Grixita Nursing Home.
Located in the southern region of the Levoria Kingdom, it was a legendary nursing home known only to those in the know.
At the very least, one had to rise to the rank of count before they might hear vague rumors of the place through several layers of acquaintances.
That was why most of the elderly residents were people of considerable renown.
Despite each being capable of reigning at the top of their respective fields, there was a reason they had deliberately come to live in a nursing home.
In most cases, they wanted to withdraw from the secular world.
Others had simply lost out in struggles between factions.
Aaron Tulba, the Mercenary King, belonged to the former group.
And naturally, the feelings of the other elders who had come to the nursing home for similar reasons were all different.
'Strange. Very strange.'
While teaching Howell, Aaron occasionally felt a peculiar sensation he couldn't quite define.
First, Howell acted far too much like an old soul for a ten-year-old.
Strictly speaking, his mental age should've been closer to five, considering the circumstances.
Still, Aaron brushed that aside, figuring the boy had simply been influenced by spending so much time around a collection of eccentric old people.
'I really can't make sense of him.'
The sense of déjà vu he felt from Howell.
Aaron greatly liked how diligently the boy exercised and trained.
Especially when he considered a certain someone with whom he was always at odds.
So he had no complaints about Howell's attitude or enthusiasm.
More than anything, though, there was the boy's talent, which was difficult to measure.
He might be bigger than other children his age, but he was still only ten years old.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Aaron could count on one hand the number of children like him he'd encountered.
Aaron was a man who had climbed up from the very bottom to earn the title of Mercenary King.
Throughout that journey, he'd met countless allies and enemies alike.
A fair number of them had been children.
When he came across children who showed promise, Aaron had sometimes trained them personally.
'Was there ever one as remarkable as Howell?'
It wasn't merely a matter of talent.
There was something emotional about it as well.
Of course, the children he'd met in the past had possessed powerful emotions too.
After all, they were children who had entered the life of a mercenary simply to survive.
But Howell had something beyond the desire for survival.
At the very least, it wasn't a disposition a little boy who had spent his entire life in the nursing home mansion should've possessed.
Howell, after all, had grown up without lacking much in his daily life.
'And then there's that temperament existing alongside all that passion.'
When Howell had asked him before, Aaron had said he was training him so the boy could grow up healthy because his body had been weak.
That had only been half the answer.
The elders of the nursing home had taken notice of Howell's "endless passion" as well as the feeling of "I simply like it."
The innocent way he behaved while handling miscellaneous chores around the nursing home had felt refreshing to them.
Not merely for a ten-year-old.
Even a fully grown adult would have trouble feeling that way while doing such work.
'Those old folks often said Howell's nature leaned toward good.'
The old-fashioned habit of dividing things into good and evil.
But for elders who had withdrawn from the secular world to spend the rest of their lives in peace, that dividing line still mattered in its own way.
In truth, elders who had secluded themselves because they were sick of the world didn't care much about things like the world's balance.
But what if the grandson-like child who had come into their lives at the very end turned out to be evil?
Could they really embrace him with love so readily?
If they had a choice, naturally they'd prefer a kindhearted grandson.
'Even just from the little things he does around the elders, Howell really is a good kid.'
Even after chewing and swallowing the entire bone, Aaron continued staring intently at Howell.
"Elder Aaron?"
Howell tilted his head.
"Howell, let me ask you one thing."
"Huh? Okay."
"Why do you work so hard? No matter what you're doing, you're always so passionate about it."
"Mm......"
Howell nodded as though he understood what Aaron meant.
But an answer didn't come immediately.
"Why can't you just say it outright? You look like you're hiding something."
"Mm...... No. I just want to work hard. I want to become like you as soon as possible, Elder Aaron."
It was an obvious compliment anyone could see through.
But there was one man it worked perfectly on.
Aaron Tulba, the Mercenary King.
"Kwahaha. Right, right. Becoming a splendid man like me isn't possible with ordinary effort."
Aaron grinned broadly.
"Can't be helped, then. Let's make it tougher. After we eat, we'll raise the intensity."
"Huh......?"
"What are you so surprised about? Didn't you say you wanted to become like me? Let's push your muscles all the way to their limits! Kwahahaha! I'm getting excited already!"
"......"
Howell realized something had gone terribly wrong.
He did have a burning desire to learn, but honestly, anything beyond this already seemed like too much strain for his body.
Apparently, there was an even harsher regimen beyond what he'd already endured.
