Arknights, Suika's Messenger Journey

"That's right. If you hadn't chosen to come in just now, or if anything had seemed off, I would've killed you.

"As for that stone disease here...

"You've noticed what's inside it, haven't you?"

Yagokoro Eirin seemed to have relaxed. She spoke to Suika without the slightest attempt at concealment.

"I can't say for sure, but this Originium is indeed far too strange. To condense other kinds of metal, I need to find the corresponding elements. But to condense this thing called Originium, I need to concentrate pheromones in my hand.

"In other words, is Originium a high-density information carrier that has been materialized?"

Suika opened her palm, and a piece of Originium gradually condensed into shape in her hand.

"That's right. This thing isn't stone at all, nor is it some special metal. It's a high-density, concretized information carrier, and it contains an astonishing amount of stored information.

"It's just that without the proper decryption tool, there's no way to know what exactly is inside."

Yagokoro Eirin answered.

"Then why do people here get Oripathy?"

"There's something related to it in their cells or genes, so this stone considers people part of the information as well and devours them.

"You said these people eventually collapse into dust. In my view, they haven't died. They've simply continued existing in this world in another form, and the carrier of that existence is this Originium." Yagokoro Eirin said as she reached out and took the Originium from Suika's hand.

The Right Medicine for the Heart's Illness

After hearing that, Suika combined it with what she knew of Terra and suddenly understood.

That explained why every living creature on Terra's land could be infected by Originium, while neither the Aegir nor the Seaborn in the sea were affected at all.

If Originium came from the Doctor's plan to deal with the apocalypse, then the life in the sea came from another plan called the Deep Blue Tree.

They were two entirely different systems. That was why Originium couldn't infect life in the ocean. Upon contact, it recognized that the other party belonged to a different system and rejected it.

The Deep Blue Tree had simply gone further in the field of genetic life. That was why, after the later fusion, the Seaborn it produced could assimilate life on land.

Considering that it hadn't completely assimilated the life of Terra and had retained part of it, the plan had probably kept the basic operational portions of the other plans after its own objective was completed.

"No wonder. So that's how it is."

Suika felt like her brain wasn't quite keeping up. She hurriedly opened the Ibuki Gourd and took a swig to calm herself down.

"So this isn't difficult to accomplish. We only need to find the point within their bodies that Originium recognizes and destroy it. Once Originium no longer considers them something that can be assimilated, Oripathy will naturally be cured."

Yagokoro Eirin had been here for less than half an hour, yet she had already basically figured out the cause and solution for Oripathy. Suika couldn't help but marvel that this old thing who had lived for hundreds of millions of years—so she claimed—was truly on another level. She was far more capable than that old lynx from Rhodes Island.

"I see. Then what if we don't cure it completely, only alleviate it? Is there a way? Of course, it'd be best if we could use local materials, preferably the cheaper the better."

Suika asked with a cheeky grin.

Yagokoro Eirin rolled her eyes. As a doctor, this was the first time she'd heard someone ask not to be cured, but to be left half-cured.

"That's not too difficult either. We only need something that can block Originium from continuing to collect data on life. Even if the condition doesn't improve, it won't continue worsening.

"But I don't have any materials here. How am I supposed to make medicine?"

Suika realized that was true. Yagokoro Eirin certainly had the ability to make any medicine, but matter couldn't exist through consciousness alone. She still needed the appropriate materials.

Right now, Suika couldn't produce anything. How was she supposed to have her make the medicine?

"Someone's coming!" Yagokoro Eirin suddenly raised her head and looked toward the door.

Suika looked over as well and saw Alina walking in with a steaming bowl of dough soup filled with vegetables.

"There aren't many vegetables left at home, so this is all I can make for now. Tomorrow, Suika will accompany me to the mountain village outside to buy some more. I'll make sure you eat well, Doctor."

After entering, Alina placed the bowl in front of Yagokoro Eirin and spoke with a guilty expression.

"Thank you. It's very good food." Under Alina's watchful gaze, Yagokoro Eirin took a few bites and smiled.

