Reborn In Mahouka As Yotsuba Maya's Son Chapter 73 73: [73] Huh? Rentaro, you bastard

"Mahiro-kun, it's terrible! Satomi-san... sothing happened to him."

That all-too-familiar opening line dragged him out of bed in the middle of the night, sending him rushing to Magata Public University Hospital.

The last ti he'd heard words like this was during the Nine School Competition. Who would have thought he'd hear them again in this world.

"Damn it, Rentaro... you really are hopeless..."

The details were fuzzy—beginning forgotten, middle forgotten, end forgotten—but when Mahiro saw Rentaro lying on the hospital bed wrapped head to toe in bandages like a mummy, he couldn't help but mutter those words.

The guy looked seriously injured at first glance, but there were no life-threatening wounds.

Aside from severe blood loss, he had extensive fractures all over his body and minor bruises.

On the neighboring bed, a high school girl in black attire—Tendo Kisara—was fast asleep.

Her cascading black hair spilled across the pillow, and the fluorescent light cast a gentle glow on her peaceful sleeping face.

Slender shoulders, a boldly exposed neck leading to the delicate curve of her collarbone.

The soft swell of her chest pressed against her sailor uniform, rising and falling gently within arm's reach.

The sweet, distinctly girlish fragrance she exuded filled the air, slightly neutralizing the sharp scent of disinfectant, while her soft breaths only intensified that sweetness.

A slight shift in gaze revealed her long, slender legs tightly encased in sheer black thigh-high stockings, pressed together as though seeking security.

She looked so fragile—he couldn't help but think so honestly.

This was a far cry from the girl who usually fought so hard, the one whose eyes sparkled at the sight of money, the foolish girl who would fly into a rage and throw punches at Shiba Miori regardless of ti or place.

Right now, she was heartbreakingly delicate.

Especially the way she curled up in her sleep, as if seeking protection, made him want to pull her into his arms and shield her.

He even rembered clearly how she had looked when he first arrived at the hospital—sitting helplessly on a bench in the hallway, as though the sky had fallen.

When she saw him, she grabbed his arm, her dark, glistening eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at him, asking what she should do. Her expression was that of soone who had finally found an anchor.

"No matter how strong she appears on the outside, at her core, she's still just a sixteen-year-old girl..."

Mahiro murmured softly, then reached out and took hold of the delicate hand peeking out from the edge of the bed. Almost imdiately, he saw the tension in Kisara's furrowed brow visibly ease.

She weakly squeezed his hand in return, as if only this could bring her comfort.

As though responding to the warmth he offered, she whispered faintly in her sleep.

"...Don't... leave ... alone..."

"...Help ... get revenge... kill... Tendo..."

Then, suddenly, Kisara's brows knitted together again, her body curling up slightly as she trembled:

"Father... Mother... No, don't die... Soone... save ..."

Hearing her pained murmurs and seeing her fragile, despairing state—her fingertips gripping his hand had even turned pale—all he could do was stand up, step closer, and tuck the blanket around her with one hand. That was all.

"Mmm..."

Just then, Rentaro on the other side stirred, seemingly rousing from unconsciousness. Mahiro imdiately adopted a solemn tone and said:

"Ah, you're awake. The surgery was a success—congratulations, you're a girl now."

"..."

Rentaro didn't respond, but the thin sheet covering him visibly twitched.

Then ca Rentaro's barely audible sigh, which seed to carry a hint of relief.

Wow, he actually checked to make sure his little brother was still there.

Witnessing the entire scene, Mahiro couldn't help but give him a strange look.

After a long pause, Rentaro finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "...Don't joke like that."

His gaze wandered slightly, scanning his surroundings with confusion.

"Where am I?"

"....."

With a gaze full of concern for the ntally challenged, he stared at Rentaro: "Did you injure your brain too? Do you really need to ask such an obvious question?"

"Uh..."

Being called out like that, Rentaro suddenly felt extrely awkward.

Indeed, it was clearly a hospital room at first glance, yet he still had to ask where he was.

As if he could possibly be in a hotel or sothing.

Then, with a stiff tone, he changed the subject:

"Um... where's Kisara-san?"

"She ate sothing and just fell asleep."

"Oh..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rentaro fell into silence, while Mahiro picked up an apple from the fruit basket by the bed, casually wiped it, and started eating.

This action left Rentaro speechless.

If he wasn't mistaken, that was supposed to be a gift for him...

But Rentaro didn't say anything more, and the room once again fell into brief silence, broken only by the crisp "crunch" "crunch" of chewing sounds.

"You... don't have anything to ask ?"

Unable to bear the silence, Rentaro spoke up first.

"Nothing worth asking."

Mahiro tossed the last bite of apple into his mouth, chewing noisily before adding:

"It's just that you didn't bring Enju along this ti, ran into another Promoter-Initiator pair, and got your ass handed to you, right?"

That was the only scenario he could think of.

After all, Hiruko Kagetane was already dead—not even a corpse remained—so the events from the original story couldn't possibly happen.

