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ArabicArknights: It Can't Possibly Be My Fault... Right? — Chapter 50
Chapter 50: Your Smile is Truly Beautiful
“W-what is it?”
Kal’tsit subtly shifted her gaze across the shattered reinforced plating and scorched blast shields of the testing grounds. The facility had been specifically designed to withstand large-scale drills and heavy combat experiments, yet it was now reduced to a smoldering, chaotic crater.
She paused, adjusting her cuffs amidst the lingering smoke, and continued. “Originally, there were other plans. But after today’s test, the Engineering Department operators and I have unanimously agreed that future experiments involving your abilities will not be suitable for the Rhodes Island landship itself.”
“Ahaha…” Kai scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Alright, I have no objections. I was planning to apply to continue participating in this operation anyway, so this works out. But there is still one minor problem.”
He gestured vaguely at the ruined walls. “I don’t have an Originium sanity potion quota. You can’t really expect me to go to the battlefield and chew on raw Originium clusters, can you? That stuff isn’t exactly good for the digestive tract. I think I also need…”
Before Kai could finish his complaint, Kal’tsit pulled a translucent glass lockbox from her side and placed it on the nearest intact console. Seeing it, Kai immediately swallowed his words. Resting inside the small case, pulsing with an intoxicating, dangerous golden-black energy, was a pristine shard of Pure Originium.
“I hope you will put it to good use,” Kal’tsit said, sliding the heavy box directly into his hands.
“Holy moly! Kal’tsit, you’re really giving this to me?!” Kai gripped the case, his fingers trembling slightly against the cool glass. Even through the containment layers, he could feel a deep, instinctual draw toward the item inside. The clarity, the raw power… this was the real deal.
“But this one piece isn’t quite enough to last,” Kai pushed his luck, eyeing her carefully. “Don’t you think the supplement solution should also…”
“, you now enjoy the standard sanity potion ration, just like the Doctor. Though, naturally, you will not receive the high-concentration variants.” Kal’tsit gave him a measured side-glance. “You can collect your supply directly from the Engineering Department later.”
What else was there to say? The gamer gremlin inside him was weeping tears of joy.
“Kal’tsit, I salute you!” Kai snapped to attention, practically vibrating with excitement at the sudden influx of resources. It was the ultimate promotion package. “I swear absolute allegiance to Rhodes Island! My life for the landship! Loyalty until death!”
“There is one more thing.” Ignoring his frantic display of devotion, Kal’tsit pulled a datapad from her coat. “It concerns your promotion.”
“Huh? Promotion? What kind of promotion?” The high of the loot drop made him slow on the uptake.
“Upon the formal recommendation of Doctor Y.P. and Elite Operator Blaze, we have decided to officially employ you as a Senior Core Caster Operator. The detailed employment contract will be drafted in my office later this afternoon, and your salary and benefits will be adjusted upwards starting next month.”
Kal’tsit rattled off the string of administrative jargon with practiced ease, but Kai’s brain only processed one horrifying reality: he was going to become a five-star event Caster.
“Well… well then…” Kai’s expression soured, completely devoid of the joy Kal’tsit had expected to see. His face twisted into something deeply conflicted.
“What is wrong? Do you have any objections regarding your promotion?” Kal’tsit watched him, genuinely puzzled by his reaction. “I know you might feel uneasy, but given your combat qualifications, the Senior Operator rank is sufficient. Your contributions to Rhodes Island have always been evident to us, and this promotion was jointly proposed by Y.P. and Blaze with zero personal bias involved. I believe you have earned this position.”
She assumed he was suffering from imposter syndrome, feeling undeserving of the sudden leap in status.
Kai hesitated, shifting his weight. “It’s not that. I’m just saying… can I not be a Caster? I feel like I’m a pretty manly guy. Can I be a Specialist instead?”
“A Specialist? But in my professional opinion, you lack that specific… potential.” Kal’tsit frowned. Although Kai possessed capable melee combat skills, that was merely a physical enhancement he applied to himself. His most devastating and reliable offensive method was undeniably his Arts., he displayed absolutely none of the tactical characteristics required of the Specialist class.
Kai was desperately trying to formulate an argument to salvage his dignity when a towering figure stepped into his peripheral vision. A heavy hand clapped onto his shoulder, silently demanding his attention.
“Hmm? What is it?” Kai turned to look at Logos. Was Rhodes Island’s top Banshee Caster trying to recruit him? Did he also think Kai was doomed to the Caster roster?
Under Kai’s puzzled gaze, Logos merely offered a faint, deadpan smile. He slowly raised a single thumb and delivered his verdict with absolute calm. “Casters. Awesome.”
Kai slumped. He ultimately couldn’t escape the fate of becoming a five-star Caster. He let out a long, defeated breath. ‘Fine, Caster it is. At least I am not a Mystic Caster, right? Small mercies.’
Resigned to his new class typing, he helped Kal’tsit quickly tidy up the remaining equipment. They left the ruined training room together to finalize his employment contract. Just as he stepped through the blast doors, Kai caught the echoes of a heated argument drifting down the corridor.
“Casters aren’t awesome, Guards are!”
“Guards aren’t awesome, Casters are!”
“Wait, what about a Guard Caster?!”
