Masamune was astonished.
It was because Romero had uttered the words 'other world syndrome'.

''Why ... that term? .....

'I see, I could tell by your reaction. Apparently it was already showing up in your status. And you're fully cured?

Romero convinced himself again, and proceeded to speak alone.
Then, as if he had read something from Masamune's expression, he began to answer.

'Nito-dono, this is my ability. I am able to peek at the countless numbers within living things. I call this [existence value].

Then Masamune was surprised and remembered what Vel had said in the dungeon before.

-- "'Status is, in essence, nothing more than the data of the countless numbers within that guy.'"

But at the time I decided to learn rather than understand.
Because I couldn't understand it even if I thought about it.
More than anything else, Vel told me that it was fine, too.

'I see ... so why do you know about the 'other world syndrome', Romero-san?'

'No, I don't know anything about it. But after I took a peek at your numbers, I just calculated the predictive value from them and came up with a hypothesis. As a result, the word 'otherworldly syndrome' came up.

Neither Masamune nor anyone else knows what Dr. Romero is talking about.
Only Romero himself can understand this.

Romero has a peek at the target's numbers, and what will appear on the status as a result of those numbers affecting each other?
We can also predict when the confirmed numbers will fluctuate.
And--.

But that's a status misconception.

Is it a misidentification?

Yes. How does Romero perceive the status to be that number?
And you can even find out if you've misidentified it or not.

'There are a lot of other interesting aspects to this, but let's talk about them this time.

Then Masamune was alerted to Romero for the first time here.
Then Tom tells Masamune.

'Mr. Nito, he's fine, because Dr. Romero is just like us.

Then Masamune let his guard down, as if he agreed with his words.
With that, Romero began to explain.

'Let's get back to his story. He was relapsing ill as a result, but he originally turned to me for something else.

Another thing?

'Yes. That's domestic violence.

Masamune's expression was grim and questioning.

'He couldn't allow the 'child' of his dreams to be in front of him. So he wanted to hurt and destroy it. But just as much, he didn't want to destroy it... Above all, he was afraid of losing his child.

'Excuse me, I don't understand what you're saying at the moment? .....

Hmm?　Really?　But it seems to me that Lord Nito has something in common with him, doesn't it? .....

'Similar? ...Me?

Masamune doubted his words.
"There's no way I'm like that kind of guy," he thought, naturally.
"In fact, I've never committed such violence myself....

'He certainly raised his hand in action. But deep down, he didn't want to destroy it. And the conflicts and contradictions in the heart are manifested as numbers. And the numbers affect the status, the data. And the evidence of that was symptomatic of his status.

Romero and Masamune sat down in the chair Dean had prepared for them.

'What were ... what were the ... symptoms?'

Then Romero begins to speak slowly.

'His basal values were significantly lower than they should have been. More than they should have been.'

So Masamune looked a little, as if he had an idea.

'And in the [Condition] section, it was called [Reminiscence Disease]. But to begin with, the reminiscence disease is not a disease that affects the basic values. Do you understand what that means, Nito-dono?

Masamune remembered Vel's words again.

''........A friend of mine once told me the same thing. But I didn't know what it meant after all........

'I see, it seems that Lord Nito has a wonderful friend. Ordinary people do not understand this. Because without knowing it, there is no particular inconvenience.

Then Romero goes back to the story there.

'In other words, the mental state of 'I don't want to break it' appeared in the [existence value], which affected the status and consequently the base value as well. In the form of [decline]--

You mean to tell me that it was caused by reminiscence?

'-No, it's not. I mean, that's a misinterpretation of status.

'Huh...'

Masamune gave an absent-minded reply.
The fact that the answer was different from what he had expected made Masamune lose track of the conversation at once.

'Do you not understand?　In other words, the cause is not reminiscence disease, but a simple mental state of 'I don't want to destroy it'. But the status identified the cause as 'reminiscence disease'. I checked his [existence value] many times. But nowhere was there a factor that caused his 'Reminiscence Disease' to lower the base value of his status.

Then Romero was there, sipping the coffee Tom had made for him.
Then, after he had calmed down, he continued.

'--Lord Nito, I've seen those symptoms in you, too.

Masamune slowly came to understand.

Which meant that Masamune's base value was also declining.
And that has nothing to do with the 'other world syndrome', Romero said.

