Chapter 82 - Pestered in Bedrest
I could talk and move my body just fine, but nothing beyond that was recovering properly.
It felt like my body was saying, "Now just lie down and rest, okay?"
Crunch, crunch.
"Hey. Don't hog all the apples among yourselves—give me some too."
"The doctor said you need to stay on an empty stomach."
"That doesn't apply to me, does it?"
"Nope."
Adria, Jenella, Ashy, and even the Banana Princess Banasi completely ignored me and peeled their apples, munching away among themselves.
Though when Adria handed a peeled apple to Banasi, the fork looked a bit squished.
"And to us, you look like you're about to drop dead any second. So no way."
"If you think that, why eat like that in front of a patient? Might as well eat chicken in front of someone on a diet."
"Adria did that in front of me once and got smacked."
"Sis!"
"What? It's true. Yesterday she was like, 'Sis, there's not even a guy worth breathing for.' That's why you shouldn't raise little sisters..."
"Sis is the one who couldn't tell the difference between calling Mom 'sis' back in the day..."
"Shut your mouth."
God, if the sisters are gonna bicker, could they please do it outside?
"How's the apple taste?"
"Yeah, pretty good."
"They say this one's good for preventing heart attacks. And this one's the gift we got earlier..."
Jenella and Ashy got along great.
Really great.
Too great—they were just stuffing their faces together.
Share some with me!
"Eodukshini! Hey! Glutton! Where the hell did that thing go?"
"It's sleeping over there."
-Groooaaar...
Damn, that slimy bastard.
My stomach growled. I was starving for real. But those heartless jerks just kept eating among themselves.
"All of you, get out!!"
"We got nowhere else to go."
"Go to your rooms."
"You'll get bored alone."
"Yeah. And if something happens to me, the safest place is right by your side."
"I'm just here as a friend, before being a princess."
Jenella... yeah, okay, that makes sense. I heard she suffered briefly from a curse because she didn't fulfill her Duty.
But Adria?
And that Banana Princess?
Ashy?
And what? Bored without me? Just hang out together!
"You can all go hang in your rooms. I wanna sleep."
"You'll get bored in like five minutes."
"Just get out!"
After a few minutes of bickering, I finally shooed them out.
Truth be told, if the investigators hadn't shown up for the incident report, they probably wouldn't have budged at all.
As Banana Princess Banasi was passing through the door, she moonwalked back slyly and whispered to me.
"You two really that close?"
"No. So get out."
"For real? I'm better than her..."
"I don't like either of you, so out!"
I hated being feared just for being the War God's priest, but damn, it would've been nice if they were scared right now.
Banasi, who was leaving, moonwalked back again and peeked her head in.
"I'll forget about that thing last time. I saw nothing."
"Yeah, yeah."
The others didn't say anything, but they seemed to get the hint and shut up.
Thanks for keeping my friend's secret. Really grateful, but please, just leave already.
Once everyone was gone, peace finally returned.
Aigoo.
"Eodukshini. Bring my sword."
It'd been about a month, so the cooldown should be up. Even in this state, meeting Lady Arcana wouldn't be an issue.
-Sssip. Master. You won't accidentally slice me, right? You're super frail right now...
"If I do, it won't be my flesh getting cut—it'll be your slimy ass."
-I'll shut up, sir.
Eodukshini shoved the sword into my hand and slunk away. Finally, some peace. I relaxed my whole body and focused my mind.
Shhh—
Knowing the method once made the second time easy.
Before I knew it, the space around me was shrouded in darkness, and I was in prayer position.
Long red hair cascaded down over my head. I felt affectionate hands gently stroking my hair.
[Grown a lot since I last saw you? Looks like you've shot up 1 or 2 cm taller.]
"Really?"
[Yeah. Still tiny, though.]
"... "
[Don't pout. With my height, who notices a few cm on you?]
For reference, Lady Arcana was over 180 cm. Towering over most guys. Made looking up at her statue a real pain in the neck.
[But you worked hard. How's academy life?]
"No, listen to me. These so-called friends of mine..."
I launched into my complaints like I'd been waiting for this.
[Those friends sound awful.]
"Right?! Stress must be why my Divine Power recovery is so damn slow."
[Oh, that's on me.]
"...?"
[You were overdoing it, so I left you to rest on purpose. You're not actually hurting, right?]
"...I don't need it—fix me up quick."
And that's supposed to fly? As my eyes narrowed, Arcana hurriedly added,
[Not that dangerous. I've got ways to protect you if needed, and Divine Power recovery kicks in instantly then. Plus, no pain?]
"Pain gone means no illness?"
[I can remove it if needed. So might as well rest up fully while...]
"Don't need it."
[Really?]
"Yes."
[For real?]
"Yes. Lift the recovery block now."
Arcana didn't answer, just ruffled my hair with her fingers, lightly scratching my scalp. What're you doing?
[Massage time. Call it even?]
"No thanks. I'm mad now."
[Fine, fine. Lifting it.]
With her words, the sluggish Divine Power recovery surged back at full speed.
Yes!
[Anyway, got anything for me?]
"...?"
[Something to offer. Selfishly eating tasty stuff alone. You only ever brought weeds.]
