Redundancy: Chapter 13 - Timelapse (II)

In a dimly lit room, the heavy curtains were drawn shut to block out the harsh light of the outside world as a woman laid in a state of perpetual suffering. 

Beads of sweat dotted her pallid forehead, and her breath came in labored gasps, each one a battle for survival. Her chest heaved, rising and falling with irregularity, as she teetered on the precipice of life and death.

Beside her bed were two kids, her children, bearing witness to the grim ordeal that unfolded before their eyes. 

The blonde boy who was now eight years of age, stood closest to their mother. His lip trembled as he bit down on it, determined to keep his sobs and emotions suppressed. His watery eyes glistened with unshed tears, suppressing them, as if by sheer willpower he could protect his mother from the harsh reality of her condition.

The girl, who was also eight had red cheeks and a deep frown etched on her face, sittong on the edge of the bed, clutching their mother's hand. 

She had the look of a child who had been thrust into a world of pain and suffering far too soon. Her heart ached with fear and sadness, however, not a single tear escaped her eyes. Just a blank canvas with a raging storm behind it. 

In the corner of the room, another boy, the eldest of the three stood against the wall, his frame tense. His arms were crossed, watching over everything with a nonchalant look. He didn't fully understand the intricacies of the disease, but he knew something was terribly wrong. 

The room was filled with a heavy, oppressive silence, broken only by the woman's erratic breathing and the occasional whir of magical equipment that monitored her failing vital signs. 

The artefact used to track her pulse beside the bed displayed a jagged line, a harrowing reminder of the fragility of her life. 

At times, the line would flatten to a disheartening straightness. The children would exchange anxious glances, their hope dwindling with each passing second.

'Not like crying is going to help.' 

Xavier thought multiple times. He wanted to tell his siblings that crying or acting gloomy or not eating food at time won't solve this predicament. However, in his eyes, staying silent and watch them suffer was better than getting his bones snapped in half because he was acting smart by Luna.

'If only she had actual brain instead of muscle in her head.' 

As the hours stretched on, the woman's condition worsened. Her hyperventilation became more pronounced, each breath a desperate gasp for life. Her pulse that was once recognizable as a weak but steady rhythm, began to falter. 

The artefact's alarm sounded, a shrill cry of distress that sent a jolt of terror through the room.

The eldest boy clenched his fists, unable to contain his grief any longer. Silent sobs wracked his slender frame as he stared at the woman who had given him life. He longed to reach out, to hold her hand, but it was already occupied by his sister, who clung to it as if it were a lifeline.

The girl's frown deepened as she watched her mother's struggle. Her red cheeks had paled, and she couldn't help but blink back tears.

 She knew that her mother was slipping away, and she couldn't bear the thought of a world without her. 

In the corner, the youngest boy's eyes grew wider with each alarming blip on the artefact. His brain was working quite quickly, yet he couldn't reach on any conclusion. 

The woman's breaths grew shallower, the room echoing with the sound of her struggle. Elijah finally let out a choked sob, his shoulders shaking with grief. He couldn't bear the sight of his mother's pain.

The tears finally spilled over as he whispered, "Don't leave us, Mom. Please, don't leave us."

Xavier's hand balled into a fist as he finally decided to let go of his place against the wall and walked over to Nanahoshi. 

"What are yo---"

He walked straight past Luna who was talking to him and sat beside Nanahoshi. Letting out a deep breath, he placed a hand on her chest, just above her breasts. Pressing it down, his hand sizzled with a bright green energy as he closed his eyes. 

A jolt of pain wracked his body as he leaned to the side but held on. 

Nanahoshi's pain and loud gasps started disappearing as the spasms died down. Luna looked at the artefact. For a moment, it was alright, but the pulse instead of stopping at normal levels, fell in a spike form extremely high to extremely low. 

Grabbing Xavier by his collar, she swung him around and pushed him against the wall, his feet slightly rising as she looked at him. Her aura expanded like a suffocating miasma around her. "What are you doing to our mother?"

"Put me down. I will hurt you." Xavier stared down at her, his own aura leaking out of his body, as sharp as a blade. "She is dying. I am trying to help." 

"Help? You made her worse!" Her eyes had streak of red. 

Suddenly, the temperature inside the room fell to sub-zero, two blades of ice forming out of thin air as they pressed against Xavier and Luna's necks. 

"Stop fighting, you two. Have some shame." Elijah spoke, his features dark, trails of tears visible on his face. "Luna. Put him down. Now." 

"Have you lost your mind? Dispel the spell before I cut your hands off." 

Xavier raised his hands into the air as the ice sword pressed against both of their necks, drawing a thin trail of blood. "Last time, Luna. Put him down."

Clenching her fists, she let go of Xavier, staring down at him as he looked back at her. Looking away, he corrected his clothes before looking at Elijah. 

