Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 91
◈ 091. [Side Story] Victory Banquet (2)
Godhand's injuries were more serious than I thought..
“Everything from the elbow down was crushed. There's no shape left.”
Temple.
Saint Margherita spoke quickly as she prepared for surgery..
“We have gone far beyond what can be cured with recovery magic..”
“That means……?”
“The arm needs to be amputated.”
Crumble. I felt like I heard a voice saying.
Godhand was lying unconscious on the bed covered in blood..
The skinny young elf was already unconscious. Is it because the pain is too much or is it because of the anesthetic?.
“The lower arm below the elbow will be removed. The patient already consented..”
“agreement… … I did it?”
“Even if you don’t agree, I’ll cut you. Tissue necrosis is already progressing to the forearm. If you leave it like this, you'll have to cut everything from the shoulders down, not just the lower abdomen..”
Margerita took out a surgical saw from the tray. Then he glanced at me..
“If you're not going to help me, could you please leave quickly, my lord? It won't be a pleasant sight to watch..”
“…….”
I tried to correct the words in my mouth, but in the end I couldn't say them out loud and quietly left the hospital room..
“ah.”
Outside the hospital room, there were four children from the shadow unit waiting for their team leader to undergo surgery..
The eyes of the young elves looking up at me all at once were young and so it was overwhelming. I was speechless for a moment..
“Your Majesty, that… … Our captain, is he okay??”
As I stood there blankly, Bodybag, the team's sub-leader, asked cautiously:.
It was painful, but it wasn't something to drag on. I opened my mouth heavily..
“Well, actually…….”
I told him that Godhand's injuries were so severe that both arms had to be amputated below the elbows..
The members of the Shadow Unit all turned pale, but were not very upset..
I carefully asked those children.
“Are you okay??”
“Your Majesty, um. It's a bit of a weird story to tell..”
Bodybag, who was hesitant, glanced towards the hospital room and opened his mouth..
“Godhand already lost both hands in an operation two years ago..”
“what?”
“Both of my lost hands had been replaced with metal prosthetics. Since I am a metallurgist, I had no problem handling the prosthetic hand like a real hand..”
I had no idea. Even though I was wearing gloves, my movements didn't feel awkward at all..
“After replacing both hands with prosthetic hands, I also changed my code name to God Hand..”
Body Bag smiled awkwardly.
“therefore… … It will be okay this time too. Turn your lost arm into metal and you'll be able to fight like before..”
“…….”
No, it's not that functional story..
People are not machines.
Even if a part is broken and it functions properly even if replaced, it cannot be ignored as if nothing happened..
A terrible wound remains in the soul.
And it can never be recovered.
“…….”
After swallowing my words, I squatted down in front of the kids and patted their heads one by one..
“If you are sick, please tell me. I will treat you.”
I said something like that.
It's funny, since he's the commander who has to push them to their deaths in every battle..
I smiled bitterly at the children who looked up at me with wide eyes..
“Okay, anyway, let's go out. There is a victory banquet tonight. It's a shame that Godhand can't attend, but you should eat well and rest well..”
But the children all shook their heads at my words..
“We're fine, Your Highness.!”
“I'll wait here for my colon's surgery to be completed..”
“…….”
I was speechless for a moment and nodded..
“okay. Rest here today. I'll send you something to eat and drink. Although we won't be able to celebrate victory together…….”
After glancing toward the hospital room, I nodded slowly..
“Your contribution today was very great. You should know that.”
The children laughed loudly. I smiled at him too.
“Please take good care of your captain..”
“Leave it to me!”
“Please send me lots of delicious food!”
“Drinks too.!”
“Juice! I like juice!”
I left the temple, leaving the shadow squad members waving their hands. I guess I'll have to order them to send me three cans of juice..
“…….”
My left arm was throbbing for no reason..
My arm, which had its cast removed today, is now showing a faint pain even though the wound has healed..
What about Godhand who lost his arm?.
Will I feel pain in the arm that is missing?.
With such unnecessary worries, I continued walking. My personal carriage was waiting in front of the temple..
***
When we arrived at the square, the banquet had already started and it was noisy..
At each bonfire lit here and there, stew boiled in a pot and meat on a skewer was cooked..
Chefs hired from nearby areas were busy preparing food, and liquor barrels taken from warehouses were piled up all over the square..
Smoke from grilling meat spread out under the just-cleared evening sky. People were laughing down there.
It was nice to see.
“Are these people just starting things on their own when the lord hasn't even recited his congratulatory address yet?!”
As I entered the square without any reason, cheers erupted from everyone around me..
“The prince has arrived!”
“My lord! My lord! Lord!”
“best commander in the south!”
“A man born to kill monsters!”
The soldiers started praising me as if making fun of me. These bastards…….
“Okay! Okay, give me a drink.!”
I thought there would be no end if I left it like this, so I quickly grabbed a drink and stood on the platform in the center of the square..
