Chapter 244: Unexpected Visit

Gaisitel scrambled out of the way as Hien reached out, arms open, as if to catch him.

Even as Deon fell, he saw Hien’s disheveled state and clicked his tongue in annoyance. He twisted in mid-air to avoid Hien’s reaching hands, landing neatly between the two. Looking up, he met Gaisitel’s gaze.

…Right, how should I even start this conversation?

“That commotion was loud enough to hear all the way inside the Demon King’s castle…”

Gaisitel was the type of demon who was overly cautious around his superiors, powerful figures. If Deon spoke sharply, he’d surely grovel.

Sure enough, the moment Deon’s brow furrowed, the guy’s face went pale and he bowed deeply.

“How dare someone like me offend Sir Deon! I am truly sorry! I’ll… I’ll cut off that gardener’s head right here and now!”

Huh…?

He says it’s his fault, but then tries to chop off poor Hien’s head? What kind of logic is that…?

Feels like something similar happened before… or is it just my imagination?

Gaisitel snapped his mouth shut as if Deon’s involuntary sigh of disbelief was some kind of signal. Deon could practically feel Gaisitel’s eyes darting around, gauging his mood. He rubbed his temples and finally spoke.

“Alright, that’s enough. Stop causing a scene and go inside. As for why I called you here… I’ll tell you later, privately.”

Deon deliberately avoided mentioning Hien and making things worse. Whether he defended Hien or not, the moment he brought him up, Gaisitel’s anger would surely turn on the gardener.

Just as he expected, Gaisitel, completely focused on Deon Hart’s displeasure, bowed hastily and backed away. Deon watched the guy vanish, then turned towards the intense stare he felt from his side.

Hien was gazing at him, eyes shining far too brightly.

“Sir Deon… Thank you so much…!”

…

Deon physically recoiled from the intensity, though he didn’t show it outwardly.

Pretending indifference, he looked away and slowly answered.

“Not really. I just hate the commotion, so there’s no need to thank me…”

“Still, thank you!”

…

Hmm, better to just change the subject.

Hien’s condition was clearly terrible, as if he’d just been through hell. And he’d tried to catch Deon in this state…?

Deon’s gaze swept over Hien’s injuries, a complex look in his eyes, before meeting Hien’s gaze again. Seemed pointless to ask, but better to check, just in case.

“Do you know why Gaisitel acted like that?”

“Well… he said an incubus caught his eye as he was passing by… and it annoyed him…”

…Ah, I see. That’s all I needed to know.

No need to hear more.

He jerked his chin towards the castle.

“Come on.”

In a way, his injuries were also a result of Deon calling Gaisitel over. Since they were practically Deon’s fault, he should take responsibility for treating them.

Deon could injure himself right here and summon Ben, but then Hien would have to deal with all the fallout. That would just create more trouble for Deon. He already had enough headaches without adding more to the pile.

So, swallowing his annoyance, Deon led the way to Ben’s room.

***

His personal physician always had a knack for sensing when something was wrong and would rush over like the wind even before Deon could call for him. Because of this, Deon rarely had reason to visit Ben’s room, which was probably why this visit was such a shock from Ben’s perspective.

The moment Ben realized his visitor was Deon Hart, he reacted explosively.

“What brings you here? Are you hurt? Cursed maybe? Something mana stones can’t fix, perhaps?”

Only after repeatedly insisting he was fine and explaining he’d come to ask for treatment for someone else, was Deon finally able to escape Ben’s probing gaze and hands.

“But… I’m Sir Deon’s personal physician…”

…

“A gardener like him could easily be seen by any of the other healers in the city…”

…

“It’s not like there aren’t other healers around. And here I am, the personal physician to the former Demon King, and current physician to the Commander of the 0th Legion, treating some incubus gardener when my actual patient is standing right here…”

Instead, his grumbling complaints just kept coming.

Still, thankfully, his professional dedication meant he was treating Hien thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Hien, who you’d expect to be most uncomfortable, was surprisingly touched and completely oblivious to Ben’s sour mood. Guess that’s a plus.

“Sir Deon… lending his personal physician to someone like me…”

…

Hmm, scratch that, maybe not so fortunate. Ben’s eyes were twitching upwards.

Yeah, he was begrudgingly swallowing his complaints and treating Hien, and now Hien was acting like Ben didn’t even exist. Ben had a right to be annoyed.

Hien… please read the room! Why was Deon, the uninjured party, the one who had to be mindful of *his* physician’s mood?

…Why won’t this bandage come undone?! Nothing’s going right today!

Ben ripped the bandage strips and wrapped them tightly around the medicated wound. He was using so much force it probably hurt, but Hien didn’t even whimper, his gaze fixed on Deon.

Those eyes, still shining with emotion, were starting to feel too intense. Deon subtly turned his head away.

…Is that it for the treatment, just the bandage?

“Yes, that’s it. But, honestly, injuries like this could’ve been treated by any of the other doctors in the city. Why bring him all the way to me?”

Because I don’t know where the other doctors are.

…If Deon said that, Ben would probably give him a look of disbelief. So instead, Deon calmly said,

“When I thought ‘treatment,’ you were the only one who came to mind. Guess you’re the only physician I really trust.”

…Do you really think saying that will make me happy?

Then why are you pulling out candy…?

“I appreciate you thinking so highly of my skills, but I *am* Sir Deon’s personal physician. I don’t want to be so busy with other patients that I overlook my most important patient’s injuries.”

And yet you’re handing me candy right now…

“I heard the Demon King banned you from… smoking. You must get bored sometimes.”

…

“You can have one of these then.”

Ben held out his hand, revealing a candy in a familiar wrapper. Deon’s expression turned complicated.

