Time Healer Ceres
Chapter 28
「Huh?」
Cheion’s eyes went wide as he watched the child.
He shouted with a deeply aggrieved expression.
「Why are you just letting her go? She’s cutting the line!」
Just a moment ago, when he had tried to head toward the entrance like that, everyone had been shouting at him with fire in their eyes, but now they were all silent.
In fact, the people who had been spewing harsh curses until just now were busy wearing smiles like friendly neighborhood uncles.
「That child is different.」
「She’s different, definitely different.」
「What’s so diff—?」
Drrrk.
「Yulia.」
「Unnie!」
At that moment, the shop door opened, and Ceres made her appearance.
The child’s pace quickened even more, and she soon dove straight into Ceres’s arms.
「She’s the owner’s younger sister.」
「Ah…」
Only then did Cheion, realizing the child’s identity, observe her with newfound interest.
Her bright, clear green eyes were exceptionally cute.
「Unnie, are you busy today?」
「Why?」
Ceres led the child inside the shop herself.
She didn’t bother nagging her not to come here anymore. It wasn’t as if the girl would listen anyway.
「Can you go to Dave’s house with me?」
「Dave’s house? Why there?」
Didn’t you say he ran away from home with his mother?
Could they have returned in the meantime?
「I have to deliver some things Dave left behind.」
They were items that had been in his Academy locker, and Yulia had picked them up on his behalf today. When the teacher asked if someone could deliver them, she had raised her hand and volunteered.
「You never know. Maybe there’s been some news in the meantime. If we know where he lives, we can at least send a letter.」
「…Well.」
Ceres doubted that someone who had run off in the middle of an affair would bother to send word.
However, looking at Yulia’s expectant eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say that.
「The rush will be over in a bit, so we’ll go together then.」
「Yay!」
「Go sit quietly over there.」
Nod.
After seating the child in her designated spot, Ceres slipped back into the kitchen.
In the meantime, countless people moved in and out of the shop.
「One stew, please.」
「Yes. Just a moment, please.」
Cheion finally entered the shop, took a seat, and placed his order.
「Huh?」
Yulia, who had been swinging her feet and watching the customers as usual, stopped her gaze right on Cheion.
Since Cheion happened to be looking at the child as well, their eyes met.
Jump!
「Magic is Not Difficult!」
At Yulia’s sudden shout as she sprang from her seat, the shop momentarily fell silent.
Unlike the other customers who were startled by her sudden outburst, Cheion’s eyes went wide for a moment before he swept his long hair back and flashed a bright smile.
「Yes. I am indeed the author of that book, the Great Mage Cheion.」
「Wow!」
Yulia clapped her hands as she saw Cheion strike the exact same pose as the illustration in the book.
His smile deepened at the sight, and he continued in a thoroughly elegant tone.
「I see. Does the cute little lady dream of becoming a mage? Is that why you read my book?」
「No. I just read it because all my friends were reading it.」
「Ah… well, that can happen. So, was the book interesting? Did it spark an interest in magic?」
「Not at all.」
「Huh?」
「It was super boring. It was just a book filled with stories about how great the Magic Tower Master is.」
「……」
…They really are sisters.
「Please give me an autograph in the book next time you come.」
「Why do you want an autograph if you found it boring?」
Cheion grumbled petulantly, but Yulia opened her eyes wide and protested as if the Magic Tower Master was being ignorant.
「People don’t buy that book for fun or academic passion. They buy it for the drawing on the very first page. Some kids even tear out just the first page and carry it around.」
「…Thanks.」
At least you like my face.
「I didn’t tear the book, though. Unnie told me to take good care of it because if I damage a book she paid a ridiculously high price for, she won’t be able to sell it secondhand later.」
「……」
The way she attacked by pointing out only the painful truths made it clear to anyone that they were sisters.
「Is it there?」
「Yeah.」
「How do you know?」
「I’ve been here before. Dave’s mom even gave me snacks. Strawberry cake!」
「I never heard about that.」
「I was going to my boyfriend’s house. I asked her to keep it a secret from you, Unnie.」
「Colin…」
As promised, Ceres took advantage of a lull in the shop’s business to take Yulia to Dave’s house.
