NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9
Extra Case File 9 Take Medication on Time
“I’m very sorry, before Miss Nonoha arrived, the System searched based on the estimated internal organ rupture time in the database and found that during this period, there were no car accidents or any incidents within the Nur养护 City that could cause such injuries.”
“There weren’t any?” Ash felt somewhat incredulous at VREX’s search results.
“Show me the footage from start to finish, V-rex.”
“The most recent video that might be related dates back an hour ago.”
The standby interface switched to surveillance footage from Nur养护 City; Nonoha was seen walking slowly, her left hand pressing over the ruptured area of her organs.
She walked slowly, her body swaying, and many times people passing by asked if she needed help, but she always managed a smile and declined their goodwill each time.
“What an idiot,” Ash shook his head and continued playing the footage.
Footage of an area would end and immediately jump to the next area as Nonoha walked from her home to the clinic, spanning about an hour.
Nonoha was sleeping peacefully on the operating table, smiling sweetly with saliva trickling down from the corner of her mouth, as if dreaming the most beautiful dream.
Perhaps she was dreaming of world peace, or finding her other half and fulfilling her dreams. However, Ash had no time to watch her; he stared intently at the surveillance footage, not blinking once.
“In addition, judging by the severity of the injuries, Miss Nonoha’s internal organs ruptured sometime between midnight today and 8 AM.”
“To put it simply, she must have endured for some time after the internal organ rupture before seeking medical treatment.”
“If that’s the case, the timing doesn’t match up.”
Ash naturally associated her with Cure Yell due to the severity of her condition, considering it immediately.
Although Ash didn’t harbor much interest in the true identity behind heroic masks like they did when they were concealed, he also felt that he should “care for” the opponent as his counterpart for the future.
However, Ash concluded: [Nonoha cannot be Cure Yell.]
“Although there are similarities, her appearance, voice, and mannerisms do not match. And most importantly…”
Time.
Yes, the timing doesn’t match up.
Though he hadn’t checked it this thoroughly then, Ash immediately sensed the severity of the injury when he briefly encountered Cure Yell. He estimated that if she hadn’t sought medical attention right away after the battle, she likely wouldn’t have survived until now. This also contrasted sharply with Nonoha’s situation in terms of timing, who appeared injured under daylight yesterday.
Thinking about it, Ash still did not know about the unique existence of tomorrow energy and its magical effects in this world at that moment.
“Master Ash?”
“I’m listening.” Ash closed his eyes briefly to alleviate the discomfort and pain brought on by the previous hour and the震撼 he experienced.
Opening his uncomfortable eyes, he reached for eye drops and stood up from the sofa, stretching his stiff limbs.
Then, he walked toward the operating table, lifting Nonoha in his arms, who was still fast asleep.
“She’s so light…”
The woman’s body, emitting a faint disinfectant odor, was soft and petite, almost childlike, completely unlike an adult.
The previous race against death had made Ash overlook this detail, but now he carefully noticed these characteristics.
Nonoha, held tenderly in his arms, was as light as a piece of white paper, with a petite build that made her appear fragile. Her physical frailty seemed to accentuate the struggle she experienced enduring internal organ rupture.
Ash’s experience told him that such resilience and vitality, even among the heroes, were rare traits.
“Sleep, rest more, it will ease your pain…sigh, stupid.”
Gently placing Nonoha on the couch, as if handling something valuable, the VREX transformed into its DX toy-sized form and brought a blanket for Ash to drape over her.
“Should I give you Chinese medicine or Western medicine?”
“Both are recommended.”
Nonoha had a dream.
In the dream, she wore a pure white wedding gown and walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her husband.
Her parents, wiping tears, and her excited sister sat in the front row to the left. Yu, Sayo, and Himizuki, along with friends, occupied the second row, cheering and congratulating her.
A young priest stood before them with the Bible.
It was time for their vows.
“Gentleman, while you live, you should care for your wife with gentleness, fulfilling your duties as a husband until the end. Do you wish to marry this lady?”
“I do.”
The man’s voice sounded solemn and familiar.
