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“Hey, Regressor, weren’t you supposed to be fully prepared to treat me?”

“I was.”

“But how does it make sense that there isn’t a single ward available?”

“I’ll keep it in mind for the next round.”

Due to the always overcrowded Rehabilitation Center in the kingdom, we had no choice but to bring Zion to our house.

While I tidied up a suitable room at home and unpacked, Zion, who could hardly move, expressed some dissatisfaction about the situation but quickly fell silent as if resigned to it.

“I’m going to be fine in the next round.”

“Sounds good, right?”

“Not really…”

It didn’t take long to unpack a bag the size of a large backpack.

In fact, it took longer to clean the room that we hadn’t used to accommodate Zion.

“That attendant… what was her name again?”

“Serin.”

“When is Serin supposed to arrive?”

“It will take about three weeks. She has a lot of luggage and a long distance to travel.”

The attendant assigned to take care of Zion, Serin, would continue to care for him in the kingdom, but since only Zion and I had permission to use the Magic Tower, Serin was transporting the things Zion needed by land.

Three weeks… When Serin arrives at the kingdom, she would start working where Zion is, but it would be troublesome if that place is our house.

“Let’s somehow find a way to prepare a ward within three weeks. We should also find a separate place for Serin to stay.”

“Somehow? From what I heard, there are thousands of reservations for people hoping to be admitted…”

“I’m the Director of the Center, so I can put in one patient immediately.”

“That’s not okay! No abuse of power!”

“And that answer you just gave is the reason Zion won’t be admitted right away.”

I wasn’t sure if it was really abuse of power…

Since she was a righteous Hero, I thought she wouldn’t want to take a spot from other patients.

“But I will get Zion admitted before Serin arrives. It’s necessary for effective treatment.”

“Ugh…”

Zion’s treatment as a Hero is something that affects the fate of the world. If I put it like that, she’d probably accept it without question.

Although she still had a displeased expression, she seemed to be deep in thought, as if she was trying to convince herself.

“Mr. Hop.”

She gazed quietly at me.

“Yes.”

And in that instant, when our eyes met, I quickly sensed that she had not easily accepted it.

I could feel a certain determination in her gaze.

“Could you please arrange my admission after the other patients as it was originally?”

“Why?”

“Because that’s how it should be.”

It should be common sense. Hearing a line like that from Zion, which was akin to her identity in the novel, was shocking.

It’s natural for people to do good. It’s natural for people to save others. Keeping promises, following procedures, and standing for righteousness is also natural.

Without needing any reason, we do it because it’s simply how it is.

Believing in and acting upon the high values that humanity seeks, without doubt, is who Hero Zion is.

“Rehabilitation is primarily psychological, right? If I get admitted before the scheduled patients, wouldn’t that make my heart uneasy? Surely, adhering to the order would be the more efficient way to treat me.”

While it was a very ‘Zion’ thing to say, it still…

“Zion. I, as a specialist, know better about treatment efficiency. You’ll be admitted when the time is right.”

“Is treatment efficiency really the issue?”

“Of course. If you’re not better in two years…”

“Then it wouldn’t be a problem.”

In the now freshly cleaned room, Zion, basking in the sunlight and breeze coming from the open window, had her crimson eyes shining like the sun.

Though her body was broken and raising her arm while seated in a wheelchair was difficult, she was still a Hero. With her determination, she retained the grandeur and splendor appropriate for one.

“I will definitely get better in two years. And this time, I will annihilate the Demon King. Then it won’t be a problem, right?”

I see, so this is how Zion’s companions must have felt.

During her prime, Zion always led the charge, swiftly slicing through monsters while shining with strength and will, so everyone believed and followed her.

“Zion…”

But just because I feel this way doesn’t mean I can easily fall for such nonsense.

“Nonetheless, I’ll have you admitted in three weeks.”

“Really?! After everything, you say that?”

“I’m saying it’s uncomfortable for me. You being in our house.”

“When Serin arrives, I can just stay there! I used to live with Serin!”

“Then the accommodation costs will double… No, even though the operating funds for the Center are overflowing…”

“Ah! Embezzlement is forbidden!! I can cover accommodation costs on my own, so it’ll be fine, right?”

“Ha… Zion.”

In truth, keeping Zion at our house and watching her fractured daily life is something I want and hope to do.

Deciding not to admit her immediately and allowing her to stay at home is also my way of wanting to see her up close.

