Start! Luna Express!

Since we couldn’t just keep watching.

Luna-noona and I approached Celine.

“Celine.”

“Ah… Jin-sang, Luna… you came back quickly.”

“Uh, yes. Here’s the completion certificate.”

“Thank you… for your hard work. I’ll, I’ll give you the re-reward…”

Celine had a distinctly different expression from usual, looking very unwell and extremely anxious.

“Jin-sang, how about receiving the reward later?”

At that moment, Bleks spoke to me from the side.

“No, Bleks. This is something I… I need to do.”

“You’re in no condition to work properly right now, Celine. Besides, you should hurry.”

It seemed like Bleks knew something about the situation.

“Bleks, what happened to Celine? Is it serious?”

Maybe she caught some disease?

If so, I can solve it right away!

“…”

Bleks remained silent for a moment before speaking.

“We just got word that Celine’s father has been in an accident.”

“What!?”

It was serious in a different way than what I had thought.

“A-an accident?”

“Celine’s father is… a small merchant, and it seems he encountered a Big Bear while returning with his carriage. The adventurers accompanying him managed to defeat the Big Bear, but… they couldn’t respond quickly enough to the sudden attack, and Celine’s father was badly injured.”

“That can’t be…”

This is terrible!

“I-I’m fine. M-my father is a r-robust and energetic person even though he’s a m-merchant, so I’m sure he’ll be f-fine.”

Celine spoke while stuttering significantly unlike her usual self, as if trying hard to deny reality.

“B-but I’m w-worried, so I s-should go and check his c-condition… his c-condition… sniff.”

Celine finally covered her mouth, lowered her head, and in a small voice mixed with tears, said:

“Father…”

“Bleks!”

“What is it, Jin-sang?”

“Is Celine’s father’s place far from here?”

“Even on the fastest horse, running as fast as possible, it would take a day. By carriage, it’s two to three days.”

“How did the letter arrive? By carriage? Horse?”

“Since it was urgent news, it came by horse.”

That means even if Celine leaves now on horseback, it’s already been at least two days since Celine’s father was injured.

I don’t know what kind of monster a Big Bear is, but it’s certainly dangerous enough to ordinary people.

The fact that they sent a letter to family so quickly and…

Judging from Celine’s reaction, Celine’s father’s condition must be very critical.

In other words, every moment counts.

I quickly turned my head to look at Luna-noona.

“Luna-noona.”

“Yes! I’m ready, Jin-sang!”

As expected of my ultimate combo partner, Luna-noona.

She nodded as if she immediately understood what I was planning to do.

Then I just need to put it into action!

“Celine!”

“Yes, Jin-sang…”

“Get ready quickly! We’ll take you there! Much faster than a horse!”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

“If Luna-noona and I combine our powers, we can take you to your father’s side as quickly as possible! Hurry! Time is of the essence!”

“Ugh…! P-please.”

Celine didn’t ask for details and just entrusted herself to us.

That shows how anxious and uneasy Celine is right now.

“Then let’s go outside right away! Do you have anything to bring?”

Celine wiped her tears and said:

“No, nothing. Let’s go right away. Ah, Bleks… I’m sorry. Please.”

“I’ll explain to the Guild Master, so don’t worry. More importantly, go quickly, Celine.”

“Thank you.”

Celine came out from behind the reception desk and bowed to Luna-noona and me.

“I’m counting on you, Jin-sang, Luna.”

“Leave it to us!”

“L-leave it to us!”

“Let’s go outside quickly!”

“Yes.”

Celine went outside first, and Luna-noona and I were about to follow.

At that moment.

“Jin-sang.”

“Huh? What is it?”

Bleks called me, so I immediately looked back.

I hope it’s something quick since we’re in a hurry.

Bleks gave me a thumbs up and said:

“You look really cool right now.”

Hmph, stating the obvious.

I confidently gave a thumbs up back and said:

“I’m always a cool guy!”

Then I followed Celine and Luna-noona outside the guild.

I immediately said to Luna-noona:

“Noona! Since it’s urgent, let’s do it right here.”

“Got it! C-Celine, p-pardon me!”

“Huh? What do you… kyaah!”

Luna-noona immediately picked up Celine, and I clung to Luna-noona’s back like a shell.

“Stamina Regeneration!”

Woooooong!

“Now! Let’s go, Noona!”

“Yes! B-but didn’t you say this d-doesn’t suit me, J-Jin-sang?”

“The rate of stamina consumption for using techniques and continuously running is different! In this case, this works!”

“I-I see!”

“Jin-sang? Luna? W-what is this…!”

