"Achoo! Sniff~~~"
"So you caught a cold after all."
"Shut up, Achoo!"
Wrapped in the quilt layer by layer like a burrito, Twiggy's face was flushed red, yet she continued to shiver from the cold.
"Sigh~ I'll go look around and see if there's any cold medicine left."
Geno picked out two bottles from the few remaining bottles of usable water, boiled them using a beaker from the infirmary, and then prepared to check the other rooms for any medicine that could treat a cold.
"There's no need, Achoo! Even if there is, it's expired, Achoo! Sniff~"
Twiggy blew her nose. Her originally small and exquisite nose was now so red it looked like it might bleed, resembling a circus clown.
"Besides, I probably don't have a cold. It seems more like a type of Ether complication."
Ether complications—a general term for various diseases caused by Ether.
Twiggy firmly believed that she couldn't possibly catch a cold just from a little wind; her constitution wasn't weak enough to collapse after blowing in the cold wind for one night.
On the contrary, it looked somewhat like an Ether complication caused by the massive loss of Ether elements within the body, something she had once seen at the Silver forces base.
In this era, Ether is a substance that people both love and hate. It can provide clean and efficient energy and technology for humanity, but excessive use and leakage can lead to humans undergoing Etherealization.
And all humans in this era, regardless of gender or age, have more or less Ether energy existing in their bodies; some just have more, and some have less.
Among these people, those who can accommodate more Ether in their bodies have better Ether Aptitude, and their performance in the Hollow is more handy and adept.
When the amount of Ether accommodated in the body reaches the upper limit, these people will turn into Ethereals and simultaneously lose their due rationality.
This is also why the stronger the person, the stronger the Ethereal they become.
Because often, only those with high Ether Aptitude can survive the battles in the Hollow and become stronger.
"Then what should we do?"
The inexperienced Geno was filled with concern. Where could he get medicine now? Without medicine, what if Twiggy...
"It's fine. My body has undergone modification; this little illness doesn't matter. I'll be fine after resting for two days, Achoo!"
Although Twiggy explained that she was fine, her appearance said otherwise.
Geno's worry deepened. This girl was so young, yet she didn't cherish herself. What was to be done?
Wait, didn't she say earlier that she had seen these symptoms before?
"Twiggy, you said you've seen these symptoms before. Then, does that mean you know where the medicine to cure you is?"
Twiggy fell silent. Of course she knew where the medicine was, because that place was where the entire Silver Squad, including herself, was born—the base of the Silver forces.
But she couldn't tell Geno this. Through their interactions over these past few days, she had come to understand what kind of character this strange guy had—a goody-two-shoes who helped others without regard for his own safety.
A normal person would have abandoned them and ran away when they encountered the Doppelganger last night, okay?!
If he knew about the Silver forces base, he would definitely run off to help her find medicine without a second thought.
Although Geno had become a little stronger after last night's events, relying on his current strength to go to the Silver base was nothing short of seeking death. Twiggy couldn't think of any other words to describe it.
"No, I haven't seen it. You heard wrong. Sniff~~"
Twiggy buried her head in the quilt, unwilling to communicate with Geno any further. She didn't want Geno to take risks for her again. Just as she said, she believed she could tough it out.
Seeing Twiggy playing dumb, Geno didn't expose her.
Even though her lie was extremely crude, so crude it could be poked through with a single touch.
"...I understand. In that case, rest well. I'll go look again to see if there is any non-expired medicine."
Geno naturally saw through Twiggy's intention. Her silence proved she indeed knew, but that place was too dangerous, and she didn't want him to take the risk.
How should he put it? It was actually quite cute. Even though they hadn't known each other long, she was already starting to consider his well-being?
But there was one thing Twiggy was right about: with Geno's personality, he truly wouldn't leave Twiggy in this state ignored.
And even if Twiggy didn't say it, he had ways to get the intelligence he wanted.
The sun rose and set. Twiggy's condition was very poor. As time passed, her body became weaker and weaker, and her consciousness became increasingly blurred.
By evening, after Twiggy drank a little water and ate a little food, she fell into a deep sleep.
And this was exactly the opportunity Geno had been waiting for.
'If my ability really comes from the Doppelganger, then the mind-reading yesterday was definitely not accidental.'
Geno gently placed his hand on Twiggy's head, closed his eyes, felt the warmth coming from his palm, and slowly submerged his consciousness into hers.
Many images suddenly floated into his mind. There were people he knew, like Twiggy and her sisters, the lively and bouncing kind.
There were also many people he didn't know. It was messy—white coats, soldiers, and guys whose faces couldn't be seen clearly, likely because Twiggy was in a state of blurred consciousness.
However, Geno soon found what he wanted: the location of the medicine to treat Twiggy and the route leading there.
"It really is like that. Worried I'd go to my death? What a kind-hearted girl. But a guy like me probably won't be able to change this personality of not being able to stand tragedies in this lifetime."
The corners of Geno's mouth curled up slightly. The hand covering Twiggy's head gently stroked her silver hair as he quietly watched her cheeks, which were slightly flushed due to illness.
After a while, Geno left. Before leaving, he left a note informing her of his destination.
As for failure? There is no failure, and Geno would not allow himself to fail.
Meanwhile, Twiggy seemed to sense something. Her brows knit tightly together, and her expression became somewhat panicked and sorrowful.
-----------------
Leaving the hospital, Geno checked the route bit by bit according to the images in his memory. After all, this was a Hollow. Without a specialized guide—a Proxy—trying to move within a Hollow was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Even though he had obtained the route to the Silver forces base from Twiggy, a single moment of carelessness could lead to deviation due to spatial shifts.
Just like right now...
"Emmm... does it feel like I've been here just now? Have I been here or not?"
Looking at the somewhat familiar building in front of him, Geno had to admit that he really had no talent for navigation.
But turning back now would be too embarrassing. Moreover, even if he did turn back, it wasn't certain he could find the way.
"This is a disaster... what should I do?"
Surrounding him was a dilapidated square. Aside from some wandering Ethereals, there wasn't any—Eh! Wait! There really is someone!
Not far away, a figure was wandering. However, using his super Ethereal vision to take a look left Geno somewhat disappointed.
"What the hell, it's actually an Ethereal."
In Geno's field of vision, the opponent was undoubtedly an Ethereal, belonging to the same kind as himself.
But strangely, it didn't seem to be any type of Ethereal he recognized.
"How about I go take a look?"
Might as well, since he had nothing better to do. After all, he was already lost.
The night was dark, but for an Ethereal, that wasn't a big problem. Taking three steps in two to cross over a pile of ruins, Geno clearly saw that strange Ethereal figure.
Only, the owner of that figure was somewhat unexpected.
"Little sheep-person?!"
I'm late, but I stand tall and proud!
____
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