After resting for the night, the next morning arrived in quiet tranquility.
Having finished breakfast, Flandre Scarlet and her group began finalizing their preparations for departure.
As they stepped out toward the main concourse, they spotted Eirin Yagokoro, still clad in her stark white lab coat.
"Didn't you sleep last night?" Flandre asked, looking up at her with tilted curiosity—noticing that Eirin had walked over directly from the Medical Department rather than her personal quarters.
Eirin Yagokoro gave a gentle nod. "I spent the night compiling my personal research notes, surgical logs, and theoretical frameworks on Oripathy. I left a complete copy behind at Rhodes Island. If their medical staff continues researching along these lines, they might achieve even greater breakthroughs in the near future."
Standing beside her, Kal'tsit inclined her head with deep respect. "The materials Doctor Eirin left behind are priceless treasures for us. With these manuscripts, Rhodes Island's medical research on Oripathy will easily leap ahead by a decade or more."
Eirin offered a soft, tranquil smile to Kal'tsit and the gathered physicians of the Medical Department. "There is no need to sell yourselves short. Your skill and foundational knowledge are exceptional. Even without my presence, I am certain you would have found a viable medical path in time. I merely utilized my existing insights to blaze an early trail."
"I truly hope this knowledge assists Rhodes Island in venturing further down this road. The world is vast; may our paths cross again if fate wills it."
Recognizing that Eirin's mind was set, Kal'tsit suppressed her desire to urge her to stay, offering a steady, sincere response instead. "Though Doctor Eirin was with Rhodes Island for less than half a year, her contribution to the development of our Medical Department is evident to all. Should you ever require assistance in the future, you need only contact Rhodes Island, and we will spare no effort to aid you."
Eirin acknowledged the offer with a serene nod.
On the other side of the hall, Flandre was busily saying her farewells to her friends. Though it was a parting, there wasn't a trace of melancholy or sorrow in the air. To the young vampire, it felt no different than a child preparing to head home for dinner after a long afternoon of playing at a neighbor's house.
The Rhodes Island personnel escorted the group all the way to the vessel's primary exit ramps.
"There is an old saying." Remilia Scarlet spoke, looking at the assembled Operators. "'Nothing last forever' Rhodes Island has many pressing operational duties to manage, so there is no need to escort us any further."
"Then we shall take our leave here," Kal'tsit replied smoothly, not dwelling on sentimentality. "May your journeys ahead be swift and smooth."
With final nods exchanged, the Rhodes Island personnel returned to their respective posts, leaving only the Operators on the bridge to watch through the tactical displays as Flandre's group steadily receded into the distance.
After flying out a considerable distance and verifying that no one was tracking them, the group touched down in a secluded glade to prepare their returning portal.
"Do those Oni who went to Higashi really have no intention of returning, not even a single one?" Eirin Yagokoro asked, looking at Aya Shameimaru to confirm the count one last time.
Aya Shameimaru spread her hands helplessly. "To be fair, if I didn't have an official assignment resting on my shoulders, I wouldn't want to go back either! Sure, this world is a bit strange and packed with unknown dangers, but there's no denying it is immensely vast. From any perspective, it's an exceptionally vibrant playground for Youkai. As long as they don't attract the attention of the shadows lurking behind Originium and this world, they should be fine."
Eirin nodded slowly in agreement. Aya was telling the absolute truth—though Terra had its bizarre quirks and harsh blights, its expansive, untamed landscapes were undeniably fitting for Youkai to thrive in. It was only natural that those who tasted such freedom had no desire to return.
Besides, with that heavy drinker Ibuki Suika keeping them in line, the remaining Youkai wouldn't cause any unmanageable chaos. Once she returned to Gensokyo, Eirin intended to ask the other Youkai if they had any interest in visiting this realm.
As for whether Reimu Hakurei and Yukari Yakumo would be displeased by Youkai migrating over here? On the contrary—having these troublemakers migrate to another realm would be a massive relief for them! Gensokyo was relatively small, meaning Youkai were constantly bumping into one another. Combined with the fact that they were perpetually bored out of their minds, it was only a matter of time before someone got a wild idea and triggered a massive Incident. Over the years, the sheer volume of messes the Hakurei Shrine Maiden and that old hag Yukari had to clean up was practically beyond counting.
Having those rowdy troublemakers run off to this realm to vent their endless energy was, as far as the guardians were concerned, the best outcome imaginable.
Once the final list of returning individuals was confirmed, the group cleared a patch of ground to draw a spatial array. Although the Gensokyo side was fully aware of their current situation, bridging the boundary between two distinct worlds remained a delicate task.
Half an hour later, the air before them began to distort and tear open, yielding a dark, eye-speckled void.
Yukari Yakumo stepped out from the Gap, her fan fluttering lazily. "My, my, your lives over this past half-year have been quite eventful!"
Hearing her words, Flandre blinked her large red eyes, her expression practically asking, How did you know?
Remilia glanced at her little sister but refrained from mentioning the continuous surveillance feed running back in Gensokyo. "Alright, this Gap won't stay stable for long. Let us return first; we can discuss the finer details once we are home."
With Yukari leading the way, the departing group stepped through the void one after another.
Now, only Hong Meiling and Patchouli Knowledge remained by Flandre's side.
"Ah... Sister and the others have all gone back..." Flandre murmured, coming to the realization a moment too late as the Gap snapped shut.
Patchouli reached out, resting a gentle hand on Flandre's shoulder. "Don't worry, we are right here with you."
Flandre looked back, her face instantly breaking into a brilliant, radiant smile. "I know! Patchy and Meiling are the best! Come on, I'll take you to Lungmen! I have super good friends there, and there's so much tasty food—plus tons and tons of books!"
Rhodes Island's current coordinates placed them deep within the territory of Rim Billiton. The closest neighboring region to their current position was none other than the fractured domain of Kazdel.
Earlier, to avoid encountering stray patrols or civilian settlements, the group had veered slightly off-course, placing them right along the Kazdel border.
If they were ordinary travelers, the safest choice would have been to loop back through Rim Billiton to avoid the notorious perils of the mercenary land. But none of the three standing here were ordinary in the slightest. Rather than taking the long, conventional trade route, they decided to cut straight through Kazdel, cross into Yan's Southwestern borders, and proceed directly to Lungmen in the northeast.
This direct path was significantly shorter—by Flandre's estimation, it cut nearly a third of the travel time compared to standard commercial routes. If they flew at top speed, they could reach Lungmen in less than a day.
However, after a brief discussion—and taking Patchouli's delicate physical constitution into account—they decided against high-speed flight. Instead, they opted to glide along casually at a low altitude of about five meters, right around the treetop line. This allowed them a clear, sweeping view of the landscape without drawing unwanted attention from distant observers.
As they glided smoothly through the forest canopy, Hong Meiling suddenly turned her head, her gaze locking onto a ridge in the distance.
"Someone is fighting over there!" she noted.
At that exact moment, the faint echoes of shouting and clashing steel carried over the wind, catching Flandre's attention as well.
"Let's go take a look!"
Driven by the unwritten rule that missing out on local excitement was a tragic waste, Flandre took the lead, zipping toward the noise like a streak of light.
Seeing her take off, Patchouli and Hong Meiling could only sigh indulgently and follow close behind.
Before long, they crested a jagged, barren hill and looked down upon a fierce skirmish unfolding in the valley below.
The battle was raging right at the edge of what appeared to be a vast, long-abandoned Originium mining complex...