Ryuu Kusari no Ori -Kokoro no Uchi no 'Kokoro'-

Volume 4 Chapter 4.5

With the Strength of Our Bonds Part 5

Translator : PolterGlast

After leaving the martial arts garden, Nozomu and Jihad were transported not to the school infirmary, but to the medical facility of the Gloaurum Institution. The reason is that the medical facilities and personnel are better equipped here.

"............"

In front of the treatment room where the two were transported, Irisdina was pacing right and left with a restless expression on her face.

The other colleagues, her sister Somia, her follower Mena, and her teachers Anri and Norn, who had rushed to her side in concern, were also there.

"Ai, calm down. It's all right."

"Damn right, he's not even fainted."

"Ane-sama......"

Somia's heart ached upon seeing her sister in agitation, while Mena quietly watched them both.

Eventually, the door to the treatment room opened and Fadrey and the doctors in charge of the treatment came out.

"The treatment went well. They will both be fine now."

As soon as she heard that the treatment was over, Irisdina rushed into the treatment room.

She looked nervous, but what greeted her eyes was.......

"Gosh, I was completely defeated. Wasn't it a little crazy that after all that setup, sensei could still counterattack?"

"Are you one to talk? How can you run around so freely in an environment where even I can't move properly?"

"I've always been handicapped by Ability Suppression, you see ....... So, I had to figure out in a split second the best move I could make at any given moment."

"And that's the same for me. It is my nature to be in an environment where I have to fight back, no matter how injured I am. By the way, do you feel any pain or discomfort?"

"No, not at all. How about you, Jihad-sensei?"

"No problem. It will take some time, but I hear it will heal without any side effects. As expected of Fadrey-dono......"

Nozomu and Jihad were in a relaxed mood.

The two sat on the bed used for medical treatment and talked in a relaxed manner.

Irisdina, who had been tormented by impatience and anxiety, froze with a blank look on her face at the unexpected situation.

"Hm? Oh, Iris, thank you for your help. I am fine now."

Nozomu noticed Irisdina and called out to her in a cheerful tone. However, she was silent. Eventually, her surprised face changed to a blank expression, and anger began to ooze from her entire body. Sweat beads trickled down from Nozomu's forehead.

"U-Umm, Iris-san. What's wrong? Why are you silent-...... whoa!?"

The next moment, Irisdina grabbed a piece of cloth from a nearby table and threw it with all her might toward Nozomu. While Nozomu was surprised, she grabbed a bottle of disinfectant that was nearby and swung it at him.

"Hold on, Iris? What are you-!?"

"Shut up! Don't you even aware how worried we are!?"

The disinfectant passed over Nozomu's head as he reflexively lowered his head and crashed into the wall. It made loud noises, and a pungent odor wafted through the air. In the midst of all this, Irisdina's outbursts did not stop.

She kept throwing whatever items nearby at Nozomu, who was in a state of panic.

" Careful! They'll hit me! Hey guys, please stop Iris!"

Tweezers, gauze, bandages, and other small items flew one after another. Unable to move from his bed, Nozomu shrank back and called out to his friends behind Irisdina for help.

But they take one glance at the flustered Nozomu and the angry Irisdina, and only let out a big sigh.

"Well, this is just-......"

"Nozomu-kun, as expected, this is a little-......."

"Nozomu, they say that even dogs won't interrupt a quarrel between a husband and wife."

While Mars and Tima looked dismayed and Feo teased, Nozomu's eyes caught Irisdina's figure, who was about to throw a bucket of water this time.

"W-Wait......!"

Before Nozomu could raise his voice, Irisdina threw the bucket at him. The bucket arced down on Nozomu's head, splattering its contents.

"A, A, Achoo!"

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A few minutes later, the treatment room was filled with a strange atmosphere. Nozomu sneezed, water dripping from his body, and Irisdina turned away at the edge of the room, her cheeks puffed out.

Mars and the others looked down at the drenched Nozomu with vague expressions on their faces.

Incidentally, Jihad, who was being treated with him, is no longer in this treatment room. He was taken away with his left arm hanging by Inda, who came to confirm that his wounds had been treated.

"Now then, Nozomu-kun, I have confirmed the results of the medical examination with Fadrei-dono. For now, just listen to what I have to tell you."

Norn told him the results of the medical examination. Bruises of various sizes and torn muscles. His overall body functions, including internal organs, were severely weakened. Frankly speaking, it was more difficult to find an unscathed part of him.

"I think you already have an idea of the cause, the last sword drawing technique was particularly bad. The consumption of Qi was extreme. It was an outrageous act of drawing out more Qi from your already empty body. As a result, the harmony of your whole body's movement was momentarily disrupted, and you damaged your own body in the process."

It must be a matter of [Phantom・Flash]. In conjunction with the drawing technique, his muscles were strengthened to an extreme degree. It is a technique that draws out the maximum power that the user can produce by synchronizing them. This technique indeed enables the user to perform the [best sword strike for the user], but if the user fails to control his or her Qi even a little bit, it can lead to self-destruction.

