Episode 46: Rogue Scholar
Yuma was perplexed by the story he was suddenly told.
“Apparently, they were classmates back in college. Listening to their conversations, not knowing if they were on good or bad terms, makes my heart race a little. Ah, this is just between us!”
“H-haaa…”
The president’s ex-girlfriend story was surprising, but even more surprising was Tanaka’s love for gossip.
He’s just like a gossipy old woman.
“Hey, Yuma! The discussion’s over, so we’re heading to the laboratory now. Dungeon exploration is canceled for today.”
“Y-yes!”
The president put the car keys from his desk into his pocket.
“Tanaka-san, please prepare for tomorrow’s expedition.”
“Understood.”
“Maika! I’ll be back by noon. Buy the supplies that are running low.”
“Yessir.”
“Alright, Yuma, let’s go.”
“Yes!”
The two went outside, down the stairs, got into the rugged jeep parked in the parking lot, and headed to the laboratory in question.
◇◇◇
Ota Ward, Tokyo. A manufacturing town with many small factories.
However, due to a lack of successors and competition from overseas, many companies are giving up on management. In a corner of such a town, there was the laboratory that Yuma and the president were aiming for.
They parked the car on the premises, got out, and looked up at the building.
The company name written in paint had completely peeled off, making it impossible to read what it said.
The corrugated iron exterior walls were rusty and tattered. It didn’t look like a laboratory at all.
“Is this the laboratory?”
“Well, it’s just being used by a ‘Rogue Scholar’ who was kicked out of university.”
The president bypassed the front shutter and opened the door on the left.
Upon entering, the smell of metal and oil stung the nose. It was so dim that you had to be careful not to trip over the tools lying around.
The president, looking accustomed to the place, went up the stairs and reached for the doorknob of the room in front of him.
Inside, the only light in the laboratory was brightly lit. Looking inside, there was a long-haired woman in a lab coat facing a computer in the back of the room.
“Hey, I brought him! Check him out.”
When the president spoke casually, the person with her back turned replied roughly, “Just a moment!”
Perhaps it was a common occurrence, as the president clicked his tongue, leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. It seemed he was prepared to wait.
Yuma had no choice but to wait for the woman in the lab coat to finish her work.
“President, what kind of scholar is that woman?”
“Hmm? Ah, she’s an eccentric biologist who’s been researching the Black Dungeon for a long time. She’s smart, but she often clashes with people. Now, she’s not taken seriously by any legitimate research institutions or universities.”
Yuma began to worry if it was okay to leave it to such a person.
After a while, a small voice said, “Alright.” The woman in the lab coat strongly hit the enter key on the computer and then closed the browser.
She stood up and turned around.
Black pants and a white blouse. A long-haired woman with black hair wearing a lab coat over it. She looked to be in her early forties.
Yuma thought she had refined features. But the dark circles under her eyes ruined her beauty.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Is this the kid? The one you want me to examine?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
The president scratched his head and answered curtly. They didn’t seem to be on good terms.
The woman put her hand on her chin as if thinking about something.
“Hmm… whether he has a constitution that makes it difficult to accumulate Mana. I haven’t heard of it, but well, I’ll check it out. Come here!”
Looking at the president, he nodded. Yuma walked over to the woman.
Then, the woman peered into Yuma’s face and grinned.
“What’s your name?”
“A-ah, yes… Mitaka… Yuma.”
“I see, then Yuma. I’m Aisha Kisaragi. I’m going to examine you in various ways from now on, but there’s nothing to worry about. If there’s anything wrong with your body, I’ll find it right away. I’m excellent, after all.”
Aisha said that and smiled softly.
Yuma could only manage to say, “Y-yes.” She really seemed like an eccentric person.
Ignoring Yuma’s anxiety, Aisha turned her gaze to the president.
“Kotaro! This is a favor, so you have to pay me back for this and the previous one!”
The president said, “I know,” and frowned.
“Follow me!”
“Y-yes.”
Yuma left the room with Aisha and entered another room. There, various devices and medicine-like items were lined up on shelves.
“First, I’ll check if there’s anything wrong with your body. Sit there.”
“Yes.”
He sat on a round chair and looked around. Aisha brought something and sat on the chair in front of him.
“I’m going to do a blood test, so show me your arm. I’m going to draw blood.”
“Yes…”
Aisha lightly disinfected Yuma’s arm and checked the location of the blood vessels. She removed the cap from the needle tip, inserted the needle into the puncture site, and then attached a vacuum blood collection tube to the holder.
However, Yuma had a question here. He had heard that this person was a biologist, but was she also a doctor?
“Um, isn’t blood collection only allowed for doctors or nurses? Does Aisha-san have such qualifications?”
“Oh, you know such detailed things well. Don’t worry, I’m doing it for the sake of scientific development. There’s no need to worry about trivial things like laws.”
–Huh!? For a moment, he didn’t understand what she was saying, but in short, she didn’t have the necessary qualifications?
Yuma could only watch Aisha, who was drawing blood with a smile.