The regressor's recovery was astonishing. A body that couldn't even move while lying down could raise its upper body after a day, and after another day, it recovered enough to stand and walk. Seeing the regressor come out limping, I clicked my tongue.
"What a monstrous recovery."
"You're not one to talk. Well, it's nothing special. Those who have mastered Cold Qi Gong can heal internal injuries more easily. I also took some precious medicine I'd saved up."
"Aji's saliva has healing properties, could that be why? As expected, it was Shei who used that spoon."
"Sh-shut up! Don't make me remember! And you could have eaten it too!"
The regressor, who had been shouting, felt dizzy and wavered. She reached out to grab something, but there was nothing nearby.
Should I catch her? Or not? Honestly, showing a little kindness doesn't matter much. But if I catch her and she gets weird ideas again, I'll just get annoyed. But if I want to raise affinity, maybe that would be better.
Sigh, let it be. Let's just catch her first. I reluctantly reached out my arm.
That's when Aji suddenly appeared and supported the regressor with her back and head. The regressor used Aji as a crutch to steady herself.
"Thanks, Aji..."
Then her eyes met mine, with my hand still extended. After a brief awkward moment, the regressor said sheepishly.
"Uh... Thanks, Hughes too."
No point in my rare act of kindness. I glared at Aji who had obliviously butted in.
"Tch. Because of Aji, I was going to help but ended up losing out."
"Woof? Because of me? That's rich, coming from you!"
I was going to help but only made myself look foolish. While I was taking my frustration out on innocent Aji, the regressor chuckled.
'Was she going to help? After saying everything went according to plan. Hughes has a somewhat cute side too.'
Hoo, endure it. Endure. This is all to build affinity. Remember when working as a host. Discard ego and pride, and do what the other person wants.
In the regressor's case, her capriciousness is so severe that there's the problem of not knowing what she wants. But the good thing is she's simple enough that I don't need to think deeply about it.
'Come to think of it, Hughes still thinks I'm a man...? She's just being friendly, right? If it's not friendship-level goodwill, I'd be a bit suspicious of Hughes's tastes.'
I know. I know. The fact that you're a regressor, cross-dressing, and not conscious of that fact so I don't get confused either!
Ah, if only someone could read my thoughts and convey them to the regressor. Then it wouldn't be this frustrating.
"Stop slacking and let's work. While you were lying down, annoying things piled up like a mountain."
"Work? If we defeated Fenrir, we're done. What more is there to do?"
"I argued back like that too, but people want to have confidence in their own judgment. When that confidence is backed by power and authority, that alone becomes a strength."
"There's nothing I particularly need to do... Fine. I'll wash up and go."
"Wash? Shei washes too?"
"What do you mean? Isn't that obvious? If there are circumstances, I handle it with Qi Gong, but otherwise I wash."
Even if you only know Dry Qi Gong, you can push dust and waste on your body outward. Someone who has mastered Cold Qi Gong is essentially shedding their old skin.
But there's the matter of feeling. To wipe clean a body soaked in blood, dust, and sweat, Qi Gong alone is difficult.
Hmm. Wait. Isn't it about time to expose one of the regressor's lies?
Ultimately, I need to get 'regression' mentioned from the regressor's mouth. But a regressor with multiple layers of secrets like now probably won't unravel everything at once. I need to peel from the outermost shell to reach the core.
Honestly, the fact that you're a woman doesn't matter anymore, right? Revealing it only slightly increases the possibility of you being the Saintess. Let me expose it first.
I said it casually, as if passing by, without any apparent intention.
"Shall I wash you?"
"Pfft! Cough, cough!"
The regressor coughed violently as if choking. After struggling to regain her senses for a while, the regressor shouted in shock and horror.
"Wh-what, what are you saying?! Why would you wash me?!"
"In case Miss Shei, who has difficulty moving, might slip. I'm offering to help."
"Are you out of your mind?! That's not something that can be brushed off with such an excuse!"
"Why not? Between fellow men."
"Uh...?"
'Oops. Right. I'm still cross-dressing.'
See. She's not even conscious of it right now. If you're going to cross-dress, either do it more perfectly and meticulously, or just strip it off completely.
"We may not be close friends, but we can at least rely on each other when it's inconvenient, right? We need to change bandages and apply medicine too."
"No, that, that's not necessary..."
"No matter how capable Miss Shei is, it must be difficult to apply medicine and bandage the wounds on your back yourself. I'll help you... Upsy-daisy."
"Why, why are you taking off your clothes?!"
"Why? Because clothes get wet if you don't take them off when washing."
"Keep them on!"
"Huh? Oh. Fine. Since it would be uncomfortable, I'll keep my clothes on and go in. Only Miss Shei needs to take hers off."
"Who's taking anything off! No! I never had any intention of asking you!"
Refusing contact is one thing, but the regressor's reaction was definitely beyond normal. If the regressor were really a man, this would be an overreaction enough to make the atmosphere awkward. At this point, isn't it time to drop the cross-dressing concept? I subtly left room for the regressor.
