We just passed the parlor room as time was precious, and I was being guided to Miss Emilia’s room.
I was accompanied by Earl Rockford, Madam Rose, heir Rod, Margrave Volton, and Sophia. The other escorts and my remaining party members were waiting in a separate room.
「Lord Volton, no, Godwin, thank you very much. When I heard about the Soma from you, I carried doubts.」 「Lord Godwin, I truly thank you. For you to save Emilia’s life……」 「Don’t be so distant, Lord Rockford, no, should I call you Marcus like always? Miss Emilia is like an adorable daughter to me. I had to help in any way I could.」
As we walked briskly through the hallways, Earl Rockford spoke words of appreciation to Margrave Volton, and Madam Rose shed tears as she did the same. Huh, so Earl Rockford was called Marcus.
「So what condition is Miss Emilia in?」 「Hmm, she is now unable to leave her bed. A healer from the church comes to cast recovery magic on her everyday, but it merely provides temporary solace.」 「Seeing the tomboyish Emilia becoming bedridden is painful……」
Magic Depletion Disorder wasn’t a sudden deterioration, but I couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain of a mother watching her child gradually weaken.
When we entered Miss Emilia’s room, there was young lady that had grown since the last time we met that was sleeping in bed. Her breathing was frail and the childlike plumpness that remained in my memory was not present.
「It’s more debilitating than expected. The patient’s condition seems to deteriorate more from the half-year mark to the first year. Lord Volton, truly, thank you for handing Iruma-dono that nominated quest.」 「No, it is all thanks to Iruma-dono. He turned the absurd things I said into reality. Nor did I expect them to achieve this quest so quickly.」 「Iruma-dono, thank you. Please tell me if there is anything I could do. Naturally, the remuneration for this Soma is separate.」
Though my hand was clasped and pulled slightly by Earl Rockford who shed tears as he gave his thanks, I would like to finish the more important matter first.
「Earl Rockford, we should let Miss Emilia drink the Soma. Firstly we must test the effectiveness of the medicine.」 「O-oh, my apologies, I had lost my composure. Well then, Iruma-dono, may I ask you to?」 「Yes, then please excuse me. Sophia, give me a hand.」 「Yes.」
I approached the bed and asked Sophia to lift Miss Emilia’s upper body up. When I took out the faintly sparkling vial of Soma, Madam Rose and Earl Rockford were astonished.
I opened the lid, and asked Sophia to open Miss Emilia’s mouth slightly. Bit by bit, I carefully poured the soma, and a dramatic change occurred in Miss Emilia’s body. Until just a while ago, the magic power in her body was nigh undetectable, but the instant the Soma was consumed, a torrent of magic power rushed through her body.
「……Sophia, the magic depletion disorder seems to have been cured, but she will be in danger like this.」 「Yes, I will adjust the flow of magic power.」
Sophia placed her hand on Miss Emilia’s stomach, calming the violent flow of magic power.
「What’s going on? Is Emilia okay?」 「Did something happen to Emilia?」
Earl Rockford grabbed my arm in a panic, and Madam Rose clung to my other one strongly.
「Please calm down. The magic depletion disorder had probably been cured. However, it is very likely that when Miss Emilia’s body, which had been starved of magic power for an extended period of time, was treated, the amount of magic power within her had greatly increased and it is rampaging now. ……and it looks to be fine now.」
Sophia just finished calming the rampaging flow of magic power, and I could tell that it was now flowing smoothly within Miss Emilia’s body.
「……u, mmm.」
Then, Miss Emilia woke up.
「Emilia!」 「Aaa, Emilia!」
Earl Rockford and Madam Rose ran to her bedside.
「Father, Mother……」 「Ahh, Emilia! I’m so glad! I’m really so glad!」
As I watched the rejoicing parents and child, I checked on Miss Emilia’s condition.
「I think she’s fine now, but we need to observe her for two- three days.」 「Indeed. She had also been bedridden for a long time, after all.」 「Yup, rehabilitation is necessary.」 「Iruma-dono, what is “rehabilitation”?」
While Sophia and I were discussing Miss Emilia’s condition, Margrave Volton asked about a word he had never heard of before.
「Ummm, Miss Emilia had been stuck in bed for a long time, so she has to slowly start practicing to walk.」
I struggled with how to explain it. “A body that doesn’t move for a long time deteriorates” was how I ended up saying it.
「I see, certainly, our bodies also change if we skip training for an extended time.」
After convincing Margrave Volton somewhat, it had been decided we would stay for two to three days to observe her progress.