An old cabin, warm milk, and a small espresso cup.
That evening was truly a tangled mix of complexity and calm. While drinking the beverage, starlight covered the sky.
I took out a gold coin and placed it on the table, then exited the shop with Lir. The night had deepened, but the square was even noisier than before.
Lir and I walked to our pre-arranged meeting spot and soon discovered a plain, unadorned carriage waiting for us at the corner. The young male servant promptly descended from the carriage to greet us.
Before boarding the carriage, I glanced once more at the bustling center of the square.
…Whenever I saw the people with their heads dyed white, an exasperated laugh escaped me, but at least I didn’t feel any disgust toward them.
“Rex will wake up soon.”
Seated in the carriage, I looked out the window at the lively streets and said so.
“Yes, he will.”
Lir was still holding my hand.
“And Alter will be able to walk on two legs again in no time.”
Above the square, aristocrats were still delivering passionate speeches.
“It’s only natural. My master is doing fine, after all.”
In a corner of the alley, a young boy was plucking the strings of a guitar as he sat.
“…And my hands will heal too.”
Thus, those flickering lights slowly moved further away.
“I believe in it.”
And so, that was how a day passed.
Awkward yet splendid, the evening ended.
The next morning, the faint cold that had troubled me the previous night had completely disappeared.
It might sound egotistical, but my voice, free of the cold, was clear and graceful, and my body felt as light as a feather.
…To be precise, my body had always been feather-light, being quite emaciated as it was.
“Ah…Ah…”
People often say a beautiful voice is like the chirp of a cuckoo bird, right?
In reality, a cuckoo’s call isn’t as pure as one might imagine — it sounds more like the notes played by an inexperienced flutist.
The sound most similar to a cuckoo’s call would be that of an amateur just getting the hang of playing a flute, trying their hand at a new sheet of music for the first time. The notes, strange yet endearing in their awkwardness.
“Ah―”
But my voice now was of a superior caliber. It was more akin to the sound of a skilled flutist who had majored in flute studies at university.
Clunk!
After marveling at my voice for a few minutes, I was suddenly interrupted by the sound of furniture being shuffled around outside the door.
“…?”
Thinking someone might be moving, I opened the door and peeked out into the corridor. But at that moment, a huge shadow loomed over me.
“Hey, get out of the way! You’ll get hurt!”
The young male servant’s urgent voice reached my ears.
I quickly stepped aside, smoothing my unruly bangs as the wooden legs of a piece of furniture entered the room.
…What on earth are these people doing, putting something in my room?
“What is this?”
“It’s a piano! Ordered by Bin.”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, I had placed that order before leaving for Valleland. Has it already arrived? It’s been almost over a month since I ordered it, hasn’t it?
And it was a stock item, not a custom order. What kind of structure does the logistics industry of this world have…?
Has my piano really traveled through dimensions and made stops at places like Herbal Jade Valley?
Thud!
As the piano’s legs touched the ground, the strings resonated, creating faint, lingering sounds. Amid this, the faint laughter of both the young and older servants filled the air as an added bonus.
“…Uh, would you like some tea?”
I offered a carefully poured cup of steaming tea to the servants.
As expected, they waved their hands to decline.
After all the heavy labor of moving the piano from the main gate to my room, it seems they didn’t want the additional hardship of drinking hot beverages.
“Ah, by the way… General.”
“Yes?”
While the servants who brought the piano were catching their breath and adjusting their wrinkled uniforms, the young male servant approached me.
“General Rex has awakened.”
“…”
I immediately placed the cup I’d been holding down and draped a cardigan over my shoulders.
“Please guide me.”
Rex’s recovery room was one of the many spare rooms within the castle that had been remodeled into a private ward.
Normally, Rex should have been lying in the intensive care unit of a church or hospital outside the castle. However, I exerted “a bit of authority” and arranged for a private intensive care unit within the castle walls, where I had Rex placed under the care of palace physicians and clerics.
Rex deserves it.
Who else but the hero of the continent defeated Maltiel, after all.
Merit should be followed by appropriate rewards.
With cheerful anticipation, I swung the door to the intensive care unit wide open.
Oh, I forgot to knock.
When I finally realized this, a colossal orc stood before me, his entire body wrapped in bandages. Rex had just finished washing his face, as evidenced by the moisture on his face and the puddles of water scattered across the floor.
“…Why are you standing up?”
I asked in a tone of mild exasperation, as if nothing unusual were happening, while looking at Rex who was living his everyday life.
According to reports, he had regained consciousness less than 30 minutes ago. So why was this orc standing on two legs so naturally?
Ordinarily, someone who just woke from a coma would be lying in bed, half-asleep, waiting to greet whoever entered their room.
“…Is there a problem, General?”
“Eh…”
Hmm.
“No, I’m glad you’re back.”
Though it wasn’t quite the picture I had expected…
“Shall we… have some tea?”
“Ahh, yes! Tea! Tea is great!”
“…”
“…”
Isn’t this supposed to be a touching moment of reunion? Yet, why does it feel so awkward?