It seemed she had been to Dave’s house a few times with the butler, Colin.
Knock, knock.
Arriving at Dave’s house, Ceres knocked on the door.
However, even after a long while, there was no response.
Knock, knock.
「…It seems like no one’s home?」
「Then what do we do?」
「Well. How about leaving the items with the neighbors?」
「I don’t think that’s right. The teacher told me to deliver them to Dave’s house.」
Honestly, I have to give it to her for being stubborn.
In the end, Ceres knocked on the door once more.
Would they have to come back tomorrow?
Creak!
「Who is it…?」
Only then did the door open, and Dave’s father appeared.
His eyes filled with surprise when he discovered Ceres and Yulia standing at the door.
「You are…」
「Hello.」
Dave’s father also seemed to have seen Yulia before, as he recognized the child immediately.
「Yes, Yulia-nim. What brings you here?」
The man welcomed the child warmly with a soft smile.
Though they were nobles in name only, he spoke very politely, perhaps because he knew Yulia was the child of a baronial family.
「My teacher told me to deliver Dave’s things.」
「Ah…」
As he received the small bag, sadness was plain on the man’s face.
Seeing that somewhat wistful expression, Yulia’s face also turned gloomy.
「Thank you.」
「By any chance, has there been any word from Dave yet?」
「No. I am also waiting for news.」
The man bent down to meet Yulia’s eyes.
「Young lady, you were quite close with our Dave, weren’t you?」
「Yes.」
「If, by any chance, you hear from Dave, would you please let me know as well?」
「I will.」
「Yes, thank you. I’d like to offer you some snacks, but the house is a mess… well then, please get home safely.」
Having finished his conversation with Yulia, the man waved and tried to close the door.
Thud.
But at that moment, Ceres, who had been quiet the whole time, caught the closing door.
「Wh-what is it?」
Stepping toward the flustered man, Ceres lightly scanned his appearance.
「It looks like you were cleaning.」
「Pardon? Ah…」
The man hesitated, then finally realized his own appearance and looked embarrassed. His trousers and sleeves were rolled up as high as they could go.
With water on his hands and feet, it was obvious to anyone that he had been in the middle of cleaning.
「Yes. The house was a bit dirty.」
「I see.」
「Then, please get home safely. Thank you for delivering the items.」
The man bid farewell to Ceres and Yulia once more and stepped inside.
「Hmm.」
However, even after the man disappeared, Ceres could not easily turn away.
「Unnie?」
Only at Yulia’s call did Ceres step back from the closed door and click her tongue.
「There’s a smell, you see.」
「A smell? What smell?」
「The smell of medicinal supplies that healers love to use.」
「Huh?」
「It’s just something.」
Ceres took one last look at Dave’s house before hurrying back to the shop for the evening business.
Knock, knock.
「Come in.」
When Dell, the aide, opened the door and entered, he saw Kainel buried deep under piles of documents covering his desk.
The work he had to process after coming to the Capital had increased mountainously. Tasks he had postponed were flooding in without end.
Most of them were related to resources found only in the North, so he couldn’t afford to overlook them.
「I’ve brought your meal.」
Taking off his glasses, Kainel shot a look of irritation at Dell. He had clearly stated earlier that he didn’t need a meal today.
「You hardly ate yesterday either. This is a dish I specially prepared, so please have at least a little out of courtesy. You’ll truly collapse at this rate.」
「You’ve become quite talkative lately.」
「Haha, I suppose I’m getting older.」
「Are you seriously complaining about your age in front of me?」
「My apologies.」
「I’ll eat it on my own later, so just leave it and go.」
「You’re really going to eat it, right?」
「……」
「Understood. Please make sure to eat.」
Seeing Kainel’s eyes narrowing, Dell hurried outside.
Watching him, Kainel clicked his tongue lightly.
Is he really getting old? He’s been nagging more than usual lately.
