Periodic Checkup

“Mm… Jonah, where are you going?”

Having stayed at the palace as Patricia’s guest, today marks one week.

Patricia quickly spotted Jonah holding a leather bag and asked.

“Ah, ahaha, I thought I’d just go get some fresh air…”

“It’s already night, you know? Where do you think you’re going at this hour?”

Patricia generally doesn’t fuss over small things, but she’s keenly perceptive to slight changes.

She must have detected Jonah’s unusual behavior. This, too, could be called the product of her crisis-perception honed as the Silver Sword Princess.

“…I don’t suppose you’re thinking of leaving here without telling me, are you?”

“…!? N-no way!”

Jonah hurriedly denied Patricia’s accusation.

Jonah didn’t yet have such intentions, but because he had previously left without saying goodbye to Marguerite, Aurora, Priscilla, and Titancia, that fact made him feel uneasy and he unintentionally acted suspiciously.

“Suspicious…”

“I-it’s true, I swear!”

Jonah desperately pleaded his case to Patricia’s piercing stare.

He wasn’t lying, but he still didn’t want her to know his destination. In any case, Jonah was trying to convince her to believe him.

“Pfft… hehe! I understand, I understand. But it’s late now, so come back soon.”

“Y-yes!”

Seeing Jonah speaking so earnestly made Patricia find him adorable; she burst out laughing and consented to his outing. As expected, she couldn’t help but be indulgent toward Jonah.

If the imperial knights or soldiers saw her like this, they would surely be astonished.

“Well then, I’m off!”

“Ah, take care.”

Jonah drew a magic circle on the floor and teleported.

His destination was, of course, in front of Günter’s clinic.

Yes… exactly one month had passed since the last examination.

“Hey Jonah, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Doctor Günter!”

Jonah was surprised but immediately smiled at Günter, who appeared as if on cue by opening the door.

“Then, let’s begin the examination right away. Take your clothes off.”

“Y-yes.”

Sitting on the examination chair, Jonah removed his clothes.

Although it was the usual routine, Jonah was still filled with anxiety, wondering what would happen if his condition had unexpectedly worsened.

“Hmm… hmm…”

Günter listened carefully to Jonah’s heart, checked his pulse, and conducted the examination with smooth efficiency.

Staring at him in his serious state, Jonah swallowed nervously.

“Phew…”

“So, how is it…?”

“Neither better nor worse, I’d say.”

Saying that, Günter furrowed his brows and shook his head.

In other words, Jonah’s body was steadily continuing on the path of deterioration.

“So… were you able to go to the Fairy Forest?”

At the last examination, Günter had entrusted Jonah with the slim hope of asking the Fairy King about a treatment for Mana Overabundance.

Over this month, Günter continued researching treatments for Jonah but was still unable to find any breakthrough.

“Oh, r-right.”

As if remembering, Jonah opened his leather bag and took out a small cloth pouch.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the ‘fairy dust’ the fairies gave me.”

The Fairy King Oberon whom he met in the Stygian Forest in Aubern.

As thanks for saving the Swart Elf, he gave Jonah the ‘fairy dust.’ With this, Jonah’s pain and suffering could be greatly alleviated.

“According to Fairy King Oberon, this alone should last for a year.”

“I see…”

Although he couldn’t find a cure for Jonah, being able to relieve Jonah’s suffering was extremely welcome.

After all, Günter had been racking his brains over how to prescribe medication based on this examination’s results.

This was because, with his current medical techniques, it was impossible for him to further ease the pain eating away at Jonah.

Günter received the cloth pouch containing the ‘fairy dust’ from Jonah.

“…Leave it to me. I will certainly try to cure your illness.”

This was Günter’s resolve and determination.

He strongly believed that he alone could find a way to save Jonah by drawing upon the miracle of the ‘fairy dust’ the small boy had obtained—grasping even the thinnest thread of possibility.

“Yes… please, I’m counting on you.”

Jonah straightened his posture and bowed deeply.

Jonah had long entrusted this frail, soon-to-vanish life to Günter.

All that remained was to trust him.

“Oops, we’ve been talking too long. Shall we move to the other room and you tell me again? Including the tale of Fairy King Oberon and your adventures this time.”

“Yes!”

Günter had prepared specially honeyed tea and sweet treats for today.

Savoring them, Jonah and Günter spent a pleasant evening together.