Facing Kal'tsit's question, Shirou immediately got to the main point. The reason he came to see her in the first place was to discuss this matter.
"It was even more terrifying than that. I saw Nameless himself."
"...That truly is quite frightening. Then did Operator Nameless do anything to you? You do not look quite right at the moment. Were you affected somehow?"
Hearing Shirou's words, the expression on Kal'tsit's face shifted slightly, though she quickly returned to her usual calm demeanor.
She had considered all kinds of possibilities. She had thought Shirou might see Amiya's memories, or even the memories of previous "Demon Kings" through Amiya.
The one thing she had never expected was for Shirou to encounter Operator Nameless himself.
Magic and magecraft were even more unreasonable than Originium Arts. That was Kal'tsit's current impression.
"He did not really do much. He just came at me with blades and swords. Although he claimed he was trying to teach me techniques, it was still rather brutal."
After speaking, Shirou rubbed his forehead, trying to force himself to stay alert.
At the very least, he could not let it affect the current conversation, because this concerned Amiya's future treatment, as well as that of other infected individuals.
And this so-called treatment process basically involved him acting as the medicine, while Rhodes Island arranged for trusted infected operators to receive treatment.
After pulling himself together slightly, Shirou finally explained everything that had happened earlier.
"I understand now."
After hearing Shirou's explanation, Kal'tsit immediately understood why he looked so exhausted.
She understood his abilities very well. After all, Rhodes Island had only reached its current scale because of Operator Nameless's tremendous help.
Although he did not go on missions often, every mission he participated in was guaranteed to be among the most difficult.
Even missions that she judged impossible for all of Rhodes Island combined to complete were effortlessly resolved by him.
That was why she remained wary of so-called Heroic Spirits and Servants.
After organizing all the information she currently possessed, Kal'tsit continued:
"Your concerns are correct. Those memories of yours can easily cause psychological shock to others. Until this hidden danger is resolved, Rhodes Island will not arrange any further related treatments or experiments. However, the research Warfarin is conducting on your blood probably cannot be stopped."
At this point, Kal'tsit paused briefly before continuing.
"After all, progress has already begun regarding the study of your blood. Even if we exclude the mysterious existence known as magic, your body still possesses resistance against Originium. While it cannot achieve treatment effects like magic can, its suppressive effect is certainly better than any inhibitor currently available across Terra."
Kal'tsit phrased things rather tactfully here. If Shirou chose to halt all related experiments because of these dangers, she would not be able to stop him. However, with the blood research progressing smoothly and showing no side effects so far, convincing those obsessed researchers to stop would be extremely difficult.
Especially because Warfarin knew exactly whose blood it was. If the research stopped here, there was a real possibility that she would take matters into her own hands.
Kal'tsit did not want trivial complications like this to create friction in her cooperation with Shirou.
"I only plan to slow down the progress of treatment methods involving magic for now... I think perhaps experienced combat operators could try it first? People with combat experience should have greater tolerance, right? And if the amount is kept small, it should not affect me either."
Shirou understood Kal'tsit's concerns, but he had never intended to stop everything in the first place. There was no way he would prevent something that had no side effects and only benefited others.
If drawing too much blood at once did not negatively affect his body, Shirou would even be willing to provide several more tubes himself.
Warfarin had been the one to tell him not to. According to her, maintaining the health of the blood source was important so they could obtain even more blood in the future.
At the same time, Shirou also shared his own idea. Since some of his memories were unsuitable for children to witness, perhaps operators with battle experience would be fine instead.
"There is still danger involved. At the very least, we cannot rule out the possibility that your memories might cause operators to relive painful experiences of their own. After all, you still know nothing about the blank spaces in your memories. If you could at least determine what memories you possess, we could filter out some people beforehand."
"Even an optimistic operator like Blaze has memories she would rather not revisit."
To emphasize the risks, Kal'tsit deliberately used one of the people Shirou was most familiar with at Rhodes Island, as well as one of the most cheerful and positive individuals there, as an example.
"That really is troublesome..."
Hearing Kal'tsit's words, Shirou felt that this path was probably completely unworkable.
Not only was his own memory incomplete, but his mind also contained the memories of four different Emiya Shirou versions, along with fragmented memories from Nameless and fragmented memories from Archer.
