Arknights, Suika's Messenger Journey

Suika rose to her feet and followed behind Talulah as they walked.

Though Suika was a stranger who had joined them out of nowhere, everyone treated her kindly, greeting her with smiles along the way.

The only problem was that she was unfamiliar with Ursus language, so she could not chat with them verbally.

Fortunately, Alina—the young woman who stayed by Talulah's side—took on the responsibility of becoming Suika's language teacher.

In return, Suika became Alina's Common Tongue teacher. The two helped each other, and things turned out surprisingly harmonious.

Seeing this, Talulah suggested that the Reunion Movement open a school, with Alina as its teacher.

Alina looked quite tempted by the idea.

Two days later, their small squad officially joined up with the Reunion Movement's main force.

As the leader, Talulah had plenty to handle, so she left the task of hosting Suika entirely to Alina.

Suika was quite pleased with that arrangement.

After all, one reason she had chosen to remain in Ursus for so long was Talulah. The other was to see whether she could find a chance to save Alina.

It was not as though no one objected to Suika, a non-Infected person, remaining in the Reunion Movement.

But Talulah said that the Reunion Movement had been founded so the Infected could live on this land as equals alongside ordinary people.

Therefore, in her eyes, whether Infected or ordinary, everyone was the same: human.

Moreover, ordinary people still made up the majority on Terra. If the Reunion Movement wanted to grow and expand, it could not completely reject contact with ordinary people.

So long as Suika herself was willing, she could remain with the Reunion Movement indefinitely.

Talulah had also sternly criticized several Infected who had targeted Suika simply because she was an ordinary person.

"Suika, there's something I've been curious about. Can I ask?" Alina said one day after their lessons had ended, sitting beside Suika.

"If you're curious, just ask. We're familiar enough by now. If I can answer, I won't refuse." Suika picked up the Ibuki Gourd and poured herself a small cup as she spoke.

"You've been here for more than a month now. I've seen you drinking every day. Logically speaking, even if that gourd had been filled to the brim, it should have run dry by now. But yours..."

Others did not know, but since the two of them were together almost every day, Alina knew that Suika drank nearly as much alcohol each day as an ordinary person drank water.

Her wine gourd looked substantial enough, but it could not possibly withstand that kind of consumption.

Normally, even a full wine gourd would last at most a week. Yet Suika's gourd seemed to contain an inexhaustible supply of liquor, allowing her to keep pouring and drinking.

"You mean this? Hmm... Do you know about Originium Arts?" Suika asked, shaking the Ibuki Gourd.

"Originium Arts? Of course I do. Miss Yelena is an expert at them," Alina replied.

"Then do you know about Arts Units?" Suika continued.

"Mm, I've heard of them. I heard that non-Infected can use Arts Units to cast Originium Arts just like the Infected." Alina thought for several seconds before answering.

"Then let me tell you a secret. Don't spread it around, okay?

"This Ibuki Gourd of mine is a special Arts Unit. It absorbs energy from the outside world, then turns it into delicious liquor inside the gourd.

"That's how I avoid worrying about a lack of water when I'm living in the wilderness."

Suika first looked around. Only after confirming that no one was paying attention to her and Alina did she speak.

Alina looked astonished. "There are Arts Units like that?"

"The world is full of wonders. Just because you haven't seen something doesn't mean it doesn't exist, right?" Suika raised an eyebrow.

"Then could you provide some for me every day?" Alina asked cautiously.

"Sure. If you want a drink, just come to me. You can have as much as you want." Suika raised the Ibuki Gourd, about to pour Alina a cup.

"No, no, it's not that I want to drink.

"It's just that we've been fighting Ursus soldiers very frequently lately, and quite a few fighters have been injured.

"I heard alcohol can ease pain and disinfect wounds, so..."

Alina hurriedly refused the cup Suika held before her, then explained why she wanted the liquor.

Suika shook the Ibuki Gourd.

"My liquor is unusual. It's made through Arts, so I can't guarantee whether it can disinfect wounds."

Her liquor was indeed alcohol, but it was not traditional baijiu. It was a special substance whose flavor could change according to her will.

It was simply that Suika had not had many chances to drink in her previous life, so whenever she poured some out, she unconsciously made it into the baijiu flavor she knew best.

But it truly could not be considered baijiu.

"Is that so?" Alina's face showed disappointment upon hearing Suika's words.

"Even if it can't disinfect wounds, getting people drunk and letting them sleep should be no problem. It can still serve as an anesthetic."

Seeing Alina's low spirits, Suika continued.

"Anesthetic... That works too. We're severely short on anesthetics as well." Alina finally showed a faint smile after hearing that.

Led by Alina, Suika arrived at the Reunion Movement's hospital.

Standing at the entrance, Suika frowned slightly.

The situation here was much worse than she had imagined.

As the Reunion Movement's only medical station in the area, the hospital housed dozens of patients.

Some were Infected whose Oripathy had worsened, while others were fighters injured or even disabled in battle.

Though the Reunion Movement's doctors had taken disinfection measures as far as they possibly could, the harsh conditions still carried the stench of blood mixed with rot.

After entering, Alina nodded to Suika and walked over to where the bowls were kept. Suika took out the Ibuki Gourd and followed Alina to the bowls.

She uncorked the gourd and filled every bowl with liquor, after which the nurses beside them carried the bowls to the others.

"Haha, ever since I followed the General onto the battlefield, I haven't had a drink in ages. Never thought getting injured this time would bring me such luck.

"Whew, that's spicy. Good liquor..."

