Episode 259 Blessing (2)
The day before discharge.
For security reasons, I opened up the hospital room that was off-limits to anyone except relatives(?). Only the people I gave permission to enter.
It was a simple reason. It was too much trouble to just stare out the window alone.
When a couple of leaves started to fall in early winter, I felt like I had become the protagonist of a tragic story.
What should I say, I feel like I should close my eyes when that last leaf falls.
Anyway, my body was almost completely healed by now. So I didn’t have to worry too much about security or crime prevention.
Who would invade my hospital room unless their liver was as big as a watermelon?
I plan to give a generous amount of Daiso sashimi to any intruder who comes to visit me in the hospital.
Anyway.
So the quiet hospital room suddenly became noisy because a thousand class kids rushed in.
Weapon and Chloe visited the hospital rooms in pairs, with Rachel and Horntail taking the afternoon shift.
“Yaaaaaaah-! Good job, Cheonma!”
To be honest, I felt a little regretful about the weapon. The guy was talking like a pharmacist unpacking his bundle, and for a moment, my mind and eardrums were dizzy.
“…Thank you for your hard work.”
Chloe was relatively quiet. She was sniffling in the corner, sighing in relief.
Weapon reported news about me nonstop, showing fan sites and portals.
I was lazy and didn’t check, so I just listened to the radio.
“Geumma, your fan site membership has already surpassed 200 million! Just this alone gives you more influence than the heads of state, more than ten of them. Also, look at this article. ‘From Cheongeom to Cheonma. The number of believers who worship him continues to grow.’ There’s even a religion that worships you.”
How did the religion get its name Cheonmasingyo (Heavenly Demon Religion)… … .
In this world where demons exist in abundance, it was an extremely dangerous and strange group name.
If it were Earth, it would be the perfect religion to be beaten up. It’s fortunate that this world completely guarantees religious freedom.
There is no other pseudo-science like this one.
Hero worship.
Weapon said this phenomenon is neither that common nor that rare.
That’s understandable, since it’s a world where God has been destroyed, so not everyone has a deep faith.
Among religions, the largest one is the group called the Foreign Church, which has strong esoteric tendencies and is said to be extremely reluctant to be exposed.
By the way, the person here is performing the duties of a (violated) saint.
‘Looking at it this way, it doesn’t seem to be a very trustworthy religion there either.’
In religion, images are important, regardless of whether the law is right or wrong.
Like this.
My trust in Yusein as a saint is greatly diminished, but what about the religion that upholds me as its leader?
I sigh.
‘But if the school’s knights alone can subdue S-class demons.’
The status of the foreign religion was not entirely bad. It is not a positive view that they obtained the magic stone for free.
That’s such a petty mindset. Even though I’m a K-gamer.
“… … .”
Anyway, that’s it.
We leave behind Weapon and Chloe, who were having a great chat.
In the afternoon, Rachel and Horntail came to congratulate me on my discharge with a small gift (a Korean beef set).
‘It’s an unexpected combination.’
Although I didn’t show it, I was a little surprised by their visit. It was because they seemed to be on very good terms.
From what I’ve heard, it seems like Rachel has been helping Horntail adjust to the academy a lot while I was away.
Of course, Rachel has no idea that Horntail is a dragon.
A smile naturally appeared on my lips.
On the one hand, I was curious.
How did the two develop a friendship that transcended their species? It takes a long time for even humans to form a bond.
“Grass is the measure of muscle growth! The basis of the body is meat!”
Horntail raised his arm.
“The human body is sufficient with only water and protein! Rather than eat vegetables, I would rather starve! The heart of a beast is from meat!”
Next to me, Rachel nodded proudly, crossing her arms.
“Right!”
Now that I think about it, I’m not really curious.
‘…soul.’
I looked at Hontail with compassionate eyes.
How did the kid who would smile bashfully even if you gave him bread at first glance become so corrupt? But it’s also ambiguous to use the word corrupt to describe Mine.
‘Choi Seol-ah will take care of educating them.’
Otherwise, my wallet would be empty. Education seemed urgent, if only to plug the hole in my bank account.
‘Okay, still.’
Hospitals are not good facilities for me. I think of them as gates where the living and the dead come and go.
The hospital was bustling. The smell of death had faded and it was full of life. It was a VIP ward, so there was no need to cause trouble.
After the morning and afternoon shifts had swept through the ward, night came.
I made up my bedding the next morning before I was discharged. I opened the window to ventilate the room and let in plenty of moonlight.
Knock knock.
The hospital room door opened. Abel and Ryozo from the evening class came in.
“Are you here?”
After the morning and afternoon classes, the evening class. I greeted them as if I was used to them.
When I greeted them, Abel and Ryozo nodded timidly in greeting. The atmosphere was strange. It wasn’t that they were uncomfortable with me, but rather that the two of them were very awkward with each other.
“How are you feeling? Are you okay?”
Ryozo, who came in first, asked. Abel carefully closed the door and followed behind.
“I heard from my grandfather. He said that you fainted right after the Permish subjugation. Were you badly injured or something?”
“This happens to me all the time.”
I answered, stacking my pillows on top of the blanket.
“It’s the same during the class placement test, midterm exam, and final exam. My protection manifests and if a certain amount of time passes, it causes the holder to faint.”
Abel and Ryozo, who heard what I said, became dumbfounded for a moment.
In this world, it is implicitly said that one does not tell others about one’s protection.
Why would you do something so stupid as reveal your weakness with your own mouth?
Even though the main enemy is the Demon Tribe, there are enemies within.
