Hospital Bed Visitors
Eugene lay hospitalized, and a stream of visitors began to drop by.
“How’s your body holding up?”
“Ugh-brr-ugh?”
—Oh! Your name… uh, what was it? Ah! George!
“It’s Jijo.”
Ah, right, Jijo. Anyway, he was that student whose nose got smashed by my dodgeball (Eodukshini) back in the day.
No one remembers him, though. Why? He didn’t get any screen time?
Why’d he come here?
Payback for that time?
But Jijo didn’t suddenly swing a sword or anything. Instead, he dropped a bombshell.
“……I saw you slice that monster with my own two eyes.”
“?!”
“You didn’t think no one noticed, did you? There are probably a few other students who know it was you.”
No way.
—Quit bullshitting. Isn’t it just ‘cause you were perving on the master like a creep? No one else would’ve figured it out.
“……”
Perverted bastard.
……Don’t tell me he’s here now to eye my body?!
Sensing the dangerous glint in my eyes, Jijo hurriedly shouted.
“No! I swear on my grandfather’s honor, that’s not it! I just……”
Just?
“I came to say thanks. And……”
Jijo hesitated for a moment. Spit it out already! If it’s something weird……
“……I wanted to apologize for looking down on you as a commoner and trash-talking you.”
Well, damn. He didn’t change all this time, and now suddenly?
Still, it wasn’t a bad change.
He wasn’t going around beating anyone up or anything. Ignoring someone was wrong, but not terribly wrong.
The nobles’ mindset was just a bit off, that’s all.
—Tell that to the other commoners. Don’t say it to the master.
No, dude, he should say it to me too!
I’m a commoner!
“……You’re right. Thank you. It helped me snap out of it.”
Thanks? Just words? No reward or anything?
“I’ve overstayed. I’ll head out first.”
Hey, before you go, hand over a sword?
—Bye.
No, give me a sword!!
Whatever—Jijo or George or whoever—left, and then Mosik came in.
“Lord Eugene! Are you alright?!”
“Ugh-brr-ugh.”
Wrapped head to toe in bandages.
Why’s this guy bandaged up too?
Eodukshini asked on my behalf, since I couldn’t speak.
—Why’re you wrapped in bandages?
“I got hurt blocking a falling pillar with my muscles.”
What an idiot.
“Anyway, glad you’re safe.”
“Ugh-brr-ugh.”
“I brought something good for your body. Well, I’ll be off to train!”
“No training! You need to rest properly!”
“Training is the true path to healing……!”
Just get out!
Wait, but where are Adria and Jenella?
Why haven’t they come?
—They passed out from crying too hard.
“……”
In place of the exhausted Adria and Jenella came Professor Nipella Aoman, his one eye covered by a bandage.
“Are you alright?”
“Ugh-brr, ugh-brr-ugh.”
Not alright at all!
The others had drained my stamina, but seeing someone familiar now brought back nightmares.
The moment I saw the snake in Ashy! It was fucking terrifying.
I nearly got eaten.
I expressed it as dramatically as possible, but Nipella didn’t get it.
“……Who started eating this apple and left it?”
I just carved it.
“Ugh-brr-ugh. Ugh-brr!”
“What do you want?”
“Ugh-brr. Ugh-brr-ugh!”
“That sword?”
Luckily, Professor Nipella didn’t fully understand but guessed what I wanted from his professor experience.
He handed me the sword propped in the corner (it was supposed to be stored temporarily, but the principal freaked out and vetoed it, so it got left there).
This Black Obsidian Sword—or whatever—did its job as a power bank perfectly.
Ooh…… big one’s coming……!
The divine power charged in the sword flowed into my body. With my restored divine power, I cast recovery magic on myself.
“Ah, aaah. Mic test.”
I healed my chest and throat first.
“Whew! Ha! Haha! Whew! I’m alive!”
I can talk now!
I can talk tooo!
“Ow, Professor. Please unwrap this bandage over my mouth.”
Nipella unwrapped the bandage over my mouth and glanced at my sword.
“I noticed it could withstand your divine power easily, but today I see it’s quite the unique blade. Is it a divine relic?”
“Nah, something like that.”
If anything, national treasure level?
“……I see.”
“……”
“……”
What? Why’s it awkward? Did I screw up?
I rolled my eyes without speaking.
Only one eye visible, but I caught a faint emotion.
……Regret? Huh?
“……I’m sorry.”
“??”
“It’s a professor’s duty to protect students. But we failed in that.”
