Regarding the Incurable Illness -2-
During the time Kyle had been away from the empire, he'd poured every ounce of effort into finding a way to heal Olivia. Even though he was busier than two men could handle, he couldn't accept the fact that his sister couldn't walk. No matter how much he disliked her.
She was the sister who'd nearly destroyed the Desmont family with one wrong choice, but she was also the person he cherished most in the world—the lovely little sister he didn't want to imagine spending her life confined to a tiny room without anyone's help. He'd consulted with renowned physicians across the empire, the ones hailed as miracle workers, and even sought out wandering divine healers beyond the borders to discuss Olivia's condition.
My sister used black magic. It failed, burning out the circuits in her lower body, leaving her legs immobile.
Half the doctors fled at the mention of black magic. The other half took his money and listened. They were the best in their fields, masters of medicine, but none could give him the answer he craved. He'd met the old man called a "god of healing," and even the shadowy female physician known as the "Hand of the Underworld's God," but they all reached the same conclusion: incurable.
One underground doctor, sighing as he reviewed Olivia's medical records from a year ago when she'd collapsed, shook his head.
"No hope here."
"Couldn't you take another look? I'll keep it completely secret. Don't worry—just tell me how to fix her."
"Secret? Working in the shadows, I don't give a damn about that. And this..."
The female physician pointed to a section of the medical record with her finger.
Mana Circuit Damage / Lower Body Nerve Damage from Black Magic / Paraplegia / Trace Amounts of Dark Mana Retained
"No answer. Any other doctor will tell you the same. If you really want to make her walk... "
The physician trailed off, muttering under her breath.
"Nothing but using black magic yourself."
Kyle had given up. His visit to the hospital today was just a formality. It was his father's wish. A meaningless step to ease his mother's worries, with no real expectation of good news. The hope he clung to was little more than an invisible speck.
His father must have felt the same. He, along with his parents, had exhausted every avenue to cure Olivia. In the end, they'd only gone to the hospital for a sliver of comfort.
And then.
They heard words they never expected.
"The test results are in, but..."
"What is it? Has it gotten worse?"
"No. Quite the opposite."
The spark of hope ignited with a triangular hammer tipped with pink rubber. They called it a reflex test. For a normal person, striking the knee with the pink hammer produced a twitch. Olivia's knee was supposed to stay still—that was the expectation. But today, it shattered everyone's assumptions with a tiny movement in her leg.
A twitch. The slightest quiver, like a mere tremor from the hammer's tap. But the experienced physician and his father instantly knew it wasn't some trivial reflex.
More tests followed.
And they found hope that Olivia's health was improving.
The doctor said,
"This is just my opinion, but I believe the young lady could be walking within as little as three years."
"..."
"Sensations are returning, and the severed nerves are regenerating bit by bit... It's nothing short of a miracle."
He'd heard plenty of good news—business triumphs, breakthroughs in new realms—but it had been ages since words made him clench his fists this hard in excitement. More than the deals he'd sealed after long hauls abroad.
It felt that good.
But.
Kyle couldn't smile.
He knew it was absolutely incurable.
The time he'd invested. The fortunes spent gathering information. The countless "give up" pleas.
It couldn't be undone by some flimsy miracle. Kyle knew that.
He couldn't smile.
Or rather, there was a reason.
Kyle clenched his fist, staring at the red-haired butler standing before him.
Kyle did.
"Let's talk."
Ricardo was suspicious.
Kyle and I sat on a park bench a short distance from the mansion. Sitting alone with a man on a bench wasn't exactly thrilling, but since I figured a chat with Kyle after so long wouldn't be bad, I suggested a café still open late.
"Why sit here in the cold? How about we talk over coffee at a café?"
"I don't like going to cafés with men."
"...I see."
Kyle, who seemed to understand me, brushed off my polite offer to pay with a casual wave. I thought two men on a bench looked odder, but I let it slide.
"Hoo... So, how's life in the capital treating you?"
"Very well, sir. You're treating me too kindly—I'm living like a parasite."
"Haha... Glad to hear it."
I watched Kyle's faint smile. His expression was unreadable. He looked like he might drop something heavy, yet his gentle smile made it impossible to guess.
He'd said it was about the young lady.
Gulp.
I forced a hesitant smile, wondering if she'd caused trouble while I was away. Kyle wasn't the type to seek me out for trivial reasons.
He knew how to value time. His business success came from wielding it sharply. For such a man to carve out time for me meant it was no small matter or mere request.
Knowing how Kyle prized his time, I skipped the preamble and cut to the chase.
"So, what did you want to say? You mentioned the young lady, but I can't imagine what it might be."
"Hm..."
Kyle looked up at the moon in the night sky. He wasn't the sentimental type, but tonight, his eyes gazing at the moon seemed steeped in worry—or so I imagined.
He spoke with difficulty, his white breath escaping into the frigid winter air, vanishing in a pale wisp.
"I heard something strange at the hospital today."
"...At the hospital, sir?"
Kyle quietly recounted what had happened.
"They said Olivia might walk again."
"Pardon...? Really?"
"Exactly as I heard it. As soon as three years, they said."
"...A miracle."
Kyle eyed my flustered reaction suspiciously. Not what he'd expected, apparently—he shot me a sharp glance and rubbed his forehead.
Was my acting off?
I glanced at my right hand, the one I'd used for Rehabilitation Hand, gauging Kyle's reaction. I'd anticipated this since acquiring the ability, so I'd faked maximum surprise, but maybe there was a slip.
"Hm..."
Kyle didn't seem to notice.
I spoke in a trembling voice to deflect suspicion. I wanted to keep Rehabilitation Hand secret.
I couldn't hide the penalty. The blood spilling from my mouth was unstoppable, even with mental fortitude.
So I acted. Calmly, with a quavering voice.
"A miracle..."
"Miracle...?"
"Yes."
Kyle let out a hollow chuckle.
"I wouldn't know."
His voice grew heavy.
"You might not realize, Ricardo, but I've consulted countless people to heal Olivia."
"Every doctor said the same."
"Aftereffects from failed black magic can't be cured."
Kyle fixed me with eyes full of certainty, like a wild lion's predatory glare.
"One doctor told me there's only one way to heal Olivia."
He met my tightly pressed lips and asked,
"Guess what it was."
I clamped my mouth shut.
Kyle scoffed at me.
"Simple. Very simple."
"Use black magic yourself, they said. A fool's cure."
The mood darkened.
I grasped why Kyle had summoned me. Only an idiot would ignore such a hint and play dumb—it would insult him.
Still, I dodged his answer.
"A foolish method, sir."
"Yes, foolish indeed."
Kyle nodded and leaned in.
His eyes under the moonlight were piercing.
"Stop the foolish games."
"..."
"I'm just glad Olivia's alive."
I gave a bitter smile in reply.
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"Is that so..."
Kyle gazed at the brightly lit mansion.
"Let's go. Olivia's waiting."
"She's up late, dying to brag to you."
Kyle's eyes were bitter.
Back at the mansion.
The young lady beamed brightly.
"Ricardooo!"
She held out a small piece of paper.
Having heard the details from Kyle, I smiled faintly and asked,
"What is it, miss?"
Like a girl unveiling a surprise, she flashed a fresh, innocent grin.
"They say I can walk again!"
Looking at her smile, I thought,
I'll definitely heal you.
I returned a small smile.
"That's wonderful."