“Lady, do you sincerely believe that this marriage is ordained by heaven and wish to acknowledge this man as your husband?”
“I do! I do!!”
The chimes rang out, everyone cheered, and countless petals, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, flew into the sky and gently descended.
Embarrassed, Nonoha turned to face her new husband, wanting to see what handsome hero she had married. Then, she came face-to-face with TIMEFIRE, who stared back at her in bewilderment through his fiery red visor.
Nonoha’s expression quickly shifted from shame and happiness to astonishment and panic. She wanted to escape, but with no ability to transform, his grip on her hand was fierce.
Wait a minute, I don’t want to!
“Now, you may kiss your bride.”
“Umumumm——”
The man gently held the woman’s head, tilting it as her face flushed deeper red. TIMEFIRE’s metallic silver lips drew closer to the woman’s soft lips.
Under the splendid shower of flowers, their lips met.
“Oohh!!”
This is my first kiss, no—!
Nonoha opened her mouth wide as her eyes snapped open. The dreamy scene of the wedding transformed back into the clinic, the operating table into a soft couch, and the blanket around her.
“So close…”
The shame and anger from the dream intensified the blush already covering her face.
The door creaked open.
“You woke up?”
“Ash, I’m sorry, I’m just so tired—”
Nonoha stood up, bowed, and apologized all in one breath. Then she looked up and saw Ash holding — a bowl?
Her little nose twitched as an indescribable and alarming smell filled her nostrils — Ash witnessed Nonoha’s face paling after seeing it.
“Ash, this is…”
“Ash’s special formula; I could tell how weak your body is just by looking. Aside from surgery, you need to take care of yourself, avoid overexertion and injury.”
“That is?”
Nonoha started sweating.
“Herbal soup, or nutritional fluid. I’ve prepared it for your recovery, you can forget about the cost; the balance will cover it.”
“Not that, I meant—”
“Alright, drink up. It is your fate.”
The bubbling dark purple medicinal juice was brought to Nonoha by Ash. The hot steam rising off the soup smelled bad, the scent overwhelming her nostrils…
The taste in her mouth nearly made her vomit.
“Just, just wait a moment!” Ash pinched her jaw to open it, pouring the medicinal juice into her mouth.
The bitter soup flowed into her mouth, down her throat. The cells of her body rebelled, nausea and a strong desire to throw up surged through her.
This was worse than a hundred Fierce Final Monsters…
I don’t want to drink this! Save me, Mom, Dad! Yu, Sayo, Himizuki, save me! Knights, help me!
Sadly, Nonoha called out all the names of her loved ones and even TV characters to no avail.
“I— I’m dying! I’m dying!”
Her eyes rolled back, then Ash relieved her by pressing her acupoint.
Xiyang Hawthorn, Royal Jelly, Cistanche, Singing Bulb Lily, Grapefruit Juice, Ginger, Eel Powder, Seawolf Eye, Dried Plum, Celery, Yam Powder, Spiny Worm Saliva, Roasted Bamboo Pit Snake, Bracket Fungus, Cordyceps, Black Tea Mushroom, Softshell Turtle, and Seal Extract. All beneficial to the human body.
He’d previously obtained this formula from a robot-loving purple-haired old man across various worlds, and its effectiveness proved to be remarkable after being tested by heroes.
After finishing the herbal soup, feeling unsteady, Nonoha’s tongue felt like it was made of ginger soaked in bitter water for ten years.
“Open,” the bitterness made her mind fuzzy; she instinctively opened her mouth only to have something else pushed in.
“More medicine— sweet!”
The stark contrast in taste brought her back to consciousness. She ate the sweetness in her mouth, licking the spoon clean.
When Ash pulled the spoon out of Nonoha’s mouth, it left a fine thread.
“Once a day, take your medication on time as you did just now. After drinking, eat a spoonful of sugar. Both are packed together in the clinic.”
Without bothering to wipe it, Ash threw the utensil onto the operating table and showed Nonoha where to get her medicine.
“Oh…”
“Hey wait!”
Thinking about enduring the bitter taste every day for a while, Nonoha stopped thinking altogether.