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Chapter 34
A Fleeting Spring Dream (3)
Whew.
My body was freezing cold, but I was still breathing. As soon as Cedric regained consciousness, the wolf-type monster that had been biting into me was beheaded and vanished.
Just before it turned to dust, the monster’s mouth was stained with my blood. Cedric’s right hand trembled uncontrollably at the sight.
“Yus!”
He probably didn’t even know what he was saying. Otherwise, there’s no way he would come running toward me with such desperation on his face.
“Yus, wake up. Please, Yus, Yus…”
From above, using my clairvoyance skill, I coldly looked down at myself and him.
‘So… did the gamble work?’
Just moments ago, I had watched Cedric lying down, facing off against the wolf monster. I threw a gamble.
Using my body to block the monster’s attack and waking Cedric up in the process.
If he woke up before I died, I won. If I died before he woke up, the monster won.
Since I’m still alive, that means I won. Looking at my wounds with clairvoyance, I inwardly clicked my tongue.
‘That’s a bad injury.’
The nerves in my leg seemed to be severed.
Should I be relieved it wasn’t my neck? Or mourn the unexpected disability added to the plan?
Will the nerves heal once I revive? If not, I’m in serious trouble. But surely, they will. Hopefully.
“Don’t die, Yus! Please, please, please, please—!”
First things first, I need to deal with this man in a panic.
“Sir Cedric.”
“Yus! You’re conscious?!”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
I smiled at him.
Honestly, that gamble wasn’t the smartest move. Objectively, it would’ve been better to use Cedric as a shield and protect myself until he woke up and healed me.
But I wouldn’t have earned his trust that way. Even if it meant losing a 100,000-point extra life, I had to win his heart.
“How can I not worry? You’re bleeding so much. If you die, I—”
“Sir Cedric. Please listen carefully.”
Cedric gritted his teeth and nodded.
“I’m about to die from blood loss, so please use my cloak to apply pressure to my calf.”
His eyes widened at the word die. He flustered like a puppy unsure of what to do, but still treated the wound with skilled hands.
Maybe because he used to be an assassin, his first-aid skills were excellent. He didn’t need any more instructions.
“All done, Yus. I’ll go find a place nearby where you can rest.”
“That won’t work, Cedric.”
He paused.
“So it was you, after all.”
His eyes widened slowly.
He tried to cover his mouth with his hand, but it was too late. Still lost between dream and reality, Cedric slowly seemed to accept what was happening.
“Saintess… I…”
“We have to find the Hero. We need the power of the Holy Relic to defeat the exposed Sky Demon.”
“…You’re injured.”
No kidding. I couldn’t feel anything below my right calf. Whether it was temporary paralysis or a permanent disability, it was too early to say. But at this rate, I’d be stuck in a wheelchair for at least a month.
But what can you do?
“You can carry me, right?”
His face was speechless.
As if it wasn’t enough that his carefully kept secret had been exposed, now he had to carry my severely injured body. No wonder he looked so overwhelmed.
“It’s going to hurt a lot.”
“The pain of not fixing this situation and living with the guilt afterward will be far worse than this. …If you really can’t, I’ll crawl—”
“I’ll do it.”
That was a joke, but Cedric took it seriously. Sweating coldly, he gently lifted me up in his arms.
“Tell me the moment it hurts. If the wound opens up, your life will be at risk.”
“I’m fine.”
“No.”
He cut me off firmly.
“You are the hope and mercy that God has given to humanity. Protecting your life is a duty for the greater good.”
Wow, he’s good with words.
If he only mentioned my safety, I would’ve resisted, so he wrapped it in terms of life and righteous duty. There’s no better way to handle Eustinas.
Should I go along with it now?
“…Alright. But I want to find the Hero as soon as possible.”
“Don’t worry about that. I already know where he’ll be.”
Cedric answered readily and began to walk swiftly. And yet, I barely felt any jostling.
‘Assassin’s footwork?’
In the game, assassins were known for moving without any wobble.
