"──Now, now~~~ it's time for the injection."
"──Wait a moment, Doctor. What's with that huge syringe? What are you going to do with such a thick needle on that syringe...?! "
"──Oh, did it hurt?"
On the second day of hospitalization, Moore, who had injuries all over his body, including fragments deeply embedded in his abdomen removed the day before in surgery, received a baptism marking the beginning of his full-fledged hospital life with an injection brought to the hospital room by the narrow-eyed female doctor Mary less than an hour after waking up from anesthesia.
Well, if you were to borrow his words, that alone wasn't so bad.
"──Now that the injection is done, I'll remove the catheter."
"──Huh? Oh, yes."
"──Hmm... let's see... okay, exhale~..."
As a slender and smooth hand slipped into the sheets and the hospital gown, pulling out the thin tube connected to the lower abdomen, Moore couldn't help but feel that this moment might awaken some strange fetish. Especially if the person handling it was a beautiful doctor.
Unable to resist, he found himself at the mercy of the situation since waking up to the loss of his prosthetic right leg and prosthetic left arm.
The mental fatigue during the removal was undoubtedly greater than the discomfort of being pulled out.
On the third day of hospitalization, resisting the urge to smoke was manageable, but the inability to move his body became the greatest agony.
Descending from the hospital bed with only one arm and one leg, he balanced himself and started with push-ups.
Naturally, it turned into one-armed push-ups, providing a good workout with a reasonable load.
"During the medical rounds—"
"──────"
"It was during the medical rounds... Captain Moore, it's time for the injection again."
He hadn't heard about such a plan, but a syringe with the same thickness as the previous day was plunged into his skin again. It was painful enough to grit his teeth and endure.
He earnestly wished to be discharged soon.
----
.
.
.
.
"──Commander, I'm intruding."
"──How are you feeling?"
"──Master, are you okay?"
"... Everyone, please get me out of here as soon as possible."
On the fourth day of hospitalization, after the replacement and adjustment of his damaged body, Moore, without any preamble, asked his subordinates, who had just visited to check on him, to help him escape from the hospital.
Faced with his sudden request, the girls involuntarily exchanged glances.
"Um... is something wrong?"
"Well... various things."
It seems that there's something challenging even for Moore in this hospitalization. The girls sensed it, but there was no way to determine if he could be discharged.
"I'm sorry, but... please bear with it until you recover."
"Master, you were in pretty bad shape. Oh, and here's the military uniform you asked for. I'll put it in the closet."
"...I'm about to shed tears at your kind words. Ah, thank you."
He seemed to have recovered enough to utter sarcastic remarks. Neon placed the military uniform, cap, and neatly laced boots in the closet.
It felt like the order to report would be issued soon.
Specifically, from his immediate superior.
"...What about Metis?"
"Haven't you watched the news?"
When Anis was asked about the matter that was on his mind, she sighed in exasperation.
Despite having a mobile device for communication and a TV in the room, it seemed he was indifferent to such things. She grasped the remote control and turned on the TV.
Displayed on the screen was a news program. Even when Anis changed the channel, the coverage was focused on the Metis squad that he desired.
"Mishiris' stock prices are skyrocketing, and citizens' admiration for Metis is unending. ...Well, the goal has been achieved."
"...Well, yes, but... is that all you have to say?"
"What other thoughts are there? Of course, from the perspective of you who fought there, it might be different..."
"And Commander-sama got severely injured again..."
It wasn't that bad, but Moore shrugged at Anis's statement.
However, the prosthetic arm and leg, both severely damaged, required replacement. Currently, both had been removed, and the sight was not only painful but also difficult to express in words.
In addition, the bandages wrapped around the skin peeking through the gaps in the hospital gown caused the girls' expressions to darken.
"...You have more white hair now."
"Is it that noticeable? I haven't looked in the mirror—"
.
.
.
"—Hero slide!!"
Unable to find the right words, Anis reached out with her slender hand and began to stroke his head instead.
Unexpectedly, a figure slipped into the room through the slight gap in the door.
"Ah, Laplace. It's been a while."
"Hey! You should come in after the door opens! Also, this is a hospital, so keep it down!"
"Sorry! I used the Hero's Slide because I wanted to see Captain Moore as soon as possible!"
"...Well, it's much better than it being dark—but it really is loud."
Her voice was so loud that it seemed a nurse might come rushing in at any moment. Ignoring the furrowed brows of Anis and Neon, Laplace walked towards the bed where Moore lay.
"Captain Moore! Is your body okay!?"
"Sorry for looking like this when you came to visit. I'm almost completely healed. Just waiting for the attachment of the prosthetic arm and leg."
"I see! That's really good! Oh, this is from the Metis squad."
"Thank you very much."
"It's a protein newly released in Misillis! It comes with a shaker! I guarantee its effectiveness!"
—Bringing a gift during a hospital visit.
—That's unexpected.
