4 days after Nanahoshi collapsed.
We are summoned to a round table.
Besides Yuruzu, all other Familiars are present.
Perugius sits before them.
He sat on a luxuriously big chair with the Familiars standing behind.
"Please sit."
We sit down on Sylvaril's suggestion.
Absent is Sylphy, who is helping Yuruzu with treatment, 7 present in all.
"Nanahoshi-sama has been diagnosed."
Once we're seated, Sylvaril steps forward and reports.
We finally know.
"Nanahoshi-sama suffers from Drain Syndrome." [3]
Drain Syndrome.
Never heard of it.
Looking around, neither did anyone else.
Even someone as informed as Cliff comes up empty.
"It's expected that no one has heard it before. A disease from time immemorial, when men held far lesser magic power than now. If a child is born without any magic capacity, without exception, that child experiences similar symptoms and by the age of 10, dies."
So the same situation as Nanahoshi.
Although she's not 10, she has been in this world for over 8 years now.
And she doesn't have an ounce of magic...
At least, it's not Sylphy's fault.
Thank goodness.
"According to records, those without magic power absorbed minute amounts of magic from outside, after 10 years of accumulating in their body, it becomes an illness..."
Without magic, their ability to absorb magic from outside is minute.
I don't know the details, but I guess magic is like bacteria in a way.
For those with magic power, the good bacteria kill the bad, but in those without any power only bad bacteria accumulates.
We don't know for sure how trustworthy the records are.
But that does make a lot of sense.
"Does it record a cure?"
"No. According to the records, this disease was eradicated some 7000 years ago, after humanity increased in magic power."
7000 years ago, so the first Human-Demon Great War.
I remember hearing that the war raged for nearly a thousand years.
The war caused all kinds of advancements.
Through various means, humanity self improved.
One side effect is the eradication of this disease.
That's possible too.
Say, 7000 years ago.
There can't be many texts that managed to survive such ravage of time.
Finding the disease's name is already a miracle in and of itself.
"Then, what do we do?"
"We stop time."
The one that answers my question isn't Sylvaril.
But rather the calmly seated Perugius.
"Borrow the power from Sukeakoto of Time [4] and stop time for Nanahoshi."
Perugius declares and a man steps forward.
He wears a mask with its mouth sticking out.
A Hyottoko mask, rather, more like a gas mask.
He is Sukeakoto of Time.
From what I remember, he has the ability of stopping time for anyone he touches.
Of course, time freezes for himself as well. But with this ability, he can prevent Nanahoshi's illness from worsening or death.
But who knows how long he can maintain it, nor does it solve the root of the problem.
"I see, then what?"
"Contact people on the ground and find a cure."
Oh.
That could work.
No one will refuse someone like Perugius.
"Still, the question is who would help Nanahoshi."
"Isn't there some way with Armored Dragon-sama's influence?"
"Nanahoshi and I only have a cooperative relationship. I shall not owe favors for her sake."
Isn't that a bit cold?
Still, I don't know the exact details of their relationship, so I have no right to object.
"Don't be mistaken. As guests of my castle, I'll offer some minimum assistance. But don't expect everything. My ultimate purpose is to find and destroy Laplace."
In other words, because of the work related to observing Laplace, he will not do more than necessary to help.
Nor will he owe favors to others.
Favors demand repayment.
Particularly so for the cure of an long eradicated disease.
The other side will definitely expect something big in return.
Perugius has no reason to go that far for Nanahoshi.
No, actually he has plenty of reason not to.
Keeping Nanahoshi alive is as far as he'll go.
He refuses to do more. If someone wants to help, then he's free to help.
That is the meaning behind Perugius's words.
That should be right.
"... So you will just watch Nanahoshi die!?"