The battle had ended, and Tuziku had been crowned the victor.
And even though he had left Nēgus with multiple broken ribs and severe internal bleeding—
Tuziku himself hadn't walked away from the battle unscathed.
He had been pierced through the leg and stomach by wind-arrows.
Luckily, he collapsed inside the local doctor's house, where Ryōkōjū was also recovering from his wounds.
After Kutcher returned to the village with Nēgus, it was decided that Nēgus would receive medical treatment as well while the tribe awaited the return of their Chief.
Three days after Tuziku's battle...
Tuziku was still unconscious, recovering from his injuries after receiving treatment.
While asleep, Tuziku was having a bizarre dream.
"Huh?!"
Tuziku suddenly appeared inside a dark room.
"Where am I...?"
He looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
Suddenly—
A creature appeared.
"Hello... Tuziku!" the creature called out.
"Who are you?"
"What are you?"
The creature slowly walked toward Tuziku.
With every step it took, its footsteps made a strange sound, almost like someone walking through water.
However, as Tuziku glanced down at his feet—
He noticed that the floor was also pitch black.
His feet were completely dry, and there wasn't a single drop of water in sight.
In fact, there was nothing at all in sight.
Except for the mysterious creature slowly approaching him.
As the creature drew closer, Tuziku could finally make out its entire body.
Tuziku gasped in horror.
Glowing green eyes.
Pale white skin.
Dark lines running across its body.
And a single horn curved from the middle of its head.
If Tuziku were to give this creature a name...
He would call it—
"A DEMON?!"
He frantically gasped for air.
However, for some reason, he couldn't breathe.
Suddenly—
"HAAAAAAAAAHH!!!"
Tuziku jolted awake.
He desperately looked left and right, trying to confirm where he was.
It was just a dream...
He let out a huge sigh of relief.
But suddenly—
"Seems like you had a nightmare, kid."
Tuziku turned his head toward the familiar voice.
"That voice!"
As he turned to his side, he realized that Ryōkōjū was lying on a bed beside him, his body wrapped in bandages.
"Old man! You're okay!" Tuziku shouted in relief.
Ryōkōjū chuckled.
"I somehow managed to hold on to what little life I had left."
He wore a bright grin.
"However, I'm even more surprised, boy..."
Tuziku tilted his head in confusion.
"What are you talking about, old man?"
"Your body is completely healed!" Ryōkōjū pointed toward Tuziku.
Tuziku glanced down at his body.
His wounds were completely healed, and loosely wrapped bandages covered his torso, leaving enough of his skin exposed for him to see that there wasn't even a trace of injury remaining.
Suddenly—
"You're right, old man!" Tuziku shouted in realization.
"It must be thanks to that doctor who was looking after you!"
"Come to think of it, I last remember coming to visit you at the doctor's house before passing out!"
"Is that where we are right now?" Tuziku continued rambling.
"And where are my clothes?!"
He lifted his bedsheet.
"Boy!" Ryōkōjū called out.
Tuziku flinched.
"What are you rambling on about?!"
"I've been awake for two days now, but I can't move around properly yet," Ryōkōjū explained.
"I heard about your condition from the doctor..."
"Apparently, the wound in your leg wasn't very large, so it would've healed within a few weeks."
"However, the whole in your torso was much wider."
"He managed to repair the damage, but the wound itself was supposed to remain permanently."
Tuziku gazed at him with a blank expression.
"It means your body healed on its own again, boy!" Ryōkōjū glared at Tuziku.
Tuziku wore a puzzled expression.
"How long have I been out for?" he asked.
"Three days," Ryōkōjū replied.
Tuziku lowered his head.
"While I was having that nightmare, I could feel something happening to my body, even though I wasn't aware that I was dreaming!"
"It was so weird..."
"But I realize now..."
"My body was being healed during that dream!"
Tuziku clenched his fist.
"What was your dream about?" the old man asked flatly.
...
Tuziku remained silent.
"In any case, I'm guessing your unexplainable healing is somehow related to that dream of yours," said the old man.
He doesn't want to talk about his dream.
What could it have been?
Suddenly, Prīōra and the doctor walked in while indulging in conversation, completely oblivious to Tuziku, who stared at them in surprise.
"Doctor, how long will it take for Tuziku to wake up?" Prīōra asked.
"Who knows? It could be a couple of days, a few weeks, or even a month," he replied.
Suddenly—
"Prīōra..." Tuziku called out softly.
She turned toward his voice.
"Tuziku?!"
She rushed toward his bedside.
"You're awake!" she said with a smile.
Then she glanced toward his stomach.
"And you're healed?!"
Her smile faded.
"But—you're finally awake!"
She hugged him tightly.
"What about me?" Ryōkōjū asked desperately.
"I've already greeted you when you woke up, old man!" she snapped.
"Ouch!" The old man lowered his head.
"How inexplicable," said the doctor as he approached Tuziku.
He began inspecting Tuziku's body with a magnifying glass.
"How truly remarkable!"
"Your wounds are actually healed!"
Tuziku tapped him on the shoulder.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Could you step away from so close to me?" he asked politely.
"Oh, my apologies," said the doctor.
"It's just that I've never seen anything so intriguing before!"
"Oh! Where are my manners?"
He stepped away from Tuziku.
"I am Dr. Harlock, the one who tended to your injuries earlier."
"Oh, um... my name is Tuziku. Thanks for treating my wounds."
Dr. Harlock chuckled.
"I know who you are, boy, and there is no need to thank me."
"If not for you, Nēgus would've gotten away with harming a close friend of mine."
Tuziku looked at him with curiosity.
"A close friend?"
"Do you mean the old man?"
Dr. Harlock burst out laughing.
"Is that what you call him?"
"Well, I guess he has gotten a lot older now..."
He let out a grin.
"I'm right next to you, you know!" Ryōkōjū snapped.
The entire room burst into laughter.
"Dr. Harlock, you don't seem too surprised by my sudden healing..." said Tuziku.
"Because I told him about it!" Ryōkōjū admitted.
"He's one of my closest friends and someone I trust."
"Besides, I needed to let him know so that he wouldn't freak out if it happened again."
"Which it did."
"In any case, Prīōra, where's Kutcher?" Tuziku asked.
"So you're completely ignoring me?!" Ryōkōjū shouted.
"He's out training at the moment," Prīōra replied.
"I swear, all he does is train and sleep!" she sighed.
"Good!" Tuziku nodded.
"What's become of Nēgus?" he asked.
Prīōra lowered her head.
Ryōkōjū's expression darkened as he remained silent.
"I treated his wounds earlier," Dr. Harlock explained.
"He's still unconscious, but right now he's being detained while we monitor his condition."
"I see..."
Tuziku turned toward Ryōkōjū.
"Old man... is that your decision?" he asked.
Ryōkōjū remained silent.
"I see, then..."
Tuziku turned toward Prīōra.
"Prīōra, can you please go get Kutcher?"
Tuziku got up from the bed and wore a bright grin.
"It's time to continue our journey!" he shouted excitedly.
However...
"Oh my!" Dr. Harlock suddenly looked away from Tuziku.
"Tuziku!" Prīōra covered her eyes.
"What?" he asked in confusion.
She pointed toward his lower body.
Suddenly, he realized.
He was completely naked.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Ryōkōjū burst into laughter.
Tuziku quickly covered his lower body with the bedsheet as he wore a nervous grin.
"Dr. Harlock..."
"Sorry to ask, but have you seen my clothes anywhere?"
CHAPTER 64 END