Ch.68Farewell to the Hospital Bed

Time continues to flow. Regardless of my worries.

While spending my days aimlessly in a hospital bed, I reunited with Nigel who came to visit me.

She still had a splint on her left arm, suggesting she hadn’t fully recovered yet.

Still, her complexion looked much better. That’s good news.

I was very glad to see her after so long.

The last time I saw her was on the day of the attack, when she was half-dead and could only groan in pain.

When Nigel entered the hospital room, she met my eyes and immediately bowed her head deeply in apology.

Well, I expected that. She has such a conscientious personality.

“Lord Haschal. I am truly ashamed that I couldn’t fulfill my duty as your guard until the end.”

“No, you actually did well. If you hadn’t stopped Boris, we all would have died there. So raise your head.”

To face a Champion werebeast one-on-one, you need at least a Master-level fighter.

Or several skilled knights launching a coordinated attack.

That’s why I had originally planned to train Demian and Millia for at least another month, and then defeat him with the help of the instructors.

…I hadn’t expected we would face him with fewer numbers on our side.

After she bowed her head several more times, I finally managed to change the mood.

When I asked about her condition, she said her arm still felt cold but other parts were almost completely healed.

Her stamina was also recovering well, and unlike me, she would be able to fight again in a week.

“By the way, I heard you defeated the enemy’s Champion alone. Does that mean you’ve awakened your Karma?”

Karma, huh. I can definitely use it now.

Though it would be difficult right now given my physical condition.

It was truly a remarkable growth.

To become strong enough to defeat a werebeast Champion.

Originally, even with all my strength, I could barely match a single Master.

“Yes. As you said, I somehow realized it in the middle of the fight.”

“I knew it…! Congratulations on reaching the Master level. You might have surpassed me now.”

Hmm… I probably have, haven’t I?

Even if my martial skills are slightly inferior, now that I can wield the power of Karma, my capabilities likely exceed even a werebeast Champion.

“Maybe so. But about eighty percent of it is thanks to you. You taught me swordsmanship and helped me train diligently, didn’t you?”

“All I did was give you a little push. Reaching the Master level is the result of your own efforts, Lord Haschal.”

Nigel smiled and shook her head, then clenched her right fist as if making a resolution.

“To fulfill my duty, I too must continue to improve myself.”

“You’re still injured, so don’t overdo it.”

Even if I say this, she’ll probably immerse herself in training again once she leaves.

What can I do? If words could stop her, Lord Landenburg would have done so long ago.

I also discussed the letter from the lord with her.

Nigel already knew that Lord Ludwig was coming to the island.

However, she too had no idea what the lord wanted to talk to me about.

—-

The saint candidate visited once every weekend.

There wasn’t any special conversation; she just checked my condition, cast healing magic, and left.

She always stared at me intently before leaving, but I never figured out why she did that.

—-

Demian and Millia visited me several more times.

Once, Lena came along too.

Everyone seemed to have shaken off much of the shock, as the atmosphere was brighter than before.

I felt the same way.

“I heard you reached the Master level at the youngest age ever. That’s impressive.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll train you until you reach it too.”

Hearing my answer, Demian nodded very solemnly. Without saying a word.

Yes, our sparring sessions won’t stop, Demian.

Feel free to be grateful. You survived this time thanks to my training, didn’t you?

While the power of Karma seems to require actual combat rather than training, he should at least grow quickly to just before the Master level.

After all, the Master level is not the destination but merely a midpoint.

It’s just the starting line for becoming a Hero.

…For some reason, no one even mentions the Hero level.

As if such a level doesn’t actually exist.

I also chatted about various other things with the three of them.

Lena, being a capable Priest of Healing, said she’s been incredibly busy lately.

Demian and Millia also received letters from the Imperial House.

Thanks to their achievement of defeating one pureblooded warrior and two mixed-blood warriors, and buying time against a Champion.

That’s good.

Though Millia seemed a bit uncomfortable about it.

“It was mostly Demian’s doing, should I really accept this…?”

“We won thanks to Millia’s bow support. You definitely deserve it. Hold your head high.”

At Demian’s words, Millia’s face turned red and she lowered her head.

I wish they wouldn’t display their affection in front of me. I’m already troubled enough these days.

—-

While I was in the hospital, there were significant changes at the academy as well.

That’s understandable, given that many students were lost.

