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“Nice to meet you, Zion. It’s been a while since the Battle of Tubalhal.”

“Nice to meet you, Elder Leonard. You look as healthy as ever.”

As we completed our teleportation and exited the Magic Tower, the dwarf elder welcomed us.

The Battle of Tubalhal mentioned by the elder refers to the episode where Zion and the hero party retreated from a defeat in the northern region of Hazion, hiding here and teaming up with the dwarves to repel the invasion of demons using the mountain range.

“I heard your body is uncomfortable, but you can’t even walk at all. What happened to our brave Hero Zion Laurel?”

“Haha, I’m truly embarrassed.”

“No need for that. The injuries and pain you carry are burdens we all should have shared. If anything, we owe you an apology. So, you came here for treatment?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll be in your care for a week.”

“That’s great, great! It’s a relief if this place can help. The land and spirits will surely remember you, Zion. And as for you…”

Elder Leonard looked me up and down with a rather gruff expression.

“I am Hop Harvey, the Director of the Kingdom Rehabilitation Medicine Center.”

“The Director? I see, so you must be an important person in the kingdom. I did reply to the notice about Zion coming, but I had no idea you would be joining.”

Despite the introduction, he still seemed unsure of who I was.

Although rehabilitation medicine is a new field, it has gained enough attention in human society that typically people recognize my title, but it seems that this dwarf has no clue who I am at all.

Looks like I need to change my approach in introducing myself.

“I’m the doctor in charge of Zion. I came along to observe his treatment.”

“Ah, so you’re a doctor! Thank you for taking care of Zion.”

“Thank you very much.”

In situations like this, it’s usually best to emphasize my connection to Zion, which serves as the only bridge to relate me to the elder.

Fortunately, once I introduced myself as Zion’s physician, Elder Leonard offered me a friendly greeting.

“Let’s unload our things first. I’ll guide you to your lodging.”

This time, the elder didn’t bring a carriage.

Instead, he showed up with a peculiar, yet slightly familiar transportation device. It was a kind of vehicle with a huge wheel and mechanical components, with a driver’s seat pulling a cabin behind it.

It resembled a tractor you might see often on farms. I was fascinated to see that dwarves use such things for transportation.

“Huh? What’s that moving chair?”

As Zion rolled over in his pressure wheelchair to where Elder Leonard’s device was, the elder began inspecting the wheelchair curiously.

“Oh, this? It’s a wheelchair that operates using pressure.”

“A wheeled chair, so it’s a wheelchair then? Let me take a look.”

“Would you?”

“Doctor, could you help Zion onto the mechanized carriage? Then I’d like to examine this wheelchair.”

“Understood.”

So this tractor-like thing is called a mechanized carriage.

Anyway, as requested by the elder, I lifted Zion into the back seat of the mechanized carriage and stood by to watch.

“Hmm, so it generates pressure here to make the wheels turn. And there… does it really need three of these? The idea of moving with just abilities isn’t bad, but…”

Elder Leonard picked up the wheelchair and started checking out the wheels and the mechanisms underneath, moving the pressure wheelchair around to inspect it.

He then frowned and shook his head, looking dissatisfied.

“Zion!”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Can I take a look at this?”

“I’d be grateful if you could, but… I’m rather used to it, you know. I’m managing just fine.”

“Used to it? You’re telling me you’re handling this sensitive device, which has a high difficulty of manipulation and lacks safety measures, comfortably?”

“I practiced a lot.”

I kept a close watch on Zion, wondering if he might have a seizure recalling the physical pain he endured during wheelchair manipulation practice, but thankfully, he showed no signs of distress.

“My goodness, you practiced a lot…”

Elder Leonard looked at Zion, as if the very state of the wheelchair allowed him to understand the kind of hardship Zion had been through, his eyes wide and mouth agape in surprise.

“Anyway, I see this as a dangerous item. I can’t allow Zion to use something like this, so I’ll make adjustments.”

“Thank you, Elder. But if you do that, what will I use in the meantime?”

“We also make devices for those with mobility issues. I could lend you one of those… ah, but it probably wouldn’t fit a human body.”

Elder Leonard looked troubled.

He seemed to be pondering for a moment, then, as if he had no other choice, he abruptly tossed the wheelchair into the trunk of the mechanized carriage, which served as a storage area.

“Anyway, you can’t use this. I’ll bring something suitable around lunchtime tomorrow, so until then, figure out how to crawl or roll around. Oh, and the doctor can carry you!”

“What?”

“What did you just say…? Elder!”

Both Zion and I jumped in surprise, but Elder Leonard ignored us and headed to the driver’s seat, starting up the mechanized carriage.

How on earth will Zion manage without his wheelchair? I knew dwarves were stubborn, but dealing with them like this seems a bit too irrational.

“What are we going to do? It’s a complete waste of the day on this trip!”

Zion exclaimed in distress as if the sky were falling.

It was indeed a big deal that his wheelchair was taken, but was it really worth panicking like that?

