Chapter 72

When Meiji heard that Amon had a way to treat his younger sister, he didn’t believe it.

As the Security Chief, Meiji had not only a decent income but also significant access to information.

He was practically on the same level as the Megacorp Chairman.

There was no way he hadn’t already looked for a cure for his sister.

He had tried every possible method to treat his sister, but all ended in failure.

None of the methods Meiji knew could cure his sister.

She wasn’t infected with anything, nor did she have something strange like cancer.

She was simply born with insufficient brain function.

There was no way to treat it.

That’s why Meiji didn’t believe Amon.

Until Amon revealed one fact.

“Well… this is originally a company’s top-secret information… but I’ll just tell you. There’s an Entity Byproduct at the company that works well for mental or neurological disorders.”

It might sound a bit dirty, though.

Amon averted his gaze for a moment, muttered that, and then looked back at Meiji.

“I understand it’s hard to believe. But the sooner you make a decision, the better the outcome for your sister.”

Meiji silently stared at Amon.

What on earth is this man thinking?

What benefit does he get from this?

Moreover, what benefit does Rekhetio Corporation get from this?

Is it a move to leash someone like Meiji?

Or does he want to act as a spy?

The Security Chief focused even more on Amon to test him.

Amon noticed the meaning behind that gaze but didn’t avert his eyes.

Instead, he simply smiled back.

Silence fell between the two.

The one who broke the silence first was the Security Chief.

“What are you thinking…?”

Unable to discern his intentions, he finally asked directly.

Perhaps out of fear of not knowing Amon’s true motives, he even used polite speech.

To the direct question, Amon answered without losing his smile.

“Even if you question the intent behind pure goodwill, I can only answer that it is goodwill.”

“You know as well as I do, Amon. In this world, goodwill is the emptiest word. Suddenly, there’s a chance to cure my sister. It’s too strange.”

“What’s so strange about it? Haven’t you already experienced the miracles that goodwill can create?”

“…”

Meiji recalled the faces of his siblings.

Thinking about it, it was a ridiculous sentence he had said himself.

The very person who is surviving thanks to goodwill and miracles is doubting it.

A hollow laugh escaped Meiji’s lips, as if he had given up, yet with a voice full of anticipation.

Meiji spoke to Amon.

“Can I trust you?”

Amon smiled and replied.

“I swear on my mother’s name.”

***

Several weeks had passed since then.

Many things happened during that time.

Meiji trusted Amon and entrusted his sister’s treatment to him.

And surprisingly, his sister’s condition gradually improved.

“Levi!? Levi! You’re awake!”

She, who had to sleep 23 hours a day due to her worsening condition, opened her eyes during the day for the first time in a long time.

With the progress in Levi’s treatment, Meiji and George changed their affiliations without hesitation.

Meiji stepped down from his position as Security Chief.

You can’t have someone with family held hostage by another company in the position of Security Chief, so he retired from his original company and joined Rekhetio.

There wasn’t much trouble in the process.

Because having the Security Chief’s face turn red would be troublesome for the company.

There were some back-and-forths about the remaining contract period and penalties, but they parted ways amicably, smiling.

After that, Meiji was active as the head of the External Intelligence Department at Rekhetio.

And Amon’s daily life also changed.

Amon, who had been suffering from boredom before leaving the company, was now busier than ever after returning.

His busyness mainly stemmed from the orphanage he had recently established.

The orphanage and daycare center, established under the name of Rekhetio Corporation, was bustling with numerous children during the day.

The newly established orphanage was short-staffed, and Amon was overwhelmed with helping out.

“Everyone! Don’t run in the hallway!”

Temporary teacher Amon took good care of the children.

His experience as the eldest in the orphanage ensured his ability to manage the kids.

He was also very popular among the children.

“Teacher, teacher!”

“What is it, Dahlia?”

“I want to marry you when I grow up—mmph!”

“Dahlia. If you say that, the teacher will get taken away.”

Before getting taken away, he might end up like a honeycomb to his lover.

Amon held back such words and covered the girl’s mouth.

Except for that, Amon’s temporary teaching life went smoothly.

Busy but fulfilling.

After such a hectic day, it was time to leave work.

As Amon was changing out of his temporary teacher uniform, a teacher entered the changing room.

The teacher waved cheerfully upon seeing Amon.

“Oh, Amon. Are you off work?”

“Yes. You too, George?”

Amon waved back, acknowledging George’s greeting.

