kscans

Chapter 249 - Dealings with the Research Institution

I walked through every corner of the hospital.

The layout of each floor, the nurse stations, the operating rooms, the rehabilitation center.

I needed to grasp where the enemy might infiltrate and what route they would take. Although there was only one entrance to the isolation ward, that was the final line of defense. If I didn’t pay attention to other areas, dealing with them later would be difficult.

Setting traps would be easy, but that was out of the question. An innocent nurse could get caught in one.

The only way to intercept them was head-on. To do it peacefully, it had to be silent and swift. As I was thinking, I sensed a presence approaching from behind. There was no killing intent.

I turned to see a doctor in his sixties. From his demeanor, he was probably a senior executive.

As I thought this, the doctor said, "A pleasure to meet you. My name is Matsuda, and I am the director of this hospital. You’re the one who provided the slime, correct?"

"I am, but how do you know that?" I asked. "Even if you are the director, this is the first time we’ve met."

The director gave a wry smile. "My apologies. I saw you speaking with Kuroda-san and asked him afterward. To be direct, may I have a moment of your time?"

I thought for a moment. "Bardos, what do you want to do?"

Bardos also considered it briefly. "I’ll go too. It’s probably best I know what’s going on."

He would accompany me.

When I asked the director for his permission, he said, "That’s quite all right. It seems he’s also someone in the know." He gave his approval and started walking.

Bardos and I followed.

We left the hospital and went to the adjacent research facility.

It wasn’t far, so it wasn’t a problem. The entrance to the facility was heavily secured; a door opened when an ID card was swiped.

Inside, the atmosphere screamed ‘experiments in progress’ rather than just ‘research.’

Bardos commented, "This place is… kinda creepy. Suspicious. It’s bright enough, but it gives me an itchy feeling." He scratched the back of his neck.

I looked around. "Well, this is where they develop new drugs and things. Of course, there are things they can’t talk about…"

As we were talking, the director interjected, "That’s not quite the case. After developing a new drug, we simply have a few people cooperate with us to test its efficacy."

Well, that made sense. Recruiting test subjects is common enough that you can find listings online. They couldn’t sell a drug without knowing its effects and side effects. Naturally, there was appropriate compensation. This must be that kind of place.

I could see a few young people lying in beds through the windows.

Just then, we arrived at a heavily fortified door.

Two guards on either side saluted, then simultaneously inserted and turned their keys.

Inside, several elderly doctors were sitting in chairs, observing a glass case in the center of the room. Inside was the Reverse Slime.

"So this is where you conduct your research?" I asked. "Are you just watching it?"

"For now, yes," the director replied. "When it first arrived, we conducted every experiment we could think of. Regeneration speed, whether there were any parts it couldn’t regenerate, identifying weaknesses, and so on. Now, we’re observing how it moves and what it does when confined to a small space."

One of the seated doctors approached. "A pleasure to meet you. I’d offer you my business card, but my position prevents it. For now, please call me Sato." He extended his hand for a handshake.

"A pleasure," I said, shaking his hand. "My name is Kaikawa. In my case, it’s my real name. Hiding it would be pointless in my position."

The others remained seated, watching us.

"Are the others your subordinates?" I asked.

Sato replied, "Oh no. They are the directors of other hospitals. I am of a higher rank than them, so I merely stepped forward as their representative."

A higher rank? Higher than a hospital director would mean he was the head of a government-run research institution.

Sato continued, "You have provided us with something truly magnificent. As a result of the experiments the director described, we’ve found that it can perfectly reattach severed parts, leading to a full recovery. Furthermore, it can easily cure all manner of diseases, even those that are difficult to treat, such as cancer."

"It seems that regeneration of lost parts is only possible for the main body, but we have also confirmed an effect where severed tissue, no matter how damaged, is revitalized as if rejuvenated. Oh, and don’t worry. The ones who cooperated in the experiments were prisoners who volunteered in exchange for reduced sentences. It’s a common practice in this world." He smiled as he said it.

The content of his words was nauseating, but right now, I needed their power to save her. I had to endure it.

Sato then said, "By the way, on a different topic… we would like to request that you provide us with one more Reverse Slime."

"Our deal was concluded through Kuroda-san," I replied, my tone implying both refusal and a warning not to break our agreement.

Sato pressed on. "Of course, we will provide the best possible treatment. However, considering the future, it would be much easier for you to be on friendly terms with us. You wouldn’t have to bother going through the Manager, you see. It’s not a bad offer, is it?"

He was persistent. Annoyingly so. But I had to hold back.

