About the time I was picked up and adopted by Tallulah

"But I still supported her and accompanied her in my own way. Because I knew very well that Tallulah was fragile. She had dreams that ordinary people could not understand, and she also carried burdens that ordinary people could not bear."

"Tallulah is sometimes too naive and idealistic, always overly optimistic about others. Actually, I realized a long time ago that people are complex. Tallulah will encounter good people willing to help the guerrillas, but she will also eventually encounter bad people who will commit unconditional evil... But even so, I still have to [believe] in others. I must believe, because only then will Tallulah not doubt her dreams and have the courage to keep going."

Alina sighed softly.

"Even before I was attacked and robbed for food and those ornaments, and lost my arm and consciousness, I kept telling Tallulah to trust people—even if I didn't trust myself."

"I simply don't want Tallulah to collapse. I don't want her dreams to crumble. So... I've been fabricating lies that I loathe, pretending to have hope for the future. In reality, I've long lost faith in the people who witnessed what happened on this frozen land, and that's why... my consciousness refuses to awaken."

"I don't know if I can go on. I don't know if I can continue to be Tallulah's hypocritical support when I wake up and look at my broken body. So I chose to escape - until you showed up."

Alina turned her head slightly so that she could fully feel the boy's warmth.

"Orson, you walked into my soul. That pure, unconfused, innocent light illuminated me and gave me the courage to face the world again."

"So I think that your way of expressing it is a bit too subtle, isn't it?"

Alina smiled and slowly recounted her past confusion to the young man like a clear spring.

"I didn't think about that at the time... Alina."

"Yes, and this is where you healed me, Orson. Your kindness and light are pure, unlike mine, which is hypocritical and pale, trying to shine for a reason."

Alina stood up from Orson's arms, put her arms around Orson, then leaned over gently and rested her forehead against Orson's.

"You lead us further and further from the North. Sometimes I even fear that one day you will suddenly go to an even more distant place alone."

Orson and Alina pressed tightly against each other, and Orson could feel the warmth from every breath Alina took.

"No, no matter where I go or what I do, I will always return to the Reunion."

"Well, I understand, because Orson, you are just like that. Not only in terms of dreams and future endeavors, but even in terms of relationships between men and women, you remain the same as always."

Alina released her hands, and the two of them faced each other again. Xiaolu smiled at the boy in front of him, while Orson became a little embarrassed.

"You're still so dull, unromantic, and passive. You're so afraid of hurting others that you even become cautious in rejecting them. No wonder both Froststar and Tallulah suddenly become mean girls when the topic of dating you comes up."

"Uh……"

Alina held Orson's cheeks with her hands and slowly moved closer to him again. Her lips, as delicate as morning dew and as white as the deer's, also slowly came up to him.

"Does that mean I should become a 'bad' girl like that and take the initiative?"

"Well……"

Orson closed his eyes slightly. Just as Alina had just said, even though this Chimera had been complained about by Tallulah, it still became cautious even when refusing.

Orson and Alina's lips touched briefly, and then, like a dragonfly touching the water, they quickly separated again.

"Alina?"

Orson blinked his eyes. Alina, who had just made a gesture as if she was ready to push him down, now distanced herself from him and returned to her original state. However, she extended a slender index finger and gently pressed it against her lips, as if she was savoring the brief kiss just now.

Alina noticed Orson's gaze, and the little deer smiled happily and gently.

"I won't do that, Orson. I will just silently guard here. When we don't need to move forward, when you need warm shelter, I will always be here waiting - although this sounds a bit clumsy and rigid, but... this is how I protect you, this is how I express my love, in action."

Alina said with a smile, and looking at the deer in front of him, Orson also smiled.

Even if you say your light is pale and false... I know very well that you are not false, Alina. That gentleness, that light, you are the warmest beacon of the Reunion Movement in the snowstorm.

Orson smiled and leaned forward, gently kissing Alina's antlers.

"Ugh—O-O-Sen!?"

Alina, who had been relatively calm before, blushed instantly this time.

Unlike the last time when she guided him, she knew very well that this time Orson knew the meaning of this behavior, but Orson still decisively performed the "kissing the antlers" behavior.

"Alina is cute even when she's startled."

Orson gave a mischievous grin as he gently stroked Alina's hair.

"...It looks like you've changed a bit, Orson."

Alina lowered her head and complained softly, a happy smile on her blushing cheeks.

--------

"I'm so tired... The checkpoint's file entry system doesn't even have the 'Agor' race... Although I never thought there would be Agors coming to Ursus."

Some time later, Zaolu returned to the conference room with Skadi. Zaolu looked a little exhausted, while Skadi, following behind her, was as expressionless and naive as ever. The only difference was that she had an ID card around her neck.

"But this way you won't be noticed next time you come to Ursus—that being said, I suggest you don't walk around with that sword on your back."

Zaolu pointed at the big sword behind Skadi that was almost as tall as herself and said.

"A hunter never fights empty-handed."

"..."

Skadi's overly masculine remarks made the mayor of Qie City not know how to continue the conversation.

"Miss Skadi doesn't necessarily have to use a greatsword as a weapon! After all, if the enemy isn't a terrifying behemoth, I think Miss Skadi can also cause terrifying damage with a doll..."

Orson was trying to smooth things over while muttering in a low voice.

During the previous battle to defend Lungmen, Orson had fully experienced Skadi's outrageous "flying brick" fighting style. Most of the time, the big sword was not used for "slashing" but for "slapping".

"doll……"

The speaker may not have intended it, but the listener may have taken it to heart. Although Skadi's expression did not change, she thought of some scenes in her heart because of Orson's words.

For example... the scene where you use a red whale doll to swing the enemy away.

