If I Had To Say, I Would Say I Am A Evil Magician 219 (Patreon)

Sickness

I wonder if you can call that a tragedy. It's a sickness that's said to infect one out of every thousand people. There's neither a prevention, nor is there a cure, and even the reason for the infection is not understood. If the population of a town, is in the tens of thousands, there will be several dead people every year. It is not a rare happening. This sickness, which has already assimilated into everyday life, this sickness that all you can say is 『unlucky』, this sickness where one ends up outright dying about a year after coughing out blood without exception, people called it the 『God Guided Disease』.

"......it is the 『God Guided Disease』 huh. My condolences"

"......"

It was already his fifth time, hearing those words. He has already, been given the same verdict, in the same phrasing, by four of the top few highly reputable Magic Physicians on the continent. Neither Hazen nor Asch says a word. What's audible is the breathing of Liana, who's sleeping on her bed, and the sound of the clock's hand. Her room, was enveloped in more silence than there could ever be.

"Isn't there anything else......isn't there anything else......you bastards can say?"

Before long, while clenching his fists with his shaking hands and pushing into his knees with all his strength, Hazen, opened his mouth.

"Unfortunately not"

However, that Magic Physician was indifferent. Every year, several hundred patients are afflicted with this disease. 'I can't be shaken by every single one of them', was his genuine thought.

"......you bastards......just like that"

The man who doesn't bare his expression normally, was showing clear anger. With a stance where he's about to throw a punch at any moment, he grabs his collar and threatens him with his sharp eyes. However, that Magic Physician looks straight back at Hazen's eyes, without moving at all.

"In that case, what do you want me to do? You, too, should understand it very well yourself. The fact that this God Guided Disease is an incurable disease"

"......uu"

What the Magic Physician is saying is logical. Not just Hazen, every single Magician researcher, dreams of discovering the way of curing God Guided Disease, and then eradicating it. Asch, too, was amongst them. The infected patient, the period, the gender, are all random. Over there, there exists no pattern at all; they haven't even grasped the reason for it.

"Please cherish the time you have with your loved one"

Spouting it in a tone like he's reading aloud the same old script, that Magic Physician left.

"......I won't acknowledge it. I definitely won't acknowledge it"

Hazen mutters, with bloodshot eyes, like he has lost his composure. Asch had never once seen him bare this much emotion, but he was also in so much confusion himself that he wasn't even bothered by such a sight.

What do I do......what should I do......round and round and round and round. Those words go around his head.

At that moment,

"......nn"

Liana's tender voice resounds. He'd put to her sleep with magic, but the effect of that wore off. The two of them stand before her, and not only do they not have a solution for that, they can't find even a single word to speak to her.

"Asch......keep the God Guided Disease matter......from my daughter"

"......yes"

Even so, they have to talk about something. In such a situation, all they can do is hide it. The only choice they could make, was to just delay answering.

Before long, Liana opens her eyes, looks at Asch and Hazen, and smiles slightly embarrassedly.

"Somehow......it looks like I caused you trouble"

"......what are you saying. We're parent and child, you know"

Hazen speaks to her in a gentle voice, trying not to lose his composure the best he can.

"I remember until the part where I vomited blood in the classroom......hey, is my sicknessーー"Looks like your gastric has weakened from exhaustion and stress. I think there's no doubt that it's likely something because of your lifestyle with my disciple, Asch-kun"

"No, is it not her worries towards her father who is acting as he pleases uncontrollably even now, I wonder?"

Taking the opportunity, Asch and Hazen lightly joke with each other.

"......fufufu, I think it is both though"

While looking at her gentle smile, they are just so slightly relieved.

"Otou-san, roughly when will I be able to, go to school?"

"That's......right. First, have a good rest, and we shall think about it after that, shall we"

Whenever he thinks about the future, Asch's heart throbs in pain. That was, an uneasiness to the extent of which he had never felt before.

"Until then......albeit against my wishes, I shall take the notes for you"

"Fufu......thanks"

In response to the her who, as he thought, smiles at him at the single sentence he squeezed out somehow. 'There's no reason for you to thank me', he cursed his own powerlessness. He can't do anything for the her, who, like the sun, illuminated himself continuously. And yet, for her to thank him.

"Hey, Otou-san?"

"Un?"

"Can I ask one thing?"

"Aah"

Hazen nods while holding his daughter's hand.

"I......have God Guided Disease, right?"

・・・

Silence, reverberated, in the entire room.