Chapter 21

I laid Father and Garia on the ground and began treating them.

First, I used a simple healing spell to restore their vitality, then I tried to stop Father's bleeding.

Because Father's wound was too deep, I couldn't completely stop the bleeding with just the healing spell.

To begin with, healing magic was not a field I was familiar with.

I was very interested, but I had few opportunities to practice.

At most, I experimented by catching mice that appeared at home.

"A, Abel, as you said, I've cut the Greater Bear's meat. ...Will Father be alright?"

I turned my head to look behind me.

Shibi was standing there, holding bright red meat.

"...Garia should be fine now."

Hearing my words, Shibi let out a relieved sigh.

Garia seemed to have suffered a concussion and lost consciousness when he was thrown to the ground.

There were no noticeable external injuries, and no blood was coming from his head.

I had already enhanced his vitality, so he should wake up soon.

Just to be safe, it would be best to check his vision and grip strength once he wakes up.

The problem was Father.

His abdomen had been deeply torn by the Greater Bear's claws.

I needed to transplant and adapt replacement flesh.

I had never treated such a severe injury before.

I had tried setting up magic arrays and attaching and detaching mice in the library, but that was the extent of it.

However, there was no way to carry him back to the village.

I had to treat him right here in the forest.

"Could you shape the meat a bit more to fit the wound?"

"Yes! S, sorry, I thought a bit bigger would be better..."

"Stop! That's too small!"

"Yes! Sorry!"

For now, I was using Shibi as an assistant.

She was clumsy, but she was helping a lot.

I couldn't do any of the physically demanding tasks.

Shibi seemed to have been shocked by Father's unconsciousness or by seeing me cut down trees with magic, as she had become very meek.

Perhaps this was her true nature, as she was trying not to be eaten by me.

"I, I've reshaped it, Abel. But will this really be okay?"

"Ah, yes. If I follow what I read in the books, it should work. Ideally, human flesh would be better, but..."

Transplanting a magic beast's skin onto a human body is classified as a chimera in a broad sense.

In fact, experiments have been conducted to transplant organs, skin, and eyes from magic beasts into humans, and they have even been used as soldiers in wars.

It should be recognized for medical purposes, but in strict cities, it might be prohibited.

However, since Father won't leave this village, it shouldn't be a problem.

Additionally, there is the risk of rejection.

Even if it seems successful at first, problems might arise later.

I should have studied healing magic more, as such emergencies could arise.

"Then, I'll use my own belly meat..."

Shibi held a chunk of Greater Bear's meat in her left hand and pinched her own belly with her right hand.

I thought she was joking to lighten the mood, but she had a serious expression.

"...I'll take your sentiment, but please use the Greater Bear's meat. It might be bad if it takes too long."

"Sorry..."

I placed the Greater Bear's meat on a stump.

Then, I pulled out a wood-carving knife from its sheath, cut about ten strands of Father's hair, and placed them on the meat.

After opening a water bottle and pouring water on the meat, I floated a magic array over it.

Using bio-magic, I transformed the Greater Bear's meat into something closer to human flesh.

Then, I lifted the meat and placed it on Father's wound, floated another magic array, and chanted a spell to fuse them.

At first, the color was slightly different, but as I repeated the layering of different bio-magics, it gradually blended in.

As a side note, both alchemy and bio-magic are defined as magic that creates things using existing substances or an extension of such magic. The only difference between the two is whether they involve living organisms.

However, that one point is significant.

Based on the books I've read, the precise definitions of magic can vary slightly depending on the era, location, and translation, but modern books should be more consistent.

What I did just now, transforming dead flesh to fit another form, falls under the scope of bio-magic.

It is part of healing magic and the basics of creating chimeras.

If I hadn't recently become interested in chimeras and done various research and experiments, this transplant might not have been successful.

Father's complexion had improved significantly.

At least, I had overcome the part that worried me.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and took a deep breath.

Finally, I used healing magic one more time to enhance his vitality.

Now, all I could do was pray that there would be no aftereffects.

When we return to the village, I'll search the library again and consult with the chief.

All my strength drained from me, and I fell backward.

My legs were exhausted, and my magic power was completely drained.

Today was probably the hardest day of my life.

Tomorrow, I won't do any magic training and will spend the whole day in bed.

Despite the overwhelming fatigue, the sky looked more beautiful than usual because I had completed the task.

"This should be fine now."

"Thank you, thank you so much, Abel!"

Shibi shed tears and said with swollen eyes.

"No, I was also saved. Thank you for cutting the meat. If it were just me, I wouldn't have been able to cut such tough meat. I might have left Father to die."

"No! I can't thank you enough, Abel! I'm really sorry for all the things I said!"

Shibi closed her eyes and made the sign of the cross with her hands.

I wish she would stop, as it doesn't really convey that she's apologizing.

Oh, come on! You don't need to do it twice!

Maybe the more times you make the sign of the cross, the better it works.

To me, it just looks like she's being silly.

Perhaps because of my values from my previous life, I still don't understand some of the mysterious customs of the Maaren tribe.

Even when I read picture books, the endings sometimes make me think, "Why did it end up like that?"