And judging by the way Aaron talked about it, this definitely wouldn't be light training like footwork.
And so Howell greeted the afternoon filled with worry and dread.
As though answering his anxiety, Aaron carried out exactly what he'd promised.
He worked Howell's body harder than ever before.
***
"Uaaaagh......"
Morning.
The moment I opened my eyes, I found myself standing at a crossroads.
I'd thought I'd reached some degree of adaptation, yet muscle soreness had once again filled my entire body.
It was obvious as day that Elder Aaron would probably start raving about finding the limits of my muscular talent again and put me through another overheated training session today.
If we kept strengthening that hellish regimen again and again, there wouldn't be anything left of my body.
"Uuuugh......"
I barely dragged my aching body out of the nursing home building.
This time, there was no question about it.
If I trained today in this condition the same way I had yesterday, I really felt like I'd end up kissing the ground.
'Still, I have to do it.'
There was no way my longing could crumble over something this small.
Even through the intense pain, I made my way toward the training ground.
'Thirty-five years of my previous life, lend me your strength.'
Hadn't my previous life taught me the meaning of "giving up" more thoroughly than I ever wanted?
"Huff, huff."
I moved while running one hand along the wall of the nursing home mansion.
I took a few more steps.
Then—
"......Huh?"
My head rang.
And my consciousness cut out.
I didn't know how much time had passed.
Eventually, I opened my eyes in a daze.
The sky......
The blue sky was above me.
'Am I lying down......?'
I slowly looked around and realized I was no longer where I'd collapsed.
A lush flower garden entered my view beneath the pouring sunlight.
'A garden......?'
Judging by the situation, someone must've found me unconscious and carried me to the nursing home's garden.
I calmly sat up.
The scenery around me contrasted sharply with the training ground.
Clusters of chrysanthemums and white roses were in full bloom.
They were quite beautiful.
Without any other decorations, the flowers seemed to display a natural elegance all their own.
'Why are chrysanthemums and white roses blooming at this time of year? Hmm...... Is the sense of seasons here different somehow?'
Just as there was a barrier surrounding the nursing home mansion, it was possible that the entire nursing home grounds were protected by some special barrier.
The more I learned, the more fitting it seemed for a nursing home where retired heroes lived.
"All right. Let's get up."
I couldn't afford to waste time.
I sprang to my feet to head for the training ground.
I didn't know where the garden's exit was, so for now, I decided to walk aimlessly.
I followed a path between the plants, and before long, I noticed low earthen walls dividing the area into neat sections.
'Huh? Is that......?'
An elderly woman was perched on one of the earthen walls, enjoying a book.
Even while dozing with her eyes half closed, she never once looked away from the pages.
She blended so perfectly with the scenery that one could almost believe she was the owner of all the white flowers blooming around her.
Her snow-white hair fell neatly down to her arms, contrasting with her lightly tanned skin.
The fine wrinkles on her face were barely visible beneath her gentle smile.
'So this is where she was.'
Lephiri Daviha.
Also known as the Priestess of Holy Light.
A former cardinal of the Holy Kingdom of Rudran and the greatest authority on holy arts of her era.
'It's been a long time since I've seen her alone like this.'
Elder Lephiri was someone I was truly grateful to.
She had been responsible for Howell's health before he contracted sleeping sickness, and even after I woke up as him, she came to my room and continued looking after my condition.
In my heart, she remained second only to Director Denia among the people to whom I owed the greatest debt.
'She looks so peaceful sleeping like that.'
Elder Lephiri was nodding off.
If it had been an ordinary person, perhaps they might've even been drooling.
'Come to think of it, this isn't very far from where I was lying earlier. Did Elder Lephiri take care of me?'
Repay kindness and repay vengeance.
It was the creed of a character from a heroic epic that had left a strong impression on me.
From my previous life until now, I hadn't really experienced anything that called for vengeance.
But I had always made certain to repay kindness.
Even my patronage in my previous life had begun with the desire to repay the servants who had cared for me.
'I should thank her. Maybe I'll wait until she wakes up.'
I gently lay down in the grass beside Elder Lephiri.
I still needed rest because of the muscle soreness anyway.
Just as I was slowly closing my eyes, Elder Lephiri opened hers instead.
Her half-lidded eyes met mine as naturally as flowing water.
Silence settled between us for a moment.
"......You're awake?"
Without a word, Elder Lephiri placed a hand on top of my head.
"Your whole body seems heavy."
"......Ah, it's just muscle soreness."
