◈ 091. [Side Story] Victory Banquet (2)
God Hand’s injury was more serious than I thought.
“Everything below the elbow was crushed. There is no shape left.”
Temple.
As she prepared for the operation, Saint Marherita spoke quickly.
“It has gone far beyond what can be cured with recovery magic.”
“That means… ?”
“Your arm needs to be amputated.”
fall. seemed to hear
On the bed covered in blood, God Hand collapsed and passed out.
The skinny young elf is already unconscious. Was it because the pain was so great or because I was intoxicated with the anesthetic?
“I’m going to resect the lower arm below the elbow. The patient has already agreed.”
“agreement… Did you?”
“Even if you don’t agree, I will cut you. Tissue necrosis is already in progress up to the forearm. If you leave it as it is, you will have to moderate everything from the shoulder down to the lower beat.”
Marherita took out a surgical saw from the tray. Then he glanced at me.
“If you are not going to help me, would you please leave soon, my lord? It wouldn’t be a pleasant sight to watch.”
“… .”
I fixed the words in my mouth, but in the end I couldn’t spit it out and quietly left the hospital room.
“ah.”
Outside the hospital room, there were four children from the Shadow Unit waiting for the team leader to operate.
The eyes of the young elves all looking up at me were young, so it was too much for me. I was speechless for a moment.
“Your Highness that… Is our captain all right?”
As I stood there blankly, Body Bag, the team’s sub-leader, asked cautiously.
It was painful, but not a protracted matter. I opened my mouth heavily.
“That’s true… … .”
I told him that God Hand’s injuries were so serious that both of his arms would have to be amputated below the elbow.
The members of the Shadow Troops all turned pale, but were not greatly agitated.
I carefully asked such children.
“Are you all right?”
“Your Highness, well. It’s a bit of a subtle story to tell.”
Hesitantly, Bodybag glanced in the direction of the hospital room and opened his mouth.
“God Hand already lost both hands in an operation two years ago.”
“what?”
“Both of my lost hands were replaced with metal prostheses. As a metalsmith, I had no problem handling the prosthetic arm as if it were a real hand.”
I had no idea. Even though I was wearing gloves, there was no awkwardness in the movement.
“After changing both hands to prosthetic arms, I also changed my code name to God Hand.”
Bodybag smiled awkwardly.
“therefore… It will be fine this time too. Even the lost arm will be replaced with a metal one so I can fight like before.”
“… .”
No, it’s not such a functional story.
Aren’t humans machines?
Parts are broken, but even if you replace them, you can’t pass them off as if nothing happened just because they function properly.
Serious wounds remain in the soul.
And never recover.
“… .”
Swallowing my words, I crouched down in front of the little ones and stroked their heads one by one.
“If you are sick too, please tell me. I will treat you.”
it sounded like that
Funny for the subject of being a commander who has to push them to the limbs every battle.
I smiled bitterly at the children who opened their eyes wide and looked up at me.
“Okay, let’s go anyway. There’s a victory banquet tonight. It’s unfortunate that God Hand can’t attend, but you guys should eat well and rest.”
But at my words, the children shook their heads in unison.
“We are fine, Your Highness!”
“I’ll wait for the colon operation to finish here.”
“… .”
I was speechless for a moment, then nodded.
“okay. rest here today I’ll send you something to eat and drink. We can’t celebrate the victory together, but… … .”
After glancing at the hospital room, I nodded slowly.
“Your contribution was very great today. Afraid to know that.”
The children laughed bashfully. I also smiled at you.
“Please take good care of your captain.”
“Leave it to me!”
“Please send me lots of delicious things!”
“Drinking water too!”
“Juice! Juice is good!”
Leaving the Shadow Troopers waving at me, I left the temple. I guess I’ll have to order three cans of juice.
“… .”
My left arm was throbbing for no reason.
My arm, from which the cast had been removed today, now bleeds a faint pain, even though the wound has healed.
What about God Hand who lost an arm?
Do you feel pain in your missing arm?
With such useless worries, I moved on. My own carriage was waiting in front of the temple.
***
Arriving at the plaza, the banquet had already started and it was noisy.
Bonfires were lit everywhere, stews in pots boiled and meat on skewers cooked.
Chefs hired from the neighborhood were busy preparing food, and barrels of sake brought out from the warehouse were piled up all over the plaza.
Smoke from roasting meat spread dotted across the clearing evening sky. People were laughing under it.
It was nice to see.
“The lord hasn’t even recited a congratulatory speech for these yet, so how are they starting on their own!”
Cheers erupted from all around us as we entered the plaza with a twist.
“The prince is here!”
“Lord! Lord! Lord!”
“The best commander in the South!”
“A man born to kill monsters!”
The soldiers started praising me as if they were making fun of me. These pups… … .
“Eight! Okay, give me a drink!”
I thought there would be no end to it if I left it like this, so I quickly snatched a glass and stood on top of a podium in the center of the plaza.
