(Arin's POV)
A white ceiling interspersed with the stinging smell of antiseptic assaulted my nose.
If there were an award for "Most Loyal Hospital Customer," the trophy would surely be permanently displayed on the shelf of this room.
Slowly, my eyelids opened. Bright morning sunlight pierced my retinas, forcing my eyes to squint against the glare. The first sight visible was not a white-winged angel, but a woman in a white coat with thick black eye bags peeling an apple with a murderous aura.
Doctor Edna.
The fruit knife in her hand moved aggressively, peeling the apple skin as if she were skinning her archenemy alive.
"You are awake too, Mr. Troublemaker," greeted Edna flatly without turning her head in the slightest.
My body was forced to sit up. Strangely, there was no pain. No agonizing bone fractures or torn muscles. It felt light, too light, as if my body had just been purified.
"Morning, Doc... or afternoon?" I asked hoarsely. My throat felt dry. "How long was I out?"
"Three days," answered Edna briefly. She stabbed the scalpel into the now-naked apple with a thwack. "That is a new record. Usually, you wake up within 24 hours to ask for a hospital fee discount."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?" I grimaced while massaging my temples.
"Of course, a compliment," answered Edna with a terrifying sarcastic smile. "You know I was betting with my assistant? I said you would wake up this afternoon; he said you would wake up the day after tomorrow due to a coma. Great, you just won me ten silver coins."
"Glad I could help your finances, Doc," I replied weakly. Memories of the last events flashed in my mind. "How is... Erika? Did she survive?"
Edna sighed deeply, placing the uneaten apple on the bedside table. Her face looked incredibly tired, her eye bags thickened like a panda's.
"That girl... physically she is fine. Her wounds have healed completely."
"Thank goodness," a sigh of relief was exhaled. The heavy burden on my chest lifted.
"But," cut in Edna quickly, her eyes staring sharply. "Her brain overheated."
"Huh?"
"Her mana circuits were severely burned due to excessive magic usage beyond limits. She survived, but her cognitive abilities slowed down drastically. She needs routine therapy every day for a month to cool her head and normalize neural signals."
"Slowed down?" My brow furrowed in worry. "You mean she became... stupid?"
"Not stupid. Just... takes a long time to think. You will see for yourself later."
I nodded. Well, at least she was alive and whole. That was the most important thing.
"Then... the duel result?" I asked again, this time with a pounding heart.
"You passed," answered Edna flatly. She cut a slice of apple and stuffed it forcibly into my mouth to shut me up. "But you failed completely in the Forest Exam because your badge was destroyed and you went outside the safe zone area."
My heart sank instantly. The apple in my mouth tasted bitter.
"So I... repeat the grade?"
"Listen until the end, Kid," Edna flicked my forehead hard. "The Academy watched your duel. They decided that the combat potential you showed exceeded the forest exam passing standards. In short, you and Erika are guaranteed promotion to Class B next semester via a special achievement path. Congratulations, you are officially no longer Class C trash."
"Thank you, Doc. This is good news," a wide smile carved on my face.
However, Edna did not return the smile. Her face grew even gloomier. She pulled up an iron chair, sat right beside the bed, and stared with the look of a doctor about to diagnose a terminal cancer patient.
"Why the long face, Doc? Did my hospital bill swell again?" I joked, trying to break the ice.
Edna did not laugh. She pulled the chair closer until our knees almost touched. The sound of the chair legs scraping the floor sounded loud and serious.
"Arin," Edna's voice lowered, cold and sharp. "Be honest with me. What substance did you inject into your heart during that Overdrive mode? I found unnatural chemical residues in your blood."
The smile on my face vanished instantly.
"That is... a trade secret?"
"Arin!" hissed Edna, her eyes flashing angrily. "I operated on you for six hours to reconnect your muscles! Your heart almost exploded on the operating table. The cells in your body experienced extreme cellular aging in a short time. Explain! Or I will euthanize you right now so you do not suffer anymore!"
I swallowed hard. Besides, there was no point lying to the person holding my medical records and life.
"It was a Silver Golem core," I answered honestly. "Mixed with acidic catalyst and heart stimulants. I turned it into pure Life-Force liquid that could be absorbed by the body."
Edna massaged her temples, as if restraining herself from slapping this crazy patient of hers.
"Crazy. You are truly crazy. Do you know that is poisonous? That is like drinking high-dose rat poison!"
