Rehabilitation Therapist for the Broken Warrior – Chapter 22

“It’s been three weeks since I came to the kingdom, and this is my first time wandering around the streets!”

Zion, seated in the wheelchair that Serin is pushing, gazes around in wonder.

Though he could have used his pressure wheelchair as usual, the automated wheelchair attracted too much attention, so Serin decided to accompany him on their outing to the village, following Zion’s wish to stroll comfortably.

“Is there anywhere you want to go? Suddenly deciding to go out like this is surprising.”

“No, not really? I don’t even know what’s here to begin with.”

It’s great that he’s energetically dashed out of the ward, but what exactly is he supposed to do now?

This place is the kingdom’s capital set in a medieval backdrop. Although it’s called a metropolis, according to my standards, this city doesn’t have any attractions worth enjoying.

Part of it was because I was busy working on holidays, but honestly, there wasn’t much to do either.

“Then is there something you want to do or something you want to eat?”

“Well, I don’t know? But you keep asking me?”

“You were the one who wanted to come out, Zion.”

“Still… since Hop Harvey is a local here, shouldn’t he guide us with some insight?”

“I haven’t really played around much, you know.”

“Ah…”

I live in this town.

But a town or city is just an administrative region. If you break down the physical and actual area I inhabit, it includes just my house, the center, and the essentials shop near my home.

Beyond that area, even if it’s part of the same city, it would be a stretch to call it my living space.

“Serin, don’t you have any opinions?”

I was in a quite troublesome situation, not knowing what to do.

Could the all-around caregiver from this empire actually have an answer in this scenario?

“I do know a must-visit restaurant tour course and a gladiator match schedule that you simply must try in your lifetime…”

So she does have some answers. A must-visit restaurant tour course, huh?

And… gladiators?

“Is there something like a Colosseum in the kingdom?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No. I had no idea such a thing existed.”

“It’s shocking that you’ve never played around, despite how many countries have duels based on rules and fair competition. It’s common knowledge.”

“Is that so?”

Certainly, when it comes to medieval entertainment, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t exactly… right?

You’d have to go back to ancient times for a Colosseum or gladiators, wouldn’t you?

Then again, in a fantasy world, I can allow for a stronger desire for that kind of strength.

“Did you know about it, Zion?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Do you like gladiators?”

“No, not really… I don’t want to see people fighting.”

Zion bows his head with a glum expression.

Not wanting to watch humans fight…

That seems like a very Zion-like reason.

“Then shall we go for a restaurant tour instead?”

“A restaurant tour… the idea of going somewhere to eat feels wonderfully ordinary!”

“Being ordinary is a good thing.”

“That’s what I wanted to do. To play normally.”

While talking, Zion turns his head around from the wheelchair, looking at various people, buildings, and shops with an amused expression.

Was Zion really someone who wanted to live an ordinary life?

It’s somewhat of a cliché desire for someone special to yearn for the usual.

After I jokingly told her to ask Zion for anything, he started to share what he wanted in various ways.

Although it did feel like he was doing it because I pushed him, his bright face was undeniably genuine.

If she’s happy doing what she truly wants, that’s good enough for now.

“But we’re not going for a restaurant tour; we’re just going to one place today.”

“Just one place?”

“A restaurant tour course is meant for travelers who stop by for a few days, right?”

“That is true.”

“But we’re going to be the ones living here. If we eat all the delicious food and do all the fun things in one day, that would be a shame.”

Thinking about it, that makes a lot of sense, but…

“So, you mean you want us to come out together often, don’t you?”

“Hehe, did you catch on?”

After saying that, Zion looked up at me playfully with a smile.

Maybe it’s because the talk about being ordinary came up, but looking at her now, she really does seem like a regular twenty-one-year-old girl.

“Then today, it’s not quite a restaurant tour, but more like a food expedition. Just one kind of dish…”

“It’s Hop Harvey’s turn to choose this time.”

“Me? It’s my turn to choose?”

“That’s right. That’s how it’s fair.”

“Why is that?”

“Serin decided what she would do, and I decided how many I would eat, so it’s only right for the teacher to decide what we will eat. Doesn’t that seem fair?”

Is this the hero standard of fairness?

Why does it feel like Zion put the simplest task on me?

Is it really necessary for all three of us to decide something for the day to be fair?

