Magical Girl and the Sound of a Stomach
After healing six severely injured individuals, along with other difficult-to-treat magical girls and Magic Bureau personnel, we teleported to the next Magic Bureau.
Unlike before, I thought there was no one to greet us… but then a man hurriedly entered the teleportation room.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“Well, we finished earlier than expected, so it can’t be helped.”
“Is that so…? Um, who is that girl over there?”
The man sighed in relief that Jeanne wasn’t concerned, but then noticed me and had an indescribable expression.
“This is Lily, who will become Jeanne’s apprentice. She’s the benefactor who healed my eyes and is probably more skilled in recovery magic than any magical girl in this country.”
“Hmm…”
His expression seemed to be saying, “Can such a little girl really do recovery magic?”
I don’t know why he was praising me so much, but anyone would be skeptical hearing that such a little girl could use recovery magic.
By the way, how am I supposed to gain trust when I’m piggybacking a young girl? It’s impossible for me.
I sensed Iida was slightly annoyed, so I lightly tapped his head.
“The greeting is enough. We should first heal the injured and sick.”
“Oh! That’s right. Please take care of them. Iida, it’s up to you.”
The man bowed to Jeanne and left the teleportation room.
Though Iida seems a bit uncomfortable, I think it’s nothing serious.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
By the way, there are quite a few staff members in the teleportation room.
I won’t mention what kind of looks they’re giving us.
“There are four critically injured people this time. One of them is completely isolated. Regarding this isolated person… if it seems impossible, it’s fine to give up.”
“If it’s that bad, you should have called on me sooner…”
“As for that, there’s no excuse. Due to the pride of the magical girls in this country and such…”
It seems there are some relationship issues again. It was the same in Australia. People always end up in conflict, no matter when or where.
“Condition?”
“Both legs have been severed and part of the body has begun to mutate. None of the magical girls in this country can heal it… Also, because of the ranking system…”
Ranking, huh. In short, since she’s not strong enough, abandoning her isn’t entirely unreasonable.
“I see. I haven’t examined them yet, but can I treat the other three first?”
Iida silently nodded, and my eyes met Jeanne’s.
Does she really not remember me?
“Well, I won’t comment on the triage. This is work, after all. I assume you understand, but I personally don’t care about life.”
Of course, Jeanne’s darkness runs deep.
A person like that wouldn’t have any thoughts about life.
“Yes. Please follow me.”
After walking for a while from the teleportation room, we entered a similar room.
The strong smell of disinfectant and the unmistakable scent of blood filled the air.
“This is quite… Has this been reported?”
“No, the report only mentioned the loss of one arm and one leg.”
“Please help! Forget about us, at least help Chris!”
“Hmm”
Two out of the three seemed seriously injured, but the last one was even worse.
Vegetative state. No, judging by the artificial heart and other machines, she’s being forcibly kept alive.
“To be honest, regenerating internal organs, especially the heart and brain, is almost impossible. Plus, there are others we need to heal besides you guys.”
Since Jeanne healed me when I had a big hole in my stomach, she might be able to heal this too.
However, anyone knows it’s not an easy task.
“Please help! Please… please!”
A magical girl lying on the bed pleaded through tears.
Is this someone important to her, or did she protect her somehow?
“Jeanne looked exasperated as she scratched her hair, and Iida’s hand was tightly gripping hers.
Another person also pleaded and bowed their head, but… well, it can’t be helped.
(Hermes)
“Yes! Using both my and Demon’s abilities, we can do it. There will be some strain, but eating a big lunch will make it no problem!”
It seems safe.
(Demon)
“Yeah, yeah. Haruna is nosy~”
“Ms. Jeanne, may I have a moment?”
“What is it?”
I moved from Iida’s shoulder to Jeanne’s side and stepped outside the room.
When I explained that I could heal without any particular cost to myself, Jeanne wore an indescribable expression.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s your free will, but do you know the malevolence that will come upon you if you help?”
