Serin's Arrival and the Hero's Welcome
Serin's arrival from the empire took three weeks over land, just as expected. It was a moment that let me feel with my whole body just how convenient and overpowered the Magic Tower's teleportation really was.
I'd arranged a place for her to stay in advance and contacted her to meet there.
"Serin!"
Sion waved happily in greeting upon reuniting with Serin, who had arrived first, unpacked, and gotten settled. But Serin merely bowed her head slightly in response.
"The trip must have been tough."
"I'm fine."
Serin remained expressionless, speaking only what was necessary. Was she the no-nonsense type? As the attendant Princess Nao had personally assigned to Sion, she gave off an image of competence, but her businesslike demeanor, plain appearance, and blank face made it hard to pin down exactly what kind of person she was. Not that it was any of my business.
"Nice to meet you, Serin. I'm the director of the Nodun Kingdom Rehab Medical Center, rehabilitation specialist Hope Harvey."
"Ah! You're the doctor..."
"You know me?"
"Yes. As someone in the caregiving profession myself, I've heard of your reputation."
Even people from the empire knew my name. After the long total war, retired soldiers and injured adventurers had flooded in, making the kingdom's rehab center the focus of attention from every nation. And I was the pioneer and foremost authority who had established the very concept of rehabilitation medicine in this world.
"I heard that Lady Sion had come urgently to the kingdom's rehab center, but I didn't know you were overseeing her care personally."
"For the hero Sion, no less? Of course I'd step in myself."
"I see... Thank you so much."
Anyway, time was short, so I needed to get to the point and head to the center. Today was Sion's admission day, and we also had an event with her as the star, so it was a busy one with plenty to prepare.
"Anyway, Serin, we're heading to the center now, so remember the location. Starting tomorrow, just report there for work."
"Understood."
From now on, Serin's job was to care for Sion full-time in her inpatient room.
After helping Serin sort her luggage and finishing up, we moved to the center. The staff had cleared the equipment from the largest rehab gym, laid out mats, and set it up for people to gather.
"How's the prep going?"
"Almost done, sir."
Mirei reported the situation while efficiently directing the staff in perfect order.
"Thank you all so much for your efforts on my account."
"It's nothing compared to what the hero has done for us."
Sion thanked the staff sincerely, but... on her account? Sure, it was an event starring Sion, but this was strictly an event for people who wanted to see Hero Sion Laurel. Calling it something for Sion felt a bit off, didn't it?
"To think the center's throwing a welcome party to celebrate my admission!"
Ah... So that's how Sion saw it.
"Mirei, is the inpatient room ready?"
"Yes. We cleaned it right after the patient discharged yesterday."
"Good. Sion, Serin—let's head to the room."
"Okay."
"Understood."
Sion's room was a private single on the first floor. Luckily, the previous occupant had been discharged right on time. As Mirei said, it was spotless, and Serin began unpacking the luggage she'd brought around the room.
What the...? What kind of speed is that?
Was I watching an android disguised as a human? The moment Serin stepped in, it was like she'd already mapped out the optimal spot for every item. She pulled things from the bags and placed them with mechanical precision.
I realized she'd finished sorting just as she arranged flowers in a vase. The room looked like it had been prepped just for Sion's arrival.
"Lady Sion, if there's anything you want to move later, just let me know."
"Thanks, Serin. I'm relieved you're here."
"It's nothing... Shall we go?"
"Thinking about everything Hope put me through... Sob."
"Then I'll go purchase the necessary items."
"Oh, sure?"
What was that? The conversation pattern... It seemed like Sion was trying to stir up some weird misunderstanding, just like she had with Mirei, but Serin showed zero empathy and simply declared she'd get to work.
This caregiver of hers, Serin... The more I saw, the more intriguing she got.
"Serin, do you know where to go?"
"Yes. I've memorized the capital's layout on the way here."
"I see. Then off you go."
"Please take good care of Lady Sion."
"Don't worry about that."
She bowed politely and left the hospital. She'd even memorized the geography—not a single gap in her preparation. No wonder Nao trusted her with Sion.