Since deploying students at that point was an unavoidable decision, there wasn’t much blame assigned.

Instead, the imperial army and knights who were dragged into the palace attack without proper information received much criticism.

There were two major changes:

The proportion of theoretical lectures in the basic curriculum decreased, while the frequency of sparring and group practice increased.

And the dispatch duties, which were originally only for second-year students and above, now allowed first-years to participate as assistants.

It seems they concluded that the main reason for the severe casualties among first-years was their lack of practical experience.

That’s not wrong…

They also plan to significantly expand the number of students.

With less than half the semester gone, only about a hundred first-years remain.

They say if there had been many more people during this incident, the damage would have been reduced.

Well, I’m not so sure about that.

Once the restoration work is complete, they plan to conduct a large-scale additional recruitment.

I wonder if there will be any useful ones. There are still some original characters I haven’t seen yet. Maybe they’ll appear?

And.

The rumors about me finally merged into one.

That the Ka’har princess looks like a monster, is of mixed blood with werebeasts, yet is a female warrior who eats other werebeasts…

Finding it amusing even as she said it, Millia laughed a little.

I just laughed along. It was absurd.

Is this better than being the goddess’s knight? I honestly don’t know.

I probably never will.

—-

“I think you can leave the hospital room now.”

On the weekend of the third week, Lacy pronounced my discharge.

While I’m not yet in a condition to fight, she said there should be no problem with moving around.

When I actually tried moving my body, I could walk reasonably well despite some staggering.

When she asked if I wanted to recuperate more in the hospital room, I said I’d rather leave.

Lying down is fine for a day or two, but I was starting to feel suffocatingly bored.

Upon hearing of my discharge, Nigel came to the aid station with a carriage.

Her injuries seemed almost healed, as she looked no different from usual.

The carriage was pulled by only one horse. My horse had died that day.

It was a good horse.

To end up as roasted horsemeat. What a sad fate.

The city I saw beyond the carriage was gradually being restored.

Considering the time I was unconscious, almost a month had passed, so that’s natural.

Still, looking closely, there were still some scars from that time.

Like debris piled in corners, buildings with exposed frames not yet completed,

And the smoke from crematoriums visible in the distance.

Except for soldiers and workers, there were hardly any people walking around.

Yes. This too is natural.

While buildings can be restored, it’s difficult to bring back lost lives and vanished vitality.

I just kept it in my memories. I had decided to bury my emotions.

And so I returned to the special dormitory.

The third-floor windows that were shattered that day had all been restored.

The garden had only been leveled, and was still bare soil without grass, probably because there hadn’t been time to plant any.

Kalix, Asha, and Frider welcomed me.

“Hmm. It’s been a while, Lord Haschal. I’m truly glad to see you looking healthy.”

“Good to see you too, Kalix. As for healthy… I’m not so sure about that.”

My body moves, but not with the same strength as before.

According to Lacy, it would take a few more weeks to be in perfect condition.

Fortunately, I shouldn’t have to fight during that time. Probably.

“You certainly still look a bit tired!”

“Indeed. You should rest well today.”

Kalix nodded with a hearty laugh.

I was planning to do that anyway. I need to go in, wash up, and get some good sleep.

“So, has anything happened at the special dormitory while I was gone?”

“Nothing at all. Same as always.”

“What do you mean nothing? When I came back, my room was almost destroyed. Isn’t your room the same, Kalix?”

Frider complained irritably with her arms crossed.

Kalix scratched his shining scalp with his fingernail, looking troubled but smiling.

Asha just smiled.

…It seems that explosion blew away the entire third floor.

Judging by Asha’s expression, it wasn’t her doing, so could it have been Perneisia?

“I don’t think Lady Perneisia did it with malicious intent… So what can we do? Rooms can be refilled.”

“Anyway, you’re too good-natured. I really don’t like a woman who burns other people’s rooms and doesn’t even apologize.”

So it was Perneisia’s doing.

Who would have thought that drunken fairy woman would be helpful? I guess a fairy is still a fairy, even when soaked in alcohol.

“If you want an apology, you might have to wait a hundred years? If you look through history books, there are shocking incidents recorded where fairies apologized once every few hundred years.”

At Asha’s words, Frider openly clicked her tongue.

Wait, they’re recorded in history books every time they apologize? What kind of beings are fairies…?