Rehabilitation Therapist for the Broken Warrior – Chapter 70

Dear Esteemed Sir,

First and foremost, I humbly ask for your understanding as I reach out to you through this correspondence in my position as a physician, which is far removed from social affairs.

The reason I am daring to send this letter, despite the impoliteness, is to share the joyful news that Hero Zion Laurel has completed his rehabilitation at our facility and will be discharged after a year-long process.

In addition, to commemorate his discharge, we are organizing an event to gather prominent figures from around the world who have been indebted to the hero. I sincerely wish for you to attend and grace us with your esteemed presence.

The gathering will be held on Saturday, July 31, 690 of the Unified Era, at the Grand Banquet Hall of the First Royal Palace of Noden.

May the Creator bless your future endeavors.

– Hop Harvey, Director of the Kingdom Rehabilitation Medicine Center

– Hero Zion Laurel

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“Is this sufficient?”

“Quite enough. Thank you for your efforts.”

“Ah, what a relief.”

With Serin’s review, I finally completed the wording for the ball invitation.

After living my life as a science student, suddenly being in a position to write sentences felt surreal.

Moreover, I had to write everything by hand and ensure it looked nice for the invitations.

Didn’t they say advanced science is no different from magic? That is no longer true.

Science is undoubtedly greater than magic. The ability to print and copy is a far more incredible blessing. Thinking back, I had to endure so many hardships without something like contraception magic!

Anyway, I’ve completed the text, now I just have to write it out for the number of invitees.

“Then let’s aim for 1,200 copies.”

“Excuse me? 1,200? I didn’t plan to invite that many!”

Do I really have to write 1,200 of these?

I shot Serin a baffled look, yet she maintained her resolute demeanor.

“You may not know the workings of the social circles, so let me briefly explain: these invitations must go out to the most prestigious individuals in each community, corresponding to their numbers. Then each community will determine who is suitable to receive them.”

“I’m hosting the event, yet I can’t decide whom to invite?”

“It might be better for you not to decide directly. These social circles are strict, and each community will only distribute invitations to carefully selected individuals for their own honor. Factors like social trends, current global dynamics, the theme of the party, and of course, your relationship with and status as the host are all considered. Though we send out 1,200 invitations, probably less than 200 will actually reach the nobility.”

Serin adjusted her glasses while explaining the social rules.

What on earth does a special agent in the imperial palace do that they know everything in the world?

“To think I’d write 1,200 but not even 200 would be used is a sad tale.”

“That’s the way it is. The invitations you are writing bear the name of Hero Zion. They are exclusive invitations, but still, we must match the scale of the party with 200 for distribution. The social circles will determine the numbers based on those considerations. Moreover, it’s just my assumption, but I believe anyone invited will want to attend. So this party may very well be… one of the most lavish events the world has ever seen. That’s my take on it.”

Is my current task that significant… a ball of unmatched grandeur in the world, huh?

Am I truly hosting a party on such a scale under Zion’s name?

Who would have thought that my promise to extend a hand at the ball would lead to something this grand?

“Well, I guess I have no choice but to buckle down and do this.”

“Also, after work tonight, I will be meeting with the heads of the communities over dinner to personally invite them and express my thanks. Normally, we would send these by post, but it would take six weeks to distribute them all by mail. Since we must finish this by next week, I have no choice but to deliver them in person using the Magic Tower. I will arrange the schedule with the heads accordingly. It will require all my evenings this week and next just to make it happen.”

“What? I have to have dinner with them? Then what about Zion…”

“It’s unavoidable, you likely won’t see him much. And during this period, you’ll also need to prepare for dancing. You promised to dance with Zion, right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

Suddenly inundated with the schedule related to the ball, I found my entire 24 hours blocked out.

What will happen to my life until the end of July?!

I don’t mind being busy myself, but without excluding Zion’s training time, I realized I wouldn’t have any time to meet him at all.

Is this truly okay? I’m doing all of this to keep my promise to Zion, yet I wouldn’t be able to see him for over a month!

“For now, I’ll write about 200 copies today. Then I’ll take that to the principal’s office tomorrow, and until I go to sleep, I’ll write another 150… Something like that. Normally, preparations for an event of this scale should start ages ago, but with our timeline so tight, we’ll have to move forward like this.”

Serin’s comments felt dizzying.

Tonight, I missed Zion. What could he be doing right now? Is everything really okay? I wonder if Zion misses me too…

If I’m away for too long, will Zion worry about me?

“……”

Do I… even need to worry about that? Zion is no longer sick. I’ve fixed him, he’s not broken anymore.

So even if I’m not there, perhaps it won’t be a problem…

“Teacher? Is something wrong? You need to write those invitations quickly.”

“Oh… yes. I do need to.”

Let’s not think about it. Just move my hand.

Zion definitely told me he could do nothing without me. I trust him. So I should avoid such strange thoughts.

Let’s write those invitations like I’m a copy machine. Just keep my hand moving without a care…

*****

“Is Hop very busy these days?”

“Yes. He’s always been busy, but now it’s particularly so.”

Zion, with a worried expression, asked about Hop, but the level of concern reflected on Serin’s face was far greater than Zion’s.

“Zion, I believe holding the ball right at the final stages of your rehabilitation might be an unreasonable schedule.”

“Indeed, I think so too.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“More to the point, Hop should be coming back from the Principality soon—don’t you think Serin should go help him?”

Serin quietly stared at Zion.

Eventually, she spoke cautiously.

“Is there any thought of you going out to meet him? He seems to miss you greatly…”

“I’m fine. You should go and help him.”

“…….”

Serin didn’t know about the Demon King or the war that Zion was preparing for. Consequently, she had no idea what Zion was planning at all.

Thus, she couldn’t even guess the meaning behind Zion’s current attitude.

However, it was clear she didn’t particularly want to meet Hop, so following her direction, I decided to leave.

“Well then, I’ll be off.”

“Take care~”

Left alone in Serin’s house, Zion escorted her out and returned to his bedroom, where he briefly stared at the ladybug-shaped cushion on his bed.

Then, sitting on the bed with it on his lap, he hugged the cushion, rubbing his cheek against it, before suddenly lying sideways, gazing blankly at the ceiling.

“I miss Hop.”

Five weeks of rehabilitation remaining. Trying to hold a ball that could draw the world together in that time will be an impossibly tough task.

Even if I’m detached from high society, I understand that much.

Even Hop, who says he lives the busiest life among countless lives, will be busier than ever before.

With barely three hours to spare, he’ll likely spend all his time on duties and ball preparations.

Unless I specifically seek him out, I might not even see him.

I knew this could happen.

Yet this is a necessary part for me. Because…

– Squeeeak…

The ladybug-shaped cushion I was holding started to emit a squeaky sound as I squeezed it with my arms.

It’s just too tough, too lonely, too painful, anxious, cold, and scary, my body trembles.

If I can’t do anything alone, how can I fight on the battlefield?

Hop is a doctor. He’s not someone I can just carry around. If I took him to where the Gate opens, he’d die in an instant.

So these next five weeks, when Hop is overwhelmingly busy with ball preparations, will be a test for me.

I must endure, persevere, and survive.

This is my first training after rehab ends.

A necessary process for my independence, which is everything to me, from Hop… a ‘practice of distance’.

Just as I told him, this is the essential step for my independence.

I sincerely hope that during this process… I don’t fall apart.