"Mind explaining what happened to this blockhead?" 

Luna glared at him; however, Elijah cleaned his tears before looking up at them. "He saved her. From what it seems, she is suffering from mana overload. And Xavier pulled it out somehow." 

"She might need to go the bathroom or might puke. So be ready for that." Xavier added into his explanation. 

"Yeah. I figured as such. She needs an outlet." 

"Then why is her pulse dropp---" She stopped midway as she looked at artefact again, the line showing a stable reading. 

"Dad knew what he was doing, so he did in moderation. Xavier's method isn't efficient at all, but it's better than nothing." Elijah explained as he hovered his hand over her. "Mana inside her seems stable now. But when did you learn it, brother?" 

"I got an idea while seeing father. But I had read a few medical books in Asura. Maybe that helped? Just the basics."

"Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks a lot." Elijah spoke with a bright smile. 

"Hm. No worries. You are my brother. And this blockhead my sister." 

"Don't act friendly with me. Not when you look down on us." She snorted and turned around to sit back along with Nanahoshi. 

"I don't though..." Xavier's voice trailed off, merging with a sigh before Elijah motioned for him to not think about it much. "...I'll bring something to eat. Mixed food or something different?" 

"No need." 

"Yeah, WE are hungry. Thanks, brother." Elijah cut Luna, "Anything would do. Just nothing sweet. I am not in a mood for something sweet." 

"Sure. She could use something sweet though." 

Luna looked back, like a cat with bare fangs, ready to rip him apart as Elijah facepalmed. Xavier made a run for it, before she catches him and actually does some long-term damage to his body. 

She had held him arm for just a moment, and the pain was still not going away. 

'She almost dislocated it...'

(***)

RUDEUS GREYRAT 

How in the world did I find myself stranded on the demon continent, a land of chaos and mayhem, literally thousands of miles away from the warm embrace of my three loving wives and our four adorable children, you might wonder? 

Well, let me introduce you to the biggest trouble magnet of the century, my dear twin younger brother, Julian. 

Drumroll, please.

Now, I'd love to keep this light and humorous, but I have to remember, it's a rather serious affair. 

You see, Nanahoshi happened to contract a most peculiar ailment. 

No, not from his mind-numbingly dull presence (cough), but rather because she's a transmigrated person. That's right she's been transported from another world, our old world, and it seems her immune system is having a grand old time adjusting to our reality.

So, here I am, thousands of miles away, navigating the demon continent, just because dear Julian's significant other decided to pick up a little souvenir – a disease, of all things. 

What luck, ahaha. 

Fuck...

What is the disease, you might ask? 

Let me grab my glasses. Wait...

Yeah, so, well, this disease is about as mysterious as the lost city of Atlantis, and I must say, Julian's explanation is a bit like trying to understand a foreign language through a sham translator. 

From what my average brain can gather, it's some ancient ailment that only plagues those with a mana capacity smaller than a teacup, which just happens to be the charming nature of my Nanahoshi's unique predicament.

Drain Syndrome had existed in the Human World ever since its early ages especially on children. Drain Syndrome was eventually eradicated around 7,000 years ago during the first war at the reign of Demon Empress Kishirika.

Yes, the Loli Demon Overlord that gave me the Eye of Foresight. When I received it, I was given a choice between which kind of eye I wanted. That was why we were looking for her. 

Anyways, so basically, Drain Syndrome is a disease that occurs when a human with little or no mana capacity externally accumulates mana over time, until their body begins to react negatively to it. 

It usually takes around 10 years to happen for children. 

In other words, it's a disease that results from having mana within body that is incapable of holding mana. Despite the Humans that are born in the Human World are already immune to it for the past 7000 years, Drain Syndrome still affects those that have drifted to the Human World like Nanahoshi.

She came here 14 years ago. She is almost 30 now. The effects seem to have been delayed by a few years. I asked Julian about it, but he said that he knew why it was delayed. He was suppressing it all this time, but he said the method he was using was not optimal for whole life. 

They even lost a kid. I don't know how it feels, but God forbid, I never want to know. I have seen how wildly she clawed at her own hair despite suffering from that disease herself. 

A shiver ran down my spine. 

Better not think about that day. 

By the way...

"JULIAN! ITS A WHOLE CONTINENT. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FIND THAT NOMAD LOLI BY OURSELVES IN THIS TIME? HAAAH?!" I screamed, atop my lungs, my legs ready to give up as we pondered from city to city. 

"Not the whole continent. And she is not a nomad anymore. From what I have collected, she was being hunted down, or rather bullied by Atofe. Since it would take a lot of decades for her to come back to her even half of her strength, logically, she should be back in her castle." He explained. 

Oh well. That makes sense. 

"We should buy something. She is like a dog. Give her treats and she'll be obedient." I explained how I obtained Eye of Foresight. It's not guaranteed since she was now back in castle. A castle comes with many amenities. But it's worth a try. 

