TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 105
During the time Kyle was away from the Empire, he poured considerable effort into curing Olivia.
Even during an extremely busy period where having two bodies wouldn’t have been enough, he couldn’t accept the fact that his sister couldn’t walk.
No matter how much he disliked his sister.
Even though she was the sister who nearly brought down the Desmond Family with one wrong choice, Kyle couldn’t ignore the fact that the person he cherished most in the world, his lovely sister, would be confined to a small room for the rest of her life without someone’s help.
He had many discussions with Doctors renowned within the Empire, and even consulted wandering physicians outside the Empire regarding Olivia’s illness.
My sister used Dark Magic.
It failed, and the circuits in her lower body burned, leaving her unable to move her legs.
Half of the Doctors ran away upon hearing the term Dark Magic, while the other half listened in exchange for an exorbitant sum.
Despite being specialists with exceptional medical skills in their respective fields, none of them could provide the answer Kyle was looking for.
He even met the Old Man called ‘Hand of the God of the Underbelly’ and a female Doctor known as ‘Hand of the God of the Underbelly,’ but their conclusions were the same: it couldn’t be cured.
When he showed the medical records from a year ago when Olivia collapsed, A Certain Underbelly Doctor sighed and shook his head, saying:
-This is hopeless.
-Can’t you take another look? I promise to keep it absolutely secret. Don’t worry and just tell me how to fix it.
-Secret? I don’t care about that kind of thing, working in the underbelly and all. And this…
The female Doctor pointed to a part of the medical record with her finger and said:
[Damaged Magic Circuit/Nerve Damage in the Lower Body Due to Dark Magic/Lower Body Paralysis/Traces of Dark Energy Retained]
-There’s no answer. Even if you go to another Doctor, they’ll tell you the same thing. If you want her to walk again…
The female Doctor trailed off, mumbling softly.
-There’s no solution other than using Dark Magic.
Kyle had given up.
The reason he went to the hospital today was purely a formality.
It was Father’s wish.
It was nothing more than meaningless steps taken to alleviate Mother’s worries, without any expectation of hearing a positive response.
Kyle’s hope was nothing more than an invisible, tiny speck.
Father must have felt the same way.
Not only the Devotee, but Father and Mother as well had made countless efforts to cure Olivia’s illness.
We went to the hospital simply to find some solace for our hearts.
And.
We heard something unexpected.
-The test results are out, but it’s…
-What is it? Has it gotten worse?
-No. Quite the opposite.
The spark of hope began with a triangular hammer tipped with pink rubber.
It was called a reflex test.
When the Pink Hammer struck the knee, a slight twitch was the expected result for an average person.
Conversely, Olivia’s knee was expected to remain immobile, but today, defying everyone’s expectations, a small movement emerged from Olivia’s leg.
-Twitch.
It was a very slight movement.
So small that it could have been dismissed as a tremor caused by the hammer striking the knee. However, both the experienced Doctor and Father immediately realized that Olivia’s movement didn’t arise from such a trivial reason.
Afterward, many tests were conducted.
We were able to find hope that Olivia’s health was improving.
The Doctor said:
-This is only my opinion, but I believe the Young Lady might be able to walk within three years at the earliest.
-…
-Her sensation is returning, and the severed nerves are gradually recovering… The only word that comes to mind is ‘miracle.’
While I had heard of business successes and the achievement of reaching a New Realm, it had been a long time since I felt so thrilled that I clenched both fists.
It felt better than hearing about the successful conclusion of a business deal that had taken years in a foreign land.
However.
Kyle couldn’t smile.
Because he knew it was impossible for her to recover.
The time he spent.
The money he poured in to gather information.
The countless times he heard the words ‘Give up.’
Kyle knew it wasn’t something that could be accomplished with the small hope of a mere miracle. He couldn’t smile.
No, that wasn’t it.
There must have been a reason.
Kyle clenched his fist as he looked at the face of the Red-Haired Butler standing before him.
Kyle.
“We need to talk.”
He was suspicious of Ricardo.
***
Kyle and I took seats on a Park Bench a little distance from the estate.
Sitting alone on a bench with The Man wasn’t exactly pleasant, but thinking that a conversation with Kyle wasn’t so bad for once, I searched for a cafe that was open late and asked:
“Instead of sitting out here in the cold, how about we talk in a cafe?”
“I’m not fond of going to cafes with The Man.”
“…I see.”
Kyle, who shared my sentiments, casually ignored my gesture to take out my wallet.
