Chapter 73: Rentaro, you really are...
"Mahiru-kun, this is bad, Satomi-kun… something happened to him."
This familiar opening line directly woke him up in the middle of the night, sending him rushing to Gouda Public University Affiliated Hospital.
He remembered hearing something similar during the Nine Schools Competition last time; he didn't expect it to happen again in this world.
"Rentaro, you… you really are useless…"
He forgot the beginning, forgot the middle, forgot the end, but in any case, when he saw Rentaro lying in the hospital bed, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, Mahiro couldn't help but complain.
This guy, on the surface, seemed heavily injured, but there were no fatal wounds.
Aside from excessive blood loss, it was mostly large-area fractures all over his body, and minor contusions.
And on the bed next to him, a JK girl in black attire, Tendo Kisara, was sleeping there.
Her cascading black hair spread across the pillow, and the light from the white incandescent lamp illuminated her serene sleeping face.
Slender shoulders, boldly exposed neck connected to a beautiful collarbone curve.
The soft-looking swell pushes against the sailor uniform, undulating slightly at a very close, reachable distance.
The sweet scent unique to young girls permeates the air, slightly neutralizing the pungent smell of disinfectant, and the soft breath exhaled makes this sweetness even richer.
Shifting his gaze slightly, he could see those slender jade legs tightly wrapped in thin black stockings, huddled together as if lacking a sense of security.
What a fragile girl—he honestly thought so.
It was impossible to connect her with the girl who worked so hard on weekdays, the girl whose eyes lit up at the sight of money, or the silly girl who would be provoked by Miori Sima regardless of time or place and stage a full-on fight.
Now, she was so weak that she was pitiful.
Especially her insecure sleeping posture, curling up her body, could not help but make people want to hold her in their arms and care for her.
He even clearly remembered when he had just arrived at the hospital, the girl sitting on a bench in the corridor, looking flustered and helpless, as if the sky had fallen.
When she saw him, she grabbed his arm, her dark and bright eyes filled with tears as she looked at him, asking him what to do, her weak expression as if she had found a pillar of support.
"No matter how strong she looks on the outside, she is still just a 16-year-old girl at heart…."
Yotsuba Mahiro sighed softly, then reached out and took the jade hand from the white wrist exposed from the side of the bed. Immediately afterward, he saw Kisara's tightly furrowed brows visibly relax.
She slightly squeezed Mahiro's hand back, as if only in this way could she feel at ease.
It was as if she was responding to the warmth he brought, muttering softly.
"…Don't…leave me…alone…."
"…Help me…avenge me…kill…Tendo…."
As she spoke, Kisara suddenly frowned again, curling up her body and trembling slightly:
"Father…Mother…I hate it, don't die…someone…save me…."
Hearing Kisara's painful murmur, and seeing her delicate and desperate appearance at this time, as well as the fingertips of her hand clutching his, which had already turned slightly white.
All he could do was get up, walk forward, and tuck her in with one hand, nothing more.
"Ugh…."
Just then, Rentaro on the other side also reacted, seemingly waking up slowly from his coma, and said in a serious tone:
"You're awake. The surgery was very successful. Congratulations, you've become a girl now."
"..."
Rentaro did not respond, but the thin blanket covering his body visibly moved.
Then he heard Rentaro's almost imperceptible sigh, which seemed to carry a hint of relief.
Good heavens, he even made a point of confirming whether his little brother was still there.
Seeing the whole process, his gaze couldn't help but become strange.
After a long while, Rentaro slowly opened his mouth and said: "….Don't joke around."
He glanced around, a look of confusion on his face.
"Where am I?"
"..."
Looking at Rentaro with the eyes of someone caring for the mentally challenged: "Did your brain get injured too? Do you really need to ask such an obvious question?"
"Uh…."
Being told this, Rentaro immediately felt very embarrassed.
Indeed, it was obviously a hospital room at a glance, yet he had to ask where he was.
Was it possible that he was in a hotel?
Then he awkwardly changed the subject:
"That…what about Miss Kisara?"
"She ate something and just fell asleep."
"Oh…."
As soon as he finished speaking, Rentaro fell into silence, while Yotsuba Mahiro picked up an apple from the fruit basket by the bed, wiped it casually, and began to eat it.
This action couldn't help but make Rentaro feel speechless.
If he wasn't mistaken, that should have been a gift for him….
However, Rentaro didn't say anything more. The ward fell into a brief silence again, with only the "crunch" "crunch" of chewing remaining.
"You…don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Seemingly unable to bear the silence, Rentaro took the initiative to speak.
"There's nothing to ask."
Mahiro threw the last bite of the apple into his mouth, chewing with a crunch, and added:
"It's nothing more than you didn't bring Enju along this time, encountered another IFA team, and then got beaten to a pulp, right?"
That was the only situation he could think of.
After all, Hiruko Kagetane was already dead, not even a corpse remained, so the situation in the original story would not happen at all.
Unless that guy had the ability to possess others.
"That's not it…."
