Swordmaster of the Red Light District

Encounter (5)

241

Ray groaned and lay on the bed.

A therapist and a priest approached, took off Rey’s shirt, and began making the necessary preparations for the examination and treatment.

Rey lay quietly, waiting for the therapist and priest to prepare.

Moments later, the therapist said, putting the telescope-like artifact over his eyes.

“I’m going to start the checkup. Don’t force your body or activate your core.”

“all right.”

Rey closed her eyes and focused her consciousness inward.

If mana leaked for nothing, the examination could not be done properly.

The healer confirmed that Rey had completely subsided, and tried to manifest divine power over the control car’s grasp.

A healer trusted by high-ranking aristocrats was usually able to use divine power while also serving as a priest, because the divine power was essential for physical examination.

“Let’s get started.”

“yes.”

The healer and the priest supported each other and radiated divine power uniformly in the air.

The radiated divine power settled in the form of a cube in the air while maintaining the uniformity of density.

The healer slowly dropped the divine power established in the shape of a cube toward Rey.

Wrath!

As Rey’s body was immersed in divine power, light arose.

It was the light that occurred while the divine power was absorbed into Rey’s body.

With the help of the Artifact, the healer looked at the flow of divine power within Rey’s body.

The divine power had the characteristic of being concentrated in the parts of the body that were severely damaged.

When a human body enters a space where the density of divine power is uniform.

If the density of divine power increased in a certain section, it meant that the organs in that section were damaged.

The therapist applies these phenomena to check the patient’s condition and diagnose the disease.

In some cases, ignorant pouring of divine power could cure diseases, but divine power was not omnipotent.

If there was something like a tumor on the body, it could be difficult to treat with divine power, or even worse.

The same is true of congenital anomalies, and in this case surgery was necessary.

The healer frowned as he diligently wrote something on a piece of paper with a human body, tracing the flow of divine power in Rey’s body.

“…”

The therapist shook his head slightly and continued the record.

Eventually, as the light produced by the divine power diminished, Rey made a sound of pain again.

The therapist looked at Rey and slowly opened his mouth.

“Most of the major blood vessels, including the heart, are tattered.”

It wasn’t a tattered medical term, but there was no other substitute for it.

The therapist pondered for a moment if there was any realistic way to cure Rey.

Change or strengthen the heart at all… This wasn’t very realistic, but if possible, it was more like a temporary measure.

The state of the major blood vessels was quite hopeless.

In essence, the more the human body repeats the regeneration of the same part, the more the tumor incidence rate soars, and the repair itself has defects. The same applies to regeneration using divine power.

Rey’s heart and major blood vessels had already been damaged too often and had to recover, so it was impossible for him to live long even with a skilled healer.

“The blood pressure is… not high. It is better to lower the blood pressure in order not to put a load on the blood vessels, but if the blood pressure is lower than it is now, it will be a problem.”

The blood pressure-lowering drug that the therapist had prepared in advance was put aside. Instead, he held out a small silver-plated dagger.

“…just get this.”

Ray whimpered and took the dagger.

“Is this… a relic?”

“It is a holy relic bestowed upon you by Your Majesty. It is designed to heal wounds by releasing divine power when blood is shed.”

Even though it was small, the therapist who added the explanation that it was a top-class relic made the feign of stabbing his chest.

“If you’re really in a hurry, pierce the heart. The divine power will radiate from the heart and restore blood vessels and vital organs in an instant. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Rey laughed weakly at the advice of the therapist that such a rapid restoration would have serious side effects.

Seeing the therapist talking like that, I felt like I was going to have a heart attack.

In any case, Rey, who took the absurd extra life, asked the therapist.

“How’s my body?”

“…10 years. If you don’t overdo it and do your best to recuperate.”

In fact, 10 years was almost impossible.

Even if you lie in bed right now and spend the rest of your life, you will have a heart attack after 5 years.

