8-11 In Pursuit
To stabilize Mine’s condition, Sally had her drink one more mouthful of the remaining medicine.
“Sigh, she should be fine now. Now we just wait and see.”
“She seems to have also suffered considerable mental damage, so it will take some time until she wakes up.”
“Doctor, could I have Mine hospitalized here for a while?”
Sally replied,
And she brought out her bargaining point. Well, the topic was going to come up no matter what so,
Jin replied honestly. He thought this healer Sally was somehow trustworthy. She was a woman, but she gave off the same impression as Reinhardt and himself.
Sally was astonished.
“Whawhawha-what? You heard of the recipe? You heard of the recipe that’s more valuable than life to alchemists?”
“No, the one I heard it from was an Automata, you see. Not only that, but one from the times of the Great Magic War.”
Sally was well surprised. Jin had thought she’d be calm and collected, but maybe she was unexpectedly an easily excited person.
Jin then just told her that he had made the medicine by using healing magic to charge the serum of a devil beast, which he had made by settling some of the blood he had had on hand. The centrifuge and the like would’ve been difficult to explain and so he omitted them.
However, despite that Sally appeared to have had some kind of an inspiration, and while grumbling she ruminated over the recipe.
“Excuse me, doctor.”
“Hm! Wh-what is it?”
“Mh-hm. As long as she recovers like this she should be fine.”
“Sorry about this, but could I trouble you to keep an eye on her here until she’s well?”
Sally said, and Jin summarized the story of Elsa and Mine to her.
“Huh. Well, I can’t think of anything else that might’ve happened.”
“Because she’ll be punished, I see.”
“I understand. I’ll look after her for a while, why not until her health improves. It’s the least I can do after you told me about the restorative medicine.”
Jin bowed and,
He said and handed over three gold coins, that is, 30000 Torr.
Sally started to say, but then guessed that it must also include the money for keeping quiet and accepted it without saying anything else.
As Jin didn’t have to worry about Mine for the time being, he hurried back to the hotel. It was already evening, but it seemed that Reinhardt still hadn’t returned. He then decided he’d leave a message.
He asked the butler Claude to convey that to Reinhardt, left Ann in his room, and under the darkening skies he departed looking for Elsa.
His destination was upstream of River Torres.
Sky units from 71 to 75 were defending Jin, while Raptor units from one to five had the duty of staying on alert at a high altitude. They would probably arrive by the end of Jin’s 20-kilometer journey.
Although it was this late, Jin noticed a flaw in his plan.
While thinking that, Jin moved in the evening’s darkness. The golem horse’s back just shook and he was concerned about Elsa, but on the other hand his head was filled with idle thoughts.
Night vision goggles to see in the dark, or the power suit whose development came to a halt midway, or something. Jin’s thoughts had no end.
He came up with that, which would result in her becoming unstoppable by anyone.
Jin wasn’t a pacifist in particular. On the other hand, he wasn’t quick to quarrel either. Basically he went easy on his friends, and had no mercy for his enemies. Although, that’s probably how most people are.
Jin wasn’t particularly fond of Mine. She’d complain at the drop of a hat, if pushed he’d describe her as weak-headed.
He’d track down Elsa and settle the debts with whoever made Mine suffer through that. That’s what Jin was thinking.
However, he didn’t realize that “whoever made mine suffer through that” was no longer in this world.
“…So tiring.”
“Ahh, having a motorbike would be more comfortable. Even a bicycle would be fine. I’ll make one later.”
“Father, are you okay? Would you like me to carry you?”
“Is that so? If you get tired, please tell me so.”
He replied, but the chances of Jin voicing his complaints to Reiko were rather low. It was about the dignity of a father.
In addition, he couldn’t go fast. Right now, the SP were going ahead in the direction of travel while on the lookout, so he couldn’t go any faster.
He was worried about Elsa’s safety, but Jin judged that supposing he was seen, Elsa would very likely be in even more danger, and so he restrained himself from acting rashly.
Until now he had traveled the to the side of the highway, but finally he decided to take the path where there was no road.
To push his way through the bushes he would need to use substantial strength. That’s why she mentioned having the SP go ahead as outriders, or in other words cutting and clearing the way through bushes. Of course, with utmost silence and secrecy.
And so it was arranged that Dahlia and Canna of the SP showed themselves and led them. The other members were wary of the surroundings. Reiko was closest to Jin protecting him, and they carried on.
“Chief, there is a building.”
“I can indeed feel the Magic Energy of the brooch Father made.”
That’s why Reiko was able to perceive its existence at this distance.
Jin said, but,
Reiko rebuked him.
“Alright, then I’ll command you. First track down Elsa. Do not be found.”
Without a sound, the SP disappeared in the direction of the stronghold. Jin thought while watching it.
Despite thinking it a bit imprudent, even at this occasion Jin thought about craftsmanship.
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