"I'm sorry for being born..."
After talking with dad for about thirty minutes, he'd started making negative comments like this. Maybe I went a little overboard?
But I think dad was wrong too for getting so caught up in his fight with Garp that he wouldn't listen to me. Yeah, my self-defense is perfect.
"I brought the wounded!"
Garp's booming voice reached the community center. Time to work hard!
"I don't know how many wounded there are, so everyone please help! Dad! How long are you going to mope? I need your help too!"
"Life is meaningless..."
Sigh. I guess I have no choice.
"When you were fighting Garp earlier, you looked a little cool... Papa."
When I said that, my father, who'd been hanging his head, suddenly looked up.
"Akari... what did you just say?"
"Ugh, fine! Just help me, dad!"
"Hahaha! I'm back!"
"Stop being an idiot and hurry up! I'll call you 'old man' again!"
"Yes ma'am!"
He's such a handful! I wonder what mom saw in dad? If I asked something like that, I'd probably get sick from all the lovey-dovey talk, so I won't.
"Prepare hot water and clean cloth! And sterilize needles and thread just in case!"
At my instructions, the villagers and father started bustling around. I tried to remember if it was like this during emergencies in my past life, while also preparing myself to use my ability. I was used to seeing people die, but I still wanted to save anyone I could.
"Hmm? Lass, where's the doctor?"
"I'm the doctor, Garp."
Garp's eyes widened at my words. I was used to this reaction, but couldn't help smiling wryly.
"Bwahahaha! So you're the doctor, lass!"
"Yes. How many wounded are there?"
"Ask my aide, Bogard!"
"Sir! I'm Bogard, Vice Admiral Garp's aide! We have seventeen wounded requiring treatment! May we bring them into this community center immediately?"
"Please do."
Hearing those words, Bogard immediately gave orders to his men and they brought in the wounded. Time for my work!
"Please wrap cloth of the colors I specify around the wounded."
"Hmm? Why do that?"
"To prioritize treatment based on injury severity."
"Interesting."
"Yes, I think it's quite an interesting approach. It's much more efficient than treating people randomly, and should reduce confusion somewhat."
Garp and Bogard both nodded after my explanation. Understanding the intent of this practice despite not being medical experts showed they'd accumulated considerable combat experience.
While wrapping the cloth, I found someone needing emergency treatment.
"...! Quick, bring me water!"
The bandit boss brought water at my words.
"What's wrong, lass?"
"Questions later, please!"
I grew my horn to use my ability. Garp and Bogard's eyes widened, but I couldn't worry about that.
I pricked my finger with a needle and let one drop of blood fall into the water, which began glowing faintly golden.
"Here, drink this water!"
"Uh, ah..."
"Hang in there! Please drink it!"
The critically injured Marine drank the water, spilling some from the corners of his mouth. His wounds began glowing the same faint color as the water, slowly regenerating.
"This is..."
"Good! This man lost too much blood, so set up an IV too! Moving to the next one!"
"Good! This man lost too much blood, so set up an IV too! Moving to the next one!"
As I watched the lass treating the most critical wounded while wrapping colored cloth, I reflected on the miracle I'd just witnessed.
My subordinate who'd lost his right leg and left arm had those missing parts slowly regenerate after drinking the lass's water, and now they were completely restored.
We'd lost most of our medical supplies in the previous battle with pirates, so we couldn't give proper treatment to our wounded subordinates.
Our medic had provided minimal first aid and we'd sought a doctor on the nearest island, but we'd encountered unexpected fortune—no, a miracle.
My subordinate, who'd been crying after the medic declared he'd never return to active duty, was completely healed as if nothing had happened. If this wasn't a miracle, what was?
"Bwahahaha!"
I couldn't stop laughing at this unexpected encounter. I'd have to properly thank her for the earlier fight with her father and for saving my subordinate.
Watching the lass give precise treatment instructions despite her appearance, I thought again: I absolutely had to recruit her into the Marines.
"Phew, that finishes basic treatment for everyone."
I'd disinfected and sutured the minor wounds, and used my ability to heal the serious injuries. It might've been better to use my ability on everyone to avoid scarring, but my power was convenient, not omnipotent. That's why I tried to avoid using my ability whenever possible.
"Fine work, lass. You really saved us. But I'd like to ask—why didn't you use your ability to heal everyone?"
"Well, that's..."
"Ah, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."
"No, it's not that. I just don't know how to explain it..."
"I see. Sorry, lass. I completely forgot you're still a child. Bwahahaha!"
Combined with my previous life, I'm thir—no, I'm a nine-year-old girl. Can't be helped.
"It might be hard to understand, but... is that okay?"
"Sure, don't mind me. Well, I'm not too bright anyway, so I might not understand regardless. Bwahahaha!"
"Hehe, I'll explain then."
I organized my ability in my head and told Garp why I'd separated the treatments.
"My ability is healing, not recovery, in simple terms."
"Hmm? What's the difference?"
"Well... do you know about muscle soreness, Garp?"
"I know that much. It's when your muscles ache after training and such, right?"
"Right. When that heals, you can lift heavier things than before, right? Think of that as recovery."
I think it was actually called super-recovery or something in my past life. I should've studied more.
"True, strength does increase after training and battles."
"And healing is like returning to your state before training... something like that."
"So you separated my subordinates' treatment considering their growth?"
"Right, that's about it."
Garp said he wasn't bright, but he was good at grasping key points.
"Bwahahaha! I see! Lass, thank you again and again."
"I wish I could've explained it better..."
"Don't worry about it."
"Akari, I brought drinks so take a little break."
Dad brought juice over.
"Thanks, dad."
"Oh, samurai... I never got your name."
"My apologies. I'm Shirakawa Bunta. Please remember me."
"Bwahahaha! Likewise, Bunta!"
Thanks to their earlier fight, dad and Garp seemed to have hit it off.
"Oh right. Bunta, sorry for suddenly punching you. I saw you pointing a sword at the lass and thought you were some pirate scoundrel."
"No, I was wrong for drawing my sword in the wrong place..."
"That's right, Garp. Dad was the one in the wrong, not you."
Dad drooped at my words. Maybe he remembered our earlier talk.
"Besides, Garp, you should apologize to your subordinates, not dad. Some of them were in real danger."
"You're right. I'll bow my head to them later."
Even though Garp was a Vice Admiral in a very high position, he casually said he'd bow his head. I was a little surprised, but it also seemed very Garp-like.
"So lass, how long until the treated subordinates can move?"
"Well... some lost a lot of blood, so I'd like them to rest for at least seven days."
"Got it. Bogard!"
"Sir! I'll contact headquarters about our delayed return via Den Den Mushi."
With that, aide Bogard went outside. When did he get so close?
"Now then, changing topics, lass."
"Garp, my name is Akari."
"Got it, la—Akari."
Garp, who'd been smiling until now, turned serious as he spoke to me. What was this about?
"Would you like to join the Marines?"
At that time, I didn't yet know that this single question would become the turning point that would greatly change my life, born and raised in Wano Country.