Kitty Killer Isn't Very Cold

As she spoke, the two white-haired youths who had been nothing but background props throughout this incident sighed from the side...

One was a Sankta, while the other was a Vulpo of Su Sulo's race. Though they were different races, their identical hair color gave them unexpectedly similar temperaments. The abnormal-looking Halo and fluffy tail were practically the only remaining ways to tell them apart...

Even so, Medic was still a little confused about which name belonged to which of them.

Names could be set aside for now, of course. When Medic had first seen this white-haired Sankta, she had been worried that another situation like Outcast's would occur... She had even prepared herself for the impact... Yet unexpectedly, he had not resonated with her at all. Medic could only say that being cut off like this made her rather uncomfortable.

If she exposed herself directly like before, she could still claim that her identity as a "Feline" was a disguise. But she had prepared herself, only to find that he lacked the ability to resonate with her. Medic could not exactly ask what had happened to him, either... After all, Medic really was a cat... In short, it was awkward.

After all the procedures had been handled and the branch's reimbursement accounts checked, leaving them with truly nothing else to do, Medic finally came over... Since the other party had not brought it up, she would not mention it herself... Seeing Medic arrive at the car with the head of the local office, Su Sulo glanced at the sky, which was quickly darkening, and said:

"...As a doctor, I still hope everyone puts their lives first. Savings and such can be accumulated slowly once you're at Rhodes Island. Also, while we understand the pain of parting, there's a sun halo today. It feels like it could rain at any time. Should we decide where to stay soon?"

"Or we could just set off directly... Honestly, I don't want to haggle with Customs police..."

At Blaze's shrug, her huge weapon case slung across her back, Meli, who was still wearing her scenic area uniform, sighed.

"We've said all there is to say in farewell. I don't mind leaving early... What about you, Stewart?"

When the two boys both shrugged to indicate that they had no objections, Meli seemed to remember something and looked at Su Sulo.

"Still, it probably won't rain... I saw the sun halo too when I was doing morning exercises, but the humidity is actually very low today. Aside from the high clouds showing that the wind is rather strange... Based on what I've felt from working at the scenic area, there shouldn't be any rain in the near future."

Faced with the former local worker's earnest explanation, Su Sulo scratched her head awkwardly.

Blaze, standing beside them, casually asked:

"The wind is strange?"

"Yes. Normally, the mountains cause us to have northwesterly winds year-round, with a mild climate... But now east winds are carrying clouds over the mountains and across the scenic area. The wind looks like some kind of storm is brewing... Did the winter cold wave arrive early?"

Listening to the Action Group and the locals speak in bewilderment, Medic was not deeply versed in Catastrophe studies, but she did think of a rather frightening possibility.

After taking out her phone and pulling up several images through Leithanien's network, Medic quickly stood on tiptoe and had everyone look at her screen.

"Speaking of the halo this morning... What kind of halo did you see? What color was it? Did it have layers?"

"...Medic, are you worried it might be some kind of Catastrophe? Ah... Come to think of it, I have a photo..."

As Su Sulo took out her phone, the killer cat quickly leaned over...

Whether the halo in Su Sulo's photo was beautiful or not, for a sun halo, its ring was far too distinct, and its brightness clearly greatly exceeded what a moisture halo should have.

Rather than saying that it was a beautiful sun halo formed when atmospheric water refracted sunlight... it would be more accurate to say that it was a dazzling display created as strong winds whipped tiny particles in the atmosphere into rapid motion, refracting the sunlight.

And if, as Meli had said, those were ice crystals... Then it might simply be the annual winter cold wave caused by the terrain of the Columbia Great Plains...

Medic feared that it might instead be another kind of crystalline dust in the air capable of refracting light. Carried by the wind, their fractured surfaces could reflect sunlight as they collided, creating the halo.

That kind of crystalline dust—Originium Crystals—was everywhere across this land.

Medic stared at Su Sulo's phone for half a minute. Her increasingly serious expression also caused everyone around her to fall silent.

"...I can't see it clearly... I hope my theory is wrong... I need high-resolution photography at the level of a Catastrophe Messenger to disprove that hypothesis. This city should have a Contingency Contract office, right? Let's go there first!"