Unless that guy had so kind of possession ability.

"No..."

Rentaro shook his head in denial. "What I encountered wasn't a Promoter-Initiator pair... If it were, it wouldn't have ended up like this..."

As if reminiscing, Rentaro's eyes, peeking out from beneath the bandages, drifted slightly toward the ceiling as he recalled the experience. Yet, his lips beneath the bandages trembled faintly.

"That guy... like and Hiruko Kagetane... is a survivor of the New Human Creation Plan... No, no, that guy was newly created, said he was ant to... surpass ."

Rentaro's words were slightly incoherent.

But he still clearly rembered that boy who called himself "Dark Stalker," whose real na was Mitsugi Yuuga!

It shouldn't be possible.

The New Human Creation Plan had been canceled long ago!

Yet that guy was undeniably a chanical soldier, with specs that genuinely surpassed his own!

He still vividly rembered how his moves had been completely read by that guy—just like when facing Mahiro, his spinning kick had been caught by that boy.

And the geotric patterns that appeared in his eyes, the way his pupils spun rapidly inside... Rentaro would never forget it...

"...So you lost? You still need more training, Rentaro-kun."

These words didn't co from Mahiro, but from the doorway of the hospital room.

There stood Muroto Sumire, who had appeared at so point, leaning against the doorfra and waving at the two of them as if to say, "Am I interrupting?"

"Do you have any ideas, Dr. Sumire?"

"Well... just a little."

Since she had been addressed, Muroto Sumire took it as permission to enter, clicking her high heels audibly against the marble floor. With a flourish of her white lab coat that carried a faint fragrance, she plopped down beside the bed where Kisara lay sleeping, crossing her long, stocking-clad legs with an air of effortless grace.

She exuded generosity and wealth.

Only then did she continue, "Anyway, it wasn't ."

Rentaro: "..."

Mahiro: "..."

Wasn't that obvious?

"Seriously, can't you provide any useful intel?" Mahiro sighed in exasperation.

"Of course I can."

Sumire twirled a lock of her long hair around her fair, jade-like fingers. "Actually, this is pretty easy to deduce. Back when the New Human Creation Plan was underway, there were four of us in charge..."

The four of them were collectively known as the Four Sages.

Among them, Sumire was responsible for developing the artificial eye's computational functions. The man she referred to as the "unprecedented old fossil," Ayn Rand, handled the thought-driven interface. Arthur Zanuck worked on the self-repairing Varanium spinal implants and research into optical camouflage embedded beneath the skin.

But above them, there was one who oversaw all three.

The foremost of the Four Sages and the highest authority in the chanized Soldier Project—

"Albrecht Grünewald. The chanized surgery that turned Hiruko Kagetane—the one you killed, Mahiro-chan—into what he was? That was all his handiwork."

"Well, though that guy's personality is even weirder than mine, and he's got a real obsession with copying things, I have to admit—his abilities far surpass the three of us combined."

Hearing Sumire's words, even though Rentaro couldn't move, cold sweat seeped from his skin. An indescribable chill crawled up his spine.

This was the first ti he'd ever heard the doctor praise soone so frankly.

"So, if everything Rentaro-kun said is true, then this ti, your opponent is even more formidable than Hiruko Kagetane. In fact, there's a real chance the Tokyo Area might face... The Great Extinction."

"G-Great Extinction? Doctor, what the hell are you talking about?" Rentaro stamred, bewildered.

Sumire rely looked at him with pity in her eyes.

So innocent, like a lab rat. Do you even realize what you're caught up in?

Just then, Mahiro's phone suddenly rang, shattering the suffocating silence in the hospital room.

"Mahiro-san, it's ."

The gentle voice on the other end carried a soothing warmth, like a spring breeze.

"Oh~ Seitenshi-sama. Calling at this hour—what's the occasion?"

"Well... there's sothing I need to discuss. First, I apologize for disturbing your rest at this ti. I've also heard about your colleague, Satomi Rentaro-san's injuries. Please allow to offer my condolences..."

"Alright, alright, Seitenshi-sama, let's skip the formalities. I'm just a hired hand—no need to be so polite. Just tell what you need."

"Understood. Just monts ago, we pinpointed the exact location of the Legacy of the Seven Stars. I'd like to entrust you with the task of retrieving it safely."

Although rudely interrupted by Mahiro, Seitenshi showed no signs of irritation. Instead, she made her request in a clear voice, though her tone carried a hint of pleading.

"The price is still one billion?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Let ask this—I won't be the only one participating in this operation, will I?"

"No, aside from you, Mr. Mahiro, there will be many other Civil Officers involved. This is the largest operation in history. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope you will take part."

Seitenshi's sincerity was more than enough—or rather, in all of Tokyo, Mahiro was the only person worthy of receiving a personal call from Seitenshi requesting his participation.

Moreover, Seitenshi specifically emphasized the danger of this operation—

"...There's sothing I can no longer keep from you, Mr. Mahiro. The 'Legacy of the Seven Stars' inside that suitcase is actually a catalyst capable of summoning a Stage Five Gastrea."

