Chapter 1: I can only use Heal

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A/N: I suddenly came up with this so it’s casually written. I’ll be looking forward to your impressions. I added a bit to the receptionist’s description.

Kookie: Don’t expect regular-ish releases until October. Like I said, this is the middle of my assignment/assessment period. Also, I’m too lazy to do the name annotating thing, it’s really annoying sometimes.

I can only use Heal

“Heal!”

It’s a clear day today, good for using recovery magic.
I, Arnest, witnessed someone using recovery magic and am now completely engrossed in it.
Originally, one needed to make a huge donation to the church to be taught recovery magic. However, I understood as a child that it wasn’t an amount I could afford, being born in a family of commoners.
So what could I do?
That is, I had no choice but to learn it by myself.

“So let’s do it!”

I cut off my own arm. It hurt considerably in the past, but now it only itches a little.

“Er.. Heal!”

My arm regrows in an instant. Within a few seconds, my arm has completely emerged from my shoulder just like before.
Eh, I’ve learnt recovery magic somehow? To a point where I can manage even if someone is on the brink of death. First it was a finger, then a hand, leg, arm. Generally speaking, I did whatever was possible. But this is probably the limit with self-study. Soon I’ll have to get someone to teach me.

It seems recovery magic is deemed highly valuable just with its aptitude to be used on everything. I think that I’ll be able to save enough for the donation by working hard and doing a little medical treatment in a large town.

I’ll be 16 today. It’s the age where I’m considered an adult. I’ve been patient until now, but that ends today. Today, I’ve already received my parents’ permission to leave the village.

“Hey Nest! You’re going already?”
“Pops! I’ve already finished my preparations so it’s fine!”

I hitch a ride with a merchant caravan and travel with them to town.

The town was massive. Something like my village can’t compare. But the capital is even bigger, which is quite startling.

“E-excuse me.. This is the Adventurers’ Guild, right?”

Currently I’m at the Adventurers’ Guild. I don’t plan on becoming an adventurer.

“It is, are you a new recruit by any chance?”

The reception is full of beauties but this one having long, brown hair down to her waist is impressive. It’s a bit intense for someone like me, who isn’t used to women.

“N-no. I’m not here to register but I wanted to borrow one of the guild’s tables.”

Speaking of the guild, there are many people gathered. Rather than getting my own place, I think it’s better to do it at the guild.

“Err.. What are your plans for that?”

It might just seem that way but I feel like she’s being rather cautious. P-please don’t glare at me like that. I’m afraid to say it so bluntly.

“I-it’s.. like this. T-that.. as work surface…..”

I stuttered too much. But she’s a receptionist. As one would expect, she understood what I wanted to say.

“Oh, so that’s it. I’m sorry. I think it’s alright if it’s that but it’s part of the regulations so I’ll have you meet the guild master, okay?”

To think I’ll see the guild master. Eh, isn’t this a bit hasty?

“Guild master! It’s me, but are you free at the moment?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”

The receptionist brought me to a room. Inside, was a child.

“H-huh? Why a child…..?”
“Oh, it’s because I’m an elf. We age slowly no matter what. I may look like this but I’m already over 100.”
“A loli-granny!? Ha! Sorry, I came from the countryside so…..”

That’s right, if don’t straighten up, I might not be able to borrow the table.

“This time, this is.. er……”
“Ah, my name is Arnest. Close friends call me Nest though.”
“Understood. So Arnest-san here said he wanted to borrow one of the guild’s tables so he could do some medical treatment.”

Ah, she didn’t go and call me Nest without hesitation. Well it’s true that I wouldn’t be a good match for her, but still!! My appearance score!!! The one that lets everyone say it!!

“So it’s that sort of thing. Er, so you were Nest, right? What recovery magic can you use?”
“Er.. only Heal but is that okay?”

Right, I can only use Heal. I don’t know whether my magic pool is considered large but I think I can use it enough times. Before, I tested how many times I could use it in a day but in the end I cast it from morning to night and still had so much surplus. The magic consumption for Heal might be considered small.

“Hmm. Only Heal, huh…..”

As expected, she’s making a serious face. Who was it! Who said that just being able to use recovery magic is highly valued!