PS: Today's kitty.

PS2: Axi got killed... I got beaten up by an H stage during the day, and after finally clearing it, I chatted with my group friends, saying not to pull randomly since the anniversary was coming up and it would bring bad luck... Watch out or you'll end up pounding the floor and crying...

Then, in the evening, I left my computer emulator running while a family that had come over temporarily... their child... I wasn't paying attention, and she used up all the red and yellow rocks I had saved for the anniversary pulls... Well then, the one pounding the floor and crying turned out to be me.

QAQ... Can't cry... You're already an adult... You can't argue with someone over something like this, ahhhhh... Don't do it, you won't win the argument!

The Mystery of the Second Medic: 036 Everything Was Inevitable

Columbia... It promoted freedom and equality as key parts of its external image, claiming that even the Infected could find work and receive the rights and opportunities they deserved.

As Columbia's dedicated mobile city-state for trade transit, Ticarondo's development in recent years had been plain for all to see.

Bustling crowds and towering buildings... Even the specialized community intended to house the Infected had its own Landship section.

Although compared to Ticarondo's other sections, its Infected section had outdated facilities, aging pipes, and enormous first-generation Originium Engines... being able to live on a mobile city was itself a symbol of "safety."

"Kal'tsit, the Ticarondo Municipal Government approved Rhodes Island's docking request... Should I say that 'Sir Kal'tsit' still has the reputation she deserves?~"

"However, aside from me and a squad of escort personnel, Rhodes Island members are prohibited from entering the regular city sections... There are no restrictions on the Infected section, though..."

Crumpling up the telegram sent by Closure and tossing it into the wastebasket, Kal'tsit looked toward the white-clad Sarkaz beside her.

"Theresa, I need to discuss Rhodes Island's soft furnishing procurement for the commercial district next... The ship... and Amiya and her friends... I'll leave them to you for now..."

"Mhm~ Leave it to me."

She patted her chest proudly, but the Sarkaz princess immediately seemed to remember something.

"But, is that all right?"

"What is?"

"Amiya's friend... She is the child of another Crown bearer, isn't she? Does that woman allow her child to act together with Sarkaz?"

"It's fine. Medic has no racial prejudice, and Matilda was raised very well. There is basically no need to worry about any offense in daily life... If there is anything to be mindful of, it is the Arts effect of the Thought Chain Ring...

"In terms of the precision of information extraction, Matilda is even superior to Amiya... Her Arts, which let her perceive the hearts of others, have made her into a mirror. How you treat her is how she will treat you."

"...That sounds like... If we wanted to take her outside, rather than worrying about her, we should worry about anyone who might have bad intentions toward her?"

Watching the Sarkaz princess's slightly awkward smile, Kal'tsit checked the documents and trade contracts she would need later, continuing without looking up.

"Ticarondo ranks among Columbia's foremost trade cities in scale. Its dedicated Infected section should also be very appealing to the Infected from Leytonson City aboard the ship... Once docking is complete, the work of explaining the situation to the patients... Warfarin, you will handle it."

"Ha... I have no issue with coordinating it all... Though it would be inconvenient for me to appear personally, I'll leave the speech to Touch when the time comes... Given Bloodfiends' reputation in public opinion, it would be bad if I frightened mild cases into severe ones."

The white-haired Bloodfiend leaned against the wall and shrugged. The green-haired Feline had no objections, but at the end, she looked toward the guards beside the princess.

"I will take the E3 Action Group with me later. Ace will be leaving with me as well... I'll have to entrust the ship's security to you for now..."

Seeing that Kal'tsit still seemed uneasy after speaking, glancing around as though she were considering how to explain it, all the Sarkaz present aside from the overly distinctive Warfarin merely gave a quiet chuckle. Only Theresa, Kal'tsit's close friend, wore the brightest smile.

"All right... The final issue... is the distance between the White Emperor and Rhodes Island... right? Haven't we already agreed? Rhodes Island will be registered under Amiya's name... Because she is our ideal, proof that I once existed...

