Chapter Fifty-Eight: Ruby—That's Just How Things Happen

Uremia is a syndrome composed of a series of clinical manifestations that appear when chronic renal failure enters its terminal stage. The suffering patients endure every second is immeasurable; the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive tract, blood, muscles, and bones all become affected.

"Do you know what this illness is called?"

Ryan did not understand the meaning of the name Ruby mentioned, nor did he need to. Records of this malignant disease exist throughout history, but there are none of successful cures—it is classified among the incurable illnesses. Hearing Ruby utter its name gave Ryan some comfort.

"I do know..."

Ruby was aware of the only treatment for this disease. Compared to a kidney transplant, an appendectomy was nothing at all. He hesitated because this would be the second operation of his life, and the first time performing a kidney transplant. He wasn't sure if he could do it well; experience was one thing, but reality could be quite another.

"Can it be cured?" Ryan asked with a deep breath, the question seeming to drain all his strength. He even feared Ruby's answer. His mother had already, without doubt, caught Death’s attention. Once, at Ryan’s request, even His Holiness the Pope had performed the "Angel’s Redemption" on her, which brought a brief recovery. But good days didn’t last; his mother grew weaker in the same way as before. Ryan understood that even if the Pope came again, it would only be a futile repetition of this cycle.

"It’s possible."

"Mr. Ruby, as long as you can cure my mother, I’ll do whatever you ask of me, I beg you..."

Ruby nodded, and that gesture was salvation to Ryan. His knees buckled, and he was about to kneel, but Ruby caught him by the arm just in time.

"There's no need for that. I already have a treatment plan. First, let’s return and seek help from His Majesty the Emperor."

Ruby helped Ryan to his feet, and after bidding farewell to Ryan’s delirious mother, they returned together to the Emperor’s chambers. Ryan, forgetting all formality, entered with him.

"What did you say? Repeat that?"

A few minutes later, both His Majesty the Emperor, who lay on his bed, and the Empress and Princess, who were watching curiously, were stunned. Ruby’s drawings of organs on the blackboard, intended to help them understand, seemed to have been for naught.

"Is it that hard to understand? Both of the patient’s kidneys are nearly dead. We need to find new ones and replace them. Do you get it?"

"Is that even possible?" Tinasha asked blankly. It reminded her of the building blocks she played with as a child. Ruby’s method seemed similarly whimsical—playing with people as if they were toys.

"You mean you’re going to cut someone else’s organs out and put them into his mother’s body, right? I’m not doubting you, but can someone else’s organs really be used like that?" Even His Majesty the Emperor, who had personally experienced the marvels of surgery, couldn’t help but question. After all, excision and transplantation are entirely different concepts. The first person on Earth to propose organ transplantation had also faced countless doubts.

"As you said, someone else’s organs are never as good as your own. The body is very likely to reject the transplanted organ, and no one can guarantee otherwise. All I can do is find the best match possible and then… leave it to fate."

"Very well. I’ll order the entire imperial capital to look for a suitable donor."

Kaisk XIII knew that the only thing he could do was use his authority to give Ryan this order. That day, all across Elrak, both nobles and commoners alike received a message: the commander of the Golden Sword Lion Magic Corps was seeking someone willing to donate an organ from their abdomen, with generous rewards to follow.

The message spread throughout the capital in the simplest of terms. Anyone literate could understand what was happening. But precisely because they understood, there was an uproar. Everyone knew the inside of the body was far more delicate than the outside; to cut out a piece of flesh from your belly was no different from killing someone, was it not? Even though the message repeatedly assured that losing a piece of flesh would not be fatal, that one line alone scared away countless people.

The Church even sent representatives to ask if this was some kind of dark magic. In the end, only out of respect for the Emperor did they reluctantly accept Ruby’s explanation.

But where there is great reward, there will always be the brave. Debtors, impoverished commoners, and desperate failures gathered outside the palace gates. Soon, the guards led them into a spacious room where, in a haze of confusion, they listened as a black-haired, spiky-headed youth explained at length what their future would be like with one less kidney. That scared off another batch of volunteers, leaving barely a hundred people.

Those willing to take the risk each had a small sample of blood drawn and were told to leave their addresses and wait for news. Such is the privilege of royal power. On Earth, no country would dare buy and sell organs so openly, but here… His Majesty the Emperor could proudly declare: Sorry, I am the law.

In a room with only two people, Mayuna for once sat quietly beside Ruby, rather than playing about. The sofa beneath her was brought from their little cabin; Mayuna was used to its comfort and wouldn’t trade it for the emperor’s throne.

"Ruby, you don’t need to push yourself so hard."

The young Magus hesitated before finally speaking. Ruby had had his eyes closed for a long time, reviewing information in his mind and simulating the surgery over and over. The sweat beading on his forehead left Mayuna feeling uneasy. She couldn’t help but wonder why Ruby was going through so much for their sake—he owed them nothing.

"I’m not tired," Ruby replied, shaking his head. It was not just a matter of surgical skill; there was a greater challenge to overcome—the almost certain rejection reaction. On Earth, immunosuppressants were used, but such drugs could not be made in this world. If, after the transplant, Ryan’s mother still died from rejection, wouldn’t all his efforts be in vain?

"In any case, let’s rest for a while."

Mayuna ignored his words and, with gentle force, pulled him so that his head rested on her lap. This, she felt, was the best comfort she could offer.

"So, how does it feel to have a beauty like me as your pillow?" she teased, her self-satisfied tone making Ruby chuckle despite himself. This was the second time Mayuna had seen Ruby smile.

"Mayuna."

"Hmm?"

"I have a few questions for you. I might need your help."