“Of course. Personally, I don’t mind dying, but as Ms. Jeanne’s disciple, it’s better to save those we can. Besides, I don’t exist anyway.”
Right now, I’m not Inny Flowering but Jeanne’s disciple, Lily.
Part of the job is to protect Jeanne’s reputation.
“You’re stubborn too… Alright. Just to be safe, try to keep it discreet.”
“Understood.”
I don’t want to work unnecessarily either, but to ensure things run smoothly, some effort is unavoidable.
It’s like cleaning before work starts, though I’ve never done it.
Returning to the room, Jeanne raised her hand to stop the magical girls from speaking.
“To begin with, if you swear never to talk about what happens next, I’ll try to save that magical girl. However, if the secret leaks… you understand, right?”
“Of course! We’ll do anything, please… please…”
“Alright. Though it’s not me who will heal, but this one here.”
Jeanne pointed to me on her shoulder.
The crying magical girls looked confused, but Jeanne continued.
“Iida, I ask you to keep this confidential.”
“…Understood. And once again, I sincerely apologize for this situation.”
Iida apologized, but if he didn’t know, there’s nothing he could have done.
Also, the man who greeted us earlier must be the Director here. Why did he do something so foolish?
Could there be some scheme to frame Jeanne?
“―Can you really heal her?”
He sounds half-doubtful, but actions speak louder than words.
“Of course. Then…”
Iida picked me up and carried me to the magical girl named Chris.
Well, let’s start with analysis.
I touched her head and activated my magic.
One arm and one leg missing. The heart is gone too. One lung is missing, and the stomach is in a similar condition.
She’s also poisoned, which seems to be keeping her alive.
There’s also damage to the brain, and it’s amazing she hasn’t died from shock.
(Then I’ll leave it to you.)
“Yes.”
“Got it. I’ll set up a barrier to prevent magic leakage.”
First, I’ll borrow the demon’s ability for the cost of healing.
In terms of lifespan, it’s about 5 years, but it’s better than dying.
Next, I’ll combine my recovery magic with my lover’s ability for regeneration and treatment.
Although I carefully heal her step by step, it feels a bit frustrating.
As I feel sweat dripping down my forehead, Iida wipes it off with a handkerchief.
It’s subtly appreciated.
“Hurry up and spit it out!”
I thought I heard Hermes’s voice, but I’ll ignore it.
Probably Sora is taking the cost.
While thinking about what to eat for lunch today, the treatment was completed.
I asked Iida to remove the bothersome machines and tubes.
“It’s done. If you want to wake her up, we can, but what do you prefer?”
The magical girl nods while looking incredulous that the healing was successful.
Meanwhile, it seems Jeanne was healing someone else while I was treating Chris.
“Wake up!”
“Gyaahh!!!”
After running electricity through her, her whole body reacted violently, and she woke up screaming.
It seems both her heart and brain were successfully regenerated.
“Chris! …Chris!”
“Thank goodness!”
Two people hugged the clueless Chris who doesn’t understand what happened, and they cried loudly.
The consumption of magical power wasn’t extreme, but I’m a bit tired from concentrating.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. Eating a proper lunch will be fine.”
“Hmm. That’s good. Let’s quickly finish here and enjoy lunch together.”
Before I could respond, he left the room.
The rest are minor injuries… though not exactly, but we’ll group them together, heal them, and then check on that magical girl.
“―Forgive me for asking, but who exactly is Miss Lily?”
As we walked down the corridor, Iida suddenly asked Jeanne.
“Since we’re only working together for today, it’s better not to know. You don’t want to die, do you?”
“…”
An oddly heavy atmosphere hung in the air, but is it really something to worry about?
Maybe I should tell a light-hearted joke to lighten the mood?
Gurrr…
While pondering, the sound of someone’s stomach growling echoed.
…Well, it’s mine, actually.
“Hehe. That’s right. Regardless of who she is, the fact that she healed me and saved them is enough. Lunch is already prepared, so look forward to it.”
Is that so? That’s good news.