One middle-aged man, who looked to be in his forties and had lost an arm, lifted the bowl with his remaining hand and drained it in one bold gulp. Then, in full view of everyone, he toppled face-first onto the bed.

Fortunately, the nurse beside him checked and found that he had merely passed out drunk. Otherwise, they would not have dared continue distributing liquor to the others.

Before long, only the nurses remained standing in the ward. Every patient had fallen asleep after drinking.

"Where did that smell of alcohol come from?" Just as Suika and Alina were preparing to leave, the hospital curtain was lifted, and a white-haired Cautus woman entered with several fighters.

"Yelena, it was me." Alina stepped forward and explained the situation.

After hearing Alina out, Yelena stared at Suika in surprise.

"Your wine gourd really has that ability?"

Suika hugged the gourd to her chest.

"That's right. If needed, I can share with you, but the Ibuki Gourd must stay in my hands."

She was not worried that Yelena would seize it. She was worried that others might learn of it and try to take it away.

After all, in a place like Ursus, any resource that could be repeatedly regenerated and used was priceless to the Reunion Movement.

With such an important item in the hands of a child like Suika, others would surely see it as a case of possessing a treasure without the strength to protect it.

FrostNova examined Suika.

"You're the child Talulah brought back?

"Don't worry. I won't take your things, and I'll keep this secret.

"But not everyone in the Reunion Movement is like me, so you'd better be careful in the future."

When Talulah had brought Suika, someone who was neither Ursus nor Infected, into the Reunion Movement, it had indeed raised quite a few objections.

But after arriving, Suika usually stayed by Alina's side and had done nothing out of line. On top of that, the Reunion Movement was currently playing cat and mouse with the Ursus military, which occupied most of everyone's attention.

So people had stopped watching her so closely.

"I'll be careful." Suika looked at FrostNova, who stood there like a plum blossom blooming alone against the bitter winter wind, and nodded in agreement.

After Suika and Alina left the hospital, FrostNova asked the nurses about what had happened and about the patients' conditions, then sighed.

"We'll find a way to obtain medicine. Please bear with the hardship a little longer during this period."

When Suika and Alina returned to the camp, they saw Talulah.

Seeing them return, she said, "Get ready. We need to relocate."

"Relocate? Has this place been discovered again?" Alina was not surprised. Relocating was perfectly normal for the Reunion Movement.

Even with the forces Patriot had brought with him, the Reunion Movement still lacked the strength to confront Ursus's regular army head-on.

Thus, whenever their traces were discovered, the Reunion Movement—unable to stay in one place and fight a hard battle—would decisively relocate.

Otherwise, if the Ursus army advanced in force, they would only need to send part of their troops to hold back Patriot and his Shieldguards. The remaining Reunion Movement members would find it difficult to withstand an Ursus army group's charge on an open battlefield.

"That's right. Ursus scouts have appeared much more frequently nearby lately. I spoke with Patriot, and we believe Ursus has probably narrowed down our general area, though they haven't determined our exact location yet. We have to relocate before they react.

"Otherwise, once the roads are blocked, it will be difficult for us to break through and reach safety."

Though the problem sounded serious, Talulah remained calm, showing no anxiety over it.

As the leader of the Reunion Movement, her composure reassured everyone else.

Talulah looked at Suika.

"Are you still coming with us?"

"What, are you worried I'll harm the Reunion Movement?" Suika asked with a grin.

"Of course not. If you truly intended to harm the Reunion Movement, after finding our base earlier, you could have simply left and informed the Ursus. Even if we managed to relocate successfully, we would have paid a heavy price.

"Though I still do not understand why you went to such lengths to join the Reunion Movement, so long as you do not do anything that harms my companions, I will not deal with you."

Talulah stared directly at Suika's face and spoke bluntly.

After returning, she had discussed Suika with Patriot and realized that everything the girl had done seemed far too coincidental.

So Suika had to have come here for some reason. That was why Talulah had placed her beside Alina—under her own watchful eye—so she could deal with Suika immediately if anything happened.

"I'll tell you eventually, but not now!"

Suika raised the Ibuki Gourd, leaned back against her stool, and took a sip.

"You two... You were getting along just fine a moment ago. How did things suddenly become so strange?

"Talulah, after spending these days with Suika, I can tell she's a good person. She won't threaten the Reunion Movement. I guarantee it."

Alina ran between them, blocking Talulah's line of sight, and spoke to her.

"I'm willing to trust your judgment, Alina.

"Suika, I hope you won't disappoint us either."

After saying that, Talulah stated that she still had much to handle and would not stay any longer, then left the small house.

Only after Talulah left did Alina sit beside Suika and say in a coaxing tone,

"Talulah has always been like that—stubborn to the bone. Don't take it to heart."

"Don't worry. I didn't come here for the Reunion Movement, nor for her. I only came to try and save someone from a regret.

"Want some?"

Suika turned to Alina, smiling as she shook the Ibuki Gourd in her hand.

"I still have to pack. We're relocating, remember? If I get drunk, who's going to pack everything?"

Alina reached out and tapped Suika on the forehead before going to sort through their things.

That night, Suika sat outside, raising the Ibuki Gourd toward the Twin Moons overhead.

"A jug of wine among the flowers, I drink alone with no companion. I raise my cup to invite the bright moon, and with my shadow, we become three..."

"Was that Great Yanese you just spoke?" Alina asked curiously as she came to Suika's side.

"That's right. Want to learn it?"

"But I heard Great Yanese is difficult. It took me a long time to learn Common Tongue, so I don't know whether I could learn Great Yanese." Alina was tempted, but then hesitated.