For a short moment, a silence descended between Jeanne and Kal'tsit. The two of them stood firmly in place without moving a single inch, staring blankly at each other as if engaged in a silent staring contest.
Jeanne truly didn't comprehend what message Kal'tsit was attempting to convey. Was she emphasizing that Kazdel was exceptionally chaotic? She had already caught wind of that fact multiple times over the past few days; at this rate, even her sleep-talking would likely revolve around Kazdel.
"...Sigh, it means nothing in particular. It's just that hearing your collective impressions of that place prompted a few spontaneous reflections within my heart."
Kal'tsit naturally detected the massive wave of confusion swirling within Jeanne's wide eyes, realizing the girl hadn't grasped the underlying meaning behind her words. She merely offered a quiet sigh before providing an explanation to Jeanne. Kal'tsit had simply been moved to speak after overhearing their thoughts regarding Kazdel. When even Mudrock, who was born and raised in Kazdel, declared that the region was by no means a pleasant destination, what ground was there left to dispute?
Had these claims been nothing more than baseless rumors, Kal'tsit might have seized the opportunity to deploy her razor-sharp rhetoric to ridicule their shallow understanding. Yet, at this moment, she possessed absolutely no leverage to do so! How could she possibly counter their statements? By pointing toward the refugee corpses piled nearly as high as the city walls, or referencing the ruins scattered across the length of the nation? Even Kal'tsit understood precisely how repulsive that land truly was.
What Jeanne focused on, however, was the distinct trace of exhaustion weaving through the corners of the doctor's eyes. Though it wasn't glaringly obvious, the fact that this doctor's Feline ears had drooped significantly indicated she was likely thoroughly worn out. It appeared that diagnosing and treating patients continuously day after day was by no means a leisurely task for her. This high-intensity workflow was taking a noticeable toll on her physical health, considering the substantial population residing within the village.
The reason Kal'tsit was pushing herself so relentlessly to administer treatment wasn't solely because of the transaction she had established with Jeanne and the others; it was also because her absolute duty as a medical professional barred her from disregarding these patients.
"In that case, Dr. Kal'tsit... did you seek me out because you require something?" Noting that their dialogue seemed to have plunged into a stalemate once again, Jeanne probed gently.
Jeanne had come to recognize that she seemed somewhat incapable of handling an individual who was entirely too serious and proper. Reflecting upon her acquaintances, the most upright person she knew was likely Patriot. As for the rest... Jeanne truly didn't have anyone in her circle who maintained such absolute, unwavering seriousness during standard conversations. If this doctor were to reside within Laterano, she would likely find herself thoroughly out of place, wouldn't she?
"It is nothing of critical importance. I merely came over to inform you that I anticipate concluding my instructional medical activities by next Saturday. I wished to query when your side will be prepared to move? This will allow me to coordinate our arrangements smoothly."
Reflecting upon it, Dr. Kal'tsit had unconsciously resided here for over half a month already. The agreed-upon timeframe had indeed arrived, and the other party was naturally eager to orchestrate an immediate return.
It made perfect sense upon closer consideration; the current state of affairs over in Kazdel remained entirely shrouded in uncertainty. Anxious over whether any unforeseen developments might unfold within her primary headquarters, Kal'tsit was in a desperate rush to return and verify that Babel remained completely safe and sound.
Furthermore, a primary source of anxiety for Kal'tsit at this very moment stemmed from their previous telephone communication. It was little Amiya who had answered the line, which implied that the Doctor's mental state had likely succumbed to instability once again—and Amiya's hesitant, stammering responses had thoroughly confirmed this suspicion. Regardless of whether that fellow was planning to cultivate catnip inside her office or intending to subject little Amiya to some sort of erratic behavior, Kal'tsit had to rush back at the very first moment to seize absolute control over the situation!
Meanwhile, within the confines of Babel at this exact juncture, little Amiya—who had concluded the previous telephone call with Kal'tsit—was staring with a face full of sheer trepidation at the Doctor, who was currently busy speaking ill of Kal'tsit to Theresa. Concurrently, Amiya caught sight of what appeared to be a recording device nestled in Theresa's hands...
Although little Amiya couldn't entirely comprehend the underlying meaning behind the words the Doctor deployed to criticize Dr. Kal'tsit, her absolute intuition informed her that nothing good would come of this discourse. After all, this was by no means the first time such an event had unfolded!
Theresa, who was patiently listening to the Doctor's continuous complaints, simultaneously noted the completely bewildered expression plastered across little Amiya's face. She merely placed her index finger gently against her lips, signaling little Amiya to maintain absolute secrecy regarding this matter.
Doctor...I pray for your own good fortune! Amiya obediently nodded her head toward Theresa, subsequently retreating into Kal'tsit's office to focus on her storybook, completely pretending that the events transpiring out here had never occurred at all.
Then again, that storybook had actually been penned for her by the Doctor, though Dr. Kal'tsit had previously subjected the text to an immense degree of editing and censorship before she felt comfortable handing it over for Amiya to read. These titles included works such as The Strategist Princess And The Seven Dwarf Lynxes, and The Doctor and The Feline Beast! However, every single one had undergone a substantial overhaul, and the final piece was incinerated by Dr. Kal'tsit the moment Amiya caught sight of the mere title. It was quite a pity, though she had caught wind from the Doctor that it was a narrative designed to illustrate returning evil for good. Yet, how could Dr. Kal'tsit and the Doctor possibly share that kind of relationship? Amiya couldn't fathom it at all.
