Chapter 370 – Night of Purification

Ingesting food and drinks was not a problem, since the mask had an opening for the mouth. Tea was poured into the cup sitting in front of Lavia. She had no idea where they got such high-class tea leaves.

「I hope it’s to your liking.」Selyse said with a smile. A faint, refreshing scent rose from the cup.

「It’s tea leaves from Poly Elka, right? I like them.」

「I’m glad to hear that. They’ve been so popular lately that it’s hard to get your hands on them.」

「It’s easier to procure from satellite towns and the provinces than the royal capital.」

「Really?! That’s great info.」Selyse nodded to herself.

「Why are you taking it easy?!」Selica cut in.「A friend of that troublemaker is here!」

It was easy to tell how others viewed Silver Face from the word “troublemaker”.

Sarah found Lavia even with her Stealth on. She had five points in Instinct, and the battles in this continent improved her detection skills. Sarah herself went out to buy hotdogs. The only ones in the room were Lavia, Selica, Selyse, and Sophie.

「It’s like I can barely see you. You’re a friend of Silver Face’s right?」

「I am. I’m Star Face. And I wasn’t eavesdropping.」

「Oh. Sorry you had to hear that.」

「But it’s true that I have business with you.」Lavia took a sip of her tea. She thought it was good—it had a slight bitterness and a soft sweetness.

「Really? What kind of business?」

「There’s a spell I’d like Sophie to use.」

Sophie, who had been silent since the hot dog fiasco, looked at Lavia. She had actually been watching the conversation with a smile on her face, but the eyes she had on Lavia were sharp as a knife.

「My magic?」she asked.

「Yes. We believe you can use Purification.」

「I can, but what about it? Are you planning to perform a ritual here?」

Sophie looked surprised. She expected Healing magic, not Purification, a spell so rare that it was barely even used.

「My friend Flower Face is being ravaged by evil miasma. I wish to heal her using Purification.」

She didn’t mention Hikaru because she didn’t want it to be known that Silver Face was out of commission. If Paula recovered, she could heal Hikaru.

「May I ask what happened exactly?」

「It’s nothing important, really. We were exterminating monsters when we found ourselves surrounded by thick miasma. Flower Face inhaled some.」

「Hmm… We didn’t see any monsters that could produce miasma.」

「Not around here. Much farther.」

「So you ventured far away from here.」

「Yes. We had a secret mission.」

「………」

Of course, there was no such thing as a secret mission. Lavia just didn’t want to go through all the trouble explaining. She thought the Four East would buy it since they knew that Silver Face and King Doriachi were on friendly terms.

「I’m not asking you to do it for free.」

「It’s fine. I don’t charge for the use of my Healing magic. But I’m not sure if Purification can heal her.」

「If it doesn’t work, I’ll find another way.」

「So Silver Face is looking for one right now?」

「Something like that. Please help us.」Lavia bowed.

「I understand. I will save any life I can.」Sophie said.

「Are you sure?」Selyse whispered.

「Yes. I doubt there’s any other Mage in this city who can use Purification. I’m also curious about this miasma.」

「Me too!」Selica was also interested, for some reason.

Selyse, Sophie, and Selica arrived at Hikaru’s residence around sunset. It would be better to treat Paula as soon as possible so they didn’t wait for Sarah to return.

Meanwhile…

「Where’s everyone?! I got five hotdogs!」

「Huh… I didn’t know there’s a house here.」Selyse was surprised to find a spacious residence in a city as small as Dream Maker.

「Where’s the patient?」Sophie only had healing in mind.

Selica, however, stood unusually silent and still. She always said whatever was on her mind. No one knew she was quiet because of the Japanese-style house.

「This way.」

Lavia already talked to Galixon and asked him to bring Paula to the front porch. Paula was sitting weakly when she noticed Lavia approaching.

「S-Sorry for making you go through so much trouble.」Paula said.

「Nonsense. We have to help each other out.」

「But…」

「Hold on to me.」

「Okay.」

Paula was unsteady, so Lavia sat beside her and helped her up, letting the Healer lean on her.

「Hmm… It looks like a normal sickness to the untrained yes. Can you heal her? Sophie?」

Sophie’s eyes were wide open. She didn’t even hear Selyse.

「I can’t believe this. She’s actually affected by evil miasma… In that case, I think Purification will work. So it’s a spell for cases like this! To literally exorcise evil.」

「You can tell?」

「Yes. I feel a sinister aura. There’s one more inside, isn’t there?」

Hikaru. Lavia was silent, but Sophie urged her.

