novelraw Chapter 72 : Chapter 72
Chapter 72 : Chapter 72
Chapter 72: Free Time
As my eyelids slowly lifted, an unfamiliar ceiling filled my vision.
‘Where is……?’
A sensation of the body sinking deeply.
The mattress was fluffy.
An IV drip was plugged into my arm, and a smell unique to medicine pierced my nose.
The area around the bed was screened by curtains.
Seeing that the bed was a hotel bed, it didn't seem to be a hospital, probably a temporary infirmary set up by Zero.
‘Legs.’
And I soon recalled the reason I came here.
Because before losing consciousness, I had fainted with my lower body paralyzed.
I immediately focused on the lower part.
Sensation…… is there!
Although it still feels tingly as if floating, the sensation had definitely returned.
When I wiggled my toes, a faint reaction was transmitted.
“Phew.”
A sigh flowed out first from relief.
The worry that I might end up in a wheelchair disappeared.
And then, swish- the curtains were pulled back to both sides.
“You’re awake?”
A familiar face, the school nurse.
Knowingly or unknowingly, I fainted a lot during training and visited the infirmary often due to injuries.
The school nurse also called my name as if accustomed.
“Jinwoo, aren't we seeing each other too often?”
“Haha…….”
“There’s nothing significantly wrong with your body. Probably heatstroke or you collapsed from overexertion in a short time.”
At her words, I nodded slowly.
“By the way, excuse me, but were my legs okay?”
At my carefully asked question, the school nurse raised an eyebrow.
“Legs?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, come to think of it, when you were carried in at first, they were severely stiff. Like the muscles were completely knotted.”
She pressed my shin a couple of times with her palm.
“I was worried because they didn't loosen up well even though I massaged them urgently. But from some point, they became okay. They are soft now. How does it feel?”
“Um, I think they’re fine.”
“Okay, that’s a relief. Running 115 kilos was probably the cause. You, heard you didn't even awaken? Yet coming in tied for 1st place…… amazing.”
As she sent a gaze mixed with admiration, I slightly avoided her gaze.
“Still, take care of your body from next time. Seeing me this often isn't a good thing, right?”
“Can’t guarantee that.”
I smiled appropriately and shrugged my shoulders.
I’m in a position where I can’t compete with the top tier unless I push myself to the point of being carried away.
Afterwards, the school nurse added a few simple explanations.
She checked basic figures like body temperature, pulse, and blood pressure, and said the forehead wound from fainting was disinfected and treated.
Since she prescribed fluids, she advised not to move until it’s finished, and to rest quietly since there are other students in the next bed.
She also told me to press the bell next to me if any problem arises.
“Got it?”
“Yes.”
Saying so, she turned her steps and left the spot.
What remained was the quiet inside the curtain.
I slowly raised my body.
“…….”
My body moved lightly.
No abnormalities. To the extent that I wondered if I was really fainting just moments ago.
Soon my gaze turned to my legs.
Because the fact that they were ‘stiff’ when carried in, as the school nurse said, bothered me.
‘Aftereffects of wrapping Pain.’
It wasn't difficult to notice.
Right before collapsing, my legs didn't move as if paralyzed and turned into wooden logs.
The price exacted on me until now was ‘pain.’
Whether using a skill or converting Pain into pain, I suffered pain as the price.
Although I had to grit my teeth enduring pain, at least liberation came after enduring the pain.
But this time was different.
Sensation disappeared entirely.
Paralysis where not even a reaction returns no matter how hard I try to move.
I had to pay a price in a completely different way from before.
‘Damn it, is there nothing free?’
Pain rising enough to make breathing impossible, or paralysis where nothing is felt.
To think I have to pay one of the two prices just for using the power I possess.
Unreasonable. It’s unreasonable.
While staring blankly at the ceiling with such unfair feelings, a scene suddenly came to mind.
The clone with black eyes I saw in the inner world.
──Use the power. And endure.
The guy’s mouth never moved even once, but for some reason, I could know.
What the guy wanted to say.
The guy told me to use Pain, and the powers inside me more.
To endure the resulting pain, those side effects.
‘Damn bastard, talking easily since it’s not his business.’
I spat out as many curses as possible inwardly.
The last words the guy left as he moved away from me.
──As much as you endure, ‘we’ become stronger.
At that moment, squirming energy flowed turbulently inside my body.
A sensation of ominous waves creeping along blood vessels and under the skin.
‘……As much as I endure, ‘we’ become stronger, huh.’
