Arknightcraft Modpack

“Are you sure this is the apology you need?”

The green-haired girl’s expression grew somewhat skeptical. If she didn’t know her staff could cause serious harm if it actually hit someone, she might have assumed this guy was just looking for an excuse to scam her.

Surely no one would joke about their personal safety for money, right?

“Of course. A simple exchange of interests. For people like us, who don’t know each other, this is probably the most sincere form of apology. Unless you have a better suggestion?”

Steven maintained his outstretched hand, showing no sign of embarrassment.

“You’re not wrong. Fair enough.”

Scratching her head, the green-haired girl found no fault in his logic. Reluctantly, she pulled out her wallet and carefully counted several sky-blue bills printed with odd symbols and the number “100” before handing them over to Steven.

“Here’s 2,000 Lungmen dollars. I held back on my strength, so even if it had hit, it would’ve just caused a fracture. Treatment for a fracture would cost about 1,200. The remaining 800 is for personal apology and the ‘mental distress’ you mentioned. Satisfied?”

She spoke seriously, calculating the costs with precision, while waiting for Steven’s response. Everything she said was true, but if he tried to push her further, she wouldn’t hesitate to label him a scammer and show off her skills.

Steven, however, hadn’t thought that far. He simply took the unfamiliar stack of bills, carefully counted to ensure the amount was correct, then nodded in satisfaction and handed the staff back.

He didn’t know the purchasing power of the money, but the girl’s earnest expression gave him no reason to doubt her sincerity. If it turned out he’d been shortchanged, he could always find her again later—her work badge suggested she was a member of Rhodes Island, after all.

“Alright, you can go chase after that young lady now. Based on my observations, she ran in that direction,” Steven said, pulling Gladiia aside to make way for her. He even kindly pointed out the girl’s escape route.

He wasn’t inclined to mislead her for fun, partly because the fleeing girl shared some responsibility for the earlier near-miss. Steven remembered that favor as well.

Yet, after all that commotion, the green-haired girl seemed to lose interest in Ceobe. Instead, she turned to scrutinize Steven and Gladiia more closely, her expression curious.

“Never mind her for now. I’m more curious—where are you from, and why were you standing in front of the medical bay? Are you looking for someone?”

The girl was certain she hadn’t seen Steven around Rhodes Island before. What intrigued her even more, however, was the young girl standing behind him.

White hair, red eyes, and pointed elf-like ears—how could that not remind her of a certain nocturnal shut-in operator who also happened to be her superior?

“Huh? I’m here to accompany her for a check-up. By the way, where’s the on-duty doctor for the medical bay?”

Steven answered honestly while also taking the opportunity to observe the green-haired girl more closely.

Earlier, he’d thought anyone bold enough to have green hair must be pretty tough. Now, upon closer inspection, he noticed even more interesting features.

For instance, the powerful, crocodile-like tail behind her, and the faintly visible crystalline structures on her wrists—similar to the one he’d seen on the little rabbit girl’s chest earlier.

Were these kinds of accessories popular among women nowadays?

“A check-up? Got it. Come on in,” the green-haired girl said, her expression shifting to one of understanding. As if recalling something, she turned and invited Steven and Gladiia to follow her inside.

Come to think of it, she remembered hearing that Director Kal’tsit would bring two guests back today—these two must be them.

As for Steven’s stated purpose, it made even more sense now. After all, anyone who came to Rhodes Island was either here to apply as an operator or to seek medical treatment.

After all, they were nominally a medical company, right?

“Wait, are you saying… you’re the doctor?”

Steven looked at the green-haired girl in front of him, his expression filled with doubt. He couldn’t imagine someone who could casually carry around a massive staff like the one from earlier could actually be a doctor.

She seemed more like the type who’d send people to the doctor.

“What else? Do I not look like one?”

Leading Steven to a medical table, the girl casually grabbed a white coat from a nearby chair and draped it over herself. Then, with a confident gesture, she turned back toward him and gestured at her own figure.

She seemed quite proud of her profession and status.

“Of course, you look the part. Very convincing,” Steven replied, not one to judge people by appearances. In this world, all sorts of strange things existed—why not this too?

As the saying goes, never offend the chef or the doctor. The former might add some “special seasoning” to your food, while the latter… well, they might leave you with a “souvenir” inside your body.

“Alright, then lie down here, and I’ll start by giving you a physical exam,” the girl said with a smile, patting the examination table.

But Steven saw no warmth in her smile.

“It’s not me with the problem—it’s her. I’m just here as her guardian,” he clarified, pointing at the groggy Gladiia behind him, who had been quiet the entire time.

Steven couldn’t help but admire her ability to walk and sleep at the same time. Despite his not-so-quiet talking during the journey, she remained in a half-asleep, dreamlike state.

As for the green-haired girl’s insistence on checking him, Steven wasn’t about to agree. It was obvious she was trying to get back at him for the money she’d just paid him. She might as well have had the word “revenge” written on her face.

Medical expenses were at the doctors’ discretion, and there was no way Steven would part with the cash he’d just received.

“Oh, come on! You’re already here—just let me give you a quick check-up. It’s completely free, I promise! Let me see if your development is… normal,” she said, reaching out to press Steven down onto the examination table.

And then she failed.

For the first time in her career as a doctor, using the tried-and-true “forceful examination” tactic, she met her match. No matter how much strength her deceptively delicate, muscular arms exerted, Steven remained as immovable as a mountain, as though he were rooted to the ground.

“I said no. And by the way, you’re touching my chest. If you keep this up, I’m going to cry harassment,” Steven said seriously, glancing down at her hand, which was now resting on his chest in a futile attempt to push him down.

The girl froze for a moment, caught red-handed in an awkward situation.

<+>

Tn: It’s Gavial by the way.