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“Zion. How about going for some convalescence somewhere around next week?”

Just like any other weekend, it’s time for our culinary exploration.

As I mentioned convalescence casually, Zion’s eyes widened in surprise and he looked over here.

“What? Convalescence?”

“You seem really shocked.”

“Oh, no. It’s just a bit sudden.”

Of course, it would be surprising. My last suggestion to travel felt like a dream event for him.

Hearing those words again in reality after dreaming about them must be what’s happening.

Zion appeared to be deep in thought, lowering his head, but I wonder if he’s actually feeling really happy inside?

“So… is there a specific reason we have to go for convalescence?”

Zion asked back with a blank expression.

That’s strange. Isn’t he that happy about it?

His reaction was a bit unexpected, and it made me feel flustered instead.

“I think it would be best to have a focused treatment period before the withdrawal symptoms from buff addiction get worse. We pause the rehabilitation exercises for a bit and go to a place where you can feel at ease, then focus on recovery, and come back to start rehabilitation again. What do you think?”

Even after I explained why Zion needed convalescence, he continued to look down, deep in thought.

“It’s not absolutely necessary for treatment, is it?”

“If you ask if it’s ‘mandatory,’ then no, it’s more of a suggestion.”

“Then I’ll decline. Resting in the hospital is better than going for convalescence.”

What? Is that a rejection? What was that reaction he showed last time?

Was Zion not showing an honest reaction then?

Did he mistakenly think reality was a dream, or was it actually my dream that I mistook as reality?

I never thought I would be rejected, so I felt a bit dazed, but I quickly regained my focus.

Has something changed in Zion’s mind? If so, I wish he’d be honest about it this time…

“Um… Zion. Can I ask why?”

Upon hearing my question, Zion closed his eyes and started organizing his thoughts.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, looked at me with a soft smile, and replied.

“If Mr. Hop says going for convalescence would help with treatment, then of course it would, but I feel like staying here would help me recover more.”

“Is that so? It’s true that familiar places might be more comfortable than unfamiliar ones, so you have a point.”

“No, it’s not that. There are plenty of places good for recovery in the world, but I like it here the most. Because…”

Zion hesitated for a moment before replying.

He then briefly diverted his gaze, closed his eyes, and with a determined expression, opened them back up to look directly at me.

“Because Mr. Hop is here. Going to a comfortable and nice place is good, but I feel like I wouldn’t be able to endure a place without Mr. Hop. So I won’t go for convalescence.”

“……”

He wants to stay with me, so he’s saying he won’t go? What on earth is Zion saying?

Ah, no way…

“What are you saying? Is that really what it is?”

“That… that is?! I mean, I was trying to say that I’m not going to hold back when I feel hurt and lonely anymore… I was mustering a lot of courage to say it, but how can you say it like that? Saying it like that…!”

Oh no, I said that in surprise, and he took it that way.

I keep forgetting to think before I speak.

“No, that’s not it… Of course, I’m going with you. I just forgot to tell you that.”

“…Huh?”

Zion tilted his head in a confused expression.

“We’re… going together?”

“Of course! The goal is your treatment and recovery, so how could I not be involved? It’s definitely a convalescence I’ll be accompanying you on. I thought you’d think that too, so I didn’t bring it up.”

Did he really think I was trying to send him off somewhere alone?

From Zion’s perspective, could that be how it seemed?

“How can you say you’re going to convalescence with me… What about the center? What about all the patients waiting for you…?”

“Zion, like I said before, it’s not like my absence from the center would cause a huge problem. I have a system in place that I’ve worked hard on for over three years. Of course, if I’m gone too long, that’s a bit troublesome, so the convalescence will probably be about a week. Honestly, I wish it could be longer, but it is what it is.”

Hearing that I can go too, Zion’s face slowly changed, his trembling eyes losing focus, and the corners of his mouth began to rise as if he didn’t know how to respond to his overwhelming joy.

“Going for convalescence… just the two of us…”

And Zion quickly realized his change in expression, trying to cover his mouth with both hands to hide it, but the joy spilling over from his whole body was impossible to conceal.

