episode_0011

Within the academy campus, there is a hospital that helps injured students recover quickly so they can return to full strength.

All the recovery processes through the medical magic devices in the hospital are free of charge. It is clear that the academy values each student as an important asset.

After completing the admission process, Lager changed into hospital clothes and headed to the assigned bed. As Lager lay down on the bed, a nurse activated a device attached to the bed to scan Lager’s injured area.

“You just need to rest for a day.”

“But, what about guard duty tomorrow?”

“It might be difficult. If you really want to go out, it’s possible, but it’s better to request a replacement.”

“Oh… I see.”

With a nod, the nurse left Lager alone.

Watching Lager deep in thought, I clicked my tongue in disbelief.

“Just rest if you need to rest, what’s bothering you that you’re hesitating to speak?”

“No, it’s just…”

Lager looked at me as if wanting to say something, but then closed their mouth.

…How bland.

“What’s wrong. Say it if you have something to say.”

“Curious?”

“No, not at all.”

I shrugged and left the room.

As Lager called out for water behind me, I drew a circle with my finger in response.

Looking around, I noticed that all the rooms in this hospital were single rooms. Moreover, it seemed like they only accepted students as patients, given that it was within the academy.

Great welfare. I involuntarily nodded in approval.

While at it, I thought it would be possible to place a water dispenser in each room.

Seeing the vending machine and bench next to the water dispenser, with students chatting in the middle, I had a rough idea why it was installed as a shared facility.

“It seems like they encourage people who find staying in single rooms suffocating to come out here often.”

A hospital structure that respects individual privacy while catering to the needs of those who enjoy meeting people, quite a decent setup.

Was this also Lager’s doing?

To what extent has Lager set up things in this world?

“Ayle!”

At that moment, I turned my head at the sound of that voice. A cheerful and lively voice. Black short hair and sparkling hazel eyes that exuded a fresh feeling.

It was Lina Proudwood.

Meeting her again was somehow pleasant, but seeing her leaning on a crutch made my heart sink.

Lina limped towards me, leaning on her crutch.

“No, Lina. Just a moment.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I, I’ll go.”

I quickly ran to her and supported her. Thankfully, her ankle didn’t seem to be injured.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lina asked with a small smile.

“The appearance of your foot has fully recovered, but it will take about two more days for the nerves to grow back. I won’t need the crutch from tomorrow onwards!”

Lina was truly lively.

Even if her ankle grows back, the pain and mental shock from the moment it was severed and the bloodshed will still linger.

Is this twenty-year-old girl really okay?

Is the pain of losing a part of her body something a girl of her age can handle?

I felt guilty for the part I played in her suffering.

“I’m sorry, Lina.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“It’s just… because of me, you’re…”

In reality, I hadn’t even thought about going to see her. Of course, I only found out today that there was a hospital within the academy, so I couldn’t help it.

If I had really wanted to find her, wouldn’t I have found a way to inquire about her well-being?

Because of that, I felt even more guilty.

Lina chuckled and lightly slapped my shoulder.

“Oh, why are you acting so awkward all of a sudden? Don’t be like that. Since you’re here today, it’s all good!”

Actually, today, I didn’t come to see you…

I thought about being honest about it, but knowing that being 100% honest isn’t always a good thing, I decided to keep my mouth shut at this point.

Lina, who had no idea about my inner thoughts, kept chattering without a break.

“I didn’t have any expectations, you know. I didn’t have my phone with me. So, I was really worried about how to let you know about the hospital room. It’s kind of touching, really!”

“Oh, …yeah. Of course, you had to come.”

“Have you eaten? It’s past lunchtime. Should we go to the cafe on the first floor? Inpatients get a 70% discount at the hospital cafe! Hey, it’s not just half price, it’s 70%! Isn’t it a good deal to eat there once? Agree?”

How happy must she have been to smile so brightly.

What kind of relationship did Alei Cloi and Lina have before I possessed Alei?

Will Alei still be within Lager’s imagination even at this point?

At that moment when thoughts were entangled in my mind.

“Ah.”

Lina raised her head and looked behind me.

No, she glared.

The cold gaze with a wrinkled expression was directed at my childhood friend who was hospitalized today.

Lager Godin.

“I came here looking for the water dispenser… and found you here.”

“Yeah.”

Cutting off Lager’s mumbled words of confusion, Lina opened her eyes coldly.

“Get lost.”

She returned the words Lager had said to her.

For a moment, confusion was evident on Lager’s face. She knew very well why she was acting like this.

“Lina, what about the other day…?”

“I didn’t hear you?”

Lina stared into Lager’s eyes with forceful lips, as if spitting out saliva.

“Get lost.”

She seemed quite upset. Lager hesitated for a moment, mumbled something, then bit her lip, bowed deeply, and scratched the back of her head.

“Sorry.”

Then, she turned around and walked back to her hospital room, limping.

The bloodstains on Lager’s hospital gown were still faint, indicating that the bleeding hadn’t completely stopped yet.

“What’s up with you? What’s your relationship with her?”

This time, Lina’s arrow was aimed at me. However, it wasn’t to interrogate me.

“Don’t hang around with that scumbag. Treat people who treat you disrespectfully the same way.”

Certainly, Lager was a bit harsh back then. If we had to give a reason, it was because she was originally destined to die at that time, so she pushed Lina away from me to protect me.

But now that Lina had survived until now, all those stories were meaningless.

“But seriously, what’s your relationship with her? Why did you come here first and act like you know her?”

“Well, that’s actually…”

“Are you trying to hit on her? Trying to seduce a woman in a sacred hospital?! That scumbag is really hopeless.”

“Wait, let me explain…”

“It’s hopeless. Before you start acting weird, I should roast that scumbag’s sausages on an electric grill…”

“Hey!!”

Stop the forced female regression!!

Startled by the loud noise, Lina finally closed her mouth.

I didn’t want to blindly defend Lager. It was rather cringeworthy and disgusting that she would praise me for criticizing her, but that was the creator of this world.

So far, there were some rough edges and gloomy areas, but I was confident that his information would play a decisive role in the future.

Having more allies than enemies by his side would be more advantageous in the future.

So.

I decided to defend him.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. Lager is not such a bad person.”

“…Ail.”

“Actually, today, I went on patrol and encountered a monster, and Lager protected me!”

Strictly speaking, I was the one who saved Lager with my drawing.

But still, if he hadn’t been a decoy, I wouldn’t have been able to aim accurately at the fox’s belly and bring it down.

“He said he’d protect me.”

That’s also true.

For some reason, I find myself in an ambiguous position between a coward and a prince riding a white horse.

I know Lager Godee, the childhood friend who is inside that person, the best.

Despite seeing a lot of ugly scenes.

“Lager is a good person.”

As a friend.

Based on the loyalty I’ve seen for a long time.

It was clear that he was a good person.

Lina closed her mouth quietly and listened to my words. Then, as if understanding, she nodded.

Carefully folding her two hands on top of mine, she asked in a soft voice.

“You like him, don’t you.”

At Lina’s words, my expression crumpled.

What the hell kind of messed-up talk is that? That’s something families say to each other.