Hospitalization (3)
"Nurse, I'm feeling fine now. Can't I be discharged yet?"
After the chairman left the room, I brought it up to the nurse who came by regularly to check on me. I even showed her me stretching diligently to loosen up. Of course, my mana circuits weren't fully recovered yet, so I couldn't use magic, but honestly, staying cooped up here was driving me crazy.
"No way. It's not even been a full day since you woke up. You need rest."
"Then how much longer do I have to stay?"
It'd be great if visits were allowed, but they're banned, so I can't even see the other heroines.
"Hmm... Actually, the Saintess said no visits at all until she gives the okay..."
"...What?"
"She said your condition's still not good... But you do look better, so I'll talk to her about it."
"Could you call the Saintess over, then? She might change her mind if she sees me in person."
"Oh, sure, why not? She did say to tell her right away about anything involving Cadet Lee Ho-yeon, no delays."
"Yes, thank you."
After the nurse left, I lay back down on the bed. Hmm. 'Absolute rest,' huh... Whether that's really why visits are banned or if there's another motive, we'll see.
Knock knock.
- It's Baek Ayoung. May I come in, Cadet Lee Ho-yeon?
"Yes, come on in."
Clunk—The door opened, and Baek Ayoung arrived shortly after. She was in her usual sexy suit, familiar as ever. Her forehead was dotted with sweat, like she'd just come from work.
"Ho-yeon, how's your body feeling?"
"Of course I'm fine."
I'd heard this was Iron Blood Guild's hospital, and Baek Ayoung was working here instead of the academy infirmary just for me. Something about it being the infirmary teacher's duty to look after cadets.
As soon as she closed the door, Baek Ayoung switched to casual speech and approached me.
"So, why'd you call? The nurse said you wanted me to check on you."
"Well, since I'm feeling better now... maybe visits would be okay?"
I'm not even asking for discharge. Just let people visit, please.
"Ah... Yeah, I get it. You must have your reasons."
Baek Ayoung looked at me with a hint of sulkiness.
"...Yes. Actually, I've got a lot to do. The terrorism this time, and all the stuff from the Heavenly Festival that still needs explaining... Plus, having nurses watch me 24/7 is a burden."
"If I allow visits, you'll only do official business, right?"
"Well, not exactly..."
It's burdensome. That gaze of hers is scary.
"If you call other girls... and... sob."
Baek Ayoung buried her face in my chest as she hugged me.
"...Darling, you're always number one for me."
"Darling... huff."
I had no choice but to pull out the invincible word. Plop—As expected, it worked, and she hugged me even tighter. I held the clinging Baek Ayoung and soothed her, stroking her back for a few minutes until she lifted her head.
"Okay. You have relationships to maintain. I shouldn't be so stubborn."
"Thank you, A-young."
"Yeah. I want to be by your side always too... but I've got a ton of work. At least I need to clean up the mess I made."
"Got it. Take care."
I glanced at her status window while listening.
Current Status: For a stable married life with darling... I need to stay diligent at my job right now.
Good. She still has a sense of responsibility toward her job. Her desire to help others seems intact too. No pregnancy worries here.
"Yes. Take good care of yourself. Keep up with your health management."
Just in case, I added one more reminder.
"Yeah, thanks. I'll tell them visits are okay starting tomorrow. You look good enough that you won't need the on-duty nurse either, so I'll handle that too."
We chatted a bit more after that. Baek Ayoung said she had a pile of work and had to go, then left the room. Once she was gone, the room fell deathly quiet.
"...Even after conquering her, it's still trouble."
But with affection at 100, her jealousy wasn't overwhelming. Of course, whether that'll hold with over five women... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I turned on my smartwatch to kill time. In an empty hospital room alone, there wasn't much else to do.
"Nothing new to watch anymore."
After about half an hour, boredom hit hard. Checking when the academy would make their statement got old too. Visits need to open up soon. Nam Da-eun and Nam Da-hee, Ellis, Lucy, Lumi, Im Sol, Moon Sulin... Too many people to worry about.
Crunch crunch—Then, I sensed a familiar mana flow. I couldn't use mana, but I could sense it. That's the Mana Resonance perk.
"...Scarlett?"
I called out to the movement on the ceiling, and the mana halted. One ceiling tile opened.
Thud—A familiar blonde beauty landed lightly on the floor.
"You're amazing, Ho-yeon. Your mana circuits are a total mess, but you still spotted me."
Scarlett dusted off her clothes and spoke to me.
"...What's going on? Why'd you come from there?"
"The security around your room suddenly weakened, so I slipped in. I had a report to give anyway."
"Good work."
As expected of Scarlett. I was bored anyway... Huh? The necklace around Scarlett's neck was faintly trembling. Now that I looked, it was familiar. I'd carried Liliana around disguised like that often before, so I remembered it clearly.
"Is that... Liliana?"
"Yes. Lady Liliana, it's safe now—come out."
