Hospitals aren’t liked. No, to be more precise, they are detested, that would be the correct statement.
“Haa… haa…”
Hospitals really… Ah, yeah.
Such a terrible and hated place it is.
“Please… please… please…”
Noah transformed into a magical girl and flew through the air, reminiscing about the truly terrible events that had occurred at the hospital.
Medicine? Injections? Those trivial things aren’t what it’s about.
His mother passed away. She overexerted herself giving birth to him and eventually passed.
His father was hospitalized. He had an accident and became comatose. Nobody knows when he’ll wake up. Or maybe, he never will.
And now…
There’s someone precious to him. Someone who has deeply embedded themselves in his heart—this person is also there.
“Uncle…!”
Noah was going insane.
Fear crept in; what if something had gone terribly wrong…
“…QQQ, can you make me fly faster?”
“It’s too much! You’ve already used a lot of magic today—”
“I don’t care, just hurry!”
“QQQ…”
Noah flew even faster and arrived at the hospital. The word “Emergency” seemed so unsettling.
As he entered, a tired-looking nurse greeted Noah.
“Hello. What brings you here?”
“Um… I… Uncle… no, Oppa…”
“Calm down and speak slowly, please.”
“Ah… yes. I received a call saying Mr. Shin Hyun is here.”
“Ah, yes. Could you follow me this way?”
Following the nurse, Noah walked and then blankly stared down at Shin Hyun.
“Uncle…”
“…”
“Uncle…?”
Shin Hyun couldn’t say a word.
Of course not. He was asleep after all.
But Noah, unaware of this fact, felt utterly tormented by it.
It felt like he had done something wrong.
“J-just say something, Uncle… Why are you like this? Right?”
There were no visible wounds on the surface. But that didn’t mean there was nothing to worry about. His father also looked fine outwardly, didn’t he?
Anxiety kept creeping in.
Noah’s tear ducts began to overflow.
“Wah… Uncle…”
“…”
“Today, I did lots of good deeds… but… this isn’t right, is it… right?”
“…”
“Give me some praise like you usually do… Can’t you comfort me with a pat on the back?”
Noah clung on, but silence was the only response.
The nurse tapped Noah gently on the shoulder.
“Excuse me, family member?”
“…What exactly happened to Oppa?”
“Well, you see—”
Noah started biting his nails.
“Is there any injury? Any wounds? Is treatment possible? Was he attacked by someone? If so, who? That arrogant bastard… dare he hurt my brother? I should find him and kill him… no, just killing might be too merciful… locking him in a basement and torturing him as much as possible… Ah… where is the basement again… Oh, there was a movie like that once? Let’s just put him in a coffin and bury him. Yeah, that’ll work. Don’t worry, Brother. I’ll definitely eliminate whoever made you suffer—”
Suddenly, Noah felt a familiar hand grab his.
“…You’ve woken up completely, haven’t you, kid…”
“Brother!”
“Welcome back…”
Noah placed his hand on his head and gave him a hopeful look.
It was obvious what she wanted. Shin Hyun obliged Noah’s expectation.
“Thank you for coming… phew…”
“Hehe…”
“Sorry… for showing you such an embarrassing side.”
Watching this scene closely, the nurse stood aside with a dazed expression. It was something she had never seen before.
Well, it wasn’t surprising.
After all, this wasn’t the psychiatric ward.
+++++
I continued receiving IV fluids while explaining the situation to Noah.
Of course, I couldn’t tell him that I had exhausted myself by overusing my magic.
Just…
“While walking, I got extremely tired. I fell asleep on a bench and ended up fainting.”
I fabricated the most plausible lie I could.
Naive Noah believed it without hesitation.
“That’s why I thought you looked tired lately, Uncle.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Not at all! I’m the one who should apologize. For acting childish.”
Noah, who had been pouting slightly, suddenly lit up as if remembering something.
“Ah! By the way, I have a gift for you, Uncle!”
“Gift? Wow, I’m excited! After the chocolate, what else do you have for me?”
“Just wait a moment. It’s… uh… oh, shoot?”
After searching around for a while, Noah realized:
“I left the luggage at your place…”
“Oof. That’s the gift?”
“Yes. Just take it home… Some of them are things you can’t use alone…”
“Things you can’t use alone?”
“Yes, I’ll help you with them.”
When asked what they were, the kid replied, “Later… It’s kind of awkward to talk about here.”
Could it possibly be something lewd? At that exact moment, a voice whispered in my ear.
“It’s adult stuff.”
“Kkomkmu? You’ve been hiding well? And by ‘adult stuff’ you mean…?”
“The kind of thing that requires two people to use together. Prepared specifically for passionate young adults.”
“…”
“Judging from Noah’s embarrassed expression, it’s clearly a cosplay outfit meant for certain activities.”
