I'll Stay by Your Side
Intense sunlight stabbed at my eyes. I frowned and cautiously cracked open just one eye. Harsh rays were mercilessly pouring through the gaps in the pink lace curtains. They weren't even blackout curtains—who hangs something like that and expects to keep the light out?
...Wait. Pink?
I shot upright. My gaze swept across the entirely pink room as I frantically pieced together my memories. I was definitely working, then I fell into an unfamiliar world. There, I met the Saint...
Once the last memory surfaced, I collapsed back onto the bed. Then, with deliberate calm, I pulled the blanket over my head until it covered me completely.
“...Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Not only had I fainted twice right in front of a human, but I’d slept in a human’s room—no, I’d imposed on her hospitality. And on top of that, the Saint had apparently carried me here in her arms.
“Hahahaha...”
It was over. Any shred of dignity I had as a grim reaper was gone. Not that I had much to begin with, but this was the absolute worst.
The memories kept resurfacing, making my body twitch with the urge to move. Every recollection of what had happened in this world made me want to tear at my hair. My legs kept trying to kick the blanket off. Was this what people called blanket-kicking?
“...I should’ve never woken up.”
Overwhelmed by unbearable embarrassment, I covered my face with both hands and muttered. But why were my forehead and bangs damp? Had I sweated in my sleep? In the middle of winter?
I tilted my head in confusion and brushed my bangs back, only to spot a damp towel lying on the floor. That’s... A cleaning rag? Maybe she’d been tidying the room. It wasn’t intentional, but since I had stayed the night, I ought to help with the cleaning.
I dragged my stiff body up and picked up the rag. It was strangely clean, almost brand new. It seemed almost a shame to wipe the floor with something so pristine.
While I was examining it, the door burst open. The Saint stood there holding a washbasin, staring straight at me.
So she really was about to clean.
The moment the thought crossed my mind, the basin slipped from her hands. Water flooded the floor in an instant.
“Saint! The floor—!”
“...Thank goodness.”
She rushed toward me and pulled me into a fierce embrace. I froze mid-motion, still clutching the rag.
“...Saint?”
“I thought you weren’t going to wake up. I thought you’d never wake up...”
“It was only one night of sleep.”
She shook her head at my words. Then, biting her lip hard, she whispered, “...It wasn’t one day. You were unconscious for three whole days.”
“What? Three days?!”
That was impossible. Three days? Normally I recovered after an hour or two at most. Is the severed connection with the Underworld affecting me this badly?
The situation was far more serious than I’d anticipated, and for a moment I felt disoriented. But right now, calming the Saint came first. Her hands were trembling faintly—she must have been terribly worried.
I awkwardly reached out and patted her back.
“Saint, now...”
Before I could say I was fine, she grabbed my hand tightly. Her eyes, visible past her bangs, burned with resolve.
“Lie down.”
“...Pardon?”
“You were unconscious for three days. You can’t get up yet. Lie down. Please?”
She began shaking my collar, urging me insistently.
But I really feel fine. My body was a little stiff, which was only natural after lying down for three days. I’d even tested my authority, and it responded without issue.
I smiled, trying to reassure her. “I’m all right, Saint. There’s no need—”
“You are not all right!”
Her sharp tone cut me off so abruptly that I fell silent. Her eyes had turned red, as though tears might spill at any second.
“Saint...”
“...Please. There might be something wrong. Just rest a little longer. Okay?”
Tears slid down her cheeks. The suddenness left me unsure where to put my hands. While I stood there frozen, she reached out with a trembling hand and gently stroked my cheek.
“...I kept calling your name, but you wouldn’t answer. You didn’t even twitch.”
“I did that?”
“Yes. No matter how much healing magic I used, no matter how much I prayed, you wouldn’t wake up.”
Of course those things wouldn’t work on a grim reaper. But saying so wouldn’t help. I’m not even human, and resting doesn’t really mean anything for me.
It was only natural that her prayers and healing magic had no effect. The power that moves gods is divine energy, generated by the divinity within me or the faith of believers. Resting wouldn’t create more of it. A god’s body can only hold so much divine energy anyway.
Coldly considered, this was a waste of time. I was grateful for her concern, but I needed to refuse firmly.
...Then why was my body being lifted again?
“Wait, Saint?!”
“If you don’t have the strength to move... I’ll carry you.”
“No! No! I’ll lie down myself! I’ll do it!”
