Skadi, My Wife

Swire returned to her apartment as usual, completely satisfied... not.

Over the past two days, she'd stayed behind after dinner too, either watching TV or playing games.

Today, she was playing games with Exusiai.

It was worth mentioning that although she was a young lady and a senior inspector of the Lungmen Guard Department, Swire wasn't particularly composed. Compared to the steady Ch'en and Hoshiguma, she was much more lively, somewhat like Exusiai.

But she and Exusiai didn't get along very well. The two seemed to repel each other as members of the same sex. Though they played games together, their relationship was anything but harmonious.

Take their current game, for example.

Every so often, Exusiai would mock Swire for being terrible, saying she wasn't even as good as Chen An with one hand. Swire would either curse at her in Lungmen slang or mock her right back, saying that Exusiai kept bringing up Chen An but never followed through. If she had the guts, why didn't she really go warm Chen An's bed?

Anyway, they were just hurting each other.

Skadi ran into the bathroom, not to shower, but to take a bath.

Chen An... Chen An had been dragged out for a walk by Texas and Lappland.

Chen An walked down the street with Texas and Lappland beside him.

As usual, Texas showed little reaction and walked quietly.

Unexpectedly, Lappland didn't show much reaction either.

Her frivolous smile, dangerous gaze, and the madness that seemed etched into her bones had all vanished. At that moment, she was as quiet as another Texas.

As they walked, Texas suddenly turned to glance at Lappland. "You seem a lot calmer."

"I am much more clear-headed. Even my body feels completely renewed, as if I've effortlessly returned to how I used to be. It's probably because my Oripathy has eased quite a bit."

Lappland revealed her frivolous smile again, but it no longer made people tense up with a sense of danger. "I really don't understand an idiot like you. Your medical skills are so good that you can even treat Oripathy, yet you don't become some rich person's private doctor and live comfortably. Instead, you choose to be an ordinary person, hanging around the slums with those people every day. And you even saved someone like me. Is something wrong with your head?"

Her words sounded mocking, but they actually weren't.

Lappland probably wouldn't mock Chen An anymore, because he'd treated her Oripathy and even bought her a meal.

Texas could sense the complicated emotions behind Lappland's seemingly sarcastic words, but she said nothing.

Chen An sensed it too. He smiled cheerfully. "There's nothing bad about my current life. Besides, if I really did what you said and became rich, how would I have had the chance to meet good friends like Texas, you, and Exusiai?"

Lappland glanced at Chen An, then gave a snort and turned her face away.

Texas asked, "Will she turn back into how she was before?"

"You mean how she was this morning? No."

Chen An spoke casually. "Her Oripathy was severe then, severe enough to affect not only her body but her mind as well. When I treated her, I specifically dealt with those effects. As long as nothing major happens, she won't become like that again."

"Oh, pretty impressive, huh~"

Lappland suddenly looked over and asked with a mischievous grin, "By the way, when I woke up, was it you or Texas who changed me into those pajamas? When you treated me, did you get handsy? Tell me honestly. Since you treated me, maybe I'll let you enjoy some other benefits too."

"Lappland." Texas frowned, displeased.

Chen An thought for a moment, then answered in an utterly unromantic tone, "You had Originium crystals on your legs and arms. I touched those places while treating you, so that probably counts as getting handsy."

Lappland: "..."

Texas: "..."

Texas's ears twitched, and she almost couldn't hold back her laughter.

Lappland felt a tightness in her chest. This guy really did have something wrong with his head. He'd definitely never find a girlfriend.

"You idiot!" she couldn't help cursing.

He'd answered seriously and gotten cursed for it. Chen An found it rather baffling.

They weren't flirting. Why was this girl's temper so unpredictable?

Lappland's teasing had failed, and she gloomily withdrew into herself.

Texas, on the other hand, began talking with Chen An about Lappland's situation.

As they talked, Chen An suddenly felt that such a serious matter should be discussed properly somewhere while sitting down—he truly felt that way. The thought that he was tired from walking and wanted somewhere to rest never even crossed his mind.

There happened to be a bench by the roadside, so the three of them sat down on it.

Chen An had intended to sit on the side, but Lappland shoved him into the middle with her butt.

