Prologue
The hospital was really quiet late at night.
There was nobody in the corridors. There was only minimum lighting to coldly illuminate the building intermittently.
I, Lizel-senpai, and Miyabi were sitting on the bench of the waiting room.
Lisel-senpai......Reina, is she alright
I asked in a whisper while keeping my gaze fixed on the glistening floor. Lizel-senpai who was sitting beside me softly touched my hand.
Let’s wait for the examination result for now.
......What happened to Reina just now, it wasn’t normal.
Reina suddenly collapsed thirty minutes ago. I immediately tried to call an ambulance, but Lizel-senpai stopped me.
We can’t bring her to a normal hospital. We’ll take her to the hospital where my family doctor is working.
She said that and immediately arranged a car.
Reina’s figure inside the car was burned at the back of my eyelids.
Her eyes were staying open. Her face was expressionless. She looked like a doll. Rather than Reina, she looked like a doll that was created in Reina’s resemblance.
Miyabi grasped my other hand that was at the opposite side of Lizel-senpai.
Hey, Yuuto. I’m also worried you know? But, we have to be levelheaded in this kind of time.
Miyabi....
Her face was smiling. However, she couldn’t hide the color of anxiety inside her eyes.
She was forcing herself to act though in order to cheer me up.
You’re right......thank you, Miyabi. Also Lizel-senpai, I’m sorry.
Lizel-senpai shook her head to left and right with a kind smile.
That’s just how much Yuuto is thinking about Reina. There is nothing for you to apologize.
And then she looked down with a slightly sad gaze.
But, I had been fearing that this kind of day will come one day. Because Reina, she is a bit......different from us.
Lizel-senpai
When I was about to ask what did she mean by that, the door of the hospital room opened.
The nurse called for us and we entered the room. There Reina was lying on the bed wearing a hospital dress. Her eyes were closed and her chest was moving up and down along with small breathing. I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart.
She was still sleeping, but this was the Reina who I knew. It wasn’t the Reina from before who looked like a doll. Even though both should be the same Reina, strangely I couldn’t think of both as the same person.
Lizel-senpai let out a relieved sigh, then she asked the female doctor who was sitting on a chair.
Doctor Monzenji, is Reina alright now
It seemed the doctor’s name was Monzenji. She looked to be in her late thirty. However this person was also a devil, so she must be older than she looked. Her eyes behind the glasses looked somewhat sleepy. Her long hair was casually braided to hang down at the front.
If you ask me if she is alright then she is alright. She will open her eyes soon.
I reflexively smiled and stared at Reina’s sleeping face.
I’m glad......I was worried what is going to happen for a moment there.
But, this girl’s body is steadily breaking down. She might be broken the next time she collapsed.
Eh
I stared at the doctor’s face.
Err......what do you mean, by that
Hm? That’s why, this girl is ?
Doctor.
Lizel-senpai cut off the doctor’s words.
I think, it will be better if we heard it from Reina directly.
Nn......I see. Then, I’ll keep quiet.
Lizel-senpai glanced at Reina before asking a question.
In doctor’s opinion, how much life span she has remaining
Two or three days I think.
Wa-,
Wait a second.
D-doctor......and senpai too, what are you two saying? Right Miyabi
When I turned around, Miyabi was biting her lip with tear gathering in her eyes.
Everyone......just, what is going on here
I was assaulted by a feeling of anxiety that I couldn’t identify. I only noticed this late that the daily life that I thought as only natural was actually in the verge of breaking apart.
What’s going on! Explain it in the way that I can understand ?
I unconsciously talked with a rough tone. Reina’s groaning voice came at that timing.
Nnu......e-eh
Reina!
She opened her eyes slightly and looked around inside the hospital room. When her eyes caught sight of us, she smiled apologetically.
Sa......say say, did Reina......faint
Reina raised her body to get down from the bed.
Oi, don’t force yourself.
