The Unwilling Protagonist

Chapter 19: After the Battle

Opening Theme:

Y/N slowly opened his eyes to see himself staring up at the ceiling of a tent. He felt his head; there was a scar present from when he got hurt fighting Chariot. Other than that, the cuts on his body were all healed. He sat up and looked around. He was in the medical tent with all the other injured knights. Some of them had scars like Y/N, but some that weren't as fortunate suffered lost limbs and eyes. Apothecaries were running around the tent, administering their medicines to incoming soldiers; Charlotte was one of them. To Y/N's left, he saw Kara resting in the bed next to him. He slowly turned and placed his feet on the ground, where his shoes were. His body wasn't hurting from the injuries he received, he was just sore from all the sword swinging, dodging, and running around. He twisted his back to one side and heard his spine cracking loudly. He then twisted his back to the other side, with equal results.

"Ooh!" Y/N sighed in relief as he cracked his neck, "That felt therapeutic..."

"I must say, you're doing quite well for yourself..." Geralt commented. Y/N looked up and saw him leaning against one of the tent poles and smiling at him. As usual, everyone inside the tent was oblivious to the presence of the former Devil.

Y/N walked over to Kara. She was still breathing, but Y/N noticed something was off about her. He gently lifted the sheets and noticed her right arm was withered and burnt.

"Hey! Excuse me!" Y/N grabbed one of the apothecaries and pulled them aside. He pointed and Kara's arm, "What's wrong with my friend's arm?"

The apothecary looked at Kara's arm briefly, "Oh, don't worry, she'll be fine. She just needs time to rest. When we found her, it looked like she had expended more energy than she had within her, which is what led to her arm looking like that. All she needs is rest and to not use that arm for magic. She can still use it, but it's best not to make her carry anything heavy."

"Thank you..." Y/N nodded his head and the apothecary walked away.

He continued staring down at the resting Kara and grabbed her withered hand. He was relieved that she was alive; he thought that Chariot killed her when it shot its gun at her. He was also happy that she was present when Y/N was fighting Leone; if it wasn't for her intervention, he could've died. Consequently, because of her intervention, she could have died as well had there not been anyone to give her aid.

Aid. Healing. Healers! Y/N's mind raced as he looked out at the tent entrance. He gave Kara one last look before stepping out into the dusk sky. From the distance, he could see the exhausted knights carrying the bodies of their wounded or dead comrades back into the camp. He looked towards the area where the injured knights were and saw Reighland healing them all with Miriam resting on the side. How long were those two at it? He left the tent and headed towards them.

"Mistress!" Y/N called out.

Reighland looked at him. "Y/N, isn't it a bit early for you to be walking?" She asked in concern.

"I'm the Hero, I'm fine." Y/N replied.

Miriam stirred awake and stood up once she saw Y/N in front of her. Y/N expected her to be sappy again, but his expectations were subverted very quickly when Miriam flicked his forehead.

"What were you thinking, getting yourself hurt like that?" Miriam berated, "Do you know how bad it would be if you died again?"

"Woman, I had to deal with two Arcana members and one of their lackeys; a very skilled lackey, mind you. Cut me some slack!" Y/N shot back.