「Hey, patient! Do you know why you’re the patient here?」
「……Because I’m a boy?」
「Wrong! Because you’re injured!」
Ugh, so annoying. This over-the-top, half-crazed energy is seriously irritating.
This morning things got complicated after that, so we ended up running late, but we made it safely to the doctor’s place and finished the examination.
As expected, it was completely healed. Probably thanks to Noie using her spell formations on me nonstop.
Today’s doctor was dressed like someone from a mountain tribe. He wore fur clothing. Or rather, it looked like he had draped the entire pelt of a bear over himself, head and all.
「Doctor? If you’re a doctor, shouldn’t you dress like one?」
「Patient. What exactly do you mean by ‘dressing like a doctor’?」
「You know, basically white and clean-looking?」
「Wrong～! If it’s clean-looking, then don’t wear clothes at all! Wearing clothes is nothing but covering yourself in filth! I～am now～going to free myself completely～and perform the examination～!」
Just as the doctor began to strip off the fur, a figure appeared behind him…
Thud!
「Father. That’s enough.」
「Hey, daughter…」
The doctor clutched his groin and crumpled to the floor from his daughter’s merciless strike.
I clearly witnessed her toe land a perfect, clean hit right between his legs.
Beside me, Noie lightly swung her foot, so I gently placed my hand on it to stop her.
That’s something you, who wants a child, should absolutely never do, okay?
「Argusta-sama. I’m very sorry.」
「No, it’s fine.」
「If he would just stay quiet and treat patients… well, there are still plenty of problems.」
She gave a wry smile. This was the mad doctor’s daughter.
She looked about fifteen years old. Roughly the same height and build as the original Noie.
The two were apparently not blood-related… but honestly, who would marry a man like that? It made sense.
「Father doesn’t act this way out of malice… it’s a side effect.」
「It can’t be helped. People who gained their blessing later in life tend to end up like that.」
People who miraculously survived near-death experiences sometimes gained a blessing but lost their minds in the process.
That doctor was one such case. He fell from a great height and survived by a miracle. He received a blessing, but in exchange, the terror of death shattered his mind.
It was understandable. Anyone who came that close to dying might end up the same.
I gently stroked Noie’s head.
She turned her clear, bright eyes toward me. Her expression carried the softness unique to children.
「So, Argusta-sama. Um…」
「Yes, yes. Last time’s payment came from the royal family, right?」
「Yes.」
「Then this time, use this for the next ones.」
Noie placed the bag she had brought onto the examination table.
It landed with a heavy thud. The daughter’s eyes widened in shock.
「……!」
She broke the seal to check inside, recoiled in astonishment, then peered in again.
「Aaaaargusta-sama!」
「This is for the examination fee.」
「But… this is way too much!」
「Really? We’re one of the highest-paid households in the kingdom, you know. About ten percent of income… that’s the rule here, isn’t it?」
「But still!」
This clinic had a fixed rule.
Anyone who received treatment had to pay ten percent of their income. That meant those with no income paid nothing at all.
I had overheard that rule and asked around a little.
In the end, I learned that despite his madness, the doctor was a good person.
If that was true, then the Draguknight family, one of the wealthiest in the kingdom, even if only whispered about, had to show its sincerity.
I knew it was too much. Probably around thirty percent of this payment.
「I really cannot accept this amount!」
The daughter broke into a cold sweat and panicked. But I had expected this reaction.
「Then when someone comes who would struggle to pay, just tell them ‘This has already been paid in advance’ and take it from this bag.」
「Eh?」
「Say a generous wealthy person came earlier and covered the fees in advance. Something like that.」
I took Noie’s hand and stood up.
She looked at my face and gave the tiniest lift of her lips.
In her childlike form, her expressions felt somehow more honest and visible.
I stroked her head once more, comforting my wife who seemed quietly pleased by this donation-like act.
Most of our income came from Noie’s efforts. Without her cooperation, none of this would have been possible.
「Are you really sure about this?」
「It’s fine. Noie wants it this way too.」
「……Yes.」
「See?」
We looked at each other. I smiled for both of us, then left the clinic.
-0-
「Hawawawawa～」
「……」
Noie sat on the sofa eating snacks while Frea-san carefully checked her over.
To be precise, she had Noie undress for the examination, or rather, inspection. Krea watched the scene and for some reason let out delighted sounds. Asking why would not be kind, so I stayed quiet.
「Lutte came by yesterday to submit her report when she returned, and she told me… but she really hasn’t gone back to normal.」
「Yeah. For now, let’s hang Mische upside down.」
「Unfortunately, today she’s on guard duty for the standby post construction.」
「That’s extremely annoying.」
All of this happened because that idiot prince tricked Noie into looking into some jar.
「Why hasn’t Noie gone back to normal?」
「I checked, but there are no signs of any strange spell formations. Well, with the captain, there are always many unknowns anyway.」
Frea-san answered the idiot prince’s question.
After putting Noie’s clothes back on, Krea showed a disappointed expression.
「Arg? While you were together… did anything come to mind?」
「Hm? Hmm～. Probably.」
It was more of a hunch than a solid lead, but I did have one idea.
「Maybe ‘Noie’ doesn’t want to go back?」
At my words, my idiot brother gave me a strange look.
I could tell just by watching. There had to be someone out there who adored Noie this cute.
Perhaps someone inside “Noie” was up to no good.
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