“Hey, it’s fine to take it easy for the first day at the lodging or nearby. We didn’t come rushing on a travel marathon; we came here to relax.”

“Ah! Is that so? Then let’s do that!”

Zion, who had previously looked like he was crushed by a major disaster, suddenly brightened up, his hands clasped in front of his chest as if in prayer.

Is it really something to be that happy about?

I sensed a subtle awkwardness in Zion’s reaction.

After seeing the emotional oscillations related to withdrawal symptoms from buff addiction, I felt a bit uneasy, hoping that wouldn’t manifest. For now, I could only observe Zion closely.

By the way, this mechanized carriage felt similar to cars I’d driven back in the modern world.

Do dwarves know a lot about machinery?

Thinking back, the original story had descriptions of dwarves using artillery during battles in mountain ranges or carrying ammunition with silent wagons, so maybe they do have some keen sense for these things.

I already felt I had made the right choice by coming here, seeing all these fascinating things.

Hmm… Maybe I’ll just let Zion rest at the lodging and venture out on my own?

No, it’s better to keep an eye on Zion. Leaving him alone is too worrisome, and I wouldn’t have a warm welcome in a dwarf village without him. Plus, I wanted to see more of the troubled expressions on Zion’s face.

“We’re here. Get down.”

We arrived at the lodging, a hot spring for dwarves.

Elder Leonard hopped out of the driver’s seat and entered the building without even glancing back at us.

“Alright, Zion. Get down here.”

It was easier to carry Zion down than just reach for him while still in the seat, so I squatted down and extended my back for him to climb onto.

“Then I’ll leave it up to you.”

Zion scooted off the seat and climbed onto my back.

After adjusting his limbs for a comfortable position and supporting his thighs, I stood up with him carried.

“Oof.”

“Ugh~~ I’m so embarrassed I can’t even look up being carried like this!!”

True to his word as a hero, Zion buried his face into my shoulder, refusing to look up.

It’s no surprise that being carried like a hero is an embarrassing situation…

‘Ah, so that’s why he was so flustered and cheerful before?’

Hearing him say he felt embarrassed made me understand why he reacted that way earlier.

Since Elder Leonard said to carry Zion around while the wheelchair is unavailable.

So it figures he would be uncomfortable showing himself in this manner, thus his embarrassed reactions. On the other hand, if he stayed indoors, he wouldn’t have to deal with this, hence the happiness.

“Why are you doing that, Zion? We’re parting ways soon, show your face.”

“Haha… should I?”

Zion slowly lifted his head when the elder asked him to show his face.

“Good, good! And you too, Doctor. For the next week, you won’t have any other guests besides yourselves. Think of it as a private rental and feel free to enjoy yourselves.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Elder.”

“It’s no trouble at all. This place isn’t usually in use! The only hot spot for soaking is the forge, anyway. Some dwarves enjoy the hot springs, but I just don’t understand them! Hahaha!”

After a hearty laugh, Elder Leonard started showing us around the lodging and hot springs.

I placed Zion down while still on my back so I could unload my belongings in the room.

Zion leaned against the wall, curiously scanning the surroundings as I organized our stuff.

“I can’t believe we get to rest peacefully in a place like this just the two of us with you, Teacher! It feels like a dream!”

“Really? I suppose so. I’m certainly looking forward to it. There seemed to be plenty of fascinating things on the way here…”

The bright smile from Zion dimmed a bit as he brought up the outside.

“It seems like Teacher Hop wanted to do a bit more sightseeing.”

“I wouldn’t say that, but time is on our side. Once the wheelchair gets back, we can go out and see it.”

“……”

Zion sank to the floor, deep in thought.

After pondering for a while, he began shaking his head vigorously with his eyes tightly shut, hiding his face in his palms. Shortly after, he seemed to have made a resolution, raising his sparkling crimson eyes to meet mine as I was finishing the packing.

“Teacher Hop.”

“Yes. I’m right here.”

“Once we finish organizing our room, let’s go out and take a look outside together.”

Wait—did Zion just suggest going out?

“I’m fine with going out, but… without the wheelchair, I’d have to carry you around.”

“I’m okay with that. No, in fact, that’s even better…”

“Excuse me? What did you just say?”

Following his declaration of being okay with it, it seemed like he mumbled something afterwards, but it was too soft for me to catch.

“Ah… it’s nothing! Anyway, once everything is done, just let me know when we’re heading out, alright?”

Zion murmured in a hurry, avoiding a clear answer.

At least I got the impression he meant he wanted to go out.

I thought he would reject it out of embarrassment, but is he showing consideration for me wanting to go out?

I wanted to decline any unnecessary care, but since it was something Zion was keen on suggesting, rejecting it felt inappropriate…

“Alright then. I’ll wrap it up fast, so please wait a moment.”

Since I genuinely did want to go out, I decided to accept this with a cheerful heart.

A tour of a diverse village in the fantasy world… On this first day of our recovery with Zion, my excitement began to blossom.