Chapter 16
Startled by Max’s condition, Flora approached closely and examined his wounds.
“He is breathing.”
There were areas wrapped in bandages and areas left unwrapped.
Next to the bed, medicine bags were piled up, and a bottle of disinfectant lay on its side as if it had been tossed after use.
Flora searched for the name of the Hospital written on the medicine bag to identify the Hospital.
‘…It’s a place that uses outdated medical equipment, isn’t it?’
Even among the hospitals located in District 30, it was a place with good evaluations.
However, compared to the hospitals collaborating with Genesis Bio, there was a vast difference. In terms of technology, there was a gap of more than ten years.
“Did he get hurt while doing Mercenary work? It looks like he even received Cell Proliferation Therapy…”
His hand had new flesh sprouting in the center as if a hole had been punched through it, and his side had a tremendous amount of needle marks from stitches.
The fact that he had to get stitches despite receiving Cell Proliferation Therapy proved the severity of the injuries.
“…”
It was often said that a Citizen of Haze considered death as a neighbor.
But Flora’s life was not like that. The common saying that citizens habitually spoke was just noise that didn’t resonate with her.
However, facing Max Steiger made her realize it indirectly.
Looking past his well-trained physique - unusual for a Mage - and the traces of him crossing the line of death, she realized how blessed her own circumstances were.
“Could I live this fiercely?”
As someone facing graduation from Minerva Academy, she had a lot on her mind.
Because she was learning most of the outside world from books.
Knowledge made of print required no challenges and held no crises. It was hard to even find situations to apply what she had learned, leaving her lacking confidence in her knowledge.
But Max Steiger was the exact opposite of her.
Despite being from a Prestigious Family, he was building his presence and growing steadily by experiencing various things on the outside.
As proof of that.
“Tier 3.”
Max’s tier was going up every time they met.
It was presumed that there had been trouble within Steiger about Max lacking talent or something, but it was a situation hard to understand.
‘It wasn’t long ago that he was at tier 1. For a child of a Prestigious Family, his start itself seemed quite late.’
Even if he was late to stand at the starting line, his growth was faster than anyone else’s.
How much time had even passed since the day they first met face-to-face, yet he had already risen to tier 3.
“Mmm…”
Max tossed and turned.
Startled, Flora backed away from the bedding. She realized she had been too close under the pretext of observing him.
“Uh, what do I do? Now…”
Flora blanked out.
She had delivered the side dishes and confirmed the fact that Max was alive, so her goal was achieved. There was practically nothing left for her to do.
“Should I just quietly go back?”
Leaving behind someone who fell asleep without even being able to lock the door after returning? When I know he’s in such a bad state that he couldn’t even answer the phone?
Even if I lock the door and leave, wouldn’t I feel guilty if an intruder came in and something happened?
Her mind grew complicated.
She stood frozen like a stone statue for a long while.
Max blinked and lifted his head.
Intoxicated by sleep, he looked at Flora.
“…?”
Flora could instantly read it from Max’s face as he looked at her.
It was an expression that couldn’t distinguish whether this was reality or a dream.
“The office door was open, so I came in. I mean, I came in…”
“Ugh, it’s not a dream.”
Max rubbed his eyes.
He swallowed the words, “Come to think of it, I did make it back alive,” internally. As he tried to raise his upper body, Flora shook her head.
“Stay lying down. Don’t get up.”
“It’s not a serious wound.”
“Even though you fell asleep so deeply you couldn’t even answer the phone?”
“The medicine was a bit strong. When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
Chuckling at Flora’s answer, Max grabbed the phone he had tossed by his pillow.
He checked his missed calls and messages.
“You sent a message too. Sorry. Did you bring the side dishes?”
“I left them on the desk. I’ll put them in the Refrigerator now.”
As Flora stood up from her spot, Max also slowly raised his body and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Oh right. I washed and packed the side dish containers. Tell her I really enjoyed the food and to pass on my thanks.”
“Okay.”
After watching Max open a water bottle and take his medicine, Flora came out to the office.
She opened the Refrigerator to put the side dishes inside.
“There were quite a lot of side dishes I brought last time, but to think he ate them all, mother will be pleased.”
While putting the side dishes away like that, something caught her eye.
Cheap energy jellies were piled up in the corner of the Refrigerator.
Flora knew because she had bought and eaten one exactly once. It said it had no flavor, but the aftertaste was subtly disgusting and the smell was weird, making it a product she never wanted to eat again.
‘Does he only eat Energy Jelly when he runs out of side dishes? He’s not some machine, eating things like this…’
On top of that, the bulk-sized candy sitting on the desk.
