After leaving Gladiia, who was equally curious about Skadi, in the medical bay, Steven went to the room assigned to him on Rhodes Island under Kal'tsit's arrangement.
Ever since stepping onto Rhodes Island, he had been caught up in one chaotic event after another. While he did find these experiences entertaining and aligned with the kind of fun he pursued, it was undeniable that they left him somewhat drained.
Lying down on the bed in the room—likely converted from a dormitory originally used by a Rhodes Island operator—Steven stretched lazily, feeling quite at ease.
This was the first time since arriving in this world that he could enjoy proper rest on a real bed. Back in Iberia, with Gladiia—his constant "tag-along burden"—in tow, all he could manage was sleeping under the sky, using the earth as his bed.
The soft mattress brought a nostalgic comfort to Steven.
"Turns out, you only realize how good life was after enduring some hardship," he muttered.
After lying down for a while, he got up to take a shower and changed into the clothes provided by Rhodes Island. The outfit was primarily black with subtle blue accents, featuring a hooded trench coat. With his naturally handsome looks, Steven definitely fit the image of a dashing young man.
"Everything's great, except for the lack of facial hair. Still looks a bit too youthful," he remarked self-deprecatingly while admiring his reflection in the mirror.
Ever since he transmigrated, his age and appearance had frozen at the moment of his arrival. Even he had to admit that a person's mentality does change according to their appearance. No wonder stories often feature "loli elders."
But Steven knew this wasn't the time to marvel at his own good looks. After a brief rest, he decided to continue his exploration.
It would be unthinkable for him not to explore such a large landship. Leaving such an opportunity untapped was simply unacceptable to him.
Donning the temporary work badge that Kal'tsit had handed him—similar to those worn by Rhodes Island operators—he stepped out of his room, humming a little tune.
The guest room was fine in all aspects: he had no particular size requirements, the hygiene was good, and the overall experience was pleasant. However, one thing bothered him: there was no basement filled with chests or a patch of land where he could farm.
In Steven's eyes, such features were essential for a proper living space.
Fortunately, he didn't plan to stay long, so he let it slide. More importantly, he wanted to see how the other inhabitants of this landship lived and what kind of intriguing stories and amusements the Rhodes Island operators might offer.
After all, Steven had already seen how bizarrely eclectic this small place could be. From Gavial, the crocodile lady, to a humanoid lizard, and even a car-shaped robot telling bad jokes—there was no shortage of interesting characters.
The more chaotic and diverse the crowd, the more stories and fun there would be. And Steven lived for such things.
Sneaking out of his room as though he were up to something shady, he crouched and crept a few steps before realizing he had no reason to act so clandestinely as a guest.
"Guess I've done too much dungeon crawling in mods—it's become a habit."
Shaking off the sneaky behavior, Steven quickly switched to the leisurely demeanor of an old man taking a post-meal stroll and began swaggering through the corridors of the landship.
However, it seemed the area he was in was the dormitory zone. All the rooms were tightly shut, leaving him with nothing of interest to explore.
He briefly considered using a pickaxe to force open a door but dismissed the idea as unbecoming of a guest.
Feeling a bit disappointed, he stowed the pickaxe away and gave up on the somewhat unscrupulous notion.
After wandering around, he realized the surrounding area was nothing but rows of dormitories, not unlike his university days—except without the lively students popping in and out of each other's rooms.
As Steven pondered where else he might explore, he noticed a familiar figure emerging from one of the nearby dormitories.
"Outcast! Your Rhodes Island is so boring! Don't the operators ever hang out with each other? Isn't it suffocating?"
Greeting her with a cheerful tone, Steven felt a genuine fondness for this suave older woman, whose appearance suggested she could be his grandmother. At least she was approachable and easy to talk to.
"Rhodes Island is like that," Outcast replied. "Most operators have their own work to do, and their rare free time often conflicts. Besides, many prefer staying in their own rooms rather than socializing."
Outcast glanced at Steven, whom Kal'tsit had specifically mentioned required special attention. After escorting him to the medical bay earlier, she had been busy with other matters and was unaware of the events that had since elevated his status.
Still, she found his affable demeanor likable and didn't mind answering his questions.
"Doesn't that just make things even more boring?" Steven scratched his head, baffled by this setup.
"Well, it's just the way things are," Outcast said after a moment's thought. "Most of Rhodes Island's operators are Infected. With the constant pressure of Oripathy, relaxing isn't always easy. Not everyone can maintain a positive outlook."
Walking alongside Steven, Outcast spoke with a tinge of resignation. She had seen so much over the years that sorrow had long been replaced by a muted sense of helplessness.
In a world where even survival could be a challenge, what could possibly be easy?
"That's true. Seeing hospital staff joking around might feel a bit out of place."
Steven nodded in understanding. Outcast's explanation made sense. Not everyone could be as carefree about Oripathy as he was—most people were naturally afraid of death.
"But still, it's kind of dull. Do you know any fun places around here, Outcast? Kal'tsit said I could ask you if I had questions."
"Hmm."
Hearing this, Outcast paused briefly. After a moment of hesitation, she made a decision.
"How about joining me for a senior gathering? As long as you don't mind that most attendees are older folks."
Recalling Kal'tsit's directive to trust Steven with anything except the most sensitive secrets, Outcast extended the invitation. Given Steven's personality, he would probably get along well with her old friends.
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