Letting someone undergo Oripathy treatment under those circumstances was practically the same as forcing them to gamble on a random draw.
If they got lucky, there would be no problem. If they got unlucky, then their mental condition would be severely tested.
The risk truly was far too high.
"All we can say is that this treatment method carries significant risks and is suitable for very few people. It will still need gradual refinement... If you absorbed the Originium yourself, would it produce the same effect? Or are there other methods?"
Seeing Shirou looking dejected, Kal'tsit proposed another possibility.
The method to cure Oripathy now existed. The only issue was that the risks were rather severe, both for Shirou and for the patient receiving treatment.
Even so, it was currently the only existing method capable of curing Oripathy. If possible, Kal'tsit truly did not want to abandon it.
So she began thinking further. The fundamental reason the treatment worked was because the magic power within Shirou produced a strange chemical reaction with Originium, which in turn reversed part of the Originium into Shirou's body where it became magic energy for use.
Simply put, Shirou converted Originium into magical energy, and infected individuals were cured because the Originium particles and crystal formations within their bodies were converted into magic and absorbed.
In that case... what if Shirou actively absorbed it himself?
The idea seemed feasible, but there was currently no way to test it. Shirou's condition already looked rather poor. If her hypothesis proved wrong, Shirou himself might collapse first.
Whether it was the ominous red markings spreading across his body or the burden of his memories, either one could potentially break him.
He appeared powerful and dependable on the surface, yet in reality he was like a sandcastle that would collapse with a single push.
She had seen many people like that before.
And people like that were usually just like Shirou standing before her now, always thinking about others while completely disregarding their own physical condition.
"There are methods, yes, but I need to go back and think about it first."
After considering it for a moment, Shirou ultimately decided... to search through the memories in his mind and see whether there was some way to establish a magic-related contract.
Being bitten for blood was one thing, but as for the Mana transfer method... it was better to let that idea sink to the bottom of the ocean forever.
Doing such a thing in the name of treatment truly felt inappropriate. It gave Shirou the feeling that he would be forcing others into it... and that was not something he wanted to do.
Besides, it gave him a strange sense of guilt.
"Then I will have to trouble you to think about it some more after you return. As for the matter regarding Nameless, please do not tell Amiya for the time being. At least wait a while. That child's current condition is still not very good."
Noticing the unusual look on Shirou's face, Kal'tsit smoothly shifted the topic away.
As for the matter of Shirou meeting Nameless... she intended to have him wait some time before telling Amiya.
It was not about hiding the truth, but rather waiting until Amiya had recovered a little emotionally before informing her.
After all, words coming from someone already dead carried tremendous emotional impact.
"That is fine with me... He only asked me to pass along his greetings to everyone at Rhodes Island. I did not sense many memories from him directly. He inferred things in reverse after obtaining memories from my side."
Shirou did not particularly mind. He had already delivered the message the man wanted conveyed, and he also understood Kal'tsit's concerns very clearly.
That small body of Amiya's already carried far too much.
Until she fully grew into her role, there was no need to pile even more burdens onto her shoulders. He would help her.
His own mind was still somewhat chaotic right now, but he had experienced this sort of confusion before. He was simply too immersed in the role.
Although he disliked the other man's methods and way of doing things, at the end of the day they were both Emiya Shirou. The resonance between them had more or less affected him.
It was not enough to turn him into someone like Nameless, but... the one thing the other man possessed, Shirou had already inherited.
It was not really a problem for him either. At most, it was simply adding a few more bricks onto an already existing foundation.
"Good. Also, in such a short amount of time, were you really able to fully grasp Nameless's techniques? Do you need me to arrange access to the Guard training room?"
Seeing Shirou agree so readily, Kal'tsit's mood improved slightly.
Compared to Warfarin and several other operators with difficult personalities, Shirou was genuinely easy to get along with. At the very least, she did not constantly need to rely on harsh words or Mon3tr to intimidate him.
However, she did not fully understand Nameless's true level of strength. What she did know was that only about two hours had passed since Shirou returned to his dormitory to rest.
Even for a genius, mastering even one or two techniques in such a short period should have been difficult. Since the memories were still fresh in Shirou's mind, arranging a training room and personnel for him to practice with would be beneficial.