Poof—Amid a puff of mist, Liliana appeared next to Scarlett.
"Ahh... It was so stuffy after so long."
"Liliana!"
With Scarlett and Liliana here, hospital life won't be boring. For the first time, I felt something like love for Liliana.
"See? Told ya he's tough. I knew it'd be like this!"
"Impressive, Lady Liliana. I believed you when you said it was dangerous..."
"He ain't the type to die that easy. He'd have croaked long ago if he was."
"Hey, what are you two on about?"
I cut into their conversation, which had started without me.
"Scarlett was fretting you were in danger, so I told her not to worry. I know how tenacious your life's gonna be."
"...?"
I almost flicked Liliana's forehead for the weird talk, but since she'd come to see me, I held back.
"Scarlett, how are Nam Da-eun and Nam Da-hee doing?"
Perfect timing anyway. Nam Da-eun was my biggest worry, and these two know the situation best.
"They're resting in the dorm. I confirmed they were fast asleep, hugging tight, before leaving. Oh, and I have a related report."
"What is it?"
"We couldn't figure out why Buyer Guild kidnapped Miss Da-hee, so we said your faction rescued her. We told them you hadn't shared the exact reason."
"As expected, Scarlett. You handle things perfectly. I'll take care of that."
"Yes. I'll bring Miss Da-eun and Miss Da-hee tomorrow."
I had an excuse ready. Whether Da-eun would buy it... probably.
"Anything else unusual?"
"Ah... Come to think of it, I got a personal order from Lady Ellis."
"Personal order?"
"Yes. To install a hidden camera in this room..."
"...."
What the hell? Why? What does she think of me, putting a hidden cam in a hospital room? Thinks I'll have sex here too?
...How'd she know.
She's got a real eye for people. Must be the Iris Guild thing.
"Ahem... Scarlett."
"Yes."
"I'll just give you a sex video instead—pass it to Ellis. That should work."
"I was thinking the same."
"I'll time it later, so secretly film it then."
Scarlett needs achievements to build trust, so this is good occasionally. Last video was Liliana. For customer satisfaction, maybe someone else next.
Poke poke.
"Can't fight back right now even if you bully him, right? Perfect chance. Wanna join, scout?"
"I'm fine."
Liliana was poking my side with her finger, grinning. Too much for a patient?
"Fine. Have your fun."
I let her poke away, seeing it as her way of showing worry after days apart. I could tolerate that much generously.
"Boo. Lame. Go away."
Liliana pouted and started fiddling with my smartwatch.
...What's her deal.
Current Status: I was worried, but he doesn't care. Hmph.
'Wasn't worried, my ass...'
Sigh. I ramped up my energy and spread my arms to Liliana.
"Liliana~. You have no idea how much I missed you."
"Liar again. Lies just pour out whenever you open your mouth."
"No, really. I thought of you the whole hospitalization."
"...For real?"
"Of course. C'mere."
I patted the patient bed. As expected of a luxury hospital, it was spacious. Liliana lay beside me dubiously, and I stroked her hair to soothe her.
"You're the one I see most, so you came to mind first."
Wriggle wriggle. Liliana touched my body while gazing at me.
"Really? For real?"
Those eyes... succubus eyes. Liliana was demanding intimacy now.
"Shall we start filming right away?"
Scarlett was already filming the bed with a small camera she'd gotten from somewhere.
"...Yeah. And keep good watch outside."
More footage the better, so whatever. I reached for Liliana's body, ignoring the camera as much as possible.
*
In the academy's research lab, a man and woman were talking.
"What were the analysis results?"
"S-rank Mine."
Moon Sulin was speaking with an academy researcher. It was about the skull-masked Mine that Lee Ho-yeon had taken down.
"S-rank... From Pandemic?"
"That's our assessment. And this is the mask the Mine was wearing."
The researcher handed Moon Sulin the skull mask.
"Not a special artifact, but it seems like a mark for them to recognize each other. Maybe a faction within Pandemic."
"I see... Thanks. I'll head out."
"Yes. Take care."
Moon Sulin slowly exited the lab, skull mask in hand.
"S-rank Mine..."
An S-rank Mine that attacked Lee Ho-yeon. For a cadet to handle an S-rank alone was absurd. The press would flip again tomorrow when it hit the news.
But that wasn't what mattered to Moon Sulin.
Lee Ho-yeon had fallen into a coma as the price. Fortunately, no major issues, and visits open tomorrow.
Still, she couldn't help being angry.
"Ho-yeon..."
Grandpa suddenly defending him had eased her mind briefly, but new anxieties crept in. What if another danger like this arose? She'd have to protect him then.
- Sulin noona. I love you.
Moon Sulin pondered while listening to an edited clip of Lee Ho-yeon's voice.
'How can I help Ho-yeon?'
She'd visit first. Whatever it was, she needed to see his face and talk.
Hmm. Moon Sulin nodded, focusing on her earphones.