“Celine! Which way should we go?”

“Huh? First, through the east gate…”

“Luna-noona! Head to the east gate!”

“L-let’s go!”

Tadadadadadadak!

“W-wait a moment…! Kyaaaah!”

Luna-noona, carrying Celine and with me on her back, immediately dashed toward the east gate.

“…Hmm~ That posture doesn’t look so cool, Jin-sang.”

For some reason, I heard Bleks’ voice sounding sympathetic, but I ignored it.

Must be an auditory hallucination!

◈

Swooooosh! Luna-noona ran swiftly.

Her speed was much faster than a horse.

“Luna-noona! Are your feet okay?”

“I’m f-fine! Th-thanks to Jin-sang, it d-doesn’t hurt at all!”

“Luna, how on earth…”

Luna-noona has been running continuously for over 30 minutes now.

Celine, who was well aware of Luna-noona’s usual lack of stamina, blinked her eyes as if witnessing an unbelievable phenomenon seeing Luna-noona running so fast.

Great! At times like this, I should boast to reassure the anxious Celine!

“Celine! This is all thanks to m… kyahk!”

Ow! I bit my tongue!

“J-Jin-sang!?”

“Jin-sang!?”

“H-heal…”

Woooong!

“Ahem! This is all thanks to me!”

As if I had never bitten my tongue, I immediately began my explanation.

“Thanks to my stamina recovery magic, Luna-noona can run like this without depleting her stamina! Ah, Heal.”

Woooong!

Since there might still be accumulated impact on her legs even if her stamina is recovered, I periodically cast Heal on Luna-noona.

“Stamina Heal.”

And as a bonus, I recovered my own stamina so I wouldn’t get tired from hanging on.

“Magic that recovers stamina… I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“But as you can see, I can use it! And as you can see, Luna-noona continues to run! Celine, I told you, didn’t I? Even though I don’t have a license! Yes! I’m a super skilled healer!”

“Th-that’s right! J-Jin-sang is an a-amazing unofficial h-healer!”

“…Noona, can you leave out that ‘unofficial’ part? It’s a fact, but. It stings a bit.”

“Wh-what does ‘fact’ mean?”

“It means truth!”

“Y-you shouldn’t tell l-lies, Jin-sang!”

“Yes…”

Oh dear.

It seems Luna-noona, out of kindness and conscience, can’t stop her fact bombs.

“Y-you really are amazing, Jin-sang.”

Though I was a bit depressed by Luna-noona’s fact, I immediately perked up at Celine’s words.

“Right? Of course, I can instantly recover not only stamina but also large wounds and such! So, Celine!”

“Y-yes.”

“Even if your father is in critical condition, don’t worry! I’ll heal him with my magic!”

“J-Jin-sang will treat him…”

“I know you’re anxious! As Luna-noona said, well, I may be… unlicensed and unofficial, but I’m super skilled! Right, Luna-noona!”

“Th-that’s right! J-Jin-sang’s m-magic is s-super awesome!”

“…”

Even with Luna-noona’s endorsement, Celine didn’t immediately ask for my help.

Well, social perceptions don’t change so easily.

If they changed that easily, I wouldn’t have struggled for that first month!

But! Now is the time to push strongly!

“Celine, you may not believe it right now… but if there’s really no other means, please entrust it to me! Please believe in me! I will definitely help him recover!”

“…Thank you, Jin-sang.”

It was still an ambiguous response, not fully committing to trusting me.

But I felt that Celine’s heart had somewhat eased.

Then let’s give it a bit more effort!

“Luna-noona! Change of speed! I’ll keep recovering you, so let’s go faster!”

“Huh, i-is that okay? A-are you alright?”

“We’re running in a straight line, so it should be much better! Let’s gooooooo!”

“O-okay!”

“Huh? Faster, what on earth…”

Tadadadadak!

On this day, Luna-noona became the wind.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

◈

Using Luna-noona’s ultra-high-speed movement, we arrived in 3 hours what would normally take a full day even by horse.

It was evening.

Just before the gates were about to close for security, we managed to arrive at the village where Celine’s father and other family members lived.

At first, the guard on duty was alarmed and startled by our rapid approach.

Fortunately, since Celine knew the person, we were allowed to pass immediately.

“Father!”

“Celine!? How did you get here so quickly?”

“S-sis!”

“Hahh… hahh… hahh…”

And what we saw at Celine’s house upon arrival was.

Two women, presumably her mother and younger sister, surprised by Celine’s incredibly fast arrival.

And a large man who appeared to be barely holding onto life, lying in bed wrapped in bandages heavily soaked with blood.