After a desperate struggle, I barely managed to preserve what little dignity a grim reaper had left. I hurried to the bed, pulled the covers over myself, and lay down.
...Had I really preserved it? As doubt crept in, the Saint quietly approached and sat beside my pillow.
She carefully brushed my bangs aside. Her touch was warm. The soft brush of her fingers felt strangely comforting.
“You said your head was ringing before you collapsed. How is it now? Any better?”
“...Yes. I’m truly fine now.”
“Still... let’s rest just a little longer. All right?”
Her voice had softened, but it was still heavy with worry. I no longer had the heart to refuse. Besides, refusing would probably just end with me being put back in bed anyway.
“Understood. I’ll do as you say, Saint.”
When I finally nodded, she rose with a relieved smile.
“Good. Rest here. I’ll prepare something and be right back.”
...Prepare what?
Before I could ask, she was already gone. The earlier commotion might as well have never happened; only the gentle chirping of birds drifted through the quiet room.
It’s peaceful...
How long had it been since I simply lay still like this? My days were always busy, and even on vacation I could never stop moving. Maybe that was why lying here doing nothing made me feel restless.
After staring at the pink canopy for a while, I glanced down at the flooded floor. Maybe I should clean that up. But if the Saint catches me moving again...
I debated it several times. The moment I threw the blanket aside to get up, I heard the doorknob turn. I quickly yanked the covers back over myself—too forcefully. They ended up covering my entire head.
...At least the light doesn’t bother my eyes. Maybe I’ll just stay like this.
There was a soft rustling, and I felt the Saint’s hand through the blanket.
“...Are you cold?”
“Ah, no. ...The sunlight is just very strong.”
“Is it? I’ll close the curtains more.”
As she drew them shut, I cautiously lowered the blanket. A fresh basin and clean towel now sat beside the bed. She brought another rag?
My question was answered when the Saint, having meticulously closed the curtains, placed a cool wet towel on my forehead. Only then did I understand why my forehead and bangs had been damp.
This is one of those things you always see in manga or dramas.
I never imagined I would experience it myself. The thought that a god would receive nursing care—and from a human, no less—had never crossed my mind. My seniors would definitely have something to say if they saw this.
After using magic to clear the water from the floor, the Saint sat down by my pillow again.
“How is it? Refreshing? Feeling any better?”
“...It is refreshing, but why do you put this on?”
She paused for a moment before answering softly, “You said your head was ringing. I thought maybe you had a fever...”
“I see. But I don’t run fevers. I don’t get sick at all.”
“Hehe. Same as me.”
Same? I wondered what she meant, but her smile looked so strangely serene that I decided not to press.
“Anyway, since I don’t have a fever, maybe we can do without it?”
“...Is it uncomfortable?”
I shook my head. The dampness was slightly unpleasant, but the coolness on my head felt nice. The Saint smiled gently.
“If it’s all right, then keep it on a little longer. ...I don’t know how it feels for you, Sashin, but it always eased my heart when someone did this for me.”
“...Eased your heart?”
She smiled and nodded.
“...Maybe because my holy power overflows. Like you, I’ve never gotten sick or felt pain. But whenever I was struggling, she would often place a wet towel on my forehead.”
“...Who did?”
“The dragon I mentioned before.”
What a peculiar dragon. If I ever had the chance, I’d love to meet her in person. Though once a dragon dies, it vanishes completely, so that’s impossible.
As a pang of regret hit me, the Saint continued while gently stroking my hair.
“Whenever I looked like I was having a hard time, she would put a wet towel on me like this and stay by my side. It wasn’t anything grand, but... it brought me real comfort.”
“Ah...”
“...It’s the only thing I can do. So I’ll stay by your side until you feel better, Sashin.”
The expression on her face as she looked down at me was endlessly tender and compassionate. Seeing it, I no longer had any reason to protest the wet towel. I finally understood why she had placed something that wouldn’t actually help on my forehead.
“Thank you. Then I’ll keep it on a little longer.”
“Good. Are you thirsty? Shall I bring some warm tea?”
“...Yes, please.”
She stood with a satisfied smile. Once she left the room, I stared at the ceiling and let out a long breath.
...I’m imposing on her in so many ways.
If the Saint offered me warmth as a human, then as a god I would have to fulfill my duty and grant her the peace of death.
I closed my eyes and slowly gathered my power.