Rehabilitation Therapist for the Broken Warrior

“Huh? Where did the cute doctor go?”

The elderly woman I was currently facing, according to her chart, was receiving rehabilitation at home.

She was a regular patient who visited Hanamana for checkups, medication, and rehabilitation programs.

“Director Hanamana seemed tired, so I let her rest. I’ll be seeing you today.”

“Oh my, I’m worried about her.”

“I understand your concern, but I’m a rehabilitation specialist from the Kingdom of Noden, here to inspect this facility. You don’t need to worry.”

“It’s not that I doubt your abilities, doctor… I’m just worried about that tiny doctor.”

The patients’ reactions were always the same when I told them Hanamana was resting.

Truly, Hanamana carried the weight of the world’s worries on her small shoulders.

“That doctor, she always seems so unsure of herself and doesn’t speak much, but she’s always working so hard.

Where does she get all that energy from, despite being so small?

I heard she went on adventures with the hero?

I always hope she doesn’t overwork herself. Anyway, I’m so glad she’s resting.

Thank you, doctor, for coming all the way from the kingdom. I’m truly grateful.”

The elderly woman bowed her head deeply.

I couldn’t even count how many times I’d received such gratitude today.

It was Hanamana who went to rest, leaving the work to me, yet the patients were thanking *me*. It was a strange phenomenon.

After attending to the waiting patients, I headed to the rehabilitation training room to oversee Sion and the other patients’ exercises.

“Director Hope, you’re here.”

“Hmm? What’s going on?”

The patients and staff were gathered around Sion.

Was she encouraging the patients as a hero, just like she did back in the kingdom?

“We were listening to Hanamana’s adventure stories.”

“Oh?”

The majority of patients at the Holy Law Nation’s rehabilitation center were also former adventurers.

And since most of the staff were clerics, they’d naturally be curious about the stories of a cleric in the Hero’s Party.

Moreover, these were tales of the tiny elf director’s prime adventuring days, the same director who caused all sorts of commotion daily.

I could understand their desire to hear those stories, but…

“Everyone, please return to your exercises. Staff, please manage the patients.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you for the hero’s tales!”

I instructed everyone to disperse as Sion and the other patients needed to continue their rehabilitation.

People returned to their respective places after bidding Sion farewell.

I worried I might have spoiled the good atmosphere, but everyone complied obediently.

Back in the kingdom, it was impossible to dissuade the patients who flocked to Sion.

Was the atmosphere different in the Holy Law Nation’s rehabilitation center?

Come to think of it, the Pope had mentioned that these patients came to the Holy Law Nation seeking healing, trusting in its reputation.

After Rehabilitation Medicine gained renown, many patients flocked to the kingdom.

But the patients here had sought the Holy Law Nation for treatment even before that.

Perhaps that was why they were more serious about their rehabilitation.

“The people here really love Hanamana’s stories.”

It seemed Sion also sensed what the patients felt when they listened to Hanamana’s stories.

“The patients I saw earlier were also talking about Hanamana.”

“Is that so?”

“I received a lot of thanks, too. They were grateful that I let Hanamana rest.”

“See? Everyone thinks that way. Director Hope, you’re such a kind and good person.”

“I never said I wasn’t. I don’t want to be a bad person.”

“You’re still shy.”

Sion giggled again.

Before coming here, she seemed somewhat down because of the weekend incident.

But both yesterday and today, she’d shown a much brighter side.

Perhaps meeting her former comrades had lifted her spirits?

“Anyway, let’s begin. I’ll cast the buff.”

Mirei wasn’t here today, and the staff were busy attending to the center’s patients.

For the first time since we began Sion’s rehabilitation a month ago, it was just the two of us.

I cast the maximum strength buff I could manage without overexerting Sion, who was in a wheelchair, and extended both hands towards her.

“I’ve cast the buff. Now, take my hands and stand up.”

From today, we’d start parallel bar walking exercises.

Sion’s muscle strength had barely reached the minimum requirement.

