Léon: The Cat Killer

“Even if Franka cannot hear the oracle of Sarkaz, I humbly beseech the Savior of the Earth to grant Franka spiritual peace…”

Listening to Medic's seemingly plausible explanation, Sister Mary gradually began to consider the feasibility... and the possibility of faith combating pollution.

[Will this work? I mean, Lady Franka isn't even a believer, let alone possessing an 'aura'... Even if she prays to our Lord for protection, if it doesn't bring her any solace...] "It's alright. Even if it doesn't comfort Franka, it's a great encouragement to believers like us. I'll have the cat with empathy magic help Franka experience inner peace. Rosemary, like me, has a deep connection with the 'Lord.' Hopefully, this method will help her recover from that terrifying darkness as quickly as possible."

I understand, so the materials...

"I'll have someone from the welfare department help you prepare it."

After confirming the details one last time, Medic hung up the call.

Above their heads, a white contrail circled the sky before reluctantly departing. Then, with nothing better to do, Huang, carrying a chainsaw and having evaporated a large patch of snow to prevent the black snow from the battlefield ruins from spreading, approached Medic.

"You let the kitten go home first?"

"Well, what we need to do next is a thorough analysis of this place... I don't think this is a suitable place for a kitten to stay."

Looking at the pile of corpses in the distance, which Aya had temporarily covered with a dismantled tent, Huang also curled his lip:

"Yes, roughly speaking, there were about ten cars stopped here, and the victims... the corpses, including those crazy Reunion Movement members, numbered over a hundred... In addition, about forty people's flesh has disappeared..."

"I understand... How was the determination of the contaminating medium made?"

As they talked, the two walked toward Frostnova, passing through the area where the snow had been melted by Blaze. Seeing the black snow blocking the way, Medic put on another layer of medical gloves over his leather gloves and then tried to pry at the ground.

"Will black snow turn into black water when it melts? And this black soil... is it its original color, or is it a result of being stained?"

"Most of the land in Ursus is black."

Frostnova looked up, answering Medic's question, followed by the Shield Guard's adjutant, who appeared fully armed, seemingly anticipating battle.

"Furthermore, the polluted land looks like lifeless 'gravel,' but the earth does have a resistance to 'pollution.' The captain once talked about the Sami people's land will theory... Although it is an incomprehensible heresy from a modern perspective, as a region closer to the 'source of pollution' than Ursus, the Sami people's theory has indeed made them persist in the war against the source of 'pollution.'"

"...In other words, the Sami people actually have a way to deal with pollution...Ursus should have one too, otherwise the birth of the 'Inner Guard' would be impossible."

At this point, Medic glanced at his adjutant and Frostnova, neither of whom seemed inclined to speak, and the black cat from Rhodes Island sighed helplessly:

“We know absolutely nothing about these key technologies.”

"You said Rhodes Island was here to investigate, I thought you were prepared..."

“We prepared a full stockpile of drugs for infected individuals and enough food and supplies to relocate a settlement to Colombia, but the Ursus authorities, who should have been focused on pollution control, seem to be allowing the contamination to spread... This is something I didn’t expect.”

With this response to his adjutant, Medic steered the conversation back to the main issue that had everyone at a loss:

"Regarding the deceased, after identifying them, I suggested that the bodies and their belongings be disposed of together."

"Cremation, or inactivation followed by pulverization using the late-stage treatment plan for Oripathy... There is an Originium pulverization device on the first floor of the exploration vehicle used for the harmless disposal of infected corpses... Based on current experience, it seems that as long as the physical medium becomes a real dead object in our understanding, the contamination can no longer continue to spread."

Seeing Medic's questioning gaze, Frostnova was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was asking for her opinion. Then, the white rabbit shook her head:

“Okay… for now, the safety of the living is the top priority… However, Uncle Lieutenant, has the old stubborn man ever mentioned how to deal with pollution? You should have fought against the ‘polluted entity’ with him before, right?”

Frostnova's words made the Shieldbearer fall into deep thought. The usually resolute and composed Uncle Felin's tone became uncertain at this moment:

"That was an operation that could be completed with the support of the army group, where the only task was to hold one's own position... Although I have seen the captain perform the so-called 'sealing'... but that should not be something we can do."

