About the time I was picked up and adopted by Tallulah

"Is that so... I will try my best, young lady."

"You don't have to make any special effort, Father?"

Ceylon smiled bitterly and said there was no need to work hard in such a place, then picked up the phone.

"Sorry, it looks like we have some follow-up matters to deal with here, so I'll see you all tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Orson—and Dr. Kelsey."

After talking to the mayor and his father on the phone, Ceylon and Hei also got up and left the cubicle to take care of their own business.

Although the crisis in Xiosta has been resolved on the surface, there are still some things that need to be dealt with in this city.

"—"

After everyone left, the originally slightly crowded cubicle suddenly became much quieter.

"Um... I'm sorry, Kal'tsit. I originally invited you to come out of Rhodes Island for a break and travel, but something like this happened. Not only did you get involved in a dangerous situation, but the entire trip was ruined."

After a moment's silence, Orson bowed his head and apologized to Kel'tsit.

The reason why Kal'tsit was able to come out was because of his own extreme encouragement. Orson originally wanted Kal'tsit, who was in an overloaded state, to have a good rest, but it turned out to be a great adventure to save the city-state.

"I am indeed very angry, but it is not because of this incident."

Kal'tsit sighed and looked at Orson with her dark green eyes.

"that is because?"

——Of course it’s because of the thieving cat that just left!

Kal'tsit, who appeared calm and indifferent on the outside, complained loudly in her heart.

"It doesn't matter why. What matters is that the tour isn't over yet, is it?"

“Isn’t it over yet…?”

Orson blinked, somewhat confused about what Kal'tsit said.

It is now 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and the dim setting sun is reflected on the "sea" outside.

After suppressing the Pompeii riot yesterday, Orson and Hei remained in the hospital until noon today, finally emerging in the afternoon to attend the "celebration banquet." The ferry to Longmen/Checheng departs tomorrow at noon, so there's not much time left.

"follow me."

Kal'tsit didn't say much. She stood up and naturally held Orson's hand. At the same time, she led Orson out of the restaurant, took a rented car on the roadside, and headed towards the volcano.

After a short drive, Kal'tsit and Orson arrived at the foot of the volcano.

Orson originally thought that something strange had happened to the volcano itself, but Kal'tsit took Orson to a building where there was no one and the building looked unexpectedly "ancient".

The two walked through the wooden corridor and after lifting a curtain, they saw a hot spring with white mist coming out.

"Wow——"

Orson blinked and uttered a sound of wonder.

Although I had information about hot springs in my memories, this was the first time I had actually seen one in all these years.

"This is the volcanic hot spring that was originally planned to be developed. I heard about it from Mayor Hermann. He also asked him to seal off the surrounding area today. Although the hot spring project will be completed in less than two weeks, it will most likely not be put into use. The entire city-state will relocate within six months."

Kal'tsit said softly as she looked at the hot spring in front of her.

"Such a great place, but why can't more people know about it..."

Orson felt a little disappointed. He could tell at a glance that this hot spring was really a great place.

"Don't make that face, Orson. You protected what's most important to Xiosta—life. It's essential for the continuation of all revival. And as for this land with its beautiful inland lake—it's right here, and we'll set foot here again one day."

"You're right, Kal'tsit. So are we supposed to..."

Orson turned around to ask Kal'tsit, only to find that she had turned around and walked towards the wooden room they had passed by before.

"Your dressing room is on the other side, just come over after changing."

——Is that really the case?

Orson walked into another room, took off his clothes, wrapped his upper and lower body with a white towel, and then came to the volcanic hot spring again.

Because he hadn't seen Kal'tsit yet, Orson went to the edge of the hot spring first. He first tentatively put one foot into the hot spring, and after confirming that the temperature was not as outrageous as the "physiological tolerance steam room" tested by the Rhodes Island operators before, he slowly soaked his body in the hot spring.

"Huh..."

Although he couldn't make any sound, Orson still used his instinct to simulate the sighs that humans would involuntarily make when they were extremely comfortable.

——This feeling is really great...

The warm but not scorching water wrapped around my whole body. Just by looking up, I could see the deep blue Milky Way with stars above my head.

This is a pure gift from nature. The volcano brought not only destruction, but also prosperity to the city and, like this hot spring, incomparably satisfying happiness.

"Orson."

Not long after, Kal'tsit's voice came from behind, and Orson turned around following the voice.

"It's really nice here—Wow wow wow wow! Why are you not wearing anything again, Kal'tsit? Don't you know that you have to dress properly in mixed bathing? Or is it..."

Orson was shocked again by Kal'tsit's "frankness". He covered his eyes with his hands, but a gap appeared. Through the gap, he found that Kal'tsit was holding a familiar small bottle in his right hand.

"Um... Anyway, Kal'tsit, calm down for now—"

"This time is different, Orson."

Kal'tsit opened her mouth calmly, her tone not as trembling and excited as before.

"I didn't use catnip. Although I specifically asked Klosier to deliver it, I hate the feeling of cheating. Besides, I don't feel ashamed to express the emotions I'm feeling right now."

Kal'tsit slowly walked towards Orson, placing the glass bottle filled with catnip solution on the wooden bench beside her while speaking softly.

"You know, Orson, I'm...terrified of losing you."

Kal'tsit stepped into the hot spring pool and walked in front of Orson.

"The moment you decided to rush into the core of the volcano, my brain didn't even know how to continue thinking. But when you survived safely, I finally realized that you are my most important treasure, a treasure that I absolutely cannot let go."

"You're probably like me, never settling in one place to enjoy fixed happiness, right? If that's the case, at least for the rest of my life, until this land finds peace... please, during this journey, comfort someone like me who's awkward and likes to force herself."

