Rehabilitation Therapist for the Broken Warrior – Chapter 90

“Thank you for the teaching, Master.”

“Take care.”

Due to regulations, outsiders can only stay here for three days.

As a human, I honestly don’t understand the reason behind such rules, but it seems like even Keineu, the elf king, can’t just break or change them at will.

“Take care, Kei. I’ll come again.”

Unlike the farewell he gave me, Kei merely nodded silently to Hanamana.

Hanamana seemed a bit disappointed, bowing her head.

Now, we should go up onto the magic circle enclosed by the runestone we entered through…

“Hmm?”

Nothing’s happening?

“You try it. The Space Movement Array is connected to the exit, so you just have to push it that way. It’s simple, but think of it as the final exam.”

The final exam, huh.

Keineu said to push towards the exit, but ‘push that way’ is something only those with spatial aptitude would understand.

“I got it.”

If the two spaces are already connected, I can move directly to the exit by pushing not towards the exit but down the path of spatial dimensions.

“Activate.”

As Hop activated the magic circle, the three people vanished in an instant.

Inside the room, Keineu was left alone, staring blankly at the direction of the Space Movement Array.

“Even so, learning is too fast. It’s as though they already knew everything from the start.”

It’s true that it’s easy once you know the trick, but I never expected to learn spatial magic and leave in just one day.

What on earth did Hanamana bring…?

“Well, I’ve marked it, so if anything happens, we’ll know. Let’s keep watch.”

***

“Alright, we’re good. Let’s go back.”

“Wow, we really succeeded?”

After successfully moving, Zion was looking around in wonder at the forest spread around him.

The Space Movement Array probably used a runestone engraved with space magic or caused a distortion in space to activate, but if you have aptitude for spatial magic, you could use it without any special means. Perhaps this too could be considered a form of teaching?

“Fortunately, I was able to learn almost everything. Now, when I go with Zion, I can hold my own!”

According to Hanamana, spatial magic is an absolute defense mechanism.

No matter how strong the attack, if there’s no space to go through, it can’t reach its target.

Defending through space was the concept behind it.

“Oh… is that so?”

Upon hearing that, Zion quietly drew his sword.

As if he wanted to challenge space itself.

“Let’s test it once.”

“Are you going to try and cut me?”

“Hanamana will fix you up, I’m sure.”

Saying Hanamana will fix me up…

If Zion swings a strike that could actually cut the space, I’m not sure I’d be in any condition to be fixed.

“Are you ready, Teacher Hop?”

“If that’s what it takes to feel satisfied…”

I conjured the image of space magic as I was taught by Keineu.

Delicate and intricate.

If I couldn’t manipulate space, I couldn’t summon the spatial essence to separate the area.

“Severance.”

It might seem like nothing happened on the surface.

Real spatial magic doesn’t have any visual effects.

However, my surroundings were already spatially separated from the outside, rendering everything beyond unimpactful.

“I’m ready.”

I said I was ready, but there was no reaction from Zion.

Ah, right. In this state, sound can’t even penetrate due to being completely blocked off.

Raising a hand to give Zion an okay sign, he finally grasped his sword and focused.

“None Resistance Type Slash.”

An incantation? I couldn’t hear it, but Zion’s lips moved a bit, so it was likely the name of the technique.

“Horizon Slash.”

– Split!

In an instant, Zion disappeared. Is he going to come at me using his abilities?

– King!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What? Sound actually happened?

When Zion reappeared, he was positioned with his sword horizontally against the space barrier.

A loud explosion reverberated all around. And soon after…

– Crash!

I turned around in shock as the trees behind me began to collapse.

In disbelief, I watched trees being cut down horizontally, level with the ground.

“Huh…”

Taking a breath, Zion returned his sword to its sheath.

“Connection.”

He reattached the severed space and faced me again.

What is this situation…? Zion in his prime was undoubtedly the fastest and strongest swordsman, yet that strike I just felt was incredible, even considering that.

Zion’s combat style typically relies on speed to evade and critical strikes for attack; he usually didn’t concern himself with the attack power since he had the Holy Sword that had an overwhelming advantage against demons.

With demons, merely hitting them with the Holy Sword would burn them with the power within it.

But what was that physical might just now? Was that really the energy of Zion’s sword?

“Hmm~ I’d say that’s passable. If you can create such a barrier, you could accompany me without worry.”

Zion was smiling confidently, in contrast to my stunned expression.

