---

“Zion. I’ll take a leave and come back, so just wait a little.”

“Huh? Are you really going to stay with me?”

Zion, who couldn’t move due to muscle pain from sneaking in some exercise with his injured body, couldn’t be left alone all day in the house.

Since the Rehabilitation Center is the most important institution in the kingdom, and my house is close to the center, I should be able to make a quick trip.

“You’re telling me not to leave you alone.”

“But without Hop, the Rehabilitation Center…”

“I managed to get back during my business trips to the Empire, so it should be fine. I can just leave instructions like last time.”

Zion’s eyes, which were pleadingly looking at me, gradually shifted to a worried expression and fell to the floor.

That pattern again.

Because I have so many important responsibilities, Zion sometimes feels that taking up my time is a bad thing. When that happens, he always makes that kind of face.

*Sigh* “Zion, even though I’m a pretty important person at the center, if I wasn’t there, patients wouldn’t just drop dead or anything. I’m a rehabilitation expert, after all.”

“What do you mean…”

“I told you, right? Rehabilitation is a slow and steady process. All the patients at the center are improving on their own based on the prescriptions I set up beforehand, even if I’m not around. So…”

Hmm… Is this really correct? I want to say that it’s okay for Zion to ask me anything since he doesn’t harm anyone else, but somehow, I feel like saying it nicely isn’t getting through to him.

I might need to phrase this a little differently.

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m getting harsher with my words, and I don’t particularly like this style of conversation, but…

Since this happened because Zion recklessly exercised alone, it’s okay to think of it as a little punishment.

“Nope. I’m just going to shut down the Rehabilitation Center starting today. I’ll go announce its closure, so wait for me.”

“W-What? Why? Is it because of me?”

“Of course. Have you already forgotten why I started researching rehabilitation medicine in the first place?”

In the end, it was another lie I chose.

The concept of being a regressor to fix Zion is quite useful in many ways.

“Rehabilitation medicine was created from the start to rehabilitate you, Zion. Everything I’ve done up to now has been to gather data by healing patients. Now that I’ve started your rehabilitation, there’s no reason for me to keep treating other patients.”

“But what about the other patients…?!”

“They’ll manage. If they get in the way of rehabilitating you, I’ll send them all back.”

“No, don’t! Please, don’t do that!!”

Zion hurriedly kicked off the blanket and tried to get up, but—

“Ugh, ahhh!!!”

Naturally, the muscle pain hit him, and he froze in place with a pained expression on his face.

He had no choice but to fall back, gasping for breath in pain.

“Ugh… No, Hop! You can’t just quit the Rehabilitation Center because of me…”

Of course, I had no intention of doing that. It wasn’t even possible.

While I did establish the Rehabilitation Center, it was officially founded with the kingdom’s support, and at this point, there are worldwide rehabilitation medicine agreements in place.

After six years of war, all eyes are on caring for veterans and adventurers, so no matter what, I can’t just quit.

“I’m sorry, teacher! I won’t do anything reckless anymore! I won’t exercise alone, so please…”

“That’s not it.”

“Huh?”

“Zion, there’s nothing more important than your rehabilitation in this world. Not for me, and not in the grand scheme of everything. You need to be more aware of that fact.”

“…….”

So this declaration is a sort of bravado and shock tactic.

Since Zion hesitates to accept my help due to the existence of other patients at the center, I wanted to instill the idea in him that I could respond in this way.

“Zion keeps prioritizing the patients at the center over himself. If he continues like that, the only thing left to do will be to actually close the center.”

“Th-That’s…”

“Do you want me to keep saying no?”

“How come you know what I’m going to say every time?”

“Alright, Zion. Let’s repeat after me: ‘I am the most important.'”

“I… am…”

“If you don’t say it by the time I leave, I’ll go out and close the center doors.”

“Ugh, ughhh!”

Zion furrowed his brow, moving his lips as if trying to resist, but eventually, he shut his eyes tight and repeated what I told him.

“I-I’m the most important…”

“Well done. Now I’ll take my leave, so…”

– *grumble…*

“Huh?”

What was that…? As I was momentarily speechless at the absurdity, Zion quickly thrust out an arm to retrieve the blanket he had just thrown aside and hurriedly covered his belly.