Rentaro shook his head and denied: "The one I encountered wasn't an IFA team…if it was an IFA, it wouldn't have been like this…."
As if recalling, Rentaro's eyes, exposed under the bandages, looked slightly at the ceiling, recalling that experience, but the lips under the bandages were trembling slightly.
"That guy…like me and Hiruko Kagetane…is a survivor of the «New Human Creation Project»…no, no, that guy was newly created, saying it was to…surpass me."
Rentaro was a little incoherent.
But he still clearly remembered the boy who called himself Dark Stalker, whose real name was Yiji Youhe!
It was impossible.
The «New Human Creation Project» had already been canceled!
But that guy was a real modified soldier, and even his performance was indeed above his!
He still clearly remembered that his moves were seen through by that guy. Just like when facing Yotsuba Mahiro, his spinning kick was actually caught by that boy.
And the way that person's eyes showed geometric patterns, with the black pupils spinning rapidly inside, he would never forget….
"….So you lost? You still need to keep training, Rentaro classmate."
These words were not spoken by Mahiro, but came from the doorway of the ward.
Sumire Muroto appeared at some point, leaning against the edge of the door frame, waving at the two of them, as if to say, "Am I disturbing you?"
"Do you have any leads, Doctor Sumire?"
"Well... a little bit."
Because she was spoken to, Sumire Muroto assumed she could come in, so she clattered her high heels on the marble floor, and then, with a gust of fragrant wind from her white coat, she plopped down on the edge of Kisara's sleeping bed, her black silk beautiful legs crossed generously.
The main thing is generosity and wealth.
Then she continued, "Anyway, I didn't do it."
Rentaro Satomi: "...."
Yotsuba Mahiro: "..."
Isn't this nonsense?
"Hey, can't you provide some useful information?" Yotsuba Mahiro sighed helplessly.
"Of course I can."
Sumire Muroto twirled a strand of long hair, slowly wrapping it around her white jade-like fingertips, "Actually, this kind of thing is easy to guess. Back then, there were four people in charge of the New Human Creation Project, including me...."
The four of them were collectively known as the Four Sages.
Among them, Sumire Muroto was responsible for developing artificial eye calculations, while An Rand, whom Sumire Muroto called "an unprecedented and unparalleled old stubborn," was responsible for developing the thought-driven interface. Arthur Shanack was responsible for developing the Varanium spine with self-healing capabilities, as well as research on optical camouflage embedded under the skin.
But above them, there was one person who commanded the three of them.
Known as the head of the Four Sages, and also the highest person in charge of the mechanized soldier project—
"Albrecht Grünewald, Hiruko Kagetane, whom Mahiro-chan you killed, his mechanization surgery was performed by him personally.
Well, although that guy's personality is even stranger than mine, and he especially likes to copy, I have to admit that that man's ability far exceeds the three of us."
Hearing Sumire Muroto's words, even though Rentaro was unable to move at this moment, he couldn't help but ooze a trace of cold sweat, and he felt an unspeakable chill on his back.
This was the first time he had heard a doctor praise someone so frankly.
"So, if everything Rentaro-kun said is true, then this time's opponent is even more powerful than Hiruko Kagetane, and it may even be that the Tokyo Area will really usher in the [Great Extinction]."
"Great... Great Extinction? Doctor, what are you talking about?" Rentaro asked, trembling in confusion.
Sumire Muroto looked at Rentaro with pity.
So pure, like a little white mouse, not even knowing what it is doing?
Just then, Mahiro's phone suddenly rang, breaking the heavy silence in the ward.
"Mr. Mahiro, it's me."
The gentle voice coming from the phone gave people a feeling of being bathed in the spring breeze.
"Oh~ Saitenshi-sama, what's the matter with calling me at this hour?"
"Um... there is something. First of all, I'm very sorry to disturb Mr. Mahiro's rest at this hour. I am already aware of the injury of your colleague, Rentaro Satomi-sensei, please allow me to say I'm sorry...."
"Alright, alright, Saitenshi-sama, let's skip this kind of meaningless talk. I'm just an IFA, there's no need to be so polite. Why not just tell me what's the matter?"
"Okay, just now, the exact location of the Seven Stars Legacy was discovered, so I would like to entrust Mr. Mahiro to bring it back safely."
Although Yotsuba Mahiro interrupted her rudely, Saitenshi was not annoyed, but issued the request in a crisp voice, although the tone of her request revealed a bit of pleading.
"Is the price still one billion?"
"Yes, it is."
"Then let me ask, this time the operation shouldn't be just me alone, right?"
"Yes, in addition to Mr. Mahiro, there are many other IFAs participating. It is the largest operation in history. Even so, I still hope that Mr. Mahiro can participate in this operation."
Saitenshi's sincerity was high enough, or rather, in the entire Tokyo Area, there was no one else besides Yotsuba Mahiro who could have Saitenshi personally call to request participation in the mission.
Moreover, Saitenshi specifically supplemented the danger of this operation—
"....There's something I feel I can't continue to hide from you, Mr. Mahiro. It's just that the 'Seven Stars Legacy', that is, the thing in the suitcase, is actually a catalyst that can summon Gastrea of Stage Five."
