Chapter 377: Someone Really Isn't Good at This
"Listen to me. Don't rush. Seriously, I know you're anxious, but just—don't be."
Steven's voice came low, trying to suppress whatever indescribable, chaotic noise was coming from the other side of the comms. He had this feeling that if she were right in front of him right now, even knowing she couldn't win, she'd still throw herself at him in a fury.
But really, what could he even do? Even if she did charge all the way to the frozen fields of Ursus, it's not like he had an answer for her.
Besides, those two Abyssal Hunters weren't exactly the type to be easily taken down. And before leaving, he'd properly entrusted Specter to those girls from the Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub.
Come on—Kazimierz was basically his turf now. If something really happened, did she honestly think they wouldn't let him know?
"You think I shouldn't be anxious? One second you're in Kazimierz, and the next you're halfway across the Ursus tundra. Don't tell me you've cooked up another one of your 'surprises' out there."
Kal'tsit inhaled deeply. She knew losing her cool wouldn't help—but seeing him acting so casually made her want to strangle him.
He's the one who took them away, and then what? He just runs off on his own and leaves the patient behind in someone else's care?
"Ahem. Now, that's unfair of you. I'm fighting for the safety of humanity on this continent, you know? You even know why I'm in Ursus? It's to deal with those Collapsal that broke out from the Far North!"
Although he had been caught red-handed, Steven still tried to sound righteous. After all, he was technically a hero of humanity now—saving the people and the Infected of Ursus from destruction. Not like he was just doing this for fun or anything.
"…"
"You'd better be telling the truth."
Kal'tsit took another deep breath.
The moment she heard the word "Collapsal," she knew this wasn't going to be simple. And when she saw that he didn't seem to be lying, she frowned but reluctantly accepted it.
She knew what would happen if those things ever managed to break past the northern defenses. If Steven really had to take action for that reason, then… well, she could understand.
Still, she couldn't help but doubt—since when did he get so selfless? Since when did Steven take the initiative to fight something that offered him basically zero personal benefit?
"If you don't believe me, go ask the Ursus Emperor yourself. The guy personally gave me a banner of honor—I just didn't accept it. Took a verbal reward instead. Did you know I can now enjoy noble privileges in any Ursus city?"
And that part, at least, wasn't an exaggeration. The Emperor himself had said it. He was practically an Ursus noble by now. And if he kept cleaning up more Collapsal, the Emperor even promised to make him a duke.
If Steven actually cared about titles, he'd already be living the good life as the Duke of Snowfields.
"You even met the Emperor?"
Kal'tsit's eyes widened. His life was starting to sound a little too legendary. How long had it even been? And he'd already met the Emperor of Ursus?
"Well… met through a remote chat. That still counts, right? Why? Jealous? Want me to introduce you sometime?"
Steven looked entirely too smug for his own good. The Ursus Emperor—big deal. It's not like he was the God-Emperor or something. Nothing to get excited about.
Besides, it wasn't like he'd killed the Emperor or something. They'd just talked. What was the big deal? Totally the same as hanging out with a normal friend, right?
"…I'm too tired to argue with you anymore." Kal'tsit sighed, rubbing her temples. "Rhodes Island will be passing near the Grand Knight Territory soon. By then, I just hope you can safely bring back the two people you took from the ship. That shouldn't be too hard for you, right?"
"And for the record," she added sharply, "this isn't an order. It's your responsibility."
Kal'tsit was completely speechless at this point. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but when it came time to actually say them, she realized she didn't even know where to start.
This guy—he was always full of surprises. Whether that was a good or bad thing… that was up for debate.
Honestly, she'd rather talk to him face to face than keep listening to his endless bragging over the comms.
"Fine, fine, my bad. I'll handle it, okay? Where's your next stop anyway? Maybe I can catch another ride."
Steven didn't seem bothered in the slightest. By his estimation, that little shark girl should've finished her task by now and be ready to come back.
If not, he'd just have to go fetch her himself—it wouldn't take long anyway.
And as for the "ride"… well, that was mostly because he was bringing Centaurea along. She'd been pretty excited about sightseeing, and hitching a lift with Rhodes Island meant they wouldn't miss out on any of the scenery along the way.
"Fine. We'll talk more when we meet."
