Chapter 74: Townsperson A Seeks Help from a Pervert

As I rested in my room, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the view from my window faded into a murky twilight.

Melissa and Jerome had already slipped away back to the Valley of the Flying Dragons. My Vytol Custom sat solitary in the middle of the sprawling garden. I realized I’d missed my chance to thank them.

I was staring blankly at the garden when a maid came to fetch me. It seemed I was expected to join the Duke’s family for dinner.

I went, of course, but I found someone there I hadn't expected in my wildest dreams. I was so stunned I thought my eyes might actually bulge out of my skull.

"Mother?! Why are you here?"

"Are you surprised? Well, seeing that look on your face makes the trip worthwhile."

"The Duke..."

I shot the Duke a look of mild reproach—you could have given me a heads-up—but he just looked back at me with a face full of smug satisfaction.

"Allen, I'm so glad you're safe," my mother said. "When I heard you were injured, I thought my heart was going to stop."

"Mother..."

We shared a brief, tight embrace.

"Now, Allen. Take your seat," the Duke commanded.

"Yes, sir."

"Allen, I brought your mother with me when I withdrew from the Royal Capital. You and Katerina are people under my protection. Once I have given my word to protect someone, I see it through. This is only natural."

The Duke said it as if it were a trivial matter.

Despite the verbal abuse I’d hurled at him earlier, I had to be grateful. He had still given me advice, and he’d kept his promise. To be honest, I had been racking my brain trying to figure out how to smuggle my mother out of the Royal Capital.

"Furthermore, the reason we are dining together tonight is because Katerina is joining the family as well."

"Eh?"

Upon hearing that, my mother began looking around the room restlessly.

"My daughter has fallen ill," the Duke continued. "She has yet to regain consciousness. However, House Ramslett has officially recognized the bond between her and Allen."

"Allen! Oh, you did it. You worked so hard. Congratulations."

My mother hugged me again, more tightly this time, and stroked my hair. I was already a full head taller than her, so I had to stoop to let her do as she pleased. It was more than a little embarrassing to have this happen in front of an audience.

The conversation turned back to Ana’s condition. As the details were explained, a shadow of grief crossed my mother’s face.

"By the way," I said, "regarding Loringas the Unselfish Great Sage... I actually have a lead. Is there any way we can move Ana tomorrow?"

"No. The doctor has ordered absolute rest. Besides, where would you even take her?"

"To a place deep within the Forest of Bewilderment, near where Loringas was last seen."

The Duke furrowed his brow. "You aren't suggesting you’re going to see the Elves of rumor, are you?"

"Exactly. Both Ana and I are acquainted with the Elves of that village. That hairpin Ana always wears is a special item called the Fairy Hairpin, a gift from the Elf Queen herself."

"...I see. That hairpin. The maids found it creepy because it would return to Ana's hair on its own even after being removed. So that was the reason."

"Yes. In that village, there is a Light Spirit who was born for the first time in eight hundred years. That Spirit might be able to do something."

"Then, can I ask you to go as my messenger? I am still too worried to move Ana in her current state. If this Spirit could be persuaded to travel here, that would be ideal. I guarantee I will not harm them, and I will ensure the safety of any escort they bring."

"Understood."

And so, it was decided. I was going to see that pervert.

The following morning, I launched the Vytol Custom from the courtyard. Since a non-stop flight from the south of the Kingdom to the north would be grueling, I touched down at Luluden airport for a brief rest before pushing on toward the Elven Village.

The sun was beginning to dip when I finally landed at the village’s airstrip.

"Huh? Allen? It’s rare to see you this time of year," a local called out. "Wait, where’s your wife?"

"A lot has happened. I’m here to see the Queen."

"I see. Well, make yourself at home."

"Yeah, thanks."

There’s a saying that the autumn sun sets like a bucket dropping down a well. One moment it was bright, and the next, everything had turned to dusk.

"My Queen, it has been a long time."

"Lord Allen, welcome. To what do we owe this visit?"

"I have come with a request for Lord Roh, the Light Spirit."

"Oh, for Lord Roh? Milly, come here, dear!"

"Coming!"

Milly came trotting over. Beside her, of course, that pervert was hovering, stuck to her like glue.

"Ah! Allen! Carry me!"

"There, there."

I scooped Milly up. She weighed exactly the same as she had that day back in the summer. It was clear she hadn't grown at all.

"Master Allen, I had a feeling you'd be showing up soon-o," the pervert whispered into my ear.

"What do you mean, you 'had a feeling'?"

"It felt like that girl was going through a hellish time-o! I was shocked by how fast the power of my Blessing was being drained! I had to expend quite a bit of my own strength to keep up, so you’d better explain yourself-o."

I gave the pervert a full rundown of the situation.

"So that massive surge from three days ago was the fault of a Magic Sword-o? Even I didn't see that coming-o!"

Apparently, the only reason Ana hadn't been consumed by the Magic Sword was because this pervert had been funneling power to her through the Fairy Hairpin.

I bowed my head to him.

"Thank you for protecting Ana. And... I have a request. No, I’m begging you. Please, heal her."

I lowered my voice so only the pervert could hear me.

"A doctor told me... that if it were you, back before you were reborn, you could save her."

The pervert looked troubled and whispered back into my ear.

"I can't just fix everything-o. Besides, we're too far away for me to even know if I can heal her-o. You have to bring the girl here-o."

"The problem is, the doctor said she needs absolute rest."

"Ah... that is a problem-o. In that case, you’ll have to take me and Milly with you-o."

Since the pervert had brought it up himself, I hesitantly turned to the Queen to ask for permission.

"Um... Lord Roh says he wants me to take Milly along as well..."

"I understand," the Queen replied. "Lord Roh has spoken. Lord Allen, please look after Milly."

I’d braced myself for a rejection, but the permission came surprisingly easily.

And just like that, the pervert and Milly’s business trip was finalized. Still, I couldn't help but wonder—is it really okay to take a child this young out of the village?