After all, Kal'tsit still did not know how powerful their future enemies might become.
If the Saber whom even Shirou could not defeat were to descend upon this land as an enemy, it would become an enormous disaster.
That was why she made the suggestion. She wanted Shirou to grow even stronger.
"Uh... that will not be necessary. Doctor Kal'tsit, you know the relationship between him and me, as well as this."
Seeing that Kal'tsit was about to arrange a training room and sparring personnel for him, Shirou quickly refused.
He! Right now! Only wanted to rest properly!
Fighting, combat, and studying techniques could wait until tomorrow!
At least let him have some peace today!
Showing the Magic Circuits on his right hand, Shirou immediately made Kal'tsit understand his meaning. After all, he had displayed similar reactions previously after coming into contact with magical crystals. She simply had not thought of it immediately.
"I understand. Then let me know if you need anything. I will reserve a training room for you over the next few days."
Looking at the Magic Circuits on Shirou's hand, Kal'tsit felt that it was highly unscientific, yet somehow very much like Originium Arts... no, very much like magic.
Since Shirou already had his own plans, there was no need for her to make special arrangements.
"Thank you very much. Sorry for the trouble, Doctor Kal'tsit."
Hearing that she would reserve a training room for several days, Shirou first expressed his gratitude.
Although he might never use it, basic courtesy still had to be maintained.
Just as Shirou was preparing to leave, he noticed something sitting on Kal'tsit's desk and suddenly remembered another matter, prompting him to speak again.
"Also, I have a small request."
"..."
"You finally finished? We have been waiting forever!"
Ever since Shirou entered, Blaze and Rosmontis had kept their attention fixed on the entrance to the medical department, waiting for him to push open the door and come back out.
Rosmontis had been waiting because she planned to take Shirou around Rhodes Island so he could gain a clearer understanding of the place.
As for Blaze, she wanted to spend her vacation accompanying the little cat, while also killing time. If possible, she also wanted to recruit Shirou, the inheritor of her aerial jumping technique, into her squad.
Previously, there had always been that white-haired person barking noisily nearby, which made recruiting attempts rather unsuccessful.
She had to seize this opportunity.
However, as time passed, both of their concentration gradually started to slip. After all, Rhodes Island was a pharmaceutical company, so its medical department was naturally never idle.
At the very least, during the time Shirou had been inside, that door had already been pushed open dozens of times.
And that was only counting people exiting, not entering.
Only when they finally saw the owner of that red hair emerge did the agonizing wait come to an end.
As for terminals?
Blaze had forgotten to bring hers, while Rosmontis needed to conserve battery power on hers, so she normally avoided using it casually. In fact, aside from recording certain everyday matters, she almost never used her terminal at all.
"All right, have you two eaten yet?"
After coming out, Shirou's expression looked much more relaxed. Sharing some of his worries with someone else truly did make him feel better.
At the very least, there was now another person worrying alongside him.
"?"
Facing Shirou's question, Blaze and Rosmontis simultaneously tilted their heads to the right, revealing puzzled expressions.
"Let us head to the cafeteria! Doctor Kal'tsit gave me permission to use it."
Shirou had only asked that question in order to lead into this statement.
Seeing that the two of them did not seem particularly enthusiastic, Shirou understood the reason clearly, so he continued:
"Doctor Kal'tsit also gave me authority over your meals for the next two days. As long as things do not go overboard, she will turn a blind eye to it."
"Really?"
The moment Blaze heard that, she instantly became energetic again, while Rosmontis's eyes also brightened.
Blaze was imagining herself drinking alcohol while hugging the little cat, while Rosmontis was imagining herself eating a small piece of sweet cake.
"Really... Ah! But alcohol is forbidden, all right? That is the one thing Doctor Kal'tsit specifically prohibited."
Looking at the shining eyes of the two girls, Shirou smiled lightly and nodded.
However, seeing Blaze's expression immediately reminded him of the final thing Doctor Kal'tsit had said, which was that alcoholic drinks remained prohibited.
"Nooooooo!"
Watching Blaze clutch her head as though her beautiful dream had shattered, Shirou suddenly understood why Doctor Kal'tsit had made that rule in the first place.