Kal'tsit looked at Orson, her eyes filled with happiness and hope.

"..."

Orson took a deep breath. Although he had already said this, it was still perfectly fine to put it here—Kelsey was truly beautiful.

The pure white body stood before her, and the Originium crystals precipitated by the mineral disease not only did not hinder her beauty, but instead became a part of Kal'tsit. She was so open and honest because she did not feel the slightest bit of humility towards her identity as an "infected person."

Time has not left any marks on her body. This lynx, which once wandered and struggled alone for a hundred years, is still so lovable, so strong that it makes people feel distressed, and so wanting to be hugged and cared for.

Kal'tsit slowly pressed against Orson's chest, her furry ears dotted with water droplets, gently stroking his skin.

"—Then leave it to me."

After a moment's hesitation, Orson made up his mind. For the first time, this lonely soul used her own will to seek warmth. All he could do was guide her.

"I'll go find an An-"

"No, Orson."

"Eh??"

Orson was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Kal'tsit to be such a cat.

"...You're a Chimera. Unless you're human, the chances of other species leaving offspring are extremely small, so... no need."

"...Uh, then, I better not ask."

Orson thought about it, but ultimately said nothing more.

Afterwards, the two of them gradually merged together in the center of the deserted hot spring, surrounded by stars and the night sky, which was perhaps open only this time.

The warm spring water surrounded and caressed Kal'tsit, but even so, a hotter touch was still clearly transmitted from the lynx, and a hint of crimson instantly melted in the mountain spring warmed by the volcano.

——Is this... the necessary process to give birth to life?

Kal'tsit passively accepted it, then gradually followed Orson's pace, and finally began to ask for it.

She gradually adapted and wanted to put away this hot package, shut out all meaningless thoughts and throw them out of her mind, using all her cells to remember every minute and every second of this moment.

But then—things started to go wrong.

"Wait, wait a minute Orson, don't you feel a little tired... Ugh!?"

Kal'tsit gradually realized that something was wrong, but by the time she wanted to resist, she had become a little kitten being toyed with by the hateful Chimera.

After a while——

"You...idiot..."

Kal'tsit collapsed on the stone ground next to the hot spring, and could only move her tail and ears slightly.

She summoned M3 to fan her while softly scolding Orson.

——Who told me that this guy has a weak constitution...!?

During this trip to Xiosta, until the very last moment, Kal'tsit's "plan" did not go as planned at all.

congratulations.

30. The Killer and the 'Young Master'

early morning--

Hmm…

Orson groggily climbed out of bed, stretching as he pulled open the curtains beside him. It was barely midnight, so the sunlight outside the window was only a thin, sparse ray.

"Huh..."

There was a slight shaking and breathing sound beside Orson. He looked to his side and saw Kal'tsit, the highest leader of Rhodes Island, lying next to him. Orson could even feel Kal'tsit's tail sweeping against his waist under the quilt.

"So after doing that, sleeping in the same bed, something that was once almost impossible, has become easy..."

Orson sighed softly.

After spending some energy with Kai Maomao in the hot spring yesterday, it was already late at night when the two returned to the hotel.

There were clearly two single beds in the room that had been forcibly separated by Kal'tsit before. However, this time Kal'tsit said nothing. She crawled into Orson's bed very naturally, curled up and fell into a deep sleep.

——Although this word may not be used correctly, it feels a bit like 'desensitization therapy'...

Orson looked at Kal'tsit's sleeping face, and wondered awkwardly if he had accidentally gone too far last night.

But Orson was also incredibly happy. Kal'tsit had finally decided to reveal her most vulnerable and pure side to him in her own way. However, that 'showing method' was almost like cheating, and he couldn't refuse it anyway...

In fact, Orson has always been a little worried about whether he can be a helper to Kal'tsit, but now he just feels that he must protect this lynx.

If protecting this land is your long-cherished wish, then protecting you is my mission.

Thinking of this, Orson reached out and gently stroked Kal'tsit's ear.

"Well……"

Kal'tsit just made some sleep mumblings and tapped Orson's fingers with her ears, but she herself was still sleeping soundly with the quilt clutched in her hand.

She looked really tired... well, that's fair to say. She'd been monitoring the numerical data around the volcano, then helped transport our weapons and equipment, and then, after the mission was complete, she handled my and Kuro's surgeries—it was really tough, wasn't it?

Thinking of this, Orson felt a subtle sense of guilt from the bottom of his heart. He began to wonder if he had bullied the lynx too much last night.

However, this is just a small resistance from me, as I am only strong in 'endurance'!

Normally, I am always surrounded by girls with outrageous physiques. In this case, if I can find an opportunity, I will of course give it my all!

This could probably be considered a form of "resistance" unique to Orson, but it was also because of this that, except for Snow Rabbit, everyone else would basically be defeated by this Chimera if they were not mentally prepared.

Some people not only fail themselves, but also drag their "moms" out to take the blame, which is considered a great act of filial piety.

Of course, Kal'tsit didn't go so far as to drag M3 out to take her place. Last night, even though Kal'tsit couldn't even stand up straight, she was at least "very courageous" enough to accept everything with her own body.

The main reason is that the M3 has not been feminized yet.

"Drip drip drip"

The cell phone beside the bed rang. Orson opened the text message and found it was from Heifa, who hoped that he could come out now, as he had some things to deal with with Orson regarding the previous "mission".

——It’s only a little after six o’clock, and Miss Hei looks like she’s having a hard time too.

Kal'tsit usually has to go to work early in the morning, but today Kal'tsit is still sleeping soundly.