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“Thanks for the meal!”
“Alt-nii!”
“Let’s play again!”
“Promise!”
“Of course.”
As I replied with a smile,
the kids ran off, waving their hands energetically.
“That was so much fun!”
“See you tomorrow!”
Their lively voices gradually faded into the distance.
I let out a deep breath.
“That took more energy than I expected.”
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
Next to me, Serena chuckled softly.
“Hehe.”
“Everyone really seemed to be having a great time.”
“Yeah.”
“They were all such cute kids.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
Serena smiled with genuine joy.
Once the children had gone home,
the troupe members began putting away the blankets and dishes.
“Alt.”
“I’ll help out, too.”
“Thank you.”
I stacked the dishes,
carried the baskets,
and folded up the blankets.
Just then,
“Alt.”
Serena approached me.
“I’ll carry the heavy stuff.”
“No, this is fine—I can handle it.”
“But—”
She naturally took the basket from my hands.
“H-hey!”
“This is part of my job, after all.”
She said that with a smile.
“…I see.”
I could only give a wry smile.
The troupe members who had been watching us
instinctively exchanged glances.
“Ah.”
“There it is.”
“Lady Serena’s ‘taking care of others’ mode.”
One of them chuckled softly.
“It’s especially strong today.”
“Though it’s only for Alt, mind you.”
“Hehe.”
“I bet the two of them haven’t noticed a thing.”
“Yeah.”
“It’s heartwarming to watch.”
The guild members shared gentle smiles.
No one is teasing her.
Serena, who always works for everyone’s sake.
The side of her that’s appropriate for her age—one she shows only in front of one man.
Seeing Serena like that.
It was a first for all of them.
Once the cleanup is finished.
Serena turns back.
“Well then.”
“I’ll show you to your afternoon duties.”
“Ah.”
We head back inside the building.
As she walked down the hallway,
“Miss Serena!”
One of the members called out to her.
“The patient you treated earlier would like to thank you.”
“Understood.”
She headed toward the treatment room.
There stood a man with a bandage wrapped around his arm.
“Thank you so much!”
“The pain is completely gone!”
He bowed deeply.
Serena smiled, looking a bit flustered.
“I’m so glad you’re feeling better.”
“But please don’t push yourself too hard today.”
“Yes!”
The man left, bowing repeatedly as he went.
Watching him walk away,
I found myself muttering,
“Is it like this every day?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not just injuries.”
“If people have any troubles, they all come here.”
I looked around the treatment room.
An injured adventurer.
A child with a fever.
An elderly man on a cane.
Patients kept arriving one after another.
The healing mages were bustling about, busy with their work.
“It’s busier than I expected.”
“We also work in cooperation with the church.”
Serena smiled gently.
“We can’t just leave people in need behind.”
After that.
I carried medicinal herbs.
I organized paperwork.
And I helped out in the treatment room.
“Alt.”
Before I knew it,
Serena had brought me some tea.
“Take a little break.”
“Thanks.”
I took a sip.
It was warm.
“It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad.”
She smiled happily.
I went back to work.
A little while later.
“Alt.”
This time, it was some baked goods.
“Here, have a little something sweet.”
“Again?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Do I look that tired?”
“No.”
Serena looked down, seeming a little embarrassed.
“I just… couldn’t help it.”
“I just feel like doing something for you.”
“…I see.”
Hearing that answer,
I could only give a wry smile.
Just then.
“Alt”
A young female priestess was walking toward us.
“If you have a moment, could you help me carry this package?”
“Sure, I’d be happy to—”
Just as I was about to reply.
“If it’s that kind of work…”
Serena stepped between the two of us, still smiling.
“Alt, I actually have a task I’d like you to help me with.”
The female priestess blinked, looking slightly surprised.
“I see.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll handle this, so please don’t worry about it.”
“Understood.”
The female priestess bowed and walked away.
“Serena?”
“What is it?”
“I could’ve carried it myself, you know?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, still smiling.
“But—”
“I wanted to ask Alt to handle this particular task.”
“I see.”
I didn’t think much of it.
Meanwhile.
A short distance away.
The party members were exchanging glances again.
“Hehe.”
“She’s in ‘taking care of her’ mode again, isn’t she?”
“When it comes to Alt, she’s really single-minded.”
“I guess she’s not even aware of it herself.”
“It makes you want to root for her.”
“Yeah.”
“Because we want Lady Serena to be happy, too.”
A gentle laugh echoed softly.
Of course.
That conversation never reached them.
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