"That's great. I was worried it might be too plain and not suit your tastes, Doctor."

Alina patted her chest, looking visibly relieved.

"You said you're going out to buy supplies tomorrow?" Yagokoro Eirin tapped her fingers against the table.

"Yes, Doctor. Is there anything you need? I'll do my best to find it." Alina stood up and looked at her with complete sincerity.

"Nothing in particular. Just bring me some of the medicinal ingredients used to treat Oripathy here."

"Huh?" Alina didn't understand what Yagokoro Eirin meant for a moment.

"I have a way to alleviate the symptoms, but I need to see whether you have enough of the relevant medicinal ingredients here. If anything is missing, I need to see whether other medicines can be used to adjust and balance it out. I can't exactly prescribe medicine that doesn't even exist here and leave you to figure it out yourself."

Yagokoro Eirin said with a smile.

"Ah! Really?" Alina asked in surprise.

"Of course. Otherwise, why would I have come all the way out here?"

"Wait, I'll go find Talulah..." Alina rushed outside in a fluster.

After she left, Yagokoro Eirin continued leisurely eating the food before her.

By the time she had nearly finished eating, Alina returned with Talulah and several others.

Looking at Yagokoro Eirin elegantly clearing the table, Talulah cautiously asked,

"Ma'am, you said you can make an Originium inhibitor?"

"That's right. I already know about this kind of medicine. It just depends on whether your materials are complete enough." Yagokoro Eirin replied.

Talulah pressed her lips together before speaking again.

"Then I'll have someone bring over samples of every material we have. Once you've selected what you need, tell us your requirements..."

"Fine." Yagokoro Eirin agreed without hesitation.

Then she looked at Talulah with a faintly amused smile.

"Miss, you seem to be unwell. I happen to have a pill that's suited to your current condition. If you don't mind, give it a try."

With a flick of her wrist, a pill the size of a pinky nail appeared in Yagokoro Eirin's palm, and she held it out to Talulah.

Talulah looked at Suika, who tightened her grip around the Ibuki Gourd.

"You're not planning to drug her with alcohol, are you..."

Talulah was left both exasperated and amused by Suika's remark, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became much livelier.

"I think I'm perfectly healthy. There's nothing wrong with me... Alina, don't pout. I'll take it, all right?"

She took the pill and the cup of water Alina handed her, swallowed the medicine in one gulp in front of everyone, then opened her mouth for Alina to inspect.

"By the way, what does this medicine treat?"

Only after Talulah had taken it did Alina remember to ask Yagokoro Eirin about the pill's effects.

"A sickness of the heart... You'll probably have nightmares when you sleep over the next few nights, but don't worry. That's a sign that the medicine is working. Just endure it."

After saying that, Yagokoro Eirin lowered her head to look through the notebook in her hands, as though studying a patient's condition.

Her words left Talulah and Alina at a loss for what to say.

What was a sickness of the heart? Did she mean heart disease?

Alina looked at Talulah worriedly, but Talulah shook her head to indicate she was fine.

"In that case, I'll arrange for someone to bring the medicinal ingredients for you to choose from, Doctor." Talulah felt vaguely uneasy, but she didn't know why. She could only find an excuse to leave the room.

Worried about Talulah, Alina followed her outside.

Yagokoro Eirin looked at Suika.

"You said she's your friend. Aren't you going to help her get that thing out of her body?"

The Best Eno Is a Dead Mephisto

"That black loach?

"It's just a pathetic thing without a body, barely clinging to life by attaching itself to other living beings.

"Besides, that isn't all of it.

"The price I'd have to pay to drag it out is too high. It's not worth it."

After saying that, Suika looked toward the door.

"You're definitely better at this than I am."

Yagokoro Eirin neither agreed nor disagreed. Though she wasn't entirely satisfied with Suika's answer, oni were creatures who acted entirely according to their moods.

"Looks like I did something unnecessary."