"I will not regret it, Kal'tsit... You have said similar things as well... I just never thought that, in this final stretch of time, I would still have the chance to visit other nations and other cities with Amiya... I'm very happy... Don't worry, Logos will help conceal my Sarkaz horns. No one will know of our relationship with Rhodes Island... Just as we promised."

Looking at the princess's still radiant smile beneath her pale pink hair, Kal'tsit opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something. In the end, however, the emerald-haired Feline merely left in silence.

After Kal'tsit left, Warfarin sighed according to the original arrangements and began a shipwide broadcast.

[Ah—ah—testing, testing... Mm, this is the Rhodes Island bridge. To all patients and colleagues, after two weeks of travel and a change in our plans along the way, we have successfully arrived at our checkpoint.]

[This is Ticarondo, a trade city within Columbia's borders. Because the local area has a mobile city section exclusively for the Infected, patients who boarded in Leytonson City for treatment may consider disembarking here to begin a new life... At the same time, the disembarkation permits obtained by our ship's members only grant access to the Infected section. Colleagues intending to enter the city for rest and recreation, please take note.]

[The ship is scheduled to dock here for fourteen days. Patients may freely decide whether to stay or leave within seven days, and Rhodes Island operators may freely use city facilities within those same seven days... However, please ensure that communication remains open and comply with company employee regulations.]

[As for the specific procedures for patients leaving the ship and their follow-up treatment plans, please wait for Chief Physician Touch's unified explanation during today's rounds... That is all. May everyone have a smooth day.]

Listening to the slightly echoing shipwide announcement, Matilda stood before the mirror and gave her newly grown hair and ear fur one last touch... Though this was already the result of doing her best with hair-growth medicine, for an eight-year-old girl, a buzz cut was still far too avant-garde.

"Matilda... Aren't you ready yet?"

"Mm... Amiya, I think I'd better not go out..."

Hearing the aggrieved voice from the bathroom, Amiya opened the door and smiled in amusement at the teary-eyed Little Cat.

"But your ears don't look strange anymore, do they... Matilda isn't ugly. If you put on long pants and a jacket, you'll look very cool."

"...I don't want this kind of cool."

"Then, how about wearing a hat?"

As she spoke, Amiya took out the red soft cap Matilda had worn before... It was actually an agent cap Medic had taken from an enemy guard during her infiltration of the laboratory. Because it was so well made, Medic had removed the Loken Watertank emblem and given it to Matilda.

But a hat alone would not do. Thinking of her little dress, which clashed completely with the hat, Little Cat shook her head.

Seeing this, Amiya simply returned to her room and found the newsboy outfit she had worn while delivering newspapers during social activities in Kazdel for Little Cat... Aside from requiring a matching hat, the hem of the inner dress was nearly the same length as the large-collared outer coat. As long as the coat was buttoned up, it became the kind of buttoned coat commonly seen in the city. It was a very gender-neutral outfit, and even if its wearer was a delicate short-haired Feline, surely no one would say anything.

But after being dressed, with black socks and little leather shoes put on, Matilda truly did not want to go out.

"So... Do we really have to go?"

"...Doctor Kal'tsit gave me a social studies assignment..."

"An assignment?"

"Mhm. Doctor Kal'tsit said that whenever possible, every time I arrive in a new city, I should see for myself what that city is like and how its people live... But I asked Matilda along mainly because I wanted to go out and play with you... You don't want to go?"

Looking at Little Bunny's sparkling eyes, Matilda awkwardly looked at the ceiling.

"It's not... impossible... But if it's only two children, we still can't get off the ship, right..."

"It's fine! An adult is coming with us... And she's someone very important to me. I've wanted to introduce her to you for a long time!"

"...Mm, is it the person who always stands outside our door for a while before leaving after we go to sleep?"

"Huh? Matilda, you already knew?"

At Little Bunny's dumbfounded expression, Little Cat expressionlessly tugged on one of her rabbit ears.

"You can sense emotions, and I have the Thought Chain Ring... Of course I'd know when someone suddenly appears silently in the hallway outside our room every night. Besides, Nana isn't on the ship now."

