Episode 66: Siegfried the Inquisitor (1)
My eyes opened loosely. Through the thin gaps in the snow, I saw a familiar white ceiling.
A hospital room at Joaquin Academy. The chemical smell lingering in my nostrils is still something I can’t get used to.
The artificial aftertaste made me come to my senses. It didn’t take long for the realism to seep into my skin. After all, this was the third time.
As I moved my body slightly, I heard a thud, a sound of bones snapping back into place.
I don’t know for sure, but I must have been lying down for a while. I tried to force my eyelids open again. They were so heavy that I had to tighten my eye muscles for a long time before I could open my eyes.
“Ugh… … .”
A faint groan escaped between my teeth. It felt like my bones and muscles were being torn apart and then reassembled. My body convulsed in excruciating pain.
If I had been stabbed with a knife, that part would have hurt like crazy, but my whole body hurt, so there was nothing I could do.
But if you think about it differently, this pain that runs through your entire body is proof of being alive.
‘The problem is that it hurts a lot.’
I lifted my upper body by supporting myself on the bed. A handprint was imprinted on the white bedsheet.
As the tinnitus gradually subsided, I heard the sound of paper being turned and folded. I looked away, regaining my hazy focus.
“I see you’re awake.”
“…Your Majesty?”
The inspector folded the newspaper while wearing his glasses. He folded the square glasses that reached all the way down to the tip of his nose with only his left hand and placed them on top of the newspaper. It was a skillful movement, like flowing water.
Where his right arm should have been, the hem of his clothes fluttered weakly. Sensing his gaze, Geomje smiled kindly as he wrapped his missing right arm.
“You’re a rare breed of savage. You’ve been unconscious for the past week, and the first thing you do when you wake up is worry about others rather than yourself. But don’t worry. You’ve gotten pretty good at living with just one arm.”
“… Have I been lying down this whole week?”
“Well, to be exact, I was in the hospital room for a week. The other week was in the operating room.”
“A week in the operating room… …?”
At my very surprised reaction, the inspector shrugged his right shoulder and continued speaking.
“Mediah put the entire hospital on notice to save you. That’s why it took more than ten medical staff to operate on you. It was a sight I’ve never seen before. Thanks to you, I think I’ve seen many new things at the age of seventy, haha.”
The swordsman laughs softly.
His previously stern appearance was nowhere to be found; he looked like a familiar old man who could be found anywhere.
He laughed for a while, then picked up the newspaper and glasses he had folded on the table and sat down.
“Anyway, since you’ve regained consciousness, Ganggeomma, I’ll be leaving now. Oh, and once your bones have healed, come to the principal’s office. I’ll usually be there.”
As he said that, the inspector turned his body in a measured manner. His right sleeve fluttered and shook. The tip of his nose stung at that scene.
“Your Majesty.”
The voice calling out reached the inspector’s back. He answered with only half of his upper body bent back.
“Um, something.”
“Did your Majesty continue to take care of me while I was sick?”
A subtle expression lingered on the swordsman’s face, and he turned his head toward the door. His grayish hair swayed like silver thread.
“How could that be? I came to see you today while I was at the hospital, and luckily you opened your eyes.”
The inspector waved his empty right arm once and pushed the door open.
He opened the door to the hospital room halfway and said something as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, by the way, you don’t have to worry about hospital bills anymore. This hospital room will be yours for the rest of your life. Chew your meat thoroughly and get plenty of rest. Okay, I’ll be going now.”
The inspector knocked on the white wall with his left hand and then closed the door without looking back and left.
“what?”
I tilted my head for a moment and then buried my back in the blanket. My cool liver and gallbladder cleared, and exhaustion washed over me, and I fell into a deep sleep.
At that time, I didn’t understand what the inspector said.
After staying there for three more days and being discharged, I was finally able to hear the inside story from the nurse.
The fact that the inspector had used his own money to rent out the entire VIP ward, and that he had stayed by my side the entire time I was hospitalized.