She grabbed the medical clipboard from the table roughly, then shoved it in front of my face.
"Look at this! Read! This is your latest diagnosis result."
I read the sheet quickly. Heart rate graph, bone density, cell regeneration... everything was at abnormally high numbers. But at the very bottom, there was a footnote circled in thick red ink.
[Estimated Cellular Degradation: Acceleration 400%]
"Do you understand what this means?" asked Edna, her voice trembling holding back emotion.
I nodded calmly. "I traded the future for the present."
"You lost fifty years, you fool!" snapped Edna. Tears of frustration welled in the corners of her eyes. "Average humans live 80 years. Knights with mana can reach 100 years. But you... you are an ordinary human without mana protecting cells. With this damage..."
She swallowed, unable to continue the sentence of that verdict.
The room became silent. Only the sound of the wall clock ticking sounded like a countdown.
"My remaining lifespan is only about 12 years," I continued for her. "I will die in my 30s. Maybe sooner if I act recklessly again."
Edna stared in horror. "Why are you that calm?! You just sentenced yourself to die young! You have no future!"
"When I concocted that drug, I already knew the risks, Doc. Taking future strength to use today." I looked straight into her eyes. "If I had not done it, I am sure I could not open my eyes today. I would have died in that forest, and Erika too."
Edna looked like she wanted to cry, but she held it back with professional anger.
"Aren't you sad?! You are only 16, you fool! You just cut your own life short for a silly exam!"
I shifted my gaze to the white ceiling.
"Doc, for a sewer rat like me, living long but being trampled on is hell. Better to live short but burn bright and meaningful. So I do not regret it at all."
I turned to her, smiling wryly. "Besides, think positively. I do not need to worry about pension funds or back pain in old age."
"This is not the time for jokes!" Edna slammed her clipboard onto the table until it cracked.
"I am serious, Doc. Please..." my gaze turned pleading. "Keep this a secret. From Erika, from Elena, from everyone. Let this be a secret between the two of us. Consider it... a special relationship between a doctor and her favorite patient."
Edna stared for a long time, her breathing ragged. Finally, her shoulders slumped in surrender.
"You are the worst patient I have ever handled," whispered Edna hoarsely. "Fine. Doctor and patient secret. But remember, if you die suddenly, I do not want to take care of your corpse. I will throw you into the sea."
"Deal."
"Does anyone else know?" I asked to make sure.
"Only Karim who routinely checks your condition," she answered lazily. "He is very worried about his 'investment'."
"Well, he seems safe. Tell him to keep it a secret too," I requested.
"Okay, okay, fine."
I lowered my legs from the mattress. Still wobbly, but able to step on the floor. The advantage of a senior-level Aura User was rapid physical regeneration.
Just as I stood tall, the room door opened slowly.
A head popped in. Thick white bandages wrapped around her forehead, making her look like a mummy that failed to be wrapped properly.
Erika.
She saw me sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes blinked slowly.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Her face remained flat, staring with empty eyes devoid of expression.
"Erika?" I called softly.
Five seconds later, only then did her expression change drastically. Her eyes widened, her mouth gaped, and tears spurted out like a leaking faucet.
"ARIIIINNN!"
She ran, or rather stumbled into the room and lunged.
THUD!
Her bandaged head hit my chest hard.
"Ouch!" I complained, but had no intention of pushing her away.
Erika hugged tightly, sobbing on my chest. But strangely, she said nothing. Only crying loudly.
Then, five seconds later...
"YOU... SURVIVED! WAAAHHH!" she shouted. Her delay was terrible.
"Yes, yes, I survived," I patted her back awkwardly. "Your brain really became slow, huh? Edna wasn't joking."
Erika released the hug, staring with a puffy face and runny nose. She opened her mouth to protest the insult.
One... two... three... four... five...
"DO NOT... MOCK... ME!" she protested slowly with a red face.
A small laugh escaped my lips. It was funny, but also sad. She became like this because she protected me desperately.
Before Erika's drama was over, the door opened again. This time more elegant, but still noisy.
"Arin!"
Elena Rhyms entered with graceful yet hurried steps, followed by Rose grinning behind her.
Seeing her target awake, Elena's cold defense collapsed instantly. She rushed to the bedside, shoved Erika (whose reaction was five seconds late to get angry) aside, and immediately hugged my neck.
