A Hospital Visit (1)
Softly.
Heavier than usual, his eyelids lifted with deliberate slowness, and blood-red irises emerged beneath them.
A plush bed. Warm blankets. The scent of medicinal herbs tickling his nose, and gentle sunlight stroking his skin.
Surely this isn't a third loop… no.
After checking the wreckage of his mana circuits, Leon celebrated the simple fact that he was still alive — silently, of course, since he lacked the strength to shout.
He had no idea how much time had passed, but his body was still a complete mess. It felt like it weighed a thousand pounds; even sitting up was impossible.
I'm thirsty. Why is there no one around?
Leon rolled his eyes this way and that, surveying the room. Antique furniture, lavish decorations, immaculate facilities.
The Helbridge family, then.
Recognizing the distinctive western-imperial design, he was certain.
Why are there so many flowers and letters?
The mountain of them piled on the table was a mystery.
"Ah—!"
A maid who had been bustling about with an armful of something spotted the awake Leon and froze.
Parched beyond reason, Leon lit up.
"Hey, could I get some water…"
"Y-Young Master is awake!"
The maid bolted out of the room.
"No, fucking— water…"
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
"Ahhh~!"
"Well? Does it suit your palate?"
"Whoa. That hits the spot like nothing else."
"Hahaha. It was made with sap from the World Tree, so it ought to."
"…?"
At the words World Tree sap, Leon looked again at the empty bowl with fresh appreciation.
The western territories of the Empire bordered the Great Forest, the domain of the elves. He had heard that the Helbridge family, who governed the west, maintained trade with the Great Forest — but the World Tree?
Anything connected to the World Tree was not something money could buy.
"Is it really all right to just hand over something that precious?"
"Don't worry about it."
Erbion Helbridge, head of the Helbridge family, smiled warmly. The moment he heard Leon had woken, he had stormed into the room in under five minutes.
"Consider it repayment for saving my youngest daughter, and it still falls far short."
"…"
Leon sidestepped Erbion's overwhelming gaze and asked,
"How many days have I been out, if you don't mind my asking?"
"By the calendar, about three days."
So he had fallen into the demonic realm on Thursday, which made this Sunday morning.
"Curious about what happened, I take it."
Reading Leon's expression, Erbion opened the conversation with convenient foresight.
"First of all — not a single student died. Thank the heavens for that."
That said, several students from Class J had been badly hurt. Unlike Class A, which possessed more than enough strength to survive the demonic realm, and Class B, which had benefited from Class A's help, Class J had stubbornly carved its own path through the demonic beasts alone — and paid the price.
In the original story, they would have linked up with Class G…
Leon clicked his tongue softly. Still, the fact that no one had died after being dropped into a demonic realm was impressive enough on its own.
"It was also fortunate that our family happened to be nearby."
The Helbridge family had already stationed troops along the outermost perimeter of the Siruntel Demonic Realm, preparing for a recent and sudden eradication campaign. If even a single demonic beast slipped out into civilian settlements, a massacre would follow — so the only option was to clear the outer layers methodically and push inward.
Then came word that Celia — the most important part — and the other students had been teleported straight into the heart of the realm. The three Helbridge brothers had gone half-mad, led their knights in a charge all the way to the center, and that was why the rescue had arrived so unusually fast.
After explaining for a while, Erbion suddenly rose from his seat.
"Thank you."
And he bowed deeply to Leon, who was still sprawled uselessly on the bed.
The head of a great house. A duke. A high noble of the Empire — and he set his pride aside before a boy barely out of childhood. This was not the bow of a duke. It was the bow of a father.
"Celia told me everything. That you ran from the far side of the demonic realm, weaponless, and risked your life to protect a girl who had been dropped there alone."
Leon made a complicated face. So that was why the man had been so excessively kind. Celia had clearly embroidered the story a little.
"Our family will never forget this debt. I swear it on the name of Helbridge."
Meeting Erbion's solemn eyes, Leon gave a slow nod. Putting the Helbridge family — one of the Empire's greatest powers — in his debt was hardly a bad thing. Sooner or later, he would find a use for it.