“Um…”

As I contemplated and stared at Zion, she also looked up at me, smiling happily.

It seems she really just wanted to see me get lost in thought.

But should I really try to decide something? It’s true I haven’t offered any opinions.

Zion had definitely said earlier that being ordinary was fine. If she’s an ordinary girl…

“It’s still too early for lunch, so why don’t we try something sweet for a snack? How does that sound, Zion?”

“Sounds ordinary and nice!”

“I thought going with something ordinary would be what you would like.”

“Wow, Hop Harvey, you’re really smart.”

“Is that a compliment, saying I’m smart?”

“Of course! You feel like a real doctor!”

Hmm, so what should we eat? What do ordinary girls eat?

Right… I remember. There was that super trendy sweet snack that girls loved.

“Serin, is there that…”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Tang…”

“Tang?”

I almost spilled the word for that food before snapping back to reality.

Was I really about to ask if there’s a place selling tanghulu in this fantasy world?

“Uh, I mean… is there a place that sells a dessert kind of thing made with fruit covered in sugar?”

“You’re referring to confiseries, right?”

“Huh? Ohhh! That’s it!”

What did Serin just say? Confiserie? That’s a completely new term to me.

It sounds like French? I think I’ve heard of confit, a French duck dish…

“Going to a confiserie on a holiday feels so ordinary for a girl!”

“You have an excellent taste, teacher.”

Of course, it seemed like Zion knew about the confiserie too.

But wait, did I just say ‘go to the confiserie’? So confiserie is not just a food but a place?

I’m getting compliments for something I didn’t even know about.

My head was getting more and more confused.

Come to think of it, my earlier question had been, ‘Is there a place that sells such desserts?’

So Serin responded by mentioning a location that sells those kinds of things.

“Anyway, Serin. That confiserie is also on the city’s must-visit list, right?”

“That’s right. Shall I take you there?”

Since she said that without any hint of weirdness, it seems like the confiserie indeed is a proper location.

“Yes, let’s go.”

“I’m excited!”

Since Serin knew the way, she led the way while I followed behind.

Zion was seated in the wheelchair Serin was pushing, so she was out of my line of sight ahead of her.

But I could see Zion’s head bobbing up and down from behind Serin’s body, suggesting she was so excited she might burst into song.

“We’re here.”

This is the confiserie…

It’s a large shop bustling with people, as expected from a recommended place in Serin’s info network. A classic rectangular wooden sign read ‘Confiserie et Chocolat’, and the building design was like any bakery or dessert shop, with transparent windows and various displays outside.

And on those displays were all the fruit-based desserts I had asked Serin for.

“I can’t believe a place like this was in this city.”

I live in the kingdom’s capital. I wouldn’t be surprised to find a shop like this, but since it was quite far from my house and the center, I had no idea it existed.

And this shop… was selling a variety of sugary + fruit combination desserts beyond what I had imagined.

There were, of course, peeled grapes encased in sugar like the tanghulu I first thought of, as well as slices of orange covered in chocolate, chocolate balls shaped like trapezoids from fancy patisseries, jelly, and even… ice cream?

It’s probably the best description to say it felt like a comprehensive dessert shop.

Zion’s eyes widened in awe as well.

With her mouth agape, she looked at the sweet treats on the shelves with sparkling eyes, and it was only just before she began to drool from the heavenly scents of chocolate, sugar, and fruit wafting around that she snapped back to reality and closed her mouth with a ‘pop!’

“Quickly, choose, Hop Harvey!!”

“How about taking your time to choose instead?”

“Why?”

“Because that’s ordinary.”

“Is that so? But I’m just so eager to eat!”

I may be awkward at having fun, but I still can’t compare to Zion’s level.

The joy of buying something isn’t just in using the item you purchased.

So, what’s even more fun than eating is…

“Looking around can also be fun.”

“Oh…!”

There’s pleasure in imagining how delightful it would be to eat the colorful desserts that dazzle the eyes, losing oneself in happiness just visualizing it.

And the bittersweet agony of having to pick only a limited number of selections. Zion doesn’t seem to understand that the indecision and hesitation are where the real fun lies.

“Serin! Let’s go over there!”

“Yes!”

Fortunately, Serin promptly shifted Zion in the direction pointed by her finger as if she had realized something.

An ordinary day suitable for an ordinary child.

I hope today can be a special day for Zion because of that ordinary life.