"Hehehe..."

Seeing Little Bunny scratch her head embarrassedly, Little Cat crossed her arms and tilted her head.

"So, where is the person coming with us?"

"She should already be waiting for us by the elevator! Let's check our clothes and bags one last time, then we'll set off... To Ticarondo!"

"Yo~ You must be little Matilda? I'm... mm... Xia. Just call me Big Sister Xia~"

When they reached the elevator, Amiya and Matilda, both now wearing outerwear for going out, froze in place at the sight of the Feline woman before them, dressed in a skirt and carrying a backpack.

"B-Big Sister Xia..."

"Amiya feels more distant after only two days apart... Is it because your big sister here has been working during the day and hasn't kept you company?"

As she spoke, she rubbed Amiya's head. Over this period of time, Little Bunny had also come to understand, and her next greeting was much smoother.

"I'm sorry, Big Sister Xia... Although you always came to see us at night... Not being able to see you during the day was still... a little lonely..."

After saying that, Amiya took the little cat's hand.

"Come, Matilda... This is the person you mentioned before..."

"...Mm, hello, Big Sister Xia... But the one who comes to check on Amiya and me outside our room every time... doesn't seem to be entirely you... It feels like a part is missing, or perhaps there's another person here?"

As she spoke, Little Cat looked behind "Xia," a flash of lightning passing through her emerald eyes.

"Come out! Or I'm smashing it down!"

"Huh? Little Cat really can detect Ascalon... Then, Ascalon, don't hide anymore. I told you before, didn't I? This kind of Originium Arts is practically your natural enemy."

As the pale pink-haired "Feline" smiled toward her back, a purple-haired Sarkaz mercenary emerged from the shadows.

"...I am not an enemy. Put away your Arts, Little Cat. Do not be rude in front of... the lady."

Seeing Little Cat seemingly develop a rebellious streak and lock eyes with Ascalon in a staring contest, Xia tilted her head in amusement. She first tapped the stern-faced Sarkaz "mercenary" with her hand, making her withdraw with a frown, then knelt down and held Little Cat's hand.

"All right, we're going out together, the four of us... I'm Kal'tsit's friend, and Amiya's... guardian. Kal'tsit asked me to bring you along whenever I went out with Amiya...

"After all, Medic isn't home. Leaving you alone on the ship to hang around the bridge with those two gloomy little ones would be far too lonely... Ascalon isn't a bad person. She's just rather quiet and doesn't know how to speak well... Ascalon, you too. Don't squabble with a child."

Hearing her Highness give her that order, Ascalon wanted to object that Sarkaz children at this age should already have learned everything necessary for survival... But recalling that she herself had only become who she was after receiving the teachings of Her Highness and that other lady, she could only sigh, take a step back, and vanish into the shadows.

"...She disappeared..."

"Because Ascalon is somewhat shy... Also, she doesn't really want to accept disguise Arts... She says it might increase the chance of being detected and affect infiltration efficiency..."

"A disguise?"

"That's right. Come, touch my cat ears."

Looking at the pale pink-haired woman, who seemed to be smiling no matter the occasion, Little Cat timidly reached toward the top of her head... But instead of the soft cat ears she had expected, what she touched was mottled, rough horns that seemed weathered by countless years.

"These are Sarkaz horns... They are easily confused with Caprinae horns, but after seeing enough of them, you gain experience telling them apart. How about starting by learning to recognize your big sister's?"

Listening to her words and sensing the other woman's wholehearted sincerity without a trace of malice, Little Cat nodded in agreement. But then she frowned slightly.

"...But why hide them? Does Big Sister think her horns aren't pretty?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Little Cat suddenly jolted, her tail puffing up. She could sense that Ascalon had started glaring at her again from somewhere nearby... But because of Big Sister Xia's smile, Little Cat ultimately did not gather her Arts. Still, she was unwilling to be glared at for nothing... So the little one rubbed her chin against Xia's shoulder, then swiped twice through the air toward Ascalon's location and let out a threatening "Hiss—"... leaving Amiya beside her utterly speechless.