The Matter of Me Being Picked Up and Adopted by Talula Chapter 12

"That's great, Orson... you didn't leave—"

Talula's tone was flustered, but filled with joy and relief.

Orson, who had a sword at his throat the first time they met, never imagined he'd be hugged so tightly by Talula like this.

At this moment, Orson had only one thing to say:

"Um... Sister Tazi, there are a lot of people watching you from behind."

"..."

The scene at this moment: Orson and Talula are in the room, Talula hugging Orson, while a line of people stands at the doorway, including but not limited to FrostNova, Patriot, Sasha, and the Infected.

"..."

Talula glanced back, and the horns on her head began to turn red at a visible speed.

"Sister Tazi, Sister Tazi? Sister Tazi, are you on fire!?!?"

Poor Orson, not long after waking up, was treated to the warmth of an electric blanket (100°).

After a brief farce, everyone offered their blessings and returned to their posts, making the tent feel much quieter again.

"Hiss—Um, Sister Tazi, what happened while I was unconscious?"

Orson carefully tried to get up, but his abdominal wound was triggered, causing him to gasp.

As for Talula, she finally noticed that this guy called her "Sister Tazi" when things weren't formal.

"Patriot arrived in time. The Inner Guard only confronted them for a while after seeing Patriot and didn't clash with the settlement. The blizzard soon stopped, and then Sasha found us."

Talula briefly summarized what happened afterward. There were no major disturbances, only a "miracle" woven from a series of small "chances."

"I see... Then how did I get this injury on my stomach?"

Orson looked at his bandaged abdomen. It had only been less than a day, but the wound was already starting to heal, connecting his pierced internal organs.

"It was Ino."

Talula pointed to a corner of the tent. Orson then noticed the shy, white-haired boy, who had actually been quietly sleeping on a chair in the corner all along.

"That child awakened his Originium Arts, [Life Siphon], and saved you. He really likes you, Orson."

"Yeah, I feel a bit bad about it."

He had only wanted to prevent Ino from becoming "Mephistopheles," but he had unknowingly become one of the people Ino cherished most.

But, I've finally changed something. Right, little Dandelion?

Orson looked outside the tent, where dandelion seeds filled the sky.

"..."

Orson rubbed his eyes and realized they were actually snowflakes falling.

White—it wasn't that unpleasant after all.

18. Pure White and Noble Soul

Three days after encountering the Inner Guard—

"[Rest Note]"

Orson extended his hand forward, and the shadow beneath his feet immediately materialized and acted according to his command, the black, alien object given form.

Orson applied the "High Octave" to increase the hardness of the shadow, then changed its thickness and controlled Rest Note to slash at a nearby rock.

Swish—!

The upper half of the rock tilted and fell into the snow, the cut surface incredibly smooth.

"..."

Orson stared at the mirror-like cut, vaguely recalling something.

"Orson."

Talula's voice interrupted him. He retracted Rest Note and waved at Talula.

"How is your body?"

"I've completely recovered. Ino's Originium Arts are truly amazing, but I also had a good talk with him. This ability is still a bit too much for him right now; he needs to master it properly before he can help others."

Orson rubbed his abdomen. The penetrating wound had completely healed. Instead, the Originium infection that spread from his first forceful summoning of Rest Note had a greater impact.

"Your Originium Arts are very skillfully mastered now."

Talula noticed the cut beside them.

"Yeah, after forcing it last time, I can now control Rest Note without any burden, but... this also clears up my previous doubts."

"—Do you regret it, Orson?"

Talula knew what Orson was referring to: the scattered bodies and buildings in the village at that time were likely caused by Rest Note's first rampage.

"Somewhat, but it's something I have to bear."

Orson's answer was concise, and Talula nodded. This young man was more resilient than she had imagined.

"So, Orson—I can finally answer you now."

After confirming Orson was unharmed, Talula hesitated before finally speaking.

"I've thought about it for a long time. There was a time I believed I had strayed from my path. Those infected comrades, the guerrillas, FrostNova, Patriot… I was afraid that one day I would use these people I cherish as pawns. I was afraid Alina couldn't correct someone like me, afraid she couldn't accept who I am now…"

"But you were right, Orson. We have to keep moving forward. If we wait passively, spring will never come. We have to actively seek out that warmth."

Talula looked at Orson, her gaze no longer avoiding or flickering.

"—You're right, leave it to me."

Orson smiled and then patted his chest.

Having received Talula's resolve, the two returned to the room where Alina was sleeping. Elafia, who had stayed with Talula and endured the harshest times with her, had been unconscious for too long.

"Soul Tuning."