* * *
Inside the Wolf Class. It was the morning of the second day since Kang Geum-ma was hospitalized.
At the third end, Ryozo Saki rested his chin deeply on his hand and looked out the window. His long eyelashes were loosely covering his eyes.
His face was expressionless, but his pupils were filled with various emotions that flashed and disappeared repeatedly.
When Kang Geum-ma was hospitalized, male cadets from all classes came to talk to Saki Ryozo.
Every time, she would shoot a cold gaze between their eyebrows. The male cadets would smile awkwardly and back away.
“…under.”
Saki let out a long, drawn-out sigh. It was a continuation of the unstimulating days.
Even though I slept all day, I still felt groggy, and the rice cake wasn’t as sweet as it used to be.
“I wonder if he’s awake by now.”
Saki muttered softly with a blank look. After the uninhabited island survival training, she heard that Ganggeomma was in critical condition.
More than ten medical staff members performed the major surgery over the course of a week.
And although Kang Geum-ma barely regained his breath, ominous rumors about his life and death still circulated among the cadets.
Every time, Saki felt the urge to shoot an arrow between their eyebrows.
‘Kang Geum-ma, he will never die.’
Saki declared in her heart. However, she also did not know the situation of Ganggeomma.
The Academy strictly prohibited any approach to Kang Geum-ma. Bodyguards took turns guarding the ward where Kang Geum-ma was hospitalized, day and night.
Even when Speed Weapon and Chloe stopped by to visit, they didn’t let them through. They just kept repeating that it was a special order from the principal and prevented outsiders from entering.
“… Is this something related to the inspector?”
In fact, the world’s attention these days is on Geomje, not Ganggeomma. Geomje, who accompanied the cadets to protect them, lost an arm on Avalon Island.
Sakido was also present on Avalon Island, so she sensed the change. Although it was from a distance, she felt the magical resonance that made her whole body spin.
In fact, the map of Avalon Island has changed a lot since that day.
Lava that was not there before began to boil, and artificial ridges were created on the mountainside.
Although the facts are unknown, it is likely that the demons or the demons invaded and the swordsman stopped them. However, there was no information as to who the enemy was.
Media outlets around the world have made numerous requests for interviews with the prosecutor, but he has remained silent.
The head of the academy, Media, took it upon himself to act as his spokesperson and simply said that he would closely examine the situation and make an announcement.
“Ha, this is frustrating.”
Saki muttered and threw her head back, her light blue hair spreading out and gathering like a fan.
There have been many hypotheses floating around, but her insight is not to dismiss hypotheses without evidence.
“… When are you coming, I’m worried.”
Saki muttered. Her chest felt stuffy as if acrid smoke had risen. Even her excellent insight could not grasp the tone of this emotion.
However, right now, it seemed like I could greet Kang Geum-ma’s expressionless gaze as if we were meeting for the first time in decades.
As I saw the face of Kang Geum-ma, who was on the verge of death, the area around his eyes turned red and felt cold.
Saki wrinkled her nose for no reason.
She shook her head to shake off her thoughts. Her sky-blue hair spread out and gathered like a fan. Then, she felt a presence.
“Sniff, sniff. Sword Demon… … .”
Chloe, sitting two seats away, is wiping away tears with her sleeve.
Since Kang Geum-ma was admitted to the hospital, tears never dried from her eyes. Her swollen eyes were bloodshot and red like a rabbit’s eyes.
Saki felt a faint chill at the sight, though it was sad.
At first glance, she seems like a cute girl, but her actions while Kang Geum-ma was hospitalized were beyond common sense.
‘No matter what, it’s not normal to break into the ward in the middle of the night to see Kanggeomma… … .’
As a result of that incident, Chloe was arrested by security guards and had to be placed on probation for a week. She finally returned to school today. Later, it was said that her resistance was very strong.
Chloe, who would scream with empty eyes, was called ‘Red Ghost’ among the ward staff and was talked about like a ghost story.
‘… … .’
