Three days had passed since Tuziku successfully completed Ryōkōjū's test.
During that time, Prīōra tended to Tuziku's wounds at Ryōkōjū's house. She estimated that his broken ribs and arm would take at least ten days to heal.
Until then, he was ordered to remain on bed rest.
Ryōkōjū had stopped by several times and had finally agreed to teach Tuziku the Hakashi Technique.
However, on the third morning of his recovery, something strange happened to Tuziku...
Present Moment...
"WHAAAAAAAAAT!!!" Tuziku shouted.
Kutcher and Prīōra immediately rushed to his side.
"What's wrong, Tuziku?!" Kutcher shouted as he burst through the bedroom door.
"Tuziku, did something happen?!" Prīōra asked, panting.
Tuziku's eyes were unnaturally wide, and his jaw hung open in disbelief.
"G—guys..."
"You won't believe this...!"
Kutcher and Prīōra stared at him in suspense.
"...My wounds are healed!"
Tuziku tore off his bandages, revealing his completely healed stomach.
Prīōra stared in bafflement.
"But... how is that possible...?"
"It should've taken at least ten days before you were even able to walk again!" she said, folding her arms.
Kutcher wore a concerned expression.
This...
This isn't the first time something like this has happened...
He scratched his chin.
That's right...!
"Prīōra..." Kutcher muttered.
"This... has happened before."
Prīōra looked at him in confusion.
"What are you talking about, Kutcher?"
Kutcher stepped forward.
"It was a while back, just after we managed to escape from the Generals!"
"Tuziku was unconscious and badly burned..."
"But after a short while, his wounds suddenly disappeared..." Kutcher explained softly.
Suddenly, it clicked.
Prīōra gasped.
"How could I forget?!"
"Around that same time, the crew was disbanding, so we never got to go into detail about it, but..."
She turned toward Tuziku, who sat awkwardly on his bed.
"That was pretty weird..."
"That's right..." Kutcher added.
Kutcher and Prīōra exchanged curious glances before turning their attention toward Tuziku.
"What's the matter with you two...?" Tuziku asked nervously.
Prīōra approached him.
"Tuziku, your body has healed much faster than it should have..."
"That's not exactly natural."
"Wh—what...?" Tuziku muttered.
"Not to mention, this is the second time it's happened," Kutcher added.
The second time?! Tuziku thought.
"Have you been hiding some sort of ability that allows you to heal your own wounds, Tuziku?" Kutcher asked bluntly.
"Of course not!" Tuziku replied.
"I just assumed you guys could use some sort of amazing healing ability..." he explained.
"Hate to break it to you, but we can't use anything like that," Prīōra replied, folding her arms.
The entire room fell silent.
Suddenly—
Creak...
The door slowly opened.
"That sounds like quite the mystery you've got on your hands there, kiddos..."
The trio turned toward the voice.
"Grandpa?!" Prīōra exclaimed.
"Old man..." Kutcher muttered.
"Old man Ryōkōjū!" Tuziku grinned.
"How long have you been listening, Grandpa?!" Prīōra snapped.
Ryōkōjū stroked his beard.
"Well..."
"I heard Tuziku shouting just now, so I came to check on him. But it appeared you two were already here, and I didn't want to intrude, so..."
"So you decided to spy on us?!" Prīōra shouted.
"Well, I wouldn't put it like that..." Ryōkōjū scratched his head, wearing a guilty expression.
Prīōra glared at him.
"Well, in any case..."
Ryōkōjū's expression suddenly hardened.
"There's only two logical explanations for the boy's sudden recovery from such serious wounds..."
"And what's that?" Kutcher asked.
Tuziku gazed at him curiously.
Ryōkōjū raised one finger.
"One is that someone secretly used a healing ability on him while he was unconscious..."
He raised another finger.
"And two, Tuziku has an ability to heal that he isn't aware of..."
Kutcher and Prīōra remained silent.
Tuziku gazed down at the palms of his hands.
"Boy, do you have any idea which one it might be?" Ryōkōjū asked.
Tuziku raised his head and looked at the old man.
"I... don't know..." he replied.
"I see..." Ryōkōjū sighed.
...
Silence filled the room.
Then—
"Tuziku!"
Ryōkōjū stepped forward.
"Since you're all healed up now, why don't you and I take a walk?"
"Huh?" Tuziku replied.
A Few Moments Later...
Tuziku and Ryōkōjū left the house and went on a walk together.
Kutcher and Prīōra remained behind.
"What do you think Ryōkōjū has planned?" Kutcher asked.
"Who knows?" Prīōra shrugged.
"But I'm willing to bet he knows something about Tuziku's unexplained healing."
Back With Tuziku and Ryōkōjū...
As they walked toward the exit of the village, Ryōkōjū spoke.
"Tuziku, the first day you came here with my granddaughter, after I chased you and Kutcher away..."
"In an attempt to convince me to teach you the Hakashi Technique, Prīōra told me everything you've been through since she met you."
Ryōkōjū wore a bright grin.
"You're one strong, tough kid!"
"Where is all of this suddenly coming from...?" Tuziku asked awkwardly.
Ryōkōjū burst into laughter.
Then, his expression suddenly hardened.
"Boy... from what I've heard, you haven't been quite fond of your Abyssal Ability."
"And since you haven't been using it much, I'm sure it's continuing to grow even as we speak!"
He stroked his beard.
"Since your ability is still relatively new, that acid that destroys... may not be all there is to your power," Ryōkōjū explained.
Tuziku gazed at him silently.
...
Suddenly—
Tuziku came to a halt.
"Hey, Old man, we're back outside the village again...!"
"Don't tell me... you're planning on sending me on another crazy test up a mountain?!" Tuziku panicked.
Ryōkōjū chuckled.
"Not this time, boy..."
Then—
Ryōkōjū paused.
"Speaking of mountains..."
"Tuziku..."
"How did you escape Mount Yakushi, let alone obtain the chest from the legendary Man-beast?"
Ryōkōjū narrowed his eyes.
"Ohh!" Tuziku's expression lit up.
"Relating to that..."
"The Centaur had me cornered at the edge of the mountain's peak..."
"But just before its attack landed, it suddenly stopped completely, almost as if it were frozen!" Tuziku explained.
"Is that so..." Ryōkōjū stroked his beard.
"I was surprised at first, but I used the opportunity to grab the chest and make a run for it..." Tuziku continued.
"But suddenly, the Centaur began moving again!"
"That was when I decided to jump off the mountain."
Ryōkōjū's jaw dropped.
"Boy, did you just say the Creature was suddenly unfrozen?!" He grabbed Tuziku by the shoulder.
"Yeah...?" Tuziku replied hesitantly.
Ryōkōjū held his chin and tilted his head, deep in thought.
It can't be...
This boy...
Not only does he have a powerful and unknown healing factor relating to his Abyssal Ability...
But could he have also awakened that...?
"What's the matter with you, Old man?!" Tuziku interrupted.
Ryōkōjū gasped as he locked eyes with Tuziku.
"Boy..."
"I believe you've awakened something extraordinary!"
He grinned excitedly.
"That instant when the Centaur suddenly froze..."
"That might've been your doing...!"
He pointed at Tuziku.
"My... doing...?" Tuziku muttered.
"If I'm right, then you've awakened a truly rare and powerful defensive ability known as..."
Ryōkōjū's grin widened.
"AN INNATE TECHNIQUE!!"
He laughed ecstatically.
CHAPTER 41 END