Episode 312
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“……if.”
Dennis Gunnar’s words made me stop eating my spoonful of veal stew.
“if?”
“Are you thinking of inheriting the Taoist temple?”
I ended up tilting my head.
“Why? Do you really think I would do that?”
“… … That’s right, even if you don’t want to accept it, isn’t that how it is for everyone? I don’t understand it, but it seems like your father is thinking of making you the next runaway.”
As the words became quieter and quieter, he muttered something like, “I don’t understand why you suddenly want to hand over the pipe like this when I saw you last…”
Did you think I couldn’t hear you?
I just didn’t show it.
“Well, more than that, there’s one thing I’m curious about.”
“To me?”
“Yes, to you.”
It’s scary to shrug my shoulders.
“Can vascular fibrosis be treated?”
Strangely enough, Angela’s appearance matched.
He did that to me too.
To cure Emperor Philip’s vascular fibrosis.
“My father has been sick in bed for 14 years. 14 years. It is not a short period of time. Is treatment possible?”
hmm.
It looks like our lovely uncle doesn’t know what kind of disease it is.
I think I need to tell you something.
“Basically, vascular fibrosis is a disease that occurs when the ‘resonance of mana’ is completely distorted.”
My uncle’s brow furrows.
Not a look of displeasure or anything, just a serious expression.
As I’ve mentioned many times, there’s little I don’t know about Tulcan.
Fibrosis.
I had done some research on that disease.
A genetic disease? I wonder.
Okay, let’s see.
“To put it simply, vascular fibrosis is similar to a mana transplant. As you know, there is a treatment for a mana transplant.”
My uncle and Ron pricked up their ears to what I said.
“Destroying the entire circle and creating a new one from scratch. In this case, since there are still remnants of mana, if there is a ‘transcendent’ who can assist and help, and if the subject makes a lot of effort, they can return to the state before the mana transplant surgery. Of course, it’s a matter of logic, but it will be very different from before. The overall sense will be reduced. In fact, what is that?”
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If Roman Stewart came to me, that’s how I would treat him.
But as I said before, you have to accept that the overall feeling will be reduced.
Taking responsibility for your own choices.
That’s a given.
“But vascular fibrosis is different. It is a disease in which the brain and blood vessels reject mana. I mentioned mana transplant surgery as an example, and that is because of this part.”
“This part?”
“Yes. To treat this part, the mana transplant surgery, you just have to ‘safely’ destroy the entire circle. The same goes for the hemorrhagic fibrosis. The question is, is that even possible? You have to recreate the hemorrhage itself. Maybe you have to recreate the brain as well. Do you know what that means?”
Very serious.
My uncle and Ron both nod their heads at the same time, with really serious expressions on their faces.
I’m sure you understand.
And I think you’ve guessed what kind of ‘answer’ I’m going to give.
Since you wouldn’t say it out loud, I just said it.
“Hemorrhagic fibrosis can only be treated if the human body is recreated to the extent that it is beyond the realm of the transcendent. To put it more simply, it is simply an incurable disease.”
There was silence in the restaurant for a moment.
“And, I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding. Just because you have vascular fibrosis doesn’t mean you’ll be bedridden until you die. You just won’t be able to use mana. You can act like a normal person.”
Since we’re on the subject, I was going to tell you a few more things, but I just shook my head.
As far as I know, symptoms of vascular fibrosis usually appear when people are in their 30s or 40s.
This is a sample I found by searching through Tulcan’s past bloodlines and confidential documents, but it’s strange.
Plank Gunnar looks to be well over 70 years old, and he was diagnosed with this disease 14 years ago?
Is it really true that it happened 14 years ago?
One question after another.
Then, it just stopped.
I thought only up to here.
It’s not like anyone is running away.
The question will be answered soon, and very clearly.
Before long, my uncle nods.
“Yeah, I see.”
Should this be enough to cover the cost of a meal?
I brought up a story that cheered up my uncle, who seemed a little depressed.
“I’ll be leaving in a week.”
My uncle raised his head.
There was a look of surprise in both eyes.
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“A week?”
“Yes. A week at most.”
At those words, my uncle ate his stew in silence, and soon after quietly put his spoon down.
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“Is the stew to your taste?”
“It’s edible.”
“The beef here is good. Would you like to try it?”
I nodded, not intending to refuse what was offered.
So, I ate the sumptuous food my maternal uncle, Dennis Gunnar, bought for me and heard many stories from him.
The beginning of the conduit.
The end of Arthur Gunnar, who was the Master’s friend, colleague, and close enough to be his step-brother.
An organization that builds up its strength to save the continent when it is in crisis.
Like insurance, it exists without anyone knowing and never interferes with the affairs of the continent unless there is a crisis.
I’ve heard a lot of stories like that.
So after the meal, we walked around the city.
“As you know, outsiders are not allowed on the island, so there are no inns built specifically for this. There are a few empty houses, but I don’t want you to stay in such a shabby place. Would you like to stay at ‘my house’?”
He immediately shook his head.
“Just an empty house will do.”
My uncle didn’t say anything after that.
