Chapter 74
The road to Sera’s house.
Elena slightly grinned as she looked at Lexion with Sera on his shoulders.
The image of Lexion, in well-dressed clothes, with a child on him, seemed strange yet well-suited.
It was so interesting that she kept looking at them.
“It’s right here!”
Sera worked hard to show them the way.
Behind the capital of the Soleth Empire was the slum.
The Empire said that they were paying attention to it, but in Elena’s eyes, there wasn’t any big progress at all.
Fortunately, the houses looked like they had been recently renovated.
‘It’s not an ideal environment compared to the houses where ordinary people live, but….’
Still, seeing that there were no vagrants and no beggars, it seemed to be gradually improving.
Anyway, under Sera’s guidance, the two entered the slum.
Elena looked around and walked silently.
Then, at the entrance of a distant alley, she saw someone.
It was only a brief moment – less than a second – but it seemed she recognized someone she knew before.
‘… Killian?’
For a moment, Elena shook her head.
She heard that the moment Killian left Halos Manor, he had left the Empire afterward.
Of course, he could have returned, but Killian’s personality wouldn’t allow him to stay in the slums.
Besides, it was only a fleeting moment, from an incredibly long distance.
It was far more likely that it wasn’t Killian.
‘If it was Killian, Lexion would have told me.’
Elena shook her head to shake off those thoughts. Hence, she didn’t notice the change in Lexion’s expression.
While he walked through the slums, he was paying close attention to Elena.
As always.
That’s why he noticed Elena’s change faster than anyone else.
He also found the alley she momentarily looked at.
And his gaze turned cold.
****”
“Here it is!”
Sera smiled and shouted.
Once Lexion arrived in front of the child’s house, he placed Sera down.
Sera’s house was deep inside the slum.
It was evening, so the slum was quiet.
The three of them hadn’t encountered many slum dwellers until they reached Sera’s house.
That was rather fortunate.
‘We can’t let Sera and her mother suffer because of us.’
Elena pulled her robe out of her pocket to put it on as they walked further.
“Wait a minute!”
Sera exclaimed to the two and went inside.
Sera’s home was a single-story house, and although it didn’t look spacious, it was just the right size for two people.
It was enough for them.
But before Sera could knock on the door, the door opened first as if someone was expecting her.
“Sera! What are you doing out so late?”
The one who opened the door was a woman with a sickly complexion.
The woman, who looked to be in her mid-30s, was a striking beauty.
She had long golden hair and emerald eyes that looked exactly like Sera.
Elena couldn’t help but admire her.
“Mom! I brought someone to help Mom get better!”
Sera hugged her mother and pointed to Elena and Lexion, her gaze turning toward them.
“You’re the ones who brought Sera home. Thank you.”
Sera’s mother bowed to them in greeting.
That was a bit too much though.
She seemed to have done it based on their appearance.
“There’s no need for you to do that.”
Elena waved her hand.
She didn’t want to be treated that way.
Elena then turned.
“I heard from Sera. You’re not feeling well, so she decided to go to the Magic Tower to find her dad.”
“Ah….”
At Elena’s words, she sighed a little.
Elena added politely.
“If you don’t mind, may I ask what are you suffering from?”
“It’s okay.”
She had expected that she would refuse.
So Elena tried to persuade her again.
But Sera was faster.
“Mom! Sister will help you! Sister is a magician! She said she lives in the tower! She might know Dad!”
Sera cried out in desperation as if she were clutching at the end of a lifeline.
On the way to Sera’s house. Elena had mentioned to the child that she was a mage.
“Are you really a wizard?”
At Sera’s claims, the mother cautiously confirmed it.
“Yes. That’s true.”
“Then come in. It’s not appropriate to talk here…”
If they continued talking by the entrance, rumors might spread throughout the slums.
It could adversely affect both of them, so Elena and Lexion decided to go inside.
It was dark inside the house as both mother and child moved forward.
There were no magic lamps commonly used among the people of the Empire.
Only a single light barely lit the surroundings, but it looked weak as if it would go out at any moment.
Elena looked around.
Fortunately, she was able to find unlit lamps nearby.
Elena gathered magical energy in her hand and sent it to the three lamps.
Then, the fire sparked from the darkness, and the inside of the house became much brighter.
