Chapter 10

“Hmm~ Hmm~♪”

As I passed through the entrance of the city, the lingering despair naturally made me hum a tune.

Mmm~ This refreshing scent of despair.

Outwardly, it seemed fine, but the atmosphere itself was quite chaotic.

It might be natural, considering that monsters had invaded the shelter, which was thought to be absolutely safe, and killed people.

“…You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Ah, did it show? I guess I unconsciously did that because I’m back.”

I wasn’t lying.

It was true that I unconsciously hummed a tune upon feeling the despair of humans as I returned to the city.

Though I stopped immediately upon seeing the disapproving look.

“Eh, it’s Emerald…”

“Why would a magical girl from the center come to such an outskirt city…”

“I think it’s my first time seeing a magical girl from the center.”

But that chaotic atmosphere disappeared the moment Emerald revealed herself.

As expected of a magical girl who spreads hope.

Especially since Emerald is quite famous, people started to spread hope as soon as they saw her.

‘Ugh… I feel nauseous…’

“…Are you okay?”

“…I don’t really like crowded places.”

To be precise, places where human hope gathers are really not my thing.

It feels like being buried up to my neck in a trash bin full of maggots.

As soon as I realized it, I got goosebumps and rubbed my arms.

‘Since I’ve entered the city, maybe it’s time to leave…’

Just as I was about to sneak away, Emerald’s cold gaze flew towards me.

As expected, right?

If I were Emerald, I wouldn’t just let a suspected dangerous person go.

“Follow me.”

The place Emerald headed to was none other than a hospital.

If you ask why the hospital, it’s probably because of the kidnapped magical girl.

‘By the way, no one recognizes her when she’s not transformed.’

Even though Emerald had untransformed in a secluded place before entering the hospital, honestly, to me, it just looked like she changed clothes.

Do people in this world have face blindness as a default?

No, more than that. Couldn’t she have untransformed before entering the city?

“Go in.”

“Me? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me.”

“Still, go in. Just in case.”

Emerald, who had put the most urgent magical girl in the emergency room, started pushing me into the examination room.

I didn’t want to go in since there was nothing wrong with me, but the threatening aura made me move without resistance.

…I won’t become a test subject, right?

“Don’t be too nervous~ We’re just checking if there’s anything wrong with your body~”

“Yes.”

As I entered the examination room and sat down, the doctor spoke to me in a relaxed tone.

A tone that makes the listener feel drowsy.

The kind expression and the smile on his lips told me that the person in front of me was a good person.

“Now, go inside here.”

“…Inside here?”

This, it’s clearly an iron maiden.

The health check was just an excuse, and it might have been a ploy to euthanize me.

No, is it common sense to have so many needles inside where a person is supposed to go?

It’s clearly dangerous!

“Ah, I mistook the machine. The body examination machine is over here.”

“…”

How can you mistake that kind of machine?

Moreover, it looks completely different from a body examination machine.

…Can I really trust this doctor?

“Now now, just lie down comfortably and hold your breath when I tell you to~”

“Okay~”

“Hold your breath now~”

“ㅡHuh?!”

Isn’t that too fast?!

When suddenly told to hold my breath, I couldn’t help but get my breathing messed up.

…Can I really trust that doctor?

“Just stay like that for a little while~ Just a little~ Just a little~ Done~”

It didn’t take as long as I thought.

As I slipped my feet into slippers after coming out of what seemed like an MRI machine, Emerald opened the door and entered the room.

How did she know it was over?

“Doctor, is the examination done?”

“Yes, it’s done~”

Shouldn’t the results of the physical examination be shown to the patient first?

I felt a bit annoyed as Emerald acted like she was my guardian.

Even now, she’s suspicious and on guard, yet pretending to care.

Ah, maybe she’s not caring about my health or anything like that?

‘Of course, that would be the case.’

My guess—no, I could half-confirm it now, but Emerald definitely knew about me.

To be precise, she knew about ‘Apocalypse.’

Yet, this level of treatment… Maybe Emerald is actually one of the world’s three great saints?

“Guardian, it’s fine for you to see the results, but can I explain them to both of you?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“…”

I should at least know what state my body is in.

Honestly, I was curious if there was any big difference from a normal human.

Though Emerald was making a face like she really didn’t like it.

“First of all… it’s definitely not a normal state. Your heart rate is very slow. Your body temperature is also lower than normal people.”

“Is that so?”

“Your stomach is extremely reduced—really, it’s a wonder how you can walk around.”

“…Is it that bad?”

“It’s that bad.”

Emerald was still silent. The doctor had a serious expression.

Was my physical condition that serious?

I looked down at my hands, clenching and unclenching them, then realized that this body was essentially like a monster and looked up again.

‘By the way, they said it was made based on a magical girl, but it seems they made the body structure similar to a human.’

The description of Apocalypse in the story was literally like that of a monster.

Not speaking a word, suddenly appearing, and not flinching no matter what attack it received.

Who would think such a being is similar to a normal human?

“Did you undergo some kind of human experiment somewhere? Haha, just kidding.”

He hit the nail on the head.

“I’d like to recommend hospitalization, how about it?”

“I’ll be hospitalized.”

I nodded quickly at the doctor, who was smiling kindly.

I thought it would be better to be stuck in the hospital than to be with Emerald.

Moreover, I liked the scent of despair in the hospital.

“No.”

But as if she knew my thoughts, Emerald sharply cut off the doctor’s suggestion.

Always getting in the way, as expected of a magical girl.

“This is important for the patient, guardian. In fact, I’d like to hospitalize them without asking for their opinion…”

Then do that. It’s fine to hospitalize me by force, I’ll allow it!

Encouraged by my desperate gaze, the doctor’s voice gained strength.

Among the doctors I’ve seen so far, he might be the one who most wants to hospitalize a patient.

“Sigh… Well, fine.”

“That’s a wise choice. If we research the patient’s body, we might take a step closer to human evolution—”

“Huh?”

“Ahem, just kidding, just kidding!”

Haha, the doctor laughed and guided me to a certain hospital room.

He said it was a special room prepared just for me, but surely there isn’t something like the iron maiden I saw earlier in there, right?

“You.”

“Did you call me?”

“…It’s nothing.”

How dull.

Looking at Emerald’s expression, it seemed like she was still debating whether it was right to hospitalize me here.

She probably wants to put me in a straitjacket, for sure.

“If you do anything strange, be prepared.”

“What exactly do you mean by strange things?”

“…Sigh.”

Things like sweet-talking patients to extract despair?

Stimulating a fallen magical girl to extract despair?

Or maybe the doctor—

Ah, the conclusions are leaning too much in one direction.

Growl~

‘No choice.’

Thinking about it, this body hasn’t had a proper meal since it was born.

Damn doctor, how far are you planning to make this a monster? Not even giving the kid a proper meal.

Even if I ate, it was just picking up despair from ordinary humans on the ground, so there’s no way I could feel full.

‘I want to drink the fresh despair of a magical girl right now…’

Both Peridot, the magical girl, and the magical girl I saved.

Having tasted that, other despair feels like junk food I occasionally crave when bored.

Stimulating to the taste but not actually filling.

“…Would you like to go eat?”

“Eat? If you’re offering, I’d be grateful.”

You’re giving me food?

What kind of magical girl gives despair to a monster?

…Isn’t this disqualifying for a magical girl?

‘Well, if it fills my stomach, it doesn’t matter what it is.’

After all, the one who feeds you is the king and god.

Ah, Emerald, take me!