About the time I was picked up and adopted by Tallulah

If you ask the operators on the Rhodes Island, "What is the most proud part of this company?", most of them will probably proudly say that it is their "Medical Department".

But if you ask the operators, "What's the scariest place in Rhodes Island?", most of them will probably avoid the question and finally mumble the same answer: "Medical Department."

As the core department of "Pharmaceutical Company Rhodes Island", the Medical Department bears the heavy burden of saving lives and healing the wounded. However, at the same time, this department, where nothing is surprising no matter what happens, also makes people around them absolutely not want to get close to it unless there is something wrong.

And Orson was in such a terrifying medical department at this moment, or more precisely, on a bed in a special ward in the medical department - and his limbs were tied firmly to the bed.

"Um, um... Doctor Kelsey...?"

The Chimera, who was tied tightly to the bed and wearing a white hospital gown, spoke nervously, calling Kal'tsit's name while twisting the only part of his body that could be moved, his head.

Orson moved his gaze to the left. Dr. Kal'tsit, the head of Rhodes Island's medical department, was wearing a white coat. With her back to Orson, she seemed to be looking at the medical report in her hand, occasionally mixing some medicine of unknown use.

Although Orson couldn't see her expression, even if he had to guess, he knew very well that the expression on her face was definitely not a smile.

Orson then moved his gaze to the right. A pitch-black alien creature with a mixture of dark green and black—Mon3tr—was right next to the bed. It was staring at him intently, not knowing if it was a pair of eyes, as if it would swallow him up in the next second.

“…Hmm.”

After roughly confirming the current situation, as someone who had experienced countless life and death situations, Orson could easily come to the conclusion that "I'm going to be finished."

"Frequently using Originium techniques, entering a high-Originium infection zone without any precautions, attempting to single-handedly stop the swarm of natural disaster Originium organisms, ignoring one's own status and interfering in Longmen's internal politics, and engaging in unauthorized close contact with the Yan Kingdom's Supervisory Department—is there anything else you want to add, Orson?"

Kal'tsit, who had her back to him, turned around. Holding an injection filled with an unknown liquid in one hand, she slowly approached Orson and told him about his dangerous actions during this period with an expressionless face. Finally, she asked Orson if he had anything to add.

"No, no..."

Knowing that his actions were indeed inappropriate, Orson quickly stated that he had not done anything else, but this answer made Kal'tsit frown even deeper.

"No, right? So, all the information I heard from the slums were false rumors? For example, dating the white-haired Lupo, dating the blonde Kirin, dating the pink-haired Zalak, dating the RGB Sakota... Are these rumors, or have you forgotten, Orson?"

"I OOOOOOOOOO!?"

While questioning, Kal'tsit injected the injection into Orson's vein without any mercy. Orson knew very well that Kal'tsit deliberately chose a vein that would be more painful to pierce, because when Orson was injected before, he couldn't even feel the needle entering his skin.

"Wait a minute, Dr. Kal'tsit, those rumors..."

"is fake?"

"Uh, no, how should I put it, ow!"

Not only did Kal'tsit insert the needle, she also pulled it out a little bit and then pushed it back in.

"You still seem to have no clear understanding of your own identity. This treatment is necessary for you to deeply remember the importance of your existence, Orson, and that there are certain things you should think more about before taking action—including the concept of establishing relationships with various women."

Kal'tsit spoke in a cold tone, and Orson hurriedly shook his head and tried to explain, but because of the potion, Orson's Originium skills were paralyzed, and his virtual vocal cords could not make any sound.

"Let Mon3tr help you, Orson, remember what I said."

Kal'tsit clapped her hands. Mon3tr, who had been on standby beside Orson, received the order and immediately jumped above the bed. The pair of lights that were not sure if they were eyes, but were extremely frightening, stared directly at Orson.

"hiss--"

M3 let out a hoarse growl, as if it was about to start a killing spree.

“——!——!?”

With his limbs tied up, Orson couldn't even twist his body. He could only try to lean his head back in vain. Of course, this behavior was just self-comfort.

"hiss!!"

——Woooooooooooo!!

After the threat of "Qianxi" was almost enough, Mon3tr finally pounced on him like lightning, opened his twisted huge mouth, stretched out his "tongue" made of crystals, aimed at Orson and licked him.

