Volume 4, Chapter 42 – Treatment (1)

“Um, it’s about time.”

“True. You seem to be doing fine now, so go ahead and treat them.”

Released from Ade’s lap pillow, I drank an MP Recovery Medicine and stood up.

First, I examined Chris-san. Thanks to the Healing Magic I had cast in a panic earlier, it seemed she was out of critical danger.

Next, I checked Lu-chan. Although the wound had closed, she had been pierced through the stomach, so it would be better to treat her properly.

As for Shizuku-san… she had no obvious external injuries, and since she had been moving and swinging her sword earlier, her physical condition probably wasn’t an urgent priority.

However, considering everything that had been done to her, I was still worried.

Alright, the priority list is set.

I began treating Lu-chan first. I circulated Healing Magic, searching for any unhealed parts inside her body and mending those wounds.

Hmm, it looks like there’s some damage to the internal organs.

This spot is probably the intestines? Then I’ll need to detoxify her as well.

Using Antidote Magic, I broke down the toxins that had likely flowed into the bloodstream from the injured intestines.

Then, I cast Disease Treatment Magic to prevent and treat any illnesses caused by bacteria that had similarly entered the blood from the gut.

After that, I cast Healing Magic once more, followed by Purification Magic, Dispel Curse Magic, and Cleansing Magic in sequence to finish the treatment.

I cast Purification and Dispel Curse just in case, because that black aura Suikyou wore was terrifying, but I didn’t feel any particular resistance, so it seemed to be fine.

Next was Chris-san. I cast Healing Magic to mend her wounds.

Based on the feedback, most of the injuries had already healed.

If she just rested like this, she would likely wake up eventually.

I finished her treatment with Cleansing Magic.

Finally, I examined Shizuku-san.

As expected, the Healing Magic I’d cast during the battle had mended her injuries.

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However, she wouldn’t regain consciousness.

Wait? I think she mentioned using incense to paralyze her thoughts?

Recalling Suikyou’s words, I cast Antidote Magic.

I felt a slight reaction, but it didn’t seem like the poison had put her in a dangerous state.

I thought about Suikyou’s words again.

That woman had said she used incense, the Enslavement Curse Mark, and the subjugation of a Black Fox to grant power and turn her into something other than human.

The first two of these had already been dealt with.

That left the remaining two to deal with, but frankly, I had absolutely no idea what to do.

“Are you troubled?”

Ade spoke to me, noticing my distress.

“Yes. I have no idea how to treat this.”

“Could I have a look?”

Ade stared intently at Shizuku-san.

It seemed she was using Dark Attribute Mana to investigate.

“There’s so much miasma inside her that she might go mad if she isn’t purified. Also, the miasma first contaminated the Black Fox that was attached to her. The way this strange miasma entered her… let’s see. I wonder if it was forcibly injected afterward using the Black Fox as a medium? Ah, but the Black Fox has fused with this girl’s soul. This is quite troublesome. If you use your power to purify it, I suspect this girl’s soul would vanish along with it.”

“No way!”

I let out a cry that was nearly a scream.

“That guy really did seem to have a nasty personality. I cannot forgive him for making my Fiene sad.”

Eh, ah, well, I guess so.

I don’t know why, but Ade’s comment somehow brought me back to my senses—or rather, it helped me calm down.

“How did you do that just now?”

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“I used Dark Attribute Mana to examine the state of the soul. It’s a way of applying Charm. If you’re as accustomed to handling mana as you are, you should be able to do it easily.”

“I’ll try.”

I downed another MP Recovery Medicine, then used Mana Control to regulate Dark Attribute Mana and examine Shizuku-san’s body.

I immediately found something sludge-like inside Shizuku-san’s body.

But could this disgusting, sludge-like thing really be Shizuku-san’s soul?

No, perhaps this was Shizuku-san’s soul fused with the Black Fox that had been corrupted by the miasma Ade mentioned.

I see. So that’s what she meant by “making her not human.”

I gritted my teeth at Suikyou’s cruelty.

But I won’t give up!

If it’s Shizuku-san, she surely won’t lose to something like this.

Yes, she can’t lose!

I carefully searched for Shizuku-san within this sludge-like thing.

Without breaking it.

Carefully.

Gently.

Slowly.

Slowly.

◆ Shizuku POV ◆

…

…

…

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When I came to, my surroundings were pitch black.

Is this what they call the world after death?

I can see nothing.

No one is here.

“So this… is the end of one who becomes a sacrifice, is it?”

I whispered softly to myself in the empty darkness.

…

…

…

It was then. Feeling a presence, I looked around.

Dark. It was still pitch black.

Wait, is that…?

A fox?

A black fox?

A fox, black as if it were melting into the darkness.

In the next instant, something entered me.

Ah, this is… memories?

I see… Fox-dono, you were… to humans…

The sound of a voice laughing at how rare the black fur was.

The terror of being chased.

The pain of being skinned alive.

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I see. These are the memories of Fox-dono from when it was alive.

You wish for revenge, do you?

No, that’s not it. Fox-dono’s feelings flowed into me.

I see… you wish… to be at peace…

I reached out and gently stroked its head. Fox-dono narrowed its eyes contentedly.

It happened then.

Something black and sludge-like surged forward as if to swallow us whole.

In the next instant, something hideous—belonging neither to me nor to Fox-dono—flowed into me.

Kill.

No. Don’t do that!

Steal.

No! No!

Hate.

Let us have revenge.

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

I’ll skin them.

I’ll eat their guts.

Children’s meat is tender.

“Ah, ah, ah, aaaaaaaaaah! Get out! I am! I am!”

… Who am I?