Chapter 335: Aftereffect (1)
'It hasn't even been 10 minutes!'
The place that was now in ruins was, by no means close to here.
As soon as Lee Jihye talked to him, it would be correct to think that he came running in a rush, literally.
It seemed that he, who already had a high level of agility, came running quickly using magic power. If not, there was no way he could get here so fast.
Seeing Kim Hyunsung taking a slow breath, I had to think that he may have gone too far.
'Can he get this fast?'
I had already felt how fast humans with high agility could be, even with the demon worshipper Ito Souta, but I didn't think it would be that much.
Anyway, it was natural that part of Kim Hyunsung was happy.
I thought there could be some action, but it was a bigger result than I had initially imagined.
'I've no shame at all!'
He even arrived faster than those inside the castle. I felt sorry for thinking something weird just before, but I was busy convincing myself that I didn't do that.
I may look like trash, but at least now I could face Kim Hyunsung with confidence.
"You still... haven't fully recovered."
"Cough. It's not. Haha, there's nothing wrong with me anymore. I just had a brief seizure... Even though I told her not to tell... it looks like I'm disturbing you. I'm sorry."
Of course, it was natural to convey that I didn't want him to know.
I coughed and looked at him with moist eyes that were seemingly about to die. It wouldn't be bad if I were to lie around this point.
"I am healthy. First, you have to finish what you are doing."
"No. It is not urgent."
'Not urgent, my ass. There is nothing more urgent than that right now.'
There was one. It was that a close friend had been lying on the sickbed.
'Hyunsung, I didn't know you would think of me this much.'
Compared to the time in the tutorial dungeon, there were changes in several ways in both Jung Hayan and me. It seemed like there was no change in Park Deokgu, but the truth was that he had changed at least a little as well.
However, if I had to pick the person who has changed the most among them, it would be natural to say that it was Kim Hyunsung.
As Lee Jihye said, the expression of the person who rarely showed his feelings had become rich.
Looking at his desperate expression now almost made me want to laugh. This bastard was, by nature, a kind of affectionate human being.
I had also realized that I was a colleague who joined the 'Kim Hyunsung family,' but it was the first time I had been so sure.
When he just started the second round, he should have been moving with a great sense of duty, but one's nature didn't change so easily. This bastard was basically a good man.
'It must have something to do with the first round.'
The loss of not only Cho Hyejin but also many colleagues was likely to have caused trauma to him.
As if my predictions weren't wrong, he urgently started grabbing my hand.
"Wait."
"Cough. I'm really okay, Hyunsung. It's just a seizure. I know my body best. Yes. I'm really okay now."
With good timing, the medical staff and Lee Jihye rushed in.
Even though it was a group of priests, the atmosphere in the hospital room quickly became busy. Kim Hyunsung's expression also began to get serious. I could feel the magic power coming into my body.
Perhaps he wasn't able to find the cause of the seizure either. Of course, he couldn't. There was no such thing as a seizure in the first place.
"Er, Guild Master. Wait..."
"Yes."
"We'll see how his condition is. For now, you could leave us alone...?"
"Yes. Okay."
"Lee Jihye, please tell us exactly... how's his condition."
"I don't know exactly either. Suddenly, he grabbed his chest..."
It was apparent that she was thinking about how to explain to the high priest, so I opened my mouth first.
"It was just a short seizu..."
"Yes. He grabbed his chest and had a seizure. I don't know why, but I was so surprised and flustered, too... and he was in too much pain. Is there anything wrong with the Blue Vice Guild Master?"
"I think we should check it. There seems to be no problem just looking at him... there is a high probability that you're experiencing aftereffects."
"A-Aftereffects?"
"Yes. This is not something common."
'This is another new setup.'
From there, I paused for a moment.
However, looking at Kim Hyunsung's face full of worries, I felt that the aftereffects' setup was not bad. It was part of an operation to throw a load at Kim Hyunsung, to begin with, so it was only correct to applaud it rather than panic.
'This bastard won't suspect a sick person.'
The more safety devices, the better.
"Seeing that the magic power circuit was not broken, we thought you would be okay now, but... maybe we were thinking wrong..."
"What exactly happened to him?"
The lovely regressor also spoke urgently to the hesitating medical staff, including a high-ranking priest.
Actually, I didn't know what the hell was going on, but for now, since they were putting on a show for me, it was better to keep my mouth shut.
"This is a very rare case, so how do I explain it... I think it would be better to go outside. Since the patient is also here."
"No. You can tell me."
"Kiyoung-ssi."
"It's okay, Hyunsung-ssi. I need to know what's going on with my body."
His mouth was shut tight, and he looked sorrowed. The priesthood, watching out for us for a moment, began to open its mouth as if determined slowly.
As a medical staff representing the State, they were making a quite plausible reasoning. It even looked quite sharp.
"Did you know that your magic power has become divine?"
"Yes. I don't know how this did happen, but... Is that a problem?"
"I don't know in detail, either. It is the first time that magic power and divine powers are shared in the first place... It's probably a rare case that won't come out even if you search the entire continent."
"Yes."
