Volume 7 - CH 11

Chapter 11 – Trauma

After leaving Lurie’s shop, Eto separated with Pastor Teilhard and headed back to the Knights’ facility. The sky is already dark, and cold crosswinds are blowing from the gaps in the alleys, which made Eto huddle under a thick coat and raise his collar to block out the wind.

Autumn is almost over and winter is coming. Eto had heard that it doesn’t snow much around Veil, but the cold seemed to be severe. Which means, the support activity from next year will change depending on how they survive the winter.

“It will be a crucial moment from now on.” Eto quietly muttered

—-

A knight approached as Eto tried to pass the entrance to the Knights’ facility.

“Eto-dono, a woman who was a kidnapped victim, fainted in the middle of the city and was brought here. If Eto-dono wants to see her condition, she is being protected in Building No.5.”

“How was the woman? Did you see her when they brought her here?”

“I didn’t, because she was brought inside alongside the carriage that brought her. I think it’s been about one hour since she was brought here. What I’ve just informed you about was something that was taught by others who saw the scene.”

The knight looks apologetic for not being able to answer Eto’s question, but Eto was grateful for the information the knight gave him. So, Eto thanked the knight and immediately brought his feet to Building No.5.

Upon entering the building, Eto saw Salina, the female knight, talking to a male doctor. After talking, the doctor bows to Eto and walks away, while Salina approaches Eto with fast steps.

“Eto-dono, one of the female victims, was brought here earlier. Her name is Natalie. She fainted in the city and was brought here in a carriage with her mother, who happened to be with her at that time.”

“Ee, I’ve heard it from a knight at the guard station. Can you tell me a little more about the situation?”

“Yes. The mother told us that Natalie suddenly screamed when they were walking down the road. According to her, it may be because there was a carriage that stopped near them, but the real cause is not clear yet. And because of the turmoil, the nearby knights rushed toward them. After hearing the situation from the mother, the Knights took them on a carriage and brought them to Building No.5.”

Despite the emergency, Salina was calm. She is trying to fulfill her Knightly responsibility to protect the victim.

“I see. It was fortunate that the Knights were able to bring her here immediately. How is Natalie-san’s condition right now?”

“We tried to have her sleep in the room in the back, but it seems she woke up earlier. I think there is no need to worry for the time being because the doctor and her mother are there with her. Kohaku-dono and Sorano-dono are also waiting near the room.”

Kohaku and Sorano had said to Eto that they would go see the female victims if they finished the guild’s work early. And if those two are there, Eto thought there is nothing to worry for the time being.

As Eto listened to the continuation of the story at a nearby table, a woman’s scream echoed from the back of the building.

“Noo!! Don’t come!!”

Hearing such a sorrowful scream, Eto stood up and looked at the end of the corridor. There, he saw Sorano holding a rampaging woman from behind while Kohaku is trying to calm the woman while blocking the corridor.

“No, I’m scared. I don’t want to feel something like that anymore. Mom, the carriage stopped. And then a hand suddenly stretched from outside…. NOO!!”

“Calm down Natalie-san. It’s already okay.”

However, Kohaku’s words never reached Natalie. Seeing that, Eto quickly approached Natalie and gave her Slow debuff, making her movement slow down.

“I think it’s better to restrain her or let her smell a sleeping drug in this chance. Because she could get hurt at this rate.”

Eto swiftly said to the doctor that stood at the entrance of the room. After that, the doctor gave Natalie a sleeping pill and the situation was settled for the time being, as Natalie, who lost consciousness, was carried on a stretcher into the room.

Near the room where Natalie jumped out, a familiar elderly woman stood and bowed to Eto and the others.

“I’m the one who came here for consultation before.”

Since Salina already told him about the situation, Eto also remembers the elderly woman. On the other day, the elderly woman had consulted Eto and Salina about her daughter waking up in the middle of the night and screaming, which worried her. And apparently, Natalie was the daughter that she was talking about at that time.

Eto then asked the doctor about Natalie’s condition. It seems after being brought into Building No.5, the doctor tried to ask her story. However, she suddenly remembered something and in a state of confusion, pushed the doctor away. Then, when the doctor fell to the floor, she tried to escape from the room. It seems she couldn’t even see her mother who was by her side.

It was fortunate that Kohaku and Sorano were waiting outside the room. Sorano, who was more alert about loud noises, was able to catch Natalie immediately.

As the situation has settled for the time being, that night, Eto and his party returned to the dormitory, leaving Salina, who said she is going to guard Natalie to watch her condition.

“Even after this much time has passed, she still became like that all of a sudden.”

As Kohaku said that, the other three were quiet. The voice of Natalie, who is screaming frantically, still remains in their ears. Thus, Eto felt that he needed to be ready to accept the victims as soon as possible.

—

For some time after that, Eto met with the members supporting the church’s self-help group with the introduction of Pastor Teilhard and Lurie. Eto knew that their cooperation was indispensable for making the victims accept their situation. He asked about the things they lack to make the support activity, and also filled in the requests to the authorities. The suggestions of those who have supported the self-help group for many years were all concrete and persuasive.

Eto intended to consult the petition to the Veil authorities to Kamaran, the butler of Margrave Stainbolt. Because according to Pastor Teilhard and Captain Andrea, Kamaran is not just a butler, but also a right-hand man of Margrave. It seems when Margrave’s condition is not good, Kamaran may also act as the contact person to the Margrave.

‘And I asked such a person to guide me to the library… I even had him select and bring some books for me.’

However, as this was very important, Eto had made an appointment with him so that he could rely on him at this chance.