I Wanted a Cute Girl to Cast Healing Magic on Me, So I Kept Protecting My Allies—and Ended Up with an Overprotective Party - 43

Chapter 43: Can’t That Wait Until After We Get Back?

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The escort request that came to us—the client was none other than the Saintess-sama herself. I felt honored, but at the same time, anxious. The reason was simple: there was no way I could let Karinka-san or Miya be seen all flushed and overwhelmed after receiving Emil’s Heal. 

To prevent that, there was only one option—I had to take on every single attack myself. The purpose of the Saintess’s expedition, apparently, was to assist in the exploration of a certain dungeon.

Then came the day of the escort. Our home was in the great city of Galiano, and it took two days to reach the royal capital where the Saintess resided. Departure was set for nine in the morning. 

After finishing our preparations, we waited in the living room. To my surprise, it seemed the Saintess’s group would even come to our home to pick us up.

“Karinka-san, I’ve been thinking about it since then, but I still can’t figure out why the Saintess specifically chose us to escort her.”

“Hm, I don’t know either. Surely, someone of her station must have lofty ideals guiding her decision.”

After waiting a few more minutes, the chime rang. We all went to the entrance together, and upon opening the door, a splendid knight stood there. At times like these, I always left the formal response to Karinka-san.

“Are you the adventurer party assigned to serve as escorts for the Saintess?”

“Yes, we are. We are honored to have received a request from the Saintess.”

Outside, a magnificent carriage was waiting. Surely the Saintess was inside. The escort numbered a little over ten. I’d heard that the Royal Knight Order consisted only of those with the highest combat ability. With that many of them here, surely the Saintess had more than enough force to escort her.

Then, the carriage door opened, and a woman appeared. It was the Saintess herself, radiating a mysterious aura that no one else could possibly emit. She had done nothing more than step out of the carriage, and yet she was breathtakingly beautiful. The very fact that someone like her had come right before our eyes was already miraculous.

“Thank you for accepting this request. I look forward to working with you today.”

“We will serve with utmost sincerity.”

The Saintess then returned to the carriage, and at last, it seemed we would head to the dungeon. …Or so I thought, when suddenly an elderly woman stepped forward from the center of the group.

She appeared to be a mage, holding a staff tipped with a jewel. When she pointed it toward the ground, a magic circle appeared. A knight stepped onto it, and with a flash of light, disappeared. It could only have been a teleportation circle.

It was a magic that allowed instantaneous travel from afar, provided a circle had been pre-installed at the destination. In other words, unless one set up a circle in advance, the spell couldn’t be used.

When Emil and I had requested Karinka-san’s party to escort us before, they had even gone ahead the day prior to set up a teleportation circle. Since it was practically a cheat-level magic, few people could use it.

“Now, please, you as well—step onto the circle.”

Urged by the knight, all of us in the party stepped into the circle. Our vision turned white, and in the next instant, we stood before the dungeon. So the escort wasn’t about guarding them during carriage travel after all. If there was a safe way to reach the destination, of course they’d use it.

The place before us looked like a ruin, the remains of a castle long since decayed. To someone unaware, it could easily be mistaken for an ordinary abandoned site. The surrounding forest gave it a disturbing atmosphere, despite it being morning.

From this point on, even the Saintess, who had descended from the carriage, would accompany us. Since it was a dungeon with spatial limitations, moving like a large army wasn’t possible. That must have been why the escort number was limited.

“The advance party of the Knight Order is deeper inside. Let us first regroup with them. I ask that you take the rear guard position.”

“Karinka-san, Rikuto-san, Emil-san, Miya-san. Once again, I look forward to working with you.”

By the knight’s instructions, we took up position at the rear. In the center—the safest place—was the Saintess, surrounded on all sides by knights. From here, we could see her back.

According to the knights, this dungeon had not yet been fully explored. Its defining feature was that the monsters were of the undead type. As in games, they were weak to light and holy attributes. Light magic wasn’t rare, but those who could use holy magic were limited to very few—like the Saintess herself. Truly a one-in-a-million rarity.

The interior was indeed like a castle. As we walked down the dim corridors, I saw the vanguard knights ready their swords. Immediately, the others moved swiftly, escorting the Saintess and Emil to safety. As expected of the Royal Knight Order…!

To conserve the Saintess’s magic power, they weren’t using barrier magic, but she had blessed everyone with holy attribute enchantments. With the knights present, even this blessing felt reassuring.

Then, perhaps because they were ghosts, monsters suddenly appeared, splitting our group of escorts into four. Though a few knights remained nearby, it was clear we had to fight as well.

Karinka-san and Miya… I’ll protect them!

Anticipating this, I had prepared a certain item. It was an item that drew monsters toward the user—something akin to the skill “Provoke.” I secretly pulled out a small vial of liquid from my item bag and splashed it over my head. 

Goodness. Isn’t there any better way to use it…?

The monsters immediately charged straight at me. But since I had set my damage adjustment to 『Unharmed』, I remained calm.

“Eh!? Why are they only targeting Rikuto!?”

“Rikuto! I’ll protect you!”

“No, I’ll do it!”

I stepped between the two and the monsters, fighting with my back to them. Though I hadn’t been blessed with any body-strengthening magic, strangely enough, my body felt lighter and my grip on the sword stronger than usual.

How long had it been? A few minutes, perhaps. By the time I realized it, the monsters were annihilated. Even the knights were taking a breather.

“Rikuto-san…!” 

Emil hurried over to me.

“I’m fine. I can handle this much.”

“But your hand is injured…”

In truth, once I was sure of victory, I had switched my adjustment setting to 『Minor Injury』.The reason, of course, was so Emil would cast Heal on me. I had let myself get injured on purpose so Emil could level up faster. I definitely didn’t do it on whim.

Then Emil gently held my right hand in both of hers. Her touch was warm and soft.

“Heal…”

The moment she said it, a wave of pleasure, exhilaration, and relief coursed through my body. It felt as if I were being tenderly massaged all over at once. Judging from this sensation, it was as if the healing of the wound was merely the side effect of Emil’s Heal.

“Thank you, Emil.”

“You’re welcome!”

As Emil and I exchanged smiles, before we knew it, the Saintess had approached us.

“Um, Emil-san? With that Heal just now, you may have leveled up. Would you cast it on me as well?”

Can’t that wait until after we get back…?

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【When Rikuto was being Healed by Emil – Saintess’s POV】

The Saintess watched in astonishment as Rikuto received Emil’s Heal.

Am-…Amazing…! That Rikuto-san could endure Emil-san’s Heal without faltering! But still, Emil-san’s Heal… I wonder if her magic is really of holy attribute…?

With that thought, the Saintess became convinced this party was no ordinary group. At the same time, she resolved in her heart.

I must reach that level as well. Yes, I should receive Heal from Emil-san myself. That’s right—this, too, is part of my training.

And so, with quiet excitement, the Saintess made her way toward Rikuto and the others.

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