Imperial VII-3

"Well then, what should we do now? How about heading into town to do some shopping?"

A voice calls from behind.

Lina and Noel stood side by side behind me.

"You two are coming along? Wait, Noel too?"

"Of course I am! Taro, I'll keep an eye on you to make sure you don't get into trouble."

"I'm not going to do anything bad."

"I'll be fine no matter what happens."

Lina replied, her cheeks flushed, her body swaying slightly.

Noel grits his teeth.

"Rina, if you don't stop messing around, I'm going to get angry. Move over there. And both of you, change your disguises. We can't afford to stand out right now."

Upon hearing my words, the two of them dashed into the house.

In the end, I ended up dragged along on their shopping trip and was utterly exhausted.

By the time a week had passed, Rina and her knights had fully adjusted to their new lives.

For some reason, Noel continues to live with them, and seems to be getting along just fine without causing any issues.

In fact, they might even be getting a bit closer?

Anyway, it seems I worried unnecessarily. There was extra room anyway, and it’s nice to have some lively energy around.

The fully recovered knights are freely training outdoors, maintaining their gear, and going shopping.

Occasionally, they even have mock battles with Noel.

The knights who find movement difficult are spending their time as they please inside the room.

The woman currently receiving treatment right before our eyes is one of them.

She was apparently once the captain of the knight group that protected Lina.

Is the captain position still ongoing?

She has been exchanging frequent conversations with Lina since Lina fell ill with the gemstone sickness, becoming a trusted confidante.

Since she regained her ability to move, she has been even more dedicated to offering support.

However, an incident soon occurred.

When the first group of royal soldiers arrived, it seemed they were searching for Lina's whereabouts.

After the soldiers left, meticulous preparations were made, and with allies gathered, they began their escape.

Along the way, they repelled royal scouts, and after entering the forbidden forest, they drove off the sub-beasts.

While fleeing toward a crumbling cliff, they accidentally approached a sub-beast nest, resulting in a fierce battle.

As a result, her dominant arm was devoured by a sub-beast. What's lost cannot be regained.

She can no longer wield a sword.

Yet she still followed after Lina. Ready to become her wall, prepared to die.

What drives her so deeply... I can't fully understand, but the strength of her resolve is unmistakable.

Looking at the severed limb.

The cut surface is clean, and the wound is already healing.

"Is it painful?"

I can't help with that... I'm sorry... I'm not even a doctor...

No problem at all. I have some knowledge, but let's have a doctor take a look just once.

Yeah, that's right.

He gazes out the window again, his mind clearly elsewhere.

With the wound itself fully healed, there was nothing more I could do.

I'm not even a doctor, so what can I possibly do?

Lina arrives right as my examination ends.

Lina always speaks to each knight individually.

Switch places with Lina.

Entering the usual laboratory, ignoring the lively conversation nearby.

Piles of papers are scattered across the desk.

I've been researching this ever since the man's wife told me to.

An upgrade to the healing crystal.

Maybe I'll call it a regeneration crystal.

I've figured out the direction to move in. Yet I still haven't managed to make it take shape.

The reason is simple. I never actually conducted the experiment.

No, it's more accurate to say I didn't carry it out.

While it's true that using animals other than humans for verification is safer... is it really acceptable to recklessly use them in magical stone experiments? There's no guarantee of success...

I was the one hesitating and indecisive.

As a result, I've only been focusing on researching peripheral technologies.

Still, I'll inevitably have to conduct animal testing someday.

Otherwise, applying this to humans would be nothing but a distant dream.

I’ll have to make peace with that reality somewhere along the way...

As someone who originally studied robots, this work has made me painfully aware of the challenges in medical research.

I understand it in theory, yet here I am again, thinking only about abstract concepts.

Before I realized it, it was already nighttime. I was called to the dining hall by Lina.

"Sorry, I'm always relying on you to prepare everything."

"No, no, I'm the one staying as a guest here—I'm happy to handle something like this."

It seemed to be something handmade by Lina.

"Hey! Get to your seat quickly before it gets cold!"

Noel appeared thoroughly won over.

The meal progressed.

"Lina, it looks like the next preparations will be ready by the day after tomorrow."

"Is that so... I'm asking a rather selfish favor, but I'd appreciate your help."

Lina bowed her head.

"Don't worry about it. I'll bring you back safely!"

Instead of me replying, Noel cheerfully answers.

Seeing that, Lina smiles.

We finished eating, taking a reasonable amount of time, without the atmosphere turning grim.

The next day, as we were preparing for the next expedition, an unexpected person appeared.

It was the commander himself from the Imperial Guard Division.

"Is there something you need?"

We faced him cautiously, startled by his sudden appearance.

Behind me, Alek and Noelle continue to keep a vigilant watch, weapons drawn.

I can't sense anyone from Lina's group. They're clearly hiding deep within the mansion.

"Seems like we're being thoroughly watched. Don't worry—I'll always be the one guarding you, no matter where we go. Now, let me introduce the one who has something to say."

As he spoke, a young girl stepped out from behind the captain. But I was stunned upon seeing her.