"In short, what should we do next? If you, Ms. Alina, believe that Orson can indeed help Ms. Skadi, do you agree to Ms. Skadi's request?"

Zaolu redirected the topic back to the original question, and at the same time, Bai Xiong noticed that Alina seemed subtly different from when he had just left.

"Yes, I believe in Orson. If he can create a miracle once, he can create a second miracle as well."

Alina nodded, approving of Orson's action in helping Skadi.

"So, the Reunion Movement has approved the operation... If that's the case, then I, on behalf of Kirijo, also approve it. But—if you encounter danger and need help, please remember to seek our help. No matter what, don't face it alone, okay?"

Zaolu looked at Orson and said, in fact, whether it was Zaolu or Alina, Reunion Rhodes Island... they always had the same attitude towards Orson.

It's not about "stopping" the boy from doing something, but I hope that when the boy does something, I can stand behind him and be his shield, that's all.

"..."

Faced with Zaolu and Alina's permission, Skadi's face looked a little confused.

"At times like this, just nod your head to express your gratitude, then remember the favor and return it when you have the chance next time!"

Orson felt that Skadi was confused about how to respond to this situation, so he smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"I see—thank you all."

Skadi imitated him and nodded, although her movements still seemed a little clumsy.

"But... Orson, if you bring back another weird girl this time... Hehe, just kidding, I won't do anything, okay?"

Alina added with a smile.

——I’m definitely not kidding…!

Orson thought in horror as he looked at Alina's arm which was making the charging sound again.

"Anyway, go early and come back early, and be safe. I'll handle the matter with Tallulah when the time comes."

Alina signaled to the two of them that they could get back to business, and Zaolu nodded to them.

"Miss Skadi, next time when you're not looking for help, please come here as a guest and have a good rest and experience it."

"……Um."

Skadi seemed to be trying to look relatively relaxed, but in the end she raised her sword and followed Orson out of the meeting room.

thump—

The door to the conference room closed, and the hunter from the deep sea successfully borrowed the mascot leader of the Reunion Movement/Che City.

White Bear and Alina, who remained in the conference room, were silent for a while, and then White Bear coughed lightly twice.

"Well, Ms. Alina... Although this question may seem a bit strange, you haven't done anything strange here with Orson before, right?"

"Of course not...!"

"...Do you know that your cheeks are burning right now, Miss Alina?"

Alina immediately denied it, but Zaolu came up to Alina and said, looking at her hot cheeks.

"Anyway...it's not what you think, Natalia."

Alina replied quietly, looking away, and Zaolu sighed softly at the sight of her expression.

"Haha, I really hope I can become an adult soon."

Although Orson looked younger than himself at first glance, he was actually an adult in name only.

Wait... Orson was still an illegal immigrant until last week, right? In other words, no one could prove he was in his 20s.

As long as I change his age in the personal household registration file to 16, will I have the evidence to arrest all those guys and then take Orson for myself... ?

A dangerous idea came to Natalia's mind, but unfortunately it was not successfully implemented in the end.

--------

After leaving the Reunion Movement, Orson and Skadi returned to Rhodes Island.

On the way back, Skadi still seemed a little hesitant. She stopped from time to time and wanted to say something, but in the end she just remained silent as usual.

It was not until the two of them returned to the deck of the Rhodes Island in the elevator that Skadi finally spoke again.

"Maybe I shouldn't do this… Orson."

"Miss Skadi?"

Orson looked at the lonely deep-sea hunter. Skadi, who should have been expressionless, now clearly showed her entanglement and hesitation on her face.

"You are different from me. You are surrounded by everyone, and you are blessed by them—you are a being with the bond that allows you to live."

"..."

"Although you possess the ability to hear and enter the melodies of others, Ghost Shark, Laurentina... her soul, I am very afraid. I don't know what form she has been eroded into, but it must be an inescapable nightmare."

Skadi spoke softly, clenching her fists around the greatsword and the palms at her sides, as if she was angry at herself for not being able to provide any help.

And then, Skadi felt a hint of warmth through her gloves.

Orson gently wrapped his hands around Skadi's left fist and moved closer.

"Even though you were so scared, you still chose to give up all the glory that once belonged to the Deep Sea Hunters and Agor, and came to the Reunion Movement to find me. This shows that you really care about Ghost Shark, right?"

"I……"

Skadi never talks about the topic of ghost sharks with anyone. Even within Rhodes Island, there are many people who have no idea that there is a connection between Skadi and ghost sharks.

Normally, she would probably look away forcefully and avoid the topic with silence.

However, at this moment, the Chimera holding his hands, the other party's gaze without any malice, instead was like a whaling gun, tightly wrapping around his body.

"……Yes."

Skadi sighed and told the boy her feelings about the Ghost Shark.

"[Shark]—that was her original codename, but her true name is 'Laurentina'. We were once both members of the Deep Sea Hunters, fighting an endless war against unspeakable things together."

Skadi loosened her clenched fists and placed her left hand on Orson's head.

"You should be familiar with what happened next. The deep-sea hunters left their homeland forever. Some were devoured by those monsters, some were stranded on the shore, and I... made it to land."

"For a long time, I have been acting alone. Because my body retains the blood that attracts disasters, I have long been accustomed to walking alone in silence. It was not until I found Laurentina that I realized that I had not adapted to this 'loneliness' at all."

"I... found my comrades, my kind. We should sing together, dance with the tides—that's how it should be. But the shark has changed. She has become a ghost shark, a strange and terrifying existence that I have never known."

Skadi rubbed Orson's head, and there was a hint of helplessness in her red eyes.

"I want to... hear her sing, want to tell her that she is not alone, that I am not alone..."

"—"

"..."

"Then I must give it my all!"

After a brief silence, Orson said with a smile and an energetic voice.