Other things aside, he’s a guy who talks really annoyingly.
Should have said ‘Please endure so we can become strong.’
I’m the one suffering, so where does he get off giving orders.
Even in group projects, it’s a national rule that freeloaders buy coffee.
But a guy ghosting in the inner world acts that arrogantly?
If this was a group project, I would have removed his name from the PPT immediately. Damn bastard.
“Tsk…….”
Pain.
A curse making me painful, and simultaneously a power making me strong.
Just looking at this Olle Trail race, it was so.
My result is tied for 1st place. Meaning I finished simultaneously with Lee Junhyeok.
Producing the same performance as Lee Junhyeok, it would have been nonsensical for the original me.
Thoroughly, a result created by Pain.
‘Even if told not to use it, I would have used it.’
I know better than anyone that it’s dangerous.
However, only by taking that risk can I leap forward.
Knowing that, I’m just annoyed at the clone guy babbling arbitrarily.
[Kkihihihit! It’s jiggling! Jiggle jiggle!]
Mimic talked nonsense today as well.
Though strangely, that sound felt like comfort now.
How much time passed like that.
Kkiik-
The sound of the temporary infirmary door opening was heard.
Soon the curtain was pulled back softly.
“Ryu Jinwoo, in the infirmary again today.”
The one who entered was Do Haru.
Yellow-brown pupils twinkled playfully.
Next to her, Seol Hayun also revealed herself.
With her silver hair tied up, she gave off a much calmer impression than usual.
“Ah, I feel alive.”
Flopping onto the folding chair placed next to the bed, Do Haru let out a long sigh.
The kid immediately put her legs up on the bed—tuck—and started grumbling.
“I really thought I was going to die today. Carrying luggage and running 115 kilos as soon as arriving in Jeju.”
Cooling packs stuck all over her calves seemed to prove her words.
Certainly, it was hellish time.
Everyday noise flowed into the quiet infirmary.
“I was resting well, thanks for coming noisily.”
“Ey, what for. They say white noise helps recovery. So how’s your body condition?”
“Fainted after finishing, but they say no big abnormalities. Told me not to overdo it too much.”
I relayed exactly what the school nurse said.
Of course, I hid the truth.
There would be no need to specifically inform them that my lower body was paralyzed.
Might make them worry more than necessary.
“Really? Well, you did overdo it immensely. Who knew you would suddenly become that fast.”
Do Haru showed exaggerated gestures with her whole body, and next to her, Seol Hayun looked at me silently.
Facing that gaze, when I asked if there was any problem, Seol Hayun shook her head and opened her mouth.
“No, just surprised. Because I didn't know you could run at that speed.”
It was a sensible reaction.
Honestly, it’s true that it doesn't make sense.
Reinforcing the lower body by wrapping Pain, creating maximum speed, and then overlapping [Cheetah] passive to accelerate doubly.
To others’ eyes, a Non-Awakened doing that? Perfect to raise questions.
“Just, thought your body was trained harder than I thought. I had that thought.”
However, Seol Hayun reacted calmly as if she had adapted somewhat.
“I was more surprised by Mei Lin.”
Before silence came, Do Haru opened her mouth first.
“Heard she finished carrying 250 kilos of luggage. Asked if she was okay, said no problem. Said she hiked carrying over 100 kilos of luggage every day in the mountains.”
Do Haru clicking her tongue in admiration.
Then added one more word as if fascinated.
“Listening to Mei Lin, there are people there who lift tons without magic power. Even though they are Non-Awakened!”
That small talk became unexpected help to me.
As the focus shifted naturally, questions about my bizarre physical ability were diluted.
Just when small talk continued like that.
Ttogak- Ttogak-
Heavy high heel sounds resonated.
“……Kids? It’s troublesome if you chat in the infirmary, you know?”
The school nurse with a scary expression stuck her face through the curtains.
***
Ultimately, we were kicked out of the infirmary.
With the words that another student was scheduled to enter soon, we were driven out just like that.
“Was it that noisy?”
“Infirmary is basically damn quiet.”
“Ha, it was white noise though……. What to do? Should we go to a cafe? Hayun and I were thinking of going to a spa.”
“Spa?”
Come to think of it, I think I saw a signboard.
‘Top-class Spa & Aroma,’ such a phrase vaguely came to mind.
“Yeah, that top-class spa too! They say they use seawater here too. Heard it’s super good for skin?”
Do Haru put her hands together and eyes twinkled.
