Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: In the Hospital.avi
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Three days had passed since that vow.
Surprisingly, things had been pretty peaceful in the meantime.
I even wondered if it was possible to stay this calm after smashing the heir of a count's family.
Of course, if you looked at it objectively, Rexton Wise was the bully and I was the victim, but there was no way the kingdom's nobles would just let something like this slide.
But that peace would probably end today. A maid who seemed to be a nurse had stopped by this morning and said visits were allowed after lunch starting today.
"Just as I expected, they should be barging in any minute now, rattling off nonsense and notifying me of a disciplinary committee."
Thud thud thud
'This damn mouth of mine. How do I never escape the clichés?'
The knock made me curse inwardly, but I quickly composed myself.
Now that I'd set my goal for this regression, I had no intention of regressing right away. With experience from multiple rounds, I knew how to spin things in my favor against nobles, so if I could steer it toward mutual fault, a two-week suspension would be the worst of it.
"Come in."
As I organized my thoughts and called out to the person outside, the door flew open.
"I heard you broke some ribs, but you look livelier than expected. Arthin?"
Shockingly, the one entering the hospital room wasn't some kingdom noble, but an unforgettable face.
Jorba Pelkas was the guy who fit the descriptor "golden sun" in this novel—aside from his red hair. As the next heir to the Pelkas Merchant Group, the republic federation's top trading company, he was a fairly prominent side character in the original story, serving as the protagonist's funding source and ally.
Of course, the reason he grew close to the protagonist was his fondness for Arthin—me—the childhood friend killed by Rexton, whose revenge the protagonist took.
"Your gloomy face is still the same, though. When I heard you smashed Rexton, I thought you'd finally manned up."
"But you're the one who advised me from way back to beat the crap out of Rexton, aren't you?"
"Heh, a true man never lets himself be looked down on anywhere."
Then you should've beaten him yourself ages ago. You knew Arthin, this body's original owner, was a coward.
That was what I thought, but watching Jorba's cheeky grin never failed to keep my temper in check.
Through countless incidents across multiple regressions, Jorba had always been a reliable ally to me. I'd even suspected he saw me as more than a friend, but since he was a playboy who cycled through women nonstop, I'd shelved those doubts.
"By the way, I didn't expect you to be the first one here. I figured someone from the Wise Family would show up to notify me about the disciplinary committee."
Jorba put on a smug, "I knew it" expression at my words.
"As always, your big brother Jorba took care of Arthin's little problem."
"Took care of it? What do you mean?"
"Just what I said. You won't be called to any disciplinary committee, Arthin."
Had Jorba pulled it off again?
"I gathered witnesses who saw that bastard Rexton harassing and striking you first. And before the Wise Family could reach them, we got in touch and secured all their testimonies."
Jorba said that as he pulled out a document he'd brought.
I took it and read. Due to considerations from negotiations with the Wise Family, both Rexton and I were getting two-week suspensions.
"Turning someone into a bloody mess and getting off with just two weeks? That's lenient beyond precedent. Feel free to admire me, Arthin."
"Big Brother! Jorba Big Brother! Forgive this foolish little brother for daring to doubt you!"
He was only a year older, but he always insisted on the "big brother" bit. Still, moments like this made me think I'd happily call him "big sis" if he were a woman.
A true hero who always showed up when I was in a bind...!!
"Plus, I spread the word around school that you shouldn't be messed with anymore. No one will call you gloomy Arthin now."
My face stiffened at that. So you were behind the Red Madman rumor?
"Did you have to insert weird rumors just to let it slide quietly?"
"Arthin, rumors like this always spread no matter what. If they're gonna happen anyway, better we start them—it's the basics of turning rumors into profit for a merchant."
I'm not a merchant, you punk...!!
Still, the results looked decent enough compared to the idiotic nickname, so I couldn't complain too much.
But seeing Jorba's smug face did make my irritation bubble up a bit. Next time he cheats on someone, I'd have to secretly sabotage him.
"Now get out. Seeing that cocky face of yours is making my ribs hurt more."
"Whoops! I've got a 3-on-3 blind date with some imperial ladies in 20 minutes anyway, so I should head out!"
One guy stuck in a hospital bed, the other out on blind dates and juggling girls every regression.
I felt it again—this world was way too unfair. When could I stab him with a kitchen knife?
"Don't make that face, Arthin. Shaomei will be here soon anyway."
"Speaking of, I thought she'd come with you. Why'd you come alone?"
"I ditched class to go on this date!"
With a parting wave and a "see you later," the guy who lived by "enjoy life to the fullest" was gone.
Even living like that, Jorba Pelkas was a named side character. With his given bloodline and talent so different from mine, he'd grow fine on his own, so I decided to leave him be.
"Shaomei hasn't shown up in this regression yet, though..."
Arthin Ludwig had two childhood friends. One was Jorba Pelkas, whom I'd just seen; the other was Lin Shaomei. A no-name side character with two childhood friends? It was pure plot convenience for Jorba and the protagonist.
And in my view, she'd play a very important role in this regression.
"Big Brother! I've finally arrived!! How's your body feeling!!?"
Right as that thought ended, the door nearly splintered open, and a woman burst in.
Fluttering her signature revealing black cheongsam, she plopped down beside my bed and started inspecting my body like a curious cat.
This beauty—with her construction-worker speech that clashed with her cute voice, panda beastkin black-and-white steamed bun hair, chest as big as her head, and a feminine figure optimized for pregnancy that she flaunted without shame—was Lin Shaomei.