Or maybe not.
***
“Izumi, wake up!”
“Huh…?”
“It’s morning! Time to get to work!”
“O-oh, right.”
Izumi groggily sat up, looking at Anna, who was waking him early in the morning. A room neatly papered with white wallpaper came into view.
“Breakfast is ready. Hurry and eat.”
“Yeah. I’ll just wash up first.”
Still dazed, he headed to the bathroom. Inside were modern tiles and a clean sink — so familiar it almost brought tears to his eyes.
“Wait…?”
Tears? Familiar?
Why did that phrase come to mind?
Staring blankly into the mirror, the same face he had seen for 28 years stared back.
“Izumi! Your food’s getting cold.”
“Sorry. I’m coming.”
After blinking for a while, Izumi shook his head at his sister’s call.
“Something’s weird today.”
“What’s weird? You came home late last night, so you’re probably just tired. I have to head to work too, so snap out of it.”
“Right.”
He looked down.
White rice, steaming hot. Miso soup with a savory aroma. Anna’s specialty sweet tamagoyaki. And even some instant natto.
Simple, but a perfect traditional breakfast. Ever since their parents passed away, Anna always made breakfast for him.
It’s what kept him going through the grueling life of a resident. Izumi put his hands together in thanks.
“Thanks for the meal.”
“Thanks for the meal!”
With their cheerful greeting, they began to eat. While stirring natto with scallions, Anna chatted away.
“People at work keep asking me to introduce you. I don’t know how the rumor that you’re a doctor got out, but things are about to get messy—”
“Anna.”
“Huh?”
Moved by a sudden wave of emotion, Izumi blurted out.
“Thanks. For everything.”
“What the heck, big brother.”
“I mean it. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even graduated college.”
“…Brother.”
Anna fell silent.
To be honest, they weren’t always this close.
Back in school, he was a model student who always ranked first, while she barely stayed afloat at the bottom. They never really saw eye to eye.
She changed after their parents passed away. After the funeral, she cut ties with all her sketchy relationships and jumped straight into the workforce. For her brother, who was in med school.
“Hmph, even if you say that, I’m planning to blow all the money you’ll make anyway! Don’t think a simple thank-you is enough — you better invest in me properly!”
“Geez. Are you trying to bankrupt your dear brother?”
“Of course! Be ready for it!”
“Hey now…”
But even with those words, he knew she wasn’t like that. All he wished for was that she could meet a good man and marry safely.
‘It’s tough not having parents… but if I support her, she’ll be fine.’
Once his residency ended and he became a full-time doctor, his salary would increase drastically. And just having a doctor in the family would help offset the stigma of being orphaned.
‘Yeah. That’s enough for me.’
Nodding to himself, Izumi finished his meal.
“I’m off.”
“Take care!”
With Anna’s farewell, he headed off to work. He couldn’t remember the last time he walked to work under sunlight.
Such was the life of a resident.
=Next stop, Ueno. Ueno Station. The doors will open on the right.
—Rrrrrrr!
Just as he got off the train like usual, his phone rang loudly.
“What’s going on?”
=Dr. Yuushi, can you come right away? There was a huge traffic accident right in front of the hospital, and we’re short on ER staff.
His heart sank.
“I’m on my way.”
Ending the call, he flagged a taxi instead of walking to save time. For them to call even a soon-to-start resident meant it was an emergency.
“How’s the patient?”
“Professor Takeya is on his way now.”
“I’ll assist him, then.”
The moment he arrived, the surgery preparations began without pause. Wearing surgical scrubs, he rushed inside.
“You’re here? Let’s go.”
“Yes, Professor.”
The major operation — involving an anesthesiologist, a surgical specialist, and two residents — lasted 16 full hours. Only after that suffocating time did the atmosphere ease.
“I’ll speak with the patient’s family. You escort her to the recovery ward with Nurse Sakura.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once outside the OR, Izumi could finally see the patient’s name and face.
[Lee Yuna, 27 years old]
“…Huh?”
