NOVEL WEB Chapter 11
The intense sunlight pierced through my eyes.
I furrowed my brow and cautiously opened just one eye.
The sun was mercilessly seeping through the pink lace curtains.
If only these weren’t up instead of blackout curtains, the sunlight wouldn’t be coming straight in like this.
“…Wait a moment. Pink?”
I suddenly sat up.
I scanned the entirely pink room, trying to recall my memories.
“I was clearly working when I fell into this strange world and met the Saint…”
As I remembered everything up to that point, I laid back down on the bed.
Then calmly and composedly, I covered myself with the blanket up to my head.
“Uaaaaaaaaaah!”
Not only had I fainted twice in front of a human,
but I had also slept in a human’s room…no, I had imposed on their hospitality.
Furthermore, the Saint had carried me here.
“Hahahahaha…”
It’s over. Any dignity I had as the Grim Reaper is completely gone.
Actually, I didn’t have much dignity to begin with, but this is truly the worst of the worst!
The memories that abruptly surfaced made my body want to move on its own.
Every time I recalled an event from my time in this world…
I wanted to tear my hair out, and my legs kept wanting to kick off the blanket.
Is this what they call “blanket kicking”?
“…I should have just not woken up.”
I mumbled this while covering my face with both hands, overwhelmed by embarrassment.
Why is my forehead and bangs damp?
Did I sweat in my sleep?
“…In the middle of winter?”
I tilted my head in confusion while brushing my bangs aside,
when I noticed a wet towel that had fallen on the floor.
“Was this…”
A mop?
Had the Saint been cleaning the room?
Though it wasn’t my intention, since I’ve imposed on her hospitality for the night,
perhaps I should help her clean.
I slowly got up with my sluggish body and picked up the mop.
However, it was surprisingly clean, like a brand new one.
It worried me how such a clean mop could effectively clean the floor.
While contemplating this as I inspected the mop,
the door suddenly swung open.
The Saint was standing there with a washbasin, staring at me.
‘So she was planning to clean after all.’
I thought this, but in the next instant,
the Saint dropped the washbasin she was holding.
The floor quickly became a small puddle.
“Saint! The floor…”
“Never mind that… Thank goodness.”
The Saint rushed over and hugged me tightly.
Due to this, I froze while holding the mop, having been about to start cleaning.
“Saint?”
“I thought you weren’t going to wake up. I thought you’d never wake up…”
“It’s just been a night’s sleep.”
At my words, the Saint shook her head.
Then she murmured while tightly pressing her lips.
“…It’s not just one night. You’ve been unconscious for three days.”
“Huh? Three days?!”
Unbelievable. Three whole days.
Normally, I only need to rest an hour or two to recover.
‘Could being disconnected from the Netherworld have this much impact?’
I was momentarily confused by the situation being more serious than I had anticipated.
However, right now,
the most important thing is to reassure the Saint standing before me.
Her hands were slightly trembling, likely from worry.
I awkwardly extended my hand to pat the Saint’s back.
“Saint, now…”
Just as I was about to say I was fine,
the Saint firmly grasped my hand.
The determination was evident in her eyes that I could see through my bangs.
“Lay back down.”
“Excuse me?”
“You shouldn’t get up after being unconscious for three days. Lie back down, please?”
The Saint started to shake and tug at my collar as if urging me.
“But I feel perfectly fine.”
Though my body was somewhat sluggish, it was to be expected after laying down for three whole days.
I had also briefly tested my abilities, but there was no issue using them.
I smiled to reassure her and said,
“I’m fine, Saint. There’s nothing…”
“Not fine!”
The Saint’s voice cutting off my words startled me into silence.
Her eyes were red as if she was about to cry.
“Saint…”
“…Please. There could still be something wrong, so rest a little longer. Please?”
Tears streamed down the Saint’s face.
The situation was so sudden that I didn’t know where to put my hands.
As I stood frozen without knowing what to do,
the Saint gently caressed my cheek with her trembling hand.
“I kept calling out to you, but you didn’t respond. You didn’t even stir.”
“Did I really do that?”
“Yes. No matter how many healing magics I used, no matter how much I prayed, you didn’t wake up.”
Of course, such things are completely useless on the Grim Reaper.
Even if I explain that, it would be meaningless.
‘Even though I’m not human, resting doesn’t really make any difference.’
It’s only natural that the Saint’s prayers and healing magic had no effect.
The source of a god’s power is divine power.
This divine power is generated either by the divinity within me or by my believers’ faith.
Thus, simply resting wouldn’t change anything either.
Resting doesn’t make the divinity in me produce infinite divine power.
‘Even a god’s body has a limit to how much divine power it can contain…’
In all honesty, this was a waste of time.
I’m grateful for her concern, but I should firmly decline.
…Then, why is my body being lifted again?