In fact, when Nozomu rolled up his sleeves, pain shot through his entire body, and his arms were discolored purple in several places due to internal bleeding.

In the worst-case scenario, the muscles throughout his body could have been ruptured, and everything from bones to internal organs could have been destroyed.

"Yes, no doubt about it. That technique does have a huge risk after all."

Nozomu's reply was curt, even though he clearly understood the danger.

Inda's expression turned sour upon hearing the flat tone of his voice.

"That's why Shishō, Jihad-sensei, and everyone in that class are truly a bunch of crazy sh*ts."

"Look who's talking......"

Shina's shoulders drooped and Mars and the others looked rather more subtle. As for Irisdina, the corners of her eyes were lifted and her whole body began to radiate more anger.

Coupled with her fine doll-like appearance, the intensity was so great that her best friend Tima, who was nearby, involuntarily took a half-step away from her.

"I've been thinking about it for a while now, but Nozomu-sama is pretty much the same. In essence, you are comparable to those muscle-brained fools, you know?"

"Wait, Mena-san, aren't you being a bit excessive?"

"Not at all. It is a fair assessment."

Mars and the others nodded in unison at Mena's words. Nozomu, being outnumbered, was scratching his cheeks while letting his gaze drift in the air as if fleeing. Amidst all this, Norn once again warned Nozomu.

"In any case, you should refrain from using that technique. It is too risky."

"But as I am usually unable to dominate with my own strength, I really need Shishō's techniques in times of emergency."

"I know. Considering your [circumstances], I can't tell you not to use that technique. But you didn't have to go that far in the first place, did you?"

"I agree, you were being too reckless! You could have gotten yourself into an irreversible situation!"

Following Norn's words, Irisdina closed in on Nozomu with an angry expression on her face.

Her sudden loud voice made Nozomu's eyes widen involuntarily.

"S-Sorry. When I was exchanging blows with Jihad-sensei, it made me feel nostalgic. It was like when I was training with Shishō."

"But that doesn't mean you can be reckless!"

Where did her usual calmness go? She scolded him, leaning forward so much that her face was almost touching his.

The other members of the group were also shocked. Her current behavior was so unusual.

"You even covered yourself in so much blood, again......"

And then, her agitated emotions suddenly dropped at once. Her eyes began to moisten with tears, and she began to clutch her eyes and whimper.

[A~a~. You made her cry~~.]

"Awful, just awful~~"

"Wha!"

Mimuru and Razward's teasing voices rang out, and Nozomu panicked for a moment, but their light words were soon replaced by a heavy silence.

Seeing Irisdina, who usually maintained a dignified expression, reveal so much emotion, it was easy to see how worried she was.

That's why Nozomu could only bow his head.

"Umm, sorry, Iris. I made you worry."

"......I hate it. I won't forgive you."

Seeing Irisdina's face contorted in pain, while acting sulkily like a child, Nozomu felt a pain as if he had been shot through the chest.

"You even pushed yourself too hard recently. Why do you always make me worry? ......"

The image of Nozomu lying on the ground came back to Irisdina's mind.

Although nearly manipulated by Tiamat, Nozomu was able to overcome the illusion, and was severely wounded as he fought off one of the [Six Bad Omens].

Weakened body and consciousness that would not return. He was in danger of losing the light of life at any moment.

And even though he managed to wake up, his five senses, including sight and hearing, were affected for some time afterward.

The fear of that moment came back and tightened Irisdina's heart. Then she turned her face down, holding her arms like a frightened child, her eyes wet with tears.

"Maybe this is just an excuse. I've been running for a long time, haven't I? Not only from Lisa and the others, but from this school as well."

Nozomu, feeling pain in his heart over her appearance, felt he had to at least convey his feelings to her, so he slowly opened his mouth while looking directly at Irisdina, whose face was still downcast.

"At that time, the students of this school were all watching. Now that I had decided to face them one more time, I didn't want to run away from that."

It was a place where many people were watching. The previous Nozomu would have shut himself up in his shell and done nothing because of the scornful stares and mindless words of those around him. He would not have tried to do anything.

"That was why I went at Jihad-sensei with everything I had."

Nozomu turned his gaze to Anri, adding that he was surprised when she told him about this mock combat. She was smiling and giving the V-sign.

"Besides, there's that false rumors that Ken has been spreading again. I can't just let it slide like it did before. I also needed to act before those unfounded rumors took hold again."

Rumors that grow over the years tend to take on a life of their own.

And the rumors, which were never proven to be true, are somehow recognized as the truth and come to be accepted as such. In fact, Nozomu's bad reputation in the past illustrates this point.

It is not easy to dispel these rumors, which cannot be proven or disproven. But, on the other hand, because there is no proof, many others just assume it, and the root of it remains vague.

