Chapter 149: Care

“Waah.”

After rescuing Eve. Pangrave was literally turned upside down.

It was a near-miss, but the incident almost wiped out the high-ranking elves due to One Who Devours the Twilight’s terror.

In this day and age, where there is some preparation against One Who Devours the Twilight…or rather, where it is believed that there is such preparation, it is rare for them to intrude so deeply into Pangrave.

Moreover, the mastermind behind this attempted terror attack is none other than the president of the Cradle Trading Company, one of the groups responsible for one-third of Pangrave’s economy.

If such an incident can be calmly passed over, it would either be because the person has resolved the matter and is reassured, or that they avoided the worst-case scenario due to the guidance of a transmigrator.

For reference, I am someone who fits both descriptions, and what I’m doing now…

“Waah…!”

I lay bound all over, confined to a bed in the Temple’s infirmary. Without someone’s assistance, I couldn’t even eat properly!

…Well, it’s not like I was kidnapped like Eve.

I had simply exhausted my body by repeatedly engaging in battles that forced me to exceed my limits.

So now, wrapped in bandages all over, I was hospitalized in the Temple, receiving Ellie’s care.

“Waah…”

As I let out a deep sigh, Ellie frowned deeply and put down the spoon she was holding.

“Hey, I’m feeding you right now, so why do you keep whining! Just stay still for a moment!”

“Sigh…Miss Ellie. Don’t you see the difference between the ‘waah’ from a moment ago and the ‘waah’ now?”

“A ‘waah’ is a ‘waah’. What’s the difference?”

“My goodness! How can you say such a thing!”

The reason why an adult (mentally limited) pretends to be a baby is simple.

Life is so exhausting and hard, to turn away from that suffering.

They long to return to the carefree days of childhood, free from the heavy burden of responsibility….

No matter how desperately they wish, time does not turn back, and they realize that the reality they face has become even more cruel.

Thus, just as one becomes honest before death, a person regains their purest form in the face of extreme trials.

Pretending to be a baby is both a romanticization of the past and a means of escaping reality, yet it is also a struggle to endure today and move forward to tomorrow.

“Do you understand? Pretending to be a baby is akin to a death throe…”

“Open your mouth.”

“Yes.”

Ellie extended a spoon. The soup contained in it flows down the esophagus, warming the entire body.

As that particular feeling subsided, the taste of the soup finally came through.

Whether it had been simmered for a long time or not, it was appropriately thick and went down smoothly. The moment I took a sip, the good smell of spices filled my nose.

And the last thing that touched my teeth was a piece of meat cut into a bite-sized chunk.

The meat, mixed with just the right amount of fat, was soft and delicious, making it a nutritious meal on its own.

Chew, chew. Gulp.

“Even though it’s annoying that Miss Ellie listens to my stories with one ear and lets them out the other… Since the soup is delicious, I’ll let it slide. What is it made of, anyway?”

“Drake’s haunch.”

“…Isn’t that a 6th-floor monster?”

“Right. I bought it at a high price, so don’t complain and make sure to chew it all thoroughly.”

“Okay.”

No wonder it tasted so good and gave me energy just by eating it. It must have been really good meat.

Nodding, I took another bite from Ellie.

Ellie’s cooking skills are always impressive. Though it looks somewhat inconvenient with just one arm… I’ll soon fix that, so it’s okay.

Now that I have the qualification to go up to the third floor. I can get a prosthetic hand there.

“Miss Ellie. This is just out of curiosity.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“If you could have your arm back, what would you do? Would you still run the tavern?”

“If I got my arm back…? Hmm. I can attach a prosthetic now, but it breaks easily if I use it roughly because it can’t handle my strength.”

“Delicate items inevitably have lower durability. But what I’m talking about is a hypothetical situation. Like if your arm suddenly regenerated or if a prosthetic matching your physical abilities appeared.”

“…In simple terms, you’re talking about going back to my prime days, right? Well, what should I do.”

