"Hehe, everyone's here today, that's great..."
In the small hospital room, Ifrit still sat on the bed, a brilliant smile on her small Face.
However, this time, it wasn't Goki sitting beside her, but two other people she liked best.
Holding Silence's hand on one side and Saria's hand on the other, Ifrit was exceptionally happy.
From Goki's perspective, she looked like a child left behind who had finally welcomed her parents back from work; that unconcealable joy made one's heart ache.
"Hmm, you look in good condition. Thank you, Goki. We really haven't had time to see Ifrit recently."
Just now, Saria had carefully checked Ifrit's physical condition displayed on the surrounding instruments.
Saria was relieved to find that although there had been an incident before, Ifrit's oripathy had not worsened recently. Her originally frail body had gained a lot of weight, and even her forearms showed chubby soft flesh, clearly indicating she had put on weight.
"Don't think too highly of him. Last time I found him secretly bringing in hamburgers from outside. Those things fried in inferior palm oil are very unhealthy—Ifrit, you haven't been secretly eating any junk food that's completely devoid of nutrition and only burdens your kidneys and liver, have you?"
Unlike Saria, Silence, who was more familiar with Ifrit's daily habits and how Goki had been taking care of her these past few days, scrutinized Ifrit with a stern gaze—the two of them, one big and one small, had done many things Silence disallowed.
"O-of course, how could that be, Silence? Brother Rogue has been using the kitchen to cook for me these past few days, right?"
Little Fire Dragon's expression immediately tensed. While giving Silence a shaky, awkward smile, she vigorously winked at Goki, giving him a fierce look.
Goki, who was sitting at the foot of the bed peeling an apple for Ifrit, immediately understood and silently pushed a box of potato chips, half bought for Ifrit and half for Skadi, quietly under the bed.
"Ahem—it's just a small matter. My sister and younger sister at home, who give me no peace of mind, are waiting for me to go back and make dinner."
To Rhine Lab, Goki couldn't really say Kaltsit's and Skadi's names. Who knew how many national organizations had the big lynx's name on their blacklist.
Several hundred years old is still a sister, a big—sister.
Then, Goki looked at the intimate scene of the three in front of him, a smile playing on his lips.
"Saria, Silence—don't you think you two look especially like a family of three right now?"
After a month together, Goki no longer needed to call Saria 'Director' as he used to. Although Columbia had a strong academic elitist atmosphere, these two future Rhodes Island Operators were clearly more easygoing.
Goki knew that the 'family of three' situation didn't actually exist; the female copper was not by Goki's side.
Silence and Saria were good friends who had different academic views but cared for each other in life.
Their love for Ifrit remained unchanged. Among researchers who had abandoned humanity for truth, such fundamental kindness was exceptionally precious.
However, Goki himself was a guy with severe fanon brain rot.
The pictures he saw on Pixiv, whether wholesome or not, always depicted these three Rhine Lab Operators as a family of three. It was hard for Goki not to see them that way.
After all, Goki had never been a proper, upright person.
To put it bluntly, Goki was lusting after Silence and Saria's bodies—
And also Ptilopsis from the Structure Department, Little Penguin Magellan from the Exploration Department who went out with him every holiday these past few weeks, Muelsyse / Muir Sais who was a bad woman but had a great chest feel... and several other Operators whom he hadn't seen yet but knew about from other researchers' chats during his work these past few days. Goki lusted after all of them—come on, he was a former Doctor! If he didn't lust after Operator bodies, how could he be considered human!
The reason he had been so enthusiastically helping Silence and Saria these days was certainly not because he was genuinely eager to help others—a hunter never did business without reward.
Goki's goal was partly to give them more time to spend with Ifrit, and partly to use the opportunity of helping them with their work to further understand Rhine Lab's internal structure and get involved in the work that brought him closer to his "prey."
And an even more important thing... was to boost the favorability, no—Trust, of these lovely, excellent, and powerful ladies!
Goki was no Casanova, and he naturally didn't think he could win the hearts of many girls, especially these absolutely rational, highly intelligent female academics with very little emotional component.
However, since he had jokingly called them his wives, Goki absolutely wasn't just saying it. An Old Hunter's prey wasn't just gods!
Even if after this operation, he only remained colleagues turned friends with Saria and Silence, there would definitely be opportunities for further advancement in the future—there were still many days ahead!
Of course, these were just side tasks, to be done as fate allowed. The most important thing, of course, was Goki's own objectives.
To find information about gods, regain his power, help Kaltsit prevent Rhine Lab's actions that could lead to disaster, and... not let the tragedy of the Flame Demon Incident repeat itself on Ifrit.