“This is an opportunity, opportunity! Plus, half price discount exclusively for Zero cadets. How can one resist this? So we decided to go together~.”
Do Haru linked arms with Seol Hayun and started getting excited rapidly, then.
“Ah but leaving only you behind is a bit so-so. Strictly speaking, you got kicked out of the infirmary because of us. Right? Originally intended to let you keep resting and leave.”
Soon speaking towards me with a rapidly calmed voice and expression.
“Meaning the plan is ruined.”
“No. Meaning it’s time to make a new plan.”
When I shrugged my shoulders, Do Haru waved her finger and said.
“Just the facilities here alone, there are tons of places to play during free time! There’s a game arcade, and if you go outside, cliff bungee jumping is possible. Go down a bit and there’s a surfing spot! Don’t know if it operates today but heard there’s wingsuit experience too?”
“You know everything perfectly.”
“The bitch who likes playing best is exactly me.”
Do Haru speaking triumphantly.
And with such Do Haru beside her, Seol Hayun opened her mouth.
“Extreme activities aren't very helpful for condition management. We overdid it today too.”
“Ek, excluding such activities, 90% of the possible schedule flies away?”
“How about just going to the spa as planned? There’s a sauna too. Jinwoo can rest there as well.”
There was a subtle weight in Seol Hayun’s calm voice.
“Sauna?”
Thought for a moment.
Conclusion came quickly.
“……Sounds good?”
No particular reason to refuse.
As Seol Hayun said, loosening up the body in hot water seems best for now rather than extreme activities.
“Oh oh! Then it’s good, anyway sauna and spa are attached so let’s go together! It’s in the basement.”
So we decided on the destination and moved our steps.
Moving itself was somewhat fun in its own way.
Structure where not just a single hotel exists independently, but a wide space like COEX is created underground.
From the entrance entering, a large aquarium covered the walls and ceiling.
Colorful tropical fish swam inside, and soft lighting created an atmosphere like walking underwater, swaying like waves.
In the underground shopping mall continuing like that, Zero cadets caught the eye everywhere on the way.
To the extent that general guests glanced sideways and whispered, their presence was definitely far from ordinary.
A treadmill sounded a warning alarm in the open gym facility exposed by glass.
One cadet scratching his head in front of the overloaded machine.
Next to him, an employee was writing a breakdown report with a flustered face.
Going a bit further, a VR experience zone was visible.
A few cadets were immersed in a swordsmanship sparring simulator wearing headsets, but it seemed they leaked real magic power before they knew it.
As the machine creaked and emitted an overheating warning sound, employees rushed in and hurriedly pulled the power cord.
Loud screams were heard from the arcade zone appearing in the next block.
A punch machine got a hole punched in one hit, and soon the machine became unresponsive emitting smoke.
“This is for civilians……!”
The shout of the employee approaching with a dumbfounded expression scattered in the air.
“Our Zero kids, variously nuisance.”
“Tell me about it.”
When Do Haru said as if it was funny, I had no choice but to agree.
If they were mature heroes, they would have controlled their power thoroughly, but they can’t do that well yet.
While passing through quickly like that, Do Haru poked my side slightly.
“Hey, look over there.”
There were a man and a woman at the spot Do Haru pointed to slightly with her chin.
Sitting on a bench chair in front of the open library, passing spoons to each other and feeding ice cream, a lovey-dovey appearance.
On one hand, their faces were somewhat familiar.
“Those guys, Zero kids.”
Do Haru muttered with a heavy expression.
“Ha, prohibition of dating is our Academy’s policy. Should I just report them abruptly.”
Do Haru narrowing her brows closed her eyes as if seeing something she shouldn't see.
“They say desire for love and reproduction is sometimes the most powerful. Maybe it’s something rules can’t stop.”
Seol Hayun added calmly.
“Don’t talk like an ecological observation journal.”
When I muttered dumbfounded.
“Letting it slide only today, only today.”
Do Haru shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
While walking and sightseeing all sorts of things like that, we arrived at the [Sauna & Spaland] entrance before we knew it.
Aroma scent wafting softly from the reception desk.
Feeling tension releasing already.
“Then let’s enjoy~!”
Do Haru raised her arms high and ran inside first.
“Then, see you later.”
Seol Hayun picked three bottles of sports drinks from the vending machine and handed one to me.
“Drink in between. Might faint again if electrolytes aren't replenished.”
Feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Do I receive worry in this way because I faint so often.
“I’ll drink well.”
Accepting the drink, I stepped into the sauna.