Side Story 7
One day, an unbelievable case came my way.
My healing skills are quite well known around town.
Even so…this is…hmm…
What was brought to me was a severed head.
「Are you for real……」
The one who brought it was a sketchy slave trader I’m acquainted with.
He buys slaves through shady channels. An odd guy.
What he brought me this time was a severed head.
The face on the severed head was burned and peeled beyond recognition.
The nose was smashed, the eyes gouged out, and the teeth were missing.
Frankly, it was gruesome.
「Actually, this thing’s alive.」
「Huh…? For real…?」
Incredibly, this tattered severed head was apparently still alive.
But it’s a severed head…?
Is it even possible for a severed head to be alive…?
「Eld, I figured you could heal this guy up. Anyway, I’m counting on you.」
「Well, I’ll do what I can…」
Even so…
Healing a severed head? Is that even possible…?
Oh well. Here goes nothing.
I cast a recovery spell on the severed head.
The head’s face slowly began to return to normal.
Eyes grew back, the nose went back to its original form, and teeth grew in.
And the severed head really did seem alive, looking around at its surroundings.
Then it opened its mouth.
It really was alive…!
「Huh…? Where is this…? Oh… I can talk now. And I can see…! You healed me…?」
「Ah, yes…」
「Thank you so much…! Thank you…! I thought I would stay like that forever…」
「Ah, yes…」
I was perplexed.
Because that severed head’s face… I recognized it.
It closely resembled the face of Dullahan girl Ariana I had healed not long ago.
「Hey… is your name Ariana…?」
「Huh…? How do you know my name…?」
「Just as I thought…」
Come to think of it, Ariana had said she was sentenced to decapitation.
But Ariana didn’t die.
And so Ariana became a headless body.
So then where was her head…?
That’s right – the head might still be alive too.
This living severed head must be the other living half of Ariana’s body.
「Actually…」
I explained to Ariana what had happened.
「Whaaaaat…?! So I’m two people now…?!?」
「Yeah, well, that’s what happened…」
「What… what do I do…?」
「Nothing we can do I guess…? We can’t kill either one of you just because you split in two, right? You’ll just have to live as two people now.」
「I guess you’re right but…」
「Alright, for now let’s just finish the healing.」
I cast further recovery magic on the severed head Ariana.
And then, incredibly, a body regenerated from the severed head.
And so now, two complete Arianas exist in this world.
「Thank you again for healing me! But… what do I do now that there’s two of me…?」
「Why not meet up and talk it over? See what you think then?」
「Ehh…!?」
And so I contacted the duke who had bought Ariana.
A few days later, Ariana came to the mansion.
Ariana faced Ariana.
「Who would’ve thought this could happen…」
「Well the head was alive too, so this makes sense…」
「What do we do…?」
「What should we do…?」
After discussing it, the two decided to live as twin sisters from now on.
Since this happened, they thought it would be convenient in many ways to be together.
「This could be fun…!」
「I know, right? Having two of me – it’s wonderful, like a dream…!」
And with that, the matter was settled.
The second Ariana would also be cared for in the duke’s home who bought the original.
From now on, the two would get along and make things work.
I’ve fantasized before about what it would be like to have two of me.
I could have one nap while the other worked.
But is this story really a happy ending…?
One question nagged at me.
What happened to Ariana’s original soul…?
And also, what if, hypothetically, Ariana’s body were to be torn in two again?
What would happen then?
If Ariana were to be decapitated again, would she die this time?
Or would her head and body live on separately again?
If so, could I heal her again and split her further?
Maybe Ariana has the potential to infinitely self-duplicate like a planarian…?
I have no intention of actually testing such a horrific idea but…
A hint of doubt lingered in my mind.
Just thinking about it gives me chills.
Better not ponder it too deeply…
Sub29: This is the last chapter of this series. Thanks for tuning in. The next series I’m planning to translate is this: NU link
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