Regained Everyday Life
When Magey heard that Amon had a way to treat his little sister, he didn't believe it. As security chief, Magey had access not just to substantial income but also to top-tier information. He was effectively on the level just below the megacorp president. There was no way he hadn't searched every possible avenue for his sister's treatment up to now. He'd tried every method imaginable, and the conclusion had been failure. No method known to Magey could cure her. She wasn't infected by some entity byproduct or afflicted with something like cancer. She'd simply been born with deficient brain function. There was no cure for it.
So Magey didn't believe Amon. Not until Amon revealed one key fact.
"Uh... this is technically a Level 1 company secret... but I'm just telling you anyway? We've got an entity byproduct here that's really effective against mental and neurological disorders."
It might feel a bit gross, though. Amon averted his gaze for a moment as he muttered that, then met Magey's eyes again.
"I understand it's hard to believe. But the sooner you make a decision, the better her prognosis will be."
Magey stared at Amon in silence. What on earth was this man thinking? What did he gain from this? And what benefit did it bring to Recetio Corporation? Was it a leash to control a valuable asset like Magey? Or did they want him to work as a spy? The security chief focused even harder on Amon, probing him.
Amon sensed the intent behind that gaze and didn't look away. Instead, he returned it with a smile. Silence stretched between them. It was the security chief who broke it first.
"What... are you thinking?"
Unable to read his intentions, he'd gone straight to the point—even using polite speech out of fear of the unknown.
Faced with the direct question, Amon answered without losing his smile.
"Even if you ask my intentions, I can only say it's pure goodwill."
"You know better than anyone, Amon. In this world, goodwill is the emptiest word there is. A sudden chance to cure my sister? That's too suspicious."
"What's suspicious about it? You've already experienced the miracle goodwill can create, haven't you, Magey?"
"..."
Magey thought of his siblings' faces. On reflection, it was absurd—he, the one sustained by goodwill and miracles, was doubting it. Following the blow of being called human, another struck home. A hollow laugh escaped Magey's lips, laced with resignation yet tinged with hope.
He spoke to Amon.
"Can I... really trust you?"
Amon beamed back.
"I swear it on Mother God's name."
Several weeks passed. Much had happened in that time. Magey trusted Amon and entrusted his sister's treatment to him. Astonishingly, her condition improved steadily.
—"Levi!? Levi! Are you awake?!"
She, who had spent 23 hours a day sleeping as her illness worsened, had finally opened her eyes even during the daytime after so long.
With clear progress in Levi's treatment, Magey and George didn't hesitate to switch allegiances. Magey stepped down as security chief. No company could leave a security chief position to someone whose family was effectively held hostage elsewhere, so he retired from his old firm and joined Recetio. The process was smooth—no major issues arose. Losing a key asset like the security chief would have been a headache for them too. They exchanged severance for the remaining contract term and a few clauses, parting on good terms with smiles.
Now, Magey thrived as director of Recetio's External Intelligence Division. Amon's daily life had changed too. Before leaving the company, he'd suffered from boredom; now, back home, he was swamped. Most of his busyness stemmed from the orphanage he'd recently founded. Built under Recetio Corporation's name as an orphanage and daycare center, it buzzed with children during the day. Short-staffed since it was newly established, Amon was run ragged helping out.
"Everyone! No running in the hallways!"
As temporary teacher, Amon handled the kids remarkably well. His experience as the eldest at Perfumrose Orphanage hadn't faded; his childcare skills were top-notch. He was a hit with the children too.
"Teacher, teacher!"
"What is it, Dahlia?"
"When I grow up, I want to marry you—mmph!"
"Dahlia. Say that, and the teacher might get arrested."
Or turned into a beehive by his girlfriend first. Amon stifled the quip and covered the girl's mouth. Aside from such moments, his temporary teaching gig went smoothly. Busy, yes—but fulfilling.
The hectic day ended, and it was time to clock out. As Amon changed out of his temporary teacher uniform in the changing room, another teacher entered. Spotting him, she waved cheerfully.
"Oh, Amon. Heading home?"
"Yeah. You too, George?"
Amon waved back, returning the greeting. George Bread—the man whose identity Magey had swapped with to care for his sister, the original human in Magey's body. His face matched Magey's, but unlike Magey, his torso was flesh and blood. Upon hearing treatment was possible, he'd rushed to Recetio and now leveraged his caregiving experience to look after the kids.
George hung his sunflower-patterned apron in the cabinet.
"Yep, clocking out now. Levi's waiting."
George always headed to his sister's room after work. It had to be exhausting, yet his face shone with pure joy. He spoke in an excited tone.
"Magey said he'll be a bit late today."
"Director must be swamped."
"Seems like it. He comes home groaning like he's dying."
"I see. I was heading to her room anyway—want to go together?"
"Sounds good. Let's."
Like amiable coworkers, they chatted casually. George rode with Amon to the hospital. Arriving, they found Levi's room—far too spacious for one person. Beep—beep— The steady hum of machines filled the space. At their center lay a gray-haired woman, asleep with a Brain Gear on her head, breathing softly.
George gazed at her silently. Amon stood beside him, lips pressed, assessing her condition.
Vitals stable... off the oxygen respirator now.
Just days ago, she'd needed it; now, on a recent visit, it was gone entirely. A sign of her improvement. Amon's eyes traced the tube at her neck upward to a tank of green liquid periodically feeding her spine.
Lex... something-or-other.
Precisely, it was Laxynion, but Amon couldn't recall exactly. He just called it the green stuff. This green substance was the byproduct of the Wise Snail entity, periodically spat from its mouth whenever it foresaw the future. Considering snails shared mouth and anus anatomically, the stuff's nature was...
Eh, whatever. It works.
It wasn't really waste since the snail didn't eat; better to see it as a special secretion. Either way, this green stuff was the treatment's core. It promoted neural and mental regeneration—a discovery key to Levi's therapy. They injected it directly into her nerves, stimulating her brain with the Brain Gear during sleep. Devices attached across her body kept nudging her nerves. Combined with the green stuff, it was slowly but surely healing her. At this rate, full recovery within a year wasn't a pipe dream.
Going well.
Amon visited periodically—just in case. Hospitals in this world couldn't be trusted, even for Recetio-assigned patients; greed could twist anything. No red flags so far. Satisfied, he nodded and turned to leave, giving George time alone with his sister.
Then—
"Mm... ngh..."
Of all timings, Levi stirred awake. Amon awkwardly turned back. Might as well greet her now that she was up.
Levi removed her Brain Gear. Her silver eyes met Amon's, recognized him, and delivered a flat greeting.
"Hello."
"Ah, sorry. Did I wake you?"
"No. Just mealtime."
Amon checked his watch. Dinner time. Normally treated with Brain Gear and green liquid, she still needed three meals a day to maintain gut function. She'd have woken anyway.
Levi sat up, removing her attached devices before dinner. Finally detaching the one at her nape, she slipped off the bed, donned slippers, and prepared to head out. The expressionless girl looked at Amon.
"Eat together?"
"Wish I could, but I've got plans tonight."
"I see."
Levi nodded calmly. It was rather rude toward her silver-tongued benefactor, but Amon didn't mind. Her brain damage wasn't limited to sleep; diagnostics showed emotions and some functions still recovering. Understanding was key.
Amon left for real. Levi watched the door quietly, then tilted her head.
Strange man...
Logically, she couldn't grasp why he helped her and her brothers. Her healing brain hit its limit. She gave up thinking, took her brother's hand like in childhood, and headed to the cafeteria. Emotions faint as they were, it was a sufficiently happy routine.