Rhodes Island does not exist.

However, those days are long gone.

The word "war" has almost been weathered away by history and disappeared from the lives of the town's residents over time, leaving only the sediment of hatred to accumulate.

The doctor still remembered how backward the town's medical care was when he first visited as a traveling doctor. He also remembered the helpless looks in the eyes of the wounded soldiers and sick children.

So he stayed.

As a doctor, and also as a homeless person.

But he was not alone.

During that not-so-short journey, he had another companion who was also a migratory bird.

Now, these two wandering birds finally have a place to rest.

A place that deserves to be called home.

-

"Going to work at the clinic again today?"

Early in the morning, Skadi stood in front of a simple table, holding a knife and a square loaf of bread to be cut.

Although her cooking skills weren't exactly excellent, they were far better than the disastrous work of the Doctor. Therefore, most of the responsibilities of being a housewife fell to this former deep-sea hunter.

"I made an appointment; I came from the other side of the mountain." The doctor put on his usual black coat and slipped his hands through the sleeves one after the other.

“Hmm… I see.” Skadi didn’t comment on the schedule the Doctor mentioned, but simply tossed the loaf of bread onto the cutting board and then gently brought the knife down to touch the crispy crust.

How many slices of bread should we cut?

A simple question slipped from Skadi's lips.

The two hadn't been living together for very long, only since the heavy snow that blocked the mountains last year, so thinking about it, it was probably less than half a year.

However... for cohabitation, perhaps six months is enough.

Although the PhD student had not faced this problem even once in the past six months.

So, how many slices should we cut?

Problems must always be faced.

Generally speaking, a loaf of bread is usually divided into two main categories: 8-piece and 11-piece, depending on the eater's habits and preference for thickness.

Incidentally, both of these factions originated in Colombia.

Therefore, the Doctor naturally understood the meaning behind Skadi's words.

Incidentally, the Doctor belongs to the 11-segment faction.

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?" Skadi raised her wrist and waved the knife in front of the Doctor. "Say it, how many slices do you want?"

"You're a chef." After a moment of silence, the doctor turned the question back to his roommate, "Which kind do you prefer?"

"What kind of cut?" Skadi frowned slightly at first, then realized what the doctor was referring to, and said thoughtfully, "Ah... you mean the Columbia cut, right? I would probably prefer to divide it into eight equal parts."

"Really?" the doctor chuckled. "Actually, I'm also divided into eight equal parts, so I'll just cut it into eight slices."

"it is good."

Skadi didn't respond much to the doctor's answer; she simply pressed down on the blade of her knife and sliced ​​the bread into pieces according to the pre-planned method.

"Click."

The blade touched the cutting board.

Skadi paused for a moment as the third slice of bread was cut off.

"I said."

Holding the suspended dinner knife in her hand, Skadi spoke after a brief hesitation.

Can I go to the clinic with you?

"Let's go together?" The Doctor was slightly surprised by Skadi's somewhat unusual proposal. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Is that not allowed?" The knife in her hand remained motionless.

"It's not that it's impossible, it's just that I've never heard you ask this before," the doctor said with a smile. "If you'd like, then of course you can."

"But then again...maybe I really do need an assistant." After a moment of thought, the doctor muttered to himself.

"Let's set off after breakfast."

Ignoring the doctor's mutterings, Skadi quickened her pace with her knife, swiftly slicing the bread into pieces and placing them on their plates.

They looked at each other in silence and finished their portions in quiet slumber.

"Don't we need to bring the greatsword?"

Standing in the entryway, the professor glanced at the long trunk in the corner of the living room.

“No need. There’s no need for me to use a sword here.” Skadi shook her head, put on her leather boots, stood up, and met the Doctor’s gaze.

Standing at less than 1.7 meters tall, she had to look up slightly when making eye contact with the Doctor, but even so, her imposing presence still overwhelmed him.

The height difference probably means nothing to the two of them.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" The Doctor was confused by Skadi's cold yet burning gaze.

“A kiss before leaving,” Skadi said bluntly.

“Ah… well.” The Doctor removed his hood and smiled slightly, “But didn’t we go out together today? So I think…”

"A kiss before leaving." Skadi said expressionlessly.

"……All right."

The Doctor lowered his head toward Skadi, his fingers tracing up her cheek and lifting the ends of her pale hair. Skadi obediently closed her eyes and wrapped her slender yet strong arms around the Doctor's shoulders.

Four cold lips slowly came together, and a slight warmth rose as they exchanged heat.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

The Doctor's fingers caressed Skadi's hair, the silky feel of which always captivated him. Even as their lips parted at the point of contact, his fingers lingered.

