CHAPTER 354: THE TSUNDERE VETERAN

No, it wasn’t a mistake. Even if it was, it was for the good.

Perhaps there was a chance that old man Heron would get recruited into the princess’s faction later. Or he would join one of her siblings’ factions. Whatever the case, I didn’t regret my choice one bit.

But leaving Vance and Aurelia or the town alone would certainly be a big mistake. I had a nagging feeling that something important or dangerous was going to happen in this place.

It seems like I needed to have another talk with teacher Avir and the baron after we get back. About the need for support, one ’apprentice healer’ at minimum. They will approve of that at least... right?

Well, even if they don’t, I would have to think of another solution. Maybe I’ll return to my ’traveler’ job and find solace here, who knows...

"...Done," I said, tying off the final bandage. "But he needs proper rest now. And frankly, so do I."

"Thank you, mister!"

"Thank you!"

A chorus of grateful thanks came from Hans’s family. I gave them an impassive nod and moved back to the stool in the corner, needing to sit before my legs gave out. Well, I needed to keep the act after all. For both Heron and the person watching everything from the shadows.

"Enough chatter," Heron grumbled, cutting their gratitude short. "You’re disturbing the peace. Out. All of you. Let the man breathe." He shooed them away with a wave of his spoon, and the infirmary fell into a relative quiet once more.

The next two hours passed in a blur of mundane but necessary tasks.

I spent the time helping Heron with the other patients: changing dressings, preparing simple poultices, tending to corrupted, resetting a dislocated shoulder, and so on.

It was grunt work, but it needed doing. Surprisingly, the old man was a quiet but effective partner.

He didn’t offer praise, but he didn’t hesitate to correct my technique with a sharp grunt or a demonstration of a more efficient knot. His advice was useful, born of decades of experience in worse conditions than this.

I listened, learned, and applied the lessons without question. When I finally set a bone perfectly on the first try, following his terse instructions to the letter, I simply said, "That was actually good. Thank you."

He just grunted in response, but I saw a flicker of approval in his eyes. ’A tsundere too, huh.’

As the last patient was settled, I stretched, my body aching for real this time. It really wasn’t easy to be a healer, especially as active as myself, haha.

"Ah, right. I need to go now, sir. My companion must be waiting for me."

Heron was wiping down a table, his back to me. He let out a low, dry chuckle. "Take care, though... I have a feeling you’ll be back."

’He’s really a veteran, huh.’

"Well," I paused at the door, a faint smile touching my lips. "I hope that feeling is true."

Stepping out of the infirmary, I took a deep breath of the cold, sharp air. It helped clear the lingering scents of blood and sickness from my lungs. My senses, still on high alert, scanned the surroundings out of habit. The town felt tense, like a coiled spring.

{Something’s wrong here, friend.} Seren spoke as he kept reading people’s recent memories after ’bumping’ through them.

{Yes, I noticed it too.}

But we would need more time to investigate.

So I quickly made my way through the muddy streets toward the town elder’s residence. As I approached, I saw Vice Captain Elria standing guard outside. She spotted me immediately.

"My apologies for the delay, Vice-Captain," I said as I reached her.

She shook her head, her expression neutral. "No apology needed. I assumed there was a reason." Her eyes flickered toward the direction I came from. "The need was greater there?"

"It was," I confirmed, falling into step beside her as we began walking back toward the town entrance where the carriage would be waiting. "The situation is more severe than we anticipated. The infirmary is overflowing, and the injuries... they’re not just from accidents or common beasts. There were multiple cases of corrupted wounds. The kind that come from things touched by the Hollowlands."

I glanced at her. "What about your side? How did it go?"

Elria’s expression tightened slightly.

"The town elder’s report was similar. He confirmed the attacks are growing more frequent and dangerous." She glanced around the quiet, shabby street before continuing in a lower voice. "The meeting itself was... tense. The elder had received a vague warning from the Crown about ’assistance’, but he was shocked to find the ’support’ was a princess. When I explained everything, including the nature of the trial, he looked utterly overwhelmed. His town, already struggling to survive, has suddenly become a stage for a succession contest."

I nodded in sympathy. "It must have felt like more trouble than help. A royal presence here is a double-edged sword. It brings scrutiny and danger, not just salvation."

"Precisely," Elria agreed. "He probably fears failing the crown more than the monsters now. Although Her Highness did well to present herself as a capable support first, to ease that immediate pressure, he just kept agreeing with whatever she said. They are reviewing the town’s records now, trying to understand the root of the problems before acting."

"That’s the prudent approach," I said. "But the town may not have the time for a lengthy analysis."

And it seems like the King didn’t favor her that much. Sure, I didn’t deny their capabilities, but I doubted whether they would be able to solve the crisis alone...

"The elder shares your opinion as well." Elria gave a slow, grim nod. "After the formal meeting, he pulled me aside. He begged for help from the barony—privately. He said they desperately need a competent healer, food supplies, and even a small squad of soldiers to reinforce their militia." She let out a quiet sigh. "But he’s terrified that asking for too much will disqualify the princess or bring the crown’s wrath down on him. So he framed it as a humble request, just a little aid to ’supplement’ their efforts... I honestly pity him a lot."

’I see...’

The poor man was stuck between a rock and a hard place. His people were dying, but the rules of the game forbade him from accepting the help he truly needed.

"He’s walking a very fine line indeed," I said, trailing off at the end. "And he’s right to be afraid..."

Because the observers watching this trial wouldn’t look kindly on outside intervention that solves the problem for the princess.

We reached the carriage, the conversation hanging heavily between us. The full scope of the challenge was now clear.

Aurelia and Vance weren’t just here to prove their worth; they were here to perform a miracle with their hands tied behind their backs, while the town elder prayed for a loophole that wouldn’t get them all in trouble.

But what they didn’t know was, there was an anomaly who could help them all without ’breaking’ the rules.

After all, rules usually don’t apply to anomalies.