"I see."

"Though we don't know what their goal is, we absolutely cannot allow a man nad Mitsugi Yuuga to take it."

"Understood."

"Because that object could bring about the extinction of Tokyo."

"Right."

"...Would you like to explain what a Stage Five is?"

"No need... Even I know about that thing."

Perhaps because his response was too indifferent, Seitenshi seed ready to naively explain common knowledge to him.

But how could he not know? In fact, he was already fully aware of the Legacy of the Seven Stars and the Seven Stars Village experint.

It was a sin committed by humanity itself, the bitter fruit of their own making.

What they faced now was rely repaynt—a debt owed to those forced to participate in the Seven Stars Village experint.

Finally, after saying, "I'll take the job," he hung up the phone.

Listening to the dial tone, Seitenshi, clad in pure white ceremonial robes, stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. She placed her slender, snow-white fingertips against the glass pane that the attendant had just closed and gazed at the bright moon in the night sky, murmuring softly:

"May fortune favor you in battle, Mr. Mahiro."

anwhile, inside the hospital.

"Where's the doctor?"

After finishing his phone call, he realized Muroto Sumire was nowhere to be seen.

"The doctor… she just stepped out."

Rentaro replied in a tone that wasn't exactly calm. Judging by his expression, he was still trying to process everything he had just heard.

"Alright."

Given the urgency of the situation, Mahiro didn't plan to dwell on the doctor's whereabouts. He slowly rose from his chair.

"Are we heading out?"

At so point, Kisara had woken up and sat up on the hospital bed, looking at him as she asked the question—even grabbing the hand he had let go of earlier.

"Mahiro-kun, tell … will we really win?"

"Of course. Guaranteed. Don't worry, President. I'm not Rentaro, after all."

"Is that so…"

Though his words carried a slight jab at Rentaro, neither Rentaro himself nor Kisara refuted it.

Kisara lowered her eyelids briefly before suddenly lifting her head. "Mahiro-kun… no, Yotsuba Mahiro. As your president, I order you—no matter what, you must achieve victory. And no matter what… you must co back alive! I, Asaka, Enju, and Rentaro… we'll all be waiting for you at the office."

"Understood."

Mahiro set aside his usual playful deanor, a faint smile appearing on his face as he spoke solemnly:

"President Kisara's will has been clearly received."

...

...

...

"Ahead lies hell, young man."

"Yet I go willingly."

In the hospital hallway, the two shared a knowing smile, their wavelengths perfectly aligned.

After leaving the ward, he ran into Muroto Sumire again. This ti, she handed him a bag.

Inside were weapons and equipnt entirely crafted from super-varanium alloy—all prepared by Shiba Miori. They were simple blades, nothing like firearms.

Simple, yet perfectly suited to his preferences.

In addition, Sumire handed him a jet-black syringe.

"This is…?"

"A parting gift from . I had the young lady make it—entirely from super-varanium alloy. It can effectively suppress the Gastrea virus."

"You're going to do it anyway, aren't you?"

"You really see through everything, Doctor." Mahiro chuckled.

Sumire wasn't just intelligent—she could be called his confidante.

Without him saying a word, she already knew his plans.

Indeed, he had thought that with Hiruko Kagetane dead, this incident would end easily.

But then a troublemaker nad Mitsugi Yuuga appeared out of nowhere.

And he had stolen the case as well.

From the tone of Seitenshi's voice, the Tokyo Area seed to be on the brink of disaster.

In that case, he had no problem stirring the waters further—taking the opportunity to draw a sample of the Scorpion's blood.

At worst, he could always find a way to kill the Scorpion later. With strategic-level magic, there was always a solution.

Besides, the ho he had just built for those children—along with little Asaka and little Enju—were all in the Tokyo Area. No matter what, this was sothing he had to do.

"Don't die, kid. If you do, there'll be one less person delivering als to the basent. That'd be troubleso for ."

"Really? I'd think you'd be thrilled if I died, Doctor." Mahiro joked.

"Hmm... If that's the case, I do have an important suggestion. Want to hear it?"

"What suggestion?"

The mont he turned around, Sumire suddenly leaned in close. With the distinctive feminine fragrance accompanying her, she gently placed both hands on his shoulders.

"...If you must die, die beautifully."

"Huh?"

"Personally, I'd prefer if you froze to death.—No no, that might be too much to hope for. Actually, even starving would be fine. I'd pour turpentine into your corpse's rear, wrap you in lye, and leave you to bake in the sun."

"Haha, Doctor, you're as twisted as ever... Are you planning to mummify and display in a museum for everyone to admire?"

"No, I'd keep you exclusively in my research lab. For my eyes only."

Sumire declared firmly: "This would be my personal artwork. I wouldn't let anyone else lay a finger on it."

"Alright, alright. But Doctor, you should know very well—I'm not going to die."

"I believe that too."

Dropping the joke, Sumire smiled gently instead. "So make sure you co back alive, young man."

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