The Heavenly Hero Returns

Chapter 9: Utterly Ruined

Your body was done.

Not in a haha, that was exhausting kind of way.

Not in a wow, my legs feel like jelly kind of way.

No.

This was the kind of absolute ruin where every single muscle screamed in betrayal, where standing felt like a crime against nature, and where even breathing felt like dragging yourself over hot coals.

You genuinely weren't sure how you had managed to stay upright this long.

And now?

You needed help.

Which was why you had turned to your dearest, doting, Tsundere brother and shamelessly asked 

"Brother… can you carry me?" you say, coquettishly, batting your lashes

Tobias scoffed. "Really? Five seconds in a fight and now you need to be carried? Disgraceful."

Jessica rolled her eyes.

Tobias exhaled sharply.

Without another word, he scooped her up.

Jessica blinked. "Oh? So you do care."

Tobias clicked his tongue, already carrying her toward the infirmary.

"Shut up, Jess."

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To the Infirmary (Or, The Walk of Shame)

The journey to the infirmary was… humbling.

Your brother didn't even complain all that much. 

He just scooped you up, he's only complaints being a mumble about how much of a "stupid disgrace of a sister" you were, and marched forward while you went boneless in his arms.

The murmurs followed you all the way there.

Whispers. Stares. Judgment.

After all, just moments ago, you had somehow managed to outpace an instructor for five absurd seconds—and now you couldn't even walk.

It made zero sense.

By the time you reached the infirmary, you were mentally preparing yourself for a lecture.

You were not prepared for the sheer horror on the healer's face. 

______________________

"You Shouldn't Even Be Moving."

Your near-death experience before you lost your memories.

The dire wolves.

The fight just now.

The healer was absolutely appalled as she checked your condition.

Apparently, it wasn't just soreness.

You had pushed your body so far past its limits that you should have been collapsed hours ago.

"Forget fighting," the healer scolded. "How are you even awake?"

…Good question.

She cast several spells to relieve your muscle strain—enough to make moving possible but not enough to let you get up and cause more trouble.

Then came the scolding.

Then the second scolding, this time directed at your brother.

Then the third scolding, back at you.

Then a lecture on proper recovery.

And by the time the healer finally left—

Your brother sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and said:

"If you insist on fighting like a degenerate idiot and disgracing the Moran name…"

He cracked his knuckles.

"Then I'll personally make sure you have the endurance to keep up this stupid act."

And then—

He actually started massaging your muscles.

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A Win is a Win

To be honest?

You didn't care why he was doing it.

Maybe he was just frustrated.

Maybe he was reluctantly supportive.

Maybe he had just accepted that you were a lost cause.

Didn't matter.

You won this round.

And as he worked through the knots of agony in your legs and shoulders, you couldn't help but think—

"This is the best thing that's happened to me all day."