Ch.143143. Nursing Care (4)

Fortunately, the situation didn’t devolve into everyone camping out in my hospital room all day waiting for me to regain consciousness.

Lady Indra, who supervises the infirmary, is a stern middle-aged woman.

She’s a kind person who always prioritizes students’ health above all else.

Just how firm her resolve is can be seen in what she did the moment noisy commotion broke out in my hospital room.

“What are you all doing in the room of someone who needs rest? Get out now!”

That’s a statement bold enough to address a group that includes both the Tristan Duchess and a saint.

“…However, Lady Indra. We are currently making an important decision—”

But Elnore doesn’t particularly argue against it, instead responding with a respectful tone.

Unlike regular professors, those in charge of specific facilities are individuals with achievements and authority nearly equal to the headmaster. Even a duchess can’t speak carelessly within the academy.

That’s why statements like this come out:

“I’ve already been lenient enough, Tristan Duchess. One more word and I’ll ban everyone here from visiting.”

“…”

“If you want to come, return tomorrow. Visiting hours are over, so disperse quickly!”

With that threat, everyone was chased out of the hospital room despite their dissatisfied expressions.

Lady Indra is a goddess.

I will not accept any arguments to the contrary.

“…Saved.”

Watching people leaving the room with reluctant expressions as per her instructions, those words naturally slip out.

[So in that case, instead of choosing a caretaker, why not just discharge early?]

“…That won’t work.”

There’s no way Lady Indra would allow it.

She left after threatening that I must absolutely rest for at least two days.

She’s someone with enough guts to chase away even the Tristan Duchess. There’s no way she’d listen to my request.

[Then what are you going to do? The others will cause a commotion.]

“…”

That’s true.

It’s a situation where the others might accumulate corruption points from being twisted with jealousy.

After all, “nursing care” itself involves spending extended time in close proximity with the subject.

So, from the beginning…

“…Even apart from that, choosing a caretaker itself is the problem.”

[Huh?]

“No matter who becomes the caretaker, I’ll be crossing a river of no return.”

Just look at what Elnore was trying to do.

If the saint hadn’t come, then…

I would have been devoured right there.

“Ever since my seal evolved, I feel like I’ve become… more dangerous?”

It’s good that the Tacheon seal’s restrictions were lifted so it can now contain the energy of all demons.

But it feels like other characteristics I didn’t want came along with it.

Strangely, demons and vessels seem to lose self-control more easily around me compared to before.

[What do you mean?]

“Well, if before they just wanted to monopolize me… now they seem to become more ‘aggressive’ just by being in front of me.”

[…]

Just look at Elnore.

She had obsessive tendencies before, but doing something like this to me despite being weighed down with ‘guilt’ is clearly an abnormal situation.

It means the possibility of “dangerous incidents” occurring when I’m with vessels has increased significantly compared to before.

[…So that girl Yuria doing those things was in the same context?]

Calivan asked such a question after hearing my words.

What things?

[Well, she doesn’t seem like someone who would normally say such things. Enjoying being hit, asking to be walked on a leash.]

“…That’s highly likely.”

[…Then you’re in big trouble.]

“…I agree.”

Honestly, I wonder what could be worse than this.

The masochism that awakened in Yuria before might just be the beginning.

It means a terrifying future where all kinds of demon fetishes might open up one after another could be not far off.

In that sense…

“Among those guys, is there anyone who wouldn’t cause trouble if asked to stay with me for a day?”

It would be better to entrust fish to a cat.

Hearing my words, Calivan thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

[There really isn’t anyone trustworthy.]

“…”

Sadly, that’s true.

Whether it’s Yuria, Elnore, or Serath, I can’t trust any of them.

“The good news is that there is a choice.”

[What choice?]

“There’s one person who’s relatively safe.”

Just one person.

The only human who’s free from this problem.

●

The next day.

A silence like walking on thin ice filled the hospital room.

More precisely, everyone was quite displeased with the “caretaker” I had chosen.

“…Is this good enough?”

Elnore handed over patient tableware she had cleaned nearby with a cold voice.

To this, Faynol Leiphec responded with a bright smile.

“No, Tristan Duchess. I think it would be better if I did it myself.”

“Which part is inadequate—”

“Here, here, and here aren’t properly cleaned. I can’t give such unhygienic tableware to a patient.”

“…”

“Well, at this level, I can’t grant your request for ‘caretaker replacement.’ Your skills are too rudimentary.”

Elnore was defeated in the first round.

Considering her status, she naturally wouldn’t have had opportunities to do such menial tasks.

“Ah, it’s almost time for cleaning.”

As Faynol said that and stood up, Yuria and Lucien stopped him.

“We’ve already taken care of that.”

This side is somewhat more accustomed to such activities than Elnore, with Lucien having experienced the strict and ascetic life of a religious person, and Yuria having lived in the wild for a long time.

But…

“It’s a mess.”

Saying that, Faynol picked up nearby cleaning tools and swept through the surroundings in an instant.

