Hot Spring Rehabilitation (1)
"Nice to see you, Sion. It's been since the Tubal Harbor Battle."
"It's an honor, Elder Leonard. You're looking as hale as ever."
As soon as we finished teleporting and stepped out of the Magic Tower, the dwarf elder greeted us warmly.
The Tubal Harbor Battle he mentioned was from the original story—an episode where Sion and her hero party, defeated in the northern reaches of Hajion, retreated here and joined forces with the dwarves to repel the demon invasion using the mountains.
"I'd heard you were unwell, but you can't even walk at all. How did the valiant Sion Laurel end up like this?!"
"Haha, it's embarrassing."
"No, no. The wounds and pain you bear were ones we all should have shared. If anything, we're the ones who should be ashamed. So, you're here for treatment?"
"Yes, exactly. We'll be in your care for a week."
"Good, good. If this place can help, that's a relief. The land and spirits here still remember you, after all. And you are…?"
Leonard Elder scanned me up and down with a gruff expression.
"I'm Hope Harvey, director of the Nodun Kingdom Rehab Medical Center."
"Director? Well, some bigwig from the kingdom, I suppose. We got your letter about Sion coming, but I didn't expect you too."
Even after the introduction, he still looked like he had no idea who I was. Rehabilitation medicine was a new field, sure, but in human society, it had gained so much attention that most people would recognize my title and put two and two together. Dwarves, though—they weren't big on worldly affairs, so he clearly had no clue.
Time to change my approach.
"I'm the doctor in charge of Sion's care. I came along to check on her progress."
"Ah, so you're the doctor. Take good care of Sion."
"I appreciate your hospitality."
In situations like this, the key was to tie myself to Sion, our one common link. Thankfully, introducing myself as her doctor earned me a friendly nod from the elder.
"Let's get your luggage settled first. I'll show you to the lodgings."
The elder who came to meet us hadn't brought a carriage. Instead, he'd arrived with something odd but somewhat familiar to me—a vehicle, sure, but not pulled by horses. It had massive wheels and mechanical contraptions, with a driver's seat towing a rear compartment. Like a tractor you'd see on a farm back home.
Dwarves use these for getting around? Fascinating.
"Hm? What's that moving chair?"
As Sion maneuvered her pressure wheelchair to the entrance of the elder's vehicle, he peered at it curiously.
"Oh, this? It's a wheelchair that moves with pressure."
"Wheelchair, huh? Wheels on a chair. Mind if I take a look?"
"Be my guest."
"Doctor, help Sion into the madongcha. Then I'll check this out."
"Got it."
So it's called a madongcha. Anyway, I picked Sion up as requested and settled her in the back seat, then watched to see what the elder would do.
"Hmm, generates pressure here to turn the wheels, huh? And… here too? Three of these? The idea of a device powered purely by ability isn't bad, but…"
He lifted the wheelchair, spun the wheels, checked the undercarriage mechanisms, fiddled with it every which way—and then scowled deeply, shaking his head in dissatisfaction.
"Sion!"
"Yes, Elder?"
"Mind if I tinker with this?"
"I'd be grateful, but… I'm pretty used to it. It works fine, so maybe not necessary?"
"You're used to this? It's hypersensitive, a nightmare to control, and no safety features—and you're saying you handle it just fine?"
"Lots of practice."
I watched her closely, worried she might flash back to the physical agony of those training sessions and have a breakdown. But thankfully, no signs of that.
"Good lord, 'lots of practice'…"
The elder's eyes widened, mouth agape, as if the chair's condition alone told him the hell she'd endured.
"Anyway, this thing's dangerous. Can't let you ride it. I'll fix it up."
"Understood, Elder. I'm grateful, but what do I use in the meantime?"
"We make our own mobility aids for the impaired. You could borrow one… Ah, but it won't fit a human frame."
He frowned in thought, stroking his chin—then, with a resigned shrug, tossed the wheelchair into the madongcha's storage compartment like it weighed nothing.