Goki was the former Rhodes Island Doctor. If he came to Terra and allowed the original tragedy to repeat, then he would be too despicable.
Perhaps because of Goki's actions, the future Rhodes Island would lose an excellent Caster Operator and gain an ordinary Infected girl, but Goki felt... that was enough.
"A family, a family of three? Goki!"
As soon as these words came out, Saria, sitting by the bed, was startled and immediately looked at her subordinate with some hesitation.
"Don't say strange things. I like Ifrit very much, but it's not to the extent of a family of three..."
Meanwhile, Silence's reaction was not as strong; instead, she laughed just like Goki.
"See? I told you long ago, you and Ifrit look very similar, both have orange eyes, and tails and horns... You really are suited to be a father, aren't you!"
At these words, Saria's Face immediately flushed, feeling a bit embarrassed in front of her subordinate.
"Huh? Silence, it seems you just admitted it yourself, didn't you? Do you think... a physique like mine should really be called 'father'?"
Recalling their earlier conversation, Saria found a key point to counter Silence. She immediately straightened her body without hesitation, showcasing her ample chest.
Saria had never particularly liked to flaunt her overly obvious feminine features, but everyone present was familiar, and Goki had also complimented her figure, so Saria didn't mind showing off a bit in front of Silence.
"Tsk, but I'm not very good at knocking people down with my fists directly, you know. Delicate women aren't suited for such things."
As expected, Silence fell into the trap she had just dug for herself, clicking her tongue in annoyance.
Although they cooperated fully in caring for Ifrit, the two female academics always started competing in some strange areas.
So, with a playful mindset, and their competitive spirit aroused, Silence and Saria both looked at Ifrit.
"Ifrit, you decide—"
"—who among Silence and me is more suited to be a father?"
Clearly, whoever was 'more suited' meant who, in Ifrit's eyes, seemed more like a man—even if they didn't care about romantic matters, such a description was a small blow to both of them.
Beside them, Goki, having finished peeling the apple, began slicing it into a plate, watching Ifrit, who was caught between the two, with interest and no intention of offering help.
Indeed, even on Terra, there would be difficult questions for children like, "Mom and Dad, who do you like more?"
However, Ifrit tilted her head, looking at Silence and Saria with some surprise, as if wondering why they would ask such a question.
"Being a father... that must be something only boys can do, right?—So, it must be Brother Rogue who becomes the father, right?"
With an answer already in her heart, Ifrit gave Goki a sly smile.
"Wouldn't it be better if Silence and Saria both became mothers! Not a family of three, but a family of four, no, and Ptilopsis too—"
With her most simple and pure view, Ifrit hoped that everyone who was good to her would live together—the bigger the family, the better!
"Pfft—"
"Ahem—"
Completely unprepared for Ifrit's innocent and unfiltered remark, Silence and Saria instinctively recalled their playful joke in the sterilization room just now. After looking at Goki's Face, they instantly turned their heads away, blushing.
"Hahaha—I don't mind this kind of thing at all, Ifrit."
Although Goki was also a bit red-faced, he silently gave a double thumbs-up to the innocent-looking Ifrit in his heart.
Good heavens, she's a professional wingman!
Alright, my Little Fire Dragon, seeing your two beautiful mothers, I'm claiming you as my daughter!
"Alright then, mothers of the child... children say innocent things, don't take it seriously, have some apple."
Calming his somewhat excited feelings, Goki walked to the bedside with the apple plate, blocking Saria and obscuring the Originium glow in her hand.
Crackling—
With a burst of sparks, somewhere under the bed, a short circuit sparked.
It was a miniature listening device from the Engineering Department, which, under the effect of calcium metal, entered a temporary state of malfunction.
Silence and Saria each took a slice of apple, and Goki put a slice into the somewhat dazed Little Fire Dragon's hand.
"Alright, we now have three minutes without being monitored."
Saria's expression still held a hint of shyness, but her voice was incredibly steady.
The "family of four" gathered here was not for flirting.
Note:
Hello everyone!
First of all, I want to send my warmest wishes to you and your families. May your Lunar New Year be filled with warmth, reunion, and joy. I hope you all stay healthy and have a wonderful year ahead!
I have a small announcement: I will be taking a Lunar New Year holiday starting on February 15th, 2026, and will return on February 23rd, 2026. During this time, I want to rest, spend time with my family, and enjoy the traditional New Year atmosphere.
Don't worry! During this break, I will prepare new chapters so I can post them regularly when I return. So please be patient and wait, the upcoming story will be even better!
Thank you so much for your support. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!