Then shouldn’t we fix the exam format first?
“I won’t forget today. Now I owe you twice over.”
“Eh…… don’t worry about it.”
“No. Before student and professor, as a human, I don’t forget favors received. I’ll repay it for sure.”
You can’t go through life without debts, but still, no need to rack up unnecessary ones……
“Then keep my identity airtight.”
“Don’t worry. Information control is already in full swing. Even the principal stepped in.”
“Why the principal? Speaking of, what was the principal doing when the ancient monster showed up? Not there?”
“Holding off the Sage. And the principal can’t fight ancient monsters since he’s a lich.”
Ah, fair enough.
“Even Professors Murdersonal and Duchess Solari couldn’t stop him, they say.”
“That fucker was no joke.”
“Hard to believe coming from you lying in a hospital bed.”
“Tch.”
Of course he wasn’t no joke. I felt it in that fight. The massive gap. Even with War God’s Blessing all over and giving my all, all I could do was sever the Sage’s arm when he slipped.
If he hadn’t slipped and tried to kill me to the end?
I’d be dead.
But I lived.
And that bastard probably got wrecked.
So I’m stronger, whatever.
“But who’s Duchess Solari? Don’t think I saw her.”
“? You did. The blonde fighting the Sage—that’s her.”
No way?
“She looked super young.”
“Youngest among duchesses. I think she’s late 30s this year.”
……That’s young?
“What’s the average age for duchesses?”
“They’ve all been powerhouses generation after generation, so around 60s…… Though they all look 20s-30s.”
So, is she some long-lost blood relative I misplaced?
Nah. Age gap’s like a dozen years or so; even late siblings wouldn’t be this far apart.
They say people marry and have kids young here, so mom theory’s more plausible.
But we don’t look alike at all. No joke. Duchess Solari had a cold beauty face, and I look kinda like a rascal.
Doubt I take after dad……
“Wait. Is the duchess married?”
“Yes. But widowed now. Her arranged husband crossed a line, so she beheaded him. Still, she takes good care of her people, from what I hear.”
“……”
Definitely not. But what line did he cross? Cheating? She seemed cold but insanely pretty. Cheating on a beauty like that…… yeah, he had it coming.
“Scary.”
Scary was still scary, though.
“She’s not bad. More noble than anyone.”
“You into her or something?”
“I’m a bachelor for life.”
With that face?
Well, could be.
I’m not thinking marriage either.
“Ah. What about my stuff? Besides the sword.”
“All handled. Other professors will keep quiet, and we’ve got gag orders ready just in case. No worries.”
Professor Nipella, you rock. I went to thumbs-up but winced at my sore arm and dropped it.
“What about our exam?”
“Retake it.”
“……”
* * *
As sunset faded into evening dusk, a shadow slithered through the darkened Temple of the God of Light.
Long silver hair neatly tied, calm silver eyes evoking moonlight, black priest robes covering her entirely.
Saintess Christina La Seibint, leader of the Temple of Light.
Without a single attendant, the saintess moved alone through the night temple and cautiously entered a prayer room.
Creeeak!
Inside, Neona Solari—fresh from the sanctuary—sat barely upright, blood pouring from her wounds.
Beside her lay an elderly man with one arm severed, collapsed in a pool of blood.
Spotting them, the saintess rushed to check Neona’s injuries.
“Are you okay?!”
“No. Not at all.”
Burned, slashed, torn wounds; one arm half-shattered. Her already pale skin was ghostly white from blood loss.
Youngest duchess, thus the weakest among them, but still a Master realm powerhouse.
And she got wrecked this bad? How monstrous was it? Neona gave a bitter smile.
“Without the sanctuary, and if my arm hadn’t been severed, I’d be the one done for.”
“That strong?”
“Yes. Every time she was pushed back, she drew more ancient monster power. Yet she kept her sanity and bombarded with magic…… I wondered if she’d surpassed 9th Circle.”
9th Circle. An unknown realm no one has reached. Even the Sage’s 8th Circle is rare in history.
She couldn’t have truly surpassed it without earning it herself, but maybe close.
So if she’d beaten Neona in the sanctuary? Killed her? Gained more power and escaped?
……Good we suppressed her first.
Wings unfurled behind the saintess.
Fully unleashing her power, she healed Neona’s wounds while murmuring to the shadow.
“1st Knight Order Captain. Escort the Sage quietly. The imperial palace is already informed; they’ll handle it.”
“Understood.”
The shadow swallowed the Sage whole and dragged him away.