And the only two elements that support Nozomu's bad reputation are [incompetent] and [a man who cheats on his girlfriend]. This mock combat could be the catalyst to blow one of them out of the water.

"Therefore, I used the techniques Shishō taught me without hesitation. Well, it was also largely because I remembered the hand-to-hand combat I had with her. So, um......"

"...... Let me just wipe that head of yours for now."

"Eh? Wmph!"

Shina threw a towel at Nozomu's head, who was peering at Irisdina's expression.

As she wiped his head, which was still dripping with water, she glanced at Irisdina.

"There's no need to sulk like that. Surely, it was necessary, considering what's to come."

"I know......"

Irisdina slowly nodded to Shina, who shrugged her shoulders.

"Besides, it wasn't a bad idea for him to let loose a little bit this time around. And it reminded him of the time when he was with someone he cared about."

For Nozomu, who had usually avoided using Qi-jutsu at school, this was the first time he could use it to the fullest extent of his ability. Just like when he was training with his master.

Irisdina also recalled how fondly Nozomu spoke about his memories of his master. That is why it is understandable why he went all out.

Still, she couldn't shake off the choking feeling in her chest.

"Umm, sorry for making you worry again......"

Irisdina began to feel a bit guilty in front of Nozomu, who kept bowing his head apologetically. She still had some anguish in her chest, but nevertheless, she was able to hear his true intentions from his own mouth.

"...... No, I should apologize as well. It's true, that Nozomu's reputation at the academy had hardly changed at all. Considering that, your reasons are valid."

Of course, that doesn't mean Irisdina herself hasn't done anything so far.

Many people wondered why she was with Nozomu, and some actually questioned her about it. Each time, Irisdina denied Nozomu's bad reputation, but even so, she has not yet been able to overturn people's perceptions of Nozomu that have been ingrained over the past two years. Aware of her own helplessness, a shadow casts over Irisdina's face now.

"Iris, thank you. For worrying about me......"

However, Nozomu's voice gently dispelled that shadow.

Irisdina's face rapidly heated up as Nozomu smiled in relief.

*Thump*...... her body trembled, and a tightening sensation in her chest assaulted her. It was different from the anguish she had felt earlier when she was worried about Nozomu's condition, and was accompanied by a sweet numbness that resembled euphoria.

"I-It's fine! Don't worry about it!"

"Hmm......"

Her gaze wandered, and she unintentionally raised her voice. Shina, who was watching Irisdina like that, frowned.

Not amusing. With these emotions welling up inside her, Shina put strength into the hand that was wiping Nozomu's head.

"Ouch, ouch! Shina-san, it hurts!"

"......Hmph!"

Ignoring Nozomu's complaints, Shina finished wiping his head, then turned away with a pout and walked away from the bed. Mimuru and Razward were grinning at her, but when Shina glared at them, they hurriedly looked away and scuttled back.

"Speaking of which, you said you felt nostalgic, but were you and your master's bouts really as extreme as that?"

"We didn't do anything that extreme, though. There were times when she would shoot [Phantom] at me with precision enough that I could just barely avoid it. And when it came to [Breaking Strike], she would go easy on me to ensure that I didn't die."

As Mars inquired in order to change the subject, Nozomu recounted his tearful memories with his master. He smiled as he watched everyone's cheeks twitch.

"Also, although Jihad-sensei did use the [Jaw Drop], he was quite lenient with me up until the middle of the match. He didn't even hit me directly with that stupidly huge Qi-blade......"

"Is the problem even on such a level!?"

"Well, if you're going to have a mock combat with someone of Shishō's class, you've got to be prepared for that."

Irisdina and the others were utterly flabbergasted by Nozomu's words. Once again, they realized the reason why this mock combat was so abnormal.

"Anyway, it's getting late today. I think that's it for today, Irisdina and everyone should go home now. I'll stay here tonight and keep an eye on him."

"I understand. Norn-sensei, I leave him to you. Well then, Nozomu-kun, you should behave yourselves."

"At least stay quiet until your injuries are healed. Don't make a fuss."

"Come on, I'm not a child......"

"Also, Nozomu-kun, you will be hospitalized for a few days. You'll be kept under observation for a few days. So, let's just go straight to the hospital room."

Nozomu was dissatisfied with Irisdina and Shina's words. Norn took his arm and stood him up. The way she held his arm tightly looked more like a prisoner being taken away than an injured person being assisted.

"U-Umm, I can walk on my own......"

After ignoring his protests, Irisdina and the others took one last glance at Nozomu, who was being taken away to the hospital room, and then headed back to their respective homes.

Their faces were radiant, the complete opposite of when they arrived here.

‡

I hide to the side of the hallway to avoid being seen by his returning companions.

It will be difficult to talk to him here. But I still have to face him.

I have to correct my mistake. His words in the treatment room come back to me in the depths of my ears.

If it were the current him, for Lisa, I'm sure he'd be able to-......

Determined, I tossed my red hair with a hint of gray.

End of Chapter 4

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