“…Understood.”
Solution was never one for many expressions, but her current face was truly like that of a mask.
Even Sebas could not recognize the emotion that was filling her eyes. Only that she did not at all welcome the current situation. It was so obvious that you could almost touch with your hands.
“First, could you perform a diagnosis of her physical condition?”
“Understood, I will do so immediately.”
“No, right here is a bit…”
Although Solution may deem it trivial, it probably should not be done near the entrance.
“We have an empty room so may I ask you to perform it there?”
Solution nodded without a word.
There were no words spoken between them as the girl was moved from the entrance to the guest room. Although neither Solution nor Sebas were the type to partake in needless chatter, even more so, an ambiguous atmosphere flowed between them.
Solution opened the guest room door since Sebas was using both hands to carry the girl.
Despite the thick curtain darkening the room, the air did not feel stuffy in the least. The air was fresh because the door had been opened many times and the interior was kept immaculate.
Sebas stepped inside, small rays of moonlight shining through the slips in the curtains. He laid the girl on top of the bed’s clean sheets.
Although he tried his best to heal her by pouring in his Ki, the unmoving body looked like a corpse.
“Then.”
Solution nonchalantly tore off the cloth wrapped around the girl, revealing her ragged limbs.
Though it was a cruel appearance that should have invited pity, there was no change in Solution’s expression. Her eyes reflected nothing but dull indifference.
“…Solution, I will leave the rest to you.”
Sebas left her with only those words and exited the room. Solution did not bother to stop him as she began to check the girl’s condition.
After stepping out into the hallway, Sebas muttered quietly so that it would not reach Solution’s ears.
“A foolish endeavor.”
Sebas unwittingly stroked his beard. Why did he save her? He himself could not explain clearly.
Perhaps this is what it means for a hunter to not slay a bird that came to him of its own accord.
No, that wasn’t it. Why did he save her?
As the butler who was also tasked with the role of house steward, his allegiance was with the 41 Supreme Beings. At present, his guild leader, the one who took on the name of Ainz Ooal Gown was the being whom he owed the entirety of his allegiance.
There was not even a shadow of falsehood in his loyalty. He believed that he had always served diligently and would not hesitate to lay down his life in service.
However— if he had to pledge his loyalty to only one among the 41 Supreme Beings, Sebas would choose without hesitation. Touch Me.
He was Sebas’ creator and the strongest existence of ‘Ainz Ooal Gown’, holder of the World Champion class and in a different league altogether.
As part of the first nine, he gathered the original members of Ainz Ooal Gown before it grew in power through every possible means, including PK.
No one would believe it if they were told that his reason was to help the weak. However, it was the truth.
He helped Momonga when he was about to quit the game in frustration from being PKed continuously. When Simmering Teapot could not find a party to adventure with because of her appearance, he was the one who approached her first.
The thoughts that person left behind became the invisible chains wrapping around Sebas.
“Could this be a curse…?”
What vile words. If a different person from Ainz Ooal Gown— a member of Nazarick created by the 41 Supreme Beings— had heard him, they may have called him a blasphemer and attacked.
『 Feeling pity for a being who is not of Nazarick is unacceptable. 』
Those words were most obvious.
With a few exceptions— those whose settings were established to be such by the 41 Supreme Beings, head maid Pestonya S. Wanko for example— excluding people like her, the members of Nazarick all believed that those who do not belong with Ainz Ooal Gown should immediately be cast out.
For instance, he had heard from one of Solution’s reports that a member of Battle Maid Pleiades, Lupusregina, was on friendly terms with a girl from Carne village. But he knew very well that depending on the situation, Lupusregina would abandon her without a second thought.
It was not because she was heartless.
An order from the Supreme Beings to die meant that you must die. Likewise, even if she was a friend, an order to kill her would be carried out swiftly. That was true loyalty. A fellow denizen who did not understand this would be looked on with pity.
Judging humans with useless sentiment, that in itself was unacceptable.
Then what about him? Was his current course of action acceptable?
As Sebas bit his lips, Solution walked out through the door. Her face was emotionless per usual.
“How is she?”
“… On top of syphilis, she has two other venereal diseases. Several of her ribs are cracked, as well as her fingers. The tendons in her right arm and left leg have been severed and she is missing her top and bottom front teeth. It appears that her internal organs are failing as well. There are lacerations in her anus and it is possible that she is addicted to some drug. She has countless contusions and cuts on her body. Considering her current state, I believe that I can leave out the rest…. Would you like me to explain further?”
“No, there is no need. There is only one thing that is important. — Can she be healed?”
“Of course.”
Sebas had expected her prompt answer.
Using a healing ability can fix even amputations. If Sebas were to use his qigong, it would also be easy to completely fix bodily injuries. In truth, if he wanted, he could have easily healed the old woman’s sprained ankle on the spot. He did not do so in order to save it for emergencies and to prevent leaking information.
But even if qigong helped recover one’s strength, it could not heal poisons or diseases. Sebas never learned such skills. That was why he needed Solution’s help for the recovery.
“Then I will leave it to you.”
“Would it not be better to call for Pestonya-sama for healing magic?”
“That will not be necessary. Solution, I believe you have a healing scroll?”
Confirming that Solution nodded her head, Sebas continued.
“Then please use that.”
“…Sebas-sama. This scroll was given to us by the Supreme Beings. I believe that it should not be used on the likes of humans.”
It was a reasonable argument. He had to consider a different method. First, heal her injuries and save her from the danger of death. They could then heal the poisons and diseases at a later time. However, he was not certain that they could afford to delay. If it were the poisons and diseases that was killing her, endlessly restoring her health would prove useless.
After some hesitation, in the end, he spoke to Solution in a steely voice that would not betray his inner thoughts.
“Heal her.”
Solution’s eyes narrowed and at the same time, something dark red stirred within her pupils. But that change could not be verified any further due to Solution bowing her head.
“…I will carry out your order. Restoring her to normal condition— in other words, will it be fine to restore her body to the state before the injuries were inflicted on her?”
Seeing Sebas give his affirmation, Solution courteously bowed her head.
“I will begin immediately.”
“And once her treatment is finished, will you please fill the tub with water and bathe her? I will leave to purchase a meal.”