「Please bring them here immediately. It’s definitely better if we treat them together. Quickly.」

「Okay.」

Lavia nodded to Galixon, and the man headed inside.

Lavia thought they could simply use Paula’s magic to heal Hikaru after she recovered, but it didn’t seem like Sophie would hold back in using hers at this point. If there was something that only Sophie could understand, they would be in trouble later on.

「I see. You got hit with the miasma too.」Selyse said as she watched Galixon support Silver Face.

「Yeah.」the masked boy said.「Just a little mistake.」

Selyse seemed to ponder about something, but didn’t say any more.

「Please sit down quickly. Stay as close as possible.」

「O-Okay…」

「Kya!」Paula blushed as Hikaru sat down close to her that their arms touched.

「I know I reek of sweat. I hope you don’t mind.」

「I-It’s fine! You smell wonderful!」

「I’m not sure what to say about that…」Hikaru gave a strained laugh.

「Let’s begin.」Sophie immediately focused her mind.「O’ God who art in heaven, in thy name I ask for a miracle—」

Since the spell consumed considerable amount of mana, Sophie wanted to heal them both at once. Paula’s guards gathered around, watching over their goddess with concern.

「Purification.」

Light enveloped Hikaru and Paula. A light that drove off evil and the darkness of the night.

「Phew. It’s done.」Sophie said.

「I don’t feel weak anymore.」Hikaru said.

「Same here! Amazing!」Paula added.

Color had returned to their faces.

「Good…」

「Sophie!」Selyse caught her friend as she wobbled.「I didn’t know it consumed so much mana…」

「It’s usually only used for traditional rituals. A clergyman assigned to perform it is said to have drawn the short end of the stick.」

「Thanks a lot.」Silver Face said.「I don’t know how to repay you.」

「It’s quite all right.」Sophie replied.「I don’t accept payment for my healing.」

「But—」

「You should listen to him, Sophie.」Selyse cut in.「I know. How about answering some questions as payment?」

「Yeah! Let’s get some intel for payment!」Selica agreed.

Hikaru let out a sigh. As people say, nothing’s more expensive than free. He didn’t know if Selyse and Selica wanted to ask the same question. It was clear, though, that they were going to ask about matters he didn’t want to divulge.

「All right. I’ll tell you as much as I can.」Hikaru nodded.

Lavia and Paula gave him surprised looks. Am I really that stingy and secretive? he wondered. He gave it some thought. Actually, I guess I’m kinda secretive.

「Selyse. You know we’ve been up north, right?」

「Straight to the point. I like that. I wanted to ask if you inhaled the miasma from somewhere north of here.」

「I suppose I don’t mind telling you that.」I just have to be vague about some things, he thought.「You want to know what happened too, right, Galixon?」

「Absolutely, Boss. Surprised you know.」

「Fine. I’ll let you all know what happened.」Hikaru said.

The men cheered.

「It’s late already. Let’s talk over dinner.」

「Boss, how about we set up tables here outside?」

「Was that your plan all along? You look excited.」

As warriors, they were eager to find out what kind of adventures Hikaru’s party had. Hikaru believed they had a right to know after assigning them a dangerous task.

Hikaru took out a few gold coins.「Someone go buy booze.」

「All right! That’s what I’m talking about, Boss!」

Three quick members of the guards took the coins and left.

「I feel bad about leaving Sarah behind, so I’ll go back for her.」Selyse said.「I’d like a place for Sophie to rest.」

「Of course. I’ll get a chair.」Hikaru said.

「Thank you.」Selyse said and left.

As he went to grab a chair for Sophie, Hikaru felt eyes on him.

「Hello!」Selica whispered as she got close.「This looks like a Japanese-style residence. Who built it?」

Oh, so that’s what she wanted to ask about, Hikaru thought.「Dream Maker manages this garden mansion. You should ask them instead.」

Selica went quiet and didn’t ask any further questions.

That night, to celebrate Hikaru and Paula’s recovery, the bodyguards stayed up late, enjoying a meal with the Four Stars of the East.

I guess Silver Face’s time in Dream Maker is ending soon, Hikaru thought as he gazed at the stars dotting the night sky. We should go back north soon. Drake’s parting gift should be waiting there for us.

He didn’t notice Selica’s eyes on him.

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