The following morning.
After taking a long leave of absence from the academy, Ansu first returned home and personally escorted his younger sister to Master Danielle's place.
Because she no longer had work with the Church and needed to treat her husband's illness over the years, Danielle had opened a small martial arts hall near her home to make a living. This was also why many people came to seek her out as their master.
"Master Danielle, I'll have to trouble you to look after Vera for a while."
Ansu might not be back for a month, and he didn't feel comfortable leaving Vera at home alone. He decided to leave her with his teacher, which would also help with her studies.
"Mhm, don't worry," Danielle said, glancing at Vera, who looked reluctant to let her brother go. She let out a soft laugh and then walked to the side with Ansu to talk.
Once they reached a place where no one else was around, her gaze quickly filled with anxiety. "My husband... his condition has been getting worse lately..."
Ansu guessed what she wanted to say and listened patiently.
"Before, he only had occasional episodes. But recently, he's been acting crazy almost every night. He keeps telling me that something is constantly whispering in his ear... I've been so exhausted by him that I haven't had a single night of good sleep..."
Ansu nodded, thinking that her husband's mana backlash symptoms were indeed becoming more severe.
This state of hearing whispers, besides being a sign of corruption, was also common among those who had gone mad from studying magic. There were plenty of such cases in the Council of Elders.
Danielle let out a helpless sigh. "One time, he even tried to kill me, saying I was the demon whispering in his ear. Our argument was so loud the neighbors called the police. Both the police and the Church's people rushed over... but fortunately, I know the people in the Church's enforcement squad..."
"It's just..." Danielle grew increasingly worried. "The secret about my husband and me might not be hidden for much longer..."
Ansu muttered to himself that if this continued, the demon hunter lady might really end up in one of those "you wouldn't want..." scenarios.
"So, have you made up your mind?" Ansu asked.
"I..." Danielle still hesitated. "Let's wait a bit longer. When you return, if he still hasn't improved..."
"Mhm, there's indeed no rush." Ansu remembered something. "That black magic master I know is currently developing an inhibiting serum that can suppress magic corruption by studying a racehorse. If she has any results, I'll bring a dose for you to try."
"A racehorse?" Danielle was stunned.
"Yes, a racehorse." Ansu thought silently of poor Radish. After having so much blood drawn, the horse would still have to carry him on the journey in a while...
"It's a very special racehorse. After being injected with monster blood, it showed no symptoms of monsterization at all. I think there's a good chance this inhibiting serum will work."
If Celia could really pull it off, it wouldn't just bind the Danielle couple to his side; many others suffering from similar conditions would become his potential allies.
"That would be wonderful!" Danielle gave a grateful smile, not even knowing how to repay Ansu's kindness.
As a result, she became even more dedicated to Vera's care. "Mr. Ansu, don't worry about your sister's studies. I will do my absolute best to train her!"
After finishing their chat, Danielle looked back at Vera, who was watching them expectantly. She smiled at Ansu and said, "You two siblings should say your goodbyes properly. I won't disturb you!"
Once Danielle left, Vera, who was wearing a martial arts uniform with her hair tied in a neat blonde ponytail, ran up to Ansu and hugged his waist tightly.
"Brother... you must protect yourself. If you run into any danger, you absolutely mustn't try to be a hero!" She buried her face in her brother's chest, giving her parting instructions reluctantly.
"Remember to eat on time and come back early. I'll be waiting for you at home..."
"I know, I know..." Ansu rubbed his sister's head, feeling like she was nagging like an old mother.
"Besides, how dangerous can it be? This is a professional team, and we'll be escorted by the Church's Inquisition of Heresy the whole way!"
"Brother..." Vera looked up. "That female boss of yours is going with you too, right?"
Ansu nodded.
"Oh, that's good then..." Vera felt inexplicably conflicted. She felt frustrated that she couldn't help, but she also felt that with that powerful female boss protecting him, her brother should be very safe...
There was no helping it. Who told her she wasn't strong or reliable at all?
In her brother's words, she lacked the "beauty of raw power"...
After Ansu finally left, Vera returned to the martial arts hall with a depressed expression.
Several girls her age curiously asked about her brother, but Vera had no heart to pay them any mind. She simply gripped her wooden sword and struck the training post repeatedly, her expression eventually becoming somewhat numb.
"Your form is falling apart! Vera, don't let your mind wander when you swing your sword!" Danielle instructed coldly. "Focus entirely!"
Vera stared blankly at the wooden post. Thinking about her own uselessness, she suddenly made up her mind.
"Master Danielle!"
Vera spoke to Danielle with unusual seriousness. "Please teach me 【Divine Smite】!"
"Hmm?" Danielle was taken aback before she let out a chuckle. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure!" Vera nodded immediately, clenching her small fists. She wanted her brother to see her in a new light when he returned!
She, Vera, was no pushover! She was quite formidable!
...
Ansu arrived at the train station before noon. After pushing through the crowd to the platform, Celia, who had been waiting for a long time, smiled and waved at him.
"The horses and equipment have already been checked in. Once we reach Solan Province, we'll have to travel by horseback the rest of the way." Celia looked at Ansu as he walked toward her. "If we're fast, we can reach Oak Town in about a day."
"Mhm." Ansu nodded. Professor Duncan and the others had already set off ahead of them. Everything was ready.
Seeing Ansu out of breath, Celia said helplessly, "The train is about to leave, and you only just rushed here. I assume you went to say goodbye to your sister?"
"I wasn't comfortable leaving Vera at home alone, so I dropped her off at my teacher's place," Ansu explained.
Celia snorted coldly. "I bet your sister was speaking ill of me behind my back again, wasn't she?"
"Again?" Ansu naturally shook his head. "Of course not. How could Vera speak ill of the Lady Witch..."
"I don't believe you!" Celia curled her lip. That little girl was always against her. She knew for sure that Vera must speak ill of her to Ansu all the time!
"She didn't try to talk you into resigning again, did she?" Celia glared at Ansu crossly. "Don't listen to your sister. Remember what you promised me last time! If you dare to resign...!"
"Don't worry..." Ansu smiled. "I'm someone who loves my work. Unless the Lady Witch fires me, how could I possibly resign?"
"I'll never fire you anyway..." A whistle sounded, and Celia silently watched the steam train approaching from the distance.
The massive steam train gradually slowed down, finally coming to a halt by the station platform amidst a cloud of pungent black smoke.
Celia thought about how she would be traveling far away with Ansu, almost like a trip together, and a smile gradually spread across her face. "Let's go."
"Mhm, let's go."
Rate on N.U.
