Chapter 415 - Chapter 367: Shou-sensei, The Chaperone?
「~~~♪」「Kururu~~~♪」
I offered snacks to Sweee, the Fairies, and Raz who had arrived. Dried Grapeful should be fine, right?
They swarmed my palm, stuffing their cheeks, looking incredibly cute... but this wasn't the time to admire them.
"Sweee, I need to talk to you about something, is that okay?"
「~~~？」
Sweee, her mouth stained purple, tilted her head curiously. She's supposed to be the Queen, you know...
"You were planning to go to the port to meet True, weren't you? But now that we've taken in the Cait Sith, I'm not sure what to do."
At my question, she made a sound like "Ah!" and clapped her hands. She seemed to have forgotten.
She floated over to the boss cat,
「~~~♪」
"Nya."
And the boss cat bowed its head.
Sweee looked at me with a face that seemed to say "So?", which I took to mean she was ready to translate.
"Um..."
First, I explained the situation.
The Cait Sith's symptoms should have cleared up. However, the cause was the Necropolis they'd been sent to, so it would be dangerous for the younger ones to return right away.
If they wanted to go back to their comrades... then we'd have to discuss a lot of things, wouldn't we? Either set up a new base away from the Necropolis, or if they could return to where they were before being scattered...
「~~~？」
"Nyaunyao."
What do you think...
Sweee and the boss cat were talking, but I couldn't quite grasp the content.
I understood that Sweee seemed to be explaining things, likely using a combination of the power of the Apostle of the Jade Goddess and her Fairy Guardian abilities (?).
「~~~♪」
"Hm? Are you saying that the boss cat will take good care of the Cait Sith, so you'd like them to stay here for a while?"
When I confirmed, Sweee gave a thumbs-up in return.
I wondered if he could really look after eight young ones, but since he's the boss, it's probably fine.
It would be troublesome if they went somewhere strange, but I guess I just need to make sure to close the doors with the unlock codes.
"Alright, then let's ask the Cait Sith to house-sit and head to the port."
"Kuru~~~♪"
Raz stuffed the remaining Dried Grapeful into his cheeks, then scurried up my arm and settled into my hood.
"Nya? Nyanya?"
「~~~♪」
"Nyanya!"
Hm? He seems to be making a point, but does that mean he doesn't want to house-sit? Could it be?
Does he want to come along?
"Yeah, I thought so too."
The boss cat had been talking with Sweee for a while, but then turned to the other Cait Sith and gave some kind of signal,
「「「Nyaa!」」」
They all sang in unison.
It's good that they're energetic, but will they be okay...
"Sweee?"
「~~~？」
"Ah, as I thought, they want to come."
What will you do?
It seems the Cait Sith are feeling better, and it might be safer to have them with us than to leave them house-sitting somewhere out of sight.
Lupi looked at me with a face that said, "Leave it to me," and Leda and Roy seemed to be of the same mind.
"Hmm, alright, let's all go together."
「~~~♪」
"Nya~~~!"「「「Nyaa!」」」
………
……
…
Lupi led the way, followed by me, Sweee, and Raz.
Behind us came the Cait Sith, led by their boss cat, and the Fairies.
"Nya?"「~~~♪」"Nyafu."
As we proceeded through the Ancient Ruins, the Cait Sith were constantly looking around, restless, and asking questions to the Fairies.
I worried they might get lost if left alone, but Leda and Roy were keeping a close eye on the rear, so it should be fine.
"Hey, we're going up. Come on, quick, quick."
「~~~！」"Nya!"
I waited for all the Cait Sith to board the Transfer Elevator.
They must have ridden it when they were brought here, but they don't seem to remember it.
「~~~？」
"Hm? Where did the Cait Sith come from? Even I don't really know that. Why don't you ask them?"
Having that conversation, I pressed the Transfer Elevator button.
In the next moment... the door on the other side opened, revealing the passage to the Control Room.
Ah, right.
"Nina. I'll be looking after the Cait Sith for a while."
[Yes. Understood.]
The Cait Sith themselves were surprised by this exchange, but I decided to leave the explanation to Sweee.
Today, we'd take the outside route and harvest Bluegaris (beets) near the stream, so I opened the door on the right to go out to the Observation Deck. First, as always, a visit to the graves.
「~~~♪」「Kururu~~~♪」"Nya~~~."
"Ah, thank you."
Sweee, Raz, and the Fairies placed flowers as usual, and seeing them, the boss cat and the Cait Sith did the same.
We all observed a moment of silent prayer, and then.
"Lupi, please."
Lupi stepped forward. Leda and Roy stood a little behind her; their height was gradually catching up, and she seemed to have gained some presence? Well, she's still a big softie, though.
"Awooooooon~~~"
Lupi's clear howl faded into the blue sky, and soon after, two families of Drab Wolves gathered at the Observation Deck.
"Woof."
""Bow!""
"Thank you. We have quite a few guests today, so I'd like to ask for an escort."
From here on, there's a possibility of Crimson Apes, Ranziboas, and Roopagumas appearing, so the more escorts, the better.
"Ni, Nya."
"Kuru~~~..."
「~~~...」
Ah, yeah, of course they'd be surprised.
The young Cait Sith were clinging to their boss cat, forming a tangled ball.
Raz and Sweee seemed to be explaining, looking a bit exasperated, so I'd leave that to them.
"Alright, I'll have Lupi stay by my side..."
"Woofn."
I'd have the Drab Wolves surround us within my visible range. It should be fine if the Fairies and Cait Sith don't go beyond that.
Speaking of which, can Cait Sith fight? No, they're recovering from illness, so it's better not to push them. I'll ask Bell-buchou or Seth later.
"Um, we're going into the mountains now, but monsters might appear, so please be careful."
Sweee translated, and the boss cat nodded repeatedly. He seemed to be lecturing the younger ones as well.
"And this is just if you can, but if you find any edible grass or berries, I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me."
Do cats even eat grass or berries in the first place? Isn't cat grass eaten because it's tasty? Or was it to help them cough up hairballs?
While Sweee was explaining, Raz scurried up my shoulder,
"Kururu~~~?"
"Of course, you too, Raz. Let me know if you find any tasty berries."
"Kuru!"