"No way you're riding this. It'll be ready by lunch tomorrow. Until then, crawl, roll, whatever. Oh, the doctor can carry you."
"Pardon?"
"W-what… Elder!"
Sion and I blurted in shock, but he ignored us, heading to the driver's seat and firing up the engine.
No plan for getting around without the chair, but he confiscates it anyway. I knew dwarves were stubborn, but this was ridiculous.
"What do we do? This trip, and now the first day's ruined!"
Sion flailed dramatically, like the world was ending. Losing the chair was a problem, sure, but this much?
"We can relax at the lodging or nearby today. We're here to unwind slowly, not rush around."
"Ah! You're right. Let's do that!"
From panic to beaming, hands clasped in delight. That thrilled?
Her reactions felt oddly off. I'd seen her emotions swing wildly since the withdrawal symptoms from her buff addiction started, so it worried me—but all I could do was keep an eye on her and hope.
More importantly, this madongcha rode like a modern car. Dwarves were mechanical whizzes too? Come to think of it, the original story had them firing cannons in the mountains and hauling ammo in silent carts.
Already seeing wonders. Good call coming here.
Hm… Drop Sion at the lodging and explore solo? Nah, better stick with her. Leaving her alone felt risky, I wasn't exactly welcome without her, and honestly, I wanted to see more of her flustered self.
"We're here. Out."
We'd arrived at the dwarven hot springs, our lodging. The elder hopped out first and vanished inside without a backward glance.
"Alright, Sion. Hop on."
Carrying her piggyback would be easier than cradling for the week, so I got out, crouched, and offered my back.
"Thanks."
She slid off the seat onto my back. I adjusted her unsteady limbs, supported her thighs, and stood with her secured.
"Up we go."
"Ugh~~ Being carried like this as a grown woman is so embarrassing, I can't even lift my head!!"
True to her word as a hero, she buried her face in my shoulder, refusing to look.
It was embarrassing for a hero, sure, but…
Ah, so that's why she panicked earlier—and got so happy?}
Now it clicked. The elder said I'd carry her sans wheelchair. She'd freaked at the idea of this, but perked up when we decided to stay in.
"What's with the hiding, Sion? We're parting ways—show your face."
"Haha… Alright."
Only at his insistence did she peek out.
"Good, good. Sion, doctor—no other guests for the week. Treat it like you rented the place."
"Much appreciated, Elder."
"No big deal. We barely use it anyway! A good soak? The forge is hot enough. Some dwarves love it, but I don't get it. Haha!"
He bellowed a laugh and began the tour. Piggybacking Sion, I noted the layout, then set her down in the room and unpacked.
Propped against the wall, she gazed around in wonder while I checked the setup.
"Being here alone with you, Teacher—it's like a dream!"
"Yeah? I'm looking forward to it. Lots of curiosities on the way…"
Her bright smile dimmed at mention of outside.
"You wanted to sightsee more, didn't you, Teacher Hope?"
"I'd be lying if I said no, but we've got time. We'll go once the wheelchair's back."
"……."
Sion slumped, lost in thought—shaking her head eyes shut, covering her face, clenching fists in resolve. Then her glowing crimson eyes looked up at me unpacking.
"Teacher Hope."
"Yeah, right here."
"Once we're unpacked… let's go out together."
Wait, what? She wants to go out?
"Sure, but no wheelchair means I'll have to carry you."
"That's fine. In fact, better…"
"Hm? What was that?"
She mumbled something after "fine," but too quiet to catch.
"N-nothing! Anyway, tell me when you're done. Got it?"
She brushed it off. But yeah, she definitely suggested going out. I'd figured she'd hate it from embarrassment—maybe she sensed I wanted to and pitied me?
I didn't want pity, but she'd offered, so refusing felt wrong…
"Got it. Almost done—wait just a sec."
I did want to explore this fantasy village. So, gladly accepted.
Touring an otherworldly village with Sion piggyback… Our first day of rehabilitation retreat began with excited anticipation.