Advertisement
Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up,
it unlocks many cool features!
- 147 Mushoku Tensei
- 3 days after Nanahoshi collapsed.
- Nanahoshi has yet to regain consciousness.
- The reason that she vomited blood is unknown.
- After Sylphy went to look for help, Arumanfi quickly came and brought Nanahoshi to the infirmary.
- In the meantime, I went around to gather the party and inform them of the situation.
- Nanahoshi was not doing well. While casting detoxification magic on her, she vomited blood and collapsed.
- Right now she's in the infirmary undergoing treatment.
- The truth is, everything happened so suddenly that I don't know the details.
- Although troubled, everyone accepts the situation.
- Right now, Nanahoshi is being treated by "Yuruzu of Atonement."
- Yuruzu of Atonement has the ability to heal.
- Capable of transferring the health and vitality from one person to another.
- Because it works on a different principle than detoxification magic, it seems to work for illnesses untreatable with detoxification...
- Still, her ability doesn't work by herself, and need the cooperation for another person.
- Without any hesitation Sylphy offers herself to help.
- Sylphy lies down besides Nanahoshi and treatment begins.
- But Nanahoshi has yet to regain consciousness, her expression grim, her cough constant.
- "Karowante, how is she?"
- Seeing Nanahoshi in this condition, Perugius orders another underlying for diagnosis.
- "Karowante of Insights"
- He has the power to uncover a target's power and secrets.
- For the ill, also their condition.
- Like X-ray vision.
- He shakes his head after observing Nanahoshi.
- "This is beyond Yururu's ability."
- "Research the library."
- "Yes."
- With that said, Perugius and his subordinates begin researching the name and cure of Nanahoshi's sickness.
- Trying to match Nanahoshi's symptoms to the library's records.
- I offered to lend a hand but was refused. Outsiders cannot enter the library.
- Of course, Yururu continues to administer treatment, so Sylphy never left the infirmary.
- In the end, there's nothing for me to do.
- Of course, I didn't just sit around and do nothing for 3 days.
- I returned home once to inform Roxy of the situation.
- Nanahoshi fell ill and Sylphy is helping with the treatment.
- So it may be some time before we return.
- Roxy begins to move at once with that information.
- She helps us contact school and request a leave of absence, as well as explaining the situation with family.
- Then to me she said to leave the house to her.
- She's far more cool-headed than I'm.
- She has gotten accustomed to these type of situations.
- In the end, I couldn't do anything. Everything has been taken care of.
- I informed Aisha and Norm that I'll coming back late, take a change of cloth and returned to the Sky Castle.
- Even at home, there's nothing for me to do.
- All I can do is pray that Nanahoshi stays safe.
- "... Nanahoshi, will she recover?"
- The others, like me, can do nothing.
- Particularly Cliff.
- He spend his time praying at a chapel within the castle.
- "Everything is in the hand of Milis-sama."
- Cliff said, with his Hands folded and eyes closed.
- Praying to God during moments of crisis.
- I never really believe in those religious stuff.
- IN this world, I believe in those that actually offered a helping hand.
- But even I understand that, right now, praying to Roxy and Sylphy can bring no comfort.
- "..."
- Suddenly, I recall a movie I once watched.
- A masterpiece of alien invasion.
- Aliens, with their overwhelming technology, nearly annihilated mankind.
- Yet at the end all their machinaries suddenly stop working.
- Aliens have no immunity against earth pathogens and all perished.
- <ref>War of the Worlds (2005) reference</ref>
- Nanahoshi came from another world.
- She differs from I, who's reincarnated.
- She does not grow old, does not have magic, and can't use any magical tools.
- Perhaps, not just magic, she have no immunity either.
- But, if that were the case, then that soon have happened long ago.
- The Metastasis Event happened 8 years ago.
- Nanahoshi also came to this world 8 years ago.
- No reason for that to happen now.
- "..."
- That girl.
- Will she really die..?
- Why did this happen?
- ---
- 4 days after Nanahoshi collapsed.
- We are summoned to a round table.
- Besides Yururu, all other Familiars are present.
- Perugius sits before them.
- He sat on a luxuriously big chair with the Familiars standing behind.
- "Please sit."
- We sit down on Sylvaril's suggestion.
- Absent is Sylphy, who is helping Yururu with treatment, 7 present in all.
