It has been a week since it became part of my daily routine to see my parents off when they left in the morning.

And it's been about two weeks since I became Nia.

"I think it's about time..."

I muttered as I finished my subtly growing meal on my bed.

"What did you say, Ojou-sama?"

I said again to Linokis, who was standing by my side.

"You don't have to accompany me at night anymore."

"Huh?"

Linokis stands outside my room every night in case of an emergency or if I need her for something, so she can react immediately, but at the moment, she doesn't need to do that anymore.

"I cough a lot less than I used to and I can go to the bathroom by myself. That's why I think it's already fine if you don't watch me at night anymore."

My Ki had pretty much killed off the disease, although it's still a long way to go before I'm completely cured.

But for now, I think I have already passed a big hurdle, as the Shadow of Death has already disappeared and the possibility of me dying due to a sudden change in my condition is no longer possible.

"Hmmm, looking at the last few days, it seems that you are already stable and have a good appetite."

"Now that you mention it, isn't the amount of food you're serving me increasing a little each time?"

"I'll call Jayce-san so we can discuss it."*

"Wait, more than that, what about the quantity of my meals?"

When I tried to tell that Linokis, she was already gone.

Clearly, this was the action of someone who knew that my food intake was increasing, but was keeping quiet about it. No, I think it's more accurate to say that it looks like she's encouraging me to eat more.

Oh well, even if my stomach is suffering because of the amount of food I'm eating, it doesn't really matter because it's absolutely necessary for me to eat more in order to have more energy, and even if I overdo it, there's no harm in doing so.

Also even though the portion of my meals are increasing, it's still within the normal range for a human being.

To begin with, even a child the same age as Nia's body would eat more. So I think the amount I'm eating now is still on the low side.

When Jayce, the Liston family's old butler, arrived after being called by Linokis, I told him what I had told Linokis earlier.

"Is that so? If Ojou-sama thinks she's getting better, I'll tell the master and his wife right away."

When I looked at the old gentleman, Jayce, I could see that he was worried, but he still accepted my proposal.

"However, I will let Linokis stay in the next room, so if you have an emergency, just ring the bell and call her, okay? Can you promise me that?"

"Yes, I can."

There's no chance of me ringing the bell anyway, but if the time comes, there's no reason why I shouldn't call her.

It's an easy compromise if I want to get away from Linoki's watchful eye.

...


After seeing my parents off to work again today, I returned to my room.

"Well, Ojou-sama, I'm going to rest for a while. If anything happens, please call a maid who is nearby immediately".

When Linokis says that she usually takes a nap until noon, well I guess it's more correct to say that she will be sleeping heavily until noon

That can't be helped since Linokis has been watching me all night without sleeping. Even though she does it because it's her job, I still respect her for doing that. Well, I guess her burden will be lessened because, from tonight on, she will be able to rest at night.

Well then.

After Linokis left the room, I was finally alone.

Basically the life cycle of Nia is a repetition of eating, taking medicine and sleeping.

Because 'sleep' is very important to my body, no one will come into my room to disturb me when I'm sleeping, unless I call them for something.

While I was out of my room for a while to say goodbye to my parents earlier, the other maids had already made up my bed and done a basic cleaning of my room.

So now I'm completely alone until Linokis calls me for lunch.

I think it's about time.

I then lowered my feet from the bed and slowly placed them on the carpeted floor.

Right now my body is still so thin and weak that it's really hard just to stand.

If I force myself I can walk slowly, but most of the time to get from my room to anywhere else in the mansion I either use my wheelchair or let Linokis carry me on her arms.

Well, that's the way it is for now.

"It looks like it's still impossible."

I tried bending over a bit, but it looks like I still can't do it. If I try to bend my knees and squat down right now, I don't feel like I have the strength to stand up.

It looks like I don't have enough muscle strength yet.
This is a problem because at this rate I won't be able to train my body properly.

It looks like it will be a while before I can walk like a normal human. In my current condition, I won't be able to penetrate the torso of a disgusting Orc with my bare hands.

Well, that's fine for now.

I need to get rid of my illness before I can build up my muscles properly.

I sit down on the floor next to the bed. I've chosen this position because even if the door were to open suddenly, the person who opened it wouldn't be able to see clearly what I'm doing.

I don't think anyone will come in suddenly, but there's no harm in being extra prepared, right?

I don't mind being seen by anyone, but it will definitely arouse suspicion if someone sees me doing this, because it will definitely be strange to them that Nia, a child who knows nothing, is doing what I am doing.

Then I sit with my knees open and cross my legs. Then I stretch my arms out slightly and place my wrists on my thighs, my fingers overlapping and my two thumbs touching.

"Hmmm."

It's better to do it in the Zazen form to make it easier for the Ki to circulate in my body.*

At the moment I'm circulating my Ki from my left hand to my left foot, then to my right foot, then from my right foot to my right arm, then from my right shoulder to my head, then through my left shoulder and back to my left hand.

As a result, my Ki circulation is much smoother, faster and stronger than it was when I was lying in bed.

Although my body is that of a weak child, I can feel that the Ki is actually circulating properly and being distributed throughout my body.

The disease on this body is in the center, so I've been using the Ki to gradually chip away at the disease, dissolving it by constantly circulating my Ki throughout my body.

That's why it's really important that I do this every night, because I'm sure that after weeks of this I'll be able to take the next step in my recovery.

Wait, now that I think about it, what the heck is a Zen meditation?

I know instinctively that I should do it, but I don't know where I learned it.

I feel it has something to do with who I am.

Well, I guess there's no point in thinking about it now, as if it's a necessary memory, then I'm sure I'll remember it eventually.

"Well then, my illness, I'm going seriously fight you now."

I am not going to die because of this illness.

Somehow I remember that in my previous life I died because of an illness.

At that time I had a strong feeling that I didn't want to die like that.

"I should have killed you much earlier, but no matter, let me tell you, now you have no chance of killing me."

And so this time.

It will no longer be a disease that will kill me, Nia Liston.






Note:

1. His name is written as ジェイズ and it's read as Jeizu, I'm still bad at reading katakana but the name sounds like Jayce thus I used that.

2. Zazen is short for Zen Meditation.