss Lina no matter what."

With tears streaming down her face, Anne rushed out of the room.

"I've made her cry again. Lately, it seems I only bring tears to those I care about."

"Then this time will be the last. I will definitely uncover the cause of your illness. So please, don't give up on living—for William's sake."

From that day on, I extended my stay and increased the frequency of my visits. I even decided to infiltrate by living in as a maid, carefully picking out elements related to the magic stone from daily life.

Though it was due to illness, my private life would be exposed. Despite this, she remained remarkably cooperative, and I wondered what inner changes she had undergone.

After leaving the lord's manor, I spent my time researching something at the lodging facility I had rented from the guild—a voice-modulating stone-based echo examination device.