I said, "Let’s start with the basics. The Reverse Slime is a high-level monster. Moreover, it’s an incredibly rare one that you hardly ever see. It’s not something you can just catch easily. I was just lucky this time."

Sato asked, "A high-level monster? What exactly is that?"

The other directors also perked up at this.

"I’ll explain," I said. "Bardos, if I get anything wrong, let me know."

Bardos nodded.

I explained the monsters of the other world. The difference between common and high-level monsters, their numbers, the strength of high-level ones other than the slime, and their ferocity. I gave them a general overview.

Bardos added, "For the record, Reverse Slimes are exceptionally rare. They’re monsters you might only see once a decade, if you’re lucky. Shinsuke finding one was honestly just too fortunate. It wouldn’t be strange to say he used up all his luck."

Sato wore a sour expression as he thought. "May I ask a question? To what extent would this world’s firearms be effective?"

I considered it for a moment. "Tanks or rocket launchers would probably be fine, but weapons like rifles or shotguns would be useless. They probably wouldn’t even work on a Goblin. Those things are small and nimble, and they’re used to handling weapons. As for high-level ones… there was the Goblin Guardian, I believe? It has enough durability to be impervious to all physical attacks, and while its weakness is fire, an ordinary flame won’t be enough to take it down. Is that right?"

Bardos nodded.

Sato looked troubled. "To think they’re that strong. It’s an unbelievable story, but after seeing this slime and that four-armed gorilla, I have no choice but to accept it." He sighed.

"You know about the gorilla?" I asked. "Does that mean you were a participant?"

Sato replied, "No. Kuroda-san told me about the gorilla. I contacted the person who purchased it right after and was allowed to see it for myself."

Hearing that, I asked, "Sato-san, just how much power do you wield?"

Sato chuckled. "Heh heh. Let’s just say I have enough power to object to a decision made by the National Diet Building and make them reconsider." He had regained his good mood.

"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that," I said. "Also, please give up on the monster issue. It’s more than you can handle." The negotiation was only possible because the Reverse Slime was a harmless creature.

As far as I knew, most monsters were aggressive.

After I conveyed this, Sato said, "I understand. Further negotiation seems pointless. In that case, could you tell us about your experiences in the other world instead? It’s always better to have more data, you see."

I turned to Bardos. "Bardos, this is going to be a long story, so you should head back to the room first."

Bardos nodded and left.

After that, I recounted the incidents and monsters I had encountered, keeping it just interesting enough.

Evening.

It seemed I had been talking for quite a while. The directors and Sato had listened intently, while people who seemed to be their assistants typed away on laptops.

As I was leaving, Sato said with a smile, "If you change your mind, please contact us anytime. You can reach us through the director here."

"I’ll consider it when the time comes," I replied, smiling back.

He was determined not to give me his direct contact information. Thorough, I thought, as I headed back to the hospital room.

When I entered, Tina and the others were talking with a nurse.

Noticing me, the nurse said, "Ah, welcome back. What would you like to do for dinner? The others have said they will be eating in the room."

"I’ll eat here, too," I said. "It’s my first time having hospital food, so in a way, I’m looking forward to it."

The nurse smiled. "Don’t worry. The meals here aren’t your typical hospital fare; they are quite refined. Of course, that’s because you are all special guests." Her words were suggestive.

"I see. A bit of a shame, but I guess it can’t be helped," I said. "Thank you for your help."

The nurse bowed once and left the room.

Tina approached me. "Shinsuke, Bardos told me. There are suspicious people about?" Her tone was serious.

The other four wore similar expressions.

I moved as I spoke. "Yeah, if they’re going to make a move, it’ll be soon. The directors said they’ll be conducting full-scale experiments shortly. Our enemies will want to strike before that."

As I spoke, I opened the box I had brought. Inside was a set of Japanese-style armor. My Japanese sword was hidden in a false bottom of the box. Tina opened her box as well. Inside was the full plate armor she always wore, and her weapon was an Orichalcum sword. Her other Orichalcum sword was back in the other world. It would be a disaster if that one were stolen. This Japanese sword was made only of Tamahagane and Adamantite; I had left my usual one behind.

Our equipment was ready. All that was left was to confirm our positions for the counterattack.

Night.

Dinner was a nutritionally balanced Japanese meal: tuna sashimi, red miso soup with clams, a personal sukiyaki hot pot, rice, and pickled radish.

It was certainly a refined meal. We ate it with relish.

And then, in the dead of night…

Suspicious shadows approached the hospital.