Ellie, who was pondering for a moment, made me close my mouth by feeding me another spoonful of soup, and then continued speaking.

“I think the tavern itself will continue for a while. Jason quit because he got married this time, but the other guys still have a lot of debt and their futures don’t look very bright.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, Ellie’s tavern originally also offered slightly risqué services.

Ellie had loosened things up quite a bit, and because I often suggested events like bunny outfits or butler uniforms without much thought, the atmosphere has changed to be a bit more wholesome now.

Of course, it also helps that when I enter, the customers become more polite under Ellie’s watchful eyes, and the employees now want to do somewhat normal work.

Ellie giggled at me nodding alone.

“Well, once all the kids become independent, then maybe you and I can explore the Labyrinth like Lydia and Benny.”

“Really?”

“Of course. The Labyrinth is a place where you can quickly grow stronger, and the more dangerous it is, the more your skills improve, but many adventurers really die there. Unless you quit being an adventurer, I’ll keep following you. Even if you’re embarrassed, I won’t let you off.”

“Me? Embarrassed of you? Why?”

“Isn’t it embarrassing to have a guardian following you around like a newbie adventurer…?”

“Why would that be embarrassing…?”

“…?”

“…?”

Ellie and I tilted our heads at each other. But I was serious. With Ellie, I could boldly enter even the somewhat dangerous places up to the 7th floor.

It was during this long moment of us watching each other.

Bang!

The door burst open roughly, and Lydia, Benny, Eve, and Karen all came rushing in at once.

Lydia, who was at the forefront, placed her hand on her waist and thrust out her enormous chest as she spoke.

“Here I am.”

“…Miss Lydia. Aren’t you embarrassed by that?”

“Hehe. I came to see Sir Jonah, and there’s a familiar face.”

There are too many obstacles (X)

I’m really glad to see you (O)

“It’s been a while, Jonah. We’ve wrapped up the recent matter, so I’ve come to report the details.”

It seems like Karen is the only sane one.

Shaking my head, I asked Karen for a moment of understanding.

“It’s been a while, Karen! Ah, I’d love to hear it, but could you wait just a bit?”

“Of course. If Jonah wishes, I will wait here for days.”

“…It really won’t take that long, just a moment will be enough!”

Screaming loudly, I released the power of the grinning fully-leveled Goddess Statue, which was surely making a silly face, clinging to me from inside the bandages.

Fwoosh-!

Even though we were indoors, a light from somewhere enveloped me. Simultaneously, the divine power bursting from my entire body turned into a pinkish aura.

The priest suggested an extreme treatment, wrapping my whole body in consecrated bandages, saying my body seemed badly damaged…but this level of injury could be healed with just one Sanctuary.

The reason I’ve been quietly hospitalized until now was to fend off visitors while this situation got resolved, as too much attention was focused on me.

Besides, the fact that someone had obtained the power of the World Tree became known, and the Guild kept pestering me to reveal the summoning conditions for the Floor Guardian of the first floor.

If it becomes known that I can unfold a Sanctuary there, the Pope will undoubtedly come after me without hesitation.

So, I need to show a slightly weaker side. To hide my true capabilities.

Of course, it’s fine here since everyone knows.

“Uhtchacha.”

I untied the bandage by myself and adjusted my posture. Now that I looked, everyone was watching with curious expressions, but Karen alone knelt reverently before me on one knee in prayer.

…Her faith is truly remarkable.

I chuckled and playfully extended my foot. It was meant to signal that she could get up now….

“Thank you.”

“Huh.”

Karen respectfully took my foot and kissed the top of it.

The ticklish sensation from where her lips touched quickly turned into a tingling feeling, making me shiver involuntarily.

…Did I like this kind of thing?

Like a snake that has found its prey, Eve’s eyes gleamed insidiously (actually, lewdly) as I tried my best to ignore her and naturally opened my mouth.

“So? How did this matter get resolved?”

