55-49 Triumph to Melatoni Crisis approaching Botakuri

Today was the fourth day of my journey on the forenoir to the healing center in the city of Meratni, where I had applied two months ago to find out the current status of the healing center that had accepted me.

The blacksmith had made me stirrups that would keep the horse from hurting itself, making it easier to maintain my riding posture, and I had proceeded to heel and purifying magic on the forenoir.

I'd left three days ago, traveling in reverse of the route I'd taken when I'd come to the holy city of Surur.

The reason is simple. It's because this time it's not just me and Forenoire traveling alone and one horse.

My companion this time was the bloodline of the white wolf who asked for an escort.

''You're finally seeing it, Holy Change-sama.

'Master Luciel has become a great man all at once, hasn't he?

That's my favorite super knight in chief. We've seen it all before.

Mr. Bazan, Mr. Sekiroth and Mr. Basra open their mouths in turn.

'Please don't use pompous names or street names. Especially Basra-san, how come you know the latest and only Knights of the Order even know the street names!

I talked to the knights over there.

Basra-san turned his gaze to three young priest-knights who were guarding the carriage. There are several healers riding in that carriage, including Jord-san, and they are the people who were appointed as the initial members to accompany me to Yenis.

Yes, they are nominally my subordinates. Thus, two knights rode horseback and traveled in two carriages, one driven by one of the knights and one driven by Bazan, with three horses.

Apparently, he had become friends with them before he knew it.

'...I forgot to keep my mouth shut.

Well, it was better than being hated, wasn't it?

That's true, but...

The three of them laughed at my unfaithfulness, and as we went on, I could see the outer walls of a large city ahead of us.

'City of Meratni, I'm back!'

I whispered to myself, though there was still some distance to go.

Something was wrong as the gate approached. I guess I couldn't help but feel strange.

Because is there a festival? There was almost an overflow of people that almost made me believe that I was going to be able to do this.

'What's this?'

''Isn't it amazing. This many people are going to come together for the triumphant return of the Holy Transformation Healer Master born by the Meratni Adventurer's Guild?

You should be proud. Well, if you get carried away, there's Whirlwind-sama.

They said they'd be arriving soon, and they'd be in touch with you with this magic ball.

When I heard that, I wondered what it would be like for a man who had become a superstar to make a triumphant return. It's not just a matter of time before you're in a position to be able to get your hands on a new one.

Welcome back to Meratni. I'm not sure if this is a good idea.

The person who called out to me so was the one who had been guarding this city when I first visited it four years ago. I dismounted from the forenoir I was riding and held out my card.

''Thank you for your service. Here's your card.''

I handed it to him and he took it carefully with both hands and returned it to me when I confirmed it.

''Indeed, welcome back. Holy Change-sama.

And then he let me in.

"Oh. My apprentice. I hope you haven't been neglecting your training properly?

'Of course. I can only imagine a future where Master Brod will beat me up from now on, and if I'm lazy, I'll die, won't I?

''Kukkuu. Then I'm going to go to the Adventurer's Guild training ground now and say "Yes. Stop. Welcome back, Luciel-kun. I'm going to go to the healers' guild first, and then I'll have the people in the carriage behind me take you to the inn.

Galba saved me from being almost taken to the battlefield.

''Hey, disciple. I'll give you guys a welcome party today, but you'll also have a whimsical day in this city after this one, Master Holy Change.

'Hahaha. Do you think I'll succumb to such intimidation?

So? What are you going to do?

I'd appreciate it if I could take that suggestion.

Good. Then go to the Healers' Guild.

Yes, sir.

Thus, me and my men from the church were approached by a lot of people on our way to the Healer's Guild, and aside from me, my men behind me seemed to be doing their best to follow with awkward smiles.

''It's been a while since we've been here, too. Let's go then, everyone.

I'm sure this will be an oasis for them. With that thought, I opened the door to the Healer's Guild.

I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't believe my eyes. For some reason, the Healers' Guild, which should have looked like a quiet government office, welcomed us with a flashy banner, which surprised me even more than when I came back to town.

Welcome back, Luciel-sama, the S-class healer born of the Healer's Guild, Meratoni Branch.

The moment I saw this I froze, and this time I was clapped and had to join the Healer's Guild even though I didn't want to... and I felt like I had to.

I forced my irritated emotions into a poker face and decided to enter.

''Luciel-kun. No, Luciel-sama, welcome back.

It was Mr. Krull who greeted me.

''...Ah, hi. The atmosphere of the Healer's Guild has changed somewhat.''

''Hmm. Thanks to Luciel-sama, I became the guild master, the head of the branch here, at the age of thirty. This is a record for the youngest woman. I didn't expect you to really start giving me a raise in salary, I want to kiss you.

Sorry. Even if you're greeted with that kind of tension all of a sudden, you'll just get a donkey.

Ha....hahahaha. Just your feelings are fine. Please take care of me and their procedures first.　

'You're so dull. I wonder if that's the secret to moving up to S-level?

Thus, my mental strength was being skinned down even before the procedure was done.

On the other hand, Botacouli, the head of the largest healing hospital in the city of Meratni, who was supposed to welcome Luciel and the others, was storming in his private room in the healing hospital.

''Why~. Why did you start talking about studying the field and the current situation of healers in this city, and in my healing hospital? Could it be that you have a grudge against me? That must be it. It wasn't long after that that the guildmaster of the Healers' Guild was replaced. The money had been taken out, so that man must have absconded with the money for the kid. Hey, what am I going to do? Think.

He was reprimanding the slaves in front of him and the bodyguard mercenaries.

Botacouli was in such a hurry.

He would fly Luciel to headquarters and usually work at the church headquarters for five years or more.

Furthermore, there was basically no transfer to the place that caused the problem.

And yet, Luciel came back after only two years.

That wasn't normal.

I'm sure he's trying to set me up for being an S-class.

This is what Botacouli is thinking about, not caring that his blood pressure is incredibly high and he is desperately trying to figure out how to get past that hypocritical little boy, Luciel.

There were no mercenaries present at the time, and the mercenaries didn't understand Luciel, and they didn't think of killing an S-class healer, as expected. The mercenaries were people too, and it was easy to imagine what would happen to their own lives if they killed a healer who was well-liked by so many people.

And seeing Botakouri's unusual lack of room, Botakouri's slaves decided to start planning to carry out a certain plan.