Monster Girl Doctor Vol. 3

by Yoshino Origuchi

  In her right arm, they had gone silent.

  Something similar had happened before. Parting with their regrets, the souls within her body parts vanished. With it, the corpses that made up her body never uttered another word.

  Drinking coffee at the sidewalk café in the plaza, Kunai moved her right arm back and forth. It moved. She could still move it with her own willpower, down to the tips of her fingers. That didn’t change, even if the flesh of her arm was now dead.

  However, as was her way of doing things, Kunai had decided to bury the now-silent dead flesh and search for a new body.

  The signs had long been there.

  Lately, she had stopped hearing the murderer’s voice whisper about slaughter and killing. Kunai assumed that the murderer, along with all the other souls inside her patchwork right arm, had returned to heaven.

  “I guess I worked it too hard…”

  In order to give Arahnia practice, a needle and thread had been run through Kunai’s right arm over and over again. Maybe the souls in her arm had gotten tired of it. She felt a twinge of regret for making them stay with her as a single part of her body.

  It was said that the undead had forgotten death, but even their kind experienced what it was like to die. Zombies’ bodies rotted. Skeletons’ bones eventually disintegrated. Whether they were living or not, there would eventually come a time when they would perish.

  Kunai knew that someday, the time would come when she no longer could maintain her own existence, no matter what occult magic was used on her. Her body was born from a loathsome and abominable experiment, but no fault lay with the patchwork of corpses used to make her.

  There was promise in Kunai’s search for a new right arm. She was sure that the manager of the graveyard district in the northern side of the city had fresh, good-quality corpses stored under his purview. Kunai figured that she simply needed to bring Dr. Glenn along with her and make a call on the manager soon.

  “Excuse me.”

  “Hm…?” Kunai replied.

  “Do you mind—”

  “—If we sit here?”

  “Sure,” Kunai nodded without looking at who she had spoken to.

  The open air café was quite crowded. Kunai figured everyone had been drawn in by Lulala’s singing voice. Despite being the middle of the night, the plaza was packed with people.

  Lulala was singing in the fountain, and Memé sat enraptured by her song. Illy sat on top of the café in which Kunai was sitting. With the merrow glass lamps illuminating the central plaza, the commotion resembled that of the harvest festival.

  “Hmph. Well look who it is…” said Kunai.

  “Why, Miss Kunai— ”

  “—Did you let us sit here without even knowing who was asking?”

  The two centaur ladies-in-waiting giggled as they took their places at the table. The café tables were built to match human height, so the tall centaurs were able to sit at them just by folding their legs under themselves, not needing any chairs.

  Kunai remembered their names—Kay and Lorna. They were the attendants to the daughter of Scythia Transportion. She assumed that they had asked to share her table because she was someone they were familiar with. Kunai thought it unlikely that the two had anything in particular to speak with her about.

  “It’s been quite some time since we’ve talked, hasn’t it?” one of them said.

  “When we had just become arena fighters, you were kind enough to give the two of us some lessons.”

  “Did I?” replied Kunai.

  “Well…”

  “We wouldn’t expect you to remember tiny details like that, Miss Kunai.”

  “…I’m ashamed.” Even now, having retired from the arena as a fighter, Kunai would use the pretext of training the fighters there to go back and visit. If she was being honest, there were a large number of centaur fighters in the arena, and it was too much for her to remember them all. There were times when she would fight close to a hundred of the fighters back to back. She had grasped that Kay and Lorna were both fighters, but any memories of helping them train or giving them lessons had been lost in the depths of her memories.

  “Is your mistress not here with you tonight?” Kunai asked, inquiring about Tisalia.

  The one equipped with a sword shook her head—Kunai wasn’t able to tell which one of them was Kay and which one was Lorna. She could only tell them apart by knowing that one wielded a sword, and one carried a bow.

  “Our mistress doesn’t stay up late.”

  “She’s made it her motto to lead a well-regulated life.”

  “Hmm. That’s a healthy motto to have,” Kunai replied. For someone like Kunai, who didn’t sleep, it didn’t concern her at all. Why then, she wondered, were Tisalia’s two attendants here with her?

  “Shouldn’t you be guarding her?” she asked.

  “Well now, that’s quite the thing to say, isn’t it?”

  “What about yourself, Miss Kunai—why aren’t you at Miss Skadi’s side?”

  “Hmph…” Kunai replied.

  “The two of us are faithful servants to our mistress. However…”

  “We’ll still have our nightly chats while she is resting, you know.” Kay and Lorna looked at each other and gave a nod of agreement.

  They looked a lot like each other, Kunai thought. She judged from their bearings that the one with the sword was the more martially skilled of the two. Nevertheless, the other one seemed to move as if she was compensating for the gaps in her partner’s defense. Kunai was confident that she wouldn’t have any trouble going up against them one-on-one, but figured that fighting them both at the same time would prove troublesome. It was clear proof that the two centaurs had been training with each other from a young age. It was in Kunai’s nature to unconsciously size up and contemplate the martial prowess of those around her.

  “What do you talk about together?” she asked.

  “Things we can’t say in front of our mistress.”

