# Chapter 95
Arden lay alone on the sofa, staring at the ceiling with an uncomfortable feeling. He wanted to look at the sofa next to him, but since Rite could quickly notice what others were doing even in the dark, he couldn’t move.
“You should have asked me first.”
At the sudden voice, Arden flinched.
“…I thought I should first check whether there was a doctor available or not.”
“So, to Arden, confirming existence was more important than my thoughts.”
Rite was clearly upset.
Eden had offered to cover the surgery costs, but Arden had firmly declined. Yet Eden’s stubbornness wouldn’t yield easily. He said he would cover it since Arden would be helping him, but Arden felt burdened, as he had made this decision long before.
In the end, the argument only ended when Rite, the subject of the surgery, said he would accept Eden’s money. Arden thought that choice was made because Rite was upset with him.
In this situation, where they had already discussed finding a doctor, it would be difficult to honestly refuse even if he didn’t want to do it. Arden looked toward Rite’s direction and reflected.
“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”
“…”
“Really.”
He had heard about eye color changing surgery before. It had been popular among criminals for disguise and escape, leading to legislation prohibiting it. Though illegal, doctors in Rosmunt would likely perform it.
“…Arden liked them.”
The low voice couldn’t hide its trembling. Arden loved Rite’s eyes the most. He loved those eyes that changed like the night sky, varying with light and location.
“Your eyes would be beautiful no matter what color they are.”
But it wasn’t just because they were purple. He loved the trust and absolute affection in those eyes looking up at him. Eyes that revealed delicate emotions despite knowing they would be hurt captivated the viewer.
Rite didn’t answer. Arden didn’t press for a response. Even if they didn’t get the surgery, there was still a reason to visit a doctor. Just as he was about to close his eyes and try to sleep:
“I’ll do it. Can’t Arden do it too?”
“Me?”
“You said it yourself. That it wouldn’t be very effective for Arden.”
It was unavoidable. While there might not be much information about Rite, there was too much about Arden’s appearance. There was even a photograph taken the year he became a palace engineer. Even if he changed his eye color, he couldn’t change the shape of his features, so he couldn’t expect the same significant effect as Rite.
“I don’t want Arden to change.”
He was no different from a child who said he didn’t want to die while covering himself up to his eyes with a blanket. Arden smiled softly.
“I won’t change that much.”
As proof, they were still together despite being in the midst of upheaval that turned everything upside down.
* * *
The doctor Suos introduced was extraordinary. The small-framed doctor was difficult to gauge in age. Though her hair was white, her face looked young. Yet her completely dark eyes without any light seemed pessimistic, like an eighty-year-old.
“You want to change your eye color? I understand. Color is like that, isn’t it? You think it’s your favorite color, but after a few years, or even months, you get sick of it to the point you never want to see it again. That’s why there are so many interior decorators, right?”
The doctor mumbled while looking into the void. Can we trust this person? Arden looked at the woman with suspicious eyes.
“Is the surgery safe?”
“Of course. Naturally. I can do this with my eyes closed. And I’m Mari. I’ll shake hands if you request it. Hugs and kisses are fine too.”
“No, but doing it with your eyes closed…”
Clap! When Rite clapped his hands, the dark eyes that had been staring into space turned to him.
“This one’s gaze is weird.”
“Rite.”
Arden poked Rite’s side, reproaching him. They couldn’t afford to offend the doctor they were about to entrust with surgery.
“Oh, me?”
“Isn’t she a quack?”
“How could that be? I can fix anything except dead people.”
The woman answered deliberately and began arranging the operating table with butterfly-like movements.
Can we really trust her? Arden anxiously observed each of the doctor’s actions. Suos had said she was trustworthy, having taken care of his body for a long time. Arden began to wonder if they had come to the wrong place.
“Hey, Arden.”
“Hmm?”
Rite whispered softly in Arden’s ear while watching Mari.
“Doesn’t she seem similar to Aigle?”
“Her face?”
Arden’s voice indicated he couldn’t agree at all. Apart from her small stature, there was nothing similar.
“I mean her characteristics. Doesn’t she seem like… family? That kind of resemblance you see in people who have lived together for a long time.”
“I don’t see it.”