“Actually, there isn’t anyone who can use recovery magic in this town right now. Even if you can only use Heal, there’ll probably be many customers coming to you but I’m wondering if you can handle all that. Also, apparently there are individual differences between healers as a rule, even for Heal.”
“Ah, I should be fine with the number of people. I have plenty of surplus even if I cast throughout the whole day.”
“?.. The magic consumption for recovery magic should be pretty extreme though….? Could it be that Nest isn’t talking about Heal…? He did say he came from the countryside….”

For some reason, she looks down and mutters. Sigh, maybe it really is no good. I can’t just return to the village like this either. Sigh, really, what should I do?

“Hey, Nest. Can you show us your recovery magic? There’s something I want to check.”

Oh, is this perhaps my last chance!? If I fail, there’s no more. I have to do my best.

“U-um, then I’ll cast it now so which should I cut off, both of my arms or both legs? I can’t really use a blade very well so…”
“”Huh?””

The receptionist and guild master’s voices overlap. Eh, is that not enough…..? Perhaps, my head!?

“Ah, I’m sorry. As one would expect, the head is impossible! I’m sorry!”
“N-no, that’s not it? Or rather, will you be fine with both your arms or legs?”

The guild master and receptionist look at me doubtfully. Hm, what does she mean? It’s not like I would die if I cut off both legs.

“Er.. I’m okay with both arms or legs though….?”
“Guild master, perhaps he’s talking about haemostasis. I’m certain Heal can cure injuries of that level….”
“Hmm, maybe he’s thinking that he can get his arm healed later or something. That’s still quite pitiful so we’ll have him make a little cut at most. It’ll be appreciated if he can cure even that much….”

The two seem to be in deep conversation for some reason. Maybe I’m too incompetent for the guild to use or something…..

“Hey, Nest. It’s fine to just cut your hand a little. You can cut it yourself in that case, right?”
“That’s true, that’s good.”

They seemed to be on the same wavelength but as expected, I’m so incompetent that even cutting is unpleasant…. The guild master really is too unreasonable. Let’s finish quickly and head to another place….

“Er.. A little of my hand, right….? Understood….”

Who’s to blame for the low tension! No, I can’t blame anyone!

I cut off my hand. The hand fell to the floor.

“”!””

The two made a surprised face. Was my cutting technique really that poor? I was never bothered by it until now though.

“Oi! What are you doing! We only said it’s fine to cut your hand a little, you idiot!! What are you going to do, cutting off your hand!?”

Huh? ..Did I upset her somehow?

“Guild master, focus on treatment rather than that! Nest-san, quickly stop the bleeding!!”

Ah, I got the receptionist lady to call me Nest. She seems rather panicked though. Alright! With just this, I can continue living from tomorrow onwards!

“Heal.”

My arm heals. Ah, it’s bad! I made the room all bloody! What to do, they won’t tell them to compensate for the cleaning, will they?

“”Huh?””
“Er.. I’m finished. But it’s still no good, right, with just this much.”

There’s probably no need to hear the result. Or rather, this is really embarrassing!

“I’ll do the cleaning tomorrow so please let me go home for today…..”

I turn the doorknob with a dispirited countenance.

“Wai.. wai.. wait a moment.”
“Eh.”

The receptionist restrains me in a hug from behind. I’ll say it again. Restrains me in a hug. To put it simply, her large chest is touching my back.

“aiodnpaoe;aomdijsaaaaaaa”

Unable to endure that elasticity, I immediately wrench myself away from the receptionist and flee the area.

――――――[Receptionist POV]―――――――――――――――――――――――――

“H-he ran away.”

When I say that, the guild master finally recovered from this situation.

“W-What the hell was that? He said [Heal] but if that’s a Heal then what’s to become of the recovery magic of our world? Trash?”

The Heal he used evidentially deviated from the norm. Just when I thought he cut off his hand, he recovered in a matter of seconds. A new one regrew. What used to be hand is currently lying on the floor.

“A regrettable thing happened.”

He probably won’t come to the guild any more. I don’t know what he intended but if it was going to turn out like this, I should have lent him the table or whatever from the beginning.

“Hey you. The scar on your neck, h-hasn’t it healed?”
“Eh…..”

It was something I acquired in the past, when I was an active adventurer. I took that opportunity to retire from being an adventurer and take the reception job, everyone in the vicinity felt creeped out because of it. Nowadays it’s covered by the hair I grew out but….
The guild master hands me a mirror.
Reflected was my flawless neck.
I saw that extraordinary recovery, so I could only believe that it was due to him no matter what I considered.

“Nest, huh……”
Somehow, my cheeks feel hot.

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