"Want some?" Seeing that nothing else was happening, Suika took out the Ibuki Gourd and gave it a shake.

"You really do love drinking... I'll pass. I still have work to do later. What if something goes wrong while I'm drunk?" Yagokoro Eirin shook her head and declined Suika's offer. Suika clicked her tongue, took out a wine bowl, and sat there drinking by herself.

Half an hour later, Alina entered with two children carrying several medicinal ingredients.

Alina pointed at the table.

"Sasha, Eno, put the things here.

"It smells strongly of alcohol. Suika, you're not drunk, are you?"

After catching a whiff of alcohol upon entering, Alina looked at Suika sitting on the stone stool and called out.

"Drunk? I'm not drunk. Are the medicinal ingredients here? Then I won't delay your work."

With that, Suika patted her butt and prepared to leave.

As she passed Alina and the two children, she nodded at them.

She was no stranger to either of them, in both her past and present lives. Eno in particular was that little brat who looked shy and somewhat timid, but whose mind was incredibly extreme.

Whether he was the mad Mephisto, hated by everyone, or the "Singer" who sang the final chapter of despair, at the time, a dead Eno had seemed like the best Eno.

After all, as long as he was alive, he dealt indiscriminate damage to both allies and enemies.

If one had to choose someone in the Reunion Movement who shouldn't be saved, eighty percent of Doctors would have chosen him.

And now, although he wasn't yet the executive who made both friend and foe tremble, used Originium Arts without restraint, acted wildly when things went well, and went insane when they didn't, his fragile and sensitive nerves still made him hostile toward the "happy" people around him.

Suika especially stood out. When they had first met, he had followed behind FrostNova like a little tagalong. When he saw Suika speaking to FrostNova as an equal, his eyes had revealed panic, unease, and hostility toward Suika, like a child worried that someone would steal his mother away.

That look alone made Suika lose any desire to save him.

After all, it's easier to change rivers and mountains than a person's nature. She wouldn't be staying here long, and Eno wasn't all that close to her.

Rather than exhaust herself trying to change his personality with a high chance of failure, it would be better to stop the Reunion Movement from walking its old path.

As long as Talulah wasn't controlled by the Black Snake and Alina, their political officer, remained alive, Suika figured Eno wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.

And just as she expected, only Sasha responded to her gesture before she left. Eno's eyes were filled with poorly concealed malice when he looked at Suika. Afraid she would notice his gaze, he kept looking around, and paired with his somewhat disdainful expression, it made Suika even more irritated.

From a distance, Yagokoro Eirin glanced at the situation by the door and gave a soft snort of laughter before turning her attention to the medicinal ingredients on the table.

"All right, leave the medicinal ingredients here. Leave the rest to me."

After leaving, Suika strolled leisurely around the village. This was one of the few forms of exercise she had here.

Everyone she encountered along the way greeted her warmly.

Naturally, that was because she and Alina had previously gone out and brought back vegetables for everyone.

That cartload of vegetables had made everyone remember what she looked like, and it also meant that, as a non-Infected person in an organization full of Infected, she was no longer so openly excluded.

"Can that doctor friend of yours be trusted?" FrostNova's voice came from beside Suika as she wandered around.

Suika looked over. FrostNova was walking alongside her.

"Sorry. It's not that I don't trust you, nor is it that I don't trust your friend.

"But you know as well as I do that the Ursus authorities have been pursuing us more and more frequently these past few days, and the space we have to operate in is getting smaller and smaller.

"At a time like this, a stranger suddenly arrives—a doctor who can even treat Oripathy. Some people in the village are worried because of that.

"Talulah assured everyone that your friend isn't a bad person, but those people still urged my father to investigate you and your friend.

"I know you're not a bad person, so I took the assignment myself."

Hearing FrostNova's explanation, Suika clicked her tongue.

"Eno was one of the people in the village who said that, wasn't he? He normally keeps far away from me and doesn't want to get close at all, yet today he suddenly found it in his heart to follow Alina while carrying medicinal ingredients."