Prophecy to the Hero
"Sion. How about going somewhere for a bit of convalescence next week?"
The usual weekend gourmet crawl. I brought up convalescence as casually as passing conversation, and Sion startled, her eyes widening as she turned to look at me.
"Pardon? Convalescence?"
"You're really surprised."
"Ah, no. It's just so sudden."
Of course she'd be shocked. The time I suggested a trip last time was, to her, an event from a dream. She was hearing in reality the words she'd heard in that dream.
Sion looked like she was lost in thought, head bowed, but inside, wasn't she thrilled?
"Convalescence... Is there some reason we absolutely have to?"
She asked back with an expressionless face. That was odd. Wasn't she happy about it? Her reaction was a little different from what I'd expected, leaving me flustered instead.
"I think it'd be good to have an intensive treatment period before the buff addiction withdrawal symptoms get any worse. We'd pause rehab exercises for a bit, go somewhere relaxing where you can focus purely on recovery, then come back and start rehab again. What do you think?"
Even after I explained the reasons for convalescence just as she'd asked, Sion kept staring at the ground, deep in thought.
"It's not absolutely necessary for treatment, right?"
"If you're asking if it's absolutely necessary... no, it's not. It's just a recommendation."
"Then I'll pass. I'd rather rest here in the hospital."
What? A refusal? Then what was that reaction she showed last time? Wasn't that her honest response? Was it not that she mistook reality for a dream, but that it was actually my dream, and I'd mistaken it for reality?
I'd never even considered she'd refuse, so I felt a bit dazed, but I pulled myself together, wondering if this was something serious.
Had something changed in Sion's state of mind? If so, this was the perfect chance for her to open up honestly...
"Um... Sion. Mind if I ask why?"
She closed her eyes at my question, organizing her thoughts for a moment. Then she opened them, gazing at me with a soft smile as she answered.
"If Director Hope says convalescence would help treatment, then of course it would. But I feel like staying here would be better for my recovery."
"I see. You're right that a familiar place can be more comfortable than somewhere unfamiliar."
"No, it's not that. There are plenty of great places in the world for recovery, but for me, this is the best. Because..."
Sion hesitated for a moment. Then she looked away briefly, closed her eyes, and opened them again with a resolute expression, staring straight at me.
"Because you're here, Director Hope. Going somewhere comfortable and nice sounds good, but I don't think I could bear being somewhere without you. So no convalescence for me."
"......"
She didn't want to go because she wanted to stay with me? What was Sion saying?
Ah, no way...
"So that's what you meant?"
"Th-that's what I meant?! I've been trying to speak up even when it's hard or lonely... I mustered up a ton of courage to say it, and you just blurt it out like that? Calling it 'that'—that!!"
Oh no. I'd blurted it out in surprise at the unexpected situation, but to Sion, it must have sounded like that. I kept forgetting to think before I spoke.
"No, that's not it... Of course I'm going with you. I just forgot to mention it."
"...Pardon?"
Sion tilted her head, looking puzzled.
"You're coming... with me?"
"Of course! How could I not, when the whole point is your treatment and recovery? It's convalescence with me accompanying you. I figured you'd assume that, so I didn't spell it out."
To think she'd assumed I was sending her off alone somewhere. Could she really have thought that from her perspective?
"How could you come convalesce with me... What about the center? All those patients waiting for you..."
"Sion. Like I said last time, the center won't fall apart without me. I've built a solid system over more than three years. Of course, I can't be gone too long, so it'll probably be about a week. I wanted longer, but oh well."
Her face changed so slowly upon hearing I'd come along—her trembling eyes losing focus, her lips gradually curving upward into an expression of uncontainable joy.
"Convalescence together... just the two of us, Director..."
She noticed her own expression shifting and tried to hide it by covering her mouth with both hands, but the overflowing happiness was already spilling out through her entire body.
"How could this happen... Did I have a precognitive dream? Or maybe an oracle?"
Now she squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in her hands. So heroes thought their precognitive dreams were oracles. If only she knew it wasn't a dream.
"A precognitive dream? What kind?"
I already knew, but I asked anyway, to make her recall the scene.
"Wh-what... the dream? Well..."
She probably wouldn't answer. How could she say it out loud?
"It's a secret! It might be an oracle!!"
"Even from a comrade like me?"
"No way!!"
She answered without showing her hidden face. Even if it was a dream, she couldn't admit to throwing herself into my arms, clinging, acting spoiled, giggling, and nuzzling like that. Naturally.
"Anyway, since I'm coming with you, it's fine now, right? Say yes quick—we've got packing to do."
"Ah, yes! Let's go together!"
Finally, the OK from Sion. What a relief. I'd already assumed her answer and prepared vacation approvals and handovers last week. I'd even submitted a planning document to the cabinet meeting for testing buff addiction convalescence treatments by taking Hero Sion along. The king who received it even joked about me finally going on an overseas trip. If she'd refused and it all fell through...
Anyway, with all preparations done, all that was left was departure.
"So, where are we going?"
"Somewhere great for convalescence. I picked it carefully."
"Somewhere good for convalescence..."
Convalescence was best in places rich in natural healing resources. Good air, breezes, clean water, sunlight—all nature aids human healing, but the absolute best was...
"A hot spring. In the volcanic area outside Hajion. The Dwarf Hot Spring—ring a bell?"
Hot springs. For natural healing, nothing beat them. The Dwarf Hot Spring was in rugged mountains, hard to access, and the dwarves didn't welcome outsiders traipsing around, so it hadn't been developed as a tourist spot. They hadn't even wanted the spring to erupt in the first place. It was just a natural hot spring near the volcano that they'd developed for their own use.
"Ah, there..."
But with Hero Sion along, it was different. No place in this world would refuse her. Plus, the outskirts of Hajion were the only connection between dwarves and humans, with a Magic Tower for quick teleportation for us. I'd already contacted them via messenger, so we were ready to go.
But what if she'd really refused? How would I have cleaned up the mess? Pushing ahead assuming she wouldn't had led to this dizzying near-disaster I never wanted to repeat.
"I remember it, but you sound awfully nostalgic, Director Hope."
"It's from way back. Haven't been in this life."
I was bluffing, naturally—I'd never been. The Dwarf Hot Spring was just something from the original story for me. To actually visit a fantasy world's tourist spot from the book, with Sion no less. For me, who'd only studied and researched since reincarnating here, this convalescence was thrilling and exciting after so long.
"Let's forget everything for a bit and just rest. Exercises, rehab, anything stressing you out—everything. Even forget you're sick. Just enjoy time flowing slow and leisurely. Got it?"
Everything stressing Sion out. Did that include the Demon King or destiny? But I couldn't say it aloud. I hoped she wouldn't think of it.
"I hope it's that way for you too, Director Hope. Forgetting everything..."
'And thinking only of me... but I can't say that, can I?'
Sion smiled peacefully and nodded. If only I knew what she was thinking. Lately, I'd been wondering that more often.
Sion, always tormented by obsessions like being the hero, duties, missions—unable to say anything but what her position demanded. If I ever confessed the Demon King wouldn't come and my words were a lie, would I hear her honest heart, free from the hero's shackles?
The thought of my lie being exposed terrified and thrilled me, but I couldn't easily push away imaginings of that inevitable day.