Chapter 417 - Chapter 369: Silver Cat Knights
「「「Umyah~~~♪」」」
「「「Kyuu~~~♪」」」
Mixed in with Lupi and the others, the Cait Sith were happily eating roasted dried Oranjack.
And the Selkies looked pleased at the sight. I guess they're happy more fish-lovers have arrived? But still,
"Sorry for