Chapter 187

Hello everyone, I am Ares, a doctor at the Imperial Capital Hospital, Bedivior of the Black Round Table, and the current butler and attending physician of the Werner Family.

Something rather unusual happened, so I’d like to share that experience with you all. It was a few days before we were set to depart for the forest. I had gone to the market to buy medical supplies and preserved food for the trip when I was suddenly approached by the daughters of Lord Werner from the future. They insisted on coming along.

Lord Werner had left to attend to some business with Lady Glacia, Lady Airi had gone after them to track their movements, and Lady Camelian Peony pretended not to care but followed Lady Airi to keep an eye on her.

I guess that left me as the only adult around, huh?

“Haha, Lady Aila, Lady Violet, I’m quite busy today with a lot to buy. Unfortunately…”

Then it suddenly occurred to me—what would happen if these two provoked Lady Airi and Lady Camelian Peony? Lady Camelian Peony, though she acts composed, is secretly quite petty, and Lady Airi… well, if it weren’t for Lord Werner, she’d probably have quit on the spot. No doubt, even if they didn’t show it, they’d find fault with everything or outright lose their temper. Not that I care, but… I’d rather avoid the hassle.

“How about I buy something for you on my way back? Would you trust me and wait patiently?”

Still, taking care of two people who needed looking after was no small task either.

“But we really want to go…”

“We won’t be any trouble, we promise!”

[Please take Erika to the market too, Dad. Please. I’ll hold your hand tight and won’t get in the way, I promise…]

Haha, I thought I’d forgotten, but hearing those words brought it all back. I thought those memories were buried in the shadows of time, but these two managed to dig them up splendidly.

“Alright. But you must hold onto my clothes tightly.”

And just like that, I was dragged back into the past. I’ve sworn so many times not to let it happen again, but… really, this is why I don’t like kids. They keep bringing up painful memories.

—

The market was as bustling as expected. Some adventurers seemed to be selling monster remains. Not all of them, but… honestly, I don’t like adventurers. They’re the kind who turn into mercenaries when war breaks out.

“Both of you, hold onto my clothes tightly. There are people around who could turn on us at any moment.”

“Okay…”

Fortunately, Lady Aila was gripping my clothes tightly.

The problem was… only Lady Aila was doing so.

“…Where’s Lady Violet?”

“I don’t know… when I came to my senses, she was gone…”

Instantly, her chronic condition came to mind. She suffers from narcolepsy, so it’s possible she fell asleep and lost her grip on my clothes.

“…Let’s find her quickly.”

[Hey, burn it! The Empire’s offering a silver coin for three heads! Kill everyone—kids, old folks, everyone! Damn, this is more profitable than hunting monsters!]

Adventurers are always ready to turn on you. The kind who’d kidnap a well-dressed girl and demand a ransom without a second thought.

“Excuse me, we’re in a hurry.”

I picked up Lady Aila and began running through the market, searching for Lady Violet. I described her appearance to the market-goers, but no one had seen her. I prayed nothing had happened, but the more anxious I got, the narrower my vision seemed to become.

Then, a familiar face appeared before us.

“Well, if it isn’t Dr. Ares. You seem to be looking for a child—do you need help?”

Ricardo Carven. I don’t know why someone of his status is here, maybe on patrol? Thankfully, he doesn’t remember fighting me, but…

[The knights of the Carven Family returned the villagers’ corpses smeared with the blood of plague victims…]

[Dad… I’m in so much pain… Am I going to die like this…?]

[It’s okay, my princess. Mom and I will make sure you’re healed.]

Personally, I despise you. I know it’s wrong to resent you, but… my head understands, yet my heart refuses to follow.

“No, thank you. I don’t need any help from knights.”

“But…”

“Really, I don’t need it. This is a personal matter.”

I brushed past them and began searching the back alleys for Lady Violet, but… she was nowhere to be found. For a moment, everything went dark. The memory of burying my daughter, who had died of illness, with my own hands resurfaced, sending a chill down my spine.

Then, a familiar voice called out from behind.

“…What’s going on?”

“Lord Damian…”

It was Damian, the son of Lord Werner from the future. Honestly, he’s a bit intimidating, but there’s no one more reliable. I explained the situation.

“…I’m sure she’s fine. But it’s getting cold, so we should find her quickly.”

“How can you say that? This market is crawling with adventurers… You know what they’re like, don’t you…?”

Having experienced firsthand how vile the adventurers of this Empire can be, his words felt especially cruel. They mercilessly burned down my village, violated women, and slaughtered children and the sick without hesitation.

“Do you think that idiot would act up now? If someone with ill intentions approached her, I’d sense it… no, I’d know. So let’s keep looking. I’ll help.”

“I don’t know who the idiot is here.”

“…Have you ever had your guts pulled out with a spear?”

“I can see you take after your father.”

“I’ll search too, so you go look as well. Before I rip out that annoying tongue of yours.”

Reluctantly, I gave in to his threats and began searching the streets with Damian.

“Have you seen a black-haired girl with slightly pointed ears, sleepy eyes, or maybe asleep?”

“Hmm… I’ve been sitting here since this morning, but I don’t recall… You seem in a hurry, so good luck.”

I continued asking around, but Damian took a different approach.

“Hey, have you seen a black-haired quarter-elf kid? She’s wearing oriental-style clothes, has a half-up hairstyle with a flower pin, and might have sleep in her eyes. She also has a small scar on her left pinky and a tiny mole on her right hand. She’s probably walking anxiously, lost.”

“Well… I’m not sure… Maybe if you could spare some coin, it might jog my memory…”

The thug rubbed his fingers together, blatantly asking for money. Damian pulled out a dagger and pressed it to his throat.

“I can carve a pattern into you instead of giving you money. What shape do you want? A star? Moon? Sun? Triangle? A map of the continent? Name it.”

“Sorry… I haven’t seen her…”

“You haven’t seen her, yet you opened your mouth. You trash.”

After punching the thug, Damian moved on to the next one.

Please, let nothing have happened… The passing time only made me more anxious. Lady Aila, still in my arms, wiped my cold sweat with a handkerchief.

“Uncle, calm down. You look really pale…”

[Dad, cheer up… Even if the village is gone, I’m still here… Don’t cry, okay?]

“Haha… You’re right. I’m getting too worked up. It won’t change anything.”

Then Damian approached me.

“Hey, I got some info from those thugs. Apparently, a group of adventurers took a sleeping quarter-elf girl with them.”

“Where did they go…?”

“Toward the slums.”

“Didn’t you say you’d sense if someone with ill intentions approached her?”

“…I’m not sure. Something feels off, so we should go check.”

If something has happened… I might just inflict pain worse than death on those responsible.