  “Like our complaints, for example.”

  “Complaints?” Kunai replied.

  “Yes, of course. There’s always something, isn’t there?”

  “We’re women, after all. Naturally, we have a complaint or two we’ve kept to ourselves.” They again turned to one another and gave a nod of agreement.

  “Honestly, our mistress can be such a handful—she’s only ever gone out to dinner with the doctor once.”

  “Yes, that’s right, and it was the same just recently, too. She was so unsure of herself regarding whether she should go give him a pick-me-up, since he has been working so hard.”

  “We egged her on until she finally went to meet with the doctor, but—”

  “—She is such an inexperienced young maiden about everything that just watching it can be so irritating.”

  Kunai gathered that the doctor they were speaking about was Glenn Litbeit.

  It was a widely known fact that the young daughter of the Scythia Transportation company was in love with Glenn—­although Kunai thought it was something anyone could figure out just by seeing the two interact. Kay and Lorna had said they had complaints, but it seemed they were really just impatient about their mistress’s lack of initiative when it came to Glenn.

  “Indeed, Dr. Glenn should come and visit the mansion,” one said.

  “Oh, and have an audience with the Master? That might be a good idea.”

  “The question is whether he would come obediently or not.”

  “Indeed, what if we tied him up first?”

  “Yes, why, that just might be unavoidable.”

  “We could, of course, take the opportunity to have a little fun ourselves—”

  “I’ll have you two end your scheming there,” Kunai said, interrupting in spite of herself, unable to let the two centaurs’ conversation continue any further.

  The lamia pharmacologist, the well-bred centaur arena fighter, the songstress mermaid—it seemed to Kunai that there were many people in love with the young doctor.
She imagined there might be more she simply didn’t know about. She knew a man popular with two different women was bound to be popular with even three or four others.

  It appeared to Kunai that the two centaur bodyguards in front of her were considerably taken with Glenn as well.

  “It’s just a joke, Miss Kunai.”

  “That’s right, look, you’ve relaxed a little bit, haven’t you?”

  The two of them giggled. As they sat there enjoying their herbal tea, they nibbled on the nut cookies they had with them. Kunai was wondering exactly when the two had even laid out these cookies, when the bow-wielding centaur reached out and offered her one.

  “What are you playing at?” Kunai asked.

  “‘Playing at’? Why, nothing at all!”

  “It’s just sort of a sleepless night tonight, that’s all.”

  “I’m sure you yourself, Miss Kunai, have one or two complaints about your own master.”

  “You do, don’t you? Let’s talk about them. It’s that kind of night.”

  “I don’t have any complaints at all,” Kunai said, biting freely into the offered cookie, which prompted Kay and Lorna to giggle at her again.

  Kunai thought the two centaur ladies were quick to start laughing. Women were gossipy creatures, but she felt that if they could laugh so cheerfully, they could be forgiven for it.

  The flesh that had been used for Kunai’s stomach came from the corpse of a well-trained female knight, but the knight seemed to have suffered terribly during her life and would always start complaining about the unfairness she had been dealt. Kunai was told the knight had been put to death for a crime she didn’t commit. It was unbearable for Kunai to always be forced to listen to the knight’s story.

  What was annoying was that this stomach of hers was close with her chest, which had come from a young virgin. When something happened, her stomach and chest would join together, and the voices inside her would tell Kunai all about what they had wanted to do in their lifetimes. Kunai found that doing womanly and feminine activities worked best to silence her chest and stomach.

  One example was what she was doing now—the conversation among the three women had satisfied both her heart and stomach, silencing them.

  That was to say nothing of the romantic lamplight or the beautiful singing voice of the mermaid songstress—currently singing a song of prayer for the safe conclusion of the night’s operation.

  Kunai couldn’t imagine a more maidenly, romantic night.

  “Oh, come on now, Miss Kunai—”

  “I’m sure even Miss Skadi isn’t perfect.”

  “You’re right, she isn’t perfect.” Kunai said, thinking about her master and the surgery she was undergoing at that moment. “Despite how the Lady Draconess appears, she’s very spoiled, quick to cry, often relies on me to help her, and even though she gets lonely easily and likes to talk to other people, she always tries to act tough and never wants to show her true self to others—she’s got an extremely annoying temperament.”

  “See, you do have some complaints.”

  “Not only that, but more than us by the sounds of it…”

  “However, none of that is really anything I’m dissatisfied with,” Kunai declared calmly. That was right, she thought. She didn’t have any complaints about Skadi. All she had was her own wishes for her master. “I simply want to reduce the amount of miscellaneous noise that troubles her and have her be able to enjoy herself more… That’s all I ever think about.”

  Kunai thought back over the days that had gone by since she had become Skadi’s bodyguard.

  Skadi was always using her own time for someone else’s sake. She had devoted her life to making the happiness of both humans and monsters a reality. That was wonderful in itself, not to mention her ambitious resolve to prevent war. That was precisely why Kunai felt the way she did.

  Lindworm had become a place of calm and peaceful scenery, much like the plaza was at that moment. It was a city without any quarrels between either human or monster, a city where its residents could pray for the well-being of someone else.