"...Mon3tr?"

Kal'tsit was stunned by the scene before her. M3, which looked extremely ferocious and could intimidate the enemy just by standing there, was now like a dog, licking Orson excitedly and excitedly.

Orson's body trembled slightly as M3 licked him. Of course, this was not because of fear, but because of itchiness.

“Hiss, hiss—”

The sound made by the M3 also became strange.

"...Come back, Mon3tr"

Kal'tsit sighed and prepared to recall M3. Upon hearing Kal'tsit's order, the twisted monster drooped down as if its beloved bones were about to be taken away. It was obvious that it was very discouraged and turned back into a prismatic cube.

——Let Mon3tr stop biting Orson in the future. I feel like if this continues, all the ownership will go to that idiot.

Kal'tsit thought so seriously in her mind, then she took off her white coat, revealing the green off-shoulder dress.

"..."

Looking at the boy in front of her who wanted to say something but couldn't speak, Kal'tsit was silent for a moment, then took off her green coat.

"——!?"

The pure white underwear looked inconspicuous against Kal'tsit's pale skin, and even had a subtle childishness to it. However, paired with Kal'tsit's identity as a doctor and her aura of a "lonely scholar" in seclusion, it didn't seem so out of place.

Orson quickly looked away and stopped looking at the other person, but Kal'tsit took the initiative to move to the bedside. The old lynx gently climbed onto Orson's chest and stuck close to him.

A wonderful smell mixed with disinfectant and mint came into Orson's nose along with Kal'tsit's swaying hair.

"I know you're confused, Orson. I'm just...taking your temperature."

Although she knew that this reason was totally untenable, Kal'tsit still said so, as if this could justify her current behavior.

"..."

Orson stopped struggling in vain and instead felt the heartbeat of this lynx that had wandered on Terra for too long and experienced too much.

"You promised me, Orson. You promised me not to do anything dangerous. Even if you're not 'her,' you're still very important to me."

Kal'tsit spoke softly, resting her forehead on Orson's chest, and her green hair made Orson feel slightly itchy.

"—But I also understand that whether it's you or 'her'... you wouldn't be the type to stay in a safe harbor and watch the sunset, so at least promise me that you'll come back alive next time."

Kal'tsit looked up at Orson, her light green emerald eyes reflecting Orson's dark pupils.

Orson nodded slightly, and Kal'tsit, who had received the promise, didn't say anything else. The corners of her mouth rose slightly, and then she buried her head completely in Orson's chest.

The doctor who had saved countless lives only wished to take a break from this 'patient'.

but--

"I brought the medicine, Dr. Kelsey—"

"Well!?"

“——!!!???”

Kal'tsit's apprentice Yaye pushed open the door and said with a bottle of potion, and Kal'tsit's fur instantly stood up, like a cat that found a cucumber behind it, and she jumped up.

As for Orson, he shuddered, his face looking like he wanted to scream but couldn't.

"Uh, thank you for your hard work. Just give me the medicine."

"Okay... Mr. Kal'tsit, why aren't you wearing—"

"There was a problem with the air conditioning system just now. Also, the patient on the 3rd floor seemed to have an allergic reaction. Can you help me take a look at them?"

"But 3F isn't the cafeteria—"

"Boom!"

Kal'tsit rarely showed a panic expression. She almost pushed Yaye out of the room and then quickly put on her coat.

"…Sorry Orson, I didn't mean to."

Kal'tsit walked back to Orson, and there were several clear cat claw marks on his body. These scratches were of course caused by Kal'tsit accidentally scratching when she was furious.

Orson, unable to speak, was in tears and complained in his heart about what evil he had done to become Kal'tsit's scratching post one day.

But seeing Kal'tsit's strange expression with her face red and her eyes looking away, I felt that it was not a loss.

------

After a period of time, the side effects of the potion gradually disappeared, and Orson, who was slowly able to use the Originium technique, reactivated his virtual vocal cords, and finally he no longer had to make up crosstalk in his mind.

"The infection has stabilized for now, but don't forget what I said before, Orson. Chimera blood isn't a panacea. I haven't fully grasped your constitution yet. Even I can't predict what will happen next."