The scent of expensive roses and ice assaulted my nose.
"Thank goodness... thank goodness..." whispered Elena, her voice trembling in my ear. She did not cry hysterically like Erika, but her hug was extremely tight, as if ensuring this figure was real and not a ghost. "I thought you would die. Father already prepared a golden coffin for you."
"Golden coffin? That is... a bit excessive," I mumbled breathlessly, hard to breathe.
"My, my," Rose leaned against the door, whistling mischievously. "Just woke up and already hugged by two beautiful girls. You really are a sickly playboy, aren't you, Arin? Teach me your ways."
While Elena hugged, I glanced at Erika who was shoved aside and dazed. Erika, who just realized she was shoved roughly five seconds ago, finally reacted.
"HEY! MOVE! THAT IS MY PLACE!" shouted Erika at Elena, extremely late.
Elena released her hug, tidying her silver hair with a blushing but still arrogant face. "First come first served, Snail."
"I... AM NOT... A SNAIL!" retorted Erika, her face beet red from anger (and loading).
"Noisy!"
Edna suddenly stood up, her murderous aura lighting up again. "This is a hospital, not a matchmaking market! Get out, all of you! Arin is healed, so take him away from here before my blood pressure rises!"
Edna shooed us away with a wave of her clipboard, chasing everyone out like shooing chickens.
"You are healthy, right? Go take a walk, get some air! Do not fill my room with teenage drama!"
And so, the four of us ended up walking down the hospital hallway toward the academy garden.
The afternoon sun illuminated the corridor with warm orange hues. Erika walked on the left, still grumbling softly about Elena (comment delays still happened occasionally). Elena walked on the right with chin lifted arrogantly, but her hand occasionally nudged my arm. Rose walked backward in front of us, laughing seeing the chaos of this circus troupe.
"So," said Rose while clapping her hands. "Class B, huh? You two are celebrities now. Everyone is talking about 'Arin the Slayer'."
"That is thanks to... (pause)... Arin," answered Erika slowly but sincerely, staring at me with sparkling eyes.
"Of course thanks to Arin. And thanks to my support too," chimed in Elena not wanting to lose, flipping her hair. "Arin, later you have to help me study anatomy theory for next semester. As payment, I will treat you to dinner every day at a five-star restaurant."
"No... Arin will eat dinner with me! In the cafeteria!" argued Erika, though there was a brief pause before she realized she had to argue.
"So, what do we want to eat to celebrate the promotion?" asked Rose cheerfully, cutting off their debate.
"Meat!" exclaimed Elena quickly.
"...Noodles!" replied Erika five seconds later.
They started arguing again about the menu. The sound of their laughter and bickering filled the quiet hallway. Erika who was now slow but honest with her feelings. Elena who was arrogant but cared deeply. Rose who was mischievous but always there as a mediator.
They laughed, argued, and fought for attention.
Usually, disturbances like this would feel annoying. Usually, complaints would be uttered about how noisy they were and how much I wanted to be alone.
But today...
My right hand felt my left chest. There, the heart beat.
Thump... thump...
Every beat was a countdown. Fifty years lost swallowed by ambition, and the remaining time was little. Maybe ten years, maybe fifteen years.
No time to complain. No time to be the lazy and cynical Arin toward the world.
My lips curved forming a thin smile. Not a mocking smile, but a sincere smile that was a little sad.
"Arin, why are you smiling to yourself?" asked Elena suspiciously, her eyes narrowing. "Thinking dirty thoughts, aren't you?"
"No," I answered lightly, staring at the twilight sky from the corridor window. "Just thinking... the weather is good for living."
"Weird," muttered Rose shaking her head.
"Wei... (pause)... rd," echoed Erika.
This remaining life must be used as best as possible. Dreams must be achieved, becoming a knight, changing the medical world... and most importantly, stupid moments like this must be enjoyed to the last drop.
"Hey, Arin! You are daydreaming again!" scolded Rose, waving her hand in front of my face. "Which do you choose? Meat or Noodles?"
I looked at the three of them one by one, then chuckled.
"How about both? My treat. While I am not dead yet."
"DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!" shouted Elena and Erika (delayed) simultaneously, their faces panicked.
Yes. As long as I am still breathing, this is enough.
We laughed together under the orange afternoon sky, celebrating a small victory amidst the countdown to death.