CH 267

Chapter 267 – This Is Elixir

“Y-Y-You…. How…?” (Shakuhara)

“Torimoto…sama…? No way…” (Saniwa)

Not only Shakuhara, but naturally even Saniwa’s faces were filled with shock. It was understandable.

“Well, this and that happened, I suppose.” (Torimoto)

In reality, I had noticed something when I returned to the church grounds. I had placed a [Camera Marker] on the [Copy Doll] that was dressed up as Torimoto.

After that, I immediately pulled up my monitor to check where Torimoto was currently located.

I saw that they were in some dimly lit place with Shakuhara, Sayuri, and the others. Also, there was someone in front of them that looked like the leader of the guys who were attacking. They seemed to be in a tough spot.

For a while, I watched the monitor, trying to listen to their conversation for a clue as to where they were.

Aoyama mentioned something about a hidden passageway in the church, so I immediately made my way there.

But while I was on the way there, I heard through the monitor about how the enemy leader was the childhood friend of Shakuhara and Saniwa and about the cause behind Shakuhara’s trauma.

While continuing to watch the monitor, I had entered the church and began looking for the hidden passage, when Torimoto was shot and turned back into a doll.

Torimoto had probably been provoking that man named Oshikura Ryoji to try and buy time for me to get there. But the provocation went too far, and his transformation ended up getting broken.

But thanks to the time that he’d bought for me, I was able to find the hidden passageway and descend into the underground waterway while all of that was happening.

I went straight down the passageway and arrived at the place I had seen through the monitor. However, Shakuhara, Oshikura, and the others weren’t there anymore. Only Sayuri, who was being restrained by Oshikura’s men, was there, as well as Aoyama lying in a pool of blood.

To listen to what had happened from Sayuri, I had Shiki wipe out all of the men restraining them.

Sayuri looked surprised to see Shiki, but she was even more shocked to see me.

Well, of course she would be surprised to see the man who had just been shot and turned into a doll right in front of her own eyes.

However, Sayuri immediately rushed over to Aoyama, who had fallen over and was still motionless. She kept on desperately calling out her name, but Aoyama had already breathed her last breath.

Sayuri had lost another person important to her. There was nothing I could say.

But even still, Sayuri said this to me.

“Please, Torimoto-san. Please save those two… Please save Shakuhara-san and Saniwa-san!”

Of course, I had no obligation to do that. I was just here to retrieve Torimoto’s [Copy Doll] and protect Sayuri. I’d come here planning to get some compensation for rescuing her. She knew where the money and valuables of the religious order were kept after all.

But before I could say anything, Sayuri continued.

“I don’t want to see any more of them… any more of my family… die. So please… I’ll give you everything I have.”

Hearing those words made me change my mind a little bit.

So…

“Everything, you say…? How much would the order… or you be talking about?” (Torimoto)

Honestly, it was a pretty low question to ask. But I wasn’t going to work for free. If it was less than what I was expecting, I would unfortunately have to give up on Shakuhara and Saniwa.

“Let’s see… Since the religious order was formed, it’s become quite a big family, and we’ve secured a lot of the money and valuables that you would want, Torimoto-san. We thought it might come in useful, after all.” (Sayuri)

The same was true of the Apostles of Peace and the Inochi-shirazu. Even if money and valuables had no value now, they still kept some jewelry and precious items around. This was especially true of women.

“In total, we’re talking about… around ¥300,000,000, I think.” (Sayuri)

It was surprising. It was more than enough of a reward.

“Can you really promise that you can give me all of that?” (Torimoto)

“Of course. I have more important things to protect than some jewelry and money.” (Sayuri)

It was a vial similar to the one I had given to the dying Saniwa in the past.

“Please pour this over Aoyama-san’s body.” (Torimoto)

“Eh? …But…” (Sayuri)

“You think I would deceive you? Come on, quickly.” (Torimoto)

After taking the small vial from me, Sayuri approached Aoyama, who was lying on her back in a pool of her own blood.

Drawing in the painful sight of Aoyama’s lifeless figure, Sayuri looked like she wanted to avert her eyes, but she finally gritted her teeth and faced reality.

She popped open the lid of the vial and slowly poured the liquid over Aoyama’s body.

The drops turned into motes of rainbow-colored light as they fell through the air, alighting on Aoyama’s body.

Moments later, a shimmering rainbow glow began to envelop Aoyama’s entire body. Sayuri’s eyes were wide when she saw her wounds rapidly healing.

And then—

“……Ugh…”

“……Sayuri…neesan…?” (Aoyama)

Aoyama, who had clearly opened her eyelids on her own, called out Sayuri’s name. At that moment, Sayuri had covered her mouth with both hands and began to weep.

“…Where am I…? What in the world is…?” (Aoyama)

Aoyama seemed to have no idea what had happened. Overcome with emotion, Sayuri lifted her slightly and wrapped her up in a tight embrace.

“Thank goodness… Thank goodness…! I’m so glad, Kanade-san…!” (Sayuri)

Aoyama had been successfully revived. This miracle had only been possible because I had been watching the monitor.

What I had given her wasn’t an [Elixir・Mini]… No, it was a real, genuine [Elixir].

It was extremely expensive, costing as much as ¥100,000,000, but even if the target had already died, it could revive them as long as they had passed only a short time ago. There had been more than enough time, given how recently Aoyama had passed away.

“…Sayuri-san.” (Torimoto)

“T-Torimoto-san! Thank you! I don’t know how I should even show my gratitude…! Really, thank you… Thank you so much…!” (Sayuri)

“Please, you can show your gratitude with money and valuables. I’m going to go after Shakuhara and Saniwa right away. Sol.” (Torimoto)

I called out Sol’s name, and after she answered through our telepathic link, she appeared and landed on my shoulder.