Chapter 408 - Chapter 361: The Real Deal, Huh?
Seth and Master Chef-san left the headquarters (?). Their destination was the entrance to the Dragonfolk territory.
Right before it, Argenta-san and Geira-san seemed to be discussing something. When they noticed the two approaching and gave a slight nod, it was clear they were as serious as ever…
“Excuse us for interrupting,”
“Not at all. We just received a report that the White Dragon Princess has returned from the island. Thank you for the information.”
Did Azure-san contact them? How...? Oh, I guess they can use Transfer Magic or something like that, so that must be it.
“Is something the matter?”
“First, regarding the exchange meeting, would it be alright if we conclude in about two hours?”
Master Chef-san explained the arrangements for their departure, which seemed to be exactly as pre-arranged.
Argenta-san was said to be departing soon, leaving Geira-san to handle the rest. Vermilion-san, it seemed, wasn’t being counted among them.
Then,
“And there’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you…”
Seth hesitantly brought up the matter of the Cait Sith who had intruded.
They still only had a rough grasp of the total number, but there were apparently around a hundred Cait Sith…
“I see. I would be willing to accept them, but would that be acceptable?”
Geira-san said.
Argenta-san, who had been asked, nodded in agreement.
“Of course, I don’t mind, but I hear they are highly wary. Being surrounded by us might not help them settle down…”
“In that regard… I believe there would be no issue if we took them to the church.”
“Huh? Is that so?”
“Pardon my ignorance, but would they settle down near the Jade Goddess Statue?”
“Yes. Fairies are beings born from the Jade Goddess’s love for nature. They would not be disrespectful in the presence of their mother goddess.”
Ah, right. Azure-san said something like that too.
“If only Shou-kun and Sweee-chan were here…”
“Heh heh, indeed.”
Seth was suppressing a laugh… Well, it was true, so it couldn't be helped.
If Geira-san and his group could protect them, that would be reassuring, but…
“How will we explain that to the cat folk?”
“Yeah, you're right. More importantly, do the Cait Sith even have a leader? A boss? Is there someone like that?”
Seth gave a slight nod to my question.
Bell-bucho and the others had been talking to the Cait Sith individually, but I didn't recall seeing anyone who looked like a boss among them.
“Then, we must first explain it to their leader.”
“Right.”
“I shall go as well. Geira, stay here.”
Argenta-san said. Leaving Geira-san behind, the three of them retraced their steps.
As I watched them, Yata-sensei asked,
“Speaking of which, don’t we have a Jade Goddess Statue on hand?”
“Oh, the Jade Goddess Statue! Don't you have one? From what we just heard, it sounds like it would be better if we did, right?”
“Hmm. Master Chef-dono, do you happen to possess a Jade Goddess Statue?”
“Ah! Sorry. I don’t have it with me right now. It’s displayed in my shop, you see…”
Displayed in his shop... No, well, yeah.
He seems to be one of our fans, so I get it, but…
Just as they were discussing whether to go back for it,
“In that case, this…”
Argenta-san, of course, pulled out a Jade Goddess Statue from somewhere. But… that was the one I made into the Jade Goddess!
“Ohh, this is!”
“It’s the real deal!”
“The real deal,” they say! Well, it is the real deal, but!
I glanced at Mion, who looked a bit embarrassed, as expected.
“Oh, Seth-chan, Chef-san, and the Silver Dragon-san. What’s going on?”
“We were discussing what happened after we fell. It’s been decided that the Cait Sith will be protected in the Dragonfolk territory.”
“Ah, that’s very kind of you. No, really, it’s a great help.”
Natto replied.
They thanked Argenta-san and called over Bell-bucho and Polly, who were trying hard to communicate.
The two, after receiving an explanation from Seth, called the Gnomes and proceeded towards where a Cait Sith with an insolent expression sat with a difficult look on its face.
Its clothing was a bit more luxurious than the other Cait Sith, too. It wore noble-like attire that suited it well, giving it an air of considerable presence…
“It's the boss cat.”
“It's quite intimidating, isn't it?”
“It’s adorable!”
At Mion’s comment, both Yata-sensei and I involuntarily said, “Huh?” and looked at Mion, but she just had a cheerful smile… No, never mind that for now.
As Seth and the others approached, it faintly opened its closed eyes, conveying an atmosphere of disinterest rather than a glare…
“It seems to be as indifferent as ever.”
“Well, it is a cat. Ouch!”
According to Seth, the boss cat had always been like that.
And then Natto received an elbow jab from Polly for saying something unnecessary…
“Could I ask you to present the Jade Goddess Statue?”
“Mhm.”
At Argenta-san’s prompting, Seth took out the Jade Goddess Statue, and then—
“Nya!”
Its eyes snapped open, and it suddenly knelt on one knee and bowed its head.
While everyone was surprised by this sight, it then swiftly stood up, raised its head, and—
“Waaaa-oooo!”
It let out a huge cry. No, a shout? A howl?
This is…
“Huh? Wh-what?!”
Bell-bucho and the others were surprised, but just as I expected, the Cait Sith began to gather around their boss.
They encircled Seth and his group, and beyond them, the chasing players formed another ring.
“Oh, boy…”
“This is… what should we do?”
“Seth. Ask Polly to cast a sanctuary with the Jade Goddess Statue.”
It would probably be fine to have Seth create the sanctuary, but if we wanted to replicate my conditions, Polly, who possesses both Spirit Magic and the Guardian of Gnomes title, should be more suitable.
As soon as Seth told her, Polly, though a little perplexed, deployed the sanctuary, and cheers erupted from the Cait Sith. No, the Gnomes were happy too.
“Perhaps we can communicate now.”
“O-oh, alright.”
Polly approached the Gnomes, crouched down to their eye level, and spoke to them. The boss, in turn, again knelt on one knee and bowed its head.
Polly spoke, the Gnomes joined in, and the boss seemed to be responding with its head raised. It felt like they were communicating better than before, somehow?
“It looks like they're able to talk better than before, doesn't it?”
“Shou-kun, did you notice that?”
“No, not clearly, but I remember having good communication with Sweee when we were inside the Jade Goddess Statue's sanctuary… ”
I think any time I felt like we were really communicating, like when I was trying to make the wooden statue, it was usually when the Jade Goddess Statue’s sanctuary was active.
“As expected of a goddess statue crafted by Shou-sama.”
“Indeed, as expected!”
“Sasushou, huh!”
Argenta-san, don’t just gloss over that!
And Seth and Master Chef-san, don’t you agree either!