  Kunai thought Skadi had done enough and could now use her time for herself instead.

  “In that case, you’re just like us,” one of the centaurs said.

  “We’re always praying for our mistress’s happiness, after all.”

  “…Really?” Kunai replied.

  “Yes—”

  “—Of course.”

  The coffee was delicious. Kunai didn’t need to eat, but she was able to enjoy the flavors of food and drink. She was especially fond of coffee. It felt like when she drank some, it permeated the dead flesh that made up her body.

  “In fact, let’s pray now,” one said.

  “Yes, that’s a good idea.” The two attendants locked their hands together and closed their eyes.

  Kunai found it strange that the two of them had looked like a pair of conniving women up until that moment, but now seemed almost to resemble a pair of demure nuns.

  She made a fist and put it up against her forehead. Praying didn’t suit her, she thought. Who should a corpse be praying to—God?

  No, she thought, it was different. Just this once, she felt that if she prayed along with Lulala’s singing voice, it would reach its destination. There was only one person to whom she would be praying.

  “Dr. Glenn… I’m counting on you.”

  Kunai, who hated doctors, pleaded with the one and only doctor she trusted.

  The night in Lindworm wore on. A long night. A sleepless night.

  The announcement that the operation was finished ran through the city, right at the moment Lindworm’s bright moon finally descended and the dawn had begun to break.

  EPILOGUE:

  Lindworm’s Major Operation

  An audience had gathered at the Waterways. The scene closely resembled the recent commemoration ceremony—a large crowd gathered around the bridge over the largest canal, and a platform had been set up on top of the main bridge.

  Also just like the previous ceremony, Skadi stood atop the platform.

  Standing at her side was Kunai Zenow. Unlike before, however, she was standing a step back from her master, and only watching over her. Her position signaled she had no intentions of speaking for her master.

  “…Forgive me for worrying you all.”

  A hushed sound of awe reverberated through the audience. Skadi had spoken straight from her own mouth.

  “Because of my condition, I have long been unable to directly reach you with my voice, and for that I ask that you forgive me.”

  Her voice wasn’t loud at all. Nevertheless, with her clear way of speaking, she was able to sufficiently carry her words to the people in the audience.

  Skadi had taken off her veil and her face was exposed. No matter how one looked at her, she had the appearance of a little girl, but no one in attendance found it comical. Even if she were a child, everyone knew just how great her achievements were in contributing to the development of the city.

  “Thanks to the outstanding doctors from the Central Hospital and the Litbeit Clinic, my tumor has been safely removed. I still require regular treatment, but I will shortly be returning to my council duties. I’d like to thank all of the people who were involved in my operation.”

  Her voice came through. Skadi found it comforting that she could reach everyone with her own words again.

  “From here on out, I’d like to devote myself to the official business of this city, without any fear or anxiety for my own health. I’d like to ask you all—and thank you all—for your support.”

  Applause and whistling echoed across the area. The citizens of Lindworm were fond of festivals in the first place. They raised both hands in delight at things worth rejoicing over. This seemed to be the influence of the city’s relatively recent construction and their status as a tourist and merchant destination.

  It occurred to Skadi that she had probably been viewing the world through a veil without even knowing it—despi
te the fact that when she had her dragon form, she had been able to freely lord over the continent from the heavens above. Looking through a veil, one can’t truly see what one wants to see. She wondered if she had even been aware of what kind of city Lindworm was becoming as she built it.

  If everyone was so happy just because her surgery had been completed successfully and without incident, then maybe—she thought—it might be all right for her to try a little bit harder to enjoy the city for what it was.

  “Since I ruined the original ceremony, we will be holding it again today. I ask you to eat and drink to your hearts’ contents, and enjoy your time with each other here in the Merrow Waterways,” Skadi declared.

  Underneath the bridge, Lulala had already finished her preparations. She had been singing throughout the entire night of the surgery. Skadi hoped that Lulala wouldn’t harm her throat or her gills again, but she had heard that Lulala would only be singing one song today, so she gathered that it would be fine.

  As Skadi came down from the top of the platform, Kunai bowed her head.

  “Your address was magnificent, my Lady Draconess.”

  “Please—it was just a simple speech.”

  “Just hearing you speak with your own words was more than enough. Although I must admit it’s a little sad to think that I will no longer be able to act as your interpreter.”

  “I’m feeling well—thanks to Cthulhy and the others.”

  The truth was that, during her address at the previous ceremony, Skadi had planned to announce her retirement. She was going to hand over her position as council representative and retire from public life. As for who would replace her—she still considered Aluloona to be the best fit.

  Then with everything taken care of, she would wait for her death. The fake heart would slowly kill her.

  But there was no need for that anymore.

  Skadi had decided that she would watch over the city a little bit longer from her position as the council representative. After all, she thought, she had been looking at it through a veil until now—there might still be a lot that she had yet to see.

  She considered that it might be a good idea to lighten her load with the city council a little and stroll through the city. She also thought it would be nice to make plenty of time to speak with her old friends, Cthulhy, Aluloona, and Dionne.