Thinking that sitting with The Man alone on a bench would look even stranger, I decided not to voice my thoughts.
“Phew… So, how’s life in the capital?”
“It’s great. You’ve treated me so well that I’m living comfortably, almost like a freeloader.”
“Haha… That’s good to hear.”
I looked at Kyle, who was wearing a faint smile.
It was an unreadable expression.
He seemed like he was about to say something serious, yet his gentle smile made it impossible to predict what he was going to say.
You mentioned it was about the Young Lady.
‘Gulp.’
I wore an awkward smile, worried that the Young Lady might have caused trouble while I was away.
I knew Kyle wasn’t the kind of person to wait for me over something trivial.
Kyle was someone who valued Time. His sensitivity to Time, even in business, was the reason for his Success.
For Kyle to make Time for me meant it wasn’t a light matter or a simple request.
Knowing how much Kyle valued Time, I skipped unnecessary preliminaries and asked directly.
“So, what is it you want to tell me? You said it’s about the Young Lady, but I can’t guess what it might be.”
“Hmm…”
Kyle raised his head to look at the moon in the Night Sky.
Though he wasn’t someone who matched well with sentimentality, today, Kyle’s gaze at the moon seemed tinged with worry, or so it felt to me.
Kyle opened his mouth with difficulty. The White Breath escaping his lips disappeared into the cold winter air.
“I heard something strange at the hospital today.”
“…At the hospital?”
Kyle silently recounted what had happened at the hospital.
“They said Olivia might be able to walk.”
“What?! Really?”
“Exactly as I heard it. They said she might walk within three years at the earliest.”
“…That’s a miracle.”
Kyle looked at me suspiciously, as if my reaction wasn’t what he expected. Glancing at me sideways, he shook his head and tapped his forehead.
‘Was my acting too clumsy?’
Looking at the right hand I had used to activate the Hand of Rehabilitation, I gauged Kyle’s reaction.
Since this was something I had anticipated ever since I acquired the Hand of Rehabilitation, I had tried my best to feign surprise, but I wondered if there had been a flaw in my acting.
“Hmm…”
It seemed Kyle hadn’t noticed.
In a trembling Voice, I spoke to avoid arousing Kyle’s suspicion. I wanted to keep the Hand of Rehabilitation a Secret.
I couldn’t hide the Penalty.
No matter how much I tried to endure it mentally, the blood spilling from my mouth was unbearable.
So, I acted.
In a trembling Voice, calmly.
“It’s a Miracle…”
“A Miracle…?”
“Yes.”
Kyle let out a Small Empty Laugh.
“I don’t quite understand.”
Kyle spoke in a heavy Voice.
“Ricardo, you might not know, but I’ve met many people to try to cure Olivia.”
“Every Doctor said the same thing.”
“That the Aftereffect caused by the failure of Dark Magic couldn’t be treated.”
Kyle stared at me with Eyes Filled with Conviction, like the gaze of a Wild Beast.
“One Doctor told me there was only one way to cure Olivia.”
Kyle locked eyes with me, who remained silent, and asked.
“Do you know what they said?”
I kept my mouth tightly shut.
Kyle, seeing me like that, let out an Empty Laugh.
“It was a simple method. A very simple method.”
“A foolish treatment method that involved using Dark Magic again.”
The atmosphere grew darker.
I could sense why Kyle had called me. Only a fool would pretend not to understand when given such a clear hint, and doing so would be an act of Neglect toward Kyle.
Even so, I avoided responding to Kyle’s statement.
“That’s a foolish method.”
“Yes, it’s a foolish method.”
Nodding, Kyle spoke to me. Under the Moonlight, Kyle’s gaze was sharp.
“Stop doing foolish things.”
“…”
“I’m satisfied as long as Olivia is alive.”
With a bitter Smile, I replied to Kyle.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that so…”
Kyle, looking at the brightly lit Estate, spoke.
“Go. Olivia is waiting for you.”
“She hasn’t gone to bed yet because she wants to boast to you.”
Kyle’s eyes held a trace of bitterness.
***
After returning to the Estate.
The Young Lady was smiling brightly.
“Ricardo!”
The Young Lady handed me a Small Paper. Already knowing its contents from what Kyle told me, I asked the Young Lady with a Small Smile.
“What is it?”
Like a Girl preparing a Surprise, the Young Lady smiled innocently and said.
“They said I can walk again!”
Looking at the Young Lady’s Smile, I thought.
I’ll make sure to cure her.
With a Small Smile, I smiled back.
“That’s a relief.”