“Um, I’ll leave the room and come back. So…”
“Ah, yes. I’ll lie down as the patient should.”
Fortunately, Rex perfectly understood my half-finished sentence.
Clunk.
After hearing his response, I stepped out and closed the door behind me.
I took a small, quiet breath.
Taking three seconds to look at the door and compose myself, I prepared my heart before reaching for the doorknob.
Unlike before, Rex was now lying on the bed with eyes glazed like rotten mackerels. He was drooling as if he had taken three solid blows to the jaw and lost consciousness.
“Phew…!”
Ah, this is ruining the immersion.
“Too much drooling, seriously. You don’t know moderation.”
“Ah, is that so? I thought it was exactly the image of General that I wanted.”
Hmm? Look at this. After visiting the afterlife, this one has picked up a slippery attitude.
“What is this nonsense… Ah, forget it. I was just trying to create a heartfelt scene. Tch.”
Though I muttered complaints aloud, a smile was spreading across my face.
“What’s with all those bandages? Are you not Mira?”
“Shall I let you take a peek inside the bandages? I’m not joking. My flesh is sunken in like I’ve been hit by a meteorite.”
“Ugh, that’s enough.”
“Ha ha! At least, you should feel it once. I’ve never seen my body twisted like this in my entire life!”
Rex and I spent quite a while chatting about trivial matters.
Once, Rex’s laughter, characteristic of an orc’s open-heartedness, filled the ward so much that the room, which contained only a bed and a small table, echoed loudly, making my ears hurt.
“You came back well.”
I gently patted Rex’s shoulder and said. Even though he’d just recently regained consciousness, his skin was incomparably rougher and tougher than mine.
“…Strictly speaking, I’m not fully back yet.”
Rex paused for a moment, and it was clear he meant more than just physical recovery.
“General, I have something to say.”
Leaning into his opening statement, Rex scrutinized my reactions carefully. I swallowed nervously, waiting for him to continue.
“…I think I’ll never be able to wield my axe again.”
Rex seemed incredulous to be making such a statement. I could do nothing but watch sympathetically as he struggled through the pain and continued speaking.
“I haven’t consulted any doctors or priests yet… but I know my body well. I have a large hole in my abdomen, and a significant portion of my muscles have been lost. The arm being chopped off could be replaced with a prosthetic limb, but when the core is damaged, there’s no way to repair it…
In his damaged abdomen, where the core muscles usually reside, a gaping hole had been torn open.
When the core, which upholds the body, is destroyed, even ordinary tasks like standing up become impossible. Running or performing simple push-ups would be out of the question. The pressure that would normally be supported by the core muscles is transferred directly to the spine, which could lead to injuries like herniated discs or even fractures.
Core muscles are akin to the rebar used in building construction. Regardless of how well-developed the other muscles are, the body cannot function properly if the core is damaged.
“Thanks to the Holy Maiden, the hole in my abdomen has closed, and the torn organs have been partially recovered… but that’s all. The core muscles have been completely destroyed, and even slight physical exertion will cause the organs to leave their proper positions.”
Given the blood loss and the size of the wounds at that time… it would be more surprising if there were no aftereffects.
The fact that Rex can open his eyes and walk at all is akin to a miracle.
“If I try to grab a shield, I will bounce back from the enemy’s attacks right away, and if I swing an axe, I won’t be able to reach the enemy’s neck. Since the foundation of all movements is damaged, there’s no avoiding it.”
Rex clenched his teeth once, looking disheartened.
It was clearly embarrassing for him, as a warrior, to have to tell this kind of story.
“Holding my axe again would be disgraceful. I’ve already enjoyed far greater glory than I ever dreamed of in my life. It is time to leave the position by the general’s side to those more talented. I deeply appreciate and feel sorry for the excessive trust you placed in me by allowing me to take such a worthy role.”
To my eyes, Rex was being too harsh on himself.
I owe Rex my life three times over. He’s been my steadfast vanguard and a shield I can trust.
Even if he outright declared, “I’m done here,” no one would dare say anything.
“So… when are you planning to hold the retirement ceremony?”
“That’s not what I mean by retiring.”
“Then… what?”
“As the role of a warrior has ended for me, it’s time to fulfill my duties as a soldier.”
“You never know when to rest, do you.”
“The war isn’t completely over yet. Actually, there have been a few commanders who’ve recommended me for a long time. I plan to start by leading a small battalion under them.”
“A battalion commander… With all the merits Rex has achieved, a direct promotion to regiment commander wouldn’t draw any complaints.”
“Your kind words are greatly appreciated, but I believe the work of a warrior and a soldier are fundamentally different. If I don’t start from the bottom and learn step by step, a big problem could arise at any moment.”
“…Hmm, it’s possible, I guess.”
Rex gently patted my protesting back, like one would with a young child.
No matter how many times I look at that enormous hand, I can’t get used to it. For some reason, I keep thinking about how it could crush a human head as easily as breaking a tofu block.
“Whenever you need help, just send a letter. My men and I will rush to you.”
It seemed Rex had already figured out his next task the moment he opened his eyes.