It’s a magical speed. After the work was finished, the surroundings sparkled dazzlingly compared to what the saint sisters had done.

“This is the level of cleanliness required, wouldn’t you say?”

“…”

“…”

Yuria and Lucien stared blankly at the scene.

They seemed unable to comprehend if this was really done by the same person.

After instantly defeating three people, Faynol turned his head with a relaxed expression.

He was looking toward Serath, who was watching this scene with a blank stare.

“Would you also like to request a caretaker replacement? If so, you’d need to be better than me at something.”

“…What exactly does caregiving involve?”

“…”

You just go out.

It’s been revealed several times in the game settings, but she really has a tendency to be an idiot who can’t do anything except assassination.

“Come on, everyone please leave. It seems I’m the only one who can properly take care of him.”

“No, but still…!”

“We’re the ones who can take the best care of Darwood…!”

After saying that, he drove all the others who were expressing their dissatisfaction out of the hospital room.

The others wanted to voice their complaints somehow, but the performance gap shown earlier was too great for them to properly express their opinions.

“…Good job.”

“It’s nothing much.”

To my praise, the person who instantly defeated all the other vessels responded with a grin.

‘…This guy is naturally good at this kind of thing.’

Faynol originally worked at nursing homes and orphanages, taking care of the vulnerable.

He has a background that could qualify him as a professional caregiver.

And, above all.

This guy is completely unaffected by my “Fatal Charm” skill.

Unlike other vessels, the possibility of him causing some incident with me is extremely low.

While recalling that background, a system window appeared before my eyes.

< System Message >

[ You have selected ‘Faynol’ as your caretaker. ]

[ Analyzing the subject’s status… ]

[ ‘Affection’ has not yet been unlocked. ]

[ An event that can unlock the subject’s affection will occur soon! ]

< System Message >

[ Strong emotional changes are observed in the unselected subjects! ]

[ There is a high possibility this will act as a variable in the upcoming main quest! ]

“…”

Seeing such messages makes me break out in a cold sweat.

Let’s think about the consequences later.

No matter who I chose from that group, my dismemberment was guaranteed. Better to toss the crisis into the future than die immediately…!

“…Still, it’s surprising.”

In the quieted hospital room, Faynol pulled a chair in front of me and sat down.

“Not many people know that I did such things during my ‘human’ days. How exactly do you know?”

[…It’s certainly not funny.]

Calivan muttered in a low, subdued voice.

[A Demonic Vessel who used to belong to the Inquisition was once doing volunteer work. It’s more of a comedy than a serial killer making donations.]

“…”

I give a bitter smile at Calivan’s sharp voice.

Certainly, looking only at what this person has done, such an evaluation isn’t strange.

‘…I told you, Calivan.’

As I’ve been telling this person all along.

‘Faynol is a pitiful guy.’

This guy is, so to speak, similar to Valkarsus.

He appears as a chapter final boss in the scenario, but he’s someone who shouldn’t have met such an end.

Rather than that.

He’s someone who should have received better treatment.

“…And if you have that level of information, I believe you’ll certainly remember what I said as well.”

He rested his chin on his hand as he spoke.

“Time continues to flow, Darwood Campbell.”

The expression on his face as he said this was so devoid of emotion that it felt like a mannequin or doll.

“You haven’t forgotten the one-month time limit I gave you, have you? If I can’t ‘die’ within that time… I don’t know what will happen.”

“…I know.”

Yes. I remember.

After all, that fact also accounts for a significant portion of why I collapsed from overwork.

I sigh and respond to his words.

“However, there’s one thing I’d like to correct.”

“…Pardon?”

To him tilting his head in confusion, I sigh and speak.

“Faynol Leiphec.”

At the very least.

That aside.

I need to clearly tell this guy what I don’t like.

“I don’t want you to die.”

He keeps talking about dying, dying.

I don’t like that very much.

“…Pardon?”

His eyes widened.

Of course, I understand what intention he has in saying such things.

“You have the Red Demon inside your body, it’s forcibly keeping you alive right now, it’s eagerly waiting to emerge into the material world using you as a host, and you feel the time limit for that is one month, so you asked me to kill you within that time. Right?”

“…”

He remained silent with his mouth open.

He probably didn’t expect me to know his circumstances so thoroughly.

But soon, he slowly closed his eyes and then opened them.

“…If you know that, then the conversation becomes even easier. If I don’t die, calamity will soon befall the material world.”

Then.

A self-deprecating voice followed.

“You could say you’re removing the seed of calamity, Darwood Campbell. There’s no need to feel guilty—”

“No.”

So.

There’s a fact I need to make clear to this guy.

“Awakening your emotions is one thing, but that’s not the purpose.”

My accepting this guy’s request is…

“I will make you happy, Faynol.”

It’s to give this guy a happy ending.

“And you don’t have the right to refuse.”

“…”

His eyes trembled greatly upon hearing my words.