When I informed the doctor of my presumably otherworldly origins, he held his chin while thinking.
"... It's possible. Something like this does happen often."
He told me that every now and then, someone from another world would show up through an extradimensional gate. These people always seemed to have fantastical properties, from animal ears and tails, to mythical powers.
As a result, this world slowly became filled with all sorts of extraordinary beings, who both threaten and preserve the cohesiveness of our reality.
"You could be one such being. However, you don't seem to possess any sort of paranormal traits. Tell me, are you truly human?"
"Of course I am!"
Dr. Balisong squinted his eyes, untrusting.
He suddenly got extremely close, before muttering.
"I want to examine you..."
A shiver ran down my spine, as I shuddered in fear. What did he mean by that.
"O-oh! speaking of which, how long was I out for?"
Hastily backing away, I pushed the conversation in another direction while avoiding eye contact.
"Hmm, well you were supposed to be unconscious for 6-12 months..."
"Supposedto? How long has it really been then?"
"About 5 weeks."
Oh shit?
"Which is why I don't quite believe that you are just human."
Balisong suddenly closed the distance again, completely ignoring the wall I just put up, and examined me with a suspicious expression.
"Can you back off!?"
I pushed him away with my working arm, the other still recovering.
Due to his highly feminine features, it made being up close with him especially uncomfortable, like seeing a skinwalker.
You want to accept them as one of your own, but your instincts advise you otherwise.
I'm not gay, I promise this isn't that kind of story.
"Hm. A shame, I would have loved to study you."
What does he mean when he says this shit... I gotta do something about this before he sneaks into my hospital room at night.
"Just to be clear, I don't swing that way."
"Hm? Me neither?" He tilted his head while smiling innocently.
...
Can I get a new doctor?
"Haaah... Well, what do I do about my citizenship? with how you described it, I'm pretty much an immigrant."
"Oh, that's simple. In fact, just before I came in, I made a call regarding that, so we should be expecting someone soon."
"Huh? How soon? Like 2-3 days?"
"2-3 seconds."
As he said that, black smoke seeped into the room from under the door, and briefly obscured my vision.
Converging onto one point, it slowly but surely condensed into the figure of a tall woman.
When the shadows dispersed, they left behind a intimidating lady with long pink hair, and a massive scythe.
"Yo, Grim Reaper Calliope Mori at your service! Are you the guy?"
"..."
I wanted to say something about what I just witnessed, but I realized that this was surely something that would become common.
"Uh... Yeah, that's me."
"You took a while to react."
At that, the doctor stepped in.
"He's from another world, so this might be his first time seeing something like this."
"Ahhh, that'll do it. An otherworlder huh? Is it that time already?"
Miss Calliope seemed to be reminiscing for a second before focusing back on me.
"Well anyway, seems like you'll be having it rough if you're in the hospital before you even get any identification."
The large woman who proclaimed herself as the grim reaper suddenly expressed pity for me.
At that confusing statement, I met her pitiful eyes.
And watched as they slowly turned hostile.
-Second Curse, [Elders Gaze]-
At that moment, she disappeared from my view. By the time I reacted, I felt a sharp, cool sensation on my neck.
"Huh?"
The grim reaper was suddenly behind me, and had her scythe looped around my head.
"..."
"..."
We stood like that for what felt like hours before Calliope sighed and retrieved her weapon.
"Geez, that's a bit of a problem."
"What is?"
Dr. Balisong barely reacted, simply confused at why the reaper suddenly felt threatened.
"I can tell you're just a regular person, but when I met your eyes... Nah, it's nothing."
Calliope simply shrugged and looked at me, purposely avoiding eye-contact.
"Hey, here's some advice for ya. Don't look anyone in the eyes from now on. I was only able to hold back because it's not your time to die yet. You may not be so lucky next time."
"Ah... Sure." I barely managed to speak as the shock began to wear off.
"Seems like another interesting one came through this time." Calliope muttered.
While I was still reeling from the shock of nearly dying, I heard Balisong whisper next to me.
"'Just human' huh?"
I'm not letting you 'examine' me dude.
Shaking my head, I meekly asked.
"Uh, miss Mori? I heard you were called here regarding my Identification."
"Oh, right. Here."
The shadows emerged again, and condensed down into a small point, revealing a card the size of my palm.
The tall woman grabbed it and handed it to me.
"Here you go. One Identity card, just for you."
I shakily accept the card as she turned around to leave.
On it were a couple of details about me, such as my name, height, and age-
"Wait, how do know this about me? I didn't even tell you yet?"
"Hm? Let's not worry about that, Kay? After all..."
She turned around and looked back at me.
"Death knows everyone on a first name basis."
Her form began to dissipate into black smoke once more.
"Make sure to keep my advice in mind alright? I don't wanna have to visit you too soon! Hahahah!"
With that, Calliope Mori disappeared, and the room went silent.
"..."
"..."
"Is that normal?"
"Yes."
Fuck.
Why the hell does the grim reaper work for the USCIS?
And what the hell is this [Elders Gaze]? Who's talking in my head? Does making eye contact with people make them wanna kill me? Is that what happened with that dog girl?
And I've already made eye contact with balisong multiple times, why hasn't he attacked me yet?
So many questions, but no one to answer them.
Am I boned?
Dr. Balisong must have seen how frustrated I was and reassured me.
"Don't worry. You'll get used to it."
That's not reassuring at all.
"Sigh..."
Ah, fuck it. It is what it is.
"So, what's the bill look like?"
"Hmm... I was hoping you would forget about that."
That bad huh?
"Just rip the band aid off."
"Well, alright."
At that, Balisong pulled a paper slip from his pocket and gave it to me. When I saw the number, my eyes bulged out of my skull.
What the hell? Does a number this big even make sense?
"No way this is accurate right?"
"Well, saving you was nothing short of necromancy, so we ended up using a lot of resources."
"What resources? Gold bars motherfucker!?"
In what world does a hospital cost 12.8 million dollars you piece of shit!!
"Hey, industrial mana stones aren't cheap. Ever since the tariffs hit we've been running real low. We used 15 on you alone."
"Fuck me..."
"Are you offering?"
"NO!!!!"
I thought you didn't swing that way?!
My anger did not last long, as the reality of my situation quickly settled in like an unwelcome roommate.
Before long, I was sitting on the hospital bed with my head in my hands, running through my options.
I must have looked like shinji from evangelion at that moment, because Balisong seemed concerned before patting my back.
"Don't kill yourself."
"... Hey, are you in charge of comforting guests after a patient passes away?"
"Weirdly enough, no."
Thank god.
Still, his absurd words pulled me out of my head for a second, allowing me to think about the near future.
"How long until I'm discharged?"
"Hmm, about 6 days?"
Balisong looked me over briefly and gave me an insane estimate.
"Only 6 days?"
"Well when you came here a couple weeks ago, you were pretty much dead. And yet here you are standing and chatting away. Your recovery rate is truly unnatural."
Is it really? Odd, I don't feel any different. The only sensation in my body at the moment is pain. If it weren't for my masculine pride, I'd be in bed crying right now.
Hm, maybe I should ask him for some pain killers.
Tsk, but the hospital bill though...
Anyway, since Balisong had done everything that needed to be done, he checked a few more things before telling me not to move too much and left.
With that, I was alone once more.
...
...
...
Where the fuck am I gonna get 12.8 million dollars?
Balisongs words about not killing myself became increasingly difficult to follow.
"Sigh... Well."
I leaned back into the hospital bed, feeling my tense muscles finally relax.
"Now what?"
×Chapter 3: Generational Debt×