Sera’s mother, who watched this unfold, was astonished.
Elena could read the trust in her eyes as she looked at her.
“The house is a little small, is it okay with you?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
Elena answered in assurance and looked around the house.
The house with traces of the two people’s lives was simple yet cozy.
A bed where the child and mother slept together, a small dining table with only two chairs, and a kitchen.
“Can I sit down?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Thank you.”
Elena smiled and sat down on the chair.
Once Lexion also took his sit, Sera and her mother sat on the bed.
The four were able to easily assemble since the bedroom, living room, and kitchen were in one place.
“Well. I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Roen, Sera’s mom.”
Before the awkward silence appeared.
Roen bowed to them again.
“I am Elena Respell. And this is my lover, Lexion Halos.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Lexion greeted with a smile at Elena’s introduction.
It felt good to be introduced as her lover no matter how many times he heard it.
However, unlike Lexion – who was all smiles – Roen’s face turned white.
“If it’s Halos, are you Duke Halos…?”
“Yes. You’re right.”
At Lexion’s confirmation, Roen was horrified.
“Th-this can’t be. Please forgive my rudeness.”
She got up and bent down again.
But Elena hurriedly stopped her.
“Roen. It’s okay, sit down.”
“The wizard and the Duke came to our house…”
Roen let out a small sigh as she glanced at the grinning Sera.
Perhaps it was something her young daughter did without knowing it.
“I’m really sorry. Sera is still young. She doesn’t know anything.”
“No, Roen. You don’t have to apologize. I felt sorry for Sera, so I said I would help.”
“The magician?”
“Yes. I heard that Sera’s dad is in the tower. If I can help, I want to help.”
“… Thank you.”
At Reon’s answer, Elena smiled.
“Then first, I want to know what sickness troubles Roen. If it is a disease that I can treat with my power, I can provide help. Since I am specializing in manufacturing potions.”
At Elena’s kind words, Roen carefully opened her mouth.
“I… I have Kerone’s disease.”
Kerone’s disease.
It was a disease that Elena was fortunately familiar with.
Kerone’s disease was a type of anemia.
It was not a fatal disease, but it was an excruciating disease accompanied by hemoptysis.
‘Come to think of it, in this world, Kerone’s disease used to spread like an epidemic in the slums.’
Elena immediately rummaged through the pockets connected to her warehouse.
After Rupes overturned her lab, she kept most of the potions she brewed in the storage.
“Found it!”
After sifting through her pockets for a while, Elena pulled out a small bottle of green medication.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
Roen asked, bewildered.
“It’s the cure for Kerone’s disease.”
The cure for Kerone’s disease was a magic potion she already have.
Elena used to make this potion a long time ago when she practiced making potions.
Fortunately, the potion didn’t have an expiration date, so even if it was made a long time ago, it appeared as if it had just been made recently.
“C-cure?!”
Roen asked in disbelief.
“Yes. I made it myself.”
“But I have nothing to give you. It’s not right for me to take it.”
Roen tried to return the potion to Elena.
But Elena refused.
“I didn’t give this medicine to receive something in return. I just wanted to see the cute Sera be happy.”
As Elena spoke with a bright smile, Roen had no choice but to accept the potion.
Elena dug around in her pockets some more.
Then she took out six more potions and handed them over.
“Take one every day for a week. Then you’ll be cured.”
Even though she gave all her antidotes, she didn’t mind because they were easy to make.
“No, it’s something valuable….”
Roen’s eyes turned red as she held seven bottles of medicine against Kerone in her arms.
“Thank you very much. Thank you.”
A single tear fell from her eyes.
Kerone’s disease was a disease that could be easily cured by taking potions.
However, the medicine was expensive for commoners to obtain.
So Roen was prepared to live with Kerone’s disease for the rest of her life.
But unexpectedly, she received great kindness.
“I will never forget your kindness for the rest of my life.”
Elena nodded at Roen’s words.
“Mom, you will be alright now? Right?”
“Yes. Everything will be fine now.”
“Really? Really?”
“Yes. Thanks to Sera, your mother will recover.”
“Wow!!”
Sera was thrilled that she jumped out of bed.
Normally, Roen would have stopped Sera because she was dusty, but today, she let the child do what she wanted.
It was such a happy day for both of them.
