Ch.214#214. Hospital Visit

After suppressing the rebellion, the Empire used war heroes as propaganda to calm the restless public. They proclaimed throughout the Empire about patriotic young Mecha Knights who risked their lives during the imperial crisis.

Two individuals stood out prominently.

Gilbert and Ian.

Gilbert, already renowned as the Empire’s divine warrior, rose to become an undisputed imperial hero through this opportunity. His illustrious past transformed into heroic tales circulated among enthusiasts, and there wasn’t a child in the Empire who didn’t know his name.

Ian also became imprinted as the Empire’s rising new star.

His unwavering stance against the new model mecha prepared by the rebellious Prince Richard became an inspiration to other Mecha Knights.

Especially his masterful piloting skills, as precise as Gilbert’s, became widely discussed among them. The mecha movements that seemed beyond human capability ignited passion in many knights’ hearts.

The Empire didn’t stop there.

A rebellion had erupted shortly after the long-vacant successor position was finally decided. And the unforgivable rebellion was led by an imperial prince who had been a successor candidate.

Merely capturing him wasn’t enough. The imperial authority had plummeted because the rebellion’s mastermind was the First Prince Richard, a war hero who had received fervent support from imperial citizens.

Eventually, the Empire’s leadership chose to elevate Crown Princess Seraphina, who had led Gilbert and Ian, to relatively raise the imperial family’s authority. A Crown Princess commanding war heroes under her!

It made for a good story among enthusiasts and presented a favorable image to citizens, so the imperial intelligence department secretly worked to embellish the narrative further.

This secured both the stability of public sentiment and Crown Princess Seraphina’s position as successor.

Though the Empire had suffered a rebellion, they used it as a stepping stone to strengthen internal affairs.

***

Gilbert stared blankly at the ceiling.

A few days ago, after executing a sword strike that split heaven and earth at Selene Plains, he had retired. Even for someone like him, such an impossible feat had taken its toll on his body.

Collapsing in the cockpit, he had struggled to breathe until the suppression forces arrived after defeating the rebels. Whether from the excessive strain before using Winter Sky Splitting or the combined exertion, a faint pain remained in his heart despite his super-regeneration activating.

Had Saint Veronica not urgently sought him out to assist his recovery, it might have taken considerable time to heal, despite the Einherjar’s Feast.

However, thanks to Veronica, the continent’s foremost healer, he was recovering at an impressive rate.

While enjoying a long-overdue sweet rest, he welcomed familiar faces who came to visit. The first visitors were Angelina and Hans, who had followed him since the academy.

“Sir Gilbert, I heard you split heaven and earth this time. Is that really something a human can do?”

As boisterous as ever despite their long separation, Hans bombarded him with questions, eyes wide as saucers.

Even the patient Angelina couldn’t help but scoff at his endless stream of questions.

“Hans. What are you doing in front of a patient?”

“But Lady Angelina, how can I not be amazed? He split heaven and earth!”

“He’s someone who cut through an old model mecha with his bare hands. Why couldn’t he do this?”

“Ah, right. He’s not human.”

Gilbert felt slightly hurt at being called not human. While he acknowledged becoming somewhat dehumanized after being appointed as a hero-like figure with system assistance, hearing it directly was another matter.

“When will you ever grow up, Hans?”

Angelina couldn’t suppress a sigh at Hans’s inappropriate behavior. Though not ideal conduct before a recovering patient, Gilbert understood completely.

“I’m always serious.”

“That’s the problem!”

Their visit ended with Angelina’s exasperated shout.

His next visitor was Brynhild, the great warrior of the Sigurd clan who had traveled all the way to the Empire solely for her companion. She abruptly appeared in her usual muscular, overly revealing attire.

“Husband. I heard you split heaven and earth this time.”

“Brynhild.”

“Indeed, you’re worthy to be my husband. That’s fitting for my companion.”

Brynhild stood before him with what appeared to be a fierce smile. Looking at Gilbert lying obediently in bed, she heard a kind of yearning cry.

– Now! Now is the time for marriage by abduction!

Of course, she didn’t actually hear it. It was just her inner demon whispering.

Brynhild glanced behind her. The distance to the door was considerable, so if she pounced on the weakened Gilbert, she could accomplish her mission. It wouldn’t matter if someone walked in.

Rather, it would be an excellent opportunity to announce that this man was her companion.

Gilbert noticed Brynhild’s gaze turning dangerous and sensed something. The chill down his spine suggested his high abilities were warning him, like Brynhild’s instincts.

Recalling Brynhild’s past antics, he envisioned her unsmiling charge.

– It’s marriage by abduction!

Remembering this, Gilbert spoke firmly.

“If you’re planning something foolish, I’ll send you back to the Sigurd clan.”

“It’s not foolish. It’s constructive and forward-thinking.”

What is this barbarian warrior saying?

Gilbert slightly furrowed his brow and delivered a final warning.

“I said, don’t do anything foolish.”

