Chapter :8 Nursing Care (1)

It was an unfamiliar ceiling.

Surely the place he was in was the forest.

What met his eyes was an open window letting in warm sunlight and a wooden room.

He looked down at the unfamiliar sensation covering his body and saw that he was dressed in a thin long-sleeved shirt and comfortable pants.

What could have happened while he was asleep?

But with the surging hunger, the thoughts that had filled his mind soon faded away.

…An irresistibly delicious scent numbed his nose.

In front of the door, freshly baked bread and meat soup were placed.

He slowly picked them up and placed them on the desk in the room.

…It was truly delicious.

Tomato soup with plenty of sliced meat.

And this soft, melting bread was truly satisfying his hunger.

Suddenly, he couldn’t help but shed tears at the meager meals he had eaten until now.

During the time he was despised by them and persecuted in the village, he had only dreamed of such meals.

Yes… the times he happily cooked by Erika’s side.

He missed it so much.

“When did we… become so broken?”

Whispering lowly, tears flowed down his cheeks.

And then he powerlessly dropped the bread.

…Squeak,

The door opened.

She carefully wiped his tears and gently hugged him.

A nostalgic scent mingled with her breath.

His unique body odor, it made her brain throb.

But the sensation she felt strongly told her that he had changed.

He was clearly the one who had gained a strong body like a knight through the journey.

But now, looking at him so emaciated that she could easily lift him, her eyes reddened.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”

She carefully laid him down and covered him with a blanket.

She hoped that his wounds would heal, if only a little.

“But I have to get better now. I’m sorry. The sleeping pills, everything.”

Soon, she carefully picked up the bread that had fallen to the floor.

The almost empty soup bowl was visible.

At that, she felt the tears she had barely swallowed rise again.

That terrible soup that had once knocked her out.

How much had she practiced because she was so frustrated and ashamed of it?

Only now,

Only after all of this had come to ruin,

The fact that she could finally show the fruits of her efforts – she could do nothing but shed endless tears.

Clink, clink.

The bowls were stacked in her hands.

“…Good night, Woojin.”

Whispering that, the platinum-haired woman left the room.

And another young woman entered the room.

A reverent nun’s habit that enveloped her body.

It was quite different from the combat attire that had been layered with plate armor at his suggestion.

A black dress that she wore after a long time.

She carefully knelt down and gathered power in her hands.

“…Oh, Mother of all creation in heaven, and benevolent Goddess…”

White energy slowly began to swirl around her hands.

Soon, she clasped her hands together and began to pray reverently.

White light swirled in the air and enveloped his body.

Healing energy began to cleanse his body and mind.

It expelled the turbid and dark, gloomy energies, and filled their place with light.

His sunken face and emaciated arms and body were very faintly, slowly swelling.

From her lips, words blessing the one lying before her followed one after another, filling the silent room.

“Therefore – I earnestly pray that you grant this pitiful one the strength to rise once more…”

After finishing her prayer, she was breathing heavily.

Stumbling, stumbling, she barely managed to stand up, supporting herself on the floor.

She left a deep kiss on his forehead.

A kiss that leaves a blessing is originally light, only a gesture without directly touching the lips.

However, she poured her sincerity into this fallen man, conveying her heart.

“…I love you, and I’m sorry.”

His emaciated face still hasn’t fully adapted.

But someday, those wounds will heal.

Someday, this prayer will reach him.

And someday…

Quietly, she barely stopped her outstretched hand…

“May you have a peaceful night…”

She whispered a low greeting and left the room.

And the last visitor entered the room.

Only by his side did she take off the imposing helmet

And began to untie the cloth covering her face.

Rustle, rustle, her black hair fell down.

Unbeknownst to him, her hair had grown long.

Her appearance had become even more beautiful.

…And deep darkness resided in her eyes.

“…Hello. Woojin.”

She took off the gauntlets that covered her hands and neatly placed them on the small table beside her.

“Are you… okay?”

She slowly shook her head, as if saying, ‘he won’t be.’

With her hand,

Her delicate and slender fingers,

She stroked his face.

“…Isn’t it funny? I… I tried so hard…

But I don’t get any calluses like medals given to others… or scars?

Even if I swing my sword until my hands are raw…

Even if I fight a bloody battle with death knights…

…And even if they whip me relentlessly like those two,

Even if I carve your name into my arm…

Yeah, it doesn’t leave a mark…”

Her eyes were smiling.

Like an overturned boat,

As if sinking,

Like a sinking ship becoming one with the abyss,

Her eyes were like that.

The corners of her lips slowly, with a tremble…

Were forming a twisted smile.

“…Today, shall I show you? My punishment?”

She took out a sharp dagger from the drawer.

It was twilight, and outside was getting dark.

The brilliant yet faint light of the sunset illuminated the blade with a reddish glow.