“…The heart is not an organ that can stop and give rest. If you continue to overdo it, even if all the healers of the Imperial Palace stick together, it will be difficult for three years.”

“…”

gulp

The sound of Ray’s spitting was heard loudly in the therapist’s ears.

When the therapist who was looking at the chart raised his head, he saw Ray’s face, which was still covered with a grim expression.

The healer and the priest let out a small sigh.

Both of them experienced a lot of death while doing this kind of work, but nevertheless, it was hard to forget the depression when faced with a person facing death.

Meanwhile, Ray relaxed her expression and patted her cheek lightly.

Isn’t that a strange story? I knew right away that I didn’t have much time.

Rey saluted the healer and the priest, reviving the sensations in her body that had completely killed her.

“Thank you. Maybe you need more treatment…”

Bump!

Suddenly, the door opened.

When Ray turned his head.

A girl with green eyes was standing there.

“Ray…? What do you mean by this…?”

*

After diligently searching the ward, Johana arrived at the recovery room and listened to the voices from the inside.

In fact, while listening to Yohana, she had such hopes that Rey would notice and tell her to come in.

However, contrary to Yohana’s expectations, Rei did not invite Johana.

Rey was just concentrating on conversing with the therapist in a very low, subdued voice.

Johanna stole the conversation without thinking. It was just a joke. As usual, it was just a prank to see Rey’s reaction.

“…”

However, the more he listened to the conversation, the more the blood flowing through his body seemed to get colder.

10 years or 3 years, a heart or a blood vessel… The more she pondered on those stories, the more Johanna’s heart raced.

My heart hurts… so there are less than 3 years left. what? lifespan?

haha…

It’s ridiculous. It was a really absurd guess.

Did I misunderstand that story? you must have misunderstood I must have heard something wrong.

Johanna tried to convince herself by repeating that.

When he woke up, he had already opened the door to the recovery room and was approaching Rey.

“Ray, what do you mean by this…?”

“…!”

Rei looked at Yohana and widened her eyes.

Yohana approached Rei with an anxious step and exhaled a sharp breath.

“Ray, what now…”

Yohana’s green eyes trembled slightly, unable to focus properly.

Seeing this, Rei frowned in embarrassment.

Rei had been lying on her bed with her body decapitated until just before, so her head didn’t turn as quickly as usual.

As Rey stood still, showing a perplexed look, Johana’s voice was filled with anxiety and trembling more clearly.

“Lee, Ray.. Where does it hurt?”

Ray is sick?

Johanna couldn’t understand the sound that came out of her mouth.

If someone else had said that, they would have laughed.

To Johana, Rei was like a rock that would never collapse…

Because I was sick… The assumption that my life was short-lived was too unrealistic.

There must have been a misunderstanding of the story overheard through the door.

I just unilaterally misunderstood the conversation Ray and the therapist had in the recovery room.

The story that went back and forth as if it was 10 or 3 years, and that Rey’s remaining life was only that… was just my misunderstanding.

Ray will correct my misunderstanding, and then giggle and tease me.

Maybe Rey was messing around with the therapist to make fun of me.

Ray reveals that all of this was a joke, and I’m going to get embarrassed and go mad covering my hot face.

“Lay…”

Yohana didn’t want to be teased by Rei, so she tried to calm her emotions and calm herself down.

However, despite Yohana’s efforts, tears began to form first and drip.

“Ray, are you okay? Are you okay?”

“Ah… it’s fine…”

“Do not lie!!!”

Yohana, who screamed, let out a rough breath and distorted her face.

“Don’t hide it…! Don’t hide it, tell me. Isn’t it… Am I making a strange misunderstanding?”

Johanna begged for the answer she wanted while screaming not to hide it.

Yohana, who was trembling, took Rei’s hand to her cheek and squeezed her voice.

“Ray… I was stupid and stupid because I misunderstood… I… just cried and laughed…”

Tears ran down her cheeks and wet her hands.

Rey, who had been completely frozen in embarrassment, came to his senses later and blinked at the therapist.

