Chapter 239 The Healer, Sato Iyashi (I).
Chapter 84: The Healer, Sato Iyashi (I).
Kein's POV
"Sato... Iyashi."
Kazari looked shocked upon hearing the name.
Avery and I stopped eating and stared at her in concern. It may have come into a shock, after all with our knowledge no one is to go out of their hero island.
"Are you alright, Kazari?" I asked, but clearly she didn't look fine.
I just wanted to know if there would be a need to derail the conversation or request for another healer Big Sister Valentina could recommend to us.
Kazari stared at everyone in the table, taking the spoon that fell, hands shaking slightly and tried her best to act all normal.
"Y-Yes... I'm alright. It's just that I was not expecting someone very high profile to be joining our journey." she forced herself to smile at the couple and to us.
Big Sister Valentina crosses her arms and brags about her social connections, having many and even reaching out to many branches of the noble circles in many countries. "Haha that is to be expected, I have friends from all around but not many in Winshern. That place is a hard one to crack. Now that I think about it... you two look sort of... similar."
"W-Who?" (Kazari)
"Sato Iyashi, I mean the black hair- both of your names being eastern, those black eyes and your face proportion? If I would've guessed you two could've been relatives, hermana."
The girl shakes her head, denying the resemblance. "Our similarities are just... a coincidence. I don't remember anyone named Sato Iyashi."
"Ah! If that is the case then you two will get along! She is the only healer and capable of reaching the top floor of the dungeon, Iyashi has even given me a copy of the map and shortcuts. If you have her in your party I am guaranteed your chance of winning will be doubled."
Our ears perked up hearing the chances of us surviving and winning would be doubled. "I know you have a knight, an active hero and a maid- even the three heroes were not enough on beating the demon lord so I cannot imagine you three going even past the third floor with two of your party members lacking experience."
She meant Kazari and I, we didn't deny that fact having no experience in any dungeons I don't know what to expect much of it.
Out of all of us Avery is the experienced one.
Avery clicks her tongue, before aggressively stabbing her form into the steak. "Tch! That's because the Winshern hero keeps killing us instead of helping! That dude is so not cool!"
"Si, I have heard of his reputation. He works alone and even if he hires party members they are the first one to die." she continues holding her chin. "It is hard making even a simple connection with them based on my experience."
"Our chances of winning will be doubled..." I could hear Kazari whisper to her side and we couldn't help but overhear her seemingly desperate whisper.
"Si, si I am not just recommending you no ordinary healer after all. It is a good thing she owes me a favor and is in town tomorrow. You can stay the night and I can prepare a letter of request for us to meet." (Big Sister Valentina) was fast on the paperwork, and I'm sure with her connections nothing will be detailed but...
Kazari's state right now- she's looking conflicted. It is as if two sides of her are fighting whether we should accept or deny the recommended healer- after all.
With the stories she's told of us, who wouldn't worry?
"Kazari should we take that healer-" before I could even finish asking, she nods her head making me stop seeing that she's made her own decision.
"We must take the healer... if it's for the mission we'll take anyone that could make a huge difference for us winning." (Kazari) set aside her pride and history with her family to have her own family member inside the party, whom I'm sure she hasn't seen for years.
"Bueno, I'll be writing a letter for her request to join your party as payment for something she owed me last time."
"Oh! Oh! Just curious, what did she owe you?" (Avery) raises her hand, still not finished with her meal.
"A map of the demon lord's dungeon and... information about her missing relative that I can't seem to find." (Big Sister Valentina) eyes Kazari with a grinning face and understanding, holding her glass of wine in her right hand before drinking it.
"The youngest of the Sato Clan, the prized possession of the deceased hero." She shrugs, smiling in content. "Though that stops today, I hope you'll enjoy your little get together tomorrow, Sato Kazari."
"...!"
Kazari didn't look too comfortable with the sprivanian merchant any longer and stood up from her chair looking angry.
Making a screeching sound as she pushes it from behind, "You...!"