George Bread.

The man who had switched identities with the Security Chief, Meiji, to care for his sister, was the original version of Meiji.

His face was identical to Meiji’s, but unlike Meiji, his body wasn’t mechanical.

Upon hearing that his sister’s treatment was possible, he immediately headed to Rekhetio and was now using his experience caring for his sister to look after the children.

George hung his sunflower-patterned apron in the cabinet.

“Yes. I’m off now too. Levi is waiting for me.”

George would head to his sister’s hospital room after work.

It must have been tiring, but George’s face was beaming.

George spoke in an excited voice.

“Meiji said he’ll be a bit late today.”

“The Chief must be busy.”

“Seems so. He said he’d be dead tired when he gets home.”

“I see. I was planning to go to the hospital room too. Shall we go together?”

“Sure. Let’s go.”

The two chatted like friendly coworkers.

After that, George got into Amon’s car and headed to the hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, the two found Levi’s room.

A room too large for one person.

Beep- Beep-

The rhythmic sounds of numerous machines filled the room.

At the center of the machines was a gray-haired woman wearing a brain gear, sleeping soundly.

George silently looked at the woman.

Amon, standing beside George, silently observed her condition.

‘Vitals stable… oxygen mask… removed.’

Just a few days ago, she had needed an oxygen mask, but now it was completely removed.

It meant Levi’s condition had significantly improved.

Amon’s gaze followed the tube connected to her neck.

Following the tube, there was a container filled with green liquid, periodically supplying the liquid to her spine.

‘Rekheti… something like that.’

It was actually a drug called Lemtinion, but Amon couldn’t remember it exactly.

Amon simply called it the green substance.

This green substance was a secretion from the “Wise Snail,” which was periodically emitted from its mouth whenever it saw the future.

Considering that the snail shares its mouth and anus, the true nature of that secretion is…

‘Ah, whatever. It works, so.’

Actually, calling it excrement isn’t accurate since the snail doesn’t eat anything, so it’s more correct to say it’s a special substance the snail produces.

Anyway, this green substance was the core of the treatment.

The green substance was found to promote the regeneration of nerves and the mind, and Levi’s treatment utilized this effect.

The green substance was directly injected into her nerves, and while she slept, her brain was stimulated with the brain gear.

Devices attached all over her body continuously stimulated her nerves.

Through this combined treatment with the green substance, Levi was gradually being cured.

If this continued, a complete cure within a year wasn’t a dream.

‘It’s going well.’

His purpose for coming here was for the one-in-a-million chance.

Hospitals in this world were fundamentally untrustworthy.

Even patients entrusted to Rekhetio Corporation could be subjected to shady practices for money.

That’s why Amon periodically visited.

Fortunately, no abnormalities had been detected so far.

After finishing his check, Amon nodded and turned away.

To give George time with his sister.

At that moment.

“Ugh… ugh…”

Levi woke up at that very moment.

Amon awkwardly turned back to her.

Since she was awake, he thought he should at least greet her.

Levi’s silver eyes, freed from the brain gear, looked at Amon.

Then, recognizing Amon’s face, she gave a neutral greeting.

“Hello.”

“Ah, sorry. Did I wake you?”

“No. I just woke up because it’s mealtime.”

Amon checked the clock.

It was dinner time.

Although Levi usually received treatment with the brain gear and green liquid, she needed to eat three meals a day to maintain her digestive functions.

She would have woken up at this time even if Amon hadn’t come.

Levi looked at Amon and got out of bed.

Before eating, she removed the machine devices attached to her body.

Finally, she removed the device connected to the back of her neck and got out of bed.

Putting on slippers, she was ready to go eat.

The expressionless girl looked at Amon.

“Will you join me?”

“Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement today.”

“I see.”

Levi nodded indifferently.

It was quite rude behavior towards someone who had treated her, but Amon didn’t mind.

Because the malfunction in Levi’s brain wasn’t just about sleep.

According to the diagnosis, her emotions and some functions were still recovering, so understanding was necessary.

After that, Amon really left the room.

Levi quietly watched the door Amon left through, then tilted her head.

‘Strange person…’

Because rationally, she couldn’t understand why he was helping her and her brothers.

No matter how hard she tried, her brain, still in treatment, had its limits.

In the end, Levi gave up thinking.

As she did when she was young, she held her brother’s hand and headed to the dining room.

Although her emotions were faint,

It was a sufficiently happy daily life.

---