This marked the moment she could finally take her first literal steps towards proper rehabilitation, moving beyond exercises she could only do while sitting or lying down.

Sion reached out and grasped both of my hands.

“Director Hope.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever been to a ball?”

“A ball?”

Sion used all her strength to grip my hands, stood up on both legs, and looked up at my face.

‘Close…’

The question was so sudden, and I was so captivated by Sion’s face as we held hands and made eye contact that I missed the chance to answer.

“You haven’t, have you? You’ve dedicated your entire life to rehabilitation medicine.”

And when I didn’t answer, Sion provided the answer herself.

“You knew. Have you, Sion?”

“Yes, just once. When everything was over, there was a celebratory banquet in the Empire. I was the guest of honor.”

So, this was after the ending.

A celebratory party after defeating the Demon King… It made sense.

“But I couldn’t dance that day. I sat next to Nao the entire time, just watching the people dancing, laughing, and chatting. I waved to those who came to greet me.”

“Sion…”

“On the surface, I was smiling and accepting everyone’s congratulations, but by then, my body was so weak that I could barely stand without assistance.

And I was more consumed by the grief of losing Airi than by the accomplishment of defeating the Demon King.”

A rather somber story.

Sion usually lowered her head when she talked about such things.

But today, despite her sad expression, she looked directly into my eyes.

“But do you know what was even more important?”

“More important?”

“The real reason I couldn’t dance that day.”

“…”

Another reason besides her physical and mental state? What could it possibly be…?

“I don’t know.”

“There was no one to offer me their hand, like now.”

Like now…?

‘Ah…!’

Did Sion recall the ball from the way I offered my hands to help her stand up just now?

She’d said something seemingly out of the blue, but it turned out to be related to that.

“Do people usually offer both hands?”

“It’s like a double invitation.”

“I didn’t know there was such etiquette.”

“Right? You’ve spent your whole life studying rehabilitation medicine, so you wouldn’t know about party etiquette… Whoa!”

“Sion!”

Sion, who had been standing steadily, suddenly lost her balance and started to fall.

I quickly released her hands and reached out in the direction she was falling, catching her.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But my legs…”

Sion seemed to have lost strength in her legs and leaned against me to avoid falling.

The buff was still active; it shouldn’t have worn off yet…

“Can’t you feel your legs?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You’re barely able to stand even with all your strength, Sion. You lost your focus and let your mind wander, that’s why this happened.”

“…”

Since Sion couldn’t stand any longer, I helped her back into her wheelchair.

She sat down, guided by my hands.

But her expression seemed somewhat troubled.

“Letting my mind wander…” she mumbled softly, looking downcast.

Was she upset?

I seemed to have made a mistake.

I only meant to caution her against losing focus during training, but thinking about it, I’d spoken harshly after she’d recalled a painful memory.

We couldn’t proceed with training without addressing Sion’s mental state. I had to do something…

“Sion.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry for saying you were letting your mind wander.”

“No, it’s okay. You were right.”

I apologized first. And since an apology alone wouldn’t be enough…

In this situation, the best way to encourage her rehabilitation would be… this, right?

“About the, uh, ball…”

“Yes?”

“About the ball…”

“…”

“When you’re fully recovered, I’ll offer you my hand then, too.”

Sion lifted her gaze from the floor, her eyes widening.

Was she surprised? She looked bewildered.

“If you can dance again, that would be reason enough to throw a party.”

“You mean…”

“Since I helped you recover, I’ll be a guest of honor too, right? So, I think it would be alright to dance together.”

“…”

Sion blinked several times with wide eyes, then slowly lowered her gaze and nodded.

“Of course. When that time comes…”

And so, I offered her both my hands again, to help her stand.

“Then let’s really begin. This time, you must concentrate.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

Sion slowly took my hands again.

But somehow… she still seemed dazed.

She appeared to be focusing on standing, but I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

All I could do was hope that Sion would complete her rehabilitation training safely today.