They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 508: The Punching Bag isn’t a Worthy Opponent

He positioned himself and checked her shoulder, rotating it with practiced care. Dislocated, but only partial. Not torn. He adjusted it quickly, precisely, murmuring reassurance even though she could not hear him.

When she flinched again, just barely, he exhaled through his nose, masking the flicker of pain he felt.

"You’re alright," he whispered under his breath. "You’re okay now."

Finally, he stepped back. He wiped his hands on a sterile towel and nodded toward the scanner again. "Send those X rays to radiology so the orthopedics team can review. She will need full rest for at least three days. Then physio."

Nnenna lay still. Peaceful now. As if even her unconscious self trusted him.

Carl sat beside her for a second longer than necessary, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest.

His hand hovered, then gently tucked a stray curl away from her face.

"Just a few bruises, huh?" he murmured, voice soft. "You are stronger than you know."

Then, his face reset. Gentle, but focused.

He stood, eyes flicking to the door of the room.

"She’ll be fine," he said to no one in particular, voice level again. "She’s built tougher than she looks."

When word reached the main castle building, King White, Queen White, and Ava wasted no time. They rushed to the hospital, worry etched into every step.

The moment they arrived, Carl had to stop what he was doing to reassure them, repeating over and over that Nnenna would be fine. His words were confident, but even so, it took some effort before they allowed themselves to breathe.

Still, Queen White refused to leave.

"I’ll stay," she said softly, taking a seat beside Nnenna’s bed. "My heart won’t rest unless she’s within sight."

No one argued with her.

That night, Somto paced the hospital hallway, his fists clenched and jaw tight. A storm brewed silently in his chest, anger, frustration, helplessness.

Arthur had been right. Nnenna needed to grow stronger. But why did it have to come with pain?

Hadn’t he carried so much from the start, shouldering burdens beyond his years, just so she wouldn’t have to suffer? That was the point, wasn’t it? That was the reason behind everything he had done. Even if his mission had shifted along the way, the purpose remained unchanged.

To protect her.

Now, she lay still, unmoving.

He glanced through the glass again. Her face was calm, too calm, like she was sleeping in a dream she couldn’t escape. It brought back a chilling memory, more than a year ago, when she had fallen into a coma. A time he never wanted to relive.

"How long until she wakes up?" he asked Carl again, his voice lower than usual, but no less urgent.

Carl, exhausted but steady, gave him the same answer as before. "I sedated her. Her body needs rest. That’s the best way for her to recover right now."

It made sense.

But it didn’t help the growing weight on Somto’s chest. A part of him knew she was safe, but another part, the loudest part, couldn’t rest until she opened her eyes.

Until she spoke.

Until she smiled.

Until she was Nnenna again.

He couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Was this how it was going to be for the rest of their lives... if she chose to be with him?

He couldn’t even handle her getting hurt during training. Her pain felt like his own. Like it was wired into his chest.

At this rate, how was he supposed to survive when she had to give birth someday? Maybe in eight years? The thought alone almost knocked the air out of him.

Would I even be strong enough for her?

I really need to work on myself.

Or maybe... maybe they should skip childbirth altogether.

He had witnessed it once, when Ebere was born. Nine months of struggle, then the screaming and chaos of delivery. That was no walk in the park.

Nope. He decided there and then.

We’ll adopt.

Funny, wasn’t it?

He was a general, he had led wars, seen comrades fall, watched Arthur lie paralyzed for weeks, scared half to death himself. He had been injured more times than he could count. Those moments had all hurt. Deeply.

But none of them, none, had ever hurt like this.

Not like watching Nnenna in pain.

That girl...

He sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. I’ve really fallen too deep. There’s no way out anymore, is there?

The hours crawled by. He went back to his room. Midnight came and went, but his mind refused to rest. Thoughts of her kept looping in his head like a song he couldn’t stop humming.

"Tch... I need a distraction," he muttered, pushing himself off the bed.

Training. That should help clear his head.

He changed into his sportswear, moving on autopilot. Stepping out of his room, the castle halls were silent, empty and cloaked in darkness. The servants had long since turned in for the night.

At the entrance, he paused to change his shoes. The castle grounds outside were quiet, too, the sky above shrouded in black, no stars, no moon, just an empty abyss. But the estate itself was well lit, torches and lanterns flickering softly. Guards were stationed all around, some visible, others tucked away in the shadows.

Sonto didn’t care. He just walked.

He headed toward the training grounds, the gravel crunching under his feet the only sound accompanying him.

As he drew near, something made him pause. Faint thuds echoed through the air, sharp, rhythmic.

Fists? Someone’s already here?

He moved closer, keeping to the side. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of a figure under one of the tall lights. White hair, tied up high, swinging slightly with each powerful movement.

Arthur.

Sonto blinked, surprised but... not entirely.

Of course it was him.

"The punching bag isn’t a worthy opponent."

Arthur froze mid swing, fist still pressed against the swaying bag.noveldrama