Orson gently reached out to Alina, and a pure white musical score, like the most ethereal chord, appeared before him.

Alina's soul was calm and warm, but there was a subtle crack. If that gap could be filled, she should regain consciousness.

Orson extended a finger and touched Alina's pure white soul. The next instant, he found himself in a pure white space. There was no concept of time or space, no scenery. There was only a slightly surprised little deer before him.

"Excuse me, what… what is happening? My right hand is still here?"

Alina looked at the pure white space with confusion, then at her hand, which should have been severed.

"This is the depths of your soul. Your body manifests here in its complete spiritual form. And this pure white signifies… that you have never held resentment or anger, nor any dissatisfaction with the world."

Orson was a little surprised. This was the first time he had seen such a pure and flawless soul melody. Previously, whether it was experimenting on members of the Enforcement Team or using staccato on the Inner Guard, the souls he glimpsed in those moments contained unspeakable contaminants.

"You've worked hard, Alina. Before I met Talula, you were working hard too, weren't you? In your own way, fighting against death, just to keep Talula from completely breaking down."

Orson walked up to Alina and gently took the slender hands of the little deer who had been fighting alone for so long.

"You are no longer alone now. We will be with you, and then, we will return."

Orson held Alina's hand. The touch was not unfamiliar. When he had first arrived at this settlement, knowing nothing, it was these hands that had unconsciously held him.

"Thank you for taking care of Talula during this time as well. She's a very good girl, isn't she?"

"Mm… yes."

Alina smiled at Orson, who responded with a slightly blushing whisper.

"Hehe, but I won't give up."

"Eh?"

Alina's subtle remark made Orson freeze for a moment, but Alina stuck out her tongue with a mischievous smile.

"Haha… Well then, welcome back."

Orson was amused by Alina's prank. He then placed their clasped hands over each other's chests—

"…"

In reality, Alina opened her eyes and saw the girl she intended to protect for a lifetime, the girl whose strength was heartbreaking.

"Good morning, Talula."

Alina offered Talula a smile that was months overdue.

"Ah, good morning, Alina…"

Talula hesitated for a moment, and then transparent liquid streamed from the corners of her eyes.

"I'm sorry—I'm sorry! Because of my negligence, because of my carelessness, because of my cowardice, that's why… that's why you ended up like this!!"

"It's okay, Talula. I understand, I understand."

Alina struggled to extend her still-mostly-intact left hand and placed it on Talula's head, stroking her with effort and slowness.

"Hmph…"

Seeing this, Orson let out a soft hum and then quietly left the room.

The Soul Tuning process lasted for four to five hours, but even so, Orson chose not to share this hard-won joy with Talula.

After all, the blooming yuri between beautiful girls left no room for him to interfere. As a man, this was the time to silently…

"Teacher Orson!"

Not long after leaving the room, Orson encountered Ino. Upon seeing him, the latter happily rushed over.

"What are you doing, Teacher Orson?"

"Daydreaming about yuri fan service… cough, thinking about life. Is there something you need, Ino?"

Orson ruffled Ino's pure white hair. The latter made a contented expression, like a cat being petted.

"I've mastered a new way to use Originium Arts, Teacher Orson!"

Ino excitedly clapped her hands together, then opened them and gently blew on them. Countless pure white feathers flew out from her palms.

"That's a very beautiful Originium Art."

Orson exclaimed from the bottom of his heart. Ino, having received the praise, looked a little shy.

"No, it's not just pretty, Teacher! Anyone who touches my feathers can receive a diversion of life force, and even be temporarily influenced and controlled by my will, so Teacher Orson…"

As Ino spoke, a feather materialized in its hand, and it continuously brought it closer to Orson.

Orson wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he thought he saw pink hearts in Ino's eyes.

"Teacher Orson… please be my first (experimental) subject!"

"I'd rather give myself to Koschei than to you!?"

Ino lunged forward, and Orson fled in panic.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Talula was telling stories from recent times in the room.

Talula's emotions ranged from happy to subdued to angry, while Alina listened with a constant smile.

After a while, when Talula had finished recounting these events, Alina finally shared her thoughts.

"That Mr. Orson has really changed you a lot."

"—Mm, yes."

Talula paused for a moment but didn't retort like she might have before.

"He's a bit strange, but he's an incredible existence. By spending time with him, perhaps I—"

Boom! With a bang, the door was kicked open by Orson, interrupting Talula's confession.

"Uh, I didn't mean to interrupt your little world for two, but Ino is trying to assault me. Talula, you gotta save me—RUA!!"

Before Orson could finish speaking, he was blasted away by a gust of hot air.

"…Let me correct myself. This guy is a complete idiot."