Erbion continued to express his gratitude in every variation of language available to him, while Leon answered with easy banter and made it very clear that he preferred tangible rewards.
"Stay as long as you like. If anything is inconvenient, or if you need anything at all, just say the word."
"Thank you."
Urgent footsteps approached from outside. Erbion rose with a wry smile.
"Leon!"
The door slammed open.
Celia, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, kicked the door in and charged through.
"I'll take my leave, then. We'll speak again."
"Yes, sir. Take care."
"Leon, Leon!"
"…Daughter. Do you not see your own father standing right in front of you?"
"Ah— out of the way! I've seen enough of you already!"
Celia shoved Erbion aside without a second thought. Looking slightly dejected, Erbion exchanged one last glance with Leon and left. Something about that look made Leon's smile twitch.
Then — grab!
Having finally reached the bed, Celia seized Leon's face with both hands, rough as a brawler.
"Leon…! Are you okay?!"
"Mm… no? Can't you tell I can't even sit up right now?"
Leon laughed and made a joke of how much he hurt.
"…!"
Celia's eyes went red.
"Hic…!"
She sobbed and threw her arms around his upper body.
"Ah— ow! Hey! I'm kidding, kidding!"
Leon thrashed under the salt-in-the-wound agony, but she rubbed her face into his chest as if she couldn't hear a word.
"AAAAAAARGH!!"
Click, click!
Urgent heels rang across the marble floor. Aria, body reinforcement magic already active, tore down the corridor at speed. She would have preferred to use Blink as well, but casting magic freely inside this place would get her thrown out, so she barely restrained herself.
That a mere commoner like her had been allowed this deep into Helbridge Ducal Castle at all was only possible because of her status as an Academy student — and the convenient pretext of visiting a friend.
With help from passing maids, Aria at last arrived outside the sickroom. She straightened her clothes, smoothed her disheveled hair, and stepped toward the door.
But then—
"…right?"
Voices from beyond the door stopped her cold.
"…did you do it?"
"It wasn't… that big a deal."
Leon's voice, answering a woman.
Aria quietly layered on auditory enhancement magic.
"Isn't that a pretty dangerous power?"
"Probably?"
"Don't use things like that."
"You think I used it because I wanted to? Anyway — don't go telling anyone. It's a secret."
"Okay. I'll be the only one who knows."
…What?
Aria's face went rigid.
Who was that woman talking with Leon — and what was this secret only the two of them shared?
Her heart hammered beyond control. A black fog seemed to settle over her mind. The feeling was unbearable. Forgetting to knock entirely, Aria wrenched the door open.
"Mas…ter…?"
And she saw.
"Huh? Aria?"
How badly he must have been hurt — Leon, of all people, lying on the bed unable to move a muscle. The new scars on his face.
Aria's heart plummeted, and worry and relief crashed through her in a violent wave.
"Master…"
Moisture began to well in her eyes — until a cold voice from beside him cut it short.
"This is a patient's room. Ever heard of knocking?"
Her gaze dropped, sharp and freezing.
Neatly cut purple bob. Foxlike eyes. The woman who had been speaking so warmly with Leon — Celia — was perched on the edge of the bed, casually leaning her weight toward him.
"…"
"…"
Their eyes met. A strange current passed between them — deep, and heavy.
Aria stared at Celia with eyes gone utterly still. Celia did not look away.
One second. Two. Five.
Aria's face grew so cold it seemed to radiate frost. A faint breeze began to stir around Celia — and then:
"…What are you two doing?"
Leon's awkward voice split the space between them.
Aria's expression flipped as if the last few seconds had never happened, and she rushed to his side.
"Master, how did you get hurt this badly…!"
She pressed close against him and seized his hand.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was when I heard the news!"
"Wait — you came all the way here just for that?"
"Of course I did!"
And just like that, the two of them fell into easy, warm conversation.
"…"
Suddenly reduced to a spare piece of furniture, Celia narrowed her eyes. The way they talked — so comfortable, so familiar, so much closer than anything she had with him.
"Ha…?"
An unnameable irritation surged up hard, and Celia let a chilling little smile slip free.