Chapter 43, Rehabilitation

Translator: Barnnn

 

Clack, thud.

Clack, thud.

 

Walking with crutches really is a struggle.

 

Clack, thud.

Clack, thud.

 

Ahh, what a long staircase.

 

Clack, thud…

 

I can’t just linger here at the top forever.

Right. One step at a time.

 

“Ichikawa Izumi, you were meant to take the stairs instead of stepping into the elevator.”

 

One step… at a time…

 

“Ichikawa Izumi, you were destined to fall from the top of those stairs and lose your life.”

 

I have to get home.

 

“You’re too short to make a difference.”

 

Get off me…!

My knee! MY KNEE…!

 

“Serves you right.”

“Heh heh heh…”

“You did this to yourself.”

 

My leg! It hurts…!

 

“Hurry and go the hell down!”

“Anddd… push!”

 

I’m falling!

Someone! Help me!

Someone! Anyone–!!

 

“Ize, wake up! Ize!”

“It hurts! No! No, no, no!”

“Ize! Calm down, Ize!”

“It hurts, it hurts!”

“Where? Where does it hurt?”

“My leg, my knee, it’s…!”

“Ize, listen to me. Your knee is fine now. You’re okay. You’re safe.”

“It’s fine?”

“Yes, see? It doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”

“It… doesn’t hurt…”

“That’s right. You’re okay now. Get some rest.”

 

Yeah… I’m in a better place now.

It’s so warm here.

 

—I owe you one, Ize.

—Seriously, thanks.

 

No, Hal… I should be thanking you.

 

◆

 

The scent of butter wafted through the air, tickling Ize’s nose and coaxing her awake.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a room lined with neat, clean beds, bathed in the bright morning sunlight.

 

[I smell bread…]

 

The rich aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with butter, and her stomach gave a quiet, pitiful growl.

 

[Huh… I must’ve skipped dinner last night.]

 

Her memories after leaving the Guild were fragmented. As she lay in bed, tilting her head, her Perception Map registered a familiar presence just outside the room.

A knock sounded at the door almost immediately.

 

“Ize, you awake? I’m coming in.”

 

The lock clicked, and Hal stepped into the room.

 

Ize sat up hurriedly. “Good morning.”

“Mm-hmm, morning,” he said, flashing a quick smile. “You hungry? The landlady sent up breakfast for you. Oh, and this place has a bath and private showers you can book if you’re interested. We can check them out later.”

 

As he spoke, Hal pulled a compact side table from his Magic Bag and set it up next to her bed. On it, he placed a tray piled high with various dishes.

 

Ize’s eyes brightened. “It looks amazing.”

“It totally is. You gotta try the bacon — it’s homemade.”

“Thank you!”

 

At the mention of bacon, Ize grabbed her knife and fork and dove in, making quick work of the food.

Hal, meanwhile, settled on the bed across from her, flipping through the booklet they’d received at the Guild the day before.

Though her mind buzzed with questions, Ize focused on savoring every bite. When she finally placed her utensils down on the tray, Hal looked up.

 

“All done? How was it?”

“Delicious! The bacon was so rich – not too smoky or greasy at all, and the edges were perfectly crispy.”

Hal smirked. “Glad to hear it. Oh, by the way, that bacon? It’s made from Dungeon-looted Orc meat.”

“From the Dungeon!?”

“Yup. Orc meat.”

“What!? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would’ve savored it more!”

“Don’t worry. It’s this inn’s specialty. They’ll serve it every day unless you say otherwise.”

“Woo-hoo! Best news ever!”

Hal chuckled. “I know, right?”

 

Her first breakfast in Jasted — and it was Dungeon bacon!

Things were looking promising for their culinary tour going forward, and she mentally noted to thank the Guild receptionist for recommending this inn.

 

“Now then, I’ve got a few things to go over — where should I start? Oh, I know. Here.” Hal handed Ize a small slip of paper. “This is the message from Fieda we got yesterday.”

 

Ize unfolded the note and scanned the concise handwriting.

 

[Currently heading north. Planning to stay in Abrol for a few days. Will contact again after crossing the border. — Fieda]

 

The date on the note was three days ago. The direct route from Tajellia’s border city to Jasted usually took about ten days, so by her calculations, if everything went smoothly, their reunion wasn’t that far off.

 

“He seems to be traveling safely,” Ize said, a soft relief in her voice.

“Yeah.” Hal nodded. “Next, about this inn. I managed to book us a room here at The Sage’s Table for the entire winter. It’s the last triple room they had, so we just made it. There’s an extra bedroom and a gear storage area attached. Fieda can use that when he gets here. Also, the landlady mentioned she offers discounts if we bring her interesting ingredients or recipes.” He shrugged. “That’s all.”

“That last part is… interesting, but I understand,” Ize replied with a faint smile.

 

The landlady’s enthusiasm for recipes was something worth noting. If she was open to Japanese cuisine, perhaps Ize could share some ideas.

 

“So, any questions from you, Ize?” Hal asked.

“Not a question, but… thank you for carrying me from the Guild yesterday.”

“No problem.”

“And… I might have… caused some trouble last night. I’m sorry for–”

 

Her memories of the previous night were hazy, but flashes surfaced — crying out, clinging to Hal.

She started to bow in apology, but Hal stopped her with a raised hand and a sheepish smile.

 

“Hey, don’t worry about it. If anything, I should be apologizing. It took me a while to realize it — you know, how stairs are a big trigger for you. I should’ve picked up on that sooner.”

“Actually, it took me by surprise, too. I’d forgotten about it until then,” Ize admitted.

“So it triggered because you almost fell, huh? Makes sense — listen, we’re on the third floor here, so if the stairs ever feel like too much, tell me right away. We can try switching inns, or I can carry you. There’s always a solution.”

