Rehabilitation Therapist for the Broken Warrior

“Sion, how are you feeling? Can you stand?”

“…”

Sion stood, gripping the parallel bars at waist height, her arms and legs taut with effort.

Even with the buff significantly reduced, she showed no signs of faltering or collapsing.

If her strength improved just a little more, we could probably move on to gait training with the buff active…

“Sion?”

But Sion’s expression…

While she was exercising and following my instructions, she wore a vacant, almost soul-less expression, as if she couldn’t hear a word I was saying.

“…Let’s stop here for today, Sion.”

“Huh?”

“Mirei, please record a buff sensitivity of 3.3.”

“Understood.”

While Mirei recorded the examination results, I gently supported Sion, released the buff, and helped her into her wheelchair.

“Director Hope, we didn’t do anything today.”

“If you can’t focus on your muscles during training, it’s not very effective. So, I think it would be best for you to rest today.”

“…”

Sion dejectedly lowered her head.

This was, as I suspected…

“Sion.”

“Yes?”

“Are you still dwelling on what happened the other day?”

“…”

Last weekend, we had gone out to the village together, and Sion had suffered a delusional episode, which we barely managed to calm down.

It had been a precarious situation, happening in a crowded place.

It seemed Sion was still feeling down because of that incident.

“…Yes.”

“It’s okay, Sion. What did I tell you?”

“That I’m the most important.”

“That too, but the other thing.”

“The other thing?”

Sion pondered with her head down.

Then, as if she had remembered something, she cautiously looked up at me.

“…Being sick isn’t something to be sorry for.”

“That’s right. So don’t be so down.”

Missing a day of rehabilitation wouldn’t be a big problem, but if her depression persisted and affected her mental state, it could become serious.

I hoped Sion would cheer up soon.

“Director Hope.”

“I’m listening.”

“I know I can rely on you. So, instead of saying sorry, I’ll say thank you.”

So, Sion wasn’t feeling down because she was sorry.

That was a relief, but…

“I was really grateful that time. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there… I always feel like I’m imposing on you.”

“It’s alright. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Even as she thanked me, Sion kept her head down, her hands clasped neatly in her lap, her expression still dark.

“But with these things happening so often, I’m starting to get scared.”

Was she feeling anxious as she spoke of fear? Her fingertips seemed to tremble.

I knelt down to meet Sion’s gaze and took her hands in mine.

“…Director Hope?”

“Don’t tremble, just relax. I know everything, so you don’t have to say anything.”

Thankfully, Sion’s trembling stopped as soon as I held her hands.

We looked at each other for a moment, without a word.

Holding her hands like this, I found myself smiling. They were trembling, but also warm.

“Sion, I was happy at that time.”

“Huh?”

I offered her a small smile, but Sion still looked bewildered.

“When you were losing your mind, I actually didn’t do anything. I tried everything to calm you down, but your episode wouldn’t stop.

So, in the end… I had to appeal to faith. Remember?”

Sion nodded silently.

“When I asked you to trust me, you said you did. You were able to regain control because you trusted me. That wasn’t something I did; it was something you overcame.”

Thinking back on it, it had been a truly terrifying situation. What would I have done if Sion hadn’t trusted me?

“That’s why I was happy. Because you called me your comrade. And because you said you trusted me. So, I want to thank you too. Thank you so much, Sion.”

I had told Sion so many lies, but these words were completely true.

Because Sion had overcome it, we were able to safely navigate that episode. And I had been genuinely happy that she had trusted me and called me her comrade.

I had falsely claimed to be her comrade, but I had truly become one in her eyes.

“Director Hope…”

Sion looked down at me as I knelt beside her wheelchair.

Her crimson eyes seemed to shimmer with tears.

“Sion, are you crying?”

“Uh…, no?”

As if wanting to hide her emotions, Sion closed her eyes and shook her head.

“I’m not crying yet?”

“That’s a vague answer. Doesn’t that mean you were crying?”

“But it’s true. A hero doesn’t lie.”

“You were about to cry.”

“But I didn’t.”

