Chapter 345: An Angelic Girl
In the end, Natsuki Minamiya still didn't let him take the Spirit Blood.
It didn't really matter anyway. There was no urgent need for it at the moment, and he could create it himself. There was no point in causing conflict with Natsuki Minamiya over a piece of worthless metal.
Moreover, he remembered that there would be a plot involving Spirit Blood later on, where an Alchemist named Kou Amatsuka would fuse with the Wiseman's Blood and ultimately be controlled by its master.
So, taking it later would be just the same. He could even take the opportunity to belittle Natsuki Minamiya's naivety and foolishness.
Simply perfect.
"Alright, now that the matter is resolved, I'll contact the specialists to handle the monastery's affairs. You should go back to class," Natsuki Minamiya said at the appropriate moment.
"Wait, it's not completely resolved yet, is it? What about these children? Isn't it more important to treat them first?"
Mahiro pointed at the group of children huddled together and solemnly refuted her.
Records showed that aside from the nuns responsible for caring for the children, the Adyrad Monastery originally had nearly thirty children. But now, fewer than ten had survived.
Clearly, the other children had been devoured by the Wiseman's Blood, and not even the "Regeneration" magic could trace them back.
Those assimilated by the Wiseman's Blood had left no trace behind.
As for the surviving children, aside from the silver-haired little girl who seemed to have a holy aura, all of them bore wounds of varying sizes.
Some were from fleeing for their lives, while others were from being eroded and assimilated by the Spirit Blood, showing signs of metalization on their bodies.
"You really do like to meddle in other people's business."
Aya muttered, but her tone lacked the usual coldness and detachment, sounding more like teasing and complaining.
"Leave it to me."
Natsuki-chan also, unusually, took an interest in the matter. She put away her parasol and approached the two little girls with what she thought was a kind smile.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. The two little girls she approached didn't give her any face at all, crying nonstop in fear and trembling as they hugged each other tightly.
This left Natsuki Minamiya frozen in place.
"Natsuki-chan, let me handle this. Even though you look about the same age as these children, you have no idea how to take care of kids. Let me give it a try."
Mahiro couldn't help but chuckle softly, then stepped past Natsuki Minamiya and slowly crouched in front of the two little girls. Gently stroking their heads as if comforting frightened kittens, he whispered soothingly:
"Good girls, don't be afraid. How about letting big brother help treat your wounds?"
Perhaps because he was the first to appear, the little girls didn't feel any aversion or resistance toward him. Using the same methods he had employed to care for the children in the Black Bullet world, his comforting immediately had an effect.
The emotions of the two little girls he attended to first began to stabilize, and they were no longer as frightened, blinking their big eyes as they stared at Mahiro.
Mahiro then carefully lifted the part of one girl's body that had been eroded by the Spirit Blood. At first, the girl trembled slightly, but upon seeing the gentleness in his expression and the careful, almost reverent way he handled her as if she were a precious treasure, the last trace of resistance in her heart vanished.
She allowed him to proceed.
"You really are patient with children."
Natsuki-chan seemed to be touched by his gentleness and patience, unable to help but mutter softly.
Yet, deep down, she felt a tinge of sourness. She had never expected this guy to be more popular than her. Was she really that intimidating?
Unbeknownst to her, the habitual hint of authority she displayed was indeed enough to frighten children, especially those who were already scared.
Meanwhile, Aya's gaze never left Mahiro.
At this moment, her curiosity about this man had reached its peak.
Logically speaking, a powerhouse like Mahiro should look down on the weak, yet he not only humbled himself to stay by Natsuki Minamiya's side but also treated children with such care.
She recalled the scene when Mahiro saved Yuuma and stayed by her side.
Just who was this man?
"Heh, what if I told you I once saved many children like this and even built a home for them? Would you believe me?" Mahiro chuckled while checking the extent of the Spirit Blood erosion.
"...I don't believe it," Natsuki Minamiya replied without hesitation.
He had expected Natsuki-chan to answer like that.
Sometimes, telling the truth wouldn't make people believe you, so Mahiro simply dropped the subject.
He gently placed his hands on the injured areas of the two girls.
["Regeneration"... Activate]
[Confirming restoration point...]
[Beginning restoration...]
Amidst the shimmering glow and the enveloping Magical Power, the eroded areas on the girls' bodies gradually receded, restoring their soft, fair skin.
Even their scars were healed along the way.
Natsuki Minamiya and Tokoyogi Aya both held their breath, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Though they didn't understand what this magic was, they could tell it was no ordinary healing spell!
The fluctuations felt more like something related to time!
Combined with what had happened earlier, a wild thought crossed their minds.
Could it be that when he shattered the core earlier, this man had stopped time?!
[Restoration complete.]
"Alright, try standing up and moving around a bit. See if there's any discomfort left."
Following his instructions, the girl stood up and moved her body, only to find no trace of discomfort whatsoever.
Overjoyed, she immediately threw herself into his arms and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, big brother!"