Seeing that the shieldbearer seemed to be still hesitating, Medic calmly said:

"Even if it's just for reference, it's fine. After all, we don't have time to go to Sami to hire professionals to handle these things right now... So even if it's just for reference, even if it can't be as effective as the original, it's good enough to have something to imitate."

"Alright... since you've said that... but I still think it's a skill that can't be imitated... it's the 'cannibalistic' sorcery unique to Wendigo... the captain seals the source of contamination by 'eating' the other party... it seems that the process mainly requires an altar that spreads Originium dust... but beyond that, I really know nothing."

Hearing what the shieldbearer said, Frostnova helplessly pinched the bridge of her nose:

"This is something you really can't learn..."

"That's not necessarily true."

Medic's words surprised everyone. Medic then reconnected the communication with the exploration vehicle, and then Afu from the welfare department answered the phone.

After Medic explained how Wendigo sealed the contamination using cannibalism, Afona's calm and steady voice soothed the restless hearts of the people present.

[...Ah...eliminating 'contamination' through the ritual concept of 'eating'...although it sounds like just 'eating,' it's essentially an exploitation of the Tikkaz ritual, after all, it's being 'eaten.']

[The Wendigo's feeding is a conceptual declaration, declaring that the object being fed becomes its nourishment... Therefore, sealing "contamination" with "cannibalistic" magic is indeed feasible... Even if "indigestion" occurs because "entropy" itself does not disappear easily, it is locked and isolated by the "feeding" ritual... You can think of it as the Wendigo storing it in a separate "stomach".]

[Because it doesn't come into contact with real matter, it naturally loses the ability to continue polluting its surroundings... an unconventional seal that confines the unreal within the unreal... hmm, quite valuable for reference.]

"So, we can do something similar?"

Yes, it's possible, requiring only a few similar prerequisites.

Afu's words made Frostnova and Shieldbearer eagerly press their eyes against the communicator. Unable to bear the dry stares from the two, Medic had no choice but to put the communicator on speakerphone. At that moment, Sussuro and Aya, who had just completed the registration of the deceased's identity, returned to Medic's side. Even Jessica, who was responsible for guarding the surroundings, curiously turned her ear towards Medic:

[A necessary prerequisite is that you must possess the magic to create independent spaces… something like the legendary Sorcerer's Tower, which constructs a world through song. On the Sarkaz side, it's the Cyclopes' signature technique for survival… manipulating a night-sky-like darkness to tear open wounds in the world… Some believe it's merely an illusion affecting the medium of reality, while others genuinely believe the Cyclopes can see through space and time, thus fulfilling their mostly tragic prophecies…]

"It sounds difficult..."

Is it difficult? For Tikkas, it's merely an instinct ingrained in his blood... And if he could create an isolated space, sealing the 'contamination' would be simple... But if he couldn't...

"Is giving up the only option?"

Not really... 'Pollution' isn't actually that powerful. Otherwise, back when the 'sources of pollution' roamed the land, the Tikkaz would have perished from the torment of these outer stars.

But clearly, the earth remains the same, and nature continues its cycle... I've noticed that you sometimes like this, wanting to resolve every single thing you encounter without leaving any future problems. While this is certainly a virtue, sometimes you can also trust in nature's self-cleaning abilities.

[Just like these 'pollutations,' they haven't caused any major problems so far, and have even become what's called 'the emperor's sharpest blade.']

Hearing Afona's apparent attempt to persuade Medic to give up on treatment, Frostnova frowned and asked:

"So, you mean those continuous stretches of black snow... covering the infected corpses with some kind of black slime... can just be left alone?"

[...I didn't say that...Generally speaking, once it's confirmed that the corpse has completely become inanimate and will no longer enter the natural...or more accurately, the 'feeding' cycle, once it reaches this point, Yi Lin Yi Jiu Si can leave the rest to the earth for self-purification.]

Generally... about ten years... is enough for those 'pollutants' to completely die out...

"Because they were 'forgotten'?"

Medic's words elicited a laugh of admiration from Afu:

You are very perceptive.

“If possible, I would like to handle all obstacles encountered in the mission flawlessly. And since you mentioned the Cyclops ritual... I think you didn’t bring it up specifically to dampen my spirits.”

"...I don't know if you received any reports from 'Lady Nana'...but Tikaz's 'rituals'...are anything but benevolent."