So the three of them ended up arranged like this:

Texas—Chen An—Lappland

Something felt off, but Chen An couldn't figure out what, so he continued their previous topic.

"That's the situation. For Lappland's sake, she should next find a proper medical institution capable of treating Oripathy. Otherwise, over time, her Oripathy might become severe again."

Actually, it wouldn't, because Chen An had already cured Lappland's Oripathy. Though she still had some Originium crystals on her body, they were merely for show, meant to create the illusion that Lappland's Oripathy hadn't fully healed.

Therefore, unless she contracted Oripathy again, Lappland's supposedly "uncured" Oripathy would never relapse.

But he didn't intend to reveal that truth. Just as when he treated the Oripathy patients in the Lower District and those old friends and patients from before, he would only tell them to avoid contact with Originium as much as possible in the future and prevent reinfection from causing a relapse. He would never tell them that their Oripathy had already been cured and that the Originium crystals on their bodies were only there to fool people.

The reason was simple. Oripathy was considered a terminal illness on Terra, and there were many people infected with it. If people learned that he could easily treat Oripathy, his life would never remain as peaceful as it was now.

There was no need to bind himself with morality. He wasn't a savior, nor did he intend to become one. In his eyes, the only people who could save Terra and the countless suffering Infected upon it were Talulah, or people like Talulah—not himself.

"I recommend Chernobog... Chernobog, that is."

Chapter 29: Lappland Has Her Eyes on You

Since he wasn't sure whether Lappland knew about Chernobog, Chen An added that clarification.

"Dawn in Chernobog can barely be considered a medical organization specializing in Oripathy treatment. They may not yet be able to completely cure Oripathy, but stabilizing your condition won't be difficult. If you stay there for a few years, you might even run into a surprise."

Chen An silently added, Like suddenly discovering that your Oripathy is cured.

"The general environment in Chernobog is pretty good. The Infected and ordinary people get along harmoniously, and Dawn's medical fees for Oripathy patients aren't high either. If you join Dawn, you might even receive treatment for free. Although Dawn wasn't originally a medical organization, so it may have some side businesses that don't quite suit one, I think that place would suit you well."

"Rhodes Island would work too."

Texas said, "But if possible, I recommend Chernobog as well. I've never stayed there, but Croissant is there, and she says it's a good place. Besides, Rhodes Island is supposedly just a mobile landship, while Chernobog is a mobile city. You'd be more comfortable living there."

Lappland lowered her head, played with her tail, and stared silently at its tip. She had become as quiet as when they had first left the house.

"Rhodes Island, huh? I've heard of that place too."

Chen An rubbed his chin and nodded thoughtfully. "Huil mentioned it a while ago, but I don't know much about it. So like Texas, I recommend Chernobog. Lappland, what do you think?"

Only when Chen An called her name did Lappland finally react. She raised her head, but instead of answering his question, she asked in a strange tone:

"Why are you treating me this way? I'm a lone wolf, living like a lunatic. Even my old friend Texas doesn't want to see me, yet you accommodate me in every way, treat me, and care about my future. Why?"

"Because... you're pretty?"

Chen An hesitantly said that, then laughed. "Just kidding. How Texas treats you is Texas's business, and how I treat you is mine. I've said this before, haven't I? We're friends. We may have only just met, and our friendship may not be that deep yet, but a friend is still a friend. Treating you and caring about you aren't a big deal. It's only a small effort."

"Your condition has improved, which is a good thing for you. I did something small and helped a friend, so that makes me happy too. It's good for both of us, so why wouldn't I do it?"

That counts as a win-win? Your brain really is broken, isn't it?

Lappland wanted to mock Chen An like that, only to find that she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"You really are beyond saving."

She let out a faint sigh. Her left hand, which had been gripping her tail, loosened, and the tail slipped from the left side to the right.

Lappland chuckled, returning to her usual carefree manner. "No wonder Texas likes you. You've defeated me too... Hey, I heard from Texas that you seem to really like touching her tail. Want to try touching mine too? I'm confident my tail feels no worse than Texas's."

Chen An wasn't a casual person, but when he was casual, he wasn't human.

