Rehabilitation Therapist for the Broken Warrior – Chapter 13

“Teacher, here’s the patient list for today.”

“Thanks. Is Zion on the list?”

“Yes, I adjusted it as you mentioned yesterday.”

Receiving the list of patients from Head Nurse Mirae, I began my daily work with a review of the patient roster.

Normally, hospitals don’t operate on a reservation basis, but this kingdom’s rehabilitation center is the only one in the realm.

Even if you widen your search worldwide, including the new center in the Empire, there are only two of these institutions, so walk-ins without appointments are nearly impossible.

“Is this the person, Zion? You came to work together?”

“That’s right. I’m keeping an eye on him at my house to admit him later. He’s an important patient.”

“Oh, hello?”

Nurse Mirae stared blankly at Zion, who was sitting in a wheelchair, bowing his head in greeting.

“Um… Teacher.”

“What is it?”

“If his name is ‘Zion Laurel,’ and if he’s the important patient you’re taking care of…”

It seemed she had caught on to something. Since Zion said there’s no need to hide it, it might be good to go ahead and say it.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s Hero Zion Laurel.”

“Oh my…”

Mirae covered her mouth with both hands, displaying a shocked expression.

“How did the hero end up… You must have had a really tough time?”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry too much.”

And with that, I gently took her hand that was resting on Zion’s knee and held it tightly.

“We’ll definitely make you better. Let’s hang in there, Hero Zion!”

“Thank you.”

“Mirae, greetings are over; we need to start the examinations quickly. Get Zion changed into his patient gown and bring him to the clinic room.”

“Understood! Hero Zion, this way…”

Though running a bit late due to the morning chaos, the schedule for examinations was finally beginning.

Of course, the first patient to be examined had to be Zion, so starting with him was the day’s agenda.

With Nurse Mirae’s help, Zion changed into a patient gown during his stay at the center and entered the clinical room.

I guided him into the program I’d drafted for him from early yesterday morning as he entered politely, pushing his wheelchair.

“Zion, in your case, we’re dealing with extreme muscle loss, so we’ll focus primarily on exercise rehabilitation. Normally, this type of rehabilitation has a high success rate with little to worry about, but…”

For exercise rehabilitation, while the success rate is generally high compared to programs like neural rehabilitation or damage rehabilitation, the problem lies in Zion’s condition.

If it were just muscle loss, rehabilitation wouldn’t be overly difficult, but since Zion’s body had been neglected for over three years, the outcomes were uncertain.

On top of that, the severity of his condition made it difficult not just to train but even to perform simple daily tasks.

One could qualify for disability rating solely based on muscle loss… In reality, I’d never seen anyone like that; I’d only read about those with rare genetic diseases in books.

Fortunately, Zion didn’t have issues with muscle generation or protein synthesis, so as long as he could exercise, rehabilitation was indeed possible.

“It’s hard to be certain with Zion’s case. So I’m going to oversee it myself. His schedule is aligned with mine, so keep that in mind.”

Typically, I spend most of my work hours examining patients while interns and nurses lead the rehabilitation programs.

But with Zion, I had to handle his rehabilitation personally. That’s why I brought him here.

Naturally, it was also proper to have a medical justification for that.

In truth, in this rehabilitation center, I’m practically law and truth. No one doubts my necessity here, but I’m not foolish enough to overlook the fact that such trust depends on maintaining my credibility.

“Hop, I have a question.”

“Of course, ask away.”

“There’s very little exercise time; is it because you’re busy? If you need to supervise for training to happen…”

“That’s not the case.”

Sure, I’m busy and can’t devote much time to Zion for the smooth operation of the center, but that doesn’t justify scheduling it in a way that disrupts his rehabilitation.

“There are quite a few reasons, and I have to see the next patient, so I can’t explain right now, but I’ll go over it during exercise later.”

“I see… Got it.”

Although I said I understood, Zion made a slightly uncomfortable expression, as if he had something else he wanted to say.

“Zion, do you have another question?”

“No, my examination is finished, right? We need to see the next patient quickly.”

“….”

He worried about my schedule a moment ago, and now he suddenly wants me to see another patient?

In just a few days since we met, it felt like I could see right through what he was thinking.

“Zion.”

“Yes?”

“Are you seriously worried that you’re taking up my time?”

“Th-that’s…”

In the story I knew, Zion always had a nature of putting others first. I thought this was a given because he was a hero and kind-hearted.

But the extent to which he thinks of others, as I’ve seen yesterday and today, was no ordinary level of concern.

“Hop, you’re such a good person, working on healing others while only getting three hours of sleep. I wonder if it’s okay for me to be the first to receive treatment…”

His train of thought was nearly identical to what it was when setting the order for admissions yesterday.

Zion’s level of worry that others might suffer or face disadvantages because of him was bordering on obsessive, even fanatical.

“Sigh… Zion.”

“…….”

Seeing her shrink again as I sighed in exasperation made her look like a child getting scolded.

“I won’t scold you this time, so lift your head.”

“I’m sorry. I know my treatment is the most important thing…”

“No, it’s my fault for making you worry unnecessarily.”

“That can’t be…!”

“Zion.”

“Yes?”

If I kept reacting like I did yesterday, it would become an endless cycle.

In Zion’s case, I felt the psychological aspect was even trickier to treat than the physical.

An unusual obsession with order and morality, frequent trauma-induced seizures, emotional swings from hero-like to childlike…

Eventually, I’ll need to piece together all of this to find the fundamental cause and treat it.

So, I’ll approach our conversation now as part of that treatment.

I’d speak to Zion in various ways while simultaneously observing his reactions.

“Yesterday, you told me, right? That if I improved within two years, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s what I said.”

“I’ll return that sentiment to you. If we can help with your rehabilitation while ensuring there’s no issue with seeing other patients, then isn’t that doable?”

How would Zion react?

“……!”

His scarlet eyes widened, sparkling as he gazed directly at me.

‘Oh? Is it this much?’

“Hop, Teacher…”

Although it was an entirely unexpected reaction, I calmly kept my gaze on him without fluster.

“Thank you. For cheering me on.”

Well now… I’d just been thinking how I could read Zion so well, and now I have no idea what he’s thanking me for.

Did what I just say unexpectedly strike a chord? Did I hit the nail right on the spot?

“Anyway, Zion, you only need to focus on your rehabilitation. Don’t worry about me or anyone else, alright?”

“… Yes. Understood.”

Although something good happened, I remained unaware of the underlying reason.

I decided to think about why he was so happy at another time and said, “Mirae, we’ll proceed according to the program listed there, so please take Zion and explain the details and prepare him.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

It was now time to officially begin Zion’s treatment and see the other patients.

I was one of the busiest and most important people in this world.

Having promised Zion I’d manage the examinations of other patients without any problems, I couldn’t afford to waste any time.