"Heh, I'm glad you're healed."
He waved his hand, signaling the girl to stay quietly to the side, and began treating the other person.
After healing four people, a thin layer of cold sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.
It wasn't due to a lack of Magical Power but rather pain—a throbbing ache in his brain. kds
"Regeneration" was one of the spells he had copied from Shiba Tatsuya.
Its essence lay in rewinding the change history of individual information bodies and perfectly replicating them. To do so, he had to read all the information recorded in the individual information bodies.
Naturally, what he read included the pain the injured had experienced.
In the past when using it, he didn't feel much pain from this kind of sensation—enduring it briefly during the most intense moments was enough.
But now, the pain of healing the erosion from the Spirit Blood was clearly registering in his brain.
To be honest, this was the first time he truly understood what kind of suffering Shiba Tatsuya endured when using "Regeneration."
It really fucking hurt!
But he had no intention of giving up.
"Hey, do you want to take a break?"
"...Thou shouldst rest."
Natsuki Minamiya and Tokoyogi Aya spoke up simultaneously to persuade him.
They had both noticed something off about Mahiro—the hand healing the girl was trembling faintly, and beads of cold sweat kept dripping down.
Yet after saying this, they both turned their heads away, ignoring each other.
However, their peripheral gazes remained fixed on Mahiro.
For the first time, Natsuki Minamiya felt she might have misunderstood this man.
Although this man had indeed done many things, someone who could go to such lengths for a girl he had never met before couldn't possibly be evil.
Natsuki Minamiya looked at his back, her gaze gradually growing more complicated.
Yet Mahiro ignored their attempts to dissuade him and had no intention of responding, continuing to treat the girls on his own.
Just then, a pure white handkerchief suddenly appeared in his field of vision. The handkerchief gently pressed against his forehead, wiping away his sweat, and a faint, elegant fragrance reminiscent of snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains wafted into his nostrils.
Looking up, he met a pair of clear, pale blue eyes like glacial rivers.
Short silver hair swayed gently in the passing breeze, strands of sunlight filtering through and shining on his face.
It was the holy silver-haired girl he had saved earlier.
But the girl seemed unaware of his gaze, carefully helping him wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Backlit by the sunlight, coupled with her earnest and pure demeanor, he felt as if he had glimpsed an angel in a daze.
A moment later, the girl put away the handkerchief, bowed slightly to him, and spoke softly:
"Big brother, there isn't much I can do. I hope you don't mind."
After saying this, the girl turned to care for the other children, her petite back trembling faintly.
Even though she was clearly terrified herself, she could still take on the responsibility of caring for others.
This child truly was an angel...
At that moment, he seemed to have guessed the girl's identity, but he didn't ask aloud, instead continuing to rescue the other children.
"Done."
After healing the last child's injuries, Mahiro stood up and stretched slightly.
Although his head still ached, he had grown accustomed to it.
"However, while the external injuries have been healed, I suggest going to the hospital for a thorough checkup."
He made this suggestion.
While tracing the information about these girls earlier, he had discovered that each of them carried some form of illness. His "Regeneration" could heal external injuries but couldn't cure diseases.
"Leave the rest to me."
Natsuki stepped forward, holding up her parasol.
Mahiro didn't refuse, as he was indeed a bit tired.
However, to ensure the safety of these children, he still brought Aya along to the Demon District hospital.
As a senior Demon Hunter, Natsuki Minamiya personally handled all the procedures for these girls, and the hospital arranged for their treatment right away.
By the afternoon, everything had unfolded just as he had anticipated.
The children's external and internal injuries had indeed been treated, but they had underlying conditions that required further observation in the hospital.
"Big brother, and big sister, thank you."
Outside the ward, a girl with swaying silver hair bowed deeply to them, expressing her gratitude.
Even though they had just met, not only had they saved them from that monster, but they had also covered all their medical expenses, allowing them to rest and recover in the hospital without worry.
Receiving the thanks, Natsuki Minamiya remained silent, but Mahiro stepped forward and affectionately patted the girl's silver hair, speaking gently:
"You're welcome, it's really nothing... By the way, I have a question for you. Your name is Kanon Kanase, right?"
"Huh? Big brother, do you know me?"
The girl looked up, blinking her watery eyes, a mix of surprise and curiosity in her gaze.
"Of course not."
Mahiro smiled. "We just met, remember?"
"That's true... but how did you know my name?"
Unconsciously, Kanon Kanase's words had taken on a respectful tone.
Because in her vague memories, those who knew her name seemed to be important, high-ranking figures...
"Just a guess. Big brother here has the ability to foresee the future, so of course I know your name."
Mahiro smiled slightly.
But his smile and explanation left the girl momentarily dazed.
While she was still stunned, Mahiro bent down and patted her shoulder, comforting her. "Alright, it's getting late. Big brother and big sister should go now. You all stay in the hospital and focus on your treatment, okay? I'll come visit you when I have time later."
