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“So, what happened to that baby?”

The question slipped out the next morning as I shoveled breakfast into my stomach. The Saint responded casually, “Oh, that child is currently under the care of the Ascles church. We’re still uncertain if the curse has been completely neutralized.”

It was a reasonable course of action. I had half-expected someone to propose disposing of the child due to the lingering danger, but apparently not.

“Don’t worry. I guarantee her safety,” the Saint assured me. “She’s already lost the dragon gem, and the cursed discoloration on her body is gradually fading.”
“I see. So it was a girl.”
“Indeed. By the way, we’re looking for someone to name her.”
“Ask Momo for that. I’m terrible at naming things.”

In hindsight, I had been too preoccupied with Claxton to even consider the baby’s gender. It didn’t help that her features had been obscured by the curse. Honestly, it was a miracle she had survived.

“And what about the baby’s resistance to curses now?”
“We tested her with ‘Death’s Fingertip’ in groups, and she deflected every attempt. It seems her resistance remains intact, or at least hasn’t weakened significantly.”
“Then she’ll have no shortage of prospective foster parents.”
“On the contrary,” the Saint said with a weary smile, “our real challenge will be keeping her from being taken in by unscrupulous individuals. Being a Saint is busy work… hint, hint.”
“Don’t even think about it. I’m not helping, and I’m definitely not adopting her. I’ve got enough trouble with Momo as it is.”

Raising a baby—especially one with no grasp of the world yet—was utterly out of the question. Besides, if the baby had even a modicum of talent in magecraft, there would be plenty of people eager to raise her as a curse-resistant wizard.

“Such a shame… If it were you, Ms. Laika, I’d approve on sight.”
“I’ll never understand why you trust me so much.”
“I was also hoping to join your journey under the guise of monitoring her condition.”
“There’s the real motive, you slacking Saint.”
“Master!” Momo called as she burst into the tent. “They finally untied me! Oh, good morning, Ms. Roche!”
“Good morning, Ms. Momo. It’s nice to see you free of the ropes.”
“Here comes the noisy one again,” I muttered under my breath.

Axio could have left her tied up longer for all I cared. Still, her timing wasn’t terrible. I had just finished my meal, and the blood was beginning to circulate properly again.

“Momo, you’re probably free, aren’t you? I need to do some shopping, so come along as my porter.”
“I am free! How’d you know that so well?!”
“Because you’re a walking minefield right now. No one wants you near the reconstruction site. We’ll clear it with Axio first, just to be safe.”

✦✧✦✧✦

“Come one, come all! Everything’s dirt cheap today!”
“Fresh fruits just in! Practically giving them away!”
“Hey there, young lady! Looking for some vintage clothes? Got some cute ones here!”
“This section seems relatively untouched. In fact, it might even be busier than usual,” I remarked.

The marketplace, located away from Aldebaran’s main gate, was noticeably more crowded than during our last visit for herbs. With the main street’s shops in ruins, the demand had shifted to this less-affected area.

“Whoa, it’s packed! Just walking around is a challenge. Master, maybe we should come back tomorrow?” Momo suggested.
“Delaying things unnecessarily is a bad habit. Let’s get this done today if we can,” I replied firmly.
“All right. Then, hang on tight!”
“This is… utterly humiliating.”

From my perch on Momo’s shoulders, the view of the marketplace was excellent, but my pride? Completely crushed.

Still, with my body not at full strength and the stamina of a wet paper bag, I’d probably collapse before making it through this crowd. It’s infuriating how weak this body is—no strength, no endurance, no way to build either without collapsing halfway through any proper training.

“We need basic supplies and provisions,” I muttered. “Rigel is a long way off, and we’ll need to be well-prepared. Running out of anything essential on the road isn’t an option.”
“So, you’re saying your stamina won’t get us there, right?”
“Momo!”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get all defensive. Let’s just rent a cart or something. Or better yet, why not ask Ms. Roche to let us hitch another ride on an airship?”
“I refuse to owe that Saint another favor,” I said flatly.
“Geez, Master, you’re so stubborn!”

She pouted, her lips curling into a sullen line. But I wasn’t about to give in. The idea of leaving debts unpaid, especially to someone I might not cross paths with again for a long time, left a sour taste in my mouth.

And besides, the Saint wasn’t just a wandering healer. She was the head of Ascles. If I kept dragging her into my personal errands, her subordinates would have every right to resent it.

“Momo, if you’ve got anything you need to buy, now’s the time. You’ve been paid your share too.”
“Okay then! Shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, lip balm, a portable charger, and maybe—”
“I doubt they have any of that here.”
“What? Aww, no way!”

At that moment, Momo, not paying attention, tilted her head upward, and my hair brushed against her nose.

It wasn’t much—just a light touch, barely enough to tickle. But it seemed that the sensation was enough to set her off. She froze, her steps faltering as her breath hitched in that unmistakable pre-sneeze rhythm.

“Hehh… hehhh… hehhhh—!”
“Don’t you dare drop me,” I warned.
“I won’t, I promise—hehhhh-KCHHHTT!”

The sneeze burst out, stifled behind her hand.

Except it wasn’t just air that escaped. What slipped through her fingers was a plume of flame, dark and flickering with ominous heat.

“……”
“……”
“…Momo?”
“Y-yeah?”

The faint shimmer of heat still rising from her lips left no doubt. That fire wasn’t a fluke or some figment of my imagination. It was real— and dangerously hot.

We were lucky that no one got hurt in this crowd, but still…

“……I guess shopping’s off.”
“Yeah… probably…”

The signs were undeniable now. The dragon gem was taking its toll on Momo’s body.

I hadn’t gotten more than a fleeting glance, but there was no mistaking it. What just came out of her mouth was unmistakably a dragon’s breath.

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