The Hero's Light and Darkness
"Hey, Regressor. Didn't you say you'd prepared everything thoroughly to treat me?"
"I did."
"But how does it make sense that there's not even one inpatient room available?"
"I'll keep that in mind for next session."
Due to the perpetually full conditions at the Nodun Kingdom Rehab Medical Center, I had no choice but to bring Sion to my house.
While I cleaned up a suitable spare room and unpacked her things in her stead—since she could barely move—Sion grumbled a bit about the situation at first, but soon fell silent, as if accepting there was no other way.
"The me in the next session will have it good."
"Isn't that great?"
"No, it's not…"
Unpacking her luggage, which amounted to just one large bag, didn't take long. Cleaning the unused room to make it ready for her took far more time.
"That attendant… what was her name again?"
"Serin."
"When did you say Serin would arrive?"
"About three weeks. She has a lot of luggage, and it's a long way."
Serin, the attendant Princess Nao had assigned to care for Sion, would continue looking after her in the kingdom. But only Sion and I had permission to use the Magic Tower, so Serin was transporting Sion's necessities separately by land route.
Three weeks… Once Serin arrived in the kingdom, she'd commute to wherever Sion was staying to help her. If that place was my house, it'd be a problem.
"I'll somehow secure an inpatient room within three weeks. And find separate lodging for Serin too."
"Somehow? From what I heard earlier, there are thousands of people on the reservation list hoping to be admitted…"
"I'm the center director. I can admit one patient right away if needed."
"No way! Abuse of power is forbidden!"
"And that's exactly why I'm not admitting you right now."
It wasn't really abuse of power, but… Knowing her upright nature befitting a hero, she wouldn't want to push other patients aside and take their spot.
"But before Serin arrives, I'll get you admitted. It's essential for efficient treatment."
"Ugh…"
Treating the hero Sion was a matter tied to the fate of the world. Phrasing it that way should convince her easily.
Sion still wore an uncomfortable expression, but she squeezed her eyes shut—whether processing my persuasion or deep in thought—and then,
"Dr. Hope."
She quietly lifted her gaze to meet mine.
"Yes."
The moment our eyes met, I realized she hadn't simply accepted it. I could sense a firm resolve in her gaze.
"Could you please put my admission back in line behind the other patients, as originally scheduled?"
"Why?"
"Because that's only right."
Only right. It was a line straight out of the novel, embodying Sion's very identity.
Who knew I'd hear it in person one day.
Humans act with justice because it's right. Saving others is right. Keeping promises, respecting order, upholding righteousness—it's all right. No reasons needed; it's simply what one does.
That unshakeable faith in humanity's highest values, acted upon without doubt—that was the hero Sion.
"Rehabilitation is as much mental as physical, right? Skipping ahead of reserved patients would make me uneasy, and the treatment wouldn't go well. Surely sticking to the order is the more efficient way to treat me."
It was so very Sion, but still…
"Sion. I know better than anyone as the specialist what makes treatment efficient. Just know I'll admit you at the right time."
"Is treatment efficiency the issue?"
"Of course. If you don't recover within two years…"
"Then I'll recover, and it'll be fine."
In the center of the freshly cleaned room, bathed in breeze and sunlight from the open window, Sion's crimson eyes shone like the sun itself.
Though her broken body left her wheelchair-bound and barely able to lift her arms, she was still the hero. Her resolve carried the dignity and radiance it deserved.
"I'll definitely recover within two years. And this time, I'll finish off the Demon King for good. No problem then, right?"
So this was the feeling her comrades must have had. In her prime, a Sion like this would charge ahead, slaying monsters at top speed, her strength and will shining as she led them all. No wonder they trusted and followed her.
"Sion…"
But no matter how inspiring, I couldn't just swallow such absurd logic.
"Still, you'll be admitted in three weeks."
"Argh, really! Way to ruin the mood!"
"I'm the one who's uncomfortable. With you staying at my house."
"Then when Serin arrives, she and I can stay together! We always have!"
"That'd make lodging costs double… Well, money's no issue with the center's overflowing support funds…"
"Aah! Embezzlement forbidden too!! If it's just lodging, I can cover it, so isn't that fine?"