“Wait, Saint?!”
“If you don’t have the strength to move, I’ll carry you.”
“No! No! I’ll lie down on my own, I promise!”
After a difficult struggle, I managed to maintain the dignity of the Grim Reaper.
I hurriedly jumped into bed, tightly covering myself with the blanket.
…Did I really maintain it?
Just as this doubt quietly arose, the Saint quietly approached and sat beside my head.
The Saint carefully brushed my bangs away.
Her touch was warm.
The soft caress was strangely comforting.
“You said your head hurt before you collapsed. How is it now? Are you feeling better?”
“…Yes. I truly feel fine now.”
“Still…rest a little longer. Please?”
Though her voice held less urgency than before, it was still filled with worry.
I no longer had the courage to refuse.
…And if I did refuse, I suspect she’d just put me back to bed anyway.
“Understood. I’ll do as you ask, Saint.”
Finally, I slowly nodded.
Upon hearing my words, the Saint smiled in relief and stood up.
“Yes. Rest. I’ll prepare something and come back soon.”
…Prepare what?
Before I could ask, the Saint had already left without a sound.
The earlier commotion had vanished, leaving only the peaceful chirping of birds.
‘How peaceful…’
How long has it been since I’ve just laid here doing nothing?
I was always occupied with my busy schedule, and even on vacation, there was always something to do.
That’s why,
just lying still feels so restless.
I glanced at the pink canopy above me and then looked down at the puddled floor.
‘Should I clean this up? But if I move and get caught by the Saint…’
I debated several times about getting up.
Just as I was about to get up to clean it and threw off the blanket,
the sound of the doorknob turning reached my ears.
I hurriedly pulled the blanket back up.
Since I pulled it up too forcefully, it ended up covering my head.
‘…Thankfully, my eyes aren’t covered. Maybe I should just lie here.’
As I thought this, the sound of rustling reached my ears, and I could feel the Saint’s touch through the blanket.
“…Are you cold?”
“No, it’s just… the sunlight is too strong.”
“I see. I’ll pull the curtains more closed.”
With the sound of the curtains being drawn, I cautiously lowered the blanket.
Next to me, a fresh washbasin and clean towel were placed.
‘She brought the mop again?’
The question was quickly resolved.
After the Saint carefully drew the curtains, she placed a damp towel on my forehead.
It was then that the purpose of the wet towel became clear,
as well as why my forehead and bangs were moist earlier.
‘This is something I often see in manga or dramas.’
I never imagined it would happen to me.
I certainly didn’t expect to receive nursing from a human god.
‘If the seniors saw this, they’d definitely have something to say.’
After using magic to clean away the water on the floor, the Saint sat by my bedside.
“How do you feel? Cooler?”
“…It’s cool, but why put it here?”
In response to my question, the Saint paused for a moment before quietly answering.
“You said your head hurt, so I thought you might have a fever…”
“I see. But I don’t run fevers, and I don’t get sick.”
“Hmph, we’re the same.”
“The same…?”
I was curious about what she meant,
but the Saint’s smile seemed strangely peaceful, so I decided to let it go.
“In any case, wouldn’t it be better if I didn’t have this?”
“…Does it bother you?”
I shook my head.
Though the wetness felt a little strange, the coolness on my head was comfortable.
Seeing this, the Saint quietly smiled.
“If it’s fine, keep it on a little longer. …I’m not sure about you, Mr. Death, but having it makes me feel at ease.”
“…Make you feel at ease?”
The Saint nodded with a smile.
“I also don’t get sick or fall ill thanks to my overflowing divine power, but every time I looked tired, someone would place a damp towel like this on my head.”
“The dragon I mentioned earlier.”
What a peculiar dragon.
If I ever get a chance, I’d really like to meet it in person.
“…Though dragons vanish immediately upon death, so there’s no way to meet.”
Just as I was feeling regretful, the Saint continued, gently stroking my head.
“Whenever I looked tired, this person would place a towel on my head and stay by my side. It wasn’t much, but it was always very comforting.”
“…I…see…”
“Since this is all I can do. Still, I’ll stay by your side until you’re fully recovered.”
The expression on the Saint’s face as she looked down at me was infinitely gentle and benevolent.
Looking at it, I realized there was no need to argue about the effectiveness of the damp towel.
Since I now understand why the Saint insisted on putting this ineffective towel on my head.
“Thank you. Then, I’ll keep it on a little longer.”
“Do you want something to drink? I can bring you some warm tea?”
“…That would be nice.”
At my answer, the Saint stood up with a satisfied smile and left the room.
After the Saint exited, I stared at the ceiling and took a deep breath.
“…Truly, I owe much to her.”
If the Saint has shown me warmth as a human,
then as a god, I must fulfill my duties regarding death for her sake.
I closed my eyes and slowly gathered my strength.