Max’s eating habits seemed to be a mess.
The Person with the ruined eating habits came out of the room wearing a loose t-shirt.
“Whew, I’ve slept enough, so should I turn on the sign?”
Max stretched and flipped up the switch that had been down.
The office brightened, and the sign lit up.
“…Are you going to do it? Work.”
“I have to. Though I don’t know if any customers will come.”
Max answered lightly and brought over the washed side dish containers.
He packed them right into the bag Flora had brought the side dishes in, throwing in some small talk for Flora, who still seemed to feel awkward.
“How’s your life lately?”
“What life?”
“Like the Academy, or life with your new Godfather.”
Flora could tell from Max’s single remark.
It seemed Max Steiger also didn’t know that her mother didn’t live with Layton Steiger despite remarrying.
She had meant to ask him someday, but it looked like he didn’t know the answer either.
‘Maybe I’ll naturally find out once I Graduate and start getting involved in Family Affairs.’
Flora put a period to her thoughts and answered calmly.
“Well, just… ordinary. The Academy and my life.”
“You’re doing well. Being ordinary is peaceful and good.”
Watching Max listen lightly and answer calmly, Flora muttered as she sat on the sofa.
“…That’s the first time I’ve heard someone say being ordinary is good.”
“Why? Because Crimson Howl has to be special?”
“Huh?”
Not expecting an answer to her muttering, Flora stopped talking, flustered.
Max took it in stride, made some coffee, and sat in his computer chair.
“Even ordinariness ultimately differs from Person to Person. Your own standard might be special to someone else, right?”
“Yeah…”
Flora agreed, giving a small nod.
Recalling the Flora he had met Before Regression, Max raised the corners of his mouth.
“It means you don’t need to pay much attention even if the people around you stress you out about having to be special. Because the standard of specialness held by the people saying that is highly likely to be below the line of what you consider ordinary, Flora.”
“…”
“Of course, you don’t need to pay attention to my blabbering either.”
He figured there wouldn’t be any persuasive power in the words of a Mercenary who had achieved nothing that would reach Flora’s ears.
But surprisingly, her mouth opened.
“…I’m worried about whether I’ll be able to do well once I Graduate. I get really nervous when I think about having to enter society.”
“I think the very fact you’re worrying and treating it so carefully means you’re already fully prepared to step out into it.”
“I hate things being fierce… But competition is essential on the outside, isn’t it? Compared to the Academy, diligence doesn’t hold much weight… I feel a sense of repulsion when I recognize that kind of system. What kind of attitude I should take -”
Flora continued to pour it all out.
Even she found it pathetic, wondering what kind of lamentation she was laying out while holding onto a patient who had just barely survived death.
Even as her head denied it, telling her she shouldn’t do this anymore, her lips and tongue didn’t stop, running on their own trajectory.
Was it because the door she had forcefully locked shut was creaking and showing a gap? Through that small crevice, the remnants she had only been piling up for a long time poured down like a flood.
“Huuuu…”
Having lost her composure and revealed her inner thoughts, Flora let out a long Breath.
She met Max’s gaze while studying his reaction.
Max gave a short reply to Flora’s words she had spoken at length.
“You’ll do well, Flora.”
“!”
Flora’s ears perked up.
Looking only at the sentence Max spat out, it seemed like the burdensome words that always weighed down her shoulders, but the underlying meaning was different.
It wasn’t some misplaced consolation. Nor was it a word pushing her, pressuring her to do well.
Max’s voice was full of the conviction that she would unconditionally do well, and the confidence that his words wouldn’t be wrong.
She didn’t know how he could speak so decisively when even she couldn’t believe in herself.
Still, well.
It didn’t feel bad.
“Pfft…”
A laugh leaked out from between Flora’s lips.
Coming all the way to the office in District 27 today had definitely been a Change of Pace.
Lifting her bottom off the sofa, Flora prepared to head back.
“Now that you have side dishes, make sure you eat proper meals. You have to eat well for your body to get better quickly. Don’t eat too much Energy Jelly.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Your body isn’t well, so stay here. I came by subway, so I’m going to the station.”
“Subway? Then I definitely have to go with you.”
“What are you going to do if a Customer comes while you’re away?”
Flora, who had sat Max down as he tried to follow her out no matter what, opened the door and stepped one foot outside.
Before completely leaving the office, she turned her head and spoke to Max.
“Oppa. I’ll come again.”
“Anytime.”
Max only closed the office door after confirming Flora had disappeared from his line of sight.
He made a call to return the missed calls that remained other than Flora’s.