Besides, who could remain unmoved when a fluffy tail offered itself up? At least, Chen An couldn't.

So without saying anything else, he reached out, grabbed Lappland's tail, and happily began stroking it.

Texas watched them with gentle eyes.

Several days passed, and Lappland was about to leave Lungmen.

Chen An and Texas escorted her outside Lungmen.

At their parting, Lappland said this to Chen An: "You're an idiot, but I think you're an impressive person. If one day you get tired of living as an ordinary person and want to become a boss, someone like Emperor, and need people to do the dirty work, come find me. I'll help you."

"If you don't want that, that's fine too. I'll keep an eye on you just like I keep an eye on Texas. If someone bullies you, you can come find me too. I may not be good at much else, but I'm excellent at fighting and killing. When the time comes, just tell me how many pieces you want your enemy cut into. I guarantee I'll cut them into exactly that many pieces."

Chen An smiled helplessly as he handed Lappland the provisions he'd prepared for her in advance. "Don't always make things sound so scary. You'll frighten people. If the rich lady were here, she might treat you like a dangerous criminal and throw you in jail."

Lappland shrugged and looked at Texas with a mischievous grin. "Texas, do you have anything you want to say to me?"

"Behave yourself when you get to Chernobog, and watch what you say. Not everyone will indulge you like Chen An does."

Texas said that blandly, and then she had nothing else to say.

"You're as cold as ever."

Lappland pouted and turned to leave, but then she seemed to think of something and stopped. "Chen An."

"Hm?"

"Be more careful in the future. Don't be kind to everyone. Whether something happens or not, don't stay too far from Texas and the others. Even Lungmen has its troubled times. In this world, there are lunatics far crazier than me everywhere."

She didn't wait for Chen An to respond. After saying that, Lappland continued walking forward.

After walking more than ten meters, she stopped again.

Unlike before, this time she turned around. With a smile on her face, she spoke half-seriously and half-jokingly. "Remember what I said. Otherwise, if I see you walking around alone, maybe I really won't be able to resist kidnapping you."

Chen An smiled and said, "Have a safe trip, Lappland."

Lappland gave him a deep look. This time, she truly left.

The Lappland who had unexpectedly entered their lives was gone, and Chen An and the others' lives returned to normal.

Meanwhile, far away, after a long journey, Shining and the other three finally caught sight of Chernobog, a massive, imposing mobile city.

"Finally, we're back in Chernobog."

Nightingale said happily, "I wonder whether our dorm was kept after we left. It probably was, right? I'll go back and take a bath later, then visit my old friends."

Nearl nodded in agreement and looked at Red Skadi. "Skadi, where we live isn't far away. We'll take you back first."

She worried that Red Skadi didn't remember where she lived in Chernobog—judging from how unfamiliar Red Skadi had seemed whenever Chernobog was mentioned during their journey, that was entirely possible.

Red Skadi remained silent, staring absentmindedly at the enormous city before her.

A wild wind swept in from the wilderness, making her silver-white hair sway and her red clothes flutter.

After a long while, she softly asked, "Chen An... is he here?"

"All I can say is that he might be."

Shining said, "I also suggest that you return and rest first. When we were nearing Chernobog, I already informed Talulah and the others. If Chen An is in Chernobog right now, Talulah will definitely tell him about this. Given his personality, if he learns we've returned, he'll definitely come see us himself or inform us to go see him. If he isn't here, then after resting and recovering our strength, we can think about how to find Chen An."

Red Skadi seemed not to hear Shining.

"I'm going to find him."

She said that to herself, then walked away on her own.

Shining and Nightingale exchanged looks, sighed inwardly, and hurried after her.

Chapter 30: Chernobog, Where the People Are Simple and Honest

Croissant was selling things on the street.

She was selling some small items she had brought in through her private channels, as well as trophies she had collected after previous battles.

"Where have all the customers gone today? I'm going to starve to death~~~"

She had set up her stall for most of the morning yet sold only a few things. Usually overflowing with energy, Croissant now looked like an eggplant wilted by frost, completely listless.

"I told you this wouldn't work. This is Chernobog, not Lungmen. Different places mean people like different things. The things that sell well in Lungmen won't sell here."