CH 21

Chapter 21 – Restorer Torimoto

“Well then… let’s start with introductions.” (Torimoto)

“Then please allow me. My name is Fukuzawa Jouichirou. I am a doctor who comes regularly to this kindergarten to do medical checkups. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

…Pleased to make your acquaintance, huh?

“Sorry to trouble you for such a kind introduction. My name is… Torimoto Kentaro, and I am a―”

“―A Restorer.” (Jouichirou)

“Oh, are you familiar with it?” (Torimoto)

“Pardon me, but my knowledge on that aspect is lacking. I have never heard of a Restorer before.” (Jouichirou)

Well, of course you haven’t. It was a totally made-up profession that I chose because I thought it sounded like it sounded impactful.

“So what do you exactly do?” (Jouichirou)

“Let’s see. A Restorer is simply a title that is only used among my family, but whether or not it could actually be considered a profession isn’t clear to me.” (Torimoto)

“Family…?” (Jouichirou)

“Well, that family died and left me behind though.” (Torimoto)

“!? That’s… I’m sorry. That was impolite of me.” (Jouichirou)

“No, please don’t worry about it. In the first place, members of the Torimoto family lived short lives because they were gifted with a ‘certain power’.” (Torimoto)

“A certain… power?” (Jouichirou)

“As the name suggests, it’s a medicine that can restore any part of a living organism.” (Torimoto)

“There’s no way! Such a panacea doesn’t exist!” (Jouichirou)

“Yes, there’s no way such a thing should exist. That was why our family had kept this power hidden for such a long time.” (Torimoto)

“Hidden…” (Jouichirou)

“I mean, wouldn’t you do the same thing? What if this power became known to the public? Without a doubt, my family would be captured by the state and used until the day they died.”

“That’s… Mmm.”

Jouichirou hesitated as if he was at a loss for words.

“That’s why my family has continued to hide this power and protect this secret all this time. Without making ties to other people, my family has been living reclusively deep in the mountains. But recently, my family perished and only I was left behind. And that’s when I had a thought. I was no longer bound by the rules of the Torimoto family.” (Torimoto)

“And then you came to live alongside other humans… is that right?” (Jouichirou)

“That’s right. At last, I was free. Since that was the case, I wanted to live doing what I liked to do. To do that, I needed food, money, and other things, so I used my power to start a business.” (Torimoto)

“A business… So that means you’ve been selling that medicine?” (Jouichirou)

“I’m glad you’re someone who understands. So there are people out there who say, ‘if you have the power, then you should do it for free!’ or something, but they don’t understand. After all, the Restoration Medicine isn’t something that is free.” (Torimoto)

Jouichirou was silent with a complex expression on his face as if he stood conflicted about what I’d said. He was truly a person of character. That was exactly why he was reminiscent of Redbeard.

He must have been thinking that if it were possible, it would be great if there was an environment in which he could provide medical treatment for free. But he was probably conflicted because he was well aware that such a pipe dream didn’t exist.

Anyway, I could really be a pretty good scam artist.

Even I myself found it scary how I was able to pull such complete nonsense out of my ass. Maybe I could even try my hand at writing a novel or something.

“I understand what happened to your family now. Well, there’s something I’d like to ask you…” (Jouichirou)

“About the refining of the Restoration Medicine? Or do you want to get your hands on the Restoration Medicine itself?” (Torimoto)

“Er, the latter.” (Jouichirou)

“Why didn’t you ask me how to make it? Most people tend to ask that first.” (Torimoto)

“Only the Torimoto family can refine it, no? If that’s the case, it’s pointless to ask.” (Jouichirou)

“Hmm. So… what do you want the Restoration Medicine for? Research it and try to develop something as close to a panacea as possible? Or to mass produce it, perhaps?” (Torimoto)

“…You should already know that I wouldn’t do something like that. You’re rather ill-natured, aren’t you.” (Jouichirou)

“By the looks of it, you don’t want the medicine for yourself, Fukuzawa-sensei. Do you perhaps have a family member or relative who is suffering from an illness?” (Torimoto)

“…Yeah, that’s right.” (Jouichirou)

“Who would that be?” (Torimoto)

“My daughter―Kanna.” (Jouichirou)

As expected, this person was still desperately wishing for her disabled lower body to be restored.

“I have one question. If someone who was paralyzed took your medicine, would they be able to move again?” (Jouichirou)

“…Does your daughter have a disability?” (Torimoto)

“Yeah. Three years ago―when she went hiking in the mountains, she slipped on muddy ground and fell down a cliff.” (Jouichirou)

“That’s… truly unfortunate.” (Torimoto)

“Fortunately, she survived, but the strong shock to her spinal cord left her paralyzed from the waist down.” (Jouichirou)

“I see. It was a spinal cord injury, huh?” (Torimoto)

It was said that once the central nervous system, such as the spinal cord, was damaged, it would never be able to heal or regenerate. At the very least, it was a dysfunction that was considered nearly impossible to treat with modern medicine.

“I’ve tried every possible method to heal her legs. But… nothing worked. I… I’m just so powerless! Why couldn’t it have been me instead? Why did God have to cut off that child’s future, and not mine?! Such a kind, good girl… It’s just too cruel!” (Jouichirou)

“If you really have the power to restore the human body, please… Will you please help my daughter? I will do anything. Please… I’m begging you!” (Jouichirou)

Jouichirou’s head was touching the ground as he kowtowed before me in prostration. Normally, he was not the kind of person who would ever be in the position to do such a thing. He was a man who was respected by everyone in the hospital.

However, when it came to his daughter, he didn’t care to keep up appearances. If it was for the sake of his daughter, he could do away with pride and self-respect.

Suddenly, I had a flashback about my late father. My father had raised me alone, but he had probably needed to bow his head to others many times for my sake. All so he could give me, his son, an easier life…

“…Please raise your head, Fukuzawa-sensei. I understand your story.” (Torimoto)

“T-Then!?” (Jouichirou)

“Yes. I will make use of what meager ability I have as a Restorer for her cause.” (Torimoto)

“Oohh! Ah, but… um, it’s not that I doubt your power or anything, but…” (Jouichirou)

“You can’t believe me? Well, I guess it would make sense that you wouldn’t believe such a tremendous story without any evidence. But curing Ryosuke-kun’s illness was also done by my power as a Restorer, you know?” (Torimoto)

“I’ve heard of that, but…” (Jouichirou)

“For now, please trust in me. It’ll be alright. Actually, I’ve cured a similar case before.” (Torimoto)

“!? That’s reassuring! T-Then please, I’d like you to come to my house right away!” (Jouichirou)

“Yes, with pleasure.” (Torimoto)

And thus, along with Jouichirou, who had a hopeful expression on his face, I hopped into his car and went with him to the Fukuzawa residence.