When I Devoted Myself to Science

The Earthquake's Aftermath

And then an earthquake hit us. As usual, I was among the first to charge into the disaster to save the people. A landslide came tumbling down, and it was all I could do to protect the girl in my arms.

A tremendously heavy boulder crashed into my back. It was a clean, hard hit. Fortunately, there was a beam acting as a shield that took away most of the slam.

The rolling boulder could barely kill me, but even so, I was crushed between it and the ruins' corner.

I could feel my back and leg screaming in agony. Blood was slowly trickling out of my body. Just when I was about to fade to black, I saw my wife's silhouette.

She went past me and ran toward Felix instead. "Are you alright, Felix? Gosh, there's so much blood here. You must be scared out of your mind. I'll take you somewhere safe."

She was about to leave, but one of the teammates saw me. "Captain, your husband's inside. You need to save him. It's dangerous there."

Lorelei looked at me for a moment. "He'll be fine. He's an experienced soldier."

"But—" Her teammate wanted to say something, but Lorelei was gone, supporting Felix.

My heart died there and then. If she even looked at me for a second longer, she would know I was in dire straits.

She didn't even look at me for a second longer.

…

When I regained my consciousness, what met me were my comrades. They were delighted to see me waking up.

However, when they started talking about my condition, everyone either fell into silence or could barely make a sentence. I had to press them for answers.

I could've regained a normal life if I had been treated in time, but the rescue squad saved another patient instead.

I was saved by another squad that came after, but by then, I was already in shock.

I thought my heart could sink no lower, but I was wrong. I closed my eyes and let my tears run free.

The news meant one thing—I had to retire from the frontlines.

The leaders reprimanded Lorelei while I was hospitalized, and she was suspended from her position. Pushed by pressure, she came to see me once, but when she saw me conscious and alive, she wanted to leave.

"Good, you're awake. That means you're fine. I need to go. Felix needs me."

She left the room even though my leg was wrapped in a cast. After all, her precious Felix needed her more.