Suddenly, I woke up.
The first thing I felt was an overwhelming sense of fatigue.
It felt like all the energy had drained from my body.
Even after a full day of hiking with a heavy backpack, I didn’t feel this exhausted.
Muttering to myself, I struggled to lift my eyelids that felt like they weighed a ton.
When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
Startled by the thought that I might have been kidnapped again, I tried to get up, but I heard someone’s voice next to me.
“…If you’re awake, just lie still. Don’t try to push yourself, you’re a patient.”
Rolling my eyes to confirm, I saw the blonde boy frowning with a more exhausted look than usual.
…Dwight? Could it be he kidnapped me this time?
For a moment, that thought crossed my mind, but the sharp scent of disinfectant and the murmurs of other people around me made me realize that I was in a hospital ward being used as a shelter.
It’s sad that my illustrious record of being kidnapped twice makes me suspect I’m in another abduction every time I see an unfamiliar ceiling.
Sighing over my situation, I quietly looked down to check my arms and legs.
Other than my left arm, which was prosthetic to begin with, everything else seemed intact.
Seeing that, I could guess who brought me to this place.
It must have been Yoon Si-woo who brought me here after I fainted that day.
Thinking back, I remembered that I had attached my limbs with his help.
By the way, I remembered having some conversation with Yoon Si-woo while reattaching my limbs, but I couldn’t recall what we talked about.
…Well, it probably doesn’t matter if I can’t remember it.
After all, I was so exhausted that I wasn’t in my right mind anyway.
So I decided to let those minor details slide and focus on the conversation with Dwight in front of me.
“…I appreciate your concern, but shouldn’t you be taking care of yourself first? Being here means you’re also a patient. Judging by your condition, it’s obvious you’re not okay…”
Honestly, I was worried about Dwight’s condition more than my own.
The way he told me to lie down seemed like it wouldn’t be surprising if he collapsed right then and there.
His complexion was completely pale, surpassing his usual tired look, which made me ask him out of concern, but Dwight shook his head slightly as if it was no big deal.
“…There’s no need to worry. It’s just a simple magic depletion. Well, I received an emergency transport due to having a magic depletion as a wizard.”
Magic depletion means exhausting one’s magical power beyond capacity.
I was slightly surprised and asked back.
“…You had a magic depletion? Were there intermediate or higher demonic beasts among them? No matter how much you had to protect the citizens and fight, you shouldn’t get depleted from those kinds of monsters.”
I couldn’t help but be shocked at the mention of magic depletion, considering he looked like a magic-loving nerd, but in the original story, he was treated as a rival of Yoon Si-woo.
In terms of strength, he’s above average elite heroes, and he has a natural amount of magic that rivals the strongest mage, Martina.
So how could he get depleted fighting a few intermediate-level greedy demonic beasts?
Unless he was doing something crazy like forcibly breaking the barrier set by the demonic beasts from the inside, it was hard to believe.
Seeing my puzzled expression, Dwight answered as if he didn’t really understand why it happened.
“I thought you had heard it. To explain, it happened because I called Yoon Si-woo to the city. Forcing the transition gate open through the interference of the magic circle wasn’t as easy as I expected.”
…I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but if it happened because he brought Yoon Si-woo to the city, this could be my fault!?
Feeling like Dwight’s predicament was possibly my issue, I timidly asked.
“…Anyway, you’re okay, right?”
“I did cough up blood a few times due to internal injuries, but it’s not a big issue.”
No, coughing up blood is actually a big problem…
For some reason, I felt more guilty.
…No, more importantly, shouldn’t I not be guilty over this?
If anything, I should be apologizing to Dwight.
That guy Yoon Si-woo, no matter how much he was trying to save me, it was too much to push Dwight to that extent.
I should have him apologize later.
…I mean, since that guy saved my life, it feels kinda silly to say something!
As I was muttering this internally, Dwight forced a smile.
“Originally, compared to Yoon Si-woo, this much is nothing.”
I flinched at his remark since I was deep in thought about Yoon Si-woo, and asked.
“…What about Yoon Si-woo?”
“His arms and legs were completely blown off. He forced his way through the opened gate to get to the city. Well, he did recover right away, but…”
I felt my head spin at his words.
“…What?”
“It must be the ability of an artifact imbued with forbidden ancient magic. It’s likely that his lifespan or soul was used as a cost to restore his physical form. Naturally, he had to pay a significant price and endure great pain, yet he showed no sign of it as he rushed to save people. That’s what a real hero should be, someone willing to sacrifice for others. I also felt that I still have a long way to go.”
“…I see.”
