Chapter 4: , Is It This Country That Is Sick

Under the guidance of Uesugi Muneyuki, the soul of Endo Masao was separated; the "Soul," symbolizing the will of the spirit, gradually dissipated, while the "Essence," symbolizing the primal force of the spirit, was collected by Uesugi Muneyuki into the Azure Gem within his right hand.

The aged soul witnessed the look of utter satisfaction on Uesugi Muneyuki's face after he clarified the facts; the old man seemed not to care in the slightest how many years his son would spend in prison, or whether his grandson would be looked after. He cared for none of these things. The only thing he resented was that his son and daughter-in-law lived in his house, spent his National Pension and Welfare Pension, and actually dared to disobey him—dared to stand up to their own father!

Before he began to lose his faculties, Endo Masao had always been the absolute master of the house!

But as his body began to fail, the old man realized he could no longer control his son and daughter-in-law as he once had. From one small incident, Endo Masao felt a deep sense of dread.

His daughter-in-law had started buying the vegetables she liked to eat!

And specifically choosing vegetables that his son and daughter-in-law hated, then ordering them to eat them as the Head of the House—this was a hobby that brought one of the few genuine smiles to Endo Masao's face.

The fear of losing control, the fear of his status declining, the fear of being treated as a burden.

The more he lost control, the more he craved to display his sense of presence, the more he had to show that he was still capable, still able.

In the end, everything headed toward an irredeemable conclusion.

【So, when it comes down to it, you young people simply cannot understand how much I suffered for this family, to feed them. Back then, to support the whole family, I worked over a dozen hours every day, the blisters on my hands breaking over and over—wasn't it all for them?】

As his soul dissipated, the old man answered Uesugi Muneyuki's question with utter disdain: 【As children, offering everything to the father is paramount. If they cannot do that, then such children have no need to exist!】

The old man was satisfied, leaving behind a silent Uesugi Muneyuki, who truly wanted to slap the old ghost across the face.

Without having reached that age to experience the pain of physical decline, it was hard for him to empathize with the specific state of mind behind the old man's constant torment of his children, but there was no doubt this was an old beast who only thought of himself.

The power of the Essence poured in continuously, the Azure Gem grew brighter, and a brief message was transmitted into Uesugi Muneyuki's mind.

This was a law similar to a Contract; every soul left with deep obsession would linger in the mortal world for a period of time. If Uesugi Muneyuki could perform a deliverance for them, he could obtain the "Essence" left behind by the deceased.

Soul and Essence—the Soul represents a person's will, while the Essence is the power the Soul uses to drive the body's activities.

As for deliverance, it did not mean Uesugi Muneyuki had to fulfill the deceased's wishes or satisfy their demands. What Uesugi Muneyuki had to do was point out the facts through dialogue with the deceased and bring the truth to light. This was determined by the Contract Law hidden within the gem; if the deceased had an obsession and wished to clarify it, they had no right to refuse Uesugi Muneyuki's dialogue. Likewise, if the deceased provided information, Uesugi Muneyuki was obligated to deliver them.

The male head of the house had confessed, the civil case was upgraded to a criminal case, and the police now had grounds to apply for a Judicial Autopsy. Uesugi Muneyuki and Professor Okochi prepared to return.

Uesugi Muneyuki was still packing his things when Professor Okochi's raspy voice came from behind him: "For your first Autopsy, how did you know the belt was the murder weapon?"

"Uh..." Even with his back to Professor Okochi, Uesugi Muneyuki could still feel the old professor's piercing gaze: "Actually... the shape of the ligature marks was very similar to the belt, Mr. Endo's expression was always strange, and he kept reaching for his waist..."

Professor Okochi did not respond to Uesugi Muneyuki's slightly clumsy answer; he looked deeply at Uesugi Muneyuki and said nothing more.

The aged, sharp gaze beneath Professor Okochi's drooping eyelids and heavy bags appeared for only an instant before returning to his usual state of absolute calm.

Seeing the old professor still silent, Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment and tentatively asked: "Professor, have you already discovered where the problem lies?"

"............" Professor Okochi looked up at Uesugi Muneyuki upon hearing this, but then silently lowered his head to continue packing. Once all the tools were stowed away, he said in a raspy voice: "By doing this, you have ruined this family, do you know that? The husband will be sentenced to at least fifteen years for intentional homicide, and the wife will be sentenced to at least five years as an accomplice. Have you considered this consequence?"

Hearing the professor say this, Uesugi Muneyuki felt a bit uneasy. He had asked this question to the Dead Soul of Endo Masao, and the old man had given a fiercely approving answer.

It seems that sometimes, between father and son, there is not only affection, but possibly also a resentment of mutual torment and exploitation—a combination of mutual loathing.

