skgoat

Shut up! I don't care what your name is!

The normally quiet Caprinae roars.

But the collapsed cave walls do not echo her voice.

Even the skulking skeletal creature behind her whimpers and backs off.

...Yes, ma'am.

...Huff...

As far as I know, Miss Bachmann, your mother loved you.

She worked four jobs—professor, geologist, Catastrophe Messenger, and pianist—because she loved you and wanted you to have a better life.

Your older brother suffered from malnutrition as a child, leading to all sorts of complications, and she was worried that you'd end up like him.

She gave you a comfortable life, and the best education money can buy in Leithanien, but also your current... immaturity...

So what? You say she gave me all that, but was hardly ever home. She wasn't so busy that she couldn't take a single day off, was she?

One time, she wanted to take some time off and spend it with you.

But then I slipped and fell in a cave during some fieldwork.

She said I was in bad shape, covered in cuts from the exposed Originium.

She had to patch me up and drive me all the way to Rhodes Island. So... it was my fault.

If she'd gone home back then, and you talked out your feelings together, then perhaps she'd have retired earlier, and things could have gone differently.

This is my fault. My curiosity was the cause of all this.

Just like she taught me: curiosity leads to ruin.

If you know it's your fault, then leave me alone, and let me live my life!

But this man will throw you under the bus the moment I hand him over to the police. You want me to let him go too?

He's got a criminal record; I had to get someone smuggle him into the city. Destroy his fake documents, and they won't let him in.

That's the best way to get rid of him.

You... you backstabbing bitch!

You betrayed me first!

You'd be dead already if I could move!

So, are you asking me to make the decision?

You said you were sorry, right? Then let me live my life.

I'm sorry... Miss Bachmann.

Making decisions is for leaders. I just do the job I'm paid for.

Besides, you dragged me into your family matters while I'm on vacation. Can you pay me overtime?

What?! You dirty, stinking Infected...

I'll take you to the hospital to get your wounds treated, and then ask your brother what he thinks. If he's okay with it, things can stay as they are.

If not, then it's off to the courts.

You'll ruin my life!

Maybe you ruined it all on your own.

Let's split up, Parker. We'll meet up in front of the Bachmann home once we're done.

Wait!

Understood.

Everything's taken care of on my end.

Didn't think I'd ever see you lose control like that.

Ahem. I never lost control...

It was just... let's call it stress relief.

What are you looking at?

Their house. The last time I was here, the plants in the garden were trimmed, and the walls were neat and clean. How did it get so run down in just a few years?

Professor Bachmann worked so hard to support her family, and for what?

I guess you should spend more time with them when you're the head of the household.

Now explain the monitoring ring, Earthspirit. Under normal circumstances, I'd be required to report that to the HQ immediately.

Did you see that thing behind me?

Just a faint silhouette. Was it a living thing?

Yes. Not everyone can see it, but it gets clearer when I cast Originium Arts. It should've been fairly visible back there.

My Arts depend on accurate control of the output. Most vibrations only require a small amount of energy, and the rest goes to waste.

And since only a little bit of it is used, the excess gets radiated.

At some point it began to draw in creatures like that, which feed on the waste energy.

And with the help of the Casters at Rhodes Island, I discovered how to draw upon the energy contained inside it.

But that causes a direct flowback into my body.

Which is why the warning light on the monitoring ring lit up.

So there's no need to worry, but we'll need to do something about the data. I don't want to be put on medical leave if the Doctor or Kal'tsit finds out.

Understood.

You've never been a good liar, so I'll believe you.

Thanks, Parker.

Oh? Sounds like you had quite the adventure over your vacation.

Too much adventure for me, I'm afraid. I took a detour to see Professor Bachmann's daughter, but I never imagined the trouble that'd bring me.

Don't eat so much fried food. Here, have some veggies.

But a little bit now and then improves my mood. Want some fries?

I guess that means your mood needs improving?

Don't push yourself too hard, okay? But no, I don't even know how you can stomach those cold, soggy things.

So, what was in the box?

Geological units collected from north of Ursus.

Sounds like things are about to get busy for you.

Not really. The professor said these came from unexplored lands. We may not get a chance to visit there in our lifetimes.

She always said she'd leave them to me someday, but I didn't expect her to already have made the preparations.

Isn't it hard for researchers like you to keep your curiosity in check?

I still have a lot of hobbies. I get to do what I like after work, rather than worrying about what needs my attention.

Besides, I made a promise to the professor.

My job is just to keep these safe, and report to Kal'tsit and the Doctor. Nothing more, nothing less.

...I just remembered that I still haven't made my report.

Ugh... looks like another rough afternoon.