This time, as if he had something to think about, he moved without saying a word, gave us an empty house on the outskirts of the city, and then opened his mouth.
“I don’t think you have many memories with Noah.”
That wasn’t a wrong statement.
“That’s right. Because he died when I was born.”
“… … In some ways, this could also be fate.”
It occurred to me that it was out of the blue.
Why are you suddenly like that?
“As I said before, it has been 14 years since my father became bedridden due to vascular fibrosis. For 14 years, my father has not stepped down from his position as the master of the Taoist temple. It was as if he was waiting for the real master.”
My uncle’s expression looked extremely bitter.
“I don’t know how much you know, but the position of the Taoist master has been passed down from generation to generation to the upper-level master. If a transcendent being is born, he or she skips one or two generations and becomes the Taoist master. In the 400-year history, there has only been one case where a mid-level master has inherited the position of the Taoist master.”
No kidding, it looked really bitter.
“In my father’s eyes, I don’t look like I’m worthless.”
Intermediate Master is not a low level by any means, but compared to me who is younger and stronger, it is a bit like that.
It’s no wonder that Dennis Gunnar looks so pitiful.
He downed the glass of alcohol in front of him and spoke to me.
“Yes, it’s true that I tormented Noah a lot. I don’t deny it.”
The uncle’s eyes are fixed on Ron.
“But I won’t apologize.”
Eventually, Ron’s expression crumples.
“… … What?”
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My uncle’s expression remained the same.
“If I have to apologize, it should be to Noah himself. Even if you had been married to Noah, even if Noah had given birth to a child and that child was standing before my eyes right now, the only person I should apologize to is Noah.”
I just listened in silence.
Ron wasn’t one of them though.
“You are so shameless. You are no different from before.”
My uncle shakes his head.
“It depends on how you look at it. And Jack.”
“Please speak.”
“It doesn’t matter when. Just come home sometime.”
I was about to ask, “Why?”
I told you right away.
“Noah’s room is still there as it was when he was on the island. The things he used, the clothes he used, and even the toys he used to play with. I threw away a few of the things that were too old, but most of them are still there. So come and take them.”
Dennis Gunnar disappeared with those words left behind.
I looked at the spot where he had disappeared for a moment and let out a word.
“I guess he wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
“… … That’s right. Are you really mature?”
My sister’s room, belongings, clothes, etc.
You keep all that stuff and even clean it periodically. This is definitely not something that just anyone can do.
Surprisingly, there was another side to it.
“There’s one thing I’m more curious about.”
“What is it?”
“People here naturally assume I’m Ron’s child.”
“hmm.”
“And just like my uncle said, when did you see me and put me in that position of running away? I have more than one or two questions and doubts.”
Ron, who had been swallowing quietly, spoke to me.
“There is one more tradition in the temple.”
“What tradition?”
“Those who are descended from Gunnar cannot freely choose their spouses.”
As soon as I heard it, I frowned.
“Gunnar’s bloodline itself is amazing. Arthur Gunnar, who brought officials to this island 400 years ago, was a transcendent being. The bloodline of such a transcendent being naturally endowed with the talent of mana. But would you really connect such bloodlines with ordinary people?”
He shook his head.
That can’t be true.
“As you have seen, my lord, there is a position called ‘Great Warrior’ in the Taoist Temple. He has the talent to become a Master at the very least, and is also called the Guardian of the Island and the Executor. However, he is also called by a completely different nickname.”
“What is that?”
“A prospective spouse of the Gunnar bloodline.”
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I waved my hand roughly.
That was enough.
“My mom would probably run away.”
He just turned around.
There’s something I’ve been wondering about.
“Was he by any chance called the Rondo Grandmaster?”
“……yes.”
“Then, could it be that my mother and Ron could have connected?”
Ron gave a small laugh.
“If I had continued to practice Mana here and Noah had not left this island, that might have happened.”
Then he looks at me with warm eyes, and I feel so embarrassed.
Than that.
“Shall we go fishing?”
One of Ron’s hobbies is fishing.
I’ve seen him go fishing with his servants at the lake in the corner of his estate a few times, and whenever he did, there would always be mackerel for dinner that night.
“Fishing? It’s past 7pm now?”
I ended up laughing faintly.
“Let’s do it together. It’ll be a good way to kill time.”
Ron shrugs.
“Okay, but I don’t have to use Mana.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Chapter 5
The master of the Taoist temple.
Plank Gunnar slowly got up from his bed.
If someone had seen this situation, where there was no one to look after her or care for her, they might have thought she had been abandoned, but that was not the case.
Fibrosis is a disease in which the blood vessels lose their function as mana circuits, meaning that if you don’t use mana, you can live like a normal person.
Furthermore, since it was the Master’s body, it did not need any care.
Plank opened the door and went outside, stopped in his tracks, and looked out at the calm lake.
Ten minutes passed, an hour passed, more than three hours passed.
Until then, Plank was still standing there.
As if it were a painting.
Then a smile slowly appears on his lips.
The mouth opens slowly.
“Good.”
Frank Gunnar looked really happy.
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“It’s perfect. So perfect.”
His eyes and expression were like those of a predator catching tasty prey.