It was just another perfectly chaotic day at Rhodes Island.
The two walked in silence toward Kal’tsit’s office. She stared straight ahead, her brow furrowed in deep thought. Kai didn’t pay much attention to her mood, his mind already wandering to the future.
‘Since I am already a five-star, the six-star rank isn’t far off. And if I hit six-star, limited operator status is right around the corner. By then, I will no longer be some mediocre, conservatively designed, mid-tier unit!’
“Kai,” Kal’tsit said, her voice cutting sharply through the quiet hallway.
The abrupt sound startled him out of his power-creep fantasies. “It has nothing to do with me!” he blurted out defensively. “I didn’t teach them any of that!”
He assumed her cold silence throughout the walk was due to overhearing Blaze and the others arguing about the ridiculous ‘Guard Caster’ concept.
Kal’tsit’s mouth twitched slightly. She took a slow, measured breath. Why did she always feel an overwhelming urge to commit physical violence when dealing with him? She briefly entertained the thought that the entire landship might operate more smoothly if she simply threw him off the deck.
But it was merely a passing thought. Having lived for as long as she had, Kal’tsit was used to managing all manner of eccentric personalities.
“That matter is still pending discussion. That is not what I wanted to talk about,” Kal’tsit said, her tone returning to its usual clinical chill.
“Oh. Right.” Kai calmed down, rubbing his chin. He thought for a moment before asking, “Then this is about the upcoming trip to the Abandoned City, right?”
Kal’tsit nodded. She opened her mouth, subconsciously preparing to launch into a complete, multi-layered tactical briefing regarding the geopolitical and environmental hazards of the region. She stopped herself mid-sentence when she caught Kai staring at her with wide, horrified eyes, clearly dreading the incoming monologue.
Looking at his thoroughly annoying expression, she clicked her tongue, let out a heavy sigh, and condensed her speech to its absolute bare bones. “This operation will be far more dangerous than your previous deployments.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Seeing her abandon the hour-long lecture, Kai nodded enthusiastically.
“Remember to cooperate strictly with the Guard Department’s movements. The Doctor has already finalized the tactical arrangements with them.”
“Mhm, mhm, mhm.”
“And…”
“Mhm, mhm, mhm, mhm, mhm!”
Kal’tsit narrowed her eyes. ‘I have not even spoken yet.’
“It’s okay, whatever you say is right,” Kai said with a bright, entirely unbothered smile.
A rolled-up mission file cracked sharply against the top of Kai’s skull.
After delivering the much-anticipated physical correction, Kal’tsit shook her wrist out and continued walking. “Also… do what you feel you must do out there. And do not forget to look after Amiya. That is all.”
No strict operational constraints, just a quiet request to follow his instincts and protect Amiya.
‘This tsundere routine… how flavorful,’ Kai thought, rubbing his head. For such a prickly old cat, she certainly had her soft spots. Kai grinned and shot her a big thumbs-up.
“Don’t worry, you can secretly rejoice knowing Amiya is safe in my care.”
“But speaking of which,” Kai added, his pace quickening to walk backward in front of her. “Can you try taking good care of yourself here on the ship first? Do you know Amiya has been picking up your bad habits? She is staying up late every single day. I told you before, stop drinking so much coffee, stop working through the night, but you never listen. Just look at the dark circles under your eyes…”
As if retaliating for the strike to his head, Kai launched into a relentless nagging campaign regarding her terrible lifestyle choices. He fully expected her to shut him down with a cold, biting remark within seconds.
Instead, Kal’tsit stared right through him. She continued walking with perfect posture, completely ignoring his incessant chatter as if he were nothing more than background static.
“…I say, are you even listening to me? I am doing all this for your own good!” Kai continued to pester the expressionless medic. He had finally seized a rare opportunity to turn the tables and lecture her, but her absolute apathy was ruining the moment. Was he just wasting his breath?
“Kal’tsit? Kal’tsit!! Old Lynx!”
Kal’tsit’s boots stopped dead on the metal floor tiles. Kai froze instantly, his jaw snapping shut.
‘Oh no. I blurted that out without thinking.’Panic spiked in his chest.’She isn’t going to get angry, summon Mon3tr, and refine me into bloody dust right here in the hallway, is she?’
Fortunately, Kal’tsit did not seem to harbor any murderous intent. She turned slowly to face the highly anxious Caster. Then, for a fraction of a second, the impossible happened. The rigid lines of her face softened, and she offered a smile so faint, so fleeting, it was almost imperceptible.
“I have received your suggestion,” she said, her voice carrying its usual cool detachment, “but I reserve my judgment.”
She turned on her heel and continued down the corridor, leaving a thoroughly bewildered Kai standing frozen in the middle of the hallway.
‘Holy crap. Did Kal’tsit just smile? That was definitely a smile!’
Completely forgetting his fear of her wrath, Kai slapped his own cheeks and sprinted after her.
“Kal’tsit! Did you just smile?! Smile again, please, just one more time! I’ll do anything!”
“Come on, just one smile for me!”
“Kal’tsit, please! I’ll even give up trying to organize your swimsuit photoshoot, okay?! Just smile once more so I can take a picture—”
Another rolled-up file cracked sharply against the top of his skull.