This… this looks just like the candy wrappers those mad dogs used to give me after they stole my meds…? No, not just similar, it’s exactly the same.

…You wouldn’t…?

“Anyway, I heard you’re heading into battle yourself.”

Before Deon could even ask about the candy, Ben seemed to deliberately avoid his gaze and quickly changed the subject. Clever bastard.

“You’re going to the Human Realm yourself.”

“…Yeah.”

“Of course I’m coming with you, but what about Ed? Are you taking him too?”

Why do you just assume you’re coming along?

Well, yeah, you are my physician… but I hardly ever get hurt these days, and even if I do, I heal up quick. Probably don’t really need you…

Besides, he knew about the no-drug order. If Deon openly used his meds in front of Ben, the nagging afterwards would be unbearable.

So, Deon was about to say he’d leave Ben behind, but Ben cut him off, speaking firmly as if he’d read Deon’s mind.

“Surely you’re not thinking of going to a battlefield *without* your personal physician. Seriously, what kind of intelligent being would do something so utterly brainless?”

Pretty sure he just called me brainless.

Deon had no comeback to that, so he just shut his mouth. Ben had made it clear; Deon had to bring him along.

Deon conceded quickly, his short silence an agreement to Ben’s point. Then he answered Ben’s earlier question.

“…Ed’s staying behind. We need a demon to command the 0th Legion in case anything happens.”

“You’re not taking the 0th Legion…?”

“This time, instead of the 0th Legion, I’m taking the, uh… Lofty Knights.”

“Ah, you mean those crazy… human knight order.”

…

Fine for me, but why are *you* calling them ‘crazy’…?

Deon rubbed his forehead as even Hien, who’d been listening intently with bright eyes, muttered, “Ah, those crazy…” How did those bastards manage to get a reputation as mad dogs even here? This was the Demon Realm, not the Human Realm.

“Well, as long as you’re taking me, that’s what matters. And the gardener’s all patched up.”

“Ah, thanks.”

“It was nothing. You said there’s no physician you trust more than me, so naturally it had to be me.”

Guess he really liked hearing that.

“Need more candy?”

“…Nah, I’m good. Gotta go.”

Having no reason to linger, Deon turned to leave. Hien, who’d been watching him closely, trailed after him.

…

…

…And he kept following.

Deon’s steps through the hallway had already stopped in front of his room. How long was Hien going to follow him?

Was Hien really going to follow him into his room? Deon turned around instead of opening the door. Hien’s eager, friendly face was right there, as if he’d been waiting for Deon to turn around.

“…Why are you following me?”

“Ah, well, you see…”

Hesitation clouded his cheerful face, and his words trailed off, slow and halting, as if they might break off at any moment.

“Because… you said you were heading to war… in the Human Realm.”

“Yeah. So?”

“So, um…”

Hien fidgeted, glancing at Deon. Just as Deon was about to say something in exasperation, Hien blurted out,

“That plant I gave you… could I take a look at it for a sec?”

“…Huh?”

“Ah… never mind, sorry…”

“No, it’s not a problem, but… what does me going to war have to do with you checking on the plant?”

It wasn’t like Hien was asking for it back, and he just wanted to take a quick look. No reason to refuse. Deon was just a little confused about the connection.

“Sir Deon won’t be around to care for it as much, so I thought I’d give it some extra nutrients beforehand.”

“Ah… okay, sure. Come on in.”

He opened the door.

Dan, who’d been waiting in the room, noticed Hien following Deon in and gave him a questioning look. Deon just shrugged and gestured for the carnivorous plant.

“Come here.”

“Kkyaek!”

Instantly, a green vine wrapped around his waist and clung to him.

Used to the plant clinging to him, Deon detached it, pot and all, and handed it straight to Hien.

“Here, take a look.”

“Uh, well…”

…?

…Huh? He seemed so eager to give it nutrients.

Under Deon’s questioning gaze, Hien’s eyes darted around, avoiding his. His voice dropped to a near whisper, mumbled almost under his breath.

“I… uh… I didn’t bring the nutrients.”

…

“I wanted to ask permission first, before going to get them…”

“…Okay, well, I’ll wait. Go get them.”

“Ah, actually, could I just borrow the plant itself? I’ll just give it the nutrients and bring it right back.”

“Kkyaek?”

The carnivorous plant whined.

Deon glanced down at the plant.

“…Yeah, actually, that makes more sense. Take it.”

“Kkyaek?!”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Kkyaeaek?!”

No one paid any attention to the carnivorous plant’s bewildered cries as the handoff occurred.

Hien bowed deeply as he accepted the pot and backed away. The carnivorous plant’s pitiful cries of “Kkyaeaeae…!” trailed after him, but neither of them paid it any mind.

The moment the door closed, cutting off the plant’s cries, Deon collapsed onto his bed. He was supposed to go see the mad dogs, but slumped on his bed with his face buried in the pillow, he really didn’t feel like moving.

‘Even if everything else can wait, I really need to tell them to get ready for deployment…’

Too much effort. Too tired.

Just to stay awake, Deon wiggled his fingers. With effort, he turned his head towards Dan’s direction. Dan’s face was out of sight above him, but Deon could tell he was still there.

“Dan, go tell the mad dogs to get ready to deploy. And make sure they pack their meds.”

“Yes.”

“And… if you can, find out what kind of trouble those guys have been causing around here.”

Dan, who had started to move to carry out the order, suddenly stopped.

“…Do you really need to know?”

“…Actually, thinking about it, maybe it’s better if I *don’t* know.”

There’s no way those guys would have caused trouble that would actually reach Deon, and if they had, Dan would have already reported it.

Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

Even just hearing Dan ask if he really *needed* to know made Deon’s stomach clench. He quickly talked himself out of it and buried his face back in his pillow.