One Small Step for Someone

"Then... will we ever see each other again, Sister Surtr?"

The girl chuckled a second time, offering no reply, but instead raising her gaze and nodding at Joel. "You have a good daughter. Take good care of her, don't let her slip away from you."

"I will," Joel said, reaching out to hug his daughter and making a man's promise. It was obvious he couldn't possibly have the surname Zhang, so the promise was entirely reliable.

"That's good. Sarah is many times better than Ellie, and even a biological daughter is far better than an ingrate." The girl said, her words somewhat unclear, but both Joel and Tommy, who had barely come to their senses, remembered these words.

Ellie...?

It is said that Eastern kongfu can predict the future, so perhaps this is not without reason.

So the Flame-haired maiden turned and walked in the other direction of the burning flames. It was unclear where she intended to go, but it certainly wasn't some trivial direction unrelated to world peace.

Joel shouted suddenly just before she disappeared from sight.

"Is there anything we can do to help you?"

The girl in the distance paused, seemingly wanting to shake her head, but then seemed to remember something important.

"Yes." The girl's clear voice echoed in the night breeze.

"Log in to a website called Hedgehog Cat, and find the author of the 'Nine Groups' whose ID contains the character 'Annihilation'. Her latest serialized novel is currently offering a bonus chapter."

"Participating in it will save the world, and that's your part. After all..."

The girl's voice and figure gradually faded away in the night wind.

"... If I can't even manage to post two updates a day, that would be too embarrassing."

Chapter 152 A Small Step for Someone

Amiya was startled the moment the door opened. Her two slightly drooping ears perked up, and she nearly dropped the flowers she was holding.

Almost.

Since it was only a close call, it actually means that it didn't fall behind.

"Surtr... Sister Surtr!?" The young girl from Casters clutched a carnation tightly in one hand, instinctively covering her mouth with the other. Her gaze involuntarily shifted to the side as if she were cautiously investigating. Her tone was high-pitched at the beginning, but she forcibly suppressed it halfway through.

She carefully closed the ward door, her timid and cautious demeanor making her look like a kitten stealing fish.

"Sister Surtr... what are you doing here?" Amiya lowered her voice and tiptoed toward Miss Surtr and Kal'tsit on the hospital bed. Her movements were subtle, but her eyes couldn't hide her excitement and anticipation.

Excitement, and anticipation.

Miss Surtr tilted her head—she couldn't quite understand why Amiya's eyes held such emotion, while in the previous timeline, seeing her and Persephone together seemed like the end of the world. However, despite her confusion, an answer was still necessary.

"I heard Kal'tsit is sick, so I came to visit her. Aren't you the same, Amiya?"

—Perhaps it's because this little bunny has been with Kal'tsit for several years, while Persephone has been asleep for a long time and our relationship wasn't very friendly during the years in Sarkaz Babel Tower?

—Yes, although Persephone raised her, after the fall of the Sarkaz Babel Tower, Kal'tsit and I were responsible for her education in administration, combat, art, and aesthetics. Therefore, Kal'tsit and I can both be considered Amiya's tutors. And seeing the relationship between teachers improve naturally makes the student happy.

—Tsk, Persephone even said that she and I are more like Amiya's mother... So even Persephone can misjudge the situation sometimes. Compared to you, who raised her, Amiya seems to value Kal'tsit more now.

A thought flashed through her mind, a silent mockery of Persephone, which brought a subtle smile to Miss Surtr's lips.

Then she saw the little bunny's eyes widen.

Surprised, but not by her own smile. Following the direction of her gaze, her eyes focused on her own right hand, which was tightly gripping Kal'tsit's fingertips.

She might have been about to let out an excited scream—though Miss Surtr didn't quite understand why she was excited. But in order to keep Kal'tsit awake, the Sarkaz girl with flame-haired hair and scarlet eyes managed to press the tip of her left hand, which had sprouted out, against Amiya's mouth before anything could happen.

"Shh..." Miss Sarkaz whispered, the touch of her lips on her fingertips as soft as ever. But since the object of her affections was Amiya, she naturally wouldn't have any other thoughts.

"She's still asleep, don't wake her," Miss Surtr said lightly.

Then she saw Amiya nod vigorously, her two pointed ears twitching excitedly.

She gave a thumbs-up—the direction of her thumb subtly suggesting it was pointing at Kal'tsit rather than at some red-haired creature. Her eyes, brimming with undisguised excitement, were filled with anticipation and exhilaration.

"Okay, I understand." Casters girl's voice was soft and gentle as she carefully placed the carnations on the vase by the bed, her light steps subtly punctuated by a skipping motion.

"Then I won't bother you any longer, Sister Surtr. Please count me in and help take care of... no, no need to count me in. Sister Surtr, I'm entrusting Doctor Kal'tsit to you."

She said that she changed her mind halfway through her sentence, and after changing her mind, she stared at the girl's eyes with a pitiful look.

Big, bright eyes, blinking.

So Miss Surtr raised her transformed left hand and ruffled the little bunny's hair.

"Leave it to me," she said.

She saw the little bunny become even happier, rubbing against her finger before suddenly jumping away.

"Well then, I'll go take care of my own things."

Miss Surtr waved her over, indicating that she was free to do as she pleased.

So the little bunny jumped out the door, and just as its body disappeared behind the wall, it suddenly turned back and poked its little head back inside.

"Go for it!" she said cheerfully, whether to Miss Surtr or to the sleeping lynx, it was unclear. Then, she trotted away and disappeared on the other side of the porch, the scent of her presence clearly indicating that she had vanished without a trace.

—She's so easily startled. Next time, let Persephone give her more practical assignments. How can she grow if she's always busy with office paperwork?

Miss Surtr smiled and shook her head, not taking the little incident to heart. All she was certain of was that Amiya was in a good mood, which meant Persephone no longer needed to start a third playthrough.

Ah, that's a good thing after all.

—At least this proves that Persephone's efforts were not in vain.

The girl lowered her eyes, her gaze first sweeping over the carnations, then over Kal'tsit's tightly clenched hand—she could sense that Kal'tsit's pulse, heartbeat, and body temperature remained unchanged. Clearly, Kal'tsit was still deep in a dream.

—She's sleeping soundly.

What kind of dream made her sleep so deeply?

A thought popped into her head, but Miss Surtr quickly dismissed it—it was not polite to indiscriminately probe someone else's dreams. Besides, she had not studied any Originium Arts related to dream probing in Terra.

So she simply exhaled softly, gazing at Kal'tsit's sleeping face— the Miss Lynx's serene slumber erased all the negative effects of her words. In the girl's eyes, the silent Kal'tsit exuded an irresistible allure.

Intellect, wisdom, confidence, and perseverance—these admirable qualities define the sleeping Kal'tsit. Simply gazing upon her brings a sense of peace. And the longer one gazes upon her, the more her allure and charm become apparent.

"..."

Miss Surtr unconsciously moved slightly closer to Kal'tsit. She didn't know why she did this, but the most direct feeling was that her attention seemed to be particularly focused on those pale, thin lips.