"That's 'cause you put the temple in the woods. Imagine if it was in the city? Anyway, your rep is infamous now. What the hell did you do?"
[Nothing much.]
Arcana said it so casually, I almost believed her.
[Beat up some rowdy kids, and turns out some were the emperor and nobles. Smacked around pervs and weirdos too—some died. Wars pop up, I jump in to end 'em or fan the flames...]
"...That's not 'nothing'!"
[Didn't kill 'em all, so it's fine. And they deserved it.]
"Anyway, thanks to you and my predecessor, every time I reveal I'm the War God's priest, people freak out. Know how hurtful that is?"
[Your predecessor hated mingling anyway, so he didn't care. Maybe even liked it? Why not go full loner too?]
Can you say that to an ex-bully victim?
"Nah, hate that. I'm gonna be popular."
[Pfft.]
"Laughing?"
I tried lifting my head indignantly, but it wouldn't budge. Ugh. Hurry up and fix it!
"Oh yeah. What's with that sword?"
[?]
"The one Duchess Neona Solari had."
[Neona? Neona... Oh, the blonde?]
"Yeah. You said I'm your only priest? Isn't that a Holy Sword? It reacted to my sword. How can you lie to me?"
[Lying to Mom, huh?]
"Mom? What."
I tried turning away in a huff, but my body wouldn't move. Damn it.
A small chuckle came from above.
Arcana tousled my hair.
[Told you. Some warrior house has a Holy Sword. That's the Solari family. She thinks it's Light God stuff, but whatever—not my problem.]
"But she uses Divine Power too."
[Oh, that? Gave it to her so she wouldn't die. Can't use it now.]
"So she's not a priest, right?"
[Nope. You're my only one. No plans for others.]
My heart eased. Didn't know the feeling, but damn, it felt good.
[Feeling better?]
"Wasn't upset to begin with."
[Huh? Must've misread. Anything else? Time's almost up.]
Oh. I waved the sword in my hand.
"What's the deal with this sword? Exact origins?"
[Oh, that. Your predecessor got it new 'cause he kept losing divine relics. Used it so long, it became relic-like.]
"... "
[And you keep mixing up the name? It's Black Obsidian Sword. Remember properly.]
"Just call it black obsidian."
Ignoring my mutter, Arcana continued.
[Only stage 2 unlocked, right? Hunt for gems. It'll be relic-level then. Auxiliary battery function's handy, yeah?]
"That shit's OP."
[Yeah. Your predecessor used it early on when weak. Use it well—but don't overdo it.]
"Where are the gems?"
[Secret, obviously?]
Tch. As I pouted, Arcana laughed and gave my hair a final ruffle.
[Time's up. See you next month.]
Already?
[You've gotten stronger. Worked hard. Made friends... Keep it up. Come back anytime if it's too much. This is home.]
Something welled up inside. I just nodded slightly, hiding it.
The darkness crumbled.
I closed and opened my eyes—back in the hospital room.
-Master. Crying again?!
"Not crying, you punk."
Divine Power overflowed my body. I immediately cast healing magic on myself.
"Recovery, Recovery, Recovery..."
Finally, the hole in my gut sealed, and my body returned to normal.
Whoosh!
I leaped from the bed in freedom.
"I'm free!!"
"Who's yelling in the hospital room!"
"Ah. Sorry."
Arcana smiled faintly at the spot where Eugene had vanished.
[So cute.]
Like an eldest worried about losing affection to a new sibling. Arcana chuckled lightly and faded into the darkness.
No matter how messed up the academy was, with everyone laid up in hospital beds, they weren't dumb enough to force retakes.
The Sky Island was wrecked like a terrorist attack, and there was one casualty.
1
There was no mourning procession.
Public opinion on Bulria Arishion was trash anyway, and he was the one who wrecked the building and drove things to death.
Even Jenella, who'd seen the Ancient Monster summon itself via his sacrifice, felt no shock at his death.
Just receiving treatment for Duty's aftereffects.
"Ah. I just wanna stay like this."
Adria fidgeted her legs on the sofa.
A few days off from exams had cleared her dark circles—her skin now sparkled.
She slapped her cheeks with both hands, eyes twinkling.
"Look. My skin's glowing. Exams are pure evil, right?"
"You didn't slap on some cream?"
"...I did, but this is the natural glow."
"Sure, sure. Where's Ashy anyway?"
"She used to play with me, now hangs more with others?"
"Jealous?"
"No?!"
Adria shot up, pissed. I snickered.
"Kidding, kidding. I'm recovered, supposed to spar with Ashy, so I asked since she's gone."
"Oh. Say that first next time."
'Looked really pissed just now.'
"Probably grabbing chocolate milk. Might pick up holy stones for Eodukshini too."
"No clue what divine beast that thing is. Anyway, how'd your exam go?"
Her glowing skin dulled instantly. The mood soured; I panicked.
'What's with her?'
"I won. Won, but... opponent tanked."
"Who?"
"Ashy."
"Ooh."
I plopped my hand on Adria's shoulder.
"Fighting!"
"... "
Adria grabbed her slipper.
"...Come here. Just. One. Good smack."
"Gyaah! The princess is murdering people!!"
Save me!!