“Husband, just count the spots on the ceiling. Though it’s my first time, I’m good at anything physical!”

Brynhild launched a bold physical attack, but Gilbert, nearly recovered, thwarted her, and the abduction marriage plan failed.

After sending away the deflated Brynhild, Gilbert’s next visitors were Camilla and Lily. Camilla carried expensive northern fruits.

“Hmm-hmm! Ta-da! Your fiancée has arrived.”

“It’s been a while, Gilbert.”

Camilla, with sparkling eyes, and the calm Lily greeted him with contrasting demeanors. Having already expressed her feelings to Gilbert, Camilla stuck close to him, eager to offer him fruit.

Lily prevented Camilla’s excessive enthusiasm.

“Camilla. Gilbert is still a patient.”

“That’s. Why! I’m healing him with the power of love!”

“Did you read another strange book?”

“Of course not! It’s not that weird book ‘Love Heals Everything.'”

“That’s just a suggestive novel with a fancy title!”

Gilbert smiled slightly at Camilla and Lily’s banter.

The close friends’ squabbling evoked nostalgic memories for him.

Of his old comrades and himself.

However, Gilbert quickly shook off these deeply nostalgic memories. While remembering them was necessary, dwelling on them was forbidden.

He simply enjoyed watching the two bicker.

After the comedy duo left, his next visitor was his one and only master, Briana. She entered with an even sterner face than her usual cool expression and immediately began scolding him.

“I told you never to forcibly step into the realm, yet what were you thinking doing such a thing!”

“If I hadn’t acted then, the damage would have been greater.”

“Even so. That wasn’t just stepping into the realm.”

Briana clearly remembered the sword strike she witnessed that day. Though she, as a superhuman, could possibly perform such a technique, Gilbert’s swordsmanship hadn’t yet reached the level of touching the sky.

No matter how divinely gifted Gilbert’s piloting skills were, executing swordsmanship beyond his limits naturally placed extreme strain on his body. From what she saw, Gilbert hadn’t just stepped into the forbidden realm but had taken several steps.

The deeper one goes into the realm, the more indelible the price marked on the body. That was the fate of those who exceeded their limits.

Briana lectured Gilbert until his eardrums nearly developed scabs. To ensure he would never consider stepping into the realm again.

Eventually, Gilbert surrendered to Briana’s persistence. He repeatedly promised never to step into the realm again.

“Sigh. Gil. Don’t think about stepping into the realm; think about advancing to higher places. You’ve been lucky so far, but stepping into the realm is never right.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“But separately. That strike was excellent. Cleanly splitting heaven and earth is something not just anyone can do.”

Briana smiled as a master. She thought the title of Sword Saint would pass to Gilbert within the next decade.

However, she had no intention of easily relinquishing her position. Nor did she have the slightest thought of laying down her sword.

Having occupied the top position for so long, she knew well the loneliness it brought. She had no intention of passing on the same feelings she had experienced to her disciple, Gilbert.

Looking at Gilbert’s deep gaze, Briana reaffirmed her commitment. That she would accompany him in that lonely place.

As a companion of the sword.

As a companion in life.

After clearing her throat, Briana instructed him to rest sufficiently and left.

Gilbert sighed deeply, thinking everyone who might visit had now come. Technically, his master Seraphina might come, but she would be too busy suppressing the rebellion’s aftermath.

He lay down, thinking he should rest properly now.

“I have arrived.”

“Your Highness?”

Startled by the sudden appearance of Crown Princess Seraphina just as he lay down, Gilbert immediately rose. As he was about to pay his respects to the Crown Princess, Seraphina extended her hand to stop him.

“Enough. I do not wish to receive excessive courtesy from a loyal subject who sacrificed himself for the imperial family.”

“I thought you wouldn’t be able to come.”

“I squeezed out a brief moment. I cannot stay long.”

“More importantly, is everything being resolved well?”

When he mentioned the rebellion’s aftermath, Seraphina’s brow slightly furrowed. It seemed the matter was becoming more troublesome than expected.

“There remain factions who, though not directly involved in the rebellion, supported Prince Richard. I would like to remove them, but I cannot. How frustrating. Otherwise, how would I be different from a tyrant?”

Gilbert sympathized. He didn’t want to leave potential threats, but neither could they simply execute everyone as they pleased.

“But why would someone so busy come here?”

“To check on my disciple’s well-being.”

“As you can see, I’m fine.”

“And also because it seems time to hear your answer from back then.”

Gilbert tilted his head at the mention of an answer, then recalled something.

But wasn’t the system patched by then…?

Gilbert’s face paled as he looked at Seraphina’s deep smile. Did that mean her proposal then wasn’t solely influenced by the system?

“You seem to remember. Yes, Gil. Become my consort.”

“Your Majesty. That is…”

“Of course, I don’t intend to hear your answer. I have already decided.”

Seraphina interrupted Gilbert and pulled at his collar.

Gilbert, seeing the burning desire in her crimson eyes, had to deeply consider how things had come to this.