"Oh. I see." He replied, looking in the distance as he suddenly...took a bite off a jerky? JERKY? 

Ahhh, I want to kill him. 

"Dear brother, where did that jerky come from?" 

"Hm? I had it with me all this time. Want some?" 

"You bastard, I told you I was starving. Why, why?! Have some empathy!" 

"You just told me you're starving. Not that you want jerky." He tilted his head. 

Nah, nah, don't tilt your head. I know damn well you knew what I was trying to imply. 

"Want some?" 

"Some? No. Not some. I want all of it." 

He looked at me with surprise. "Here you go. I was done anyways." 

Snatching the bag from his hands, I devoured them. One could say I entered a jerky overdrive...

Ok, yeah, no, that was lame. 

(***)

"We're here." Julian spoke as he brought me out of reverie. 

We stood atop a hollow, meteor sized crater. A town stretched below us, endlessly. At the center of the crater a black-gold castle inside rested--half ruined. Surrounded by the huge town.

A wave of nostalgia washed over me. I recognised this city. It was still the same. 

One of the Three Great Towns of the Magic Continent. A crater-shaped natural wall prevented magic beasts from entering. After nightfall, magic stones inside the crater illuminated the city. I knew the castle as well. This was once the seat of the Great Demon Emperor Kishirika Kishirisu, destroyed in Laplace's war with the Demon Kings.

Once known as Old Kishirisu Castle.

Also, for me, a place of unhappy memories.

Rikarisu Town.

I had lots of memories here. Even now, I could remember it like yesterday. My life as an adventurer in the Magic Continent started here, filled with memories of Ruijerd and Eris. But in the end, we were chased out, leaving only bad memories behind...

But the experiences I gained here are good. It's here I learned not to overthink the situation or try to do everything by myself.

We hiked down the slope and head towards the edge of the crater until we reach an entrance. Just as before, here stood a pair of guards. Back then, in order to sneak Ruijerd in, we came in disguise...

"Identification." 

I looked over to Julian. Formalities could take time. We could use our ranks as a pass. 

"Rudeus, hand him your emblem." 

"Eh? Why me? Aren't you higher rank than me?" 

"Thats why it makes me it more unbelievable. Also, I forgot mine at home." 

Sure, you did. 

Reaching out for the inside of my pocket, I instantly took it out and handed them the emblem. It took them some time, but once they realised who it belonged to, they instantly went on the ground, bowing down to me. 

Ah, yes, stroke it, my ego. Ehm. "Please raise your heads. We are just here for sightseeing. Don't prostrate yourself." With an apologetic face, I followed Julian inside. 

(***)

An hour later. We stood looking at the castle. There were no guards. Nothing. Just an eerie silence .

"You sure she would be here?" 

"That is the only conclusion I came up with." 

We opened the doors and walked inside. I had come here before. Back when I was recruiting people with high amounts of mana for opening the rift in space. Atofe was currently on a hunt for the loli empress. Hence, she was occupying this place. 

It was much lively as well. Now it's in shambles. 

As we reached the throne room, Julian stopped and looked in the corner. Following his line of sight, I also looked in the same place. I gripped my staff with a firm force and activated my eye of foresight. Julian didn't seem on alert, but he could kill with his bare hands. 

I only had magic on my disposal, so I had to be careful. 

"Keep your guard up." Julian spoke to me, without turning back. "And do not attack. Just stay where you are." 

"Gotcha. I got your back." 

"Hm." 

Leaving me standing there, he walked over to the corner. There was a rugged map, slightly elevated. Getting down to one knee, he removed the rug... wait, it wasn't a rug...

"....sty, so tasty....mpph, hungry..." 

Julian looked back at me. Although I was too dumbfounded to move. This loli hasn't changed one bit!

She looks just as how I remembered her. Those knee-high kicks, skin-tight hot pants, and blouse. Her pale skin, collarbone, waist, navel, and thighs. Her characteristic thick, purple, wavy hair with goat horns. Well, she's A LOT dirtier than before. And she stinks. 

But without a doubt, that's Kishirika Kishirisu.

Once she devoured the emergency food we brought with us just in case, she howled, just like old days. 

"Faahahahah! Faahaha! Faahahahaha!"

Julian didn't seem too amused, and his eyes turned into dots. That's a first.

Me too, what just happened?

Now that I think of it, she really is Badigadi's lover. Both have the same obnoxious laugh. 

"Come! Don't hold back! Anything you desire! But before that, state your name!"

"Julian Greyrat." 

"Julian! Treating this one to food is a great deed. This one hasn't ate for an year already!"

"You still won't die since you're an immortal." 

"True. But I still need food." 

Don't casually talk to her like that!