Moore received the bag offered by Laplace, which contained stylish black packaging for the protein, not even wrapped. Inside the small box were a measuring spoon and a shaker, he assumed.
Taking it with his right hand, he handed it over to Laplace, who stood beside the bed and then turned his gaze back to Laplace.
"How are Maxwell and Drake?"
"Of course! We've been taken care of with Misillis' latest technology and feel even healthier than before!"
"I see. That's good."
Finally relieved about the well-being of the remaining two, he settled down on the bed. It seems he was concerned about the well-being of Nike and others who were thrown into the same mission as the commander.
"That aside, I heard everything from Shuen about what happened!"
"...Did that lady spill the beans?"
With a click of his tongue and a deep vertical furrow between his eyebrows, Laplace saw Laplace gently placing a slender hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Meanwhile, Laplace bowed deeply.
"We're really sorry for involving you in such a dangerous situation because of us!!"
"Don't apologize—"
.
.
.
"—And thank you!!"
"...You're welcome."
He didn't like being apologized to because it made him feel as if his efforts were in vain. Much more enjoyable was being thanked.
In reality, when Laplace thanked him, Moore subtly but knowingly eased the corners of his mouth.
"─Laplace. Is Rapture still frightening?"
Moore is well aware that it's a malicious question. He knows how challenging it is to overcome fear. When he deliberately asked, her expression immediately tensed.
"...Yes, it's frightening."
"I thought so."
"But! I won't be scared!! ─Because I'm a hero!!"
Casually, Laplace searched her pocket and pulled out an old book. It was undoubtedly the one he discovered in that facility and handed to her.
"─Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. I fear nothing."
Reciting a verse from the poem, Laplace nodded vigorously at Moore and stowed the book back into her pocket.
"Well then, I've said everything I wanted to say, so I'll be going!!"
Instead of heading to the door, Laplace swiftly walked to the window, opened it, and, with one leg hanging out, turned back over her shoulder to the bedridden Moore.
"─Get well soon and let's run around on the surface together, hero!!"
"...Hero?"
"─Hero! Exit!"
─Even though this is supposed to be the 10th floor.
The figure beyond the window disappeared in the blink of an eye. As everyone sighed, paying no attention to anyone in particular, it seemed that, at least for her, being a bit noisy was just right. Probably. Most likely.
Such thoughts lasted only a moment. Suddenly, the mobile device on the side table next to the bed vibrated with an incoming call.
Rapi picked it up and handed it to him—there was one new message.
The sender was—Anderson.
"──Now, now~~~ it's time for the injection."
"──Wait a moment, Doctor. What's with that huge syringe? What are you going to do with such a thick needle on that syringe...?! "
"──Oh, did it hurt?"
On the second day of hospitalization, Moore, who had injuries all over his body, including fragments deeply embedded in his abdomen removed the day before in surgery, received a baptism marking the beginning of his full-fledged hospital life with an injection brought to the hospital room by the narrow-eyed female doctor Mary less than an hour after waking up from anesthesia.
Well, if you were to borrow his words, that alone wasn't so bad.
"──Now that the injection is done, I'll remove the catheter."
"──Huh? Oh, yes."
"──Hmm... let's see... okay, exhale~..."
As a slender and smooth hand slipped into the sheets and the hospital gown, pulling out the thin tube connected to the lower abdomen, Moore couldn't help but feel that this moment might awaken some strange fetish. Especially if the person handling it was a beautiful doctor.
Unable to resist, he found himself at the mercy of the situation since waking up to the loss of his prosthetic right leg and prosthetic left arm.
The mental fatigue during the removal was undoubtedly greater than the discomfort of being pulled out.
On the third day of hospitalization, resisting the urge to smoke was manageable, but the inability to move his body became the greatest agony.
Descending from the hospital bed with only one arm and one leg, he balanced himself and started with push-ups.
Naturally, it turned into one-armed push-ups, providing a good workout with a reasonable load.
"During the medical rounds—"
"──────"
"It was during the medical rounds... Captain Moore, it's time for the injection again."
He hadn't heard about such a plan, but a syringe with the same thickness as the previous day was plunged into his skin again. It was painful enough to grit his teeth and endure.
He earnestly wished to be discharged soon.
----
.
.
.
.
"──Commander, I'm intruding."
"──How are you feeling?"
"──Master, are you okay?"
"... Everyone, please get me out of here as soon as possible."
On the fourth day of hospitalization, after the replacement and adjustment of his damaged body, Moore, without any preamble, asked his subordinates, who had just visited to check on him, to help him escape from the hospital.
Faced with his sudden request, the girls involuntarily exchanged glances.
"Um... is something wrong?"
"Well... various things."
It seems that there's something challenging even for Moore in this hospitalization. The girls sensed it, but there was no way to determine if he could be discharged.
"I'm sorry, but... please bear with it until you recover."
"Master, you were in pretty bad shape. Oh, and here's the military uniform you asked for. I'll put it in the closet."
