Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Concerns (Interlude)
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As soon as I heard the news that Isis had woken up, I headed straight to the hospital to see her.
'I figured she'd be fine...'
Should I consider it a relief that she'd regained consciousness so soon?
I couldn't help but feel uneasy since, even though it was to subdue her, I'd nearly killed her.
"But they said we could see her? Didn't they mention she needed special care because of the mental manipulation?"
Seo-yul asked with a worried look on her face.
Honestly, I'd been concerned about that too, but it turned out there was no need to worry.
"Yeah. Fortunately, she seems okay with it. They said it's different from typical mental manipulation. The experts confirmed it, so it should be fine."
I'd heard that normal mental manipulation leaves severe aftereffects.
Since it involves tampering with someone's mind, it would be weirder if there weren't any side effects.
Even so, regaining consciousness without major aftereffects was a miracle in itself.
In any case, after a light meal, we made our way to the hospital to visit Isis.
Seo-yul looked pleased, relieved that her friend—who she'd been worried might not make it—was safe.
"Um... thank you again, Oppa. Thanks to you, Sword Fairy didn't get hurt badly... I'm sure she'll be really grateful too."
"Uh, uh-huh..."
Yeah, probably...
I hope she doesn't chew me out, even if she's not grateful...
I wonder if she remembers me striking her neck hard...
Nah, she probably doesn't...
.
.
.
We arrived at the hospital and went straight to the room where Sword Fairy was staying.
The moment we entered, she turned from blankly staring out the window toward us.
"Sword Fairy...!"
"...Seo-yul."
Seo-yul rushed over and hugged Sword Fairy tightly upon seeing her awake.
They must be really close.
Of course, Sword Fairy had mentioned hearing a lot about me from Seo-yul, so it wasn't strange that they were so friendly.
"...Honestly, I don't remember much... I recall up until we first went in, but it's like I had a dream or something—my head feels strangely fuzzy..."
Sword Fairy said, grimacing.
Considering how people under mental manipulation usually suffer major psychological aftereffects, just having a headache was lucky enough.
The experts had said as much.
"Hey... could you tell me what happened in there?"
"Wouldn't it be better to wait until you've recovered a bit? Bringing it up now might make your headache worse."
It wasn't a hard story to tell, but dragging it out right after she'd woken up didn't seem like a good idea.
"Hmm..."
Sword Fairy made a complicated expression, then shook her head.
"I'm fine. I know my own condition... Can't you just tell me?"
"Hmm..."
Is she really okay?
I checked her complexion just in case.
She looked decent enough for someone lying in a hospital bed...
'There shouldn't be any aftereffects from when I hit her neck, right...?'
For some reason, that worry popped up, so I cautiously asked her.
"By any chance, does your body feel hard to move, or is your neck sore?"
"Huh? Not really... Why do you ask out of the blue?"
"Oh... good. It's a bit of a long explanation..."
I scratched my head and let out a shallow sigh.
"Alright... I'll explain everything at once."
With Seo-yul here too, I wouldn't have to repeat myself.
With that thought, I began recounting what had happened to the two of them.
The mental manipulation started the moment we entered.
Unlike me, who wasn't affected at all, they seemed to be under some ambiguous influence—or fully controlled but adjusted by the monster—because what they saw was different.
Then, when I punched through the wall to break out, she suddenly turned hostile and attacked me for some reason, so I had no choice but to knock her out quickly.
"That's why I asked if your neck was okay earlier... That was the spot I hit to subdue you."
"Ah..."
"S-Sorry."
Sword Fairy tilted her head at my apology, as if wondering what I was talking about.
"...What are you suddenly apologizing for? If anything, I'm grateful you stopped me."
Of course she wouldn't get it if I put it that way...
I hesitated over whether to explain, but since I'd already brought it up, I couldn't just hide it now.
"Well... as you know, I'm pretty strong..."
"...Yeah?"
"She was an A-Rank Hero, but I had some confidence since Grandpa trained me."
No matter how I thought about it, I shouldn't have gone for the neck chop.
Of course, it ended with her just passing out without serious injury, but not knowing the extent of my strength or how much Sword Fairy could withstand made it reckless.
Even if I controlled my power well, her neck could've snapped...
"Ah..."
"Mm..."
Having understood, neither of them could find words to continue.
It had worked out fine in the end, but it was definitely a situation that could've gone wrong.
"I-I'm fine, though... Uh... I was the one who got hit by the mental attack... You got in danger because of me, and you did it to defend yourself..."
Isis muttered with a somewhat pale expression.
Of course, at the time, no attack felt particularly dangerous, so I was plenty relaxed...
No need to mention that part...
"Ahem... Anyway, thank you so much for saving me... If it weren't for you, I'd probably be trapped in there like the other heroes."
"I've heard plenty of thanks from your girlfriend over there already."
"Oh, really? Hehe~"
Grasping the meaning of "girlfriend," she flashed a mischievous smile and glanced at Seo-yul.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that...?"
Seo-yul, oblivious to why she was being eyed that way, just stared at us in confusion.
"Heehee... Our Seo-yul must've been so worried about this big sis?"
"Of course I was worried...!"
Sword Fairy had said it playfully, but Seo-yul took it seriously and shouted back as if it was obvious.
Sword Fairy blinked in surprise.
"Whoa... You really can't tease Seo-yul..."
Seems like it...
I'd expected her to get embarrassed, not take it so straight...
"But I love this side of Seo-yul~"
Sword Fairy giggled and clung to Seo-yul, who panicked and asked what was wrong.
Watching them, I smiled warmly.
Good to see.
"Hoo..."
"Good work, sir."
"Yeah."
A woman approached the man as he took a deep breath to calm himself, handing him a towel.
He took it casually and wiped the sweat from his drenched hair.
"How was it today?"
"Excellent, Thunder Emperor."
"Hey, hey, this is home. No need for 'Thunder Emperor.' Just call me Young Master."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Good~ Yeah, yeah... So the guy the Association Chairman mentioned accepted my proposal?"
"Yes. He said we can set the date anytime..."
"Then let's fight tomorrow. Honestly, time's tight, so better to wrap it up quick."
"I'll confirm if tomorrow works."
"Thanks for the help."
The man handed back the towel and stretched.
"Hoo... I have to win this time..."
"According to Martial God, his physical abilities surpass even his own."
"Oh? If that old man says that much, he must be pretty strong. Makes sense he'd get wrecked otherwise."
Chuckling, the man asked with a playful expression.
"What do you think? Who do you bet on?"
"...As your servant, I'll refrain from saying."
"Nah, it's fine. I'm just asking your honest opinion. Say whatever you want."
"In that case, I'll bet on that man."
Without a moment's hesitation,
"Hey... Even if your master's right here, you can't just—"
"So, will you lose?"
The man stopped mid-sentence at the woman's question, looking dumbfounded.
Then he grinned.
"I'll win."
"Then that's settled. Go get 'em, Young Master."
"Oh... With a cheer from my house's top beauty maid, I have no choice but to win, huh?"
"......Haa... Please grow up already..."
Even as the woman sighed, he chuckled and walked off.
Behind him, only the charred remnants of his training—blackened to ashes—remained.