Sion’s expression was resolute as if she was holding back tears.

She was practically crying already, so why couldn’t she just admit it?

But that wasn’t important.

What mattered was that my feelings had reached her.

She had properly expressed her gratitude.

“Anyway, rest today. Mirei will take you back to your room. I have other patients…”

“No, it’s okay. Let’s proceed with rehabilitation training as planned.”

“I told you, it’s better not to push yourself.”

“I’m really okay! I’ve told you so many times, I don’t lie.”

Sion lifted her head defiantly, pulling her hands from mine and forming fists in front of her chest in a fighting pose.

“A hero always bounces back from setbacks. Especially…”

Sion looked directly into my eyes.

“When a comrade cheers them on.”

This patient was using the word “comrade” again…

It seemed like she was using it as a cheat code, knowing it would please me, just so she could do what she wanted.

“But a patient must follow the doctor’s orders.”

“But I’m really okay???”

“Sion, this is my judgment. You need to rest now.”

I couldn’t let her get away with using cheat codes like this.

“Sion, you trust me, right? If you do, then please follow my instructions.”

Fighting cheats with cheats.

Sion wasn’t the only one who could create an offer that couldn’t be refused.

“That’s so unfair…”

Sion finally relented, her face crumpling.

It seemed she couldn’t push it any further. I needed to let her rest.

“Mirei, please take Sion back to her room. Explain the situation to Serin.”

“Understood.”

“Hmph…”

Sion didn’t say anything more and let Mirei lead her back to her room.

I’d have to make a note that we skipped Sion’s rehabilitation training today.

Rehabilitation was a marathon, not a sprint.

A single missed session wouldn’t be a problem as long as she remained consistent.

More importantly, tomorrow was the monthly Kingdom Council meeting.

So, tonight, I needed to finalize the reports on the rehabilitation center’s operations and current status.

‘I really should have done this last weekend…’

I had postponed such important work to go out and have fun.

Still, the reports were already prepared, and I just needed to review them, so missing work over the weekend was a minor issue.

*********

“Hmm…”

The next day, the Kingdom Council meeting concluded without incident.

As always, the Monarch and the ministers were generous with their praise and support.

The center was still bustling with patients, and people were returning to their daily lives.

However, my concern was…

“Is something troubling you?”

Although today was a non-working day due to the council meeting, it was also the day I applied Buff to Sion.

I had gone to her room after the meeting and slightly restored her stats.

It seemed Sion had noticed that something was on my mind.

“I have another business trip. A new rehabilitation center is opening in another country.”

“Where?”

“Frein.”

“Ah… the Holy Law Nation of Frein.”

The nation of clerics, where everyone believed in God and the Pope ruled. With so many people specializing in healing and recovery, they were actually the first nation to take notice of the rehabilitation centers.

The reason their center’s establishment was delayed compared to the Keroa Empire was simply a matter of infrastructure.

Frein held a high status and diplomatic power, but its terrain was harsh, resources scarce, and it wasn’t a wealthy nation.

“When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow. They seem to want me there as soon as possible.”

“Oh.”

Normally, a business trip wouldn’t be a problem, but because I had skipped Sion’s training yesterday, it was a concern.

Sion couldn’t train without my buff, and missing a whole week would undoubtedly hinder her recovery.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out.”

“It’s a simple problem.”

“You’re not thinking of training without me, are you?”

“Hey, even though I have a history, you worry too much. I can just come with you.”

Come with me? Sion on a business trip?

“You said you’re going there because they have a rehabilitation center, right?

I can go with you, encourage the patients there, and maybe you and I can do a demonstration or a workshop together?”

Hmm, that actually made sense.

The best part was that it would allow Sion’s rehabilitation to continue without interruption.

And Sion was always my top priority.

“That’s a good idea. Let’s do that.”

“Yay! Serin, I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, so please make the necessary arrangements.”

“Understood.”

I had no doubt Serin could handle the preparations, even on such short notice.

And so, the trip to the Holy Law Nation was decided.

Traveling with Sion… I just hoped nothing would go wrong.