"Of course, I am not saying that it is bad to have a divine nature. Of course, the fact that the Honorary Cardinal's body recovered quickly can be affirmed that the divine power has had a profound influence."
"Okay."
"But assuming... assuming that originally, Honorary Cardinal's body and the magic circuit had to be completely destroyed..."
"Yes?"
"The reason why the body should have been completely destroyed is that it's still in normal condition... if it's due to the divine nature of the magic power..."
"Ah..."
"It is very likely that you might have side effects that we are not aware of. Like the seizure just now, it's likely you'll get the aftereffects when using magic power, or doing certain behaviors."
Of course, there were no such aftereffects. I currently felt so lively that I could get up and dance.
However, listening to them, I started to think that it might be that, too. It was due to the divine nature of magic power that I was able to maintain living in this completely broken body!
Indeed, I was quite lucky to have a background story this dramatic.
Lee Jihye made an absurd expression for a moment, but she suddenly began to cry. Her acting skill was superb.
'She's not a joke.'
The situation was no different for Kim Hyunsung. He currently looked as if the sky had collapsed.
Considering how important magical power was to those who lived on this continent, it would not be unreasonable to have such a face.
On the continent, there was a joke that it was better to have no arms than to have no magic power, so the situation in which I was now was like the main character of the tragedy.
"No way..."
"Of course, it is not enough to be able to give a definite answer yet. First, there seems to be no problem with the Honorary Cardinal managing the magic power right away... and the circuit itself is fine. Of course, I don't know what will happen if he continues to use magical power... it would be better to refrain from using it as much as possible. You should avoid engaging in fierce battles like this or before."
"Ah... Yes. Okay."
The bitter look on my face would make this atmosphere even better.
Kim Hyunsung had a very troubled face. He didn't shed tears, but it seemed that his trembling arms were a sufficient explanation for his feelings.
In a way, this was like a death sentence for an adventurer.
He faced a crisis, one wherein he would have to leave me behind on this long journey. As I glanced at Lee Jihye, she noticed what I was trying to say. She started to nod.
I saw her taking the medical staff, which had done its part, and leaving the room.
Of course, I started preparing the field in order to complete the original mission.
At this timing, I decided that it would not be bad to take this to the next level.
"Ha... haha. It's a relief. Because it means there's nothing wrong with my body. Even if it's an aftereffect, it won't be a big deal. My body was weak in the first place, and in fact, I wasn't very gifted with magic. Alchemy doesn't use a lot of magic, so I won't have any problems living as I did before. Of course, it may affect the use of magic..."
"..."
"Hahaha. I can be as active as before. Thanks to Hyunsung's great consideration, I could avoid difficult things... my body is just a bit tired. It should be fine to use alchemy magic as before. Yes. This doesn't mean that I can't use magic at all."
Although smiling, my current expression was the face of a person who was feeling quite lost.
Thanks to all the pranks, my acting skills had genuinely improved.
I could see Kim Hyunsung looking at me with a sad face. Only heartbroken people could make this kind of expression.
His red eyes seemed to be holding to their tears.
"I'm... sorry."
'No, if you do that, I'll feel too trash.'
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
'Hyunsung, if you do this, I will feel very sorry.'
"I'm... sorry."
"Hahaha. You don't have to be sorry. They said it was just a speculation, and my body should be able to recover quickly. Please raise your head, Hyunsung-ssi. It doesn't suit a Blue Guild Master. You should always look confident to other guild members."
"..."
"Naturally, please keep what happened today as a secret. Especially Deokgu or Hayan, I don't want them to know. They will definitely suffer from guilt. Oh, the same is true for Sora."
"I'm... sorry."
"It is not your fault."
Perhaps he felt guilty for not being with me. However, I was also thinking that this bastard was feeling guilty for nothing special.
'That's why you got backstabbed that much in the first round, bastard.'
Looking at him with his head down poked my conscience. Naturally, I thought it would be okay to say something.
This was because I didn't think it was in my interest to see him shaking because of my pretense. Rather, this was an opportunity to make him stronger.
Those main character-like people grew at the expense of their peers' sacrifices.
The situation had become strange, but this was the best position all in itself.
"Look up, bastard."
Although he looked startled for a moment, he didn't bother to point out my tone.
"It just got a little annoying, but nothing changes. It means that there is no problem with being active as before. Of course, there are several limitations, but it's not something for you to have your head down. I would have died if it weren't for you in the tutorial dungeon in the first place. I'm the one who has to be thankful."
Although it may be cringy, these lines work well.
"..."
"I know the burden you are carrying. Actually, I don't know exactly, but I feel like that for some reason. Of course, I believe the burden you have is for us, and I am not falling behind or anything. I'll just walk a little slower, so..."
"..."
"Stretch your shoulders."
I finished by patting him on the shoulder. I could see him looking at me.
"Then, Guild Master. Let's get some air for a moment. I have something to tell you."
I prepared the ground. I hadn't yet decided what to talk about first, but I still had a lot to share.
'First...'
It would be right to start with Jin Qing's flirting at Jung Hayan.
'I have to protect my precious bride-to-be!'