The door swung open, and Sally Mileshann peeked her head out. She looked between Rock and Linus.
"Which one of you is Linus, Sera's husband?" she asked, her voice laced with irritation.
"I'm Linus," he answered.
Sally marched straight up to him and delivered a sharp, stinging slap across his cheek.
"Ow! What was that for?!" Linus cried out.
He started to complain further, but Sally’s piercing glare silenced him instantly.
"You moron! It's because you weren't doing your job that your wife had to suffer like that!"
She continued to berate him, and Linus, utterly bewildered, shrank back as she loomed over him.
"Listen here, a pregnant woman must never let her belly get cold! And yet, what do I hear? You let her go into the river to gather magi-stone sand? Of course the baby ended up in a breech position!"
Apparently, most fetuses start in a breech position with their heads up. Once the pregnancy passes the seven-month mark—roughly thirty weeks—the weight of the head usually causes the baby to rotate naturally until it's head-down. However, if the mother's lower abdomen becomes cold, the fetus finds it uncomfortable and will rotate back into a head-up position.
It seemed that because Sera had continued to wade into the Erme River to collect magi-stone sand even after seven months, the baby had turned breech.
"I-I'm so sorry..." Linus bowed his head so low he was practically double over in apology.
Sally gave his head a final, light smack. "If you're going to apologize, you've got the wrong person. Go apologize to your wife."
"Ah!...Then, Sera is—"
"Yes, she's fine. The baby should be finishing his first bath about now. You can go inside. Go look after your wife and see your son."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" Linus dashed into the house like a startled rabbit.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Phew, that was tense."
Sally was relaxing at Village Chief Giebeck’s house. She had been invited to stay the night there rather than at Nidou Castle, as she wanted to be close to Linus’s home in case of an emergency.
"No, Miss Sally, you truly saved us," the Village Chief said, bowing his head in gratitude.
"No, I might be the one who was saved."
"Pardon?"
"Actually..."
Sally gave him a brief summary of the events in Telurus.
"I see... Well, this village has Jin, so we aren't easily surprised anymore."
Giebeck didn't even flinch at the story of her refining blood to create medicine. Sally felt a wave of relief, but she was also a bit exasperated.
"Um... is this Jin-kun really that extraordinary?"
"He is. Over there... well, it’s already dark out, but he built Nidou Castle in a single night, not even a few days. And before we knew it, he'd turned Kaina Village into his leased territory."
Building it in a single night was a slight exaggeration, but in Giebeck’s mind, that was exactly how it happened.
"I-I see... Wait, leased territory?"
"That’s right. Apparently, the King himself gave him permission."
"Uh... which country are we in again?"
"The Klein Kingdom."
"Huh?...Ah, now that you mention it, he did say something about that..."
Sally recalled him mentioning that he would guide her to the Klein Kingdom using an artifact.
"I missed my chance to ask for details... Oh well, I'll ask him tomorrow."
That night, filled with a sense of fulfillment she hadn't felt in years, Sally fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next morning, Sally took up an offer to visit the hot spring. Accompanying her was the chief’s niece, Barbara.
Sally was forty-eight, and Barbara was seventeen. They were more than a generation apart, but since Barbara had lost her mother long ago, she found herself drawn to Sally, who carried a certain motherly air.
"Ho, this is wonderful. Everyone in the village can use this?"
"Yes, Jin-san built it for us. We've used it ever since."
"Jin-kun, huh... I wonder who he really is?"
"He’s a magi craftman from a country called Japan. I don't know much more than that."
"I see. Well, changing the subject... Barbara, was it? You seem like you have something on your mind."
"Eh? H-How did you know? I mean, what makes you think that?"
Sally chuckled at the sight of the flustered girl.
"You basically just told me yourself. I'm a healer; I can tell when someone is carrying a burden in their heart....Well, that was half a joke. Giebeck-san actually told me."
"From my uncle...?"
"Yes. He said you were alternating between acting restless and looking depressed."
He's watching me more than I thought, Barbara realized. She felt a small pang of gratitude toward her uncle, but also a reminder to be more careful.
"No... it's nothing."
"Hehe. Trouble with a boyfriend, perhaps?"
"W-Why do you know that?!"
"Haha. When a girl your age is worried about something, nine times out of ten, it’s a matter of the heart."
"..." Barbara turned beet-red in the hot water.
"Well, it’s probably hard to talk to someone you just met yesterday, so I won't pry. But just keep in mind that there are people who care about you."
"...Yes."
Just as the atmosphere was turning a bit somber, a pair of bright voices arrived.
"Ah, Barbara-oneechan! And Doctor!"
"Wait, this auntie is the doctor?...Doctor, thank you for yesterday!"
It was Hanna and Patty.
"Yesterday?" Sally asked.
"Doctor, Patty is Linus and Sera’s daughter," Barbara explained. "She was staying at another house yesterday. She probably just heard the whole story this morning."
Indeed, Patty had been left in Rock’s care while her mother was in labor. It wasn't until this morning that she was told what had happened.
Patty hadn't known Sally’s face, but after being told by Hanna, she wanted to thank the woman who had saved her mother.
"I see. So you're Sera’s daughter....You're very welcome. It's my job, after all."
Sally’s expression was clear and bright. She truly seemed to no longer be bothered by the events in Telurus.
As she watched Hanna and Patty frolicking in the water, a motherly smile played on her lips.
"I was the one who was saved, after all..."
The murmur was too quiet for anyone else to hear.
＊ ＊ ＊
"I see. So that's the situation with Barbara."
Back in his room at Nidou Castle, Jin was receiving a long-overdue report on Kaina Village from Laojun and Butler.
"Actually, the Raglann Company, where Erik-san works, is planning to open a branch in Kaina Village."
"Oh, really? In that case, it would be perfect if Erik could be the branch manager."
"Exactly. We had Quinta subtly influence the company president."
"Haha. That'll be great for Barbara, and I'd be happy to have Erik in the village."
Jin decided that if Erik was going to open a shop, he would provide the building, and he sent those instructions to Laojun.
"Even when I'm not around, consult with the Village Chief and move forward with the plans. I'm counting on you too, Butler."
"Understood, Master."
"Now, the next thing is Sally-sensei..."
Jin sincerely hoped she would consider opening a medical practice in the village.
Just then, word arrived that Sally herself had come to visit Nidou Castle.
Accompanied by Reiko and Butler, Jin headed down to the first floor.
"Good morning, Jin-kun."
"Good morning."
"I have quite a few things I'd like to ask you. Do you have a moment?"
Since Jin wanted to talk to her as well, the timing was perfect.
"Of course. Doctor, have you had breakfast yet? If not, why don't we eat together?"