When Jesse’s expression became serious, Dewey smirked.

“Why so serious? I was telling you to smile.”

Can you smile if you were in my shoes?

Instead of saying a word, Jesse changed the topic of the conversation.

“Still, it’s fortunate that not only bad things happened.”

Dewey nodded emphatically.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect that a flower would bloom thanks to what you did for the lady.”

“I thought it might be possible.”

Jesse raised his hand to his waist and spoke with a self-assured tone.

“If the lady is to open her heart to the master, a significant event is needed. There’s nothing more appropriate than saving a princess as a catalyst.”

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t the flower have bloomed when we first met? You saved the lady who was almost executed.”

“Hmm…”

Jesse, at a loss for words, scratched his cheek, seemingly lost in thought, then raised his hand.

“Ah, let’s forget about trivial things. The important thing now is that we found a clue to lift the seal. Let’s forget about the small stuff.”

“Oh, seriously…”

Dewey shook his head as if he couldn’t stand it anymore.

Jesse grinned and said to Kallos.

“Anyway, congratulations on blooming the flower, Master.”

“Congratulations, Master.”

Dewey also offered his congratulations with a stiff smile.

Despite the difficulty and chaos of dealing with the aftermath of the demon’s rampage, they were bright and cheerful enough to offer congratulations, which was a joyful occasion as the flower bloomed in Irene’s vine tattoo.

“…”

However, for some reason, Kallos felt not happy at all.

Rather, feeling confused, Kallos silently looked at Irene, who was peacefully asleep.

Although Kallos tended to be emotionally reserved, he thought that this incident, which he had been waiting for for a long time, would bring at least a little joy.

However, instead of being happy, he looked more embarrassed. Seeing each other’s perplexed expressions, Dewey and Jesse exchanged bewildered glances.

“Is there something wrong?”

When Dewey asked with concern, Kallos, after wiping his face with a dry cloth, replied.

“Nothing. More importantly, be careful with your words in front of her. Even if she’s unconscious, her ears are open.”

“I apologize.”

Kallos turned to Jesse, who was bowing his head like Dewey.

“Did the doctor say there’s nothing wrong?”

Jesse answered with his head bowed.

“Yes. The doctor said everything, including the lady’s pulse, breathing, body temperature, is normal. There are no deep wounds, and she’s healing smoothly, so there’s no need to worry about scars.”

“But still, they couldn’t figure out why she hasn’t woken up for over two days?”

“Yes. I meticulously examined her, thinking there might be other problems, but no matter how much I looked, I couldn’t find anything.”

Of course not. The reason Irene couldn’t wake up from her deep sleep was likely related to the blooming of the fourth flower.

Even though a mere human doctor who doesn’t even know about the existence of the flower wouldn’t be able to figure it out, Kallos still asked, perhaps hoping for something different.
“So, the doctor suggested that if the master wishes, he could try using a magical potion to forcibly awaken the lady’s consciousness… What should we do?”

Kallos’s gaze turned towards Irene.

Just by looking at her, one might mistake her for dead; she lay motionless, not making a sound.

Because of this, there was growing concern about what to do if she didn’t wake up.

The reason Kallos came to see her every time he had free time was also because of this.

The unfamiliar worry felt uncomfortable, like a thorn stuck in his throat.

“Enough. If there’s nothing wrong with her body, let her wake up on her own.”

Despite the strong desire to remove the thorn as soon as possible, the magical potion the doctor mentioned might not have the desired effect.

Moreover, it could potentially do more harm than good. Therefore, Kallos rejected the doctor’s suggestion.

But… he was anxious.

With a face adorned with worries, Dewey said, “You don’t have to worry too much, Master. The lady will wake up soon.”

Jesse chimed in, “That’s right. There was someone before who suffered greatly from the aftereffects of the blooming, but she quickly got up as if nothing had happened.”

Come to think of it, such an incident did happen.

Kallos sifted through the faded memories.

However, he only had memories of hearing reports that the woman was in pain; he couldn’t recall how much she suffered.

Well, he hadn’t paid attention to anything other than the blooming of the flower in the vine tattoo.

When Kallos heard reports that the woman was in pain, he only ordered to save her somehow, without going to see her in person.

But why did Irene come to see her in person?

What was different between this woman and that woman?

“…”

Suddenly struck by a question, Kallos looked down at Irene again.

However, he couldn’t find any difference between her and that woman at that moment.

The same human, woman, and… why was he so concerned about her?

Was it because he saw her in pain?