Volume 5 Chapter 54 I Noticed, But...
According to Kyunei's examination, there were cracks in the bones and muscle damage throughout my body, but the most severe was the wound on my side. If the battle had dragged on a little longer, it seems that my organs would have spilled out from the wound, causing a serious situation.
Due to this, I was ordered to absolute bed rest. Until the healing was complete, I was forbidden to take even a single step from the bed, and it was made clear by Kyunei that I absolutely needed assistance to sit up.
If I didn't comply, I was warned that my 'vitality' would be completely drained, rendering me physically immobile. It was a moment when I realized that I couldn't go against Kyunei as a doctor.
However, it wasn't a complete ban on visitors. People came to visit me who was bedridden, providing post-visit reports and engaging in small talk, which was sufficient to understand the situation's progress.
But, there's something I need to confirm above all else.
"Hey, did you know Reed was a woman from the beginning?"
"Yeah, I was debating when to tell you, so it worked out well."
As if it were natural, Kyunei nodded as she rewrapped a clean bandage around my side while asking. Looking back, from the first time we met, Kyunei seemed positive about genuine interactions despite gently rejecting Reed's advances.
Even on the day of the first conflict with Kahlua.
"You were oddly concerned about Reed's wounds..."
"Well, I know injuries come with being a mercenary, but it's not okay for me to be indifferent to girl's wounds, right?"
Apparently, even when Kyunei worked as a pr**titute, there were times when she dealt with female clients dressed as men. There were people of various statuses, including mercenaries like Reed.
'By the way, when Reed first approached her, he said, "How about spending the night with me?"'
Whether it was from past experience or Kyunei's intuition as a succubus, Kyunei couldn't accurately discern, but it seemed like she had guessed Reed's gender, who she was meeting for the first time.
"It's not like she were hiding it, right? The mercenary I dealt with before also disguised herself as a man so she wouldn't be looked down upon by other mercenaries. But that doesn't mean she completely abandoned her femininity."
"...In that case, it might have just been too much trouble."
"Maybe it's both."
When Reed and I tumbled to the ground in a mess, I remembered the strangely soft sensation in my palm. I probably accidentally grabbed something as 'rich' as Kyunei's tightly. Right after that, I got punched, but if Reed was a woman, I can somewhat understand that level of anger. It's impressive how she managed to hold back something so substantial.
"By the way, what's up with Reed? Is she sleeping in another room?"
"That child also needs rest in a different way from Yukina-kun. Although there were hardly any external injuries, her brain was extremely exhausted. It seems like she's mostly sleeping when I'm not examining her."
Imagine if one day, a third arm suddenly grew on me. But honestly, I'm not confident that I can move it properly. Just like how humans can only move their arms and legs properly after training since infancy. Just because a new arm suddenly grows doesn't mean I can move it right away.
Moreover, Reed's Yamata-no-Orochi the Devouring Serpent (Dáinsleif) has eight arms. Just thinking about moving that many makes my head hurt.
"Don't worry. Just like Yukina-kun, there doesn't seem to be any serious injuries. It looks like in another two days, she'll be back to her daily life without any issues. It might take a little longer for both of you to resume your mercenary work though."
"Even if asked, I don't feel like working for a while..."
"That's true. The external and internal wounds are mostly healed, but just to be safe, it's best to take it easy for today."
After finishing wrapping the bandages, Kyunei stood up from the bed, leaving the room with a blown kiss.
Alone in the now empty bedroom, I lay back on the bed and called out to Gram.
"I can't believe Kyunei noticed before you did."
"It can't be helped. I only realized something was off when Reed took off the eyepatch. I actually wanted to tell you at that moment, partner, but..."
At that very moment, Bael unexpectedly barged in, and the battle resumed on the spot. From then on, he kept missing the chance to inform me, only managing to stop me in a hurry at the very end.
"But I never thought we'd end up letting Bael and Weiss slip away like that."
"Take it up with Reed. It's all because he went out of control, making it impossible to focus on anything else."
Bael and Weiss, who should have been lying defeated, had vanished without a trace. They must have slipped away amidst the chaos of me and Reed engaging in a flashy battle.
Furthermore, the area around where the two had fallen had been turned upside down when I accidentally uprooted the snake belly entwined with the ground, making it impossible to follow their blood trail.
"Do you think they'll hide somewhere and cause trouble again?"
"Even though they're demons, those wounds. It's uncertain if they can easily recover. However, considering this situation, it wouldn't be strange if there are other demons lurking in a similar manner."
"If possible, I don't want to meet them again."
"Because of the incident in the royal capital, it seems like we're considered enemies."
It's not just those two (Bael and Weiss). Surely, taking advantage of the chaos in the royal capital, demons hidden in various places were planning to rise up all at once. It's natural for me, who destroyed them from the core, to be resented.
"That's why. If we clash again, it will definitely turn into another fight to the death."
"Last time and this time, if you had made one wrong move, you might have died, partner."
"That's true, but──"
I look at my own hand. What comes to mind is the sensation of cutting off the arm of a demon (Weiss). The feeling of cutting through flesh and bone still deeply lingers in my hand even after several days.
"That's not something I want to experience willingly, those kinds of things."
"Even if the opponent is a demon?"
"I won't hesitate when the time comes, and if my loved ones are harmed, I'll make sure to settle the score. That part doesn't change no matter who the opponent is."
If someone dares to harm me or what I hold dear, whether human or demon, I'll knock them down equally.
To strengthen my resolve, I clenched my fist tightly.
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