- "Nanahoshi-sama has been diagnosed."
- Once we're seated, Sylvaril steps forward and reports.
- We finally know.
- "Nanahoshi-sama suffers from 'Doline Syndrome.'" <ref>ドライン病</ref>
- Doline Syndrome.
- Never heard of it.
- Looking around, neither did anyone else.
- Even someone as informed as Cliff comes up empty.
- "It's expected that no one has heard it before. A disease from time immemerial, when men held far lesser magic power than now. If a child is born without any magic capacity, without exception that child experience similar symptoms and by the age of 10, die."
- So same situation as Nanahoshi.
- Although she's not 10, she has been in this world for over 8 years now.
- And she doesn't have an ounce of magic...
- At least, it's not Sylphy's fault.
- Thank goodness.
- "According to records, those without magic power absorb minute amount of magic from without, after 10 years of accumulating in their body, it becomes a illness..."
- Without magic, their ability to absorb magic from outside is minute.
- I don't know the details, but I guess magic is like bacterias in a way.
- For those with magic power, the good bacterias kill the bad, but in those without any power only bad bacteria accumulates.
- We don't know for sure how trustworthy the records are.
- But that does make a lot of sense.
- "Does it record a cure?"
- "No. According to the records, this disease was eradicated some 7000 years ago, after humanity increased in magic power."
- 7000 years ago, so the first Human-Demon Great War.
- I remember hearing that the war aged for nearly a thousand years.
- War caused all kinds of advancements.
- Through various means, humanity self improved.
- One side effect is the eradication of this disease.
- That's possible too.
- Say, 7000 years ago.
- There can't be many texts that managed to survive such ravage of time.
- Finding the disease's name is already a miracle in of itself.
- "Then, what do we do?"
- "We stop time."
- The one that answers my question isn't Sylvaril.
- But rather the calmly seated Perugius.
- "Borrow the power from Sukeakoto of Time <ref>時間のスケアコート</ref> and stop time for Nanahoshi."
- Perugius declares and a man steps forward.
- He wears a mask with its mouth sticking out.
- A Hyottoko mask, rather, more like a gas mask.
- He is Sueakoto of Time.
- From what I remember, he has the ability of stopping time for anyone he touches.
- Of course, time freezes for himself as well. But with this ability, he can prevent Hanahoshi's illness from worsening or death.
- But who knows how long he can maintain it, nor does it solve the cause of the problem.
- "I see, then what?"
- "Contact people on the ground and find a cure."
- Oh.
- That could work.
- No one will refuse someone like Perugius.
- "Still, the question is who would help Nanahoshi."
- "Isn't there some way with Armored Dragon-sama's influence?"
- "Nanahoshi and I only have a cooperative relationship. I shall not owe favors for her sake."
- Isn't that a bit cold?
- Still, I don't know the exact details of their relationship, so I have no right to object.
- "Don't be mistaken. As guests of my castle, I'll offer some minimum assistance. But don't expect everything. My ultimate purpose is to find and destroy Laplace."
- In other words, because of the work related to observing Laplace, he will not do more than necessary to help.
- Nor will he owe favors to others.
- Favors demand repayment.
- Particularly so fore the cure of an long eradicated disease.
- The otherside will definitely expect something big in return.
- Perugius has no reason to go that far for Nanahoshi.
- No, actually he has plenty of reason not to.
- Keeping Nanahoshi alive is as far as he'll go.
- He refuses to do more. If someone wants to help, then he's free to help.
- The meaning behind Perugius' words.
- That should be right.
- "... So you will just watch Nanahoshi die?"
- The one that yelled is Cliff.
- He stood up screaming towards Perugius.
- "When did I say that?"
- "Lies. Someone like you, inside such a impressive castle, with so many capable Familiars! You can definitely find a cure!"
- Hearing Cliff, Perugius raises an eyebrow.
- "I have no reason to help."
- "Quite joking around! Helping the weak is the duty of the strong!"
- "Pssh, don't push those detestable Milis teachings unto us."
- "What did you say!"
- Cliff got overexcited and blurts out without thinking.
- He's a follower of Milis.
- The Milis Church shares many similarities with Christianity.
- It's possible it also have lessons on giving hand to lost sheeps and the likes.
- But saying that to Perugius is improper.
- Perugius has his own concerns.
- For 400 years, he only moves with one goal in mind.
