Previously: The next goal is to be invited to Professor Goldrun’s dinner party.
“You’re late. Where were you wasting time?”
When Zenos finished talking with Becker and headed to the research building, Cresson was waiting with his arms crossed.
“I don’t think it’s time yet.”
“You’re the lowest-ranking member, so you should be here before me.”
“I see… So, what do you need me to do?”
Zenos scratched his head and said.
It seemed that from the afternoon, his duties as a member of Goldrun Laboratory would begin.
“Hehehe, I’ll let you help me with a little bit of my glorious work.”
Cresson chuckled triumphantly.
What kind of work could it be?
Considering this was the Royal Treatment Institute, it would probably be some kind of research assistance or treatment work. He probably wouldn’t be involved in teaching.
While he was thinking about this, Cresson continued confidently.
“It’s taking care of the professor’s beloved dog.”
After that, Cresson and Zenos took the professor’s dog to the plaza of the Royal Treatment Institute.
“I said I’d let you help, but you’re just watching. This is my privilege, you know.”
“O-Okay…”
The professor’s dog, named Milk, had beautiful long silver fur and exuded a noble atmosphere.
Cresson, holding the leash, puffed out his chest proudly and strutted through the lush green plaza.
“Hey, is this really all you do in the lab?”
“What are you talking about? Of course not.”
“That’s good, then…”
“Of course, it’s not just walks. There’s still plenty to do, like feeding Milk-sama, washing him, and grooming his fur.”
“Seriously! That’s not what I meant.”
“Hehehe, don’t be jealous, don’t be jealous. I know you’re envious.”
“No, I mean, shouldn’t you have something more important to do?”
“Huh? Why? I’m entrusted with such a big job because it’s me.”
What a positive guy.
Cresson continued to talk cheerfully.
“Listen, the professor cherishes Milk-sama very much. Being entrusted with his care means that he trusts me that much, right?”
“Is that really true…?”
“Of course it is. I heard the professor was called out today by one of his close acquaintances, one of the Seven Great Nobles. I really admire him, having dinner with a great noble…”
Cresson looked up at the blue sky and said enviously.
“Well, if I keep climbing the ladder of success, it won’t be long before I’m invited to that kind of place.”
“Do you want to get ahead in the world?”
“Huh? Of course. I want to become important, join the ranks of the upper class, eat good food, get a beautiful woman, and boss people around. That’s why I’m working hard to be a healer.”
“Is that so? Isn’t a healer someone who heals others?”
“…”
Cresson stopped.
After a moment of silence, he shrugged at Zenos.
“…Heh, that’s just idealistic talk. Sure, there was a time when I wanted to save many lives or cure incurable diseases. But healing magic isn’t all-powerful. There are limits to what it can do, and what it can’t do, it can’t do. More importantly, it’s all about money and power.”
“I see…”
“W-What is it…?”
Cresson opened his mouth to say something, but he was interrupted by a voice from ahead.
“Hey, Cresson. Are you working hard taking care of Goldrun’s honorable dog again today?”
“Ah, Bonz-san. Yes, I’m working hard.”
There stood a middle-aged man with a slightly red face.
He had an unkempt beard and a rough appearance, and he held a sake bottle in his right hand.
The man called Bonz glared at the professor’s dog.
“It’s just a dog, but it has such a smug look on its face. I don’t like it.”
“Bonz-san. If the professor hears you say that…”
“Tch, don’t just worry about his moods.”
After the man left cursing, Zenos asked Cresson beside him.
“Who was that?”
“That’s Professor Goldrun’s first secretary.”
“First secretary? That guy?”
“I know, it’s unbelievable. I heard he’s an old acquaintance of the professor. He hardly works, drinks alcohol all day, and I don’t know why the professor would give the position of first secretary to someone like that, just because they’re old friends.”
Cresson frowned and spoke ill of the man.
Then, the first secretary called out from a short distance away.
“Hey, Cresson.”
“Ah, yes! You called?”
Cresson turned around with a smile.
His change of attitude was so quick it was almost admirable.
“Here, have this sake.”
“Eh, wha-”
The first secretary threw the sake bottle he was holding.
It flew in an arc and landed right next to the professor’s dog, shattering with a crash.
The dog yelped, and Cresson, startled, let go of the leash.
“Oh, no. Milk-sama!”
With the first secretary’s “Gyahahaha” laughter behind him, Cresson ran after the escaped dog.
He ran through the plaza and through the huge hall of the Royal Treatment Institute.
And then, a high-pitched yelp echoed.
“M-Milk! Milkkkk!”
“What happened?”
Zenos, who arrived a little later, saw Cresson kneeling in front of the entrance hall.
He was holding the professor’s dog. It was limp, and its body was stained red.
A carriage was parked nearby.
“Could it be, was it hit by the carriage?”
“I-It’s that dog’s fault for suddenly running out!”
Cresson listened to the carriage driver’s excuse in a daze.
Zenos put his hand on Cresson’s shoulder.
“Hey, it’s still breathing. You should treat it quickly. You’re the caretaker, aren’t you?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Cresson, his face pale, held his hands over the dog.
“《High Heal》”
A faint light enveloped the dog’s body, and the bleeding gradually subsided.
However, Cresson raised a panicked voice.
“I-It’s no good!”
“Hm? I think as long as you stop the bleeding, its life shouldn’t be in danger.”
“That’s not good enough. There are still marks…!”
The skin had closed, but because it was a large wound, the scar was slightly distorted.
The long silver fur was also torn, and the skin was exposed in many places.
“The professor loves Milk-sama’s beautiful fur. With this…”
Cresson slumped onto the cobblestones.
“It’s over… Haha, I’ve been working so hard all this time… It’s over for me now…”
“…”
Zenos was silent for a moment, then held his hand over the dog.
“《Heal》”
“Hey, special trainee, what are you doing?”
“As you can see, I’m casting recovery magic.”
“It’s no use. No matter how much magical power you have, even if you can defeat a Zombie King, to precisely regenerate the skin to this ext-aaaaah?”
Cresson screamed and looked over Milk’s entire body many times.
“I-It’s healed. The scar, I can’t see it at all. Even the fur… H-How…?”
“I mean, isn’t that what Heal magic is supposed to do?”
“…”
“By the way, I also healed the cracked bone, so you can continue the walk, but it might be better to let it rest today.”
Zenos said this and returned to the entrance hall with the dog.
Hearing Milk’s whimpering voice, Cresson stared at his back in a daze.
“Heal… That’s not what that magic is supposed to do… He’s saying things like a top-class healer…”
After muttering in a hoarse voice, Cresson stood up and ran after Zenos.
“Wait, special trainee! Taking care of Milk-sama is my job!”
And so, this small incident would move the gears of fate one step further.