She called out to Big Sister Valentina with glaring black eyes, that it scared the little baby to the point it cried.
"...Wah!!!"
Sister Gisela immediately heard her baby's cry and tried comforting her little one.
"Kazari calm down." I couldn't take the baby's crying, seeing Kazari giving much emotion like this made me fear that she'll regret whatever she's going to say after. n./o-(V--e).l()b/-1--n
"So you know my sister?! And everyone from the clan is like that it?! Are you... Is this all a scheme to bring me back to that wretched island?!" (Kazari) continued with her questions, and I bet there's a lot more than that.
"Kazari-" I held her shoulders to hold her back from getting any further from Big Sister Valentina.
"Hold on, chill! You made the baby cry!"
Avery also stood up from her chair, letting go of her spoon and fork to help me calm Kazari down. "Take a deep breath and why don't we let the nice lady that gave us some food to explain?"
The crown princess' personal maid, hearing her new friend's kind and soft voice, she immediately follows her instructions trying to take a deep breath before calmly saying-
"She better start then."
"Apologies, I don't care if she's your friend Miss Kein but anything that involves my family- is something I don't want to ever see again." (Kazari) clenched her fists as we all waited for Big Sister Valentina to explain.
"Honey... are you not telling me something again? What is it with the hero's descendants? And... How do you know something about Kein's friend?" (Sister Gisela) asks worriedly, not wanting to offend us she scolds her wife.
"It's just about completing business with a personal client, mi amor. A coincidental one, I never intended to find you and tell you this way but I saw it as a... win-win situation." She stands up, patting Elena's head trying to coax her to sleep.
"My only mission is to find you and not do anything else. However, after hearing that you also needed a healer, why not kill two birds with one stone?"
"Did Sato Iyashi tell you anything about our family history?" (Kazari)
"None, they told me nothing about your family history and that is the truth." She places a hand on her chest as if to promise she is telling no lies. "All I know they are all... desperate in trying to find their youngest but of course, the rules and traditions of their island are keeping them from going afar thus they asked me to help with my connections."
None shall leave the island for long, all for exceptions of the near places and the demon lands now apparently.
"I never expected for you to become a royal servant, no wonder I couldn't reach or find you." (Big Sister Valentina) lowers her head. "I know this may come as a shock to you, but I really mean no harm and I promise my only intent is to help Kein with everything she's going to need."
"And you need a healer, a good one."
"..."
She's... not wrong about us needing a good header but we don't want to be parties with anyone Kazari is not comfortable with.
I would rather have a sucky healer that will not give Kazari stress and trust issues than a good one who will give her that.
I stood tall and patted Kazari's back. "Alright then here's the deal- we'll meet this so-called sister of hers, see what she wants and if she decides to join our party we'll think it through."
"We ought to get to know her first- granted we don't have much time but this is a much safer approach."
"Agreed the last thing we want is party members that deserts their post or even traitors." (Avery) chimed in and I nodded.
"If we don't like her we will find another healer. If not we'll... we'll stupidly die trying to fight the demon lord without one." I couldn't believe that it came out of me but I tried to be comforting, thankfully it worked.
Because a moment later Kazari smiles at us looking thankful, for understanding her situation.
"We'll be fine, you have me!" (Avery) winked and I gave her a small high five.
"You three are really like best friends! Hahaha! Well then good! I only want the little sister to meet the big one so-!"
Snap!
Big Sister Valentina snaps her finger and orders the maid, "Prepare the large guest room with three beds. The best friends will stick together, clearly they have bonded well."
"Gracias, Big Sister Valentina." I gave her thankful nod and she shakes her head.
"Ah well I was the one who gave such shocking news, I also apologies I am merely a trickster by heart. I knew you were a descendant of the hero by just your appearance back when we first saw each other at the bar." She laughs, scratching the back of her head and Kazari forgives her.
"Apology accepted." (Kazari)
"Eat well and rest tight tonight, tomorrow you'll be meeting the greatest healer of the East- Sato Iyashi."