- Perugius indeed wishes to gain knowledge of other world summoning through Nanahoshi.
- But that seconds to Laplace.
- Just a way to lull away time.
- "In other words, you'll just watch Nanahoshi die! If you're going to help, help until the end."
- "Cliff, stop!"
- Cliff stands up kicking back his chair. Elinalise screams at him.
- She put a heavy hand on Cliff's shoulder, stopping him from going further.
- "Cliff, I understand how you're feeling, but control yourself."
- "..."
- "I don't want to lose you for this."
- Looking around, all 11 Familiars in battle stance.
- Seeing Cliff getting held back, Perugius smiles in ridicule.
- "If you have a problem, then why don't you do it yourself? Your god said so too. When helping others, don't count on someone else, isn't it?"
- "Grr..."
- Looking unsatisfied, Cliff fell back to his chair.
- He doesn't want to fight with Perugius.
- He just thought, for a person like Perugius, capable of almost everything, he ought to be able to help.
- "Mmhm..."
- What do we do?
- I want to help Nanahoshi.
- But I don't even know where to begin?
- Looking at Ariel and others, they seem to be thinking the same thing.
- Aisha and Nanahoshi know each other too, if Nanahoshi dies she'd be upset too.
- Also if she dies, Sylphy would feel responsible.
- Is there anything I can do?
- Am I that powerless?
- "Excuse me."
- Just now, the door to the round table opens.
- It's Yururu of Atonement.
- She speaks facing us.
- "Nanahoshi-sama has regained consciousness."
- I almost leaped out hearing this.
- "H-how is she?"
- "On the surface she has improved a little."
- "On the surface?"
- "Indeed. Doline Syndrome is the result of magic accumulating in the body, which makes one ill. That illness has been cured."
- The way she say it, it feels like HIV.
- So all the coughs are also symptoms of her illness.
- In other words, although the surface symptoms have been cured, the cause remains.
- "Then, did you remove magic from within her?"
- "I cannot."
- "Then, who could?"
- Yururu shares her head at my question.
- "Is that so..."
- No way to remove magic inside her?
- Like, a magic tool of some sort?
- 7000 years passed, technology should have advanced quite a bit in this area.
- But what should e done?
- Would magic absorbing stone work?
- No, that does nothing for magic within the body.
- I got a feeling that can't be done.
- Maybe a magic tool can be made with that property?
- But how long will that take?
- We don't have any leads in the first place.
- Damn.
- "Anyways, we should go check up on Nanahoshi."
- With that say I stood up, everyone else follows as well.
- ---
- The infirmary feels rather dreary.
- The furniture don't differ too much from the guest rooms.
- But the stone structures are exposed and the walls lacking windows.
- In the center of the room there's some sort of operating table, with knives and bandages in the drawers.
- "..."
- Nanahoshi is at a corner.
- The bloodstains on her is gone. She has been changed into a patient gown-like outfit.
- Sterile, lifeless.
- "Nanahoshi, are you alright?"
- I asks. Nanahoshi glares at me and said.
- "Do I look alright?"
- "..."
- Of course not.
- His face pale, dark circles under her eye.
- Anyone can see she's not doing well.
- "Atonement"'s ability is hard even for the patient.
- The other bed is empty.
- Like on a rotation with us, she left for the guestroom.
- I saw her on the way in. She looks rather haggard.
- For 4 days, she assisted in the treatment.
- Even though I doubt she was without food or water, it must still be hard on her body.
- "They say I can't be cured."
- "Ah, oh."
- I sit on a chair beside her.
- Doesn't look like Miss Yururu kept her in the dark about her illness.
- "Yeah, you will be better soon."
- "I won't get better."
- Said that, Nanahoshi turns away.
- Looking at the wall in silence.
- What I said was probably irresponsible.
- I don't know what I should be saying right now.
- "..."
- After I fell silent, Ariel and others all try to make conversations.
- Some try to comfort Nanahoshi, others try to raise her spirit, and others say you'll definitely get better.
- They each try to encourage her in various ways.
- But right now, they might all have the opposite effect.
- The one really suffering don't want to hear niceties like these.
- "..."
- Soon after, everyone ran out of things to say.
- With Nanahoshi unresponsive, nobody know what to talk about.
- The silence is suffocating, making everyone restless.
- "Then, Nanahoshi. I'm heading back. I'll come back to check up on you."