Kal'tsit nodded and hung up. Then, she turned toward the Sarkaz who'd been crouching beside her the whole time—shamelessly eavesdropping.
"Doctor Warfarin," she said coolly, "you should be spending your limited time on research and treatment, not wasting it on pointless things like this. It's unbecoming of your position and will only make me think less of you."
But the Sarkaz doctor, with a red candy dangling lazily from her lips, just rolled her eyes. With a mischievous grin, she met Kal'tsit's gaze.
"So, from what I heard just now—this new Block Consortium in Kazimierz really was founded by that guy? Doesn't that mean his influence and resources already surpass Rhodes Island's?"
Warfarin rubbed her hands together, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"…What exactly are you getting at?" Kal'tsit asked flatly.
"I'm just saying—maybe Rhodes Island should join forces with that conglomerate! Then we could finally get a pay raise in the medical department!" Warfarin said, her tone full of mock innocence. "Ever since someone took charge, I can't even remember the last time Rhodes Island's finances were in the green."
She wasn't exactly saying Kal'tsit was bad at this—but, well… the truth spoke for itself.
Sure, Kal'tsit had connections all over the world, but she hardly ever used them for profit. As a result, Rhodes Island's yearly finances had been steadily going downhill.
Meanwhile, that guy's company? According to the members of the old K.G.C.C who'd joined him, the Block Consortium gave them full benefits, proper insurance, and—get this—actual weekends off.
Heaven have mercy, Warfarin had practically forgotten what the word vacation even meant. Was it really so wrong that she resented Kal'tsit a little for that?
"…If you think I'm doing such a poor job," Kal'tsit said icily, "you're free to try and recruit that man yourself. But Rhodes Island does not permit defections. If you think I'll let you waltz off with all our classified information—think again."
Kal'tsit knew perfectly well that the old friend before her was mostly teasing, but she still made a point to lay out her stance with complete seriousness.
Still… there was some truth in what Warfarin had said.
At least when it came to finances and external operations, she had to admit—her performance over the years had been, well, less than ideal.
Was it time to dig the Doctor out of Chernobog?
But if she couldn't control the Doctor, if that wraith awakened once more… putting the Doctor back to sleep wouldn't be so simple.
No. That wasn't a decision to make lightly.
She'd need to think it through—carefully.
For now, perhaps seeking out that troublemaker, Steven, wouldn't be such a bad idea.
At the very least, unlike that ghost who'd sacrifice everything for a mission, he still had a shred of humanity left in him.
Steven, of course, had no idea about any of this.
After hanging up, he turned around only to find Surtr—who apparently had woken up at some point—leaning lazily against the bed, her fiery red hair spilling across her shoulders, her head tilted slightly as she waited for him to finish his call.
"When did you wake up? Slept well last night?"
He pocketed his phone with a faint smile. In truth, he'd just been waiting for her—the little freeloader who'd hitched a ride through his teleportation—to wake up. Now that she was awake, it was time to head back to Kazimierz.
"Mmm…" Surtr stretched her arms above her head, a small satisfied sigh escaping her lips. "If I had to rate it… probably the best sleep I've had in years."
For her, travel had never really been travel. It was wandering—drifting from place to place, sleeping wherever she could.
To rest here, in a clean, warm bed, without needing to keep one eye open for danger… it was almost luxurious.
"I'm glad to hear that," Steven said with a grin. "Alright then, let's pack up. Time to head out. Oh—before that, a quick question."
He rummaged through his backpack, then pulled out a Pokéball. He tossed it lightly into the air a couple of times before turning back to the redhead, who was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"What kind of question?"
"Do you get motion sickness from being in a ball?"
"Eh?"
Surtr blinked, confused. Before she could even process what he meant—
Flash!
A white light burst out, and in the next instant, she was gone—sucked straight into the sphere in his hand.
"My point is—don't resist. We'll be in Kazimierz in just a moment."
He gave the shaking Pokéball a casual glance, said that as if nothing was wrong, then reached down to pick up Laevatain—the massive blade she'd left by the bed.
With a flick of his wrist, he activated the Warp Stone.
Three seconds later, Steven stepped once more into the familiar lands of the Kazimierz Grand Knight Territory.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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