But no matter how stimulating and delightful it is, seeing the same thing repeatedly will become tiring eventually.

So my plan was to change her environment at the appropriate time to see a new side of Zion, but I never thought it would be rejected like this.

How on earth can I persuade this unwavering bastion of absolute justice…

“Zion. Um…”

What I feel now is frustration.

It’s also frustrating that things are not going according to my plan, but this person, Zion… Why react this strongly just to an early admission?

Having probably always been at a disadvantage, this must be why she ended up as a broken shell after saving the world.

Honestly, she’s a frustrating person.

“Is getting admitted just a bit earlier such an incredible privilege? It’s not just for Zion, you know? It’s to get better quickly and save everyone.”

“Still…”

“And even if it is a privilege, so what? Zion. Don’t you think you deserve that much?”

“Huh?”

Now I don’t even care about persuading her. I just need to say what I need to say because I’m so frustrated.

“Zion saved the world. Everything in this world exists because of you. This kingdom, the Center, and the lives of patients are all thanks to you. If you hadn’t driven away the Demon King and closed the Gate, wouldn’t these things not even exist?”

“……”

“So what’s wrong with enjoying a little bit of that? You have the right to demand anything from the world. The right to receive the rightful reward from those whose lives you saved. Can the patients really not give up just an admission slot to you?”

I spoke firmly, almost like I was cornering her, but I don’t think I was wrong in how I expressed myself.

She should be at least capable of understanding this much.

If she stubbornly holds her ground even after everything I’ve said, then I’ll have no choice but to force her admission.

“Mr. Hop.”

“Yes?”

“While I appreciate what you said, I still can’t do that.”

“Zion!”

Are you seriously saying this?!

“I…”

Just moments ago, Zion, who was shining in the light and wind, had suddenly bowed her head, hands clasped tightly on her knees, trembling.

“Zion?”

“I… mustn’t do that. I…”

“?”

What is she doing? How is she responding like that from this conversation?

Is the wind too cold or something?

It seems the ventilation is done, so I decided to close the window and then move closer to sit down, matching her gaze.

“Zion. Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m okay. But please stop it. I’ll definitely get better. I can do it. I swear it in the name of a Hero. So, please…”

Thanks to closing the window, her trembling seemed to stop, but she was still speaking in a shaky voice.

Seeing her plead like this makes me feel something close to giving in, but still…

“Then let’s do this. I won’t use my authority to admit you.”

“Really?”

As soon as I said I wouldn’t, her voice quickly lost its tremor, and a smile blossomed on her face.

“Thank you, Mr. Hop!”

But Zion’s admission and treatment must proceed properly. It’s for her sake as well as mine.

If she despises taking spots from other patients so much, then the only option left is…

“Instead, I’ll contact the scheduled patients and ask them to relinquish their spots for Zion.”

“Huh?”

“Zion, as I said earlier, if I ask them directly while saying it’s a necessary thing for you, no one will refuse. If you obtain the slot directly from the patients, that should be acceptable, right?”

“……”

Zion momentarily dropped her smile, lowered her head slightly, and seemed deep in thought.

Before long, she nodded as if she understood and met my gaze again.

“Then I have a condition too.”

“What else is there?”

“You need to let me ask them directly.”

She wants to ask them herself? Could it be…

“Are you doubting me? Think I’d try to get permission without doing anything?”

“That’s not it! How could I think that! It’s just that it’s something I need to do… that’s really all.”

Since it’s Zion saying it, it shouldn’t be a lie.

I thought I knew her well enough to understand her character, but it seems I was mistaken.

I never expected Zion to be this frustrating.

Then again, if I think about it, every member of Zion’s party – Naomi, Iris, and Hanamana – was akin to absolute good.

Perhaps it was because I only interacted with like-minded companions that her more troublesome traits didn’t stand out to me…

Or maybe the settings of the novel I’m not aware of are being applied to this world.

After all, I never expected Zion to be like this after the conclusion.

“Then I will do that, so let’s talk when the admission date is decided.”

“Thank you so much…”

Now that the room is tidy, this place is both my home and Zion’s room.

Until I can admit Zion and before Serin, her attendant, arrives, I will be helping the non-functional Zion and hoping to see all sorts of things from her.

“Heh heh heh… My heart is already racing. I feel like I might go crazy just with anticipation.”

I am a rehabilitation specialist. I’m the one who will return Zion to her daily life.

So until then, she may not realize it, but I sincerely hope to receive her due reward.

 

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