The Fourth Invention

Regalia's eyes flashed with disbelief as she stared at the woman standing before her. "Vira? No, it can't be. Your limbs..."

"Hehe~ That's how it turned out, Young Lady," Vira said, scratching the back of her head with an embarrassed grin. The motion was so utterly natural. Regalia's jaw dropped at the sight of something prosthetic limbs could never have replicated.

The bodyguard who had clearly lost one arm and one leg in the past had returned after regaining those very limbs. It was a disability that no method or means should have been able to cure.

Regalia held her gaze for a moment, riding out a tsunami of emotion, before she carefully gathered her swirling feelings and spoke with caution.

"...How did this happen?"

"I kept pestering him to make me new limbs, so the scientist just went and made them for me-!"

"The scientist... I see."

Regalia let out a bitter smile, as if the possibility had never occurred to her. After all, the scientist had already healed Galrm's injuries and restored him to the full strength of his prime. When she thought about it that way, fixing Vira's disability wouldn't have been difficult at all.

She should have realized it sooner and healed Vira's wounds. This was her own failing. She bowed her head toward the guard standing before her.

"I am sorry, Vira. It is my error. I could have thought of it at any time..."

"No no no-! That's not it at all, Young Lady! Please raise your head!"

"Because of my own foolishness, you endured days more of suffering. It is truly an unbearable disgrace."

"I'm perfectly fine! If anyone is at fault, it's me for shutting myself away in the hospital room and never showing my face even once..."

As the two continued exchanging apologies, they realized the chain could stretch on forever. Without resistance, they both burst into laughter. When she had been missing half her limbs, she had been utterly miserable—yet now that those limbs had simply grown back, their laughter was blooming so fully?

Was this the mystery of the human body? The pair laughed until their stomachs began to ache, only then stopping to look at each other.

"It seems you have regained your spirit. That is fortunate indeed."

"Of course! And not just my limbs—I got my esper powers back too, you know? Would you like to see?"

"...Even your esper powers?"

Watching Vira demonstrate her ability, Regalia was stunned. Vira's power originated from the extremities of her body. In other words, it was an ability generated from her arms and legs. That was why her powers had vanished the moment she lost those limbs.

Yet it hadn't stopped at simply restoring her limbs. Her powers had been fully recovered as well? This meant it wasn't mere regeneration—it was something far more extraordinary.

As Regalia stared at her with a grave expression, Vira seemed to realize something. She withdrew her power and fidgeted awkwardly.

"Um... Was it wrong to use my powers without permission, Young Lady?"

"No, that is not the issue."

"That's a relief... Oh! Since my powers are back, does that mean I can return to being your bodyguard now?"

Vira beamed, recalling her former position. It was the hopeful expectation of returning to those days as the closest aide to Regalia, the heir of Evils Enterprise.

Unfortunately for her, Regalia had no intention of reinstating her as her own bodyguard.

"My bodyguard position is already full. It would be impossible to take on a new guard at this stage."

"Ah... I see? Well, of course. It would be greedy for a relic who's been away from active duty for years to claim a spot among the Young Lady's handpicked elite guards..."

"That is not what I meant. If it is you, Vira, you still possess more than enough skill to serve as my bodyguard."

Seeing the disappointed Vira after the rejection, Regalia smiled faintly. She could trust no one more than Vira.

Hadn't she been the loyal subject who sacrificed her own limbs to protect her during that attack? There was no reason not to employ her now that both her limbs and her powers had returned. However, it would not be as her bodyguard.

"What is your opinion of the scientist?"

"Huh? I think very well of him, of course. He's the benefactor who restored my limbs..."

"Excellent. From now on, not for me, but..."

She entrusted the protection of the person she now held dearer than her own life to the woman she trusted most.

"—And that's how it happened. Starting today, I'm your personal bodyguard!"

I was repairing an old machine a customer had brought in when Vira suddenly appeared and declared this. I let out a hollow laugh. Personal bodyguard? What was that supposed to mean?

"Weren't you an executive? What kind of executive takes on bodyguard duty for another executive—"

"It's the boss's orders! And more importantly, you're a weakling, aren't you? That's what Galrm said. A pathetic guy who can't even act like a proper man."

"By his standards, anyone would be a weakling..."

"Ah ah-! No talking back! This is final! Are you planning to defy the boss's command? If you keep refusing, I'll start crying, you know?"

"Now that you've got all your limbs back like a normal person, seeing you cry wouldn't tug at my heartstrings much."

"Ah-!"

I watched Vira let out a gasp as if she'd discovered a blind spot, then turned my attention back to the broken machine. Just as she'd said, there was no real need for me to refuse a bodyguard. Even if I did, it didn't seem like she'd leave.

It was the boss's order, after all. Since the boss had sent her here, my refusal would be pointless. Unless I was prepared to openly rebel against the boss, I couldn't reject the command.

And I had no intention of defying her. Even setting aside the fact that she was the benefactor who had saved me when I first fell into this world, it still held true.

Why would I betray her? Staying here lets me enjoy responsibility-free pleasure.

The boss was one of the few good people in this world. Just the fact that she gave an engineer unlimited time and budget for research proved it. When you have a chance to slack off under someone that kind, you take it. The moment you try to stand on your own, the real hell begins.

"Just don't interfere with my work."

"Got it! Protecting someone is easy as pie for a bodyguard."

Vira thumped her chest as if to say not to worry. I watched her with some concern, finished repairing the clock, and moved on to the next broken item.

Since I'd opened the shop mostly to pass the time, there wasn't much work. Repairing broken things for about thirty minutes was enough to finish a whole week's worth of jobs.

