Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 85

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 85   Sometimes I panic

Around 6 in the early morning.

In the large room serving as a temporary treatment area, I let out a deep breath.

All the beds are occupied by patients.

Families are also present, but most of them are either asleep or rubbing their eyes, looking sleepy.

After the sun had risen for a while, finally, the treatment of 500 people was completed.

I haven’t slept at all up to this point.

While not sleeping for a day won’t kill me, it significantly drains my energy.

Since I’ve hardly taken any breaks, I am quite exhausted.

“Ah, Shion-sama, um, perhaps it’s time for you to take a little rest…”

Winona suggests hesitantly.

She, too, has been awake the whole time.

Although I tell her she can take a break, if I don’t rest, she won’t take any breaks either.

She claims it’s because she’s a maid.

Normally, I would be concerned about Winona and think about taking a break.

But now, it’s a battle against time.

I feel bad for her, but I want to minimize break time as much as possible.

I have gradually become able to treat with both hands.

It’s been about 17 or 18 hours since I started the treatment.

Even if I were to increase the pace from now on, it would be quite challenging.

Thinking about that throws off my balance, making me sway.

“Sh-Shion-sama! Are you alright!?”

Winona instinctively supported me.

It seems I’m more tired than I realize.

It reminds me of how I felt when I worked overnight in my past life.

“Ah, thank you, Winona.”

“N-no. Anyway, let’s take a short break! If Shion-sama collapses, it’ll be terrible!”

It’s the strongest tone she’s used so far.

Her words weaken the thought that everything will be okay.

Perhaps due to my anxiety, I find it hard to think rationally.

“…You’re right. Once I treat everyone here, I’ll take a short nap.”

As I say this, Winona sighs in relief.

It seems she’s genuinely concerned about me, rather than just wanting a break herself.

For Winona’s sake, I should rest.

At this point, I decide to treat only those who are waiting and ask others to wait a bit.

After treating a dozen or so patients in the room, Winona and I inform the doctors that we’ll take a break and leave the room.

The structure of the second containment facility has a hall extending from the entrance, with six corridors branching off.

In the hall, there’s a reception area and a general passage for staff, and beyond that are nap rooms and warehouses storing medical supplies.

Each corridor has hospital rooms and examination rooms, and it’s a three-story building.

The capacity is 200 people.

Despite being a three-story building, most of it is a large room, as private rooms are cramped.

Following my instructions, the second containment facility always has over 200 patients admitted.

Regarding treatment, it smoothly progresses without wasting time or seeking approval, perhaps due to an established order to follow my instructions.

After leaving the large room, Winona and I head towards the hall.

We’re going to the nap room.

There’s a dedicated room for us to rest.

As soon as I decide to take a break, exhaustion hits me.

I want to sleep quickly.

Realizing this desire, I suddenly sense a presence and shift my gaze to the entrance.

“Oh my? Are you okay? You look terrible. Could it be that you’ve been pulling an all-nighter for treatment?”

A smug tone.

Sarcastic words.

It’s Fritz.

He has his usual subordinates with him.

“It’s none of your concern.”

“Indeed, I’m just a guard, right? No relevance at all. However, going to such lengths when dealing with commoners. I find it quite incomprehensible. Anyway, it’s troubling for us, Lord Ornstein. Staying in a place like this without going home. As guards, we need to know where we belong.”

“Yesterday, you left midway, didn’t you? If you’re a guard, isn’t that dereliction of duty?”

I unintentionally replied with sarcasm.

However, what I said is likely true.

In response to my comment, Fritz subtly moved his eyebrows, but his condescending smile didn’t waver.

“Oh dear, you did tell us to go home, didn’t you? We merely followed that order. We are told during guard duty to ‘follow your orders.’ We just obeyed that command. However, that’s a story from yesterday. Today is a new day, and we’ve returned to our guard duties.”

With this justification, they seem to be doing whatever they want.

But I did tell them to go home.

It’s unsatisfactory, but I couldn’t muster the energy to press the matter further.

“…Well, it’s the same today. I don’t need guards. Having imposing figures within the facility frightens patients and doctors.”

“I see. Well, we also want to protect you, but if you say so, there’s no helping it. In that case, we’ll take our leave.”

Seizing the opportunity, Fritz gave a grandiose bow and turned his back on us.

Whether they disliked being my guards so much or if the job itself was troublesome, either way, I didn’t feel a favorable impression towards them.

Fritz showed no trace of respect towards me, and he left without a second thought.

I didn’t particularly want them to show respect, but being looked down upon didn’t sit well with me.

Honestly, I felt relieved when they were gone.

I let out a sigh as if expelling negative emotions.

Maybe I was becoming irritated due to fatigue.

I have to keep such emotions in check; I can’t let them burden those around me.

I must maintain a smile and a composed attitude.

I straightened my back, convincing myself that I had blown away my fatigue.

“Um, Lord Shion… Are you okay?”

“Hm? Oh, I’m fine. I’m still going strong.”

