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The time I spent working at Leona’s guild.
Those remaining days.
In the end.
I ended up devoting them to my recovery.
“This was partly my fault, too,”
Leona said quietly.
“So don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll pay you in full for the wages you lost while you couldn’t work.”
“No, that’s really—”
I instinctively tried to refuse.
But.
The moment I saw the look on Leona’s face.
My words stopped.
Ever since that incident.
Leona had been blaming herself the whole time.
If I turned her down now.
She’d just end up blaming herself again.
“…I understand.”
“I’ll gratefully accept it.”
When I said that.
Leona gave a slight nod.
“Please do.”
It was a brief reply.
But.
Her voice sounded, in a way, as if she were relieved.
Over the next few days.
I focused entirely on my recovery.
Leona came to see me almost every day.
And.
Whenever she had a free moment, Serena would always come to my hospital room.
“You’re making good progress,”
she said with a smile.
She cast healing magic on me time and time again.
Every time a soft light enveloped my wounds,
I could feel my body growing lighter.
Thanks in part to that,
my injuries healed much faster than the healing mage had predicted.
“The Holy Maiden’s healing magic really is in a league of its own.”
I muttered that without thinking.
Serena smiled, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Hehe, I’m glad I could be of help.”
And so.
By the time the day of my discharge arrived.
My stint working at Leona’s guild had also come to an end.
I left the hospital.
The breeze of the capital, which I hadn’t felt in a long time, felt pleasant.
Then.
A woman was standing in front of the hospital.
A white robe.
Golden hair glistening in the sunlight.
A gentle smile.
“Alt-san.”
Serena smiled.
“I’ve come to pick you up.”
“Pick me up?”
“Yes.”
She nodded happily.
“Starting today, it’s my turn.”
◇
I walked through the capital, guided by Serena.
After a while.
A church that stood out as particularly large even in the capital came into view.
Next to it.
Stands a large building, predominantly white.
“Here we are.”
Serena smiles.
“This is my guild.”
The moment we entered the building.
“Serena-sama!”
“Welcome back!”
Cheerful voices rang out.
Several children ran over happily.
Serena instinctively crouched down.
She gently stroked each child’s head.
“I’m home.”
Just by looking at her smile,
it was clear just how much they adored her.
She looked around inside the building.
Healers treating injured adventurers.
People coming to consult with the priests.
Guild members preparing meals for the community.
In the hallway, children were running around energetically.
“We don’t just provide medical care here,”
“we also take in and support children without families.”
Serena explained gently.
“We work together with the church, too.”
“I see.”
I found myself looking around without thinking.
“This is just the kind of place Serena would be involved with.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Well then,”
I folded my arms.
“What am I supposed to do?”
Serena thinks for a moment.
“Well…”
“Come this way, then.”
She leads me to…
the backyard of the building.
A wide lawn.
A large sheet is spread out in the shade of the trees.
On top of it…
about ten children are sitting, looking happy.
“…A picnic?”
I blurted out without thinking.
“Yes.”
Serena nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“That’s your job for today.”
“…Huh?”
At that moment.
The kids all stood up at once.
“Alt-nii-chan!”
“Over here, over here!”
“Let’s eat together!”
“Hurry up!”
Before I knew it.
I was surrounded by the kids.
“Wait, hold on.”
“Is this really part of the job?”
“Yes.”
Serena smiled.
“Please spend some time with these kids.”
“That’s a perfectly valid job, too.”
“I see…”
No.
I don’t see it at all.
Even as I thought that,
I let the kids lead me and sat down on the bench.
Then.
One of the girls brought over a large basket.
“Here you go!”
“Alt Nii chan!”
“Here you go!”
“Ah, thank you.”
Inside the basket.
There were rows and rows of sandwiches.
I picked one up.
It felt surprisingly heavy.
“That’s quite a spread.”
I opened the sandwich.
“Whoa…”
Several thick slices of meat were sandwiched inside.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“That’s a lot of meat.”
“Lady Serena made them!”
The children puffed out their chests proudly.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Serena, who had been watching from a short distance away, smiled.
“I knew you liked meat, Alt.”
“You remembered that?”
“Of course.”
I took a bite.
The rich juices filled my mouth.
“…Delicious.”
A smile slipped out before I knew it.
“I like this.”
“Really?”
Serena’s face lit up instantly.
“Yeah.”
“I like it a lot.”
Just those few words were enough.
Serena smiled, looking truly happy.
But.
It happened the very next moment.
“Alt Nii chan!”
“Look over here!”
“Here, open wide!”
“Eat this, too!”
“Give me a piggyback ride!”
The kids all rushed toward me at once.
They clung to my arms.
They tugged at my clothes.
Some even climbed onto my lap.
“H-hold on a second.”
I could only give a wry smile.
Serena, who had been watching the scene,
approached me quietly, still smiling.
“Everyone,”
Her voice was gentle.
“Alt has just recovered from his injury.”
“Let’s try to hold off on jumping on him for just a little while, okay?”
“Okay!”
The kids replied obediently.
They moved back from me just a little.
“Phew.”
I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.
Serena smiled happily.
But.
The other members, who had been watching, exchanged glances.
“…Just now.”
“Serena-sama.”
“Did you just put the kids in their place?”
“I’ve never seen you do that before…”
Normally.
If the kids were being affectionate with someone,
Serena would just watch over them happily.
And yet.
Today was different.
Serena’s gaze wasn’t
on the children—
it was fixed solely on Alt.
“…I’m so jealous.”
In a voice so soft no one could hear it,
she muttered under her breath.
“Me, too.”
“I wish I could stay by Alt’s side longer.”
Her voice dissolved into the wind.
No one heard it.
No.
Only the troupe members could hear it.
“……”
“……”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“Lady Serena…”
“Jealous?”
“And of a child, no less?”
Their expressions were as if they were seeing something unbelievable.
Unaware of the reactions around her,
Serena kept her gaze fixed on Alt.
She was smiling gently.
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