I Secretly Healed the Illness of the Twin Princesses While Wearing a Mask, and Now the Entire Kingdom Is in an Uproar ~Please Stop Trying to Expose the Street Healer~ - Chapter 3

After the twin princesses left, my sister suddenly caught me and pinned me against the wall.

I panicked, thinking she might punch me in the face. Also… there’s a crack in the wall now. Did she go through some kind of body modification like me?

“‘Faceless’ is what the princess called the illness she had, the ‘illness that makes all flesh rot and fall off.’”

“And so?”

“That name is just what I call it. The only people who use that name are those I told about the princesses’ illness, and that number is very small. In the Medix territory, I only mentioned it once to you.”

How am I supposed to lie my way out of this?

“Maybe it’s just a coincidence that your naming style matches ‘Faceless.’”

“Yes, that’s possible. But don’t you think it’s more likely that you are ‘Faceless’?”

“No.”

“Yes?”

“No.”

“You’ve got some nerve lying to your big sister.”

The wall creaked, another crack forming. I wonder how much it’ll cost to repair… Well, she’s the one who caused it, so it’s fine.

“I’m not lying. I would never lie to my beautiful, kind, and amazing big sister Franc.”

“Not now.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ah… my usual flattery doesn’t work.

Time to change my approach. Maybe it’s okay if she finds out.

“Alright, yeah. I’m ‘Faceless.’”

“Ha, I thought so. And ‘The Mysterious Healer Man’?”

“That’s me too.”

“You’ve been hiding your abilities?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

Why hide my skills?

No big reason. I just thought it looked cooler to keep it a secret.

But if I tell the truth, she’ll definitely get mad. Better to get those puppy-dog eyes ready―

“If anyone found out I have healing magic strong enough to help you, it might start a fight over who will succeed you. I don’t want to fight with you, and I just want to support you in the future…”

“Asuku… oh, you!! Just how much do you like your big sister?!”

My sister’s cheeks turned red. So easy to fluster.

“Alright. If you want to keep your identity secret, I won’t tell the princesses.”

“Eh, that’s okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine… I wasn’t planning to give my Asuku to some other girls anyway.”

“Yay, as expected of my perfect big sister and caring about her little brother.”

“Ehehe, praise me more.”

My big sister is so easy to fluster, it worries me a little.

While I worried about her being tricked by bad people in the future, she plopped down on the sofa.

“In that case, we need to distract the princesses’ attention.”

“The princesses?”

“Yes. While you went to get snacks, I talked to both princesses a bit. They seemed to suspect you might be ‘Faceless.’”

“Seriously?”

“Don’t worry. I denied it firmly, so it should take time before they figure it out. Meanwhile, we can make some adjustments.”

Adjustments?

“What are we doing?”

“We’ll increase the number of ‘Faceless’ to hide your existence.”

“Increase the number?”

“Not you. We’re only increasing the number of ‘Faceless.’”

I tilted my head, not really understanding what she meant. She said confidently,

“We’re going to buy slaves!!”

“Slaves?”

“Yes, slaves.”

What on earth is my sister planning to do?

◆　◇　◆

And so, we arrived at the capital of the Medix Viscount’s territory!

As the most developed place in the region, the main streets were always busy with people. The city felt alive and full of energy.

“Wait, wasn’t slavery banned by law a few years ago?”

“The previous king did ban it. But honestly, that law was so loose and full of loopholes that it’s basically useless. Slave traders still operate quietly out of sight, and nobles buy slaves without worrying about it.”

Another world version of medieval Europe, where the law barely works. Kind of scary.

My sister led me through the alleys of the capital. After a few minutes of walking through complicated paths, we reached a small shack that looked like it could collapse any second.

She barged straight inside.

Inside, there was a middle-aged bald man dressed in black with a top hat, a little stylish, actually.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Medix Viscountess.”

“You bald shopkeeper, sell me slaves.”

“You’re as unfriendly as ever. What kind of goods are you looking for?”

“My preference is someone utterly hopeless, someone who hates the entire world.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

He disappeared into the back of the shop.

“Big sister, is this your first time coming here?”

“The way slaves are treated is horrible. Losing limbs isn’t rare, and they’re left untreated even if they’re sick. They’re perfect for practicing healing magic. Plus, if you heal them and give them work, they swear loyalty like it’s fun to watch. Most of the servants working for me now were once my slaves.”

“I didn’t know that.”

So that means my sister buys injured or sick slaves on purpose, feeds them, and gives them work?

…Is this really my sister? Or is it a fake?

“Were you thinking something rude?”

“I was just thinking that you really are the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Hehe, what a natural thing to think.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely the real deal.”

After a while, the shopkeeper returned from the back with a few slaves.

Some were blinded, some had missing limbs… it looked really gruesome.

“How about these? They’re slaves whose village was burned by bandits, who saw their families killed, and then were sold.”

“By bandits? Strange. Usually, kidnappers wouldn’t harm slaves; they’d want to sell them for more money.”

“Ah, the sharp eye of the Medix Viscountess. These were bought cheaply from other slave traders. Apparently, before they were sold here, some cruel nobles bought them and cut off limbs or blinded them just for fun.”

“Disgusting nobles. Alright, Asuku, pick whoever you want from these.”

…Hmm.

“Big sister, can’t I just buy all of them?”

“Only three at most.”

“Aww.”

“…Why do you want to buy all of them?”

“I can’t just watch.”

It’s not that I want to save everyone in the world. I just can’t ignore it once I see something like this.

Seeing slaves in such terrible condition, barely alive, reminds me of my past life. It hurts my chest.

But my sister spoke coldly.

“In this world, there are those who have and those who don’t. You and I are on the have side. They’re on the don’t side. Get used to it.”

“No.”

“It’s not just about saying no. And they aren’t the only unfortunate ones. In the back of the shop, there are slaves in even worse condition. It was so bad you can’t even look at them.”

“Then buy those ones too.”

“No.”

“Cheapskate.”

“Did you say something?”

“It’s nothing.”

I had no choice.

I didn’t want to use this trick, but it was time to play my ace.

“I’ll give you a ‘Command Anything Ticket’ if you buy them, big sister.”

“Shopkeeper, give me all the sick and injured slaves in this store. I’ll buy them all at once.”

“Coming right up.”

I remembered one time, I forgot to get a present for my sister’s birthday. I wrote “Command Anything Ticket” on a candy wrapper and gave it to her. She was overjoyed.

It’s scary not knowing what she might order me to do, though.

I approached the slaves I had bought and cast healing magic on them, while glancing at my sister, grinning at the ticket.

The slaves were shocked.

“W-what, my arm is back!?”

“I can see!? No way, how!?”

“…My body… feels lighter…”

“M-my paralyzed leg moves!!”

“This… is a miracle…?”

Good, good. That’s very satisfying.

…Wait, come to think of it, why did we even come to buy slaves again?

◇　◇　◇

Afterword

One-Point Story

Author: “Asuku’s quick ability to make his eyes glisten naturally comes from his past life; he learned to hide his feelings so his family wouldn’t worry.”

If you thought, “So easy to fluster…,” “What is big sister planning by buying slaves…,” or “Don’t reveal such heavy backstory in the afterword,” please leave your thoughts, bookmarks, ★ ratings, or reviews.