Seeing me relax, Winona began to look flustered.

Oh? Wasn’t that what she meant?

I unintentionally cracked a wry smile.

Anyway, let’s move to the rest area.

The desire to rest grew stronger, and my mind was gradually losing focus.

Passing by doctors and families, exchanging greetings, we made our way to the rest area.

Through the staff entrance, down the hallway with rooms on either side, we arrived at a room designated as the rest area.

Entering the room marked “Lord Shion,” a simple bed caught my eye.

It was about six tatami mats in size.

It’s more spacious than I thought.

Anyway, let’s wipe down and get some sleep.

As I turned around to greet Winona, she also entered the room.

I tilted my head.

She had plans to sleep in a different rest area.

I thought we would just exchange greetings, and then part ways.

Was there something else?

“It’s already fine. Winona, go to the rest area and get some rest.”

“Huh? I-Is that okay…?”

Winona looked up at me, almost peeking, and she seemed fidgety.

What’s going on?

“Uh, well…”

Her voice was soft.

Unable to understand what she was saying, I instinctively leaned in.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Well, um… Is it okay if we don’t… engage in any intimate activities tonight…?”

Intimate activities.

While it could have the meaning of tending to a sick person, in this context, it was probably something else.

In other words, that.

The kind of intimate activity between a man and a woman.

The unexpected words froze my mind.

Winona blushing only further disrupted my composure.

I never expected to hear such a thing.

“W-What!? N-No way!? Huh? Why would you even suggest that!? T-There’s no way we would do that, right!? Huh? Do people normally do that!?”

Unable to comprehend the meaning, I blurted out questions on a whim.

But asking whether people normally do that might be quite tactless.

“S-S-S-Sometimes, um, it’s not entirely impossible, I suppose.”

“Not entirely impossible!?”

It exists.

There are things between a master and a maid.

No, no, calm down.

Take a deep breath.

Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.

Ah, calm now.

Come to think of it, I’ve spent several decades as a virgin.

Without immunity, I easily get flustered in situations like this.

But that’s not the only thing.

I also calm down quickly.

Because I have an unwavering conviction that such things will never happen to me, it leaves no room for further disturbance.

After a long time, one reaches a state of resignation.

Wait, that wasn’t the setting.

I deliberately maintained my virginity!

Because I thought I couldn’t use magic without it!

For thirty years, being a virgin with no dating experience was for that reason!

I forgot!

Anyway, leaving aside such matters.

Calm now, I calmly accept the current situation.

It seems that, in the position of a maid, there are instances where you may attend to your master’s needs at night.

I hadn’t considered such a thing at all; unconsciously, I thought it could never happen to me.

So, I was shaken, but once calm, it’s not a big deal.

It’s not like she has feelings for me or wants something like that.

She probably just thought that, as a maid, she might receive such a request.

I don’t know Winona’s past or background, but it’s clear that she’s disturbed and frightened.

This is likely her first time facing something like this.

See, if you think about it rationally, there’s no need to be flustered.

Regardless of whether it’s a fact or not, for now, I need to handle this properly.

Silence is not an option, at least for now.

“Um, well, it’s okay. Yeah. I’m quite tired. Besides, you know, those things should be done with someone you like, right?”

“…………Huh?”

Why are you looking at me like that, as if you’re saying, “What are you talking about?”

I thought I said something good.

I feel like she slightly recoiled or made a strange face.

Did I say something weird?

But I can’t take back what I’ve said.

I keep up my smiling facade.

I’ve already stepped into this, and there’s no turning back.

So, I decided to go with it.

“Anyway, that’s the way it is! Winona, you don’t have to do that kind of thing!

Let’s go to bed early today! Okay!?”

“W-well, at least… C-could I, uh, wash your body for you?”

“I’ll take care of washing myself, so it’s fine! Let’s both rest early and recover our energy.

That’s it! Goodnight!”

I forcibly ushered Winona out, who seemed like she still wanted to say something, and closed the door.

For some reason, I feel short of breath, and my heart is pounding.

What on earth was that?

I’ve never experienced such a situation before.

Just a verbal exchange.

But even that was enough to make me uneasy.

In other words, this is too stimulating for a virgin.

When it comes to interactions with women, occasionally an older woman might be a bit forward.

Apart from that, there were hardly any events with a sensual atmosphere… or rather, there were almost none.

Without immunity, these situations are no good.

…I wonder what would have happened if I had agreed.

Would I really have received that kind of nighttime care?

It’s somewhat lascivious, and it makes me feel an urge to scratch my head, but it feels different.

In an obligatory relationship, doing such things wouldn’t bring joy.

Did Winona say that because it was an order?

If so, it’s a sad thing to consider.

Is being a maid such a job?

Unable to sort out my confusing feelings, I forcibly switch my thoughts.

Anyway, I need to sleep.

The treatment is still ongoing.

Patients are waiting.

I check for any presence outside the door, confirm that no one is there, and then go outside to borrow a hot water bucket.