“Teacher! Did you hear that?!”

“I did. How could I not hear such a loud sound?”

“N-No, how could that happen at this timing…!”

– *grumble…*

“Ah, haha, could it be because I exercised all night long~?”

“I’ll bring you some bread, so eat it. I really will be back.”

“Y-Yes…”

Anyway, since it seems Zion understood, I left the bread basket within her reach and headed out to the center.

‘I’ll process my schedule as a leave, exclude office visits, and luckily, my house is close, so I can just stop by to help the patients who need buffs and skills like before… This should work out somehow.’

I felt my pace quicken compared to when I rushed last time due to being late.

I need to clear my tasks so that I can come back and take care of Zion again.

************************

‘It’s warm.’

What Zion is feeling right now is warmth.

The warmth of the bread in her hands. The warmth of the blanket covering her belly. The warmth of the morning sunlight coming through the window. And…

‘Why is my face like this?’

With the bread in her mouth, Zion placed both hands on her cheeks and felt her body temperature.

Her face was hotter than ever.

‘It must be because I’m in pain. I need to eat quickly and rest…’

She was extremely hungry and felt quite flustered, so Zion gulped down the melting bread and snuggled back under the blanket.

It seemed like she didn’t have a fever.

But why is her face alone burning so much?

** “Nothing is more important to me than you, Zion.”**

Why does that line keep popping into my head?

“…I am the most important.”

Zion repeated what Hop had made her say.

It was the first time she had ever said that in her life.

That she is the most important person in the world?

For someone like Zion, who has lived her whole life for others, it was a strange thought.

Zion couldn’t think of anything that was more important than everyone else.

She had always sacrificed her body to fight for something else.

So what was the most important thing for Zion?

‘The most important thing. The only thing that could be called the most important would be my companions.’

Only her companions came to mind. Now, Iris, Hanamana, and herself.

And those three always told Zion that she was the most important.

Could it be that Hop saying Zion was the most important person stems from him originally being her companion as well?

‘Wait a second. If a companion is the most important person, then the only companion left is…’

If there was someone Zion could call a companion right now, there was only one person.

The person who was always with her, with a shared goal of defeating the future Demon King.

Still, Zion’s face was burning, and her mind was becoming more complicated.

‘Whaaa~ Hop is my most important person? It’s not impossible, but something… something…!’

While she squirmed under the blanket, heating up for a while, Zion soon allowed the warmth of the blanket and sunlight to envelop her, and she fell asleep.

***********

“Zion. I’m back.”

The staff at the center were a bit surprised by my sudden request for leave, but I manage everything that happens at the center.

After instructing them on tasks according to the manual I prepared after my last business trip, I used my leave to return home.

Even so, it wasn’t an abuse of authority; since I established and operated the center for the past three years, I had not used any of my leave, so the staff were very supportive, saying things like, “Are you finally taking a break? We’ll handle things here, so please take a good rest!”

“Zion?”

When there was no answer, I opened the door and entered Zion’s room, where I found her buried under the blanket, not even revealing her face.

“Zion~?”

No matter how many times I called, there was no response, so I gently lifted the blanket to check on her, and she was asleep with her eyes closed.

‘She did say she exercised almost all night; it’s not surprising that she’d be tired.’

I took leave to take care of Zion, and yet she has fallen asleep. Did I take a break for nothing?

“Ugh… Please don’t leave me alone…”

Having this thought, Zion groaned as if she could read my mind, talking in her sleep.

Now that I think about it… even though she had that notion of not wanting to steal my time, when I was about to leave for work, she pleaded with me not to leave her alone.

‘Being left alone without moving is still scary for her, huh? Even a hero…’

To think that the hero who defeated the Demon King is trembling in fear and clinging to me with a tender voice.

It’s unbelievable that the strong, beautiful, and brave hero I read about in books is now the same Zion lying here making pitiful sounds.

This truly is an inconceivable story.

Given this unbelievable sight before me, what I can do right now is simply—

‘Should I just stay by her side for now?’

There’s nothing more I can do than to grant the earnest wish of this small girl who was once a hero.

 

---