- Starting with Ariel, everyone leaves for their rooms one by one.
- Even though Cliff wishes to stay, but with Elinalise urging he left as well.
- When they leave, I could hear Elinalise saying "... Nothing we say matters right now."
- And that's how it is.
- Then, only I remain.
- Why did I stay. I'm not sure either.
- Still, I felt I have to stay for a little longer.
- It's dangerous to leave her alone.
- "..."
- But I have nothing to say.
- With a sick person.
- With a person suffering from an incurable disease.
- No matter what I say, they're just niceties.
- Nanahoshi is very upset.
- Her summoning research has been going so well.
- Phase 1 has a little hiccup, but Phase 2 and 3 both proceeded smoothly.
- Phase 4, with a little help from Perugius, should have results soon.
- I'm not sure with Phase 5, but it's only a matter of time.
- Maybe in 1, 2 more years she can return home.
- To hear that she has an incurable disease, at a moment like this, of course she's upset.
- Maybe not cancer, but on mortality it's the same.
- I won't be surprised if she got violent.
- No, if it really is incurable.
- If her future is so bleak, then a little violence is fine.
- I'd cooperate.
- No mater what, as long as it helps helps her mood a little.
- "I wasn't particularly healthy in the first place."
- While I stay silent, Nanahoshi speaks with a sigh.
- She sound more alert than I expect.
- But Nanahoshi is obviously faking it.
- "Getting sick... Although never this bad, I'd catch the cold every year."
- Slowly words trickles out.
- And I quietly listen.
- "My grades aren't bad, but I'm no good with sports. If asked, I guess I'm indoor type."
- "Medicine in this world isn't very advanced, right?"
- "Do you know? Maybe it has to do with magic, but people of this world doesn't even clean their wounds? And because of that they die or lose a limb. It's retarded. All can be prevented with a bit of clean water over the wound."
- "Because I can't use magic, so I do all kinds of things to stay safe. Avoiding contagious diseases, staying away from crows, don't eat strange foods..."
- "It's true, from your perspective I might lived unhealthily, but I exercises at home too! I took care of myself."
- "Because if I get sick, there might not be a cure."
- "Rather, if I'm sick, I probably won't be cured."
- "Because, if I get sick, I probably won't know why..."
- "... Basically, this world, isn't it too weird?"
- "Gigantic monsters too big to support itself. I don't know what wizardry is that, but aren't they clearly against rules of nature."
- "Of course, even I, when I came, was a little curious."
- "Even I played games before. I don't hate sword and magics stuff. I'd be lying if I wasn't excited."
- "Just a bit, I'm jealous that you're born in this world, and you can live in this world..."
- Hanahoshi said, and suddenly shuts up.
- Her shoulders tremble.
- Slowly, she turns to me.
- Face wrinkles.
- Tears collected on her swollen eyes.
- "I don't want to die."
- Like a dam busting, tears come pouring down.
- "I don't want to die here! I don't want to die in this weird world! Why? Why? It's too weird! Hey, do you know? I didn't change at all for 8 years! I don't grow taller, and my hair don't grow longer! I get hungry, I poop, but my nails never grow. I don't even get periods!"
- Nanahoshi throws a nearby water jug.
- The jug slams the wall, splatters in loud pieces. Water soaks the bed.
- "I'm not human of this world! In this world I don't even count as alive! I'm basically a corpse! Even so, why? Why do I get sick? Isn't that just too weird? Why am I unlucky like this? I don't want to die! I don't want to die in this strange world!"
- Nanahoshi screams, tears keep splatter, splatter.
- "Because I never even have my first kiss! Even though I have someone I like, I never even told him that I love him! I'm really so jealous of you! Everyday so happy, so fulfilling! What? Dad died? Mom got sick? So what? What's so bad about that? At this rate, I won't even see my dad again! If I die, mom won't even know! Just one more time! Dad! Mom! I still remember! I still remember that morning. Dad say he'll come home early. Mom says we'll have fried Saury tonight. I told dad that I'm hanging out with friends, but staying a little out is fine, and complained to mom that I'm tired of Suary already. Why, why did this happen? Dad and mom are probably worried sick about me. I want to go home. I want to see them again. I don't want to die. I don't want to die in this place... Woo.. Hick..."
- "..."
- I feel a sharp pain in my chest.