"You really like touching my hair."

Skadi glanced at the fingers still curled at the ends of her hair beside her cheek and couldn't help but utter a half-hearted sigh.

"Weren't you the one who said you were very confident in your hair and that you could touch it if you were interested?" the doctor teased.

“Indeed, but I have no intention of going back on my word.” Skadi didn’t stop the Doctor. “Whatever you like, that’s fine, but…”

She rarely speaks like that.

For her speaking style, being straightforward is the norm.

This piqued the doctor's interest slightly—what made her pause for a moment?

"Just what?" he asked.

"Hey."

In return, Skadi let out a half-sigh.

"But when you sleep at night, could you please try not to press down on my hair when you turn over?"

-

I went back to my hometown for the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

After returning to work, I've decided to create a holiday-themed extra, which is expected to be divided into three parts: upper, middle, and lower, plus some additional content.

Of course, the extra parts will be placed on a website that does not exist.

Incidentally, this chapter can be followed by chapter 214.

The following is the usual thank-you section.

Thank you to the webmaster of Foghorn, where is the sundial, idle in jpg, beautiful mountains and clear waters, sundial, copper alchemist, Nan Yuan Hui, seven nights of ink dyeing (Bai Zuo) for the monthly ticket, thank you.

Chapter 301 Side Story: An Untimely Valentine's Day (Part 2)

Crossing the town and the streams flowing from the melting snow of the previous winter, the Doctor brought Skadi to the edge of the Kazimierz civilization.

Since the last war with Ursus ended, many houses in the town have been empty.

The reason for leaving them vacant is self-evident.

So the doctor chose an empty house on the very edge of town as his temporary clinic. And this temporary clinic lasted for six months.

The spring sun slanted down in dappled patterns.

Skadi followed the doctor to the front of the house and watched him turn the handle and push open the wooden door.

"They didn't even lock the door?"

Based on common sense, she spoke up.

“There’s no need to lock the door.” The doctor shook his head. “Most of what’s left inside are emergency medical supplies and simple food and water. So if there really is a thief who took things from the house, I believe it’s just a way to help people in dire straits.”

“For example, infected people fleeing from disaster?” Skadi’s gaze shifted to the forest bordering the edge of the town.

On the other side of that forest lies the territory of Ursus, so it's certainly not impossible that infected refugees would cross the border to escape.

The only concern is whether they can actually cross the permafrost and ice fields alive to reach this remote and impoverished region of Casimir.

"Don't you know that perfectly well?" The Doctor smiled as he entered the room and gestured for Skadi to enter.

"I'm always tied to you, watching you work so hard for those infected people. Even if I don't think this way... I guess I have to think this way."

Skadi sighed and shook her head helplessly.

"One is influenced by one's surroundings?" The doctor turned on a living room light, bringing light back to the humble clinic.

"Probably, anyway, it's not a matter of being influenced by one's surroundings... although they're all pretty much the same." Skadi stood in the center of the room and looked around. "The last time I was here was three months ago, and it doesn't seem like much has changed."

“Because nothing could possibly change anyway,” the doctor shrugged. “After all, it’s a temporary clinic.”

"Yes, it's temporary..."

"...So, when are you planning to leave?" Skadi hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject.

During their six-month stay in the mountain village of Kasimir, the two of them were actually deliberately avoiding this issue.

When will you leave?

How long do we have to stay here?

What are your plans for the future?

Such questions never arose between the two of them.

Because they both knew perfectly well that if they left, they would have to embark on the same arduous journey to their ideals as before.

At that time, perhaps the Doctor and Skadi will part ways again.

After all, their stay here was just a coincidence.

Once the coincidences are erased and everything returns to normal, those days will be gone forever.

“Yes, it’s springtime now, and the snow on the ridges has probably melted most of it.” The doctor was still smiling. “Once I finish processing all the appointments at this clinic, I think we can prepare to leave.”

An ambiguous yet clear answer.

Because the doctor didn't say how many more people had made appointments after him.

But Skadi understood.

The doctor will not stay here.

A simple life of comfort and affection could neither bind him nor keep her.

Perhaps he himself knew that as long as he didn't leave this mountain village, he could maintain this quiet and peaceful life for as long as possible.

But this is not the life he wants.

Skadi understands everything.

As the only woman by the Doctor's side, Skadi naturally understood everything.

"Then after you've almost finished processing all your appointments, we—"

"Boom, boom, boom."

The polite knock was soft and quiet, but it was enough to interrupt Skadi's speech.