"...I'm about to shed tears at your kind words. Ah, thank you."
He seemed to have recovered enough to utter sarcastic remarks. Neon placed the military uniform, cap, and neatly laced boots in the closet.
It felt like the order to report would be issued soon.
Specifically, from his immediate superior.
"...What about Metis?"
"Haven't you watched the news?"
When Anis was asked about the matter that was on his mind, she sighed in exasperation.
Despite having a mobile device for communication and a TV in the room, it seemed he was indifferent to such things. She grasped the remote control and turned on the TV.
Displayed on the screen was a news program. Even when Anis changed the channel, the coverage was focused on the Metis squad that he desired.
"Mishiris' stock prices are skyrocketing, and citizens' admiration for Metis is unending. ...Well, the goal has been achieved."
"...Well, yes, but... is that all you have to say?"
"What other thoughts are there? Of course, from the perspective of you who fought there, it might be different..."
"And Commander-sama got severely injured again..."
It wasn't that bad, but Moore shrugged at Anis's statement.
However, the prosthetic arm and leg, both severely damaged, required replacement. Currently, both had been removed, and the sight was not only painful but also difficult to express in words.
In addition, the bandages wrapped around the skin peeking through the gaps in the hospital gown caused the girls' expressions to darken.
"...You have more white hair now."
"Is it that noticeable? I haven't looked in the mirror—"
.
.
.
"—Hero slide!!"
Unable to find the right words, Anis reached out with her slender hand and began to stroke his head instead.
Unexpectedly, a figure slipped into the room through the slight gap in the door.
"Ah, Laplace. It's been a while."
"Hey! You should come in after the door opens! Also, this is a hospital, so keep it down!"
"Sorry! I used the Hero's Slide because I wanted to see Captain Moore as soon as possible!"
"...Well, it's much better than it being dark—but it really is loud."
Her voice was so loud that it seemed a nurse might come rushing in at any moment. Ignoring the furrowed brows of Anis and Neon, Laplace walked towards the bed where Moore lay.
"Captain Moore! Is your body okay!?"
"Sorry for looking like this when you came to visit. I'm almost completely healed. Just waiting for the attachment of the prosthetic arm and leg."
"I see! That's really good! Oh, this is from the Metis squad."
"Thank you very much."
"It's a protein newly released in Misillis! It comes with a shaker! I guarantee its effectiveness!"
—Bringing a gift during a hospital visit.
—That's unexpected.
Moore received the bag offered by Laplace, which contained stylish black packaging for the protein, not even wrapped. Inside the small box were a measuring spoon and a shaker, he assumed.
Taking it with his right hand, he handed it over to Laplace, who stood beside the bed and then turned his gaze back to Laplace.
"How are Maxwell and Drake?"
"Of course! We've been taken care of with Misillis' latest technology and feel even healthier than before!"
"I see. That's good."
Finally relieved about the well-being of the remaining two, he settled down on the bed. It seems he was concerned about the well-being of Nike and others who were thrown into the same mission as the commander.
"That aside, I heard everything from Shuen about what happened!"
"...Did that lady spill the beans?"
With a click of his tongue and a deep vertical furrow between his eyebrows, Laplace saw Laplace gently placing a slender hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Meanwhile, Laplace bowed deeply.
"We're really sorry for involving you in such a dangerous situation because of us!!"
"Don't apologize—"
.
.
.
"—And thank you!!"
"...You're welcome."
He didn't like being apologized to because it made him feel as if his efforts were in vain. Much more enjoyable was being thanked.
In reality, when Laplace thanked him, Moore subtly but knowingly eased the corners of his mouth.
"─Laplace. Is Rapture still frightening?"
Moore is well aware that it's a malicious question. He knows how challenging it is to overcome fear. When he deliberately asked, her expression immediately tensed.
"...Yes, it's frightening."
"I thought so."
"But! I won't be scared!! ─Because I'm a hero!!"
Casually, Laplace searched her pocket and pulled out an old book. It was undoubtedly the one he discovered in that facility and handed to her.
"─Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. I fear nothing."
Reciting a verse from the poem, Laplace nodded vigorously at Moore and stowed the book back into her pocket.
"Well then, I've said everything I wanted to say, so I'll be going!!"
Instead of heading to the door, Laplace swiftly walked to the window, opened it, and, with one leg hanging out, turned back over her shoulder to the bedridden Moore.
"─Get well soon and let's run around on the surface together, hero!!"
"...Hero?"
"─Hero! Exit!"
─Even though this is supposed to be the 10th floor.
The figure beyond the window disappeared in the blink of an eye. As everyone sighed, paying no attention to anyone in particular, it seemed that, at least for her, being a bit noisy was just right. Probably. Most likely.
Such thoughts lasted only a moment. Suddenly, the mobile device on the side table next to the bed vibrated with an incoming call.
Rapi picked it up and handed it to him—there was one new message.
The sender was—Anderson.