“Zion, are you alright? Didn’t you use too much of your powers just now?”

“Hehe, did I surprise you?”

“Of course! If you take such an attack… wait a minute, were you actually thinking of cutting me for real?”

“Hey~ it’s absolute defense, right? And I was holding back. I can’t let the teacher get hurt.”

“That’s what you call holding back…”

That can’t be true. He must have attacked assuming my defense would hold.

It makes sense since that attack was indeed…

“I heard a sound. Moreover, it created an explosive effect. Normally, striking a cut space with a sword wouldn’t make any noise. The defense of spatial magic is to make it so that the sword can’t proceed by erasing the space. So Zion, right now…”

Striking the severed space with his sword affected even beyond it. What that implies is clear,

“You interfered with the space. You almost cut through it. Were you really holding back?”

“When did I lie?”

Even as a joke, that’s hard to believe.

As I maintained a disbelieving expression, Zion dropped his playful smile and gripped his sword seriously again.

“Speed is weight. And weight is strength. It’s not just about cutting fast, but if you revert the resistance back to normal right before cutting, you can convert speed into energy. This is a technique I’ve learned through experiencing various battles alone.”

“Are you okay? Is it too hard…?”

“Of course, using this much of my power is tough, but I won’t collapse this easily. I’m training harder.”

After about a month of coordinating our schedules with Hanamana to come into the Elf village after the first expedition, has Zion grown this much?

“Heroes from the First Great War and Ancient Wars could intervene not just in space but in dimensions as well. I’m not at that level yet, but perhaps one day I’ll reach that point too.”

Saying they could even intervene in dimensions makes it sound increasingly unbelievable, but in just a month, Zion had gotten almost that close to spatial manipulation.

As time goes by and I wait for the day the Demon King, whom I predicted, will appear, maybe…

“Zion… why on earth…”

The one more shocked than me by Zion’s declaration was Hanamana.

She looked up at Zion, holding her staff tightly, as if the strength he had shown was frightening.

“Why are you suddenly trying to get so strong? The war is already over. Then why go this far…?”

Upon hearing Hanamana’s question, Zion smiled a somewhat bittersweet smile as he placed his hand on her head.

“What reason is there to get strong? It’s just that since I got healthy, I wanted to be strong too. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Really?”

“When did I ever lie?”

“….”

With Zion’s hand resting on her head, Hanamana bowed her head.

But that’s a lie.

Zion is trying to get strong because I predicted the Demon King would appear.

Zion… can say such a thing so nonchalantly?

Is this for the sake of his companions?

To face the Demon King alone, Zion…

“What are you all so serious about? Let’s head back. Come on, let’s go!”

Zion cheerfully moved towards the direction of the fallen trees he had cut.

Hanamana and I exchanged glances, unsure of what to do, but after confirming each other’s faces, we inevitably looked forward and followed Zion.

He simply turned his back toward us, moving further away, and… we followed him.

***

Time flows endlessly, and we return to our respective places to live our lives.

Zion continues to embark on expeditions for training and real combat, while I take care of patients at the Rehabilitation Center.

Now that I think about it, there was a time when Zion said he had nowhere to return and nothing to do in this world while watching Hanamana during her consultation.

So I wonder if Zion is happy now?

Having something to do and a place to return to, is living for those goals… enjoyable?

“Teacher Hop, what are you thinking so deeply about?”

“….”

Zion asked, looking at me with a worried expression.

Feeling parched, I sipped the coffee in front of me, but it was still too hot and bitter.

“Zion.”

“Yes?”

“What do you like about me?”

It suddenly struck me as curious. Like Hanamana and I did, does Zion also have a separate standard for what ‘someone’ is good?

For me, liking someone breaks away the significance of those parts.

I still love her even if Zion isn’t broken.

But does Zion feel the same?

Zion likes me because I gave her a reason to live.

If that’s a lie… what am I to Zion? Would she like me regardless of such factors?

“….”

Zion’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Why do you suddenly ask that?”

“I just thought everyone seems to have their tastes. I was curious if you had one too.”

“Oh~ Is that something you were curious about?”

Was that an appropriate answer? Zion smiled playfully.

It almost turned into a serious atmosphere, but I was relieved we managed to get past it easily.

“If I had to say what kind of person I like~”

Maybe she’s thinking it over?

She seemed genuinely amused recalling the kind of person she likes, nodding with a smile.

And her answer was…