"So this is where I'll be staying."
Sion looked around the room curiously. It was just a bed and a locker—nothing special, I thought, but...
"Our staff and Serin will take care of you from now on. Treatment starts in earnest, and we'll tailor your meals too."
"Meals?"
"Balanced, customized diets based on your condition to provide proper nutrition."
That's hospital food, put nicely. Its only real downside was the low salt making it bland. But in a medieval setting where people weren't used to heavy flavors, that flaw vanished, making it the perfect patient meal.
"Meals..."
But Sion looked dissatisfied, her head drooping a bit.
"Dr. Hope."
"Yes?"
"I'm grateful for healthy meals, but... for breakfast, could I eat what I want?"
Eat what she wants? Sion making a selfish request? That was new.
"As long as it's not too unhealthy. What do you have in mind?"
Sion kept her head down, avoiding my eyes, and finally whispered in a tiny voice, "Bread..."
"What?"
Her voice was so soft I couldn't catch it.
"Bread. Fresh morning bread from the Baker family."
I leaned in and barely made it out. Bread, huh? Figured it was something simple.
"Same as usual, no issue. Let's do that."
"Thank you."
"You seem pretty happy about it."
"......"
Sion still wouldn't lift her head. At my question, she smiled faintly, embarrassed about having made a request, and continued awkwardly.
"It felt warm."
"......"
The unexpected words left me speechless. But gazing at her ever-smiling face, it suddenly hit me...
Right. Sion always smiled like that.
Was yesterday's strained smile in front of everyone just from nerves?
"If warm is good, send Serin to my house every morning. Less hassle than going to the bakery for the first batch."
Sion nodded silently without replying. A brief silence settled in the room.
We said no more. But birdsong from somewhere filled the space for us, followed by the fragrance of the flowers Serin had arranged. Sunlight poured in through the window like a tide, gradually filling the room.
The event was kept simple so Sion wouldn't overexert herself. As the host, I introduced Hero Sion first, then explained the participation guidelines.
It reminded everyone that though she was a hero, she was also just another patient here—and ensured no excessive contact or stress from participants.
Next, Sion shared an uplifting message with the patients, and finally, she'd make the rounds of a few tables for brief chats.
"You can tell at a glance that most of the people training with me here fought alongside me on the battlefield. Maybe we're still fighting. Our opponent isn't demons anymore, but a tougher battle."
Sion spoke eloquently. Eloquence was practically a hero's must-have trait. Always at the front, boosting morale and spreading hope—that was the hero. Not just the strongest, but the beacon people could believe in and fight for, even amid war and despair.
"Um... Doctor."
"Yes?"
Serin, listening to the speech from backstage, called me quietly.
"Has Lady Sion improved a lot?"
"No, it's only been three weeks. Physically, she's a bit less strained when moving, but no major changes in motor ability yet."
"...I see."
Serin pondered with her usual inscrutable expression.
"Why? She seems that much brighter?"
"Yes... Extremely so."
"Extremely? That much?"
"Yes. You've seen me before, right? The night you broke your dinner plans with the princess to come home with Lady Sion."
She remembered that? We'd met then, but it was dark, and when she looked up at me, Sion had snapped at her not to pry, so she probably hadn't gotten a good look at my face.
Yet she precisely recalled that the person she'd seen was me.
"Yeah, I did."
"Compare her attitude then to now."
"Hmm..."
Back then, Sion had been cold even to Serin, and to me... well, she'd threatened to kill me. No need to dwell.
"True enough."
Brighter, huh... Come to think of it, Serin standing beside me now was the one who'd cared for Sion for three years after the story's end. She knew everything that happened in those years.
If I had questions about Sion's past three years—like with the pressure wheelchair practice—I could ask Serin instead, avoiding her trauma. Noted that for later.
"Woooaaah!!"
"Thank you, Hero!!"
"Let's keep fighting together!!"
Sion's speech ended successfully amid thunderous applause and cheers from the attendees.
Hero Sion Laurel. From now on, everyone using our rehab center would remember she was here.