- I can understand Nanahoshi's pain.
- When I first came to this world, I couldn't sympathize.
- Can't go back, can't meet again.
- Not able to see family once more.
- Even if you tell me, I won't understand.
- Back then, i probably want to forget those things and just enjoy life in this new world.
- But now it's different.
- I understand wanting to go back, wanting to meet again.
- Everyday is life's greatest treasure.
- Once they're gone, they're gone forever.
- ... Because if they're gone, they're gone forever.
- Paul is dead.
- Zenith's memories may never come back.
- Buina village and that warm home have both disappeared.
- From now on, all I can do is protect my own family, my own life.
- Sylphy, Roxy, Luci.
- Lilia, Aisha, Norm, Zenith.
- If I separate from them, it would be gut wrenching.
- If someone disappear, then I'd go heaven and hell to find her.
- If I return to the original world.
- If magic like this exists in that world, I'd seek it.
- I would do everything I can to return.
- "Woo... Wooo...."
- Holding her knees Nanahoshi cries.
- Cliff, Zanoba, Sylphy, she was never close to any of them.
- Only with me did she ever pay any attention.
- Listen to my requests, accepting my invitations.
- If I think about it, she never done anything to wrong me.
- Nanahoshi looked so excited when we chat in Japanese.
- TO her, maybe Japanese with me is her only anchor from that world.
- "Someone, save me..."
- Hearing her meek whisper.
- I stand.
- ---
- I return to the round table where Perugius remains.
- All his Familiars have already left.
- Only Perugius here like he has been waiting for me.
- "What shall it be?"
- "... I am taking action. I hope, as long as it doesn't interfere your own work, that Perugius-sama will offer some assistance."
- Perugius nods heavily when I finish.
- "Oh, so you're finally making a move. Good. If Nanahoshi dies, even I would feel sorry."
- "Thank you very much."
- But what should I do?
- The cure to a disease eradicated some 7000 years ago.
- Where do I even begin?
- We already know both detoxication and healing magic are ineffective.
- If those have worked, then Perugius would already done something.
- Magic tools.
- I don't know if one might work.
- One that works inside the body should be related with Cliff's magic tools.
- But Cliff's magic tool was custom made for Elinalise only.
- Observe Elinalise's condition and adjust step by step.
- Although there're results, but it's still incomplete.
- Maybe it only need a few adjustment to control Nanahoshi's symptoms?
- But right now, Nanahoshi doesn't have the time for observe and adjust.
- She has coughed up blood.
- Even if we cure the surface symptoms, it will just happen again.
- Next time, it might be fatal.
- Moreover, if we froze time, then there's no way to experiment.
- Magic tools are no go.
- Maybe one eventually might work, but right now we need a more immediate fix.
- A cure.
- Does no one know?
- Not even Hitogami or Orsted?
- Would they know?
- I can't contact Hitogami.
- Maybe he'll show up with advice tonight.
- But I have no way of initiate contact.
- "Perugius-sama. Do you have a way to contact Dragon God Orsted?"
- "Impossible. His movements are impossible to understand."
- No way of contacting Orsted.
- "He probably doesn't know either. He's in this world for maybe a hundred years. Although he's wise, but I doubt he will know about a disease from 7000 years ago."
- So Orsted is a hundred or so.
- Although old, compared to Perugius he's still a youngling.
- No, compared to me he's old enough.
- "Is that so. But someone who knows about the world 7000 year ago..."
- Wait, hold on.
- 7000 years.
- There's one.
- There's one person that lived for so long.
- Even though she might not be familiar with this illness...
- But if I talk to her, maybe I can find a clue.
- "I know someone..."
- "Oh?"
- But, I don't know if I can find her.
- Last time it was a chance meeting.
- And just like that we separated.
- No particular connection.
- But I have to do something.
- If I do nothing, then nothing will change.
- "Perugius-sama, can you take me to the Demon Continent?"
- "Demon Continent? What do you plan to do there?"
- I only met that person once.
- Although Roxy also met her before, but where she is now I do not know.
- But her name I knew from long ago.
- Back in the Fedeo Capital, a name I learned from history lessons.
- After we met, there's no way I could forget it.
- "Meet with The Great Empress of Demon Realm, Kishirika Kishirisu."
- 7000 years ago.
- A figure of the first Human-Demon Great War.
Advertisement
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment
Advertisement