Published at 26th of December 2025 7:38 am

Chapter 444: No Matter How Careful You Are, Careless Mistakes Never Go Away.

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The space between the castle walls and the castle itself is it called a courtyard? Anyway, we arrived at a simple three-story building stretching horizontally. Nearby was a wide expanse of packed earth, probably serving as a training ground.

This way, Elsa led us into the building. The first floor seemed to be living spaces like a dining hall and such. At the easternmost room, Princess Margaret was waiting.

Ive been waiting, Ed!

Your Highness. We apologize for keeping you waiting.

Its fine. I was the one who made you wait, after all. More importantly, come in!

Excuse me, then.

Ill wait out here this time. Take care, Ed.

With a wry smile from Tia and the others seeing me off, I stepped inside. There, a young mage in his mid-thirties, dressed in white, was waiting

Hmm, there doesnt seem to be anything abnormal.

Ah, I see. Thank you very much.

After a routine examination, I was given the expected result and breathed a sigh of relief. I knew there was nothing wrong with my head, but I suddenly wondered, Is my body the same as a normal humans now? and got a bit nervous.

However

W-What is it!?

Well, it seems your muscles are slightly heated throughout your body. Its common among young soldiers and adventurers, but its probably from overtraining. If you push yourself too hard, youll end up damaging your body, so train in moderation. You should probably rest for at least tomorrow.

Ah, I see Thank you. Ill be careful.

Phew, he didnt notice or maybe the body structure doesnt change much even when I became a higher being? But I did transform in the previous world Some people might notice. I was careless this time, but Ill be more careful from now on.

Take care.

Receiving those words, I left the room to find six eyes waiting for me.

How was it?

Your Highness. Yes, theres nothing particularly wrong.

I see, thats good! Then

Margaret, with a beaming smile, held out her small, chubby hand.

The treatment fee is 10 gold coins!

What!?

I deliberately raised my voice in surprise at those words. Ten gold coins was equivalent to three years income for an average citizen in this area. Naturally, its not an amount that adventurers who struggle against such low-level demonic beasts can easily pay.

However, its not exactly a rip-off either. The recovery potion Elsa used earlier was of good quality, and being examined by a healing mage employed by the castle is quite expensive.

In other words, its expensive but reasonable. However, its not something that can be paid when suddenly demanded In the first run, this resulted in me being required to do work worth 10 gold coins, leading to days of doing odd jobs for Margaret in the castle, but

10 gold coins, here you go.

What!?

Tia casually took out 10 gold coins from her waist pouch and paid, causing both Margaret and me to exclaim in surprise. This time, it was a genuine surprise.

T-Tia!? What are you

Huh? What ah!?

At my panicked voice, Tia tilted her head in confusion for a moment before her expression changed to surprise, then her ears drooped dejectedly.

I had explained this flow to Tia properly. In fact, we had even confirmed it in the carriage earlier. Yet she paid Well, yeah. It was probably because she was conscious of the fact that I received treatment.

Whether to treat an injured companion or not was a constant worry for adventurers with tight finances. Sentiment doesnt fill the stomach, but without bonds, its hard to entrust ones life. When exchanging money for life, sometimes coldness was required.

And its the same for those who heal. They sometimes cruelly abandon adventurers who dont pay. If they help for free just because someone cries and clings to them, theyll quickly be taken advantage of by those who shout, You did it for free for that guy!

Thats why adventurers dont haggle over any treatment they receive. To ensure theyll be saved next time by companions worth paying for. Because this value is ingrained deep in her heart, Tia reflexively paid the money.

(Im sorry! Im sorry! Im really sorry!)

Even without using the [Missing Talk], I could tell Tia was desperately apologizing in her heart. I couldnt bring myself to blame Tia for paying money for my sake, but this is a bit troublesome.

Eight nine ten coins. Indeed theyre here. Hey Elsa, just to confirm, these are real gold coins, right?

Huh? Yes, as far as I can tell, theyre definitely genuine, but Your Highness, is something wrong?

N-No! Nothing! Nothings wrong, but Eh?

And in front of me, for some reason, Margaret was counting the gold coins over and over with a very troubled expression. But with only 10 coins, unlike hundreds, theres no way to miscount.

Well then, that concludes our business. Your Highness, Ill escort these two out of the castle.

Huh!? W-Wait a minute!

What is it? Do you have any more business with these two?

Th-Thats

Margaret desperately let her gaze wander as she pondered Elsas question. Whats with this reaction? Could it be that Margaret also had a reason to keep me around? If so can we work with this?

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!

With a slightly exaggerated cry, I clutched my head with both hands and crouched down.

Ed!? Whats wrong!?

It hurts, it hurts! Ah, my head is really hurting!

Eh?

Its so painful I cant stand it! I think I might need to see that doctor again!

Ah!? Y-Yes, Ed. You shouldnt push yourself. Maybe you should get checked again?

But Tia, is that okay? We just used up all our savings that we were saving to buy new equipment. If we get another examination, well really be in debt this time.

I-Its fine! Thats right, we dont have money anymore, but we cant put a price on your health! Please, Your Highness, could you ask for Ed to be examined once more?

Margaret, who had been looking at us with a blank expression as we piled on our slightly stilted lines, reacted strongly to Tias final request as if thinking, This is it!

Ah!? Y-Yes, thats right! Its fine. But it cant be free! Itll be another 10 gold coins, is that okay?

Of course! Thats great, Ed. Youll be alright now.

Ow, ow, ow Alright, Ill go then.

Yes, do your best be careful? Anyway, take care!

With a strange atmosphere at my back, I opened the door I had just closed and entered the room again. Of course, the healing mage from earlier was there, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

Oh? Is something wrong?

Well, um my head is hurting a bit

Its a lie. My head doesnt hurt at all.

No, it might not be a lie. If were talking about worries, or headaches in a mental sense, it feels like its pounding more than ever But anyway.

Your head hurts? The earlier examination didnt show anything Could it be a blood clot!? This is bad, lie down slowly over there, and dont move at all! And Ah, I cant handle this. I need to call my master for a more detailed examination.

Ah, no, its not that ser

Be quiet! Just dont move!

Yes, sir!

As I was made to lie on the bed and watched the mage start bustling about in a panic, not only my head but also my chest began to hurt. But now I had no choice but to go with the flow It turned out to be more serious than I thought, and I wasnt released until three days later.

Share