“How can this happen…? Did I have a prophetic dream or something? Did I receive a divine revelation?”

Now he’s burying his face in his hands with his eyes tightly shut.

He thinks heroes have prophetic dreams and call them divine revelations, huh?

But that wasn’t a dream at all.

“A prophetic dream? What did you dream about?”

I technically know what the dream was about, but I asked just to see if he would recall it.

“Uh… what was it? Um, it was…”

Zion probably won’t be able to answer. How could he say it himself?

“That’s a secret! It might be a divine revelation!!”

“Even though I’m your companion?”

“Anyway, no!!”

Zion answered without showing his face.

Even if it was a dream, there’s no way he’d admit that he clung to me, whining and nuzzling against me.

“More than that, since we’re going together, it’s fine, right? Hurry and say we’re going because I have a lot to prepare.”

“Ah! Yes! Let’s go together!”

Finally, Zion gave me the OK. I’m really relieved about that.

In fact, I thought I had already received an answer from Zion, so I had prepared everything for my leave and handover last week.

I also submitted a proposal to the cabinet to bring Hero Zion along for treatment of buff addiction.

When the king received that proposal, he jokingly asked if I was finally going on an overseas trip, but what would have happened if Zion had rejected it and it fell through?

Anyway, having wrapped up various preparations, all that was left was to set off.

“So, where are we going?”

“To a good place for convalescence. I picked it specially.”

“A good place for convalescence, huh…”

When it comes to convalescence, being in a location rich in natural resources that can aid in healing is ideal.

Good air or breezes, clear water or sunshine—all of nature helps with human healing, but above all…

“It’s a place with hot springs. Near the outskirts of Haji-on, in a volcanic area. Do you remember where the Dwarf hot springs are?”

It must be a hot spring. When healing through nature, a hot spring is obviously the best.

The place where the Dwarf hot springs are located is in a rugged mountain range, making it hard to enter, and the Dwarves aren’t fond of outsiders coming and going, so it hasn’t been developed into a tourist attraction.

The hot spring had emerged along a volcanic region, and they only developed it for their use, not for visitors.

“Ah, that place…”

But if Hero Zion comes along, then it’s a different story.

There wouldn’t be any place in this world that wouldn’t welcome Zion.

Moreover, the outskirts of Haji-on are the only place connecting Dwarves and humans, and there’s also a Magic Tower there, so it would be an instant travel for me and Zion.

I’ve already finished contacting through the Magic Tower’s messenger, so all we really need to do is go.

But what if Zion had actually rejected it? How would I have managed that?

I didn’t want to experience the terrifying feeling of being rejected after having anticipated that it wouldn’t happen, especially when I’ve organized so many plans.

“I remember it, but Mr. Hop seems really nostalgic when he talks about it.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve been there. I haven’t visited in this life.”

I might be boasting, but I’ve never actually been there. To me, the Dwarf hot spring was just a place I saw in the original work.

Now I have the chance to actually visit a tourist spot from that fantasy world, and this time with Zion.

Since I was always busy with studies or research since being born in this world, this convalescence is truly a rare excitement and a feeling I haven’t experienced in a long time.

“Let’s forget everything for a moment and just relax. No exercise, no rehabilitation, nothing that burdens you. Just forget the fact that you’re hurting, enjoy the slow and leisurely passing of time, and then come back, okay?”

Everything that burdens Zion. I wonder if things like the Demon King or fate would be included?

But that was something I couldn’t bring myself to say. I hope he doesn’t think about them.

“I hope Mr. Hop gets that time too. Forget everything…”

** ‘I shouldn’t just say to only think of me, right?’

Zion nodded with a calm smile.

I wish I knew what she was thinking.

Lately, it seems I’ve been having that kind of thought quite often.

Zion, always plagued by the obsession of being a hero and the obligation that comes with it, can only say things based on her position.

If I someday confess to her that the Demon King won’t come and that what I said was a lie, will I be able to hear her honest feelings, freed from the burden of being a hero?

The thought of being caught in a lie is terrifying and makes me tremble, but I can’t easily turn away from the imagined day that will eventually come.

 

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