Once the work was done? That was when true freedom began. Time I could spend however I wanted without anyone bothering me. It was a short period, but I could enjoy the sense of accomplishment from finishing my tasks along with proper rest.

"—Wait, you're done already?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Then what are you doing? Let's go out right now!"

I had been heading to my bed with a book I'd prepared in advance when Vira interrupted me. Only then did I remember there was an uninvited guest.

And just from her tone, it was clear Vira was an extremely outgoing person. When she'd been missing half her limbs, even that outgoing personality had been cut in half. Now that those severed limbs had returned, she was fidgeting restlessly, eager to release years' worth of pent-up social energy.

"Why do we have to go out...?"

"What do you mean, why? If you stay cooped up in a room like this all day, you'll rot! Get some sunlight! Feel the breeze! That's how it should be!"

"That's what you want... I was planning to lie in bed all day today and read."

"What are you, some literary boy? Let's go out!"

She's draining me. Draining me dry. Watching Vira chatter away beside me, I wondered if it was really appropriate for her to be my bodyguard. What kind of bodyguard in the world was so desperate to drag their charge outside?

Everyone knew that outside the blankets ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was dangerous—and even more so in a world where espers and villains actually existed. Who knew what could happen if I went out recklessly...?

I ignored her whining and planted myself on the bed. Vira stared at me with a shocked expression.

"You're not going out?"

"—Correct. I've decided not to take a single step outside today."

"Really? Then I guess there's no choice... I'll have to call Levitan and Galrm over. They still don't know my limbs have healed, so we can celebrate right here—"

"What are you doing, Vira? Why aren't you getting ready?"

I stood at the shop entrance and shrugged at Vira, who was still sitting in her chair. Really—how long was she planning to laze around indoors on a day like this?

When I looked at her with clear disdain, she stared back at me in utter disbelief.

"...Do you hate the idea of those two coming that much?"

"Anyone hearing you would get the wrong idea. Why would I hate it? I just think it's a waste to stay inside on a nice day like today."

"Riiight~ Yeah. If you hate it that much, I won't call them..."

Vira spoke as she followed me out of the shop. Bright sunlight poured down onto our faces. Just as she'd said, it was far too nice a day to stay cooped up inside the store.

Children were running around in the middle of the park. Among them, several showed clear differences from the others. Some had spikes growing from their legs that let them run faster, while others were literally flying through the air.

Esper powers. In a world where everyone was born with them, such sights weren't particularly rare.

"Mmmh~! It's been so long since I've walked on my own two legs!"

Vira stretched her limbs out fully as she did some light stretches. The way her muscles trembled slightly showed that the newly grown limbs had properly settled into her body.

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, confirmed that the medicine had worked properly, and let the corners ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of my mouth rise slightly. To be honest, I hadn't expected it to show the exact same effects on the people of this world. After all, this was a world where the mysterious ability called esper powers existed, and the organs that manifested them grew directly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠within the body.

I couldn't be certain that the people here were the same kind of humans as me. They were so different that I had no confidence the same medicine would produce the same results.

Looks like it took well.

There had been no reported cases, but it was possible the regenerated limbs could have grown grotesquely and needed to be amputated again. Of course, that was a side effect that had never appeared in Earth humans.

As I continued observing Vira's limbs, she seemed to notice my gaze. She turned to me with a bright smile.

"What are you staring at so hard? Hm? Are this big sister's limbs that captivating?"

"It is pretty obvious. Your right arm and left leg are much paler."

"...Did you really have to point that out specifically?"

She was wearing an outfit far too casual for a bodyguard—sleeveless top and short pants—which suited her, but it meant her snow-white forearms and thighs were completely exposed.

Which made the stark contrast of her two newly regenerated limbs with completely different skin tones stand out even more.

"If anyone saw, they'd think you got tattoos on just those parts."

"Who in the world would get tattoos like this..."

"I don't know. Maybe some dark-skinned guy?"

"Whoa..."

—Kyaaaaaaaah!

While Vira was grimacing at my lame joke, a scream rang out from far away. We both reflexively turned toward the sound. There, some kind of monster was attacking a person.

Seeing it, Vira ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠let out an impressed sound.

"Oh—it's an awakened species."

"Awakened species...?"

"Yeah. That's what we call animals that have awakened esper powers. Unlike humans, animals have a much lower chance of awakening them."

She rattled off all sorts of trivia only locals would know—that the leading theory was that beastmen descended from awakened species, that the discrimination against beastmen came from the fact their origins were literally beasts, and so on.

Even while she spoke, the awakened creature continued attacking people and leaping around wildly. The crowd fled in all directions to avoid it.

The creature, which had been chasing the fleeing people, spotted us sitting blankly on a bench watching the spectacle. The moment our eyes met, it charged toward us like a mad beast. Its speed was faster than most vehicles.

"Uh... shouldn't we stop that thing?"

"Yeah. We should."

"Wait, when did you—"

"Right now."

The instant the awakened species closed in and tried to crash into us, Vira thrust out her right arm. The barrier generated from her palm completely blocked the creature.

Having charged at over a hundred kilometers per hour only to slam into a solid barrier, the creature couldn't overcome its own momentum and crumpled on impact. Just like a car smashing headfirst into a concrete wall.

Even after being crushed like that, it was still twitching. The grotesque sight showed it was somehow still breathing.

"Wow~ It's been a while since I did some light warm-up exercises."

"...You call that light?"

"Yeah. This much isn't really anything special. It's not like an aerial bomb went off or anything."

Only then did I understand why the boss had sent her to me. She was an elite who had served as the personal bodyguard to Regalia, the heir of the global megacorporation Evils Enterprise. An esper whose ability to protect someone was valuable enough to be employed by one of the world's richest individuals.