No, this has happened sometimes until now desu......but to think Reina would faint in front of Yuuto-san....
Reina made a troubled smile.
Looks like, it’s already no good for Reina desu.
Sometimes you say......why didn’t you tell me something that important! If you don’t go to hospital or get treated right away ?
Reina shook her head to negate my words.
Reina, has to tell the truth to Yuuto-san now desu.
The truth?
Reina made a troubled smile and tightly clutched the sleeve of her hospital dress.
Reina......is actually not a devil desu.
......
Not a devil?
That meant she was a human?
No, that wasn’t the case. That was clear if I thought back at how Reina fought until now. Reina’s ability far surpassed a human.
I reflexively turned my gaze to Lizel-senpai questioningly.
......Reina, it’s fine even if you don’t do this now you know
Lizel-senpai whispered in worry. Reina shook her head in respond.
Reina has to say it when it’s time to say it......Reina doesn’t know when the end will come after all.
The end just what did she mean by that?
The inside of my heart felt a prickling chill.
A bad premonition was crawling up my back bit by bit.
Reina, is a homunculus......desu desu.
......Homun, culus?
Reina isn’t a human and also not a devil desu. Reina is a life created by sorcery desu......desu.
That’s ?
When I was about to ask what did she mean, the doctor stood up from her chair.
Then the examination is over. Nurse, help Reina-kun with changing her clothes. Everyone else, let’s get out of the room.
Doctor Monzenji sent a sharp gaze toward us.
We obediently followed her words and exited the room. Doctor Monzenji then told me after the door was closed.
About that girl, she is really a homunculus just like she said. In other words, she is an artificial life-form.
Artificial?
By who?
Questions came up one after another in my head. I had too many questions then I didn’t even know what I should ask.
Lizel-senpai took my place and questioned the doctor with a grave expression.
Doctor. Is Reina’s body, really already....
My breath was caught within my chest.
Yeah. She has the typical symptoms for homunculus when their body is about to break. She doesn’t have that long anymore.
No way! Is there no way to save Reina!
I stared at Doctor Monzenji with eyes that were filled with hope. However the doctor shrugged apologetically.
That’s impossible. Her core that is fixing her body’s structure in place is too fragile. It seems the sorcerer who created that girl isn’t too skilled.
Core......
I reflexively asked back. Doctor Monzenji answered me dispassionately.
It’s the thing that act as the foundation for shaping homunculus. Normally magic stone is used as the core but......how good the quality of that stone is important. Magic stone with good quality is refined further to heighten its purity. The purer the stone is, the better core it will make. In my opinion, that girl’s core is an inferior good.
No way....
I reflexively turned to look at Lizel-senpai with eyes that sought help. However senpai frowned and suppressed her anger that she had no outlet to vent into.
Doctor......is there really no way to replace the core with something better
You also asked me that before but, that’s impossible. Homunculus’s whole body is made up from magical mechanism. The whole thing will collapse if you pull out a part of it.
Lizel-senpai clenched her fist with a vexed expression.
Is there no way at all! At least give her some emergency treatment for the time being! Because, to only have two or three days remaining to live is ?
Let’s see......if we supply energy to that girl for the time being, her lifespan will be extended somewhat because that is what she need the most right now.
Needing, energy?
Originally the core will stockpile energy or the homunculus need energy supply from outside periodically, but it looks like that girl cannot obtain energy from either method.
I couldn’t hold back myself from asking.
That-! This energy that Reina needs, what kind of energy it is!
Even I don’t know that.
Doctor Monzenji shrugged, then Reina came out from the hospital room with herself having finished changing into her uniform.
F-forgive Reina, for making everyone wait desu desu!
She bowed her head several times looking very apologetic.
She looked brave, but also painful to look at.
Even though she shouldn’t have any leeway to be considerate about other people in her current condition.
Shit!
My fist clenched really hard that my nails dug into my palm.
And then, I swore.
I absolutely wouldn’t let Reina died!!
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