Chapter 174: Episode 4: The Hollow Shrine (Part 4)
The film continued to roll.
"Did you hear? The patient in the private ward on the third floor… she actually woke up."
"Yeah, and get this—she tried to blind herself. Pressed her palms right onto her eyeballs while the doctor wasn't watching. Totally horrifying."
"Wait, didn't they say that girl had been in a coma for two years? Shouldn't her body be too weak to move?"
"True, but isn't her family super rich? Ever since she was admitted, we've been doing extensive physical therapy on her. Her joints never stiffened."
"Still, who'd have thought she'd apply enough pressure to nearly give herself glaucoma… Now she can't see a thing. They say she even requested to have her eyes bandaged."
"Darkness to darkness, huh? Doesn't sound right at all."
"Not just 'not right'—the girl has other issues, too. Seems like she developed aphasia. Can't hold a normal conversation. The doctors had to call in a language specialist since we don't have one on staff."
"Because Dr. Araya quit last month… But that means no visitors now, right?"
"Seems that way. Too bad for that boy, huh?"
"You mean the loyal puppy? Yeah, he's still been visiting. That kind of devotion's rare these days."
"Right? Two whole years, and he never once gave up on her. Honestly, I think… part of the miracle that woke her came from him."
"I like him too. If only I had someone that reliable chasing after me…"
The nurses' gossip ended there. As medical professionals, they knew where to draw the line.
Meanwhile, a woman with fiery red hair—Aozaki Touko—strode into the hospital, step by purposeful step, until she reached Ryougi Shiki's room.
On-screen, Touko quickly began speaking with Shiki.
Apparently assigned as a psychological counselor, Touko's tone was unusually cheerful—maybe a little too cheerful. It irritated Shiki to no end.
But Aozaki Touko was no ordinary woman. As a seasoned magus, she cut straight to the heart of the problem.
"You've lost something important. Right now, your heart has a hole in it. And no magecraft can fill that void for you. You have to figure out how to fill it yourself."
"A hole… in my heart?"
"Exactly. I bet you've already noticed, haven't you? You're all alone now."
With that, Touko turned and left the room, leaving Shiki lying in bed—lost, confused, and completely alone.
After that scene, one major mystery that had been bothering viewers was finally cleared up.
Everyone had been wondering what had happened to SHIKI, Ryougi Shiki's alternate personality. But now, it was becoming clear—SHIKI was gone. Dead.
"So SHIKI really did die… That explains why he never showed up again in Overlooking View or Remaining Sense of Pain."
"But why? What happened that night? Was Shiki attacked or something?"
"He must've been. Why else would she end up in the hospital like that? My guess is SHIKI took the fall—died in Shiki's place."
"Man, I actually liked SHIKI… Can't believe he's just gone now…"
Conversations stirred in every corner of the tavern. Everyone's focus had shifted—to the Shiki who had just awakened, and to the SHIKI who might never appear again.
In contrast, Emperor Hubbard seemed more interested in the concept of the hospital as portrayed in the movie. Stroking his beard thoughtfully, he spoke:
"This facility Lord Durin designed is truly fascinating. Gathering a large number of medical staff and patients together in one location to carry out treatment—it's a simple idea, yet… our Empire has never implemented anything like it."
Beside him, General Wilhelm added:
"It has appeared before, in a way. During wartime, the Healing Knights used a similar system. But that was only in times of war. In peacetime, the Church would never deploy that many priests just to treat commoners. And frankly, the average citizen couldn't afford the cost of a priest's blessings."
"The Church, huh…"
At that name, a slight frown formed on Emperor Hubbard's brow.
Historically, relations between the human Emperors and the Church of the Holy Light had always been strained. After all, the Church continually preached its "divine right of Emperors" doctrine—something no sovereign ruler was willing to accept.
Yet no matter how much the monarchs resented the Church, it wasn't something they could simply abolish. It held too strong a sway among the people. At most, they could only try to limit its influence in politics.
Now, even the Church's inner corruption had become plain for all to see. But how to actually solve the problem… not even the current Emperor had a satisfying answer.
Sensing the Emperor's train of thought, General Wilhelm spoke up again:
"Perhaps building large-scale hospitals like this is the way forward. If we can wrest the power to heal from the Church's hands, it could seriously undermine their authority."
"Hmm… Yes. A fine idea."
Emperor Hubbard gave a rare nod of approval.
Who would have imagined that a single detail from a movie would inspire the Emperor and his general to decide on a proposal—one that, for the Church, would be a thorn in its side and a turning point in the Empire's history?
. . . . . .
Imperial Mage Academy.
The film had shifted the mages' attention to a new topic—Ryougi Shiki's mental state. After all, when one half of a dual personality simply vanishes, the impact is no small matter.
That said, most mages were woefully inexperienced when it came to matters of the mind and soul. Even among those who specialized in soul-based disciplines, few could give a coherent analysis.
In the midst of this confusion, a voice rang out loud and clear.
Gebrun, whose presence had gone unnoticed until now, stood up and declared:
"With SHIKI gone, it's as if Ryougi Shiki lost half of herself. That kind of trauma would obviously cause memory instability. Right now, her grasp of her own identity must be completely unbalanced. It's a cognitive dissonance: she recognizes the world around her, yet doesn't understand why she recognizes it. She knows that something is 'paper,' or 'flower,' or 'fire,' or 'grass'… but her mind can no longer provide a definition. To put it simply—'I know what this is. But I don't know what it means.'"
"Ahh, now that makes sense!"
The surrounding students nodded one after another, admiration flashing across their faces.
But then, their expressions stiffened.
They had just realized who had spoken—and that it was none other than Gebrun, the repeat-year student from hell, known throughout the academy for his… indescribable eccentricities.
Of course, Gebrun didn't care in the slightest about their awkward glances. His attention was entirely absorbed by the screen. He was fully immersed in the experience that was The Garden of Sinners.
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