“Yes. We have secured the route where One Who Devours the Twilight was hiding, and we have captured all the executives of the Cradle Trading Company who were following Tuberose.”

“Oh. That’s a relief.”

“At the beginning, there were many concerns since Miss Rosemary took the lead in all these processes, but after seeing the results, the opinions have shifted to seeing her as trustworthy. Thanks to that, even though the Cradle Trading Company is faltering, it seems they can at least maintain minimal credibility.”

“Hmm hmm. My cash cow…I mean, my friend seems to be doing well. How about the Temple and the Guild?”

“The Temple is talking about eradicating One Who Devours the Twilight, saying that something that should never happen has indeed happened. Of course, the radical faction’s claims will not be fully accepted, as always.”

“Still, the atmosphere will inevitably become stricter regarding heresy.”

“Yes. I’ve also heard news that they are reinforcing the Inquisitors.”

“Anything else?”

“Nothing other than the fact that the Pope has started to take an interest in Jonah.”

“Just in case, let me ask…”

“It should be fine. The Pope sees Jonah as a capable adventurer and a benefactor to the elves, but has no idea about your connection to the Goddess of Love. At most, she sees the purity and quantity of your divine power and considers you a person of strong faith.”

“Tsk. He’s grown a lot, but only to that extent.”

Of course, the divine power held by the Pope is vastly greater than mine. Recently, I acquired a 5-star Power, significantly increasing my divine power, but since it’s a passive Power, it’s not overwhelmingly immense.

Perhaps slightly better than a mid-level priest? Of course, having such divine power without being a priest is an incredible feat…but it’s not enough to threaten the Pope.

However, the nature of my divine power has completely changed. When the Avatar of Love is fully unleashed, the atmosphere and presence it exudes are akin to that of a true goddess.

As I nodded to myself, Karen continued speaking calmly.

“And as for the guild, Cradle Trading Company has been fined and ordered to undergo a five-year audit.”

“…What?”

“Even though it’s said she’s already dead, since Tuberose involved someone from the Cradle Trading Company, there’s no helping it.”

“……”

Even in death, responsibility does not end. It’s common sense in this world that one’s children or subordinates resume it.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Though it still feels unfamiliar to me.

“And those who attended the banquet also demanded compensation.”

“…Why?”

“Didn’t they almost die?”

“Even knowing I’m on the side of the Cradle Trading Company?”

“Politics is politics, and capital is capital, as they say.”

“……”

What the hell, why aren’t these bastards engaging in collusion??

I shook my head in disbelief before opening my mouth.

“Sigh. So, after settling all this, what happens? It’s still the Cradle Trading Company, so it’ll be okay, right?”

“Of course. According to Miss Rosemary’s message, they need to close down all branches, Cradle-affiliated shops, and related businesses, but they can at least keep the main store.”

“Phew. So, even if I ask for some money to be loaned out…”

“In about 30 years, they’ll be able to pay off all the fines imposed by the Guild.”

“Wow, shit.”

So that was just calculating the damages.

After a moment of contemplation, I looked towards Eve.

“Miss Eve. Is there no way to resolve this?”

“Hoo-hoo. There’s always a way, isn’t there?”

I have a good idea (X)

Count on me (O)

“…???”

While I was tilting my head at the oddly different tone that seemed similar, Eve clapped her hands lightly as if she had come up with a good idea.

“Ah! If you sign these documents first, I can at least put out the urgent fire.”

“…These are marriage documents!”

For a moment, I glared at Eve in frustration, but she just had a faint smile with a suspicious look in her eyes.

It was only then that I realized. Even if I might be revered like a king among the elves, it didn’t mean I could freely use the state budget like a real king.

If I wanted to do that, I would have to marry Eve to gain the legitimate qualifications.

“No, my money!!!”

As I tore at my hair and screamed, Karen calmly added.

“Still, there are ‘thank you notes’ from the high elves and the Guild’s reward money.”

“Whew….”

If it weren’t for that, I might have turned to the dark side.