Despite her body being a huge handicap for martial arts, her top-tier bloodline and talent—among the best in the novel—made her, at present, a martial artist who ranked high in the academy, even including teachers.
"Getting hurt while beating that scum Rexton? I always told you to leave the punching to me!"
"No, I was gonna dodge and counter, but he pissed me off too much..."
"You did great anyway! Like you always said, that old bastard needs a good beating now and then to keep him down!"
Shaomei praised me, thumping my shoulder appreciatively.
Of course, for Arthin's frail body, it was unbearable agony.
Without painkillers, tears might've welled up, but as she shamelessly pulled my arm to her ample chest, the pain and irritation melted away together.
"Still, having to stay hospitalized for days must be so boring. I heard from Big Brother Jorba that you even got suspended!"
"Eh, like Jorba said, causing this much trouble and only getting two weeks suspension is pretty mild."
The first time we met, her lack of personal space and rough speech had thrown me off. According to Jorba, she'd been this loyal ever since Arthin saved her as kids.
Plus, Rexton Wise's first love was Shaomei, so in a way, Arthin's death in the original could be seen as karma from her.
"Good thing you're here, actually. I've got a favor to ask."
Shaomei gave a puzzled look at first, then grinned like she'd figured it out.
She curled her right hand into a circle and started lightly pumping it up and down.
"Need me to help you out with one?"
I stared at her in shock.
What the hell was this girl saying?
Seeming to notice my gaze, Shaomei's cheeks flushed slightly.
"I heard vigorous guys stuck in bed for days get all backed up and frustrated."
This wasn't some hentai world. As if.
"Who the hell told you that?"
"Big Brother Jorba, when I said I was visiting you. Can't be wrong!"
I'd wondered if she'd picked up bad habits at the academy. Turns out the culprit was right beside me.
Of course, with my proper tastes, I had no desire to refuse a beauty like Shaomei. But bedridden and doped on meds, my libido was unfortunately on hiatus.
"Not that. I'm thinking of learning martial arts from now on. Could you teach me?"
Shaomei let out an "Eek?!" and her eyes went wide.
"You, Big Brother Arthin, the shut-in loner who hates moving?"
Was she naturally slipping in insults with her surprise?
Sure, the Arthin she knew wasn't me, but getting called a shut-in loner by your one-year-younger "little sister" felt weird.
"Hmm... This is strange. Suddenly flattening Rexton, now wanting to learn martial arts from me..."
She pondered suspiciously, eyes narrowing on me.
"You're not the Big Brother I know! Reveal your true identity!"
My heart didn't skip a beat or anything. In every regression except the first, Shaomei was the first to notice my changes.
"You're right. Truth is, I'm a demon who made a deal with Arthin to avenge him against Rexton in exchange for his body."
"I knew it—! Evil demon! Begone and give back my shut-in loner Big Brother Arthin!"
Even as a panda beastkin, she was basically a bear—innocent enough that playful responses like this always worked on her.
Different flavor from smart Jorba or the other nobles.
I patted her head to calm her playful shoulder punches.
"Lying in bed thinking it over, magic's no good without talent to protect myself. Might get stronger learning martial arts from you instead?"
Shaomei nodded in agreement, then thumped her chest with an "Ahem."
"Trust in me! I'll make a body like our family's guards even out of a klutz like Big Brother!"
"Yeah, I'm counting on you. Once I'm better, I wanna spend the two-week suspension just training."
"Two... two weeks? You, Big Brother Arthin, who always quit after three days even when we dragged you out?!"
Whoa, her words were a bit harsh?? Wasn't this reaction over the top?
But thinking back, Jorba and Shaomei had similar reactions in other regressions when I stepped up front. I'd never seen her this thrilled before, though.
"No time to sit around then! Gotta plan the curriculum so we can start right when you're better!"
Brimming with enthusiasm, Shaomei jumped up, waved that she'd prepare training, and dashed out.
Maybe from the two back-to-back visitors, but fatigue was setting in.
"They said I can discharge in two days anyway... Maybe ask Jorba to snag some elixirs."
In reality, broken ribs meant weeks in the hospital, but common sense didn't apply in a fantasy world with healing magic, miracles, and alchemy.
With the right elixirs and potions, rapid body improvement wasn't a dream. If that boosted my potential, I could breeze through the academy's first semester.
"For now, time to rest up!"
Sinking into the fluffy bed brought on a pleasant drowsiness.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd relaxed like this in previous regressions, sneaking into the Demon King's castle.
Especially late-game, all-nighters into campsites made this coziness a distant memory...
Yeah, my hospital stay could count as vacation. Next regression, tag along with Jorba for fun...
Forget Demon Kings and heroes...
Knock knock knock
Damn, right when I was drifting off. Who is it?
Early in the regression, not many knew me. Anyone else coming?
Whatever. Vacation mode—visiting hours end soon anyway. Pretend to sleep, and they'll leave...
'They'll come back tomorrow if it's important...'
Knock knock knock knock
"For real! Who is it!!"
The knock right as I was nodding off pissed me off enough to sit up.
Like taking sick leave and getting work calls from your boss?
Arms crossed, staring at the door waiting for whoever— the entrant was truly unexpected.
"Um... Is this the room of Arthin Ludwiggg?"
The one who opened the door wasn't human, but an elf.
The very elf who'd fired the spell that cracked my ribs.