Rite recalled his master who disliked doctors. He had thought it was just an arrogant character who viewed engineers and doctors as inferior to magicians. If Aigle had such a sister, it would somewhat explain her dislike for those in scientific fields.
“I also brought what Suos asked for this morning.”
Mari said, pulling a small cart loaded with tools. She rummaged around, making clattering noises, and finally found the paper she was looking for in her coat pocket.
“The model name is NJ32. Now it’s called Neon.”
Mari handed the paper to Arden. It contained a sketch of the robot’s appearance and operating instructions. The initials preceding the number were likely the name of the engineer who made it.
“This is today’s match lineup.”
This time she handed over a paper found on her desk. This information was more urgent than the surgery. Mari was the only doctor in the slum and also the doctor for the arena.
“Robot treatment isn’t my responsibility, so I can’t help with parts recovery.”
“This is enough, thank you.”
“All done? Then lie down one at a time. Who wants to go first?”
Mari said, tapping the operating table. Just as Arden stepped forward, Rite grabbed Arden’s shoulder and sat on the operating table first.
“What color do you want?”
“I can choose?”
“No. But you might have a preference.”
Mari laughed, shaking a container of liquid up and down. Rite lay down without hiding his irritated expression. As Rite lay on the operating table, Arden’s anxiety increased. Though it was too simple to be called surgery, he was worried since the medicine had to be applied directly to the eyes.
“Wait. Is it really safe?”
“Yes. But it’s difficult to create the color you want. I’m a doctor, not an interior decorator. The response to the medicine varies depending on the pigmentation of the iris. Usually, the drug wears off after a month and returns to the original color, but depending on the person, it might be two months. Or maybe three months. Or maybe it will never wear off.”
Don’t worry, you won’t die. With these irresponsible words, the doctor brought a savage-looking instrument. She covered Rite’s face with cloth and used the instrument to fix his eyelids.
“What about vision? Can we immediately resume daily activities?”
“Of course. Just avoid alcohol and smoking for a while, don’t exercise too hard, avoid greasy and spicy food. And don’t read in dim light.”
Mari chatted about health guidelines that could be heard anywhere as she dropped a drop of liquid into Rite’s eye.
“It won’t hurt. Just… a sting?”
“…”
“Like twenty stings?”
Since you have two eyes, just endure forty times. At Mari’s words, Rite’s hand gripped the operating table.
* * *
Rite blinked his sticky eyes and looked at Arden. Why this, of all things? Rite didn’t like Arden’s eyes. The clear green resembled the eye color of someone he disliked.
“I gave you a 30 percent discount with the employee discount. Amazing, right?”
“But why three tickets…”
“So I can watch too. The employee seats don’t have a good view.”
In the depths beneath the Third District’s underground, Mari and Arden’s voices echoed. The interior of the arena contained only chairs. Even the ring that would become the stage wasn’t visible. Rite looked up at the high ceiling once, then at the pillar beside him. A strange face was faintly reflected on the pillar. With every blink of Rite’s eyes, the bright yellow eyes moved in sync.
With the sound of something turning on, fire lit on the ropes hanging from the ceiling. In an instant, the face that had been making eye contact with Rite disappeared. The sound of gears rolling filled their ears. With a loud noise, the seemingly flat floor rose up, and fire arrows falling from the ceiling landed on the torch on the stage. As flames rose, all the lights turned on.
On the stage where the lighting was concentrated, a silhouette was visible. As the hazy dust cleared, its outline became clearer. What appeared to be a person was actually a robot. With two legs, two arms, and a round head, it might resemble a human at first glance, but there were far more differences. At the end of the left arm was a huge shield instead of a hand, and at the end of the right hand was a circular saw blade. Smoke was flowing from the two pipes on its back.
“Wait, that’s.”
Arden narrowed his eyes and stood up. Rite took out the paper they had received earlier from Arden’s pocket and unfolded it. The overall shape was similar to the Neon they were looking for.
“…There was no mention of this this morning.”
Mari mumbled, biting her nails. Rite immediately grabbed Mari’s arm and shook it.
“Is that it?”
“Yes. But this shouldn’t be happening.”
As soon as Mari finished speaking, a loud voice from the loudspeaker filled the interior.
