Hard Work Always Pays Off

Mira rested like that for a little while. Seeing that Ed had no intention of letting go, she snapped, "That's enough, pervert! How long are you planning to hold me?"

Ed replied with a grin, "I just wanted you to get a little more rest. Fine, then let's pick up Elfman first, then go find Lisanna and the others."

"How is Elfman?" Mira was worried about her younger brother. After all, he had taken one of her big moves head-on, and she had plenty of confidence in her own attacking power.

"He's badly hurt, but it's not life-threatening. I checked him before I left. We'll have Edward help us find a doctor for him first." With that, Ed activated the Flying Thunder God and brought Mira to where Elfman had been left outside town.

The now-conscious Elfman saw Ed and Mira arrive. He forced himself to sit up and looked worriedly at the somewhat bedraggled pair. "Sis, Ed, has Bloodhand been dealt with? Are you two all right?"

"Instead of worrying about us, you should pay more attention to your own injuries." Mira looked at the wounds she had inflicted on Elfman and spoke with heartache in her voice.

She then gave Elfman's injuries a quick examination. "Luckily, they're not too serious. He just needs timely treatment. When we get back, I'm definitely giving you special training. At the very least, you need to be able to dodge attacks like that."

Having put her mind at ease, Mira immediately began planning Elfman's future training.

Ed then used the Flying Thunder God again, bringing the two of them to Lisanna. Lisanna had been pacing anxiously in circles. The moment she saw the three of them, she threw herself at them. "Sister Mira! Brother Elfman!"

"W-Wait! Aah!" Mira had used up far too much magic power and was somewhat injured as well. She had thought she could catch Lisanna, but the instant they made contact, she realized she had overestimated her current condition and was knocked straight to the ground by Lisanna.

"Are you okay, Sister Mira? Ah! Brother Elfman, you're hurt so badly!" Only then did Lisanna notice that Mira was in poor shape. She had barely begun asking if Mira was all right when she saw Elfman behind Ed, looking close to death. She immediately became as frantic as an ant on a hot pan.

"Brother Ed, Brother Ed! Sister Mira and the others are hurt... Are you all right too?" Only then did Lisanna notice the strange red markings all over Ed's body. He looked seriously injured too.

"Thank you for finally noticing that I'm hurt." Ed immediately cracked a joke. Mira being in front of him was one thing, but Elfman had clearly been behind him—how had Lisanna skipped right over him, noticed Elfman's injuries first, and only then seen his?

"Don't mind him. If he can still joke around, he's fine. Elfman will be all right as long as he sees a doctor in time." Mira directly cut off Ed's attempt at showing off and reassured Lisanna. "My injuries aren't serious either. I just used up too much magic power."

"By the way, Mr. Edward, the assassins who attacked have already been dealt with." Ed checked the time. Midnight on the final night had already passed, so he said to Edward, "According to our agreement, this assassination attempt should be over now. You're safe. Could I trouble you to find a doctor to treat my companion later? His injuries are still rather serious."

"Rest assured, you were injured protecting me. Please allow me to find doctors to treat all of you, as a token of my gratitude." Edward immediately summoned a servant and ordered him to gather every doctor in town at once.

"N-No need for that many. One or two will do..." Ed felt Edward was being a little excessive, but Edward clearly did not think so.

"Brother Ed, you may think I'm making a fuss over nothing, but when it comes to those who saved my life, nothing is too much. Don't worry, the doctors will be here soon."

Edward gestured for Ed to sit and rest. "Come on, Brother Ed. Tell me what happened just now. I really want to know."

"Just now? Well, after I sent you all away..." Ed sat down beside Edward and began telling him what had happened.

Seeing that Edward had already arranged for doctors to be found, Mira finally relaxed and sat down. Lisanna began asking what had happened as well. "Sister Mira, you and Ed were in a lot of danger, weren't you? I've rarely seen you this exhausted..."

"It was nothing. I just used up a little too much magic power, and just now Ed..." Mira suddenly remembered being held by Ed for quite a while, and her face immediately reddened.

Lisanna instantly noticed the change in her sister and perked up at once. "Ed what? What happened between you two?"

"Oh, you're so annoying! Instead of prying into my business, why don't you go take care of Elfman?" Mira bristled slightly, looking embarrassed.

Lisanna looked at Ed, who was still chatting with Edward, then at Mira, whose face was slightly red but who did not seem overly shy. She figured the two probably had not made much progress, so she reluctantly reined in her curiosity and ran off to care for Elfman.

"Honestly, taking advantage of someone when they're vulnerable... Ed, you bastard, pervert, lecher!" Mira muttered as she glared at Ed, who was still absorbed in conversation.

"Achoo!" Ed suddenly sneezed. "Are you all right, Brother Ed?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. My nose was just a little itchy. Anyway, Brother, let me continue. Just then, we were at the most critical moment..."

After a while, the servant returned with the doctors, who hurriedly began treating everyone. While receiving treatment, Ed suddenly remembered the manor that had been torn to pieces by their battle. Somewhat embarrassed, he said to Edward, "Oh, right, Brother Edward. That manor of yours was seriously damaged in this battle... It probably can't be lived in for the time being. If compensation is needed, could you deduct part of it from the mission reward?"

"Ah, it's only a manor. Don't worry about such trivial matters. Oh, and since we've gotten along so well, in addition to the six million J reward I offered when posting the mission, I'll add another four million!" Edward said with an expression that practically screamed, take it, and don't stand on ceremony with your brother.

While marveling at the man's rich generosity and lamenting his own poverty, Ed put on a show of refusing three times before reluctantly accepting the extra money.

After the doctors finished their initial treatment, everyone went to the best inn in town at Edward's invitation. "Brother Ed, you should all rest here for now. Head back once you've mostly recovered, and let me properly fulfill my duties as host." Edward looked utterly sincere.

"Sure, sure, Brother Edward. It's almost dawn, so you should get back and rest early too. Last night must have been rather exciting for you, after all." After seeing Edward off, Ed returned and proudly said to Mira, "Go on, thank me."

"Why should I thank you? For taking advantage of me?" It was the first time Mira had had such intimate physical contact with a man other than family. After an entire night, not only had she failed to forget it, she had become even more conscious of it.