The Cyclops's magic can manipulate space, allowing his third eye to pierce through it. However, witnessing that unchangeable pessimism and the torment of being a mere bystander is more than just a torment to the soul… This ability fixes your future to a tragic death.

Not just one or one kind... but infinite... all possible, most tragic, utterly inhuman deaths are about to befall you... This is a self-inflicted curse... the observed future will collapse into an unchangeable reality...

Paying such a heavy price just to isolate a no-man's-land from 'pollution'... in my opinion, is simply too... reckless.

Seeing Medic fall silent, even the pink-haired little fox doctor and the usually jovial big cat Blaze were shaking their heads and pulling at Medic. Frostnova and Shieldbearer exchanged a glance, then cautiously extended their hands:

“…Well, I also think the price seems a bit too high…and…among us…there shouldn’t be any of those so-called Cyclops…or is it that the Sarkaz of the Fellowship have a way to complete this ritual?”

Reminded by Frostnova's words, Medic held his friends' hands to reassure them and then smiled at Frostnova:

"No, of course they didn't... but... my Originium Arts are rather special. If there's a corresponding ritual process, I can force it to run by paying a higher price... However, as everyone has said, that price seems a bit too severe... so let's dispose of the bodies as best we can, and then leave the rest... to this land. Ah Fu, thank you for your trouble. We'll return to the exploration vehicle after we've dealt with the bodies here. Medic, call ended."

drip-s

Hearing the busy tone from the other end of the microphone, Afu gracefully put the receiver back.

Thanks to the extensive internal communication network of the mobile testing vehicle, similar to the PRRS system, the elderly person didn't need to go to the fourth floor to answer the phone. This meant that, apart from a few welfare department administrators and PRRS staff, no one else heard the previous conversation.

As for the last part of their conversation, the old man could only shake his head at Eileen, whose face was filled with worry: [The sentence is incomplete and requires further context.]

"I hope our beloved lord truly has no intention of doing that... After all, a Tikkaz hybrid... though we don't know how she became one... she can certainly use Tikkaz magic... but Cyclops magic is far too peculiar, using it in this situation... it's a waste of talent, a complete waste of talent."

"Compared to these matters, teacher, don't you think we know far too much about the refugees? Leaving aside Lady Nana... even Frostnova seems to have vaguely sensed something."

Whether others notice or not is none of our business. Qi

As he said this, the old man straightened his tie:

“Miss Nana is undoubtedly a pragmatist; until we become completely useless to her, there's little need to worry about everyone being abandoned.”

“But, teacher… it’s not a long-term solution for you to keep displaying such extraordinary knowledge… Have you forgotten why the royal court is so determined to hunt you down? It’s because you know too much…”

Hearing Eileen's worried, slightly choked voice, Alfred smiled and patted his last student with his rough, white-gloved hand:

“Then let my ‘uncommon knowledge’ be the final sacrifice… I will give an explanation to Lady Nana and that prince… It is a reason that can satisfy both of them at the same time, a reason they cannot refuse.”

Afu's words made the maid clutch the hem of her skirt, made of high-end Sarkaz fabric... and looking at the old man's slightly hunched back, Eileen hesitated for a while before picking up the PRTS terminal and turning to leave.

The black cat of Rhodes Island seems unaware that it has forgotten an important element.

……

"Rhode Island..."

Looking at the huge ruts still clearly visible under the moonlight, the young Sarkaz officer looked at the compass in his hand again. Although the pointer had shifted and pointed towards Saint-Germain Castle before, it had now stabilized and was guiding the newly assembled Sarkaz troops to move northwest.

"Although I don't know why the Ursus Army Group suddenly made such a strange move... but it just so happens..."

Raising their sabers to point the way, the carrion army began to advance.

"You won't get away this time, you traitors!"

PS: Waaaaaah, kitty

I feel like I'm almost out of cat illustrations... and what's even more of a headache is that I can't finish telling the story because of my own settings, so I can't progress the plot...

So, it seems the only solution is to add more chapters?

Well... let's add more... that's the only way.

4th Crimson Warm Winter: 118 Tactical Unit Modification Plan

From a Medic's perspective, the process of identifying the deceased was extremely crude.

