Ch.5653 – Discharge

“Your wrist seems to have healed nicely. You’re cleared for discharge. Just be careful when using scissors and such, alright?”

As soon as I got the doctor’s approval early Sunday morning, I headed to the payment counter to settle my bill.

There, I spotted some familiar faces.

“Hello.”

“NoName!”

Yuna’s two brothers, Seo Ma-ru and Seo No-eul, waved at me cheerfully.

“Are you being discharged?”

“Yeah. I was moved to a double room yesterday, but it still came to 900,000 won for just two days. Mom absolutely refused to stay in the hospital any longer. Mom, this is Yuna’s friend. The one who treated you.”

“Hello.”

Yuna’s mother looked much better compared to before.

She operated the buttons with her fingers to move her wheelchair closer to me.

For a while, she just stared at me without saying anything.

The finger that had been pressing the button lifted.

And her hand, her wrist, and eventually her entire arm trembled as it reached out to touch my hand.

“Thank you… young lady…”

Joints that weren’t supposed to move were moving again.

Distances that couldn’t be bridged were now being connected.

“Thank you… thank you so much…”

As her hand began to fall limply, I caught it.

“You’ll need to work hard on rehabilitation if you want to hold Yuna’s hand too.”

She wasn’t completely healed yet.

These muscles hadn’t been used in a long time, so it would probably take quite a while to adjust.

I’d already explained all the precautions to Ma-ru, but I should remind her mother as well, just in case.

“Would it be okay if I take a walk with your mother in the garden out front while you handle the payment? It’s taking forever since it’s the weekend.”

“Oh sure, Mom would like that too.”

Though the hospital was built in the middle of the city, the garden was filled with cherry blossoms creating a unique scenery.

I walked with her through the garden path, breathing in the spring flower scent.

“Can you see a little bit now? Don’t strain yourself trying to see too much at once—it could give you headaches.”

“Before I could only see light and darkness, but now I can make out shapes a bit…”

“That tattoo-like mark on your left arm is a semi-permanent magic circuit. Don’t forget to have Ma-ru or No-eul charge it with mana every day. Don’t overcharge or undercharge it. The proper amount is when all circuits in the formation light up after mana injection.”

What else was I going to say?

“In about a month, you might be able to sit up on your own. Still, don’t be stingy with money—get a medical capsule for treatment as soon as possible. Think of it as doing it for Yuna.”

“Yuna has found such an amazing friend…”

“Ahaha… yes.”

“I’ve always felt sorry for Ma-ru, No-eul, and Yuna. With my body like this…”

“I’m sure none of them think that way.”

“I used to think dying would be better than living. Seeing my children struggle…”

“It’s rude to say such things in front of someone who just saved your life.”

“Haha, you sound exactly like their father.”

“What?”

A cherry blossom petal fell and stuck to the wheelchair.

She picked up the thin petal with her fingers and held it up to the sunlight.

“I’m truly a blessed person.”

All sensations must still feel awkward to her, but even these clumsy movements were emotional moments for her.

“Don’t you think there are many mysterious things in this world?”

I tilted my head at her sudden question.

She smiled and rolled up her other sleeve.

“I’ve been saved twice by the same magic. The Akashic Record.”

On her other arm, there was a similar magic circuit to the one I had inscribed, though smaller in size.

She already knew about this magic.

“This is a secret from the children.”

As the injected mana dispersed, the magic circuit disappeared again.

“How…? And that circuit is over 20 years old.”

“Their father inscribed it for me long ago. I’ve kept it all this time as a memento, without deactivating it.”

“Fentanyl…”

“What? You figured that out just from that brief glimpse? Yuna’s friend really is amazing!”

The small amount of fentanyl remaining in her system.

The formula for breaking down fentanyl was written in the Akashic Record on her right arm.

Now all the pieces fall into place.

“I was once an academy student too. Nahit Academy—it doesn’t exist anymore—but I was quite bright back then. Just like Yuna is now.”

“How did you end up addicted to drugs?”

“Well… it was completely accidental at first. When I was young, I went to a club with an older friend and accidentally drank a beverage someone gave me by mistake.”

She explained that academies back then were just as education-obsessed as they are now.

After ten years of non-stop studying, she experienced severe burnout at eighteen and planned her first rebellion.

She lied about her age to get into a club, which was a whole new world to her. She said she felt happy just watching people dance.

Never imagining it would send her life spiraling downward.

“I realized the world was more than just the academy… but after taking fentanyl, my life gradually fell apart.”

One day during a magic practical evaluation, she couldn’t inject mana.

She couldn’t concentrate on studying like before, and her grades dropped so much that she was on the verge of academic probation after just one semester.

When she returned to the club and drank the same beverage, she finally realized it was a drug.

