Kaoru and the others were guided by Murasaki towards the treatment room, walking through a long, silent corridor. They stopped in front of a sophisticated metal door that opened and closed automatically. As soon as the door opened, the cold air from the high-tech environment and the sterile atmosphere greeted them. Inside, there was a large incubation tube filled with various medical equipment that looked complex.
Kaoru stared at the mass of flesh inside the tube. Kousuke's once-human body was now nearly unrecognizable, reduced to a horrifying lump of meat. In his heart, Kaoru screamed, "Poor guy," he thought, his face showing a bitter expression.
Murasaki broke the silence, "As you can see, we've already conducted a thorough examination. This phenomenon is not the result of science but of magic. This means that only the Nomads might know how to restore Kousuke to his original state. To unravel the magic formula on our own would require enormous resources and at least two years of time."
Kaoru listened intently, his eyes still fixed on the tube. "Hmm… I see. May I try something?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying a strong resolve.
Murasaki, with a skeptical tone, reiterated, "As I said, Mr. Rasputin. We can't do anything right now."
However, Kaoru gave a faint smile and said, "I know. But this might help." He stepped forward, standing before the incubation tube. "This might surprise you," he muttered, low but loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
In an instant, Kaoru extended his hand and summoned a magic staff engraved with the figure of an eagle on its handle. A small crystal glowed at the top of the staff, emanating a calm yet powerful aura. Everyone in the room was stunned to see the staff appear as if from another world.
"A-a magic staff?!" Yukikaze stammered, her eyes wide.
Kaoru didn't respond to their shock. With intense concentration, he began casting a spell. Unlike simple, direct magic, the spell Kaoru used felt complex, requiring intense focus. Each word of the incantation sounded foreign but held deep meaning to those who understood the art of magic.
"[Reconstruction]," Kaoru's voice was deep and resonated throughout the room.
It was a high-level healing spell capable of restoring a person's physical state to its original form, though limited to physical injuries and unable to heal mental conditions. A soft green light began to radiate from his staff, extending towards the incubation tube. The light enveloped Kousuke's flesh, seeping into every fragment of his body.
Murasaki's eyes widened in disbelief. "How is this possible…?"
Kaoru remained calm, his focus unbroken. Slowly, Kousuke's body began to change. The shapeless mass of flesh started to return to a human form, though it was still far from perfect. Everyone in the room remained silent, watching the miracle unfold before their eyes.
After completing the spell, Kaoru took a deep breath and looked at Kousuke's body, now returned to a more human-like state, though not fully restored. "And there you have it," he said, his voice weary. The spell had drained his energy, not only due to its complexity but also because it seemed to defy the natural order.
"Kousuke!" Asuka screamed, her eyes wide in disbelief. Everyone in the room was equally shocked.
"I… I can't believe you did it!" Murasaki looked back and forth between Kousuke and Kaoru, as if her years of medical knowledge had suddenly become irrelevant in the face of the miracle she had just witnessed.
Kaoru smiled tiredly. "Sorry to surprise you all, but… this was really exhausting," he said, his face pale, his body swaying slightly from the energy drain.
Seeing Kaoru's condition, Murasaki quickly approached him. "You should rest, Mr. Rasputin," she suggested, trying to help, but Asuka moved faster, catching Kaoru's body as it nearly collapsed.
"Kaoru… Are you okay?" Asuka asked, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at him.
Kaoru gave a faint smile, though it was clearly forced. "I'm fine… Just mentally exhausted," he replied, his voice weakening.
Murasaki stood stiffly in place, feeling slightly awkward that her offer of help had been ignored. But before she could say anything, the door to the room swung open forcefully. Asagi, with a panicked expression, entered. When her eyes landed on the incubation tube and she saw Kousuke's body, the tears she had been holding back broke free.
"Kousuke!" she cried, her voice trembling with emotion. Unable to hold back, she ran towards the tube, her tears falling heavily.
The tension in the room grew, but so did the sense of hope. All eyes were now on Kousuke, who had returned—though not fully restored, it was a miracle no one had expected.
After the incident, Kaoru sat in a small room with Asuka and Murasaki, who clearly wanted answers. Asuka, worried as his girlfriend, gazed at Kaoru with a sharp look. On the other hand, Murasaki, as a doctor, was prepared to ask numerous technical questions. Meanwhile, Yukikaze and Shiranui, standing in the corner, chose to hold back, although they were also curious. They knew that their questions would likely be answered through Asuka and Murasaki's interrogation.
"So, what exactly happened back there?" Asuka finally broke the silence, her voice slightly harsh. She was anxious because this was something she, even as Kaoru's girlfriend, didn't know about.
Kaoru gave a tired smile, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I guess… I never told you, huh? About… magic?"
Murasaki furrowed her brow. "Magic? You mean demon magic? That's impossible. Demon magic can only be used by demons. This must be human magic… but the number of human mages I know of in this world is extremely small," Murasaki muttered, eyeing Kaoru with suspicion. Her statement hinted that she had encountered a human mage before, though perhaps it was a rare experience.
Asuka pressed further, her gaze unwavering. "Where did you get an ability like that?" Her tone was firm, seeking a clear answer.
Kaoru merely gave a faint smile, his eyes narrowing slightly with exhaustion. "That's… a secret." He leaned back in his chair, clearly worn out. "Anyway, I kept my promise. Kousuke is back now, just as you asked."
Murasaki and Asuka exchanged glances, feeling frustrated by Kaoru's half-hearted answers.
"I'm tired now," Kaoru continued, his tone softer but firm. "Can you give me some space to rest? I really need time to recover."
Seeing Kaoru's pale, exhausted face, Asuka finally relented, though she still had many questions she wanted to ask. "Alright, but we're going to talk again once you've recovered."
Murasaki sighed softly, signaling her unanswered curiosity, but decided not to push the situation. "Rest well, Mr. Rasputin. Your condition looks unstable," she said, more as a doctor than as an investigator.
Kaoru nodded slightly, closing his eyes for a moment, ready to find some peace amid all the commotion.