"Yes, I know. Dr. Kelsey, um... I'm sorry to have caused you trouble this time."

The treatment was temporarily over, and Orson was finally able to speak again. His restraints were also removed, although it looked like he would have to lie in bed today.

"Haha, during this time I will try to research a more effective inhibitory drug. Also, the blood for the research has been drawn."

Kal'tsit wanted to say something, but when she saw the bandages on Orson's body (scratched by a cat), she sighed and didn't say anything.

"Don't push yourself too hard, Dr. Kel'tsit. I feel like you have dark circles under your eyes after not seeing you for a while."

"You're not the only one who should say such things... But I will pay attention to my health management."

Hearing Orson's words, Kal'tsit touched her eye sockets with some concern, and even glanced at the mirror next to her with the corner of her eye.

Kal'tsit was not someone who cared about so-called "beauty". Rather, she used to often walk around Rhodes Island with dark circles under her eyes.

But after being pointed out by Orson, she couldn't help but take it seriously, and even considered whether she should go to Huafalin, a top student at the Bridge University, to ask for some facial masks or something.

"Then I'll be leaving first, Orson. If you have time later, go find Amiya and participate in the PRTS system calibration."

Kal'tsit closed Orson's examination file and stuffed it into the encrypted filing cabinet, then put on her white coat again.

She knew very well that her relationship with this young man would only become slightly closer when they were alone as "patient and doctor" like now.

When I leave here, as the actual leader of Rhodes Island, it will be difficult for me to have closer interactions with this young man's social circle - at least until Kal'tsit completely throws away her so-called "restraint" and gets close to him without finding any excuses.

"Dr. Kelsey—"

Just before Kal'tsit stepped out of the ward, Orson suddenly spoke up to stop her.

"What else?"

Kal'tsit turned around and looked at Orson, her tone becoming slightly higher, as if she was expecting something.

"Um, can you tell me some information about Miss Skadi?"

"..."

After hearing what Orson said, Kal'tsit's originally calm expression suddenly became much gloomier. Mon3tr, who was sleeping on the side, thought for a moment that his master was going to kill someone.

"I don't know much about Skadi herself. We found her and another deep-sea hunter in a wasteland. She was surrounded by the carcasses of large beasts, and the other deep-sea hunter was mentally unstable."

"Unstable?"

Orson's 'memory' vaguely remembered Kal'tsit's mention of 'another deep-sea hunter', but he couldn't remember the specific details.

"Ah, maybe you'll have a chance to meet later. Skadi herself is very reluctant to take the initiative to contact others. I don't know why she cares so much about you."

Are you resisting contact with others?

Orson recalled what Skadi said to him at Longmen. She was indeed resisting contact with others, but it seemed that it was not just because of her personality.

"She was a solitary deep-sea hunter, that's all I know. Rest well. Amiya is preparing a celebration banquet for you. Get well soon."

"Uh...Okay, Dr. Kelsey."

Orson wasn't sure if he had said something wrong again, but judging from Kal'tsit's reaction, that seemed to be the case.

After Kel'tsit left, the ward instantly became quiet. Orson leaned back on the pillow, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"I feel like the wards in Rhodes Island have become something like checkpoints..."

Before going to Casimir, Orson had been lying in the ward for a long time. Now after returning from Longmen, Orson was dragged back here by Kal'tsit after going around in circles.

Of course, the situations when he entered the ward these two times were completely different. The first time, he just happened to rely on Zaolu and the power of old man Heragg and others to turn the city of Che into a place that could accommodate the Integration Movement. Whether it was the future or his past, everything was unknown.

This time, while I was lying dead, Casimir and Longmen had already improved, and what I would face in the future was gradually becoming clearer - [God]

To do this, the first thing I should do, according to Mostima's suggestion, is to go to Iberia.

"Click——"

"Dr. Kal'tsit? Did something fall?"

There was a sound of unlocking the ward door, and Orson asked curiously.

Although the person who came also had green hair and was also a member of the medical department, it was just—

"Yo, Orson!"

Hua Tuo Jiawei from the Department of Physics walked up to Orson and greeted him with a cheerful and carefree look on his face.

"It's been a while, Miss Gavial~"

"Well, let's have a fight!"