"Understood. How about we set out on the Monday following next week? I will make an earnest effort on my end to wrap up my personal affairs within next week so we can depart together!" Jeanne spoke without a single trace of blood rushing to her face or her heart skipping a beat. In reality, what kind of pressing matters did she actually hold under her hands right now?! She easily secured a definitive spot as one of the absolute most idle individuals within the entire village—the exact type who could grab a bag and set off tomorrow morning without a hitch!
After all, ever since everyone caught wind that Jeanne was bound for Kazdel, no one assigned any critical tasks to her. Jeanne merely spent her days scanning her surroundings to see where assistance was required, stepping forward to lend a hand whenever appropriate. The primary reason Jeanne chose to defer their departure by a single day was to ensure Kal'tsit's schedule wouldn't be overly cramped, granting her a brief window to secure some proper rest. After all, embarking on a long journey was a process that consumed an immense amount of physical energy.
Another underlying factor was that the day in question happened to be a Sunday! No matter how one looked at it, Sunday was a day meant for proper relaxation, wasn't it? After all, even God opted to take a day of rest after working for six days straight!
Upon hearing the timeframe Jeanne had established, Kal'tsit's brow furrowed slightly. She had originally intended to conclude her duties on Saturday and push forward through the night, ensuring she could return to Babel at the absolute earliest juncture. Even if there weren't any critical matters desperately requiring her presence, Kal'tsit consistently felt that returning a single day earlier equated to securing peace of mind a day sooner; she was perpetually plagued by anxieties regarding Babel's internal state whenever she operated abroad.
However, moving out on the Monday of the following week wouldn't actually set her back by too many days. It would grant her a more substantial window to orchestrate thorough arrangements for the return journey, coupled with the reality that no exceptionally grave emergencies had manifested within Babel...
"Very well. We shall depart on the Monday after next. I will return to formulate the arrangements first, review if any details along our route have been overlooked, and then prepare ourselves thoroughly."
The moment her words fell, Kal'tsit departed in a hurried fashion. She had merely taken advantage of her brief resting window to step outside and meet with Jeanne; two surgical operations were still waiting for her attention in the afternoon.
"By the way, there is one more matter. Might I inquire where the residence of that white-haired Cautus is located? I intend to pay her a visit today." Kal'tsit, who was on the verge of leaving, suddenly appeared to recall a piece of forgotten business, turning around to query Jeanne regarding FrostNova's quarters.
"Over toward that residential zone where the combatants live—the door with the white rabbit painted across the surface belongs to her room. May I ask if some sort of issue has manifested within FrostNova's physical condition?" Jeanne pointed toward the cluster of housing units, subsequently using a trace of anxious tone to probe why Kal'tsit was seeking out that white rabbit. The two of them shouldn't possess any real familiarity with one another.
For Kal'tsit, operating as a medical professional, to personally seek her out... Jeanne couldn't help but wonder if FrostNova's body had developed some deeply severe complications? The exact type capable of threatening her life?
"Thank you immensely," Kal'tsit offered a remarkably direct expression of gratitude before responding to Jeanne. "There is no cause for alarm; her body merely harbors a few minor complications that can be resolved with a period of recuperation. I am seeking her out to utilize another matter entirely."
Kal'tsit paused to deliberate for a brief moment before offering a further explanation to Jeanne: "I noted that her anti-frostbite medication is exceptionally potent. I intend to query the exact formulation of these medical remedies, and casually ask if she might grant us authorization to utilize them."
Having delivered those words, Kal'tsit promptly took her leave. Jeanne finally comprehended what specific item Kal'tsit was referencing; it was likely the frostbite ointment FrostNova had personally engineered, which enjoyed immense popularity throughout the village. That remedy didn't merely boast highly effective results; the raw materials required for its production were also exceptionally easy to acquire. Under normal circumstances, FrostNova and her crew could easily gather the necessary components along the roadside during a single day's deployment.
It was highly probable that Kal'tsit desired to manufacture that specific medication, which prompted her to secure the explicit permission of the remedy's creator. Otherwise, given her profound medical expertise, she would have easily deduced the exact formulation of the ointment long ago.
However, as for how that matter ultimately concluded, Jeanne remained entirely in the dark. She hadn't crossed paths with FrostNova over the past few days, leaving her clueless as to what that massive white rabbit was up to; she wasn't present within the village day in and day out. At the very least, Jeanne hadn't managed to locate the white rabbit inside the village lately, which prompted her to run off to the storehouse to continue assisting them as a warehouse keeper. Jeanne found that this specific line of work suited her remarkably well.
The day of departure finally arrived. Kal'tsit began waiting for Jeanne at the absolute crack of dawn to initiate their journey together. However, a substantial amount of time elapsed before they actually managed to clear the boundaries of the village.
This delay wasn't born from Jeanne oversleeping; she had risen exceptionally early today! Rather, compared to Jeanne and Kal'tsit, the villagers who arrived to see them off had risen vastly earlier! The populace was profoundly grateful for the medical treatments Kal'tsit had administered over this duration, and to send Jeanne off on her long journey, the crowd unleashed an immense display of fervent enthusiasm. The two of them had to expend an immense amount of physical effort just to break away.
"By the way, Dr. Kal'tsit, if you won't permit me to navigate a vehicle out of here, how exactly are we supposed to travel?" Jeanne walked alongside Kal'tsit across the frozen plains, raising her inquiry.
"We walk. A transport will arrive to receive us in a short while," Kal'tsit's response was remarkably succinct, merely guiding Jeanne forward as they pressed ahead.
Walk?
Hearing Kal'tsit utter such a response, Jeanne found it completely beyond her comprehension. This was vastly inferior to letting her mount a dragon to fly straight across the sky! However, recognizing that this entire itinerary had been structured under Kal'tsit's planning, Jeanne simply chose to cease fixating on these matters, silently trailing behind Kal'tsit as they marched forward into the snow.