After a whole morning of trekking through the volcanic region, even a grown adult would be gasping for breath by now. And yet Kal'tsit, who was still technically a gravely ill patient, was only slightly out of breath. This was entirely thanks to the powerful Gammagora cells within her.
Of course, Kal'tsit herself was unaware of all this—or rather, she was so absorbed in her research that she had long forgotten such concerns.
Revy had no intention of reminding her either, especially not that he had secretly turned off her hearing aid that morning.After all, wouldn't it be better to let her discover that surprise on her own?
Revy often felt that, all things considered, he was rather lucky. Even as an Infected, he had never really suffered too much from Oripathy. His body remained relatively unaffected.
That's why he thought Kal'tsit was truly remarkable. Despite being tormented by Oripathy, despite her hearing and vision deteriorating under the strain, she still remained so resolutely committed to her research.
Maybe that was why Revy never hesitated to help her.
"Revy-senpai, I feel really energetic today for some reason!"
Kal'tsit suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked at him earnestly.
"My hearing aid, which never works properly, is somehow functioning really well today. And my vision… it feels a lot clearer than usual too."
"I don't know if it's just a mental thing, but I really feel like… it's because you're here with me."
(—Because it is, really.)
But Revy just gave Kal'tsit a mysterious smile, saying nothing. She blinked in surprise, then gave a sweet smile in return.
Absolutely adorable.
"It's nearly noon. Want to take a break?"Revy called out, seeing her about to dive back into her work."Research is important, yeah, but we've still got three full days. No need to torture your stomach over it."
Grrrrrrr…
Right on cue, a small rumble came from Kal'tsit's stomach. She let out a small yelp and her face turned bright red.
(She really blushes so easily… but that's just part of her charm.)
Revy watched this charming display without urging her—just observing her reaction with amusement.
"Th-then… I guess I'll trouble you, Revy-senpai."
Kal'tsit hesitated for a long while before deciding that solving her hunger was more important than preserving her dignity. Blushing slightly, she walked over to him.
Revy had already spread out a disposable tablecloth on a flat patch of ground and motioned for her to sit.
"Eh? So fancy for just lunch?"Kal'tsit sat down, expecting a quick bite, and took the lunchbox Revy handed her.
Her eyes instantly lit up when she opened it.
"Werner's pork cutlet sandwich! And Sacher cake?! When did you even…?"
Since yesterday, Revy had only had a short period of time for himself. That didn't seem nearly enough to prepare food of such high quality.
"Well, you might've missed it, but the restaurant on the first floor of our inn is actually the most famous Werner pork cutlet joint in town.""I figured, since it's rare for you to come home, you should at least have some of your hometown dishes."
"Revy-senpai…"
Kal'tsit felt unexpectedly moved.
He didn't have to go so far for her. His job was simply to be her bodyguard and ensure her safety over these four days. But Revy was acting more like a perfect Victorian butler, taking care of every aspect of her life.
"If you keep spacing out, the pork cutlet's gonna go cold~"
Kal'tsit let out another surprised yelp. She then noticed that the lunchbox was actually insulated—one side keeping the cake cool, while the other kept the pork cutlet warm, as if it had just been freshly cooked.
"H-How… how did you manage this?"
She bit into the pork cutlet—the juicy meat, still hot and full of flavor, made it feel like she was no longer sitting in a volcanic wilderness, but rather back in a restaurant in Laterano, being served a fresh dish straight from the kitchen.
"Heh. That's a trade secret~"Revy put a finger to his lips, keeping a rare air of mystery, though the affection in his gaze was unmistakable.
"Revy-senpai… you're always so good to me… But… why?"
Kal'tsit spoke softly—half to Revy, half to herself.
In her memory, the only people who had ever treated her so well were her parents. Ever since their passing, she hadn't felt this kind of warmth in a very long time.
It wasn't surprising she felt this way.
After her parents died, Kal'tsit had thrown herself entirely into their research. While she'd met many fellow researchers since then, not one had become part of her actual life.
And after contracting Oripathy and arriving at Rhodes Island, most of the people around her were doctors or medical operators. While they cared about her condition, their concern always felt rooted in duty and professional responsibility.
What Kal'tsit truly lacked… was friends.She had far too few of them.
Savoring the pork sandwich and Sacher cake, the long-forgotten sweetness gave her taste buds a rare moment of relief. The thick apricot jam in the cake almost seemed to soothe her body itself.
It felt like ever since getting sick, she hadn't really taken time to simply enjoy food like this.
Kal'tsit narrowed her eyes, sighing in quiet satisfaction.
At the perfect moment, Revy handed her a cup of coffee—Laterano's traditional brew, made with locally ground beans, syrup, and a dash of liqueur. Just one sip could warm even the coldest body in winter.
Her cheeks turned red.Whether from the slight buzz of the alcohol or for another reason… it was hard to say.
Four days… it's so short.I wish these four days... would never end.
For the first time, she truly felt that way.