It Wasn’t Healing, It Was Training Magic

The appearance of the first male healer.
That news shocked the entire continent.

It was a natural law that men were inferior to women in both ability and talent.
This was as obvious a truth as the earth being the earth and the sky being the sky.

It was something that had never happened before in the history of any race, including humans, beastkin, and demons.
Naturally, even in the church’s scripture containing God’s miracles, there had never been a man who could use magic skillfully.

What was natural became unnatural.

Therefore, some denied this fact.

“Pft, how could that be? Those humans must be spreading lies because they’re afraid of our Demon King’s army.”

Some were surprised by this fact.

“C-could it be the awaited descent of God? It’s the appearance of the Messiah who will save us beastkin!”

Some recognized it as an opportunity.

“If we study that man, we might be able to make other men use abilities too. Find out who he is! This incident might make the Seolha Empire even more powerful!”

And some showed possessiveness.

“To think such a man exists! Amazing… huhuhuh, I want that man! Find him in the name of the Arcadia Imperial Family!”

After the world began to recognize Zick’s existence,

They rushed to investigate about Zick.
Each with different reasons.

Having watched Akasha’s posing from the front row, I ended up having to give a standing ovation.
I couldn’t make the atmosphere cold when she was smiling brightly and wagging her tail.

However, no matter how cool a pose she struck, it just looked like cute antics to me.

“Yeah. Wow. Really amazing! Akasha, you’re cool!”
“R-really? Am I feminine and sexy?”
“Y-yeah! The best.”
“Hehe. How about this pose?”

In the end, I think it’s fine as long as Akasha was satisfied.
Although I still don’t know what intention she had for putting on this muscle show.

Maybe she had kept in mind being teased recently for looking young.
I guess she wanted to show an adult-like appearance.

After that incident was settled, I told Akasha what I had learned throughout the day.

“So, um… we need permission from the Arcadia Empire’s royal family?”
“That’s right. I’m sorry we can’t go right away. I’m sorry.”
“N-no! Thank you for remembering and caring about it!”
“Yeah! Of course!”

Honestly, besides the promise,
my personal desire to use magic freely was also big.

While staying in Marleon, I only used magic a few dozen times.
Even compared to the city of Märchen where I stayed before, it was significantly lacking by my standards.

It was an unavoidable situation due to being busy with the recent exam.
I was excited at the thought of using magic recklessly after the exam ended.

However, when I actually tried to use magic recklessly, I had become too famous.

When I walked down the street, people around started whispering about me,
and it was common for them to watch me with sparkling eyes.

“I heard that man can use magic, is it true?”
“Nah, no way. It’s probably just a rumor. How can a man use magic? Even my dog wouldn’t laugh at that.”
“What? It’s true, I tell you! Want to bet?”

Moreover, even when I tried to use magic secretly avoiding people’s gazes.

“Oh! That man over there is trying to use healing magic!”
“What? Is that the male healer?”
“They say a man is using healing magic! Let’s all go see!!”

This was all because of High Priest Gray.

It spread by word of mouth from the people who were there during the incident,
and because the church announced the news of a male healer passing.

Thanks to becoming famous, I feel like a monkey in a zoo being the center of attention wherever I go.

To make an analogy, it’s like when you’re trying to relieve yourself after holding it in for a long time,
but every time you try to go, a bunch of people come to watch.

This unsatisfying feeling of not being able to relieve myself freely.
Thanks to this, I newly learned that becoming too famous isn’t always good.

As dissatisfaction built up like that.
I even thought about breaking the legs of those watching bastards and making them experience healing magic directly, but I held back.
If I did that, I’d obviously be caught by soldiers.

Damn it.

Still, after thinking about it, I realized something.
In a place like the Great Goshra Forest, wouldn’t I not need to care about anyone’s eyes?

So I must go there.
Of course, I also consider my promise with Akasha important.

“And it seems there will be another companion on the way to the capital, is that okay with you, Akasha? By the way, it’s a human.”
“Another companion? Um… may I ask who it is?”

Akasha asked carefully, furrowing her brow.

“It’s Soho Baekya, the one who helped me study.”
“Gasp…!”

Akasha was startled and her face quickly hardened.

‘Was it too sudden?’

It was practically a notification.
This part was my fault for not considering Akasha.
If she’s uncomfortable, I should apologize to Soho and cancel the joint travel.

“Are you uncomfortable? If you’re uncomfortable, we can just go by ourselves…”
“No! It’s fine!”
“Really?”

I tried to persuade Akasha that she didn’t need to force herself.
But she spoke with a determined expression.

“It’s fine! They say to keep your enemies close, right?”
“Is that so? Then that’s good.”

I don’t know what she means,
but if Akasha says it’s fine, then I’m relieved.

Now two problems remain.
The first was meeting with the Saint,

And the other was.

“I’ll definitely not get caught! Leave it to me!”

Hiding the fact that Akasha is a beastkin.
And so our double life began.

Two days after making our resolution with Akasha.
We gathered to depart for the capital.

By the way, the meeting with Freya didn’t happen.
When we visited the church, a message was left instead.

She was sorry for having to go to the capital urgently,
and asked to contact her if we needed anything.