“Let's keep it short and clean up! I'm on the southern front! If you do this, you will eat and die! I'm doing it. got it?”
Oh oh oh!
“Now, the southern front!”
Let's eat and die-!
Everyone lifted their glasses to their mouths with a loud chorus..
“Wow!”
I just pretended to swallow a few sips and put the glass down. No matter how much I drink in this town, I can't get used to it.!
As I announced the start of the full-fledged banquet, the square became even more noisy..
As I got down from the stage, I happened to stop Ader carrying food next to me..
“Hey aide. Run an errand.”
“Oh my, my lord! Well then! Just ask them to do anything! meat? alcohol? What more should I do? If you need music, I'll pick a song for you.!”
No, that's okay..
“Send some food to the temple. Have a drink.”
“aha!”
Ader savored his food sheepishly. What are you regretting?.
“The plan is to feed it to priests who are having a hard time getting treatment, soldiers who are injured and receiving treatment, and members of the shadow unit. Oh, and send me three bottles of juice too..”
I was about to order more when I heard a voice behind me..
“That, I'll go..”
“huh?”
When I turned around, it was Lily..
Lily, sitting in her new wheelchair, had a determined expression as if she had decided on something..
“…….”
I didn't need to stop him. I nodded..
“It'll be okay?”
“yes.”
“Okay, Ader! Gather a group of people to carry the luggage together and go deliver it to the temple with Lily..”
“Deposit~!”
Ader and Lily began to select dishes and drinks together and put them on the tray..
After watching that scene, I walked inside the square..
The Margrave said so. They say that if you just grieve and mourn, the city will stop. I need to give him the joy he deserves.
It is the lord's job to take care of the wounded and honor the dead..
Drinking, chatting, and rejoicing with the survivors is also the lord's job..
“You idiots! Do you think you can drink and drink like that and dispose of all the barrels piled up over there? Fill your cup!”
“Oooh! As expected, the 3rd prince is the best drinker in the empire.!”
“Can we see that legend with our own eyes today?!”
“I'll confirm it for you, so come on! I'm going to the end today!”
Clinking glasses noisily and laughing uproariously. I tried to lighten the mood.
The night of victory was deepening..
***
It was late that night that Godhand came to consciousness..
“……Ugh.”
He groaned and tried to get up, but soon realized that it was not possible..
Both arms are missing below the elbows.
Only then did Godhand remember the moment his arms were crushed..
The voice of the priest who asked for consent to amputate.
“…….”
While lying on the bed, Godhand slowly lifted his empty arms upward..
It was then.
“I woke up?”
A voice suddenly came from next to the bed. Surprised, Godhand looked in that direction..
Lily was sitting on the chair next to the bed with a sullen expression..
“Lily… … sir?”
“The surgery went well..”
Lily, who was reading a document while sipping a glass of wine, picked up a quill and wrote something on the document..
“The fever will be very severe for a while, and the pain will be severe. The next healing magic injection is tomorrow morning at 7am..”
“…….”
“Although the area below the elbow was removed, the joint remained. They said it would be easier to move if I got a prosthetic hand..”
Lily gestured to the corner of the hospital room..
“The other unit members had fallen asleep earlier after eating, talking, and playing..”
I saw the remaining four members of the Shadow Unit sleeping spread out on the floor..
Everyone is sleeping soundly, covered only with a blanket. He must have been tired..
“…….”
“I don't market?”
Lily brought the food covered with a cloth on the shelf next to her..
“I also left some food for you. She's lost quite a bit of blood so she needs to eat well..”
“why… … Are you taking care of me??”
Lily's hand stopped. Godhand asked awkwardly..
“Don't you hate us??”
“…….”
After being silent for a moment, Lily slowly turned to face 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 he was still unconscious. Lily asked God Hand without delay..
“Why did you save me then??”
When the Gargoyle Chieftain charges and attacks.
Why did you block Lily's path and take the attack instead, and lose your arm?.
Lily was asking about it..
God Hand laughed bitterly..
“Didn’t I tell you back 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 act rational..”
“…….”
“When considering the efficiency of the entire front, your judgment may be correct. But from your personal perspective, there was no reason to save me by suffering such serious injuries..”
Godhand and his troops have just been incorporated into Crossroads..
It's still too early for loyalty.
Protecting Lily in that situation was clearly a tactically rational decision..
However, it is unreasonable for personnel who have just been deployed to the front line to throw away their arms and their lives for that tactical purpose..
Although it makes sense in calculations, the more I think about it, the more strange it seems..
there is something different.
Lily sensed this and came to question God Hand..
Even if his injuries were from defending himself..
“…….”
Godhand let out a long sigh..
“Still, you're a lifesaver, but aren't you too cold?……?”
“There is nothing more burdensome than good intentions without knowing their purpose..”
Lily questioned Godhand without hiding her sad eyes..
“Tell me. Don't hide it. why did you save me?”
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