At the signal to stay, the healer left the recovery room with the priest and closed the door.

Ray gripped her rough breathing and quickly recalled the conversation she had with the therapist.

Rei and the therapist, both of them, only spoke the word ‘lifetime’.

Directly mentioning those words was mutually exclusive, so the therapist kept only hints of numbers, and Ray did as well.

Still, I could still get away with it. No matter how clumsy those excuses were, they could be dismissed.

The moment Rey swallowed one big saliva, Yohana cried out again.

“Why, why no answer!!”

“Johanna.”

“I’m trying to make fun of me again!! Just to go and make fun of me for crying later, that’s why I’m doing this now!! Saying it’s not fun, this kind of joke!!! It’s really not funny!!”

Johanna’s head was pounding.

Yohana couldn’t imagine breaking up with Rei.

Even if we met for a brief breakup, I believed that it was just a brief moment, and I also believed that I could visit Rey at any time.

The belief that you would hold my hand when I reached out…

Johanna has been with Rey since the first time Ray reached out on a snowy winter day.

“Ray, where are you really hurting?”

Finally, Johanna asked again.

Afraid to hear Rey’s answer, but unable to bear the uneasiness that eats his heart, he asked again.

Ray looked into Johana’s watery eyes… and barely answered.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“Lie, don’t lie!! Don’t try to skimp on it like that!!”

“Listen to me!! Yohana!!”

On the contrary, Rei pushed Johanna up and raised her back.

“It’s just…!! There are some sore spots! I worked a lot when I was young, and the techniques I use put a lot of strain on my body, so that’s why! But it’s okay… After 10 years of recuperation, you can fully recover. …”

3 years. How would you describe the three-year period?

Rey muttered and stuttered, making up excuses.

“If you continue to overdo it… it may become difficult to operate the core later. The therapist said that it would be difficult to operate the core even if it was overworked for three more years, so he told me to recuperate.”

“under…!”

Johanna was astonished.

I didn’t know if I should believe what Ray said.

Rei didn’t… bury her face on the nape of Johana’s neck as she did with Karen, and she didn’t share many secrets with Johanna as she did with Luna.

Johanna knew it too.

He knew that he was neither loved like Karen nor depended on like Luna, but he hid it without showing it.

So it was hard to trust Ray more.

However, if he doubted Rey’s words, fearing the truth to come later, Johana tried to convince Rey’s excuse by force.

“Until now… Did you hide it until now? From me? From others?”

“No, Yohana… It’s a solvable problem. I just need a break, a break.”

“Then what the hell are you doing here?! Why are you working so hard at Aegis!!”

“Don’t worry!! I’ll just watch this semester…! I’m going to rest too… I don’t have anything to worry about?”

“How can I not worry!!”

Out of breath, Yohana gasped and grabbed her chest, wiping away the tears that were falling endlessly and looking at Rey.

“Ray, Ray can really get better, right…?”

“Yeah… I didn’t say anything because I was afraid that you… my family would be worried. After a few years of recuperation, I can fully recover. The swordsmanship I learned has a strong recoil, so it caused problems… but… the Emperor Your Majesty is also sending a healer to help.”

Rei raised the corner of her mouth forcibly and pointed out the door.

“Those who just left are healers sent by His Majesty the Emperor. So don’t worry. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Lay…”

Yohana crawled onto the bed on her knees and hugged Rey tightly.

Johanna trembled, hugging Rei stronger and wetter with tears on Rei’s shoulder.

“From now on… from now on, tell me if you get sick… don’t hide it… please… don’t surprise me…”

“…”

Rei hesitated for a while, then hugged Yohana face to face.

Rey clenched her teeth as she felt the warmth of Johanna crying as she said that she was too scared.

Ray knew all too well that if there is a meeting, there is also a parting.

Even so, I was still afraid of parting, and I still didn’t know how to part without pain, so I told the lie again, even though I knew I would regret it in the end.