As I was about to turn my head after looking at Chloe’s profile for a moment, a not-so-welcome face appeared in Lang Class.
“Weapon, why do you always come here and annoy me?”
“Tsk, I came here because I wanted to see your face too, right?”
Weapon glanced at the sobbing Chloe and then turned his gaze to Saki. He was carrying a large rolled-up piece of paper at his side.
“What is that?”
Saki nodded, resting her cheek on her clenched hand.
“Ah, this is our club poster. I came here for this. As soon as the club president is discharged, we’ll start the club creation process, but we’re still short on one member. Come to think of it, I’ve always just relied on that guy, and I’ve never done anything proactive.”
Weapon said, rubbing his nose in embarrassment. His tone was filled with the confidence that Ganggeomma would return safely.
At those words, Saki’s pupils, which had been indifferent, dilated. Chloe also stopped crying.
“… Weapon, you.”
“What, what. I know what I’m saying is cringey!”
Weapon, whose cheeks were flushed, grumbled loudly. Saki raised the corners of her lips and added.
“It’s because he’s tall, because he’s tall.”
“Hmph, that’s right. Mr. Geumma will definitely be discharged from the hospital in good health, so we have to do what we can until then.”
Chloe nodded vigorously in agreement.
“This is the first time I’ve been surprised by you, Weapon.”
“Uh, uh? Hmm, is that a compliment? Anyway.”
At the unexpected response, Weapon scratched his cheek and smiled awkwardly.
“Well, first, show me the poster you made. I can review it and see if there’s anything that needs to be fixed.”
“Ahem, there probably isn’t anything that needs to be fixed. After all, this Speed Weapon was up all night last night and made into a wall.”
As Speed Weapon spoke curiously, Saki’s eyebrows arched. Chloe’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
She tried to control her expression and gestured for him to unfold it. Weapon gave a short cough and unfolded the rolled-up paper.
Chorrrrrr⎯
== ==
☆★We are recruiting members to join our travel club.♥♡
♣We are recruiting people like this~!
– Someone who wants to share the hot friendship and romance of youth while conquering dungeons^^
– Anyone who wants to enjoy camping and traveling freely throughout the eight provinces of Korea!!^^
-If you feel that the academy life is boring, come and gather! <(_ _)>
♦Support Conditions and Support Methods
-Eligibility requirements: Anyone who is a cadet at Joaquin Academy!
… … … …
… … …
… …
…
== ==
“… … ,”
Saki stared blankly at the poster. A combination of jagged emoticons and letters.
Above all, the background painted in bright fluorescent colors and the sky blue sea otter character with a hazy expression were the best.
I was so dumbfounded that I muttered out loud what I had been thinking.
“… Wow, even if you tell me to make it like this, I can’t make it.”
“Haha. What do you think? Are you a little surprised?”
Saki nodded sheepishly at Weapon’s question.
“Oh, in many ways.”
“You punk, as expected from a top student, you understand my aesthetic sense.”
He hits his own chest with the confident fist of his speed weapon.
Saki had a lot to say, but for now she didn’t say anything.
She looked back and forth between the poster and the weapon’s face.
‘Is this kid out of his mind?’
My heart was virtual. However, I couldn’t bring myself to praise the poor quality of the poster. I just drooled and the corners of my lips twitched.
Just then, when the weapons were about to start lining up to present their own aesthetics.
Boo⎯uk.
The paper was smoothly cut left and right by the pink cutter knife. For a moment, there was the face of Speed Weapon in shock through the gap.
“Chloe, Chloe. What’s going on all of a sudden?!”
A weapon that points at Chloe.
Knock knock.
She put the sharp cutter knife back in and spoke vaguely.
“…I can’t show this kind of trash to the Sword Demon Army.”
“What if you just tear up everything I worked so hard to make all night long?”
Chloe tilted her head back silently.
Knock knock.
The sound of metal catching plastic was terrifying. Weapon’s pupils shook violently. He motioned to Saki, who was silently observing, for help.
Saki stroked Chloe with a bright smile.