"Um."
"Although I don't know what the other party's purpose is, no matter what, we can't let that man named Yiji Youhe take it away."
"Um."
"Because that thing will bring about the Great Extinction in the Tokyo Area."
"Um."
"....Do I need to explain what Stage Five is?"
"No need... even I know about that thing."
Seeming to hear that his response was too bland, Saitenshi still wanted to foolishly popularize common sense for him.
But how could he not know about that kind of thing? Or rather, he already knew everything about the Seven Stars Relic and the Seven Stars Village experiment.
That was the sin committed by the humans of this world, the bitter fruit brewed.
What is being encountered now is just repaying the debt to those who were forced to participate in the experiment in Seven Stars Village.
Finally, after he replied, "I will participate in the request," he hung up the phone.
Hearing the bursts of busy tone coming from the phone, Saitenshi, dressed in a pure white dress, stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, placing her slender, snow-white fingertips on the transparent window that the waiter had just closed, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, and whispered:
"I wish you good luck in battle, Mr. Mahiro."
Meanwhile, at the hospital.
"Where's the doctor?"
After he finished the call, he found that Sumire Muroto was gone.
"The doctor… just left."
Rentaro replied in a not-so-calm tone, looking like he was still trying to process what he had just heard.
"Alright then."
The situation was urgent, so Mahiro didn't intend to investigate where the doctor had gone. He slowly stood up from the chair.
"Are we leaving?"
Unbeknownst to him, Kisara had already woken up and sat up from the hospital bed, asking him, and even grabbing his hand again, which he had released not long ago.
"Mahiru-kun, let me ask you, will we… really win?"
"Of course, we'll definitely win. Don't worry, President, I'm not Rentaro."
"Is that so…"
Although his words somewhat belittled Rentaro, neither Rentaro himself nor Kisara refuted anything.
Kisara's eyelids drooped slightly. After a moment of thought, she suddenly looked up and said, "Mahiru-kun… no, Yotsuba Mahiro, as the President, I order you to achieve victory no matter what, and please… come back alive no matter what! I, Asaka, Enju, and Rentaro will always be waiting for you at the office."
"I understand."
Mahiro put away his usual joking demeanor, a faint smile appearing on his face, and said seriously:
"I have clearly received Miss Kisara's will."
...
.....
....
"Ahead lies hell, young man."
"But I go willingly."
In the hospital corridor, the two, whose wavelengths aligned, exchanged a smile.
After leaving the ward, he encountered Sumire Muroto again, and this time, Sumire Muroto handed him a bag.
It was full of weapons and equipment made of Varanium, all prepared for him by Miori Sima, mostly simple knives, with no firearms.
Although simple, they perfectly suited his preferences.
Besides that, Sumire Muroto handed him a black syringe.
"What is this…?"
"This is my farewell gift to you. It was made by that young lady, entirely out of Varanium, and it can effectively suppress the gastrula virus."
"You're going to do it anyway, aren't you?"
"As expected, I can't hide anything from you, Doctor." Yotsuba Mahiro smiled.
Sumire Muroto, this woman, is not only very intelligent but can also be called his confidante.
She knew his intentions without him saying a word.
That's right, he originally thought that with Hiruko Kagetane dead, this incident would end easily.
But he never expected another spoiler named Yiji Youhe to appear.
And he also snatched the box.
And judging by the Saitenshi's tone, the Tokyo Area seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
In that case, he didn't mind fishing in troubled waters and going with the flow to draw a tube of Scorpio's blood.
At worst, he would find a way to kill Scorpio later. With strategic-level magic, there would always be a way.
Moreover, the home he had just built for those Cursed Children, as well as Xiao Asaka and Enju, were all in the Tokyo Area. No matter what, this had to be done.
"Don't die, young man. If you die, there will be one less person to deliver food to the basement, and I'll be in a difficult position."
"Really? I think you'd be hoping I die, Doctor, wouldn't you?" Mahiro said jokingly.
"Hmm… Since you put it that way, I do have an important suggestion. Want to hear it?"
"What suggestion?"
As soon as he turned around, Sumire Muroto suddenly leaned in close. Accompanied by the woman's unique scent, her hands gently rested on his shoulders.
"…If you're going to die, die beautifully."
"What?"
"If possible, I hope it's from freezing to death. — No, no, I shouldn't be so extravagant. I should say, even starving to death is fine. I'll inject turpentine into your corpse's backside, then wrap you in alkali and expose you to the sun."
"Haha, Doctor, you're as perverted as ever… Are you planning to mummify me and display me in a museum for people to admire?"
"No, it will only be in my research lab, for my eyes only."
Sumire Muroto said resolutely, "This is my unique artwork; I won't let anyone else touch it."
"Alright, alright, but Doctor, you should know very well that I won't die."
"I believe that too."
Sumire Muroto stopped joking with him and smiled sweetly, "So, you must come back alive, young man."