"Haa… Sion."
In truth, keeping Sion at my house and watching her broken daily life was what I wanted and hoped for. Not admitting her right away but letting her stay here was because I wanted her close.
But no matter how stimulating or ecstatic, staring at the same thing endlessly leads to boredom. So my plan was to switch her to an inpatient room at the right time for a fresh view of her—only for her to reject it like this.
How do you persuade an unconditional guardian of absolute justice and order…
"Sion. Look…"
The emotion I felt now was pure frustration. Things not going according to plan was frustrating enough, but this woman Sion—how could she react this strongly to just admitting her a bit early?
Always living at a loss. That's why even after saving the world, she ended up a shut-in, body wrecked.
Truly a frustrating person.
"Is getting admitted a little early such a huge privilege? It's not just for you. It's so you recover fast and save everyone."
"Still…"
"And so what if it's a privilege? Sion. Can't you enjoy even that much?"
"Pardon?"
Screw persuasion. Time to just say what I want; this frustration is unbearable.
"Sion, you saved the world. Everything in it exists thanks to you—the kingdom, the center, patients' lives, all of it. If you hadn't driven back the Demon King and closed the Gate, would any of this be here?"
"……."
"So enjoy it a little! You have the right. The right to demand anything from the world. The natural right to receive repayment from those you saved. You think patients can't yield one admission slot to you?"
I said it almost scoldingly, harshly, but I don't think my approach was wrong. This might be the bare minimum to get through to her.
If she still dug in her heels after this, I'd have no choice but to force admission.
"Dr. Hope."
"Yes?"
"Thank you for saying that, but still, I can't."
"Sion!"
She really went there?
"I…"
Sion, who moments ago had shone amid light and wind, now hung her head, hands clasped tightly on her lap, trembling faintly.
"Sion?"
"I… I can't do that. I…"
"?"
Why was she like this? How did our conversation lead to this reaction?
Was the breeze too chilly? With ventilation done, I closed the window, approached, knelt to meet her eye level, and looked at her.
"Sion. You okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine. Just… please don't. I have to look recovered. I can recover. I swear on my hero's name. So please…"
Closing the window stopped her physical shivering, but her voice still quivered as she spoke.
She was begging this hard; maybe I should pretend to relent. But still…
"Alright, then. I won't use my authority to admit you."
"Really?"
The moment I said it, the tremor vanished from her voice, a small smile blooming on her face.
"Thank you, Dr. Hope!"
But her admission and treatment must proceed properly—for her sake and mine. If she hated taking slots from other patients that much, the only option left was…
"Instead, I'll contact patients with the slots you need and ask them to yield to you."
"Pardon?"
"Sion. As I said, if I explain it's necessary for you, no one in the world would refuse. If it's a direct transfer from patients, that should be okay, right?"
"……."
She withdrew her smile, bowed her head slightly in thought, then nodded as if understanding and met my eyes again.
"Then I have a condition too."
"What else is left?"
"Let me make those requests myself."
She wants to ask personally? Could it be…
"Do you doubt me? Worried I'll claim permission without doing anything?"
"No! I'd never think that of you! It's just… it's something I should do. Really, that's all."
If Sion says it, it's no lie. I thought I knew the protagonist's personality well, but facing her showed my misconception. Who knew she'd be this frustrating.
Come to think of it, Sion and her hero party—Nao, Iri, Hanamana—were all near-absolute paragons of good. Maybe her personality didn't show because she was with like-minded comrades… Or perhaps novel settings I didn't know applied here.
Just like I never imagined post-finale Sion living like this.
"Fine, we'll do it that way. We'll talk when the admission date's set."
"Thank you so much…"
Anyway, the room was sorted. From now on, this was both my house and Sion's room. Until her admission and Serin's arrival, I could help her dysfunctional daily life and see all sorts of sides of her.
Heh heh heh… My heart's already racing. Just the anticipation feels maddening.
I'm the rehabilitation specialist. The one returning Sion to normal life.
Until then—though she wouldn't know it—I eagerly awaited collecting my due in full.