The number of artifacts that were deliberately piled up and showed signs of damage did not match the number of the deceased's remains. Not to mention that a considerable portion of the bones had been roasted and crushed in a campfire for a long time, and could only be mixed with wood ash and washed to determine the number of the deceased by weight.

In addition, because many of the deceased were infected, the contamination from Originium dust after their deaths greatly interfered with the identification of the deceased... Due to the 'contamination', Medic cannot return the remains, whether personal belongings or ashes, to their families.

Finally, the solution devised by Frostnova and her adjutant was... Rhodes Island would create a batch of identification tags similar to military dog ​​tags and give them to Frostnova and the Shield Guards. They would then use the information recorded on these dog tags to search the camp for people who might know the deceased.

Rhodes Island, on the other hand, digitized this identity information and marked this potentially contaminated intelligence in read-only mode. While informing the outside world, they sought assistance from legitimate individuals with knowledge of the 'contamination'.

"...That concludes the handling of matters related to the deceased. Do either of you have anything to add?"

Shaking her head, even with a critical eye, Frostnova couldn't find fault with Medic's arrangements any further... After all, to deal with the pollution any further, they would have to consider the supposedly 'highly costly' Sarkaz ritual. Frostnova had seen her adoptive father use witchcraft before, and she understood that as a 'medical science popularization' team in name only, what they were doing had already exceeded their duties.

Medic didn't think that far ahead, after all, the worst-case scenario for this mission was an inevitable confrontation with 'The Emperor's Blade'...

Compared to these fancy contaminations and various bizarre rules that seem to be at the level of consciousness, what Medic, as a Colombian agent, should be considering is how to provide a reasonable explanation for Ursus after the worst-case scenario, and how to prevent this country, which has exhausted the benefits of the war, from baring its teeth at Colombia in desperation.

Clearly, the right choice would be to avoid direct contact with the inner guard who was flashing an eerie light during the Shadow Reconnaissance... No matter how much trouble he causes, he's ultimately only causing trouble for Ursus.

However, as an operator of Rhodes Island, 'Medic' shouldn't just stand by and watch...

Kal'tsit once said that Rhodes Island's ideal is not just to 'cure' a disease, but to eliminate the suffering of people on earth.

Her agent taught her that she should use her energy to improve the world, and that the term "people" should not only refer to the people of Colombia.

The priest also instructed her that the reason for creating Paradise was never her identity, nor was it related to people's status... Even unbelievers, as long as they are willing to walk toward the light, can carry stones to build walls, believe in the miracle of Lateran, and build a Paradise that belongs to everyone.

Medic's life, the people who taught her and guided her, all proved through their actions that this world shouldn't be so bleak, so the black cat of Rhodes Island also felt that she should help Frostnova and her fellow humans...

However... this involves military representatives from two countries... if their confrontation with the emperor, or even the use of force, is brought to the public eye, the consequences could be far worse than Rhodes Island's attack on the Ursus Army Group.

Even if Medic is silenced by the security agency, Kal'tsit will reveal Medic's high-ranking agent identity to prevent Rhodes Island from becoming a victim... At that point, things will turn into Columbia's proactive provocation against Ursus.

For the old nobles of Ursus, this was a pretext for war delivered to their doorstep.

Of course, Colombia's territory is located at the westernmost edge of this land, and there is still a considerable distance between it and Ursus, which occupies the eastern and even the far north.

At the same time, even Ursus, unless they are out of their mind, would not consider a direct conflict with Colombia, whose military strength has already surpassed that of Victoria... But what if they use this as an excuse to demand westward expansion?

Along the way, there are places like Kazimir, Sami, and even the seemingly weak and internally complex Grand Duke Victoria with her throne vacant... Will they be forced to choose sides?

Even if they are granted permission to travel to mobile cities, and Ursus's cities move into countries with better water and soil environments, will they still leave?

These are things that Medic has to consider.

The conclusion of their thinking is that if there is a legitimate reason that Ursus could find out about without being held accountable, then Medic can start taking action against the inner guard they previously observed.

Now, the best course of action is to collect the bodies of these victims, to prevent further contamination of the snowfield as much as possible, and to offer some psychological comfort to Frostnova and her companions... that should be about the limit.

Going deeper, aside from the chilling political implications of the actions themselves... Medic also needs to be mindful of the losses incurred by Rhodes Island's operations.

Their acts of helping others are not entirely without cost.

……