“Let’s cut it short and clean it up! I’m on the southern front! If you do, you will eat and die! is to do got it?”
oh oh oh!
“Come on, the southern front!”
Let’s eat and die!
Everyone brought their glasses to their mouths with loud afterwords.
“Cheukhak!”
I just pretended to take a few sips and put the glass down. No matter how much alcohol I drink in this town, I can’t get used to it!
When I announced the start of the banquet in earnest, the plaza became even busier.
Stepping down from the podium, I happened to stop Ader, who was carrying food beside me.
“Hey aide. Run an errand.”
“Oh, lord! Sure! Just do whatever! meat? alcohol? What more do you want to do? If you need music, I’ll pick one!”
no, that’s it
“Send some food to the temple. have a drink.”
“aha!”
Ader smacked his lips awkwardly. what are you regretting
“I’m trying to feed the priests who are suffering from treatment, the soldiers who are being treated after being injured, and the shadow unit members. Oh, and send me three barrels of juice.”
I was about to order more when I heard a voice behind me.
“I’ll go for that.”
“huh?”
Looking back, it was Lily.
Sitting in her new wheelchair, Lily looked determined as if she had made up her mind.
“… .”
I didn’t bother drying it. I nodded.
“Are you okay?”
“yes.”
“Okay Ader! Gather people to move the luggage together and deliver it to the temple with Lily.”
“Yeah~!”
Together, Ader and Lily began to pick out dishes and drinks and place them on trays.
Watching the scene, I moved to the inside of the plaza.
The Marquis did that. They say that the city stops just by mourning and mourning. It should give you the pleasure it deserves.
Although it is the lord’s job to care for the wounded and honor the dead.
It is the lord’s job to drink, chat, and rejoice with the survivors.
“You bastards! Can you handle all the kegs piled up over there by drinking and drinking like that! Fill up your glass!”
“Ohhhh! As expected, the 3rd prince, the best drunkard in the empire!”
“Can we see that legend with our own eyes today!”
“I’ll confirm it, so go ahead! Go all the way today!”
Noisily clinking glasses and laughing loudly. I tried to lighten the mood.
The night of victory was deepening.
***
It was late that night that God Hand was conscious.
“… Ugh.”
He groaned and tried to get himself up, but he realized that it was not possible.
No arms below the elbows.
Only then did God Hand remember the moment his arms were crushed.
The voice of the priest who asked for consent to amputate.
“… .”
Lying on the bed, God Hand slowly raised his empty arms and looked at them.
It was then.
“Are you awake?”
Suddenly, a voice came from the bedside. Surprised, God Hand looked that way.
Lily was sitting in a chair next to the bed with a sullen look on her face.
“Lily… sir?”
“The operation went well.”
Lily, who was sipping a glass of wine and reading the papers, picked up a quill and wrote something on the papers.
“For a while, you will have a very high fever and the pain will be great. The next healing magic administration is at 7:00 tomorrow morning.”
“… .”
“I had a resection below the elbow, but the joint remained. They said it would be easier to maneuver with a prosthetic hand.”
Lily chinned to the corner of the hospital room.
“The other unit members fell asleep earlier after eating and chatting and playing.”
I could see the other four members of the Shadow Corps sleeping on the floor.
Everyone is sleeping soundly with only one blanket covered. He must have been tired.
“… .”
“Aren’t you marketable?”
Lily brought the food covered with a cloth on the shelf next to her.
“I left something to eat. You bleed quite a bit, so you should eat well.”
“why… Are you taking care of me?”
Lily’s hand stopped. God Hand asked timidly.
“Don’t you hate us?”
“… .”
Lily, who was silent for a moment, slowly faced God Hand.
“I want to ask you one question. So I was waiting for you to wake up.”
“… ?”
God Hand was having a hard time as if his consciousness was still hazy. Lily asked God Hand without delay.
“Why did you save me then?”
When the Gargoyle Chieftain makes a charge attack.
Why did he block Lily’s way and lose her arm after receiving the attack instead?
Lily was asking about it.
God Hand laughed bitterly.
“Didn’t I tell you then? You had the firepower to take him down, and protecting you was the best decision-”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Lily growled fiercely.
“Don’t pretend to be rational.”
“… .”
“You may be right when it comes to the efficiency of the entire line. But from your personal point of view, there was no reason to save me even after suffering such serious injuries.”
God Hand and his troops have just been incorporated into the Crossroads.
It is still too early to be loyal.
Protecting Lily in that situation was obviously a sensible decision tactically.
However, it is unreasonable for a person who has just been put into the front line to throw away both arms for that tactical purpose.
It’s mathematically reasonable, but the more you think about it, the more strange it is.
There is something else.
Lily sensed it and came to question God Hand.
Even if his injuries were from defending himself.
“… .”
God Hand let out a long sigh.
“Still, he is a life saver, but isn’t he too cold… ?”
“There is nothing more burdensome than goodwill without a purpose.”
Lily questioned God Hand without hiding her sad eyes.
“Tell me. Don’t hide it. Why did you save me?”
