TWLW 23

chapter 23

#3

At my words, his eyes widened slightly, and he looked down at me for a moment with a disappointed gaze.

But that only lasted briefly. He smiled at me again and clenched his hand tightly.

“Then, let’s get going.”

“So… this is the place you mentioned?”

I couldn’t hide my reluctance as I looked at the dry grass fluttering in front of me.

“Isn’t this… hay?”

I’m not sure what expression appeared on my face when I looked up at him, but Rudels, seeing my expression, lifted the corners of his mouth in apparent amusement.

“That’s right. This is the grass Iriel mentioned.”

He casually placed one hand in his pocket and continued.

“Among the beastkin in my family, those of the herbivore type like to dry that… that weed and eat it. Especially the equine beastkin.”

“Wha—? They eat that?!”

‘That grass has toxins in it! Eating it would make them sick!’

I couldn’t finish my sentence and covered my mouth with my hands, letting out a horrified gasp.

From previous ingredient analysis, I had discovered that even in small amounts, this grass could cause headaches, stomach pains, and vomiting.

It was even during experiments with it that I ended up creating a poison that could paralyze limbs.

Seeing my shocked reaction, he burst out laughing.

“Iriel, do you really think our beastkin are that weak? We’re a species that survives even magical attacks.”

“B-But even a tiny amount of that poison would hurt a lot…”

“Hmmm… I’m not sure. I’m a wolf, so I don’t know much about these grasses. But I heard that eating it can help with constipation.”

Wait, what kind of benefit is that? Was that something I missed?

Rudels muttered as he looked at my face.

“Is this enough, Doctor?”

I slowly nodded, looking at the huge piles of hay.

“Yes… Originally, the plan was to dry fresh grass with magic, but with it already in hay form, it will save a lot of time.”

“That’s fortunate, Doctor.”

A gentle breeze swirled between us.

As I closed my eyes and brushed my hair from my face, Rudels still stood there, holding my hand.

Through the strands of hair I was adjusting, I caught sight of Rudels’ eyes—those unknowable, mysterious eyes.

Just a moment ago, they had been laughing at me, but now they held a strange tenderness.

His silver bangs fluttered in the wind, hiding the details, but glimpses of blue revealed a deep emotion flowing within.

Seeing the emotions in those eyes made my chest ache.

The wind calmed, and the long white hair that had blocked my view settled.

After arranging my hair, within my line of sight, Rudels still stood there smiling at me.

‘Did I imagine it?’

The young man with that strange sadness in his chest I had seen earlier was gone, replaced by a smiling man, leaving me with nothing but a puzzling question.

“Iriel, how much of this do you need? One kilogram? Two?”

I shook my head in dismay at his question.

“No. That’s far too little.”

“Huh? Too little?”

I smiled slyly and held up three fingers.

Rudels stared at my fingers, confused about what I meant.

“You never know when we might need medicine for the beastkin. It would be reassuring to have a stock of this universal ingredient for emergencies.”

“Uh…”

I said boldly, looking at the dumbfounded Rudels.

“We need 300 kilograms! That’s the amount needed to ensure research won’t be disrupted.”

Placing my hands confidently on my hips as I spoke, he stared at me, mouth agape.

Did I just seem like a real therapist? Professional?

I giggled at him. Rudels just looked at me, flustered.

A moment later.

“Hey~ put it over here!”

“Got it! Where are the people bringing the carts?”

“They’ll be here soon. Let’s move these quickly!”

Several workers were busily loading the hay onto carts and moving it safely to my treatment room.

Some of the workers looked at me with curiosity in their eyes.

I suppose their focus was less on a magical healer arriving and more on the fact that a witch was here.

‘Good thing it’s curiosity and not hostility, otherwise I might have cried.’

Of course, there were likely some hostile glances.

The relationship between beastkin and witches was complicated, after all.

Thankfully, the one protecting me was Rudels Ipin, the eldest son of this family.

‘No one would dare show hostility in front of the heir.’

I glanced at him and thought this.

Rudels watched the workers closely with his arms crossed.

The gentle, handsome man I had seen earlier was gone, replaced by the poised eldest son of the most prominent family in the Beastkin Kingdom.

Watching him focused on his work, he even looked a little cool.

“Sir! All the hay has been moved,” reported Rusel, a black panther beastkin, adjusting his glasses as he briefly saluted me and reported to Rudels.

Rudels lazily opened his eyes and gave an order.

“Good. Make sure it’s neatly moved to the magical therapist’s room.”

“Yes, sir. And the heir and the therapist—?”

“No need to know.”

Interrupting Rusel, he crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.

Rusel’s mouth twitched in irritation, but seeing my gaze, he changed his expression and gritted his teeth.

“U-understood, Sir.”

It seemed universally true that being the subordinate anywhere was the hardest role.

Still, because Rusel and Rudels had a close relationship, he could show his emotions. Elsewhere, subordinates would have lived under stress constantly.

Rusel forced a smile while glancing at Rudels and me.

“Well… you two, please make yourselves comfortable…”

Then he and the workers left on the cart, disappearing into the distance.

Watching them fade into tiny dots, I suddenly remembered one thing.

How do I get back from here? I don’t know the way.

“Uh… huh?”

Blinking, I realized I had come here without knowing the way back.

‘And my magic is running low!’

My remaining magic was all reserved for making medicine, so using it for teleportation here would only delay making the ointment further.

No! Athlete’s foot is such a maddening disease!

Stories of people who had suffered from it floated through my mind, making me freeze in thought.

‘W-What do I do? Am I lost?’

Just then, Rudels grabbed my shoulder.

“Iriel? What’s wrong? You look pale.”

Addressing me politely, he looked genuinely concerned. I stammered.

“I… I need to get home, but I don’t know the way…”

Rudels held my hand tightly, looking unbothered.

“Why worry? Can’t we use magic to get there?”

“My magic… it’s only enough to make medicine…”

I choked back tears. Seeing me like that, Rudels twitched his lips and gazed at me. Then, he gently cupped my face in both hands and spoke softly.

“Iriel. Do you know my name?”

“…Kuh. Rudels Ipin.”

“Exactly. My name is Rudels ‘Ipin.’”

He nodded kindly, emphasizing the word Ipin.

He didn’t let go of my puckered lips and smiled.

“And this is the property of the Ipin family. I am a direct descendant. Do you know what that means?”

I was confused, staring at his face, not understanding what he meant.

Was he trying to give me a riddle? He continued smiling more beautifully than any woman.

‘Ah! Rudels knows the way!’

I finally realized what he meant and stopped sniffling.

Seeing my realization, he chuckled softly and let go of my cheek.

“Well done, Iriel.”

I felt a little indignant at being treated like a child.

Moreover, he was trembling all over, biting his lip. His face was red, and the corners of his mouth twitched—he was holding back laughter.

“…Don’t laugh.”

At my words, he laughed heartily, lowering his head, as if waiting for that exact moment.

Seeing him shaking with laughter made me even more embarrassed.

I felt like the biggest fool in the world.

How could I have not realized this was the Ipin family’s property?

Tonight, I was certain I would toss and turn under the covers, unable to sleep.

Clack clack.

In the empty mountain path, only the sound of hooves echoed loudly.

I was riding alongside Rudels, returning to the Ipin estate.