Chapter 29

The possibility that came to mind was malaria.

Riko and I both had insect bites. Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes.

And why didn't I realize it? The periodic fever every three days was a characteristic symptom of malaria.

Of course, it could be a completely different disease. It might be something I don't know.

This is a different world from the one I was in before.

For all I know, malaria might not even exist in this world.

However, the human form is the same in both the previous world and this one.

Magic can be used, and ki can be generated. This makes us somewhat more resilient, but the structure is the same.

Even trees and flowers, though there are some I haven't seen before, none of them look completely different.

Monsters exist. But the birds I've eaten so far are almost the same as those in the previous world. Fish and maggots, everything is the same.

Even mosquitoes have the same shape.

If that's the case, it wouldn't be strange for similar diseases to exist.

It wouldn't be strange for similar pathogens to cause similar symptoms.

So from here on, I will assume it is malaria and proceed with treatment.

That's what I decided.

If it doesn't work, then so be it.

The malaria pathogen is a protozoan.

It enters the human body through mosquitoes, then proliferates in the liver and destroys red blood cells.

I focus my consciousness inward.

The liver is in the right abdomen, and thick blood vessels run through its flesh. Using magic, I can clearly see this.

The blood flowing through the blood vessels, if I sense it in detail, can be separated into plasma and blood cells.

As I do this, a pain shoots through my head.

The amount of information entering at once is too much.

It feels like being spoken to by multiple people at once, and I can't ignore any of it. I can feel my brain working at full capacity.

However, I have to distinguish this.

The target is flat and very small. It is disc-shaped with a depression in the center. I need to find the red blood cells.

My eyes start to sting. I instinctively close them and press on the corners.

“Um...?”

I hear Riko's confused voice. I gesture to her to wait.

“Please wait a moment. I'll be done soon.”

I slightly change the blood flow with telekinesis, alter the flow rate, and narrow the range of my senses until I can see the particles.

After doing this several times, I start to get the hang of it and can distinguish smaller structures.

I focus intently, checking each blood cell one by one.

This small one is probably a platelet...

This irregular shape that seems to be moving is a white blood cell, and it's large... maybe a monocyte.

After checking several, I finally found one I was certain of.

This is a red blood cell.

I have identified the red blood cells.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

I place my hand on Riko's chest. The problem is that everyone has a weak ki, and to directly channel magic into the body, I need to touch or at least be very close.

“Wh-what...!?”

I place my hand on her thin chest, feeling the heartbeat. To purify the blood, it would be most efficient to check the heart, through which the blood must pass.

I fill the heart with magic and pick out the red blood cells passing through it.

“...!!”

There is even more information than before!

It feels like being forced to speed-read an uninteresting novel, with a barrage of information assaulting my brain.

My eyes, which should have nothing to do with this, feel extremely tired.

For some reason, I feel like my nose is about to bleed...

Still, I manage to confirm several red blood cells.

In one of them, it was there.

A single-celled organism was wriggling inside the red blood cell, as if parasitizing it.

It seems my guess was correct. This is probably a protozoan.

But, single-celled organisms look like this...

“...Wow...”

“What? What's going on!?”

Riko is panicking. I shouldn't make her anxious.

“Ah, sorry. I found the cause, but it looks bad...”

“...!!”

The color drains from her face. She gasps and stiffens. Of course, the idea of something foreign in one's body is unsettling.

“Ah, don't worry. I'll get rid of it right away.”

I have found the pathogen. Just a little more.

I start picking out the same pathogens.

There are a vast number of them, both inside the heart and entering it.

Considering that there are about 5 million red blood cells per 1 μL of blood, and Riko's small heart has a volume of about 50 mL, the number of red blood cells is enormous.

I almost want to give up, but I can't.

I've come this far. I don't want to give up.

Magic is currently omnipotent.

Everything I imagine can be done. I'm even breaking the laws of physics.

I won't lose to a mere disease.

I take a deep breath and focus.

The key is to kill these malaria protozoans.

My magic can create any substance I imagine.

Stones, ice, water, fire.

If that's the case, I should be able to create something that doesn't exist in reality.

I create a filter at the point where the superior vena cava connects to the heart.

It reacts to microorganisms and breaks their cell membranes.

The moment I create it, I feel drained.

A large amount of magic is used.

My vision blurs as if covered in a white mist. This is bad; it's a sign I'm about to lose consciousness.

I can't lose consciousness yet.

I slap my cheek with my free left hand. The pain clears my head. I can still do this.

I squeeze out magic to complete the filter.

I make sure it doesn't destroy the blood cells but does destroy the microorganisms.

My vision blurs. This time, it's not just in my head.

Even just maintaining this, magic is being used up rapidly.

I don't know if it's because the filter is killing the protozoans or just because it exists.

But if I stop supplying magic, the filter will disappear immediately.

“Riko, the treatment will take a little time, so please stay still.”

Riko nods quietly.

I pour all my energy into maintaining the filter.

This time, the color drains from my face, not Riko's.

Human blood circulates the body in about one minute. As a precaution, I should use it for about two minutes.

“...Hiro, I have a favor to ask.”

Even though it's my own voice, it feels like someone else is speaking. The sense of detachment is severe.

“O-oh”

Hiro, surprised by the sudden call, sways and blinks.

“Can you count out loud from 1 to 120?”

I ask while maintaining the filter. Even speaking is difficult.

Hiro hesitates for a moment, then starts counting quietly.

Good, he's listening.

“30, 31, 32, 33, ...”

The counting sounds slow. He's probably counting at a normal pace.

“60, 61, ...”

One minute has passed. It might be enough.

I desperately try to negate this thought. The idea of stopping now is a tempting but dangerous thought.

I try to clear my mind.

Hiro's voice sounds distant.

“118, 119, 120! It's done!”

Hiro, who was counting loudly at the end, announces the completion.

I quickly dismantle the filter.

My vision brightens a little.

“Thank you.”

I say my thanks and use the last of my magic.

I choose a random red blood cell from Riko's body and check it.

The disease is not yet cured. The liver, which I haven't even checked, is still a concern.

But my limit has been reached.

I confirm that there is not a single protozoan left and then lose consciousness.