"Hoho. Even muscle soreness can't be ignored in a young child. Let me take a look."
Energy flowed from Elder Lephiri's hand and entered through the top of my head.
"May nature's child return to a whole and healthy life."
The holy art Elder Lephiri invoked wrapped around my entire body.
Little by little, I was enveloped in a soft warmth.
"Wow......"
"Do you feel a little better now?"
"Wow...... Seriously, Elder, you're amazing."
I wasn't flattering her.
The muscle soreness that had covered my entire body had genuinely vanished as if it had been a lie.
It went beyond physical relief.
The effect even soothed my mind.
Thump, thump.
In the space where the terrible pain had disappeared, I could feel a new resonance in my muscles.
The muscles that had been torn apart by hellish training were restored, becoming larger and firmer in the process.
Recovery and strengthening were happening simultaneously through the holy art.
I could clearly feel it.
'This is seriously the best.'
My entire body felt unbelievably light, and my stamina felt clearly improved as well.
It felt fantastic.
As expected, Elder Lephiri was the foremost authority on holy arts.
Did a priest who surpassed her even exist?
Her talent truly was one for the ages.
"Elder Lephiri, thank you. For this, for earlier, and for everything you've done for me before too."
"Hoho. So you've kept even the smallest things in your heart. Just as Aaron said, you're remarkably clever for someone of your mental age."
"Ah, you're flattering me. Oh, did you happen to meet Elder Aaron?"
"Indeed. Aaron was also the one who moved you into the garden after you collapsed in front of the nursing home mansion. This old woman doesn't have enough strength to carry you on her back, you see. Hohoho."
"Ah......"
So Elder Lephiri had found me, asked Elder Aaron for help, and had me carried into the garden.
Well, it would've been very difficult for Elder Lephiri, elderly as she was, to lift and carry me with her own strength.
"Elder Lephiri, if you ever need help, please tell me anytime. Then I'll head back to the training ground."
"The restorative holy art removed your muscle soreness, but that doesn't mean you're fully recovered."
"Still, I think I'm fine enough to move around."
"Hoho. You have a long road ahead of you yet. If you truly wish to exercise, then loosen up your body here."
"Huh? Here?"
"You can review what Aaron taught you. If anything goes wrong, I'll be right beside you."
"Mm...... All right."
She had a point.
I took a simple exercise stance as though merely loosening up my body.
I recalled the basic forms Elder Aaron had taught me.
"Huff, huff, huff."
I warmed up with some light jumping.
Then I stretched, moving my body this way and that.
'Good. The muscle soreness throughout my body is almost completely gone.'
Remembering what I'd done with Elder Aaron, I began going through the exercises one by one.
I followed the fundamentals in both sequence and posture, keeping each movement clean and controlled.
The repetitions continued in a smoother flow than before.
The more beads of sweat rolled down my skin, the more refreshed I felt.
'Good. Very good.'
Even in my previous life, I'd never neglected physical conditioning.
It had been one of the most effective things a person could improve through effort.
"Haaaa......"
"Hoho. That's a pleasant sound of breathing. You seem to like Aaron's training method."
"Huff...... Yes. I like it."
As my breathing settled, satisfaction spread across my face.
For some reason, Elder Lephiri, who had been watching me, seemed to sink into thought.
"Hoh. The way you exercised just now, and the fact that you endured Aaron's training...... Perhaps, truly......"
Her voice trailed off.
That reminded me of what Elder Aaron had told me.
She was probably thinking about my physical condition.
"This really is astonishing. Stand still for a moment."
Elder Lephiri placed her hands on my body and repeatedly sent holy power into me before withdrawing it again.
She examined me that way several times.
Then she fell into thought again.
At last, as though reaching a decision, she placed both hands on top of my head and recited the words of a holy art.
Warm holy power spread gently from my head through the rest of my body.
Perhaps it was because her touch was so soft.
Or perhaps the tension had finally drained away at the intersection between muscle pain and restorative holy arts.
Without realizing it, my eyes slipped closed.
'If I'd had a grandmother, would it have felt like this?'
Even in my previous life, I'd never met my grandfather or grandmother.
They had passed away before I was born.
How ridiculous.
I'd lived a combined forty-five years, yet here I was feeling like a real child.
I only hoped this peaceful nap would continue for a while.
And when I opened my eyes again......
I cut off that line of thought.
Several hours later, after I regained consciousness, Elder Lephiri presented me with an unexpected gift.