First Outer World Story Series: The Black Mist that Devours - Chapter 34
Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter
(Ichiko POV)
“Excuse me.”
“You are… with your… with your strength, my child can…”
“I can’t guarantee anything, but based on the symptoms and the cause, I think it will work.”
“Then please… as soon as possible…”
“I understand. All that remains is for the child to decide whether they want it or not.”
After saying so, I entered the room separated from the couple, who appeared to be on good terms most of the time, while Izumi who also served as my bodyguard, followed close behind.
This was a huge hospital in a certain part of a metropolitan area. This was a facility where only patients who cannot be treated were admitted, who cannot necessarily be cured even if they have acquired skill, an unknown power that has yet to be fully unveiled. And I, Hisano Ichiko, had arrived at such a place bearing the worst yet the best skill in a sense.
————–
“The treatment of critically ill and incurable patients via becoming a kin… is that right?”
“Yes, indeed. Since Izumi can be healed, most of the patients may be manageable somehow.”
Izumi and I had returned to the “White Mist and the Black Swamp Forest” after momentarily pausing our leveling efforts in the “Ogre’s Fortress.”
“(Saving people?)” Note: This means conversation through handwriting since Izumi can’t talk.
“There is a fine line between saving people or not though.”
And what I was being informed right now was the treatment method that made use of ?Monster Create?.
“I’ve already done an investigation on a hospital that might be willing to accept such a method. Or rather, it is the hospital where Ryo has recently been visiting to earn some extra money by utilizing ?Heal?.”
“Well… are there any ethical issues?”
This reminded me of the circumstances surrounding my first meeting with Izumi. It was definitely conceivable to cure the bulk of the patients with that skill. However, this came at the price of quitting the human race and transforming into one of Kurokiri’s kin.
“Of course, ethically speaking, it’s absolutely out of the question. If it were baseball, it would be so out of bounds that you’d be throwing at the batter from the beginning, not the strike zone.”
“(I don’t understand.)”
“I don’t really grasp your analogy, but… there’s no way I could do such a thing…”
“Well, you know, it depends on the heart of the parent and the heart of the child. The actuality is that there are people who are willing to cease to be human as long as their lives can be saved. And those folks show up like clinging to a sliver of hope. Now, can you disregard their desires? Even I have a heart like a human, you know?” Kurokiri stated with an expressionless face as if he actually witnessed such parents through Lady Ryo.
And how can I disregard their desires when I am the only one who possesses the capability to save them…?
“Naturally, there are conditions.”
After saying so, Kurokiri listed the conditions for treatment by ?Monster Create?. According to the conditions, there were:
?This method is only applied to patients who cannot be cured by any other treatments.
?This method is employed only upon mutual consent.
?Allow at least one week of free time once the process is done due to the costs imposed on the practitioner.
?Since the number of “Kirijin” will multiply, the government must be notified even after the process is done.
?The “King of the Devouring Black Mist” must ensure that the “Kirijin” are not coerced into any action.
“Do I have the right to choose my patients?”
“I’ll interfere to some extent, but fundamentally, I suppose you should save whoever you feel like saving.”
Mmm. I wonder if I am capable of making such a level of judgment about whether or not someone’s life can be entrusted to my hands…
“(Can I help too?)”
“In fact, please help her. ?The Lord Will Exercise His Power in My Path? is a massive strain on Ichiko because it leaves her vulnerable.”
Izumi nodded.
“Well, flee to my labyrinth if anything goes awry. Nobody can meddle with you that way.”
With these words, Izumi and I were sent outside.
————–
And now, back to the present.
Before me was a pale-faced girl who had been diagnosed with a deadly disease and had been put on a ventilator and an intravenous drip.
Izumi was subtly downcast as if she was reliving her own moments with such a young girl.
To be honest, I was not convinced of using this method. After all, while this treatment may save a person’s life, it also signified that the individual will cease to be human. Given the existing dearth of knowledge concerning the “Kirijin,” additional issues apart from the race issue were likely to arise in the future.
Even though their child would cease to be a human being, the parents of this person I just met wished for their child to survive. After witnessing how they wished for it, there was no way I could refuse their request.
Therefore, I had no alternative but to grant their wish if the girl expressed the desire to do so.
I called out to the girl.
“May I… have a moment?”
“Who are you…?”
“I am the ?Mist King’s Representative?. I’m here today to negotiate with you.”
“Nego… tiation?”
“First of all, the disease you are afflicted with now is not treatable with the current medical technology. Even the treatment with ordinary skills will not have any effect.”
“I… see….”
At her words, the girl exhibited a dejected look.
This is… painful. But I have to say it, to make the girl give up, and to make her accept it.
“That’s why I’m here. With the skill my master possesses, in exchange for ceasing to be a human, you can be saved.”
“What…?”
The girl’s face registered a look of puzzlement.
Her reaction was unsurprising, given the following remarks, which came shortly after she was told that treatment was impossible even with skills.
“You have to make a choice. Will you die wishing to remain a human being? Or fall from a human to a demon in order to live. Choose one of them.”
“…”
And the girl had made her choice.
The choice of quitting being a human in order to live.
?
Check out other Outer World Story series in order: Outer World Story: The Black Mist that Devours (First series), Outer World Story: Pumpkin Sorcerer (Third series), Outer World Story: Basilisk of Ice Sculpture (Fourth series)