Thirty minutes after starting Emeralda’s Dark Heal.
I somehow managed to relieve her body stiffness and headache.
“Mmm… Papa… pat me… pat me…” she mumbled, sucking gently.
Lying on the examination room bed, Emeralda fell asleep soundly, murmuring in her sleep and happily sucking on a finger… my thumb, to be exact. I swear, I didn’t put it in her mouth.
During the treatment, while I was channeling magic power into her for the examination and Dark Heal, she grabbed my hand and held it tightly, muttering something about “my teddy bear,” and then started sucking on it.
And she wouldn’t let go. Even if I tried to pull it away, she clung with a strength I couldn’t match, and when I did attempt to pull free, she got angry, crying, “Nooo, don’t!”
“Well, saliva is… a valuable sample of data, I suppose. Not that it matters at this point.”
To be honest, I let her continue because I was intrigued.
After all, Emeralda’s biology is endlessly fascinating to me.
…A “perfect organism” that seems immune to injuries and illnesses, perhaps?
In conclusion, it seems likely that Emeralda’s body is near-immortal.
When I channeled magic power into one part of her body for an extended period, her cell count didn’t increase or decrease at all.
Realizing this, I finally used Dark Heal to affect the region governing her “self-control” — the cerebral cortex.
By simply activating the parts of her brain that quickly detect stress in the body, smoothing the flow of electrical signals through Dark Heal, the tension in her muscles and dilation of her blood vessels subsided beautifully.
It’s truly fascinating.
So much remains unknown.
“…Yes, I’ll implement a regular check-up system. That’s the way to go.”
I’ll create a system that requires any intriguing demons or monsters, like Mior, Amilta’s pet, to come to me once a month. That way, I can gradually analyze their biology. A brilliant idea, if I do say so myself!
“Hehehe…”
While I was chuckling to myself, Emeralda’s eyes fluttered open, and she murmured sleepily.
“Oh, are you awake, Lady Emeralda?”
“Huh… oh, dear. I… when did I fall asleep…?”
As she blinked in confusion, she noticed her own hands clinging to mine and looked down at the finger she had been sucking on. Slowly, she released her grip and sat up, clearing her throat with a little cough, her face blushing a vivid red that contrasted with her blue hair.
“—Dr. Alaya, did I… perhaps cause some trouble while I was asleep?”
“No, nothing at all.”
It’s hardly something to call “trouble.”
“You simply regressed a little due to stress and went ‘wah-wah, baba,’ suckling on my thumb, is all. Not an issue at all.”
“Ah—Aaah! I did all of that?! Oh no, I’m so embarrassed!!”
Covering her flushed face, Emeralda’s six wings spread out behind her, and she leapt off the bed, attempting to flee in a movement faster than my eyes could track.
But then there was a sound like metal clashing, and Emeralda was suddenly halted.
〔Uuuh… hnn…〕
The Zombie Queen had placed her hands on Emeralda’s shoulders, blocking her from leaving.
“…!? How did this zombie get here without me noticing… and with strength equal to my own…?”
I had no idea when the Zombie Queen entered the examination room.
Despite her armor, there was no sound, nor any breath that a living creature would make. It’s a regular occurrence for her to suddenly appear without a trace.
But I could guess why she was acting this way now.
“Zombie Queen, release Lady Emeralda. She wasn’t trying to attack me.”
〔…Uuuh…〕
Hearing me, the Zombie Queen released her grip on Emeralda’s shoulder and moved to stand behind me.
After confirming this, I bowed my head to Emeralda.
“I apologize, Lady Emeralda. It seems these zombies have a habit of protecting me.”
“…I see.”
Still standing, Emeralda cast a sharp, assessing gaze at the Zombie Queen, then turned to me and, lowering her head slightly, returned the gesture.
“I apologize as well for losing my composure.”
“Not at all.”
“She’s an excellent guard. With her around, you’ll surely be safe, even in ‘the battlefield.'”
“…That’s my hope.”
Emeralda was referring, of course, to the upcoming Elden Reclamation Operation.
There were only two weeks left until the operation began.
…Though, it’s not like I’ll be on the front lines myself. All I have to do is give “orders” when the time is right. It shouldn’t be dangerous.
“Well then… I should be going.”
Turning her back, Emeralda reached for the sliding door of the examination room.
“Um… Dr. Alaya?”
“Yes? Is there something else?”
“Well, um… would it be alright if I… came back? Just in case the headache returns, you know.”
“Of course, anytime.”
“And, uh… would you… do that head rub… or, rather, that massage thing again?”
“Certainly. It should be effective for headaches.”
“That’s good to hear. I’ll see you again, Dr. Alaya.”
With a slight blush and a bit of relief, Emeralda exited the examination room.
“Phew… that was a bit nerve-wracking, wasn’t it, Zombie Queen?”
Exhaling deeply, I turned around to look at the Zombie Queen, who was still standing at attention behind me.
“I appreciate your attempt to help. But if Lady Emeralda gets too upset, she might order you to be removed. Be cautious.”
I patted her shoulder reassuringly.
Though, honestly, communication like this usually doesn’t get through to her.
〔M-Master… protect…〕
“…Hmm?”
Wait… did she just… speak?