So we decided to meet Freya again in the capital.

“Zick-nim, you’re here?”

Soho was waiting at the main gate with the carriage she had reserved.
Her luggage was simple.
It felt like she packed only the minimum necessities.

“Is this person your companion? Perhaps your younger sister?”

Soho lowered her head to look down at Akasha.
The height difference between the two was considerable.
Akasha’s height was about below Soho’s chest level.

If Akasha looked up at Soho from right below,
she wouldn’t be able to see Soho’s face due to her enormous breasts.
Did Akasha realize this fact too?

She shouted with a blushing face.

“N-no, I’m not!”
“Then, what kind of relationship do you have?”

Hoot, a question I expected.
Akasha and I had already agreed on what to say.

We decided to say we’re distant relatives.
We judged that was the most natural and simple answer that wouldn’t raise other questions.

Just as I was about to open my mouth leisurely.

“I… I am Zick-nim’s servant!”
“What?”
“Huh?”

Akasha’s sudden answer.
Soho and I looked at each other in surprise at the same time.
And I felt it in her eyes.

A contemptuous gaze.
It took a full 5 hours to clear up the misunderstanding.

The journey continued for a total of 10 days.
It was eventful during that time.

Hiding Akasha’s identity wasn’t easy.

Even while eating.

“Ooooh! This is delicious!”

Akasha’s tail would spring up.
When trying to change clothes and do laundry.

“Come here Akasha, big sister will undress you.”
“I-I’m fine!”

It wasn’t easy when Soho tried to take care of her.
The lodgings were also a problem.

“Girls should sleep with girls!”
“No! I’m going to sleep with Zick-nim!”
“Aren’t you an adult? Are you crazy?”

The argument between Soho and Akasha continued.
It’s very common for me, the only man among the three, to have a room to myself.
And it’s common sense for the remaining two to share a room.

However, it was truly difficult because Akasha had to hide her identity.

In the end, we resolved it by each taking separate rooms.

Besides that, there were frequent incidents because Akasha was strangely wary of Soho, but

“Grrrr! So vulgar. Your breasts are all showing.”
“What? What did you say? These breasts are the pride of our family!”
“Grrr!!”

I’m satisfied that we arrived safely at the capital.

“Woooooah!!”
“Fight! Fight!”

The sight we saw as soon as we entered the capital.
The town was immersed in a festive atmosphere.

A competition was in full swing,
preliminary matches for the martial arts tournament were being held.

“Oooh!!”
“Win! Black-haired big sister! We’re counting on you!”

The excitement was intense.
To have such popularity even for the preliminaries.
As expected of a long-standing event.

“Excuse me, what are the odds?”

Was she usually interested in gambling?
Soho asked a passing person with bright eyes.

The passerby happened to be holding a paper with information on various contestants.
Apparently, he was a professional gambler.

The gambler grinned and opened his mouth.

“The odds are quite unusual right now. You’d better hurry too, miss…”
“By unusual odds, do you mean there are many good contestants?”
“That’s right. Ah, I shouldn’t be saying this, what should I do…”

The gambler scratched his head and pondered.
While also stalling for time.
Soho nodded as if she understood and put her hand in her chest.

And out came a pouch.
It was a money pouch.
Apparently, it was emergency funds.

‘Money is hidden there?’

But looking at her chest again, I couldn’t help but understand.
I would believe it even if someone said another dimension was connected there.

“I-I can hide things too!”

Did she have the same thought?
Akasha puffed out her chest and appealed.

Ah, I almost shed tears at that sight.
Akasha is still a slow-growing beastkin.
I don’t know about the future, but for now, that appeal was just pitiful.

‘You should pray to God too.’

I couldn’t say it directly,
but if Akasha prayed to her beastkin god, wouldn’t she be able to grow to her desired goal?
Just like how I was saved from Freya’s danger by praying to God.

“Hmm… alright. I’ll tell you one thing. Don’t tell anyone else.”

The gambler smiled broadly at the money he received from Soho.
Then he looked around and whispered quietly.

“Among this time’s participants, there’s one with exceptionally outstanding skills. The odds start from almost 5 to 1. The preliminaries just started, so the odds are still high.”
“F-five to one?”

Soho’s eyes turned into money at the gambler’s explanation.
Honestly, I couldn’t help but be surprised too.
Why are the odds so high?

If this was true, it was really valuable information.

“It’s a gem because it’s someone who’s never made a name for themselves before. I could tell at a glance the moment I saw them. Ah! I thought, they’re still hiding their strength. They might even aim for the championship if they do well… you can trust this eye I’ve honed through 20 years of gambling.”
“Who on earth is it?”

Soho swallowed and asked.
And my ears perked up too.

A mysterious skilled person who suddenly appeared like a comet and is sweeping the tournament.
To talk about winning, it’s nearly impossible unless they’ve reached the level of a Sword Master.

Although I can’t 100% trust the information this gambler is giving,
my curiosity was piqued and I became curious about that person’s name too.

And then the name we heard.

“Emilia from Brook Territory. That’s their name.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised.
That’s because it was a very familiar name to me.

The day I ran away from home.
It was my maid whom I left behind.