NPC Fell onto My Bed C22

Chapter 22

‘Priest, today I caught a rabbit!’
Belmor Ashard had always been an unusual child. While the Church of Eir forbade killing and stressed constant self-cultivation, he’d slip off to the rivers and hills to catch rabbits, or sometimes fish and other small animals.
Because of his disobedience, it was almost inevitable that Noah—a priest renowned for patience and gentleness among the senior clergy—was chosen to mentor him. Both still young then, Noah devoted himself wholeheartedly to his very first disciple.

‘Belmor. Doesn’t it hurt when you’re cut or pricked by something sharp?’
‘Of course it hurts!’
‘These poor animals feel just the same. When cut or stabbed, they’re in pain. As priests, we must learn to empathize with anyone’s suffering.’

With Belmor seated before him, clutching the blood-soaked rabbit, Noah reprimanded him—not out of anger, but out of deep concern. Like Noah, Belmor had entered the Order after losing his family. He, too, possessed a budding healing power, though not as great as Noah’s.

Noah always worried that Belmor might one day give in to dark impulses—just as Noah’s own teachers had once feared for him.

‘Only by understanding and sharing another’s pain can we truly heal them. That’s why you mustn’t harm anyone.’
But Belmor would only tilt his head and reply,
‘Why? If someone gets hurt because of me, can’t I just heal them afterward with my power?’

Without waiting, Belmor pressed his healing into the bloody rabbit cupped in his palms. The wound closed, fur gleamed again with life—but the animal was already dead, its vital spark gone before the healing reached it.
‘Look, priest. I can heal them, even save them—so why should I be so careful?’
‘…’
‘Even if I hurt someone by mistake, I can just fix it!’
That day, Noah stopped speaking to Belmor. The rabbit, though its wounds vanished, had died long before.
Noah, always gentle, turned away. Belmor cried and begged forgiveness the next day. Years later, Noah would regret not being sterner: he should have scolded, not turned away. Over and over, he replayed it in his mind.

“Noah.”

Noah, lost in the past, snapped back when Gu Taeheon took his hand, drawing him close. With a pointed stare, he signaled Iron—still crowding the seat—to move aside. Iron shrugged, relinquished the spot, and joined Jeonghyeok, while Noah slid down next to Taeheon.
Taeheon leaned in, gently wiping the cold sweat on Noah’s brow.

“Want me to make them both leave?”
Noah only ever became like this when they weren’t alone, so Taeheon assumed the others were the cause. At his softly mumbled question, Noah finally stirred.
“No, it’s all right. I was just thinking of the past… but Iron, I do have a favor to ask.”

Noah nodded at Iron across the room, swallowing nervously before bowing and speaking:
“At the moment, there are metal rods in Mr. Taeheon’s leg supporting the bone structure. To heal him completely, I need the aid of Iron, Warrior of Steel. Is it possible?”

Before Iron could answer, Jeonghyeok blurted out, “What? You’re going to fix Taeheon’s leg?” He looked between them in disbelief.
“You really think that’s possible…?”
Noah gave a steady, practiced answer—he’d heard this question many times since arriving.
“Yes, of course.”

“Ah, so he was the friend with the bad leg. Don’t worry! If it’s Noah’s healing, it’s enough to bring back the dead, let alone fix a leg. He’s helped me, too.”
“No, Iron. I cannot raise the dead. Only the goddess Eir herself can do that; as a priest, I can only heal the living.”

“And you… could you do judo again?”
Jeonghyeok still looked incredulous.
To him, all of this was a dream: an NPC falling into his friend’s house and now healing his ruined leg. He had seen, up close, how much suffering Taeheon endured. He had even bought him a new computer and pushed Last Chronicle on him, just so Taeheon would have hope—afraid he’d find his friend lifeless and alone otherwise.

Recalling that broken, nearly lifeless Taeheon—someone who seemed to only live for judo, who acted as if he’d die without it—Jeonghyeok muttered,
“Taeheon… doing judo again…”

“Yeah, just not right away,” Taeheon said.
“What? Why not! There’s still a year until the Paris Olympics! If your coach finds out you’re healed, he’d come back in a heartbeat. Why not now?”

The Olympics—the dream field for every competitor. Taeheon had once raised a medal at those heights. The next games in Paris would have proved his rightful place atop the world.
Six months ago, everything had been about that one goal. Only judo mattered—until his body failed him and Noah entered his life.

“It’s not a whole year, it’s only a year,” Taeheon said quietly. “Why rush things? If I move before I’m ready and get hurt again, that would be a problem. Let’s wait until the healing is done…”

“No, Mr. Taeheon.”
Noah looked to Iron. “Iron says he can remove the metal rods right now. Once they’re gone, I will be able to restore your leg—not just to what it was, but better than before the accident.”

Taeheon’s brow shot up.
“So suddenly?”
“It’s not sudden at all. For me, this is actually very slow.”

Iron laughed and clapped Jeonghyeok’s back hard enough to make him wince.
“From what I hear, Noah’s healing powers were once so strong a touch would be enough! But it’s said he lost much of his ability coming here.”

Jeonghyeok winced, rubbing his back. Iron’s words stung almost as much as the slap.
“And when you’re well, Noah can be free again.”
“…”

“After all, Noah prayed to the goddess for your sake—so as soon as your life is restored, he can return home. That’s why he’s working so quickly.”

A thick silence settled. Taeheon tapped the couch armrest mechanically, gaze dark and deep.
“If you want, I can take them out now. Just give me your leg—”
“That’s enough.”

Taeheon stood abruptly, his stare ice-cold as he glared down at Iron. Then he glanced at Jeonghyeok, silently signaling him to leave.
“What—now? But what about your leg—”
“Just go.”
“…Fine, all right. Just don’t stare at me like that—”

Jeonghyeok quickly realized the tension and retreated, dragging Iron toward the entrance. Iron allowed himself to be pulled along for form’s sake, but kept glancing at Noah and Taeheon. When their eyes met, Iron gave a small, knowing smile.

Once outside, Jeonghyeok—so flustered he could barely put on his shoes—managed to finally finish dressing in the elevator
“Why the hell is he looking at us like that? Like he’s about to face an opponent at the championship…”
“I must ask, Jeonghyeok.”
“Huh? What?”
Iron suddenly seemed thoughtful.
“Do you have priests in this world?”
“Priests? Sure. Like, Catholic ones… I think?”
“Ah, so you do.”

Iron looked surprised. To find something familiar in this new world was odd. Then he smiled, a hint of curiosity lingering.
“Then—is it also a law of faith here that all priests must love only their god?”

Footnotes:

Belmor Ashard – Noah’s first disciple, his tragic flaw lay in not understanding the difference between healing wounds and restoring true life.