'I certainly have that in mind. But then, what's lowering my status?

Then Romero began to speak, as if tracing the letters.

"-- 'The disease of those who long for another world'."

To Romero, who said that, Masamune could only wonder.
This is a peculiar way of talking, where you dare to postpone the answer and let the other person think and find out.

I'm sure that's what it said in there. But what do you mean by 'other world'?　I don't know.

'Shit, that's...'

Masamune choked on his words.

'Then let's change the question. What is the other world to you, Lord Nito?

But Masamune hadn't actually thought about the 'other world' since he came to this world.
He had often thought about it before.
"If there was some other world that wasn't here, somewhere else," he said.

If I had to describe it in one word... well... 'dream'?

''I see. He said something similar. "I didn't want to grow up because I wouldn't be able to dream. I didn't want to grow up because I wouldn't be able to dream, so I wanted to go back to being a kid. But is that true?

...What is true?

"I mean, he said he wanted to go back to his childhood, but did his 'childhood' ever really exist?　And that's the story.

'Huh.... No, it existed, didn't it?　Because I'm sure he had a childhood, too.

'No, that's not what I meant. What I mean is that he is looking at that 'childhood' as a glorification of it. In other words, it's a 'dream'. It's all wishful thinking, a false image colored by emotion, because the past is, in no small part, a dream. Because the past is something that looks beautiful to more or less everyone.

'But ... would an abused child, for example, glorify the past?'

'If you live long enough, you'll have a beautiful past someday. Not a few..... For example, those who have failed often look back on the past with regret, and say, 'If only I had done that then! They look back on the past for the beauty of success, saying, "I should have done this then. Do you know what I mean?　I mean, it's [expedient]--

When the word [Convenience] was mentioned, Masamune understood Romero's words.
Because it was a familiar expression to Masamune.

Masamune believes that everything in this world can be interpreted with that [convenience] word.
People's actions are also everything.
He believes that there is nothing in this world that does not have [expediency].

'He just saw his past as a matter of convenience. In other words, what he calls 'childhood' does not exist. It's just that he has an image in his mind. So let me ask you again there, what is 'other world' to you, Nito-dono?

Here, Dr. Romero asks again.
Masamune does not answer it immediately.
It's not that he doesn't know, it's that he chooses his words.
He is thinking about what is the best way to express himself.

Then Masamune opened his mouth.

''For me ... convenient ... world? .....

Then Tom appeared with a paper bag with a handle.

'Dr. Romero, this is what you ordered.

Oh, thanks Tom. I'm always sorry.

No, sir, not at all.

Then Romero got up from his chair.

'And yet, I'm surprised at Lord Nito's status!　I've made it a habit in my profession not to be surprised by anything I see or hear about my patients, but anyone else would have jumped up and hurt my back.

Mr. Romero?　What did you mean by that?　I don't really know.

Hmm?　Really?　I thought Lord Nito had already figured it out, but...

Then Romero put on his hat and grabbed a paper bag, a briefcase, and then a walking stick.

'Why the otherworldly syndrome?　Why the drop in status?　What is the other world to begin with?　Please try again to remember my words. Perhaps you will soon understand.

Then Romero walked towards the door.

'Let's invest the cost of the medical examination in Lord Nito's future.

And with a light metallic sound, the door of the store opens.

"Oh, and I forgot to mention, there is no such thing as 'other world'.......anywhere. Except in Nito-dono's mind, except--

Romero told him at last.
Then he smiled at the three men in line behind Masamune and left the shop.

'What do you think, Nito?　Isn't he strange?

Tom asked, in a somewhat admiring and respectful tone.

'Yeah I suppose so.'

After a moment, Masamune checked once more to make sure he was wearing everything.
Then he sent his attention to the earrings and put on the crimson mask.

'You're leaving now?'

Tom said, as if he was sorry for the loss.

'Yeah, we've heard a lot of things, and I'm going back now.

Well well... well... when are you coming back?

I won't be coming to this country for a while.

...I see.

Tom said somewhat crisply.

Then a dimensional rift appeared right next to Masamune, as if darkness was swirling around him.

''--Thanks for taking care of me,''

Then Masamune wore a large crimson robe and entered the vortex.

With the three of them bowing their heads to the side........