"Well, it's time for me to go. There are things I need to take care of." I slowly stand up. I can sense Glia approaching. She's coming together with Ritmo, my father, my grandmother, and Samo.
"You're not staying? I thought you'd be here for the entire negotiation." Edupe looks genuinely surprised. I can even see a trace of sadness in those lizard eyes, though I can't tell whether it's because I'm leaving or because I won't be giving him any more wine.
"No. I'd rather avoid this kind of thing. I'm not bad at talking or listening, but I'd rather spend my time elsewhere." I toss him another bottle. His expression changes instantly, and he looks noticeably happier.
"Suit yourself. If everything goes the way we discussed, we'll be allies. You can train with me whenever you want, and you already promised to help me deal with those ogres." Edupe finishes the last sip of his previous bottle as he speaks.
"Yeah, let's do it as soon as possible. See you around." I walk toward Glia and the others without looking back. I can feel the Grade 5 monster behind me giving a slight nod, seemingly quite satisfied.
"You look impeccable, as if you hadn't fought a powerful monster just a few hours ago." My grandmother doesn't greet me. That's her very first comment.
"I don't see any signs of regret on your faces for sending me to fight a monster one rank above me." They're all smiling, as though my life had never been in danger.
"We all knew you'd either win or, in the worst-case scenario, escape." My father shrugs, not looking worried in the slightest.
"No matter how far ahead I think or how hard I try to predict you, you always do something unexpected. Now we have to negotiate with the Escamus leader to claim this territory, and then prepare to attack the ogres." Ritmo is the next to speak.
"I wouldn't have been able to look you in the eye if I'd run away like a rat." I answer my father with a broad smile before turning my attention to Ritmo. "I've already done my part. The rest depends on you. If everything goes well, this will be even more beneficial than simply defeating him." I wink at my older brother.
There are many territories where rulers have formed alliances with powerful monsters. This isn't the first case, and it certainly won't be the last. As long as both sides uphold the agreed-upon rules and maintain a certain level of harmony, everything works out in the end.
There's even an example in Uncle Camux's territory. A powerful Grade 5 tree-type monster lives there. They reached a non-aggression agreement in exchange for a certain quantity of different types of trees, flowers, and monster cores.
I know it's located within a restricted area. My uncle has to station security personnel at the entrance to keep outsiders from doing anything foolish. In the end, giving up a small portion of land and assigning a few guards is far more beneficial. There are other conditions as well, though I don't know every detail.
This case could end up being something similar. Technically, this territory belongs to no one. It's part of the Empire, yet at the same time it isn't, because no one governs it. That's why we've decided to claim it under the Empire's own laws. If we can reach an agreement with one of the strongest monsters in the region, it'll be a tremendous victory.
"Lord Samo." I give the old man a slight bow. I respect him for all the quiet support he's given our territory.
"Maki." He returns the same bow. "I've told you several times that you don't need to be so formal. By the way, the princess is waiting for you. I think she'll be in a bad mood if you're late." His words strike me like a dagger to the stomach.
I continue talking with my family about the battle, and they ask for my opinion of this Escamus. I answer honestly, telling them everything I've felt during the time we've spoken together. They all look noticeably more relieved after hearing me.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"See you soon. I hope you bring me good news." I call out as I lift into the air and fly toward the others.
"So, we're going to have another fight soon? Those ogres seem to follow you wherever you go." Glia speaks through our connection.
"I think so. This time we can go all out. If we fight side by side with Edupe, victory is guaranteed. Those ogres won't even know what hit them." I reply.
When I arrive at the camp, I head straight for the largest tent to meet Joaki and Brendu. "Sorry for taking so long." They both stand up as soon as they see me enter, and Brendu immediately throws herself into my arms.
"I'm happy to see you, but there are more important things right now. Let's go to the makeshift hospital." She grabs my hand and starts pulling me along.
"Thanks, Doc! Murill needs the best treatment from the best doctor in the territory!" Joaki shouts after me. Apparently, he won't be coming with us.
Along the way, I notice some of the soldiers crying. Nearby, several bodies have already been covered with white sheets. There aren't many... I let out a sigh of relief while silently offering them a prayer.
When we reach the makeshift hospital, I see countless wounded people. Some have only minor injuries, others are gravely wounded, some are missing limbs, and others are completely unconscious.
I head straight toward Cokue and Murill—not because they're my friends or because they're Grade 4, but because they're the most seriously injured. According to Brendu, they're in the worst condition. Murill endured the greatest amount of damage to protect the guards, while Cokue fought five Grade 4 monsters at the same time.
"You look like shit." I laugh as I speak to Cokue.
"And you look like you're on your way to the altar to get married." He chuckles in return.
"You look even worse, Murill. Like a monster stampede trampled right over you." I turn toward the other cot.
"More or less, that's exactly what happened." The huge dark-skinned man replies.
I release my life mana toward Cokue first. He's missing an arm and covered in several deep wounds. Halfway through the treatment, sweat is already pouring down my face. The mental exhaustion hits even harder than it does during battle.
Healing Cokue takes much longer than I expected. His own body rejects the healing from time to time, which is strange. In the end, my willpower overwhelms those weak defenses, allowing me to heal him as much as possible. His missing arm is restored, and all his deep wounds are closed. Only bruises and minor injuries remain, and those will heal naturally over time.
Murill is completely different. Although treating him takes even longer than Cokue, the Owl member's body accepts my mana far more readily. There isn't the slightest resistance. Murill's body is covered in deep wounds. He's a complete mess. Just like with Cokue, I have to leave him with only minor injuries so I can conserve enough mana for everyone else.
Once I'm finished with them, I move directly to the remaining wounded. Brendu has already returned to her own tent to speak with her family about other matters.
I have to be extremely careful with how I use my mana. I can't spend more than necessary—it has to last for everyone. That limits my options. I can't simply pour out enormous amounts of mana the way I usually do. I have to ration every bit of it.
Little by little, I heal every injured person. I still have a reserve of life mana stored inside my Cube, and Glia does an incredible job of keeping my mana supplied for as long as possible. She isn't just helping in that regard. She's also encouraging me the entire time.
It's difficult to remain conscious when your brain is exhausted from continuously using mana for hours on end. During the brief moments when I wasn't completely focused on healing, Glia never stopped talking to me. Those tiny lapses were the most dangerous moments.
After healing everyone, I collapse onto the ground.
My body is soaked with sweat, my mind feels foggy, and my mana is nearly depleted. I've never experienced exhaustion quite like this before. Controlling my mana with such precision is unbelievably draining.
The smallest mistake could've made my patients' conditions even worse, which is why I had to be incredibly careful with every single treatment.
I pull out a bottle of cold water. The liquid disappears in an instant. I feel a hand rest on my shoulder. Turning around, I see the short man standing beside me. Cokue is smiling faintly.
"Now you look like shit." The small joke makes me laugh.
"I can't deny that." I answer with a smile as he sits beside me.
"You didn't just fight a Grade 5 monster and secure a future ally... you also healed every wounded soldier. You're a great man, Maki." I feel him pat me gently on the back.
I lift my head and see the smiles of everyone I've healed. Many of them embrace each other tightly, grateful simply to be alive. Every single person thanked me as soon as I finished treating them. That gratitude filled my heart, and this sight became the cherry on top.
"You deserve a good rest." Cokue helps me to my feet. "Let me walk you over to where the princess is. If I leave you lying here, I'll be the one getting scolded. If I escort you there, you'll be the one receiving the lecture."
I can't complain. I want to rest too... and I want to see Brendu.