We’ll do the same as before: hello, heal, goodbye, and leave without hesitation.
Reuniting with Jeanne quickly, we headed toward that magical girl’s location.
“I’ll give you the medical chart beforehand.”
“Thank you. …I see. Quite troublesome, and she seems to be close to death in a few days. In a way, she’s lucky, but this still feels impossible.”
“Some volunteers are trying their best to save her life, but they also requested you examine her as a way to possibly stop their efforts.”
Letting someone die is also a form of salvation.
And stopping those who are trying hard is part of the job for higher-ups.
Though it’s not Jeanne’s job, the authority of Jeanne, an expert in recovery magic, would be believed.
“Well, I shouldn’t say this, but instead of dedicating magical girls to newbies, wouldn’t it be better to put them out of their misery? Whether it’s the country or the Magic Bureau, isn’t this situation somewhat precarious?”
“―You’re absolutely right.”
Looking at the chart from above, there was a photo that had turned grotesque and a name written.
―So this is what Demon was talking about.
(Demon)
“One of her limbs and internal organs are gradually rotting. She also seems unconscious due to hitting her head hard. Since her transformation hasn’t ended, she’s not dead yet, but she’ll turn into mush in two days.”
Turning into mush sounds like a terrible way to die.
(Can you heal her?)
“Abandonment is important too. Well, like Jeanne said, I can’t say anything without examining her.”
Though I’m not a universal altruist and don’t intend to help no matter what, there’s something prickly about Demon’s words.
Heading to a room deeper than the others, we arrived at a rather secure door. Are they worried about infection?
“Good work. Can we proceed?”
“I’ve heard the details. It’s fine, but if anything happens, it’s at your own risk.”
The guard opened the door, revealing another door further inside.
Opening that revealed a transparent glass-separated room, where the subject magical girl—Haburansasu—and another magical girl presumably casting spells were visible.
There was a door at the edge of the partition; we’d enter through there.
“Just in case, Iida, please wait here. Let’s go, Lily.”
“Yes.”
As I tried jumping off Iida’s shoulder, Jeanne picked me up and docked me onto her shoulder.
So, Jeanne, you’re enjoying this a bit, aren’t you?
“Hello, Mercedes. Long time no see.”
“…Long time no see, Holy Maiden.”
“You’re still the same as ever. How’s her condition?”
They seem to know each other, but it feels odd hearing Jeanne called the Holy Maiden.
Fraudster or something would probably feel less strange.
“Her limbs are rotting due to poison. Healing her is impossible, and we’re alternating between life support…”
“Hmm. There’s no risk of infection, but it’s quite a frightening poison. Her intestines and stomach are already rotten, and if this continues, it’ll reach her heart. With multiple mixed poisons… how many people could be saved with the magic used just to prolong her life?”
“We fully understand our actions are foolish. But still…”
Jeanne shook her head exasperatedly.
What an unusual type of magical girl. She seems to be nearing her limit soon.
Her face is pale, and she’s somehow managing with her limited magic power.
“I’ve taught you many times, there’s a limit to the lives we can save, and our abilities are the same. Choices must be made.”
“…Yes.”
Regretfully lowering her head, she doesn’t stop her magical hands.
“How about it, Lily?”
Passing the ball to me now?
(Jeanne and I might be able to handle it together, what do you think?)
“Eradicating these poisons is tricky, but if Haruna keeps healing while Jeanne neutralizes the poison, we might be able to save her.”
During Jeanne’s examination, I analyzed as well. As Jeanne said, multiple poisons are eroding Haburansasu’s body.
The trouble is that each poison requires different antidotes, and attempting to neutralize one might activate another.
Even trying to detoxify them all simultaneously would accelerate the body’s decay, so it would take at least five people to manage properly.
Especially given the worsening condition, assigning so much effort to a rookie magical girl is a poor strategy.
It would be merciful to let her go quickly.
Well, healing her heart and brain would be harder, so let’s wrap this up quickly and have lunch.
“Jeanne and I should be able to handle it without issue.”