To be sealed in the “holy barrier” she’d crafted, forsaking even bathroom breaks for days.
Only then did Neona relax, leaning against the statue.
“Haa…… Anyway, what about the ancient monster that inherited the Sage’s curse?”
“Currently dormant. Said to have been beaten senseless by a War God priest long ago……”
“War God priest…… I saw one today.”
“Really??”
“Don’t yell. My head’s ringing.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Even with temple healing and real power, wounds weren’t mending well.
The curse—practically an ancient monster itself—had etched into her skin.
Ancient monsters: a race older than recorded history. Even beaten into dormancy by a War God priest, their power was no joke.
Tough for Christina, saintess for mere months.
“You’ll need days of rest and treatment here. I…… can’t move much.”
“Understood.”
“Anyway, you saw the War God priest yourself?”
“Yes. Masked, so no face.”
“……Too bad.”
Info was hidden so thoroughly, she’d never have known without the oracle days ago.
Of course he’d wear a mask.
Still, curiosity about his face was unavoidable. If she’d met him sooner, she’d have hidden it better.
“At least a vague outline?”
“Yes. Looked like a…… 1st-year student? Male. Red eyes. Skill around High Knight?”
“Weaker than expected.”
“Insanely strong for his age, but not matching expectations.”
Bad to compare, but both had grown up on such tales.
The previous War God saint: swing a sword, sky splits; 8th Circle mages and Master knights couldn’t block.
Single-handedly ended the Great War, stormed the palace, noble houses— a monster’s feats.
Their image: already Master realm, casually toppling Sage-level foes.
One tantrum away from founding a nation, conquering the continent…… That’s how they pictured it. Eugene would’ve yelled, “Sunbae, you fucking XXX!!”
—You two are way too delusional.
“……Mother?!”
“……God!”
Light burst from the statue Neona leaned on; eyes slowly opened.
Oracle!
They straightened up hurriedly. Neona winced from mouth wounds but light enveloped her.
“……!”
Wounds healed instantly. Days of recovery needed, but before god, mere scratches.
—Don’t stiffen up so much. Sit comfy.
Who sits truly comfy when the boss says so in the army?
They sat, but awkwardly.
“What brings you here……?”
—You two seem to have wild delusions about ‘that child,’ so I came down.
The statue creaked, sitting in the chair reserved for god’s descent.
—That child was raised with utmost care by a god. It’s normal for him to be weaker.
“Pardon? What……”
—Think about the forest he lived in. How would he grow strong?
They nodded. War God’s temple: hidden in a safe spot without a single feral beast.
And the temple’s power kept all harm out.
—But for some whim, she raised him strong anyway. He had talent too.
“How strong……?”
—Beyond that Sage we just carted off?
They freaked.
What?!
“Then why attend the academy?”
—So he can pre-emptively smack around future heroes? Kids these days have attitudes~
The saintess nearly said, You sound so old, but clamped her mouth.
—I read your thoughts.
Thwack! The statue flicked her forehead.
She rubbed it, pained.
Blessed and strong as a saintess, before god she was just human.
—Oh, and he’s 17 now. Prime age for experiences, fun, study. Speaking of…… modern kids hook up at 13? Back in my day……
What’s that got to do? But they didn’t interrupt.
God of Light…… loves that stuff.
Adores it, inexplicably.
……Jealous she never did?
—I hear everything.
“Eek.”
“Ow!”
Forehead flicks hit Christina and Neona.
The statue blew on its finger lightly.
—Anyway, I came to say he’s already amazing, so don’t expect too much. You worked hard today too.
“All thanks to your grace.”
—Don’t say cringey stuff like that. After thousands of years, it kills me.
The statue waved it off.
—Anyway, never breathe a word of today. Keep expectations low. And! No comparing.
“Got it.”
“But what’s his face like?”
—See for yourself later. Expect below par for now.
The saintess, picturing average or bearish, downgraded further.
Seemed their doubts eased, so the God of Light inwardly sighed.
Handled well……
Fine for strangers to fantasize.
Understandable.
Comparing? Not tearing down, just thinking he’s a bit weak.
But if he or his doting god heard……?
They’re young but kind. Nipping it now should be fine.
No, it had to be. Getting caught meant pain.
Sister or not, didn’t want Arcana grabbing her hair and beating her.
Arcana topped combat; fiery enough to war with the main god if provoked.
Untouchable. Better die.
……But really, what’s he look like?
Christina still wondered about another god’s priest.
Soon enough.