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I was aware that my eyes were closed. There were times when you still maintained consciousness among the darkness.

It was a phenomenon closer to when a person was in the process of waking up. The underside of my eyelids brightened up, finally starting to perceive light.

At the same time, I quickly remembered the incident that happened before I fainted.

I… I was trying to save Mark but was hit in the head by a plank as I was hanging down from the beam, and I fainted.

There was no saving me if I fainted at that moment. In other words, perhaps what I was feeling now saw similar to the process I had undergone when I was transferred to the place where I first met the Whitey.

In that case…

“Did I kick the bucket!?”
“You didn’t! Don’t say something so ominous!”

I reflectively rose up and looked around, only to find sulking Finia looking back at me. Rather, her expression was probably due to her earlier retort, but it looked quite childish and somehow fresh.

“Also, I can’t say I admire your usage of words. You are a girl, Lady Nicole, so please act more like one.”
“Leave the lecture for later. What happened to Mark? Why am I even alive to begin with?”
“Just before you fainted, I somehow managed to land the Falling Control spell on you. You had me worried sick.”

Falling Control was a spell with the practical application of the Reduction spell’s effect.

If Reduction was a spell to decrease an object’s mass, this was used to slow down the fall of humans.

They held similar effects, but since their targets differed between an object and a person, they were classified as different spells. In addition, Falling Control was slightly harder to learn.

“Y-You saved me there. So, what about Mark?”
“Yes. It was a little hard to aim at him because he was swinging around like a pendulum, but I managed to save him too. This is all thanks to you, Lady Nicole.”
“I’m glad.”

If this simple work caused such an accident, it would affect the honor of Gadius’ store.

Even if Mark’s group were at fault, the fact would remain that there would be casualties. But thanks to Finia’s good work, we avoided the worst outcome. With this, Gadius’ face was also saved.

“Yeah, thanks a lot, Finia.”
“I did the natural thing. Aren’t I your comrade too, Lady Nicole?”
“Yes, you are. In that case, I guess I should praise you instead. You did well.”
“That is getting on my nerves in a different sense too…”

I was receiving Finia’s lap pillow at the resting corner with just a sheet of blanket underneath. Mark was lying next to us, still unconscious.

Tony and John who were looking after him noticed my awakening and offered their thanks.

“Nicole, you’re awake. You really saved us there. I’m sorry for calling you a burden at the beginning.”
“Yeah, thanks for saving Mark’s life.”

Now that we saved their comrade, their initial sharp attitude had disappeared. They should not have been on bad terms, considering they had formed a party. Naturally, they would not wish to see one of theirs die.

Since I saved them from that danger, their gazes were full of gratitude.

“Mhm. How is Mark doing?”
“He cut his wrist while you were holding him. And he has a bump on his head. Probably landed badly.”
“Well, he should just be considered lucky that he got away with that much.”
“I see. Finia, what about healing magic…?’
“I have an affinity to the four elements, but healing magic needs either light spirits, water spirits, or maybe holy magic or interference magic.”
“So you can use water then, no?”
“The spell in question creates recovery water, but the target needs to drink it.”
“I see, he can’t drink it while passed out. Good thing you’re not so all-rounded.”
“…Huh?”

I mean, I felt bad for Mark, but Finia’s skill with magic had been growing lately, so my standing was starting to waver. Her spells were lower leveled compared to mine, but they had versatility and she had many opportunities to use them.

Compared to me who could only use the interference system, she played a far more active part.

But I will steal the leading role here! I’ll nicely patch up Mike here and make myself look like a healing angel.

“Oh weeell, I guess I have to take over, huh? I’ll do the healing.”
“Lady Nicole, you’re grinning.”
“Whoops, must be the emotional instability.”

With a little cough, I approached Mark.

He had a little bump on his forehead, so he probably fell on his face. Though they say it was better when pumps appeared during head injuries. If there was internal bleeding, it would require special medical spells.

Maria could use it of course, but I couldn’t. If that was the case, I would have to sit and watch as he died.

“Yeah, his breathing is stable, and the swelling is a good sign I would say?”
“Really? But he’s unconscious…”
“Finia, how long was I out?”
“A bit over ten minutes. It hasn’t been that long.”

While we fell, Finia and the two Adventurers came down below. And I suppose it would take ten minutes to carry us to the resting corner after ascertaining our safety.

In that case, I probably opened my eyes soon after I was carried here.

“Then I guess it’s only natural that he’s still out. I’ll cast Cure Light on him just in case.”

I held my hand over the lying Mark, and started chanting with as much dignity as I could muster.

“Crimson One, Ultramarine One, Gold One, light of healing upon thee—Cure Light.”

When it came to chanting, the important parts were the condition of the magic circle, the magic power you pour into it, and the chant itself that guided the other two.

The magic power distribution at the start of the chant was particularly essential. The rest could often be omitted during combat and such.

It was mainly for solidifying your image of the spell. If you could clearly imagine the spell’s effect, you could omit that part.

But I was trying to look cool, so I used the proper chant this time.

Mark’s body softly shone, illuminating me from below. The bump on his head also grew smaller before my eyes, and the scratches on his wrist also disappeared. Even my elementary healing spell proved enough to heal that level of injuries.

Speaking of which, the next healing spell in the interference system was quite far above in level. At the moment, Cure Light was my one and only healing spell.

“Phew… It’s done. But I suppose healing magic is a little insufficient.”
“Good work.”

Mark made a complete recovery with my healing.

And after a few minutes, he regained consciousness.