As he turned to leave, Kanon Kanase suddenly tugged at the hem of his clothes and spoke softly, "Big brother, will you really come visit us again?"
Although Kanon Kanase had appeared strong back at the convent, even risking her own safety to protect her companions, deep down, she was also afraid.
Especially when Mahiro had appeared to save her and help her companions, she had subconsciously come to rely on him as a pillar of support.
Now, seeing Mahiro about to leave, her heart felt empty, and the fear deep within surged like a tide.
"Don't worry, big brother will definitely come tomorrow." Mahiro crouched down and reassured her gently. "But I can only come after school, since I'm still studying at Saikai High School right now."
The latter part of his sentence was clearly meant for Natsuki Minamiya.
It was all because of this petty woman, who insisted on giving him a student identity.
But Natsuki Minamiya turned her head to look out the window, pretending not to hear.
"O-okay... Big brother, please don't forget to come visit us..." Kanon looked at him with her bright, pure eyes, murmuring softly.
Mahiro nodded in agreement to her, and Kanase watched his departure with reluctance.
"It seems Mahiro-kun really wants to adopt that child named Kanase Kanon."
After leaving the hospital, Natsuki Minamiya suddenly spoke up: "Could it be that with Yuuma, Avrora, and Est already, Mahiro-kun still isn't satisfied and wants to adopt that girl too? I just don't know if you can handle taking care of them all."
Natsuki Minamiya's tone was playful, carrying a hint of teasing.
Although there was a bit of mockery in her words, she actually admired Mahiro quite a bit.
A man who could stand up for people in trouble and care for those children so attentively—he truly had a gentle heart.
Even if his existence was practically an anomaly among humans, one had to admit he was more human than most others.
"That's actually not a bad idea."
Mahiro pretended to ponder: "Counting Avrora and Est, plus Yuuma and Kanon, we could form a five-sister team with you, Natsuki-chan. It would definitely be adorable."
"Hmm, their builds really do resemble sisters." Aya remarked with a faint smile.
"You two..." Natsuki waved her fan repeatedly at Mahiro and Tokoyogi Aya, her cheeks puffed up in anger and eyes wide open, looking utterly adorable.
"Oh, so you don't want to be sisters..."
Mahiro dodged her swinging fan, deliberately twisting her meaning.
"Could it be that Natsuki-chan wants to be their mother instead?"
"Eh... be their mother?" Natsuki Minamiya was taken aback, unable to react immediately.
"Hmph."
Aya snorted coldly, her eyes icy as she glared at Mahiro, her gaze seeming to carry a hint of anger.
"Idiot, what nonsense are you spouting? First of all, don't call me Natsuki-chan! And who... who would want to marry you."
After snapping back to reality, Natsuki's face flushed completely red. Normally unclear in her speech, her words now tumbled out in a flustered mess.
Who knows what kind of scenarios her little brain had conjured up in that brief moment.
"Yuuma looks exactly like me. Do you think Natsuki is suited to be her mother?" Aya also spoke up calmly.
It was unclear why she said such a thing, as if there was some hidden meaning in her words.
However, this made Mahiro glance at her with slight surprise, as if asking, "You can actually say something like that?"
Aya glared back at Mahiro and turned her face away: "What are you looking at? Be careful or I'll gouge your eyes out."
Though her words were fierce, for some reason they felt more like a way of acting spoiled.
After this, the three of them fell into an awkward silence.
No one was willing to speak, nor did they know what to say.
Under the lingering glow of the sunset, the fiery red twilight cast a faint blush on the two girls' faces, lending them an unusual beauty.
After a long while, Natsuki's eyes, having regained her composure, flickered with a trace of loneliness and solitude.
Walking side by side, the three headed straight back to Natsuki's apartment since school was already over.
As soon as the door opened, they saw Yuuma, wearing an apron, rush out in pleasant surprise.
"Welcome home, Father, Mother, and Teacher Natsuki!"
Ever since tasting the dinner Mahiro had prepared, Yuuma had also started learning to cook, saying that a proper daughter should help her busy father share the burden on his shoulders.
Mahiro patted her head, while Aya didn't respond and went straight back to her room.
Natsuki Minamiya, however, expressed some regret: "I feel Yuuma would look even better in a maid outfit."
Hearing this, Mahiro shot her a glare, completely ignoring Natsuki's words, and simply pushed Yuuma into the living room.
He knew all too well that Natsuki Minamiya had two major preferences: one was drinking black tea with brandy added, and the other was a fondness for maids.
Although he was also quite interested in maids, at the very least, Yuuma would have to grow up a bit more before wearing one!
Right now, she's still like a tomboy—what would there be to see if she wore one!
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Artificial Island Management Agency, having received Natsuki Minamiya's information, had already dispatched relevant personnel to seal off the Adyrad Abbey.
Among them, the Wiseman's Blood was once again sealed using magic.
Upon learning this news, Mahiro, who was changing clothes for Avrora and Est, only said one thing.
"How foolish."