Her eye suddenly shifted, rolling back and a new eye appearing. I swear I could see cold sweat on her face. Was it because she could recognise Julian was the one who defeated Badigadi? 

"A-Anyways, state your wish." Her eye flicked to me as she gasped. "Oh! You! The human boy with the disgusting amount of magic power! This one remembers! This one gave the boy a demon eye. The name is, oh, yeah, eh... Ru, ba, Rumba... Rumbaus. Long time no see!"

"It's Rudeus Greyrat."

I'm no robot vacuum cleaner.

"Wait. Greyrat? Are you...?" 

"Yeah. He is my younger twin brother. Although we look nothing alike." 

"I see, I see. Good for you!" Kishirika slapped me on the thigh once she got close enough.

"So? What do you want?" 

"A cure for Drain Syndrome." Julian cut straight to the chase. 

"Ohooo. How nostalgic. But a human contacting it is something new. Hmmmm." 

"What is the cure?" Julian asked again. 

Once again, I could see her being a little pressed from Julian. 

"You can find Sokas Grass in the basement of this Castle. Make a tea out of it and then take the infected person to take a leak. It will help." She replied like a robot. 

"Hm. Thanks." Julian turned around immediately, before stopping and looking back. "Have you visited the underground chambers of this castle?" 

"Nay. I was too hungry to move." 

"I see. Please refrain from doing so in the future as well." 

"..." 

On that short note, Julian began to walk away. I wanted to talk a bit more to her, but Julian called out to me. "Take the grass back home. I have something to do." 

"Huh? What's more important right now?" 

"Shizuka. That is why I am sending you. I am going to visit... a friend." 

"I don't like the sound of it, but ok. Be back quickly. She needs you more than the grass." 

"Hm. Ok." 

On that note, I rushed to where the grass was. Kirishika also followed me. Before Julian completely vanished, Kirishika called out for him. "Wait. I have to reward you!" 

"Reward the boy there." 

Boy? Did he call me boy? Lad, we're the same age...

"Greetings." 

"WOAH!" 

I almost fired a stone canon. 

A boy appeared behind him, his long silver hair falling like waves on his face. 

Adam. He was twenty or so years old now. Although, on paper, he was no longer serving the Greyrat household and was living within the establishment of the superds, along with the other demons of silver hair, Adam had sworn loyalty to Julian. Nanahoshi in particular. 

The whole reason Julian had placed him in his house was as a guard for her. However, he was freed in one of our Christmas parties eight years ago where Julian gifted him an admission into the magical school and freed him as well. 

"Since when were you here?" I asked, my heart still in my throat. 

"I had travelled behind you all this time." He explained in a fluent tone. 

He had gotten quite vocal now. Before this, he used to stutter and talk in pieces. 

"Oh..." 

Well, long story short, Kirishika penetrated his eye with her fingers, gave Adam a demon eye. What kind of demon eye? I have no fucking clue. But I know once of his eye turned a light shade of blue. 

(***)

3rd Person

It was dark. In the deepest chambers underground of Kirishika's castle, Julian entered one chamber and sat with his back against the wall. 

"Julian Greyrat. Such a pleasure to see you again." 

"I could say the same. Good to see you again. In one piece this time." 

The figure laughed, but stopped midway, coughing. "Apologies. The wound you inflicted still festers." 

"I won't apologise for that." 

"And I don't want to. It is a scar I would brag about." He coughed again. "You seem like a change man now. Did you marry?" 

"Yeah." 

"Kids?" 

"I have five." 

"Just five? I heard human could copulate more." 

"Well, we are still young. And I am not really against more." 

"As long as you can afford them, it would be alright." The figure talked, leaning his head against the wall. "Do you adore them?" 

"They're my children. I don't hate them." 

"That is not the answer." He stopped and coughed up a few drops of blood. "I asked if you love them."

"Love would be an overkill. I am indifferent not towards them, unlike everyone else." 

"And their mothers." 

"Getting a bit personal, aren't we?" 

"Kuaha---cough, I apologise." 

"Hm. No problem. Although, I have something to ask for. Can I?" 

"Of course, you can. I listened to the person who betrayed me. Why won't I listen to someone who spared me?" 

"Take care of them." 

The figure's eyes widened in the dark. 

"I will." He spoke and lowered his head. "How long?" 

"Not much. According to your standards. Enough for me to be content with." 

"That is all that matters." 

Julian reached out for the inside of his pocket and took out a huge bottle. "Its dragon ale. Orsted's favourite. He gave me a few barrels. A token." 

"You sure you want to waste it on someone who would do your bidding out of his own goodwill?" 

"It's not wasted. Just an investment." 

"Where are you going. Come share a glass with me."

"I don't drink." 

"Boring." 

"It speeds it up." 

"Oh. Well, have a good life ahead, boy. The gracious me will keep my promise." 

"Hmm. Thanks."