The Trancer by Reki Kawahara

Author:Reki Kawahara [Kawahara, Reki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Paranormal
Publisher: Yen On
Published: 2017-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

“How is your wound doing, boy?”

In response, Trancer gave a strained smile. “Please refrain from calling me that. We’re not master and apprentice anymore, you know.”

“Oh? But you must still be a novice to have gotten such a deep wound, ah…Mikawa.” A sarcastic smile painted on her red lips, Mikawa’s visitor—the executive of the Syndicate, Liquidizer—paused a moment before calling him by his name. However, the smile was quickly replaced with a frown. “Goodness, though, why did you choose such a flashy name?”

“Flashy? That’s harsh. Mi as in ‘three’ and kawa as in ‘river’; it’s a reference to the River of Three Crossings, which the dead cross to get to the afterlife. Haven’t you heard the phrase ‘raindrops fall from the Sanzu River’?”

“Hmm… No. What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that as soon as you take a single step outside, you never know what dangers await you.”

“I see. Well, you’ve certainly demonstrated that with this little incident.”

With another cynical smile, Liquidizer tossed one of the two paper bags she was carrying onto Mikawa’s bed. A bundle of gauze, a roll of bandages, and a small bottle of ointment rolled out onto the blankets.

Returning the sarcastic smile, Mikawa picked up the items and looked down at his own body. Bloodstained bandages were wrapped tightly around his bare chest. That was the spot where Divider had opened up three of his ribs two days ago. Fortunately, his lung hadn’t been torn, but it was still an unquestionably serious wound; even two days later, his chest still ached with every breath he took.

Unwinding the bandages with his left hand, Mikawa glanced at Liquidizer. “…This is going to be pretty tough to replace all by myself.”

“I’d imagine so.”

“…I’d certainly be very grateful if you helped me with it.”

“I don’t wanna. It’d be a pain.”

Having expected that response, Mikawa smirked again. He couldn’t really complain. After all, when he had come crawling pathetically back to the hideout from Aoyama Cemetery, the enigmatic woman before him had treated his wounds, even using her liquefaction ability and medical adhesive to temporarily repair his broken ribs.

Crumpling up the used bandages and tossing them into the trash, Mikawa peeled the clinging gauze away from the wound, causing fresh blood to ooze forth. However, the wound had already healed considerably in just two days. This was probably thanks to his Third Eye enhancing his body’s healing abilities, but the admirable precision of the cut he’d received from Divider’s ridiculous sword probably helped, too.

Mikawa slathered antibiotic salve onto the wound, applied the gauze, and began with some difficulty to attempt wrapping the bandages. Then, Liquidizer shot him a bewitching smile.

“Oh yes…but I suppose if you’ll do me one small favor, I could be persuaded to help you.”

Without waiting for a response, she strolled over to the kitchen in the corner of the drab room and produced a mineral-water bottle from the fridge. Taking a crystal glass from the cabinet nearby, she poured the water into it.

“If you would be so kind.

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