“But you know how drugs are. Even when you want to quit, you can’t. Even knowing I’d never be able to use magic again if I drank it, I just couldn’t stop.”

The club was eventually shut down after being busted as a drug distribution network, but her life was so thoroughly ruined that not even her parents could help.

After spending years in a psychiatric hospital suffering from withdrawal symptoms, she happened to meet Yuna’s father.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt more pathetic. I was immature in my thinking. Dwelling on my past glory while drowning in regret, I was too ashamed to show myself to a former classmate. So I often said harsh things.”

Their reunion happened with roles reversed—she who had always ranked in the top 100 nationally on KGSAT mock exams with a bright future ahead, and her husband who had been an average student in the middle-lower ranks at the academy.

“So did Yuna’s father design the Akashic Record himself?”

“If there’s one thing about Yuna’s father, it’s that he was incredibly stubborn. For two years—even after finishing his alternative military service, he visited me for six more months without missing a day to complete the magic circuit. Seriously, he must have been busy with his college studies too, but for me…”

How could she not fall for him?

She murmured, trailing off as she became lost in memories.

“You had a wonderful spouse. That’s romantic.”

“Yes, he was such a good person…”

Suddenly, Yuna’s words come to mind.

[I’m… sorry… I don’t have a dad either, so we’re even.]

And as if to confirm my suspicion, her mother spoke again.

“Yuna’s father passed away when she was very young, and it wasn’t easy for a woman without even a high school diploma to earn money to raise three children. In Korea especially, if you can’t use magic and have low education, there are very few jobs available.”

“It must have been very difficult for you.”

“I think of it as my unfinished atonement, which makes it easier. I thought I’d be meeting my husband without ever fulfilling it.”

“Did you have dreams? You must have had many things you wanted to do.”

“Dreams? Yes… dreams.”

A gentle breeze blew.

Now she didn’t have to try to catch the cherry blossom petals—many fell onto her lap blanket.

“College student. I wanted to be a college student. Any college would have been fine… I wanted to attend classes with my husband, go on dates around campus. Hold hands walking down cherry blossom-lined streets like this.”

Touching the pile of pink petals, she smiled softly.

“That’s why, you know, I initially didn’t want Yuna to go to the academy. I didn’t want her to walk the same path I did. But she’s so smart, taking after both her parents. Does Yuna struggle a lot at the academy?”

“Does she complain often?”

Yuna’s mother shook her head.

“Not once. But I can tell without her saying anything. NoName, I want you to take good care of our daughter. It’s shameless of me to ask, but please.”

“Of course, absolutely.”

“I want you to show Yuna that the world is more than what it seems. I want her to enjoy fun school life with friends instead of being consumed by grades.”

“Fun school life… Yes, I’ll make sure of it.”

“And about the Akashic Record, after I get better and save some money—”

“Shh. That’s not necessary.”

After completing our lap around the garden, Ma-ru and No-eul were waiting for us at the hospital entrance.

Each held a cake from the bakery.

“Here you go.”

“What’s this?”

“What else? Birthday cake. Yuna’s birthday cake. Here, NoName, take one to share with your family.”

“Mom, let’s hurry home and have Yuna’s birthday party that we couldn’t have yesterday, along with celebrating your discharge.”

“Why did you buy something so expensive?”

“Shhh, no talk like that today. We got strawberry cream cake—both your and Yuna’s favorite—so look forward to it!”

“NoName, how are you getting home?”

“Professor Cheon… I mean, my father is coming to pick me up.”

“Alright then, we’ll go ahead. Thank you so much for everything.”

Ma-ru helped his mother into the taxi first and folded the wheelchair to fit in the trunk.

“No-eul, don’t you need to help? The eldest brother is doing everything.”

“That’s why I’m holding the cakes. Besides, my brother is probably stronger than me now. He may look weak, but his muscles are no joke.”

“Ah yes, whatever you say.”

“Anyway, thank you, really. No matter what you do, I’m sure you’ll become an amazing person. Just don’t forget about us when that happens.”

“I might forget Yuna, but you, No-eul? I’ll consider it if you become a basketball player.”

“Hahaha, you always have a comeback.”

He patted my back.

Even though he was gentle, his hands were so big and strong that my skin stung.

People who are really tall really do have huge hands.

* * *

“Hmm, what’s that?”

“A gift I received. As a thank you.”

“Ah, I see. Is your wrist okay now?”

“Of course. This kind of injury is nothing.”

“…”

“Oh, I’ll be more careful from now on! I mean, I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again!”

“Haha, let’s go home, NoName. You must be hungry. I’ve prepared the meat.”

“Chateaubriand?”

“Of course! Just what you wanted.”

“Professor Cheon.”

“Yes?”

“Perhaps some red wine too…?”

“…?”

“Never mind… let’s hurry, I’m hungry!”