There are people out there who carry a knife in their stomach and are ready to take it out at any time.
In an aristocratic society, it is not uncommon for yesterday’s acquaintances to turn into tomorrow’s enemies and reveal their true colors.
Therefore, they do not ask each other about the abilities or limitations of the guardians.
The only people I confide in are very close people – my family, my spouse or my fiancé.
A friend who has shared life and death with you through many concessions. That is the Maginot Line.
But since I carelessly let go of the restrictions of protection, those reactions are not ordinary.
But I was a gamer of ‘Miracle of Protection M’.
Abel von Nibelung, Saki Ryojo.
There are probably few people who know the details of their personalities.
‘Even if there is one, it is only to the extent of Yoo Se-in who revealed himself as a ‘reincarnation’.’
As of now, I don’t know how Yu Se-in came to this world, so I think it’s safe to say that there is no one else but me.
Not only Ryojo and Abel, but all the children who came to visit me today have noble personalities.
The spirit of sacrifice that is willing to sacrifice one’s body for humanity would be impossible without it.
So I told you.
“If you are that surprised, everyone who said it will feel embarrassed.”
I wanted to tell them a little about myself so they would trust me.
You should bury the fact that I am a ‘possessed person’ deep in your heart, but please trust me as I will reveal my weaknesses.
That was the feeling.
But here’s where the problem arises.
““… … .””
Ryojo and Abel looked at each other in silence.
And then he suddenly turned his head towards me.
Their eyes, each filled with the sky and the moon, shone coldly.
“Hey… listen.”
Sweat pours down my forehead like rain.
Surely, two people would take those words differently… … .
Really, really, I had no idea.
I can only blame it on my own complacency, not being born here.
* * *
“Poohahahahaha!”
When Joaquin Academy’s head coach Buland heard my story, he held his stomach and fainted.
Something was so happy that tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
I watched that kind of bullying with indifferent eyes.
Bülant asked, wiping his eyes with his thumb. A smile still lingered on his lips.
“So, after telling those two women that, you couldn’t answer them. Did you run away here, Mr. Cheongeom?”
“Is it something to laugh about when people are in trouble? I really knew what was going to happen earlier. Their eyes are just like that.”
Bulandt instead scolded me in a playful voice.
“Hey, Yonsuk! Do you know what you said to them?!”
“What did I do? I just told you a little bit about why I was admitted.”
“Oh, you naive guy.”
Bwullant drank the makgeolli he had poured in a glassful of gulps, swirling it around. Phew- He blew out his breath that smelled of alcohol and continued speaking.
“Cheongeom Nari, what you said to the Genies was basically a marriage proposal. The most mild interpretation would be that it was a love affair.”
“Is that what I said?”
Bülant banged his glass against the corner of the chair and shook it.
“Both girls are of noble birth?”
I nodded.
“Yes. Nibelung and Saki, like this.”
“If it’s Nibelung, then it’s the descendant of the swordsman Aaron Nibelung. If it’s Saki, then it’s the descendant of the famous archer Saki Yoichi. They’re the daughters of super-big-name families among the big-name families.”
Buland sighed. He straightened his posture and raised his index finger for emphasis.
“Listen carefully. You may not know this because you were a commoner until recently, but there are certain etiquettes in aristocratic society. Even common phrases like ‘let’s have a meal’ are interpreted differently by nobles. Do you understand up to this point?”
“yes.”
“Among them, nobles are the most cautious when talking about their protection. It is the root and foundation of the family. That is why they are sure to receive proper etiquette and education related to protection.”
“…okay.”
I was in no position to talk about education to my son. My nose was three feet long.
“Now, here. Let’s say I told those noble daughters, ‘My protection is like this and like this,’ isn’t it obvious how they’ll interpret it?”
“I understand up to that point.”
Still, I stood up to argue.
“But these guys aren’t the type of people who are steeped in aristocratic society. On the contrary, they’re more like the opposite. That’s why I’m even more flustered. The guys who normally don’t act like that suddenly change their expressions and ask me questions. What did they say…? They said to choose a partner for the upcoming ball. This is also too unfamiliar. There must be something going on.”
“Heavenly Sword, no, Strong Sword Horse.”
Bulandt put down his goblet on the table.
“Don’t try to analyze people’s emotions with logic.”
He said with a stern face, his smile gone.
“They’re not saying that to you because they don’t know. They probably know everything and have put aside their pride to say it. They just held back and said it because you always act ambiguous.”
“… … .”
“The words you say, ‘There must be something in that heart.’ They are just tampering with Gene’s sincerity. When the other person puts aside their pride and comes with sincerity, it is human nature to respond with sincerity.”
While he was talking like that, Bwland shook his head gently. He pushed the cup away and ran his hand through his hair.
“Are you drunk? I spoke to the girl in a serious tone. Anyway, what I mean is this. Don’t act rudely toward the ladies. I know you’re blind to women, but I’m asking you to at least show some basic courtesy.”
I stared blankly at Buland.
“mister.”
“What the hell.”
“Why are you single?”
A cross-shaped vein bulged on his cinnamon-colored temples. Bwullant’s hand reached for the hammer, then quickly moved to the makgeolli glass.
“Okay, okay. I’ve strengthened the weapons you left behind, so take them and go. I feel like my emotions are drying up because I’m with you.”
“ah.”
My lips formed a soft curve. At this, Bulandt squirmed with a displeased expression.
“What good is being strong? You’re less human.”
The blacksmith frowned excessively like a seagull today, perhaps because he was feeling bitter from the alcohol.
