In the end, the act of taking a bath was deemed reasonable by Ark.
Even before Ark could say anything, Kasumireaz turned back toward Masumi. He was clearly about to guide her. As he stepped off with a quiet “This way,” Masumi tried to follow, then stopped short.
Accepting the performance might have been reckless.
A cold sheen of sweat formed on her brow.
Perhaps sensing something amiss, Ark called out, “What’s wrong?”
Masumi turned only her face toward him.
“Will there be much walking during the investiture?”
“Hm? The musician doesn’t move during the ceremony, but you’ll have to walk from the waiting area to the venue.”
The answer was exactly what she had expected, and her expression darkened.
“Sorry. I said I’d do it, but I might not be able to after all.”
Her voice fell, weighed down by the guilt of going back on her word.
Yet no rebuke came.
Puzzled, she lifted her gaze and met Ark’s eyes. His brow was faintly drawn, but it was not suspicion she saw there. It was concern.
Then he asked,
“…What happened?”
It was not an accusation, but a question meant to understand.
“My foot.”
“Your foot?”
“It hurts. I think I twisted it somewhere yesterday.”
Putting weight on it sent a jolt like electricity through her. Walking was out of the question. Standing was already pushing it.
Going out of the tent to wherever the baths were, whether near or far, felt overwhelming in this state. She must have made it worse by pacing around earlier. Her ankle was visibly swollen and red.
This ceremony mattered deeply to them. It would surely draw the attention of the people. Appearances had to be dignified.
She did not want to treat lightly something others held in earnest regard.
There had to be a reason they were this desperate. A reason so serious that they would rely on the help of a suspicious outsider like her. If she was going to respond at all, she wanted to do so sincerely.
“Limping through a ceremony wouldn’t look right. I don’t think I’m suitable after all.”
“Let me see.”
Ark rose from his chair. Kasumireaz turned back into the tent as well.
Masumi waited where she stood, expecting Ark to crouch down. Instead, he suddenly lifted her into his arms.
“Wah, wait—”
“Be still. It hurts, doesn’t it?”
“But—”
Being carried so carefully threw her completely off balance. She couldn’t very well struggle when he was clearly worried about her, so she stiffened instead.
He set her down on his broad bed.
When she pointed to her left ankle, Ark’s face tightened at once. He did not touch it, but she could tell he was examining it closely.
After a moment, he let out a small sigh.
“Looks like the command post’s binding spell did its job.”
“…It seems so,” Kasumireaz agreed grimly.
“Guess they weren’t just posturing. If you’d had magic, it would’ve been worse.”
“Most likely. In any case, she won’t be able to walk like this. Shall I apply healing?”
“I’m not great at that.”
“Nor am I. In fact, that applies to the entire Fourth Order. Given that, efficiency suggests you, Ark.”
“…Yeah. Figures.”
Ark folded his arms with a low grunt.
Masumi alone was completely lost.
The only thing she understood was that they did not seem to be considering replacing her anymore. She hoped she would not end up causing them trouble or embarrassment, but there was no way to know what kind of plan they were forming.
What bothered her were the words she had caught. “Not great,” “bad at it.”
“…What exactly is about to happen?” she asked, her face tightening.
Her twenty-eight years of common sense were useless here. Whatever they were about to do, she needed mental preparation.
Ark’s right hand began to glow blue.
It was a deep sapphire hue, like sunlight shimmering through seawater when seen from below.
It was beautiful.
The gentle, tranquil light held her gaze.
“That light is…?”
“Healing light. I’ll fix your ankle.”
“You can do that? Wow, tha—”
“Probably.”
“Probably?!”
Her voice jumped an octave.
This was not what she had expected.
In situations like this, one was supposed to hear something like “This is nothing” or respond with applause and awe. Instead, unease flooded in.
“It’ll be fine,” Kasumireaz said firmly, puffing out his chest.
He was trying to reassure her. She understood that much. But the word “probably” echoed ominously.
Before she could voice her concerns, Ark was already ready.
“Should do it.”
The light in his palm had grown thicker.
As he approached, hand raised, he looked less like a healer and more like a mad scientist.
She was too frightened to move.
Frozen like a frog before a snake, she watched as his hand hovered over her ankle. The light flowed in without a sound.
The discoloration seemed to fade slightly.
“How is it?”
“A bit better, maybe… but it still hurts.”
“Yeah, this is inefficient. I put in a fair amount, too.”
Muttering, Ark’s hand filled with blue light once more.
Kasumireaz narrowed his eyes against the glare.
“Ark. That is rather too much.”
“I’m bad at fine control. If it’s a hassle, I just add more.”
This was a conversation that would have made any modern doctor faint.
Masumi did not need to ask. This man’s solution was clearly “If it didn’t work, multiply it.”
Is this really okay?
The light poured in again.
Then it ended.
Relief washed over her, but the next instant, her body jolted.
Thump.
It felt as though her entire body pulsed like a single heart.
“—!”
She clutched her chest and bent forward. It didn’t hurt, but her heartbeat thundered.
“Clearly too much,” Kasumireaz remarked.
“Eh, it’s fine. Looks good now.”
The calmness of this exchange was deeply questionable.
“Move your foot,” Ark said.
She was still catching her breath, but after a moment, she did as told.
The swelling and discoloration were completely gone. No pain at all.
“Amazing… it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
She flexed her ankle experimentally. Nothing.
“Can you walk?”
“I could probably run.”
“Save that stamina for playing.”
“Yeah. I can do this now. I’ll take it seriously. Thank you.”
Despite the anxiety along the way, the result was undeniable. Masumi thanked him without hesitation.
Ark, for some reason, simply turned away.
Just as Kasumireaz reached for the tent flap to lead her to the baths, Masumi paused.
“By the way, you said I could play anything, but…”
Ark, who had already turned toward his desk, stopped and looked back.
“That was fine. I don’t know the name, but it was beautiful.”
He adjusted his glasses as he spoke, and the atmosphere softened noticeably.
“You mean the cantata?”
“That was its name?”
“No, the piece is called Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”
Ark’s eyes widened slightly. He said the melody and even its name rivaled court music.
Now it was Masumi’s turn to be surprised.
He looked every bit the hardened warrior, yet he spoke of music with genuine appreciation.
Knight and musician. Worlds apart, yet there was respect between them.
She made a mental note to ask him about it someday.
“For now, I’ll think about the music in the bath. But this is outdoors with a huge crowd, right? Just me playing, won’t the sound get lost?”
Ark answered without hesitation.
“I’ll amplify it.”
“Huh?”
“With my magic. Everyone will hear it.”
“Magic? What? That makes no sense.”
“Like this.”
He pinched his fingers together.
“What do you mean—!”
Her voice suddenly boomed like an opera singer’s.
She clapped her hands over her ears, heart pounding.
Ark snapped his fingers.
“Released. You can talk.”
“Okay, okay, it’s back. That scared me.”
“Got it?”
“I don’t understand how it works, but I understand that it does.”
“So stop worrying.”
Despite herself, she laughed.
Kasumireaz stared at Ark as if seeing something rare.