…Cancel that thought I just had about ‘Yoon Si-woo doesn’t understand people’s feelings!’
That guy Yoon Si-woo really pushed himself to that extent just to save me?!
You idiot! Care for your own life a little more!
…
How could I think such thoughts without knowing anything? I felt a wave of guilt wash over me.
How on earth am I going to repay this debt later…?
I thought about it to the point that it gave me a headache, but no good ideas came to mind.
Maybe I should just give him a wish or something.
As I was thinking that, I heard a surprised voice from nearby.
“Ah! Ms. Scarlet, are you hurt?! Are you okay? You’re fine, right?”
“Ah, Jessie…? I’m fine.”
“Hiiing, I’m so glad…”
As Jessie quickly ran up to my side, grabbing my hand and tearfully expressing her relief.
I responded to her and turned to look at her.
Seeing her appearance, I couldn’t help but catch my breath.
White and red.
The bandages stained with blood wrapped around her body like decorations.
“…Jessie, why are you like this…?”
“Oh, this? Hehe, I got a little hurt while fighting.”
Jessie smiled awkwardly and replied that way, but contrary to her words, it looked quite serious.
There were bandages wrapped around her forehead and vital organs.
If her wounds were any deeper or her luck had been worse, it wouldn’t have been unusual for her to sustain a permanent disability or be at risk of her life.
“…You should have been more careful while fighting. It wouldn’t have been strange if something went wrong.”
When I scolded her, Jessie chuckled awkwardly, just like before.
“…Hehe, that’s true. But…”
And trailing off, Jessie said with a bright smile.
“I couldn’t help it.”
I had nothing to say after seeing that smile.
“How could I just stand by?”
I thought Jessie had been getting better lately.
While receiving various counseling from Ms. Eve, she hadn’t shown the same harrowed look or sleeplessness as before.
But seeing the madness hidden behind her smile and the sheer sadness that shined through, I realized.
She had merely been holding everything in until now.
“Not only because of my brother, but to try and take away my precious family, friends, and others. With the witch and demonic beasts right before my eyes, how could I possibly stop?”
Jessie was small in stature but had a heart wider and kinder than anyone else’s.
She could empathize with others’ pain and mourn with them.
That’s why the scars from that day must have left a deep mark on her.
The day many people lost their dear ones, the day she lost her precious brother.
Too overwhelming to bear, too unforgettable to ever be forgotten.
“Others said to stop it, that I was hurt and should rest, but I just couldn’t. So I kept fighting without a break. Hehe, and ended up getting hurt a lot.”
To the point where she could feel no pain, until her body was in that much pain.
It was so sad and heart-wrenching that I tightened my grip on Jessie’s hand.
At least let her know that even now, she has friends who can mourn and feel pain alongside her.
An awkward silence followed for a moment, and soon Dwight, looking at Jessie with pity, murmured.
“…Still, it’s a good thing you got out before getting hurt more seriously. If you had fought longer, it could’ve been disastrous.”
Jessie responded as if she didn’t understand what he meant.
“Huh? What do you mean? Of course, I backed off because it was all over, right?”
“All over, you say?”
“Oh, it seems the news hasn’t reached here. Ah! Look over there! It seems there’s a broadcast coming on!”
Jessie pointed at the large TV hung on the hospital ward wall.
I noticed that the people who had been murmuring around suddenly had their mouths shut and were fixated on the TV.
Struggling to lift my head, I looked at the screen.
It seemed like a rough video, likely shot by someone running away.
In a moment where it seemed like demonic beasts would swoop down from the sky at any moment.
Light illuminated.
After the light faded, the screen froze.
The image now showed a sky where the demonic beasts had been wiped away along with the light.
A small but clear voice echoed from beyond the screen.
“Rest assured. The evil witch that invaded the city has fallen to my hands.”
For a brief moment, silence fell, and someone murmured.
…It’s the Hero.
Was that the voice of the man capturing the video beyond the screen?
Or was it the voice of one of the people watching it?
Regardless, the emotions carried by that voice slowly spread among the people.
In that moment, Jessie murmured.
“…Yoon Si-woo defeated the witch. He’s my, everyone’s hero. Yoon Si-woo.”
As she said that, Jessie’s eyes, reflecting the boy on the screen, showed no sadness as before.
The same went for everyone lying in the hospital ward.
The grief and sorrow that had been like a shadow faded away in the bright light.
Only I remained, gazing at the scene with regret.
The fact that you have to bear a heavier burden than before.
So, I closed my eyes and fervently prayed.
May you bear that weight.
And if you chose that path,
Then shine more brilliantly than anyone else, blinding those who gaze upon you.
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