The village clinic was a perfect cover for our research.
Though restricted to people above a certain age, we have the ability to do health check-ups on the majority of the Hinamizawa residents. ...This was a definite plus for the clinic being the front cover of the research facility. And thanks to connections, we were able to perform autopsy on the villagers' corpses. ...As a person working in the field of medicine, I couldn't have asked for a better place to work.
The continuation of the now-deceased Dr. Takano's work is going smoothly. ...The amount of research data compiled by the previous researcher was astounding. It surprises me again as it showed me how great the man was.
Takano: "Excuse me, director"
Irie: "...Oh, Takano-san, thank you."
Takano: "The final test results came back from Tokyo today. I'll leave them here, okay?"
Irie: "Thank you. ...Now things are starting to get more interesting."
Takano: "*chuckle chuckle* I'm happy to enjoy this excitement along as well."
Takano-san is my right-hand person who was provided to me by the SDF. However, there's something strange about her that doesn't quite fit my perception of a SDF officer. Just as our research is deemed confidential to everyone, ...perhaps her identity might also be confidential as well. I'm pretty certain that her surname, Takano, is also fake.
I am just a doctor and a researcher, nothing more. Without Takano-san's support, I can never manage the place as the director of the Irie Facility. She is a pipeline to her clients in "Tokyo," my right-hand person, and an avid researcher herself on the Hinamizawa Syndrome. ...Her assistance here is a huge benefit for this facility. ...But as I think more and more, I'm beginning to think that this place would rather be fit to be named as the Takano Facility rather than from my name. With her vast credentials and skills, it would make more sense that she was the director of this facility.
However, I do recall the first time they approached me with this offer. ...The client wanted a civilian to head the facility. Hence, they searched for a person who fit the description as mine, and set me up as the director.
...Even I understand I'm just a puppet on the stand. But, I refuse to just sit here and do nothing. I was given the chance to research about a rare disease. And as a researcher, such an opportunity excites my own curiosity. I have no idea what my clients want out of this research, but I do have the desire to enhance my quest for knowledge in order in order to become one of the first people to unravel the mysteries of human body.
Irie: "It is rather disappointing that despite us having all these data that proves the existence of a parasite as the cause for the Hinamizawa Syndrome, ...we still don't have the factual evidence of the culprit microbe itself."
Takano: "Yes. I too had anticipated that we could easily find them with the aid of an electron microscope."
Viruses were too small to be seen by a normal optical microscope. But, the invention of the electron microscope changed all that. It was able to provide a huge advancement in the medical field. However, the equipment is very expensive for a normal doctor to own for him or herself.
The deceased Dr. Takano predicted that the cause of the disease can be found with an electron microscope, but it seems that theory has been proven wrong. Takano-san too was at first optimistic that we can find the cause of the disease with such a machine. Unfortunately for us, cadaver after cadaver revealed no signs of any parasistes...
To be frank, our research seems to have our first snag. For the past couple of weeks, our research was technically stalled because of this. ...Hence we needed to re-assess how to carry out our future research.
Takano: "...In that case, it could be that the culprit is either smaller than we can see with our available technology, or...perhaps we're looking at the wrong specimen to begin with."
Irie: "A wrong specimen? What do you mean by that?"
Takano: "Well, we know that there are fleas on the bodies of wild mice. However, one cannot find any fleas on a dead mice. This is because as the mice dies, the fleas' habitat dies as well."
Takano: "From the view of the parasite, if the host dies, it is the same as saying the world has ended in our perspective."
Irie: "That's correct. It's the same as saying that one cannot find a living human in a post-apocalyptic world."
Takano: "...So, all one has to do is to look at an Earth before it ends, right? *chuckle chuckle*"
Irie: "Yes... But there's a thing called human rights in an alive Earth. It will not be easy to do such a thing when one's alive..."
Examining a living person's brain. ...This holds a heavy meaning even under closed dicussion. From a medical standpoint, it's easy to say that all one has to do is to study it. ...But human society has its rules and morals. As part of human society, we need to advance medicine bounded to such rules.
I remember the time when I was studying the advancement of
psychosurgery for the better of mankind. ...I do not think that I had made a mistake. ...However, I do not know whether the concept of morals would ever forgive me. Despite whether I'm guilty or not, I am certain that my judgment will be handed down by the Enma. ...I am prepared to receive what I deserve.
As I was reflecting upon my past, I suddenly heard a voice.
That voice was Takano-san's. It was a tone that was very clear and simple, yet a one that struck me with surprise.
Takano: "I understand. Then let me prepare you a world before its death."
Irie: "....huh?"
I was dumbfounded. ...Some say that the advancement of medical science requires one to hear a devil's whisper of the word 'sacrifice'." I listened to that devil's voice.
Takano: "*chuckle* It's not so hard. All we need to do is to find a resident of Hinamizawa in his or her terminal stages at one of the hospitals."
Irie: "...But, ...Even if the patient is terminally ill, do you think there would be anyone who would be brave enough to provide his or her own body for research while being alive?"
Takano: "That's not necessary. The person is going to die anyway, why not let it go to sleep a bit early? On paper of course. *chuckle chuckle*"
She's trying to say that patient will be legally declared dead despite having some life left. And we are to perform an "autopsy" on the "corpse," ...while he or she is alive.
Irie: "Y...you've got to be kidding...! B...Besides! Performing neurological surgery means we need to do a circular incision on the cranial area! The families of the deceased is bound to have doubts when they see such marks...!"
Takano: "That's the part where we come in, aren't they? I'll immediately have the
Yamainu find a patient that matches the description at the local hospital. Doctor, all you need to do is to wait on the dinner table with your knifes and forks in your hands. I'll bring in the main dish as soon as possible. *chuckle chuckle*"
Irie: "Ha...hahahaha..."
I do not doubt that Takano Miyo-san is my partner. However, there are certain aspects of her that I cannot trust everything about her. ...Probably, it is her extremities as a researcher which contrast largely with mine...
...Yet, how can I say that I am unlike her? Despite what I said, I stand here waiting in front of the dish with my knife and fork. ...Basically, I'm just whitewashing that I don't want to see the fish being prepared before my own eyes. But still, the dinner that she's about to prepare...is the one that I am anxiously awaiting for right now.
What a hypocrite. ...no, not her. I'm the hypocrite.
How can I say that I am different from her from what I have done in the past? I've performed psychosurgery with my own hands without the patient's consent, despite it being a surgery that may affect that person's life for the rest of their lives. How is that any different from what she is about to do now? ...Until today, I've never doubted my past achievements. However...I begin to feel sudden uneasiness when I observe her extremities.
Takano-san is currently calling Okonogi-san from the intercom from my desk. ...She's probably calling him to explain about the idea she has just proposed.
I...sit here blankly without stopping her...
I then begin...to reflect upon my past...to remember why I chose the path to become a doctor in the first place....