"No, I offered with good intentions, so why are you refusing so passionately? Between men, there's no need to dislike it that much."
"That's because...!"
I've laid out the board. This one is an emotional person, so poking and prodding like this draws out reactions more easily than carefully building up. Now it's time to give up that nonsensical concept.
I waited to see how she would respond, and the regressor shouted at me.
"I don't like you looking at me with those eyes!"
"What are you talking about now!"
Those eyes? Even if you were a woman, I wouldn't look at you with those eyes! I can read minds with telepathy—do you think I'd react just seeing some skin! I'm giving you a chance to reverse your failed concept, so why does the conversation keep going off track!
"Don't make me out to be the strange one and realize that you're the strange one!"
"You being strange is right! You wouldn't suddenly offer to wash something you normally don't even care about! It looks weird!"
"I let it pass thinking you'd handle what you normally don't care about! What's stranger is you throwing a fit and arguing when you could've just said 'Thanks for the thought but I'll do it'!"
"Then why are you so persistent about my body?!"
"I'm not persistent!"
The reaction I really wanted isn't coming out. Was telepathy ever this powerless... Feeling my limits, I sighed and waved my hand.
"Fine. I understand your intentions well enough, so just wash up quickly and come out. You smell."
"That's what I was going to do!"
The regressor, though wavering, somehow maintained her balance and headed toward the bathroom. Then she suddenly stopped and glanced back at me.
"Don't peek."
"Kwaaaah! Look at what! Even if you told me to look, I wouldn't!"
Why is she grappling with me while cross-dressing? What is she trying to do? I don't understand!
Well, if I try hard to understand, I can. There's the reason of not wanting to be suspected of being the Saintess, and the regressor being satisfied with the current relationship could be a reason too. And there's probably the feeling of being too embarrassed to reveal the truth herself.
But you're not the type to think that much before acting! It's about time you just blurted it out! At this rate, I might accidentally slip up and reveal it!
Sigh. At this rate, when will the fact of regression be revealed? The road is long.
"Aji. Would you at least wash?"
Then Aji answered with a serious expression.
"Woof. We beasts moult instead of washing with water like humans. Unless we're swimming, there's no need to soak all the way inside our fur to wash."
I had a lot to say but was too tired to bother. I'll just drop her in the bathtub later.
It's difficult for all the turmoil to settle in a mere five days. Ende, with both Fenrir and the Mountain Lord gone, still had a floating atmosphere like a beehive someone had stirred up. Ende's citizens mourned or raged at the deaths of acquaintances, and carried weapons thinking they had to protect themselves. Quarrels broke out on the streets at the slightest provocation, and commotions occurred almost daily.
But even after consecutive battles, Ende's order was maintained. This was partly because the Obelisk and Beast Faction remained intact, but more importantly...
"It's because a common enemy appeared."
Ende's mayor, Triver, was still working despite his old and haggard appearance. Considering his age, he should rest, but considering the current state of affairs, he couldn't rest at all, and Mayor Triver was someone who considered the state of affairs more important than his age.
"It's become known to everyone that the vassal state tried to reclaim this land taking advantage of Ende's weakest moment. The beastmen who were attacked while rescuing the buried are consumed with rage and crying out for vengeance. There are many radical claims to kill all the injured of the Black Tiger Army who were attacked by the Mountain Lord and send their heads."
"Are you going to do that?"
"In my heart, I want to."
Meaning his body couldn't. Mayor Triver answered the regressor's question honestly.
"That day, it wouldn't have been strange for Ende to perish. The Wolf King, the Black Tiger Army, and the Mountain Lord. Any of the three could have been Ende's demise. The reason we survived such an absurd situation was simply because heaven's luck was with us."
Mayor Triver bowed his head toward me, the regressor, and Aji.
"Especially, you were our heaven's luck. On behalf of all the ears and tails of Ende, I convey my gratitude to you."
"Enough. I didn't do this to hear thanks."
"Me too. Instead of thanks, please give material compensation."
"Woof woof! Empty handed?"
The regressor gave me a sidelong glance as if asking if I was really going to accept.
Well, what of it. Wanting compensation is natural. The regressor who will move on to the next cycle might not care much about Ende's compensation, but I and Aji are different. Such trivial compensation becomes the driving force of life.
"I haven't heard anything separately, so I'm not sure if you'll be satisfied but..."
Mayor Triver also nodded and brought out three wooden boxes. Oh, they prepared compensation? As expected of a mayor, he knows how to handle people well.
The mayor opened the ribboned wooden box first. Inside was a bone tightly wrapped in cowhide.
"Here, though meager, it's a chew toy made directly by the craft department."
"Woof woof woof woof!"
Aji snatched the chew toy in one breath and cradled it in her arms, precious gnawing at it. A trivial toy compared to the deed, but the recipient's heart is always more important than the original value. Aji gnawing on the chew toy looked happier than anyone.
The other two aren't chew toys too, are they? That would be somewhat interesting though.
Unfortunately, my expectations were off. When Mayor Triver opened the wooden box, a slightly fishy herbal scent leaked out, revealing a dark brown elixir.