Ize hesitated, then nodded. “I won’t know until I’m in front of the stairs, but… I’ll let you know if there’s a problem.”

 

This time, she managed to bow properly.

Hal, however, reached out and ruffled her hair, leaving it in complete disarray.

 

“Aww,” he chuckled as Ize swatted at his hands. “Now it’s all messy.”

“And whose fault is that!?”

“It’s nothing a bath won’t fix. I’m taking the tray back downstairs, so if the bath’s free, go ahead and use it.”

“Fine,” Ize muttered, smoothing down her hair. “I’ll get ready.”

 

When she reached the stairs, her feet froze. The sight of the long descent sent a wave of dread through her.

 

Hal stepped in front of her, holding out both hands. “Here.”

“Huh?”

“If you hold onto both hands, you might feel more secure.”

She eyed him skeptically. “With you facing backward like that, you might trip and fall. That’s even scarier.”

“Fair enough.” Hal turned to face forward, then glanced over his shoulder with a mischievous grin. “All right, make your choice: princess carry or piggyback ride?”

 

He wiggled his fingers around, mimicking a wagging tail, and even added a playful shake of his hips.

 

“…Just let me hold onto your shoulders,” Ize said flatly.

 

Standing one step above Hal, she stared at his back and gently placed her hands on his shoulders.

 

[All right, I can do this….] “Okay, let’s go!”

“R-right. Roll out!”

 

Like a game of follow-the-leader, they descended the staircase one careful step at a time. Ize kept her gaze locked on Hal’s back and her own feet.

The fear hadn’t vanished, but with Hal’s support, she could endure it. Slowly but surely, she’d get used to this. Rehabilitation took time, but she had the entire winter ahead of her.

 

“Oh, your little brother’s up now, I see,” a lively voice called out as they stepped into the common area.

“Yes, and he finished all his breakfast,” Hal replied. He gestured to the woman standing nearby. “Ize, this is Miss Etta, the innkeeper and landlady.”

“Good morning,” Ize said with a slight bow. “I apologize for not greeting you yesterday. The food was delicious. I look forward to staying here this winter.”

“Oh my, what a polite young man for someone so small! Just take it easy, okay? Treat this place like home. And if anyone gives you trouble, you let me know. My husband will knock them flat!”

“Y-yes, thank you…” Ize stammered, unsure how to handle Etta’s effusive warmth.

 

As much as Ize wanted to shake the “adorable, cheerful little boy” image, the lady’s relentless enthusiasm left her no room to protest.

Even so, she resolved not to let herself feel defeated. If she couldn’t change her youthful appearance, she’d develop a mature demeanor instead. It felt like a steep climb, but after recent experiences, she’d learned that persistence could overcome almost anything.

While Ize steeled herself internally, Hal had already moved on, booking a shower timeslot for her. The inn’s facilities on the first floor weren’t busy at this hour, so she could use it immediately.

 

“By the way, Miss Etta, I’m a water mage,” he proceeded to say. “I can refill about three horsebuses’ worth of water tanks, so let me know if you ever need help. We’re not planning any serious Dungeon raids for a while.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful to hear!” Etta said. “We just filled up the tanks this week, but I’ll call on you when we need more. And don’t overdo it, all right?”

“Got it.” Hal gave Ize a quick nod. “I’m heading back to the room. Take your time.”

“Thanks,” Ize replied, watching him ascend the stairs.

Etta leaned in with a smile. “You’ve got a great brother there.”

“Yes,” Ize said, her face lighting up. “He really is.”

 

◆

 

After her shower, Ize returned to the room and knocked.

 

“Open!”

“Sesame!”

 

The door swung open, and Ize rolled her eyes, suppressing a sigh. This kind of thing wasn’t even something most fifteen-year-olds did anymore.

 

“What’s the matter?” Hal asked, tilting his head.

“Nothing. Just… could we pick a better password next time?”

“¡Ábrete!”

“¡Sésamo!”

“That’s literally the same thing,” Hal muttered.

“Yup.”

 

Inside the room, the booklet Hal had been reading earlier lay open on the table.

 

“Did you find anything useful?” Ize asked, nodding toward it.

“Half of it’s general knowledge — stuff everyone should know. The rest is about the Jasted Dungeon.”

“That’s really its name? Couldn’t they come up with something less literal?”

“Well, they shorten it to JD,” Hal said with a grin, “but that just makes it sound like ‘John Doe,’ which is… not that much better”

“A nameless corpse,” Ize murmured, her voice darkening slightly. “Like missing adventurers whose bodies suddenly reappear.”

“Ahh, no! Don’t talk about creepy stuff like that!”

“But you’re the one who brought it up, Hal.”

 

Hal launched into an explanation of the booklet’s general knowledge section while Ize skimmed the pages.

One section caught her attention, something she’d long wondered about: how to predict a Dungeon Deluge.

Near the entrance of every Dungeon, the booklet said, there was an indestructible Magicite. Normally, this stone displayed a swirling mix of colors, but as a Deluge approached, the colors gradually unified.

Years before a Deluge, the stone would turn yellow. Exactly one year prior, it would solidify into a deep red. From that point, the specific timing of the Deluge could be tracked, with the shade of red changing as exploration depleted the Dungeon’s resources.

 

“I see,” Ize said, tapping the page thoughtfully. “So that’s how they determined the timing for the Deluge in Lazulseed.”

“Yeah,” Hal replied. “Probably by comparing it to the glow of the summoning Crystal they needed.”

 

The rest of the booklet covered details specific to the Jasted Dungeon. They decided to save that discussion for later, after their visit to the Guild.

With the morning rush winding down, it was the perfect time to head out. Together, they left the inn and made their way through the streets to the Guild.

 

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