As if it were her own blood, which she had repeatedly shed.

Slowly, her hand moved towards her left wrist.

Without a trace of hesitation, there was no fear in her movements.

…The number of self-inflicted wounds had now reached a point where it was difficult to count even by bending all her fingers and toes.

“Hehe, just kidding. If I show you this when you’re in pain… you’ll be disillusioned.

I… want you to smile when you look at me.

But I shouldn’t, right?

Asking you to understand someone like me, I’d be such a bad b*tch. Me.

So… sleep well. I’m sorry. For interrupting like this.

…I love you, Woojin.”

The dagger quietly rested in her embrace.

Rustle, rustle.

Her long black hair was neatly arranged once more.

Clank, clank.

Quietly, she put on the gauntlets she had taken off.

She quietly and skillfully wrapped the cloth, covered with magic spells, around her face once more.

And on top of that, the heavy helmet settled back into place.

Quietly, the figure opened the door…

Clunk, click.

And the door closed.

“How, how is he, Woojin?”

“He’s sound asleep. The sleeping pills seem to have worked well.

…And your healing abilities too.”

“Ah, that’s a relief…”

The living room was lit by a single candle.

Three women sat around a square table, contemplating their future plans.

“…What should I make for him tomorrow?”

“Make him something easy on the stomach. How about vegetable soup?”

“Then I’ll have to go to town for a bit tomorrow. I also need crops to plant in the garden…”

“Leave that to me. It would be a bit fatal if rumors spread about someone in a hood wandering around.”

“…Okay.”

“Then, tomorrow, shall I take care of him at home?”

“Yes, please do. He still seems to be in a lot of pain.”

The nun nodded and then got up to go to sleep first.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me, may I go to bed first? I need to replenish my energy for tomorrow.”

“Yes, get plenty of rest. I also… have to go grocery shopping tomorrow, so I should go to bed.”

“…Then, I’ll stay by his side tonight.”

“Alright then. Will you take care of him?”

“Leave it to me. Oh, and… Daeun?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“…For what?”

“…For allowing me to bring him here.”

The hero thumped her chest once with her fist instead of answering, then headed to her room.

“Phew…”

Quietly opening the door,

Erika tip-toed into the room.

Still, she could see Woojin, quietly breathing – breathing –

Sleeping soundly.

But his complexion, those two eyes that had been shadowed, seemed to have found a little…

Light, and she found herself smiling.

She quietly pulled out a chair and sat facing him, in a proper posture.

The night was still long.

It was a quiet night, with occasional bird calls.

She gazed at him endlessly, as he slept.

With eyes filled with affection and regret.

“…!”

When did I doze off?

This is a disaster. If he woke up and saw me—

Thump,

Her heart sank.

He was awake.

She could sense his presence without even opening her eyes.

He was clearly looking in her direction.

Occasionally, the slight rustle of the blanket told her

That he had witnessed her.

‘Will he hate me…?’

She was almost resigned, already imagining the next scenes.

Him screaming, Daeun and Sirke bursting through the door.

Him swinging furniture at her, pouring out relentless resentment.

Or, quietly moving…

Crawling out through the open window, fleeing without a backward glance.

Either way, her heart would be in tatters.

No, to be precise…

A torn piece of paper, burned to ashes, would be a more accurate description.

But the small whisper that flowed from his lips,

It was a sentence that was enough to save her, and more.

In that instant, tears threatened to overflow.

She wanted to run to him, to him,

Into his arms.

In his arms, which she imagined would be warm,

She wanted to tell him how hard she had worked,

She wanted to receive his praise.

If he would just open his eyes,

If she could just muster a little more strength,

Her imagination would become reality.

…But there would be no salvation there.

She must not provoke him.

She heard him swallow.

Perhaps he was regretting what he had said.

If so, if so…

How could she, with this trembling heart,

Seize this heaven-sent opportunity?

…Sleep-talking?

If she pretended to be, then perhaps.

And so, she quietly offered her gratitude.

“Yeah… I’m glad…”

Ah, she was able to convey it.

But then, an unbearable sadness swept over her once more.

“Ah, sniff, sniff…”

He was crying.

With that suppressed voice, he was sobbing.

She wanted to shout, I missed you too,

I wanted to see you again too, immediately.

I love you, thank you,

Above all, I’m sorry,

If she could convey all these feelings, right now,

How wonderful would that be.

How wonderful.

After a flurry of disjointed thoughts,

She finally managed to open her eyes.

Her eyes were wet.

She felt the traces of tears.

She carefully got up.

She moved cautiously, wondering if she could see his face.

Ah. Aah…

A smile played on his face.

She sank to the ground silently,

Mouth tightly covered,

Her body heaved.

A single small smile, washing away the self-loathing that even the whipping could not erase.