“…”
“I’ve read books like this too. They talk about new stimulation in everyday life.”
…Kkomkmu.
“Do you read that kind of stuff?”
“Yes, indeed!”
What are you proudly shouting about, you little brat?
I’ve been very cautious about the books I give to Kkomkmu. Yet somehow, he manages to get his hands on adult novels and reads them alone.
Maybe because he hasn’t met anyone and spends his time reading smutty novels, Kkomkmu has become strangely talkative lately.
Anyway…
“Noah, it’s reassuring that you’re here.”
“Of course I had to come.”
“You can rely on me… or whatever. I’m in the same boat, having no one to lean on either…”
Pathetic.
At my words, Noah grabbed my hand.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe, Uncle.”
“Yeah, I’m still alive, at least.” “Don’t die. From now on, you need to take better care of yourself.”
Health management.
With those words, Noah began lecturing me.
You’re pushing yourself too hard. Take better care of your body. This is what happens when you keep doing it. Cut down on alcohol and quit smoking soon…
While Noah lectured me, sitting in a chair he’d brought over, a thought crossed my mind.
“You sound like a wife.”
“Wife?”
“Sitting next to me and nagging like that.”
It was an honest observation.
A random comment made without much thought.
“…Wife…”
However, upon hearing that, Noah’s face turned bright red, and he kept looking at the ground.
The kid who was scolding me just moments ago suddenly changed, making me chuckle.
Where did all that come from just moments ago?
Wife?
That was just a casual joke. This isn’t a cartoon where someone gets flustered over such comments.
“…Hehe.”
No, it exists.
From now on, I’ll avoid using the word ‘wife.’
Because lately, my dreams have been restless and scary.
Still giggling, Noah.
To break this atmosphere, I decided to step in.
I looked at Noah seriously.
“Noah, I have something I want to say. Would you listen carefully?”
“Yes…?”
Startled by the sudden change in mood, Noah appeared confused.
I tried to look as serious as possible, staring at Noah with eyes that could pierce through anything.
“There’s a task I want you to do.”
“A task only I can do…”
In an instant, Noah’s cheeks turned red.
I delivered the final blow.
“You’re the only one who can do it.”
“The only one who can do it…!?”
“…Yeah, Noah.”
“Yes… Nye!”
“Can you lend me some money?”
“…”
“I accidentally left my card at home.”
“…Haa.”
Mission accomplished.
+++++
By the time we returned home, it was already past evening.
We ate dinner, sat on the couch, and watched TV leisurely.
Incidentally, the gift Noah brought was health supplements—things like vitamins and omega oils.
There was something he seemed eager to hide, but I don’t know what it was.
Sulking in the corner, Kkomkmu voiced his disappointment.
“Why doesn’t the mood heat up?”
“Kkomkmu, the world isn’t the lewd romance novel you read.”
“Tch. Why won’t they do it?”
Anyway, what’s gotten into his head?
Kkomkmu, if considered human, is like a teenager. Thinking about Noah, it makes sense that his head is full of flowers.
“Hey, Uncle.”
“Hmm?”
“Could you come to the bedroom a bit later?”
It was an unexpected request from Noah.
Since there was no reason to refuse, I nodded.
A little later…
“Uncle, this way.”
“Hmm.”
Following Noah’s gesture, I entered the bedroom.
The room’s atmosphere was quite different from usual.
Dim lighting and candles lit everywhere. Actually, they were probably scented candles.
It created a unique sensation that relaxed the mood.
And there on the pristine white bed, Noah sat perched.
“Uncle, is there anywhere that hurts?”
“Hurts…?”
“Your shoulders.”
“Shoulders…”
“Your waist.”
“Waist…”
“Your ankles and neck.”
“…”
“Sometimes your calves cramp up too.”
“…”
“Your eyes must be tired too.”
“Are you alright, Uncle?”
Looking at me intently, Noah spoke decisively.
“This won’t do, Uncle. Come lie down here.”
“Lie down?”
“Yes, I’ll give you a massage.”
Now that I think about it, he did mention that earlier. Getting a massage from a girl feels a bit suspicious, but…
Since she’s offering out of kindness, it’d be rude to refuse.
“Thank you.”
Thus, I said, lying flat on the bed. With my face buried in the pillow, I waited, and Noah’s voice came again.
“Noah, what’s wrong?”
Turning my body, I looked at Noah.
He was holding something in his hands.
“No… It’s just… I need oil for the massage…”
“Oil?”
“Yes, so…”
Noah whispered, her face as red as a strawberry.
“Could you… take off your clothes?”
…
‘Honestly observe this, Shin Hyun.’
“What…?”
“It’s foreplay.”
This crazy guy is serious.
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