NPC Fell onto My Bed C12

Chapter 12

When told to close his eyes, Noah did so immediately without asking why. By nature, Noah was an obedient person—he wasn’t the type to question or argue when someone gave him an order.

“…It looks like the road’s jammed. We might be stuck for a bit.”
“Is that so?”

Even in the Holy Capital of the Empire, traffic jams on well-paved roads weren’t uncommon. Though Noah usually stayed within the mountain temple, he had occasionally gone up to the capital when summoned by the Church or the Emperor, so he understood that such things could happen.

He intended to wait patiently despite the traffic. One of Noah’s greatest virtues was patience.

But instead of waiting, Gu Taeheon quietly pulled the car to the side and changed direction. Even with his eyes closed, Noah could tell the car was moving and asked softly, “Are we turning back?”
“Yeah. Can’t go that way anymore.”
“I see…”

Noah had been looking forward to crossing the bridge that spanned the river just ahead, so it was a little disappointing. But rather than voice that thought, he asked something else.

“Then… may I open my eyes now?”

He knew the road was blocked, but he couldn’t understand why Taeheon had told him to close his eyes. When Noah, eyes still closed, turned his head toward Taeheon, he heard the man give a short, awkward cough.

“Not yet.”

Why had he told him to close his eyes, then?

Even as he obediently kept them shut, Noah’s curiosity began to stir. Still, he leaned back comfortably in his seat, following Taeheon’s instruction. It was then that a familiar, metallic tang brushed past his nose.

The smell of blood.

Having spent years in warzones treating the wounded, Noah was extremely sensitive to that scent. The stench of blood engraved in his memory now tormented his senses, and he inhaled deeply before asking cautiously,
“Um… Mr. Gu Taeheon.”
“What.”
“…Was there an accident, perhaps?”
“…”

At last, Noah understood why Taeheon had asked him to close his eyes. Just the night before, he had wept at the images of war shown on television from a faraway land. Taeheon must have realized how sensitive and fragile Noah was when faced with such suffering. He was trying to protect him.

Still with his eyes closed, Noah smiled faintly and said, “May I open my eyes now?”
“There’s no need. If you don’t want to see, then don’t.”

What a kind man, Noah thought sincerely.

All his life as a healer, no one had ever told him that it was okay not to look at the wounded. Who could possibly say there was no need to look if the person’s life depended on his hands?

But instead of accepting Taeheon’s consideration, Noah opened his eyes slowly, revealing eyes the color of sunlight. He looked directly at the horrific scene before him.

“I don’t dislike seeing the injured, Mr. Taeheon.”
“…Then what?”
“It’s just that… I deeply empathize with their pain. That’s why I became a priest.”

Ahead of them lay wreckage—a crushed guardrail, a completely collapsed bumper, a car flipped on its roof with smoke rising from it. Inside, strapped upside down by a seatbelt, was a person who hadn’t been able to escape.

Noah’s fingers brushed his own seatbelt as he asked carefully, “May I go, sir?”
“…For what?”
“It looks urgent. I wish to help.”

When Noah had first become a priest, the High Priest had told him,
‘Hildegart, your healing power is vast. Always give thanks to the goddess Eir, and use that power for something worthy.’

There had been many who worried about how great his gift was—fearing it might corrupt him or that evil people might exploit it. Yet Noah had never used his power recklessly. Whether the injured person was kind, cruel, or even wicked, he healed them all the same. That was the heart a true healer should have.

“You can’t be seen.”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll make sure not to cause you trouble, Mr. Taeheon.”

Gu Taeheon sighed internally at Noah’s resolve. He knew he couldn’t stop him. There was no turning back now. Finally, Taeheon pulled the car to the shoulder and unfastened Noah’s seatbelt.

Noah stepped out and walked gracefully toward the overturned vehicle still shrouded in smoke. Around them, onlookers were raising their voices.

“Oh, come on! It’s been ages since the crash—why isn’t the ambulance here yet?!”
“They said it’s coming! The whole road’s blocked, what do you want them to do?!”
“Forget that—someone’s still inside! If the car explodes, what then?!”

Yet no one moved. The sight of someone covered in blood, hanging upside down by a seatbelt, was too much for ordinary people to approach. Everyone hesitated, glancing at one another.

Taking advantage of their indecision, Noah walked forward until he was standing by the shattered driver’s window. He bent down slightly and peered inside.

“Hey, it’s dangerous! Don’t get too close!”

A few people tried to step forward to stop him, but Gu Taeheon moved in their way. His imposing frame was enough to make them freeze on the spot.

Meanwhile, Noah reached out and gently placed his fingertips on the upside-down woman’s forehead. Her half-lidded eyes, swimming in and out of consciousness, barely managed to meet his.

“It’s all right. I’m here with you.”

Their gazes met, and Noah greeted her with a pale, serene smile. The woman stared blankly and murmured faintly, “An angel…?”

It wasn’t the first time he’d heard that word. Noah simply smiled, keeping his hand on her forehead. Gradually, he drew upon his healing energy. A soft, comforting white light spread from his fingertips to her brow.

The woman’s body, bathed in the divine warmth, relaxed as reassurance washed over her. She fully lost consciousness, completely at ease. Then Noah poured every ounce of his healing power into her.

Had this been in Last Chronicle, her wounds would have vanished instantly, leaving her whole. But here, where his power was weakened, all he could manage was first aid. Still, as the immediate danger subsided, Noah withdrew his hand from her forehead.

—Beeeep…

In the distance, the urgent wail of an approaching ambulance grew louder.
Gu Taeheon, who had been standing guard beside him the entire time, quickly pulled Noah away. Before Noah even realized it, he was already back in the passenger seat, buckled in once more as the car sped off.

“She’s not completely healed yet,” Noah said, sticking his head out the window to look back. “But it seems help has arrived. That sound-making vehicle must be theirs, isn’t it?”

He watched as rescue workers pulled the woman from the wreck and lifted her onto a stretcher.

“Yeah. Don’t worry. The hospitals here are pretty good.”
“Oh, it’s not worry, exactly… it’s just—”

Noah looked down at his palm. Slowly curling and uncurling his fingers, he noticed something. They moved as usual, yet something felt different.

“Mr. Taeheon.”
“What.”
“It seems my healing power is returning.”
“…What?”

Taeheon turned sharply toward him. On Noah’s open palm, a white glow shimmered—brighter than it had been before.

“It might be that each time I heal, some of my strength comes back.”
“Wait, then—”

Before he could finish, Noah suddenly lifted his hand to his mouth and—crunch!—bit down hard enough to make Taeheon flinch. A splash of red stained Noah’s face.

Startled, Taeheon slammed the brakes at the red light and turned toward him, voice rising.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
“Oh, this? It’s nothing, really.”

Unfazed, Noah brought his glowing hand to his fresh wound. Within seconds—ten at most—the injury healed completely. He then extended his now unblemished hand toward Taeheon, smiling brightly.

“See? It’s clean, and faster than before, isn’t it?”

Pleased by the visible improvement in his power, Noah beamed cheerfully. Taeheon, on the other hand, looked utterly horrified.

“…You.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t tell me—that’s how you’ve been checking your healing ability all this time?”

Noah tilted his head and then nodded matter-of-factly. What other method could there be to verify his healing power?

Grinding his molars, Taeheon muttered through clenched teeth,
“Self-harm, war trauma, and now this—mutilation.”
“P–pardon?”
“Is that how healers are treated in your damn world?”