"Does the professor think I did the wrong thing?" Uesugi Muneyuki continued to ask, feeling a bit shaken himself.

"No, Uesugi-kun, I support your actions." Professor Okochi denied it: "Just as you said, what the specific circumstances are, what hidden reasons the criminal had for committing the crime, and how the sentencing is considered—these are not things we as Forensic Pathologists should consider. Once we introduce emotion, we deviate from our duty."

"As Forensic Pathologists, all we must do is clarify the facts." Professor Okochi paused for a long time here, and only after a while did he slowly say: "Your Autopsy destroyed a family, but that is not your fault."

"It is this country that is sick."

This country is sick.

There was a trace of confusion and numbness in Professor Okochi's voice. He signaled that Uesugi Muneyuki could finish up; the police would take them back to the university.

After the old professor said these words, his face seemed to age even more. Even though the morning sun was bright outside, it could not hide his weariness and frailty.

"Wait!" Just as Professor Okochi was about to leave, Uesugi Muneyuki hurried to catch up, walking in long strides to the professor's side: "Professor, you can determine the true cause of death just by looking at the wounds on the deceased and the post-mortem lividity on their back. Someone as brilliant as you, why did you voluntarily choose the Forensic Pathology Department?"

"If I don't do it, who else would be willing to?" The old professor stopped his steps: "Treating every case with one's whole heart—that is the fundamental attitude of medicine. The professors of today only follow funding and titles; they have forgotten the original intention of medicine."

"A personality like yours, which likes to get to the bottom of things and clarify everything, is perhaps just right for becoming a Forensic Pathologist, Uesugi-kun."

Returning to Tokyo Medical and Dental University, it was still busy here, while the Forensic Pathology Department remained cold and lonely. The prosperity outside could not affect this place in the slightest; only the occasional broadcast sound could pass through the thick doors and reach the ears of the old man and the young man inside the department.

"Come here." Professor Okochi set the Forensic Autopsy Report aside and signaled for Uesugi Muneyuki to come over.

Uesugi Muneyuki, wearing his white coat, stood obediently before the professor.

"Today's Autopsy was a brilliant one. You, an Intern Physician from the Department of Surgery, actually knew the difference between strangulation and hanging, and could provide a medical explanation through the congestion on the deceased's face and the ligature marks. Uesugi, you might be a genius the likes of which I have never seen in my decades of performing Dissection." Professor Okochi frowned: "But! Do not use trickery!"

"You couldn't be sure at all if Endo's belt was the murder weapon, yet you rushed to state your guess. Foolish! Utterly foolish! Do you know that if I hadn't been there to provide the evidence of post-mortem lividity to assist, those two police officers would never have demanded Endo remove his belt for inspection? Have you considered what you, an intern Forensic Pathologist, could have done if Mr. Endo had refused to confess to the end?!"

"You previously kept saying that the professors' voices carry the most weight in the hospital, yet in the end, you also rely on this kind of trickery to get things done? There are already too many politicians in this hospital; everyone has forgotten the essence of medicine. Uesugi, if you want to walk this path, I think you should drop out now and go to Yonezawa City to run for Lawmaker!"

"Sorry, Professor." Uesugi Muneyuki only then realized how reckless his behavior today had been. Without being able to tell others that he could talk to Dead Souls, he had relied on a surge of righteous momentum and empty-handed interrogation to make Mr. Endo voluntarily confess.

But what if Professor Okochi hadn't supported him? What if Mr. Endo had simply refused to confess? What if no skin cells had been detected on the belt?

Although it was impossible for there to be no skin cells on the belt, in the eyes of others, he was just a gambler!

Thinking of this, Uesugi Muneyuki broke into a cold sweat.

Harboring a sharp weapon, the desire to kill arises; having discovered the wonderful use of his special ability for the first time, Uesugi Muneyuki indeed couldn't help but try it, couldn't help but want to show himself. This was also human nature.

"Alright, I'll handle the report. You've worked hard, having to perform an Autopsy on your first day of reporting." Seeing that Uesugi Muneyuki seemed to have taken it to heart, Professor Okochi nodded: "Let's call it a day early. We aren't the Department of Surgery here; there isn't that much to do."

Uesugi Muneyuki did not refuse the professor's kindness. He tucked two introductory books on forensic medicine under his arm and left work early. On the way, he received a call from Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka.

"Little brother Uesugi, the treat will have to be delayed by two days because it's been transferred to a criminal case. I have to go through the procedures on my end and apply for a Judicial Autopsy." Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka's voice was filled with even deeper exhaustion: "Oh my, oh my, you brat, you've increased my workload! And I still have to treat you to dinner, Namu San!"

I see, that's fine too.

Uesugi Muneyuki put down his phone. He felt a weary sense of excitement throughout his whole body.

