Chapter 78
While I was distracted by the golden magic flickering in and out of my vision, I finished my lunch and it happened right after we left the shop.
A scream, the neighing of a horse, and the sound of something shattering and breaking reached my ears.
Before I could turn my gaze to see what was happening, Erika dashed forward.
I couldn't help but be impressed with myself for automatically starting to chase after her the moment she moved.
What had happened was obvious at a glance.
The wheel of a wagon had broken, causing an accident.
In the middle of the road, the horse and the cart had overturned.
As expected of an area with many adventurers, it seemed no humans had been caught up in the incident.
Both adventurers and non-adventurers alike were probably used to such things, for better or worse.
Even in this heat, which could easily be called midsummer, they remained unfazed as a boy lay collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat that wasn't just from the heat.
Whether a passenger or the driver of the carriage, a girl rushed to the side of the fallen human, blood streaming from her forehead as she shouted loudly for help.
"Someone! Is there anyone who can use healing magic?!"
The collapsed boy and the girl calling for help were clearly adventurers, judging by their appearance.
They looked to be around my age.
As I approached them alongside Erika, my ears picked up the murmurs from the surroundings.
"What, just scavengers?"
While it's true that young adventurers might be doing such work, I tilted my head slightly, sensing contempt in the words of the adventurer who said that.
It's not strange that no one went to help; the world of adventurers is fundamentally one of personal responsibility, and anyone who blames others for not helping isn't a true adventurer.
What's strange is the contempt felt toward scavengers.
Erika knelt beside the boy without a hint of concern for her clothes getting dirty, her lack of hesitation striking me as beautiful.
I glanced at her while approaching the horse, still tied to the overturned wagon and thrashing about, and knocked it unconscious.
Then, I knelt beside Erika.
"Is he okay?"
By the way, I meant, is he still alive?
With a magic user as skilled as Erika, if he's not dead, he's almost certainly within the range of being saved.
The boy, bloodied from his left side down to the lower half of his body, was visibly in critical condition, so it wouldn't have been surprising if he had died from falling off the carriage.
"He's in much better shape than Shin was last time."
Saying that, Erika used her healing magic.
The boy's complexion visibly improved.
"Healing magic!"
The girl, who had been bewildered by our sudden approach, let out a small gasp.
It's easy to forget when you use healing magic as naturally as breathing, but in general society, healing magic is considered extremely difficult.
It requires long training both to learn it and to use it freely.
That's why adventurers often deprioritize it, and having a Church sister or priest join a party is a huge advantage for adventurers.
It's pretty accurate to say it takes over half a year just to heal a simple scrape.
The boy coughed, blood mixing with his breath.
"No, he looks more in pain than I was last time, doesn't he?"
I said this while recalling the time I got thoroughly beaten by Oganight.
It's a bit late to think about it now, but I felt embarrassed that Erika saw me make a fool of myself; someday, I'll get my revenge.
"Comparing rocks and paper in terms of durability is absurd, isn't it? I was truly worried back then. Shin, you should learn to look a bit more in pain."
I got scolded for worrying about the boy, for some reason.
"Thank you so much! While we were picking up magic stone fragments, a monster suddenly attacked us. We managed to drive it off, but Edds protected me!"
That's some bad luck——before I could say that, the boy coughed again, blood mixing with his breath.
This time, it was quite dramatic.
"He was pretty close to dying, but he's fine now."
Erika said this while casually performing a masterstroke of using wind magic to neatly gather the boy's scattered blood from his cough and discard it onto the ground.
It's terrifying how no one notices the incredible feat she performed so nonchalantly.
"Wha... what, where am I? Pal?"
Regaining consciousness, the boy spoke in a confused tone, his gaze wandering between me and Erika.