For some reason, ever since he communicated with the soul of the deceased, Uesugi Muneyuki found that he was more eager than ever before to have a Princess Connect session.

Since getting into Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Uesugi Muneyuki had changed his casual partners very quickly, updating them at a rate of almost every three to five months. He himself was tireless when it came to Princess Connect. With his hidden identity as a handsome, wealthy Peerage, he naturally never lacked girls willing to connect with him.

Leaving the university, it was a 5-minute walk to the high-end apartment where Uesugi Muneyuki currently lived.

This 20-story high-end apartment was a typical studio apartment with a total area of only about twenty-eight square meters. To the left of the door was a shoe cabinet, and to the right were the toilet and bathroom. Entering through the foyer, the simple and bright kitchen and the narrow living area were visible at a glance. A game controller was tossed on the soft sofa, a Sony PS4 game console was plugged in front of the 32-inch wall-mounted TV, and the coffee table was covered with medical books. Further inside was the bedroom; with a bookshelf, computer desk, and bed, the entire exquisite Western-style student apartment was in full view.

This apartment was provided by his family for Uesugi Muneyuki to live in; there was no rent, and all utilities and management fees were paid by the family. In Bunkyo Ward, such an apartment would normally cost at least 100,000 yen per month in rent.

An intern physician's monthly salary was 220,000 yen, and his family gave him another 300,000 yen per month for living expenses. Plus, with no rent to pay for the apartment, Uesugi Muneyuki was temporarily living the life of a wealthy Peerage.

But one must always be prepared for danger in times of peace; Uesugi Muneyuki was currently unsure if his family would be willing to continue paying his management fees and utilities after he graduated, let alone his living expenses.

No choice, the second son has no human rights; the family business is inherited by the eldest brother, and he, as the younger brother, can only rely on himself.

Washing his face early in the washroom, Uesugi Muneyuki looked at himself in the mirror.

His parents had given him a good appearance; in the mirror, Uesugi Muneyuki looked composed and graceful, with a full forehead and a square jaw, his features handsome and his face as cold and striking as a winter night sky—no wonder Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka had suggested that Uesugi Muneyuki could work as a host, where even working two days a week would earn him more than a month as a Forensic Pathologist.

That old geezer!

Thinking of this, Uesugi Muneyuki raised his right hand; he could feel that the gem on the back of his hand had become much brighter in color after being infused with "Soul" for the first time, and at the same time, both his subconscious and the faint call coming from the gem were telling Uesugi Muneyuki that it needed more "Soul," and only by absorbing more Soul could it continue to grow and truly open the door to a new world.

Perhaps the secret of his transmigration was hidden within this gem.

He still needed more energy, needed to collect more Soul, to activate its power.

So how could he legally come into contact with a large number of Dead Souls, collect more Soul, and complete more Contracts?

It seemed that being a Forensic Pathologist was truly the only way!

Uesugi Muneyuki scrubbed his face hard with water, finding that he could not control his excitement.

With this power, even as a 7k-salary Forensic Pathologist, he could definitely achieve something great! And it was precisely by relying on this profession that he could take the opportunity to collect enough "Soul," further improve his supernatural ability, and explore the truth of his transmigration!

Let's do it!

Uesugi Muneyuki clasped his left hand over his right.

Having lived two lives, the worldly ties are severed, the golden sea has run dry.

If I do not don this kasaya, how will sentient beings know that my worldly ties are severed and the golden sea has run dry?

If I do not take the opportunity to achieve something, how can I be worthy of this journey?

Life is fifty years, like a dream or an illusion; since there is life, there is death, what regrets can a hero have?

Since I have transmigrated here, why not treat it as a great dream!

He dialed the phone; the other party might have been working, as it took a while for them to pick up.

"Let's meet up tonight, my treat," Uesugi Muneyuki said casually, "I know a pretty good place."

If he didn't take the initiative to say he was paying, the other party would absolutely never come out.

Just as he had told Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka, Uesugi Muneyuki had met a female student from Hokkaido studying at Musashino University a few days ago; she had long legs and a slender waist, and carried a unique charm of the snow country, so he should be able to ask her out a few more times.

After receiving an affirmative reply from her, Uesugi Muneyuki casually grabbed a black oil-based pen and wrote the scheduled appointment on the hanging calendar.

"7:00 PM, date, Ichinotani Japanese Restaurant, Yushima Hotel."

After thinking for a moment, Uesugi Muneyuki specifically added a note at the end to avoid forgetting.

"Two pairs of Atsugi-style stockings from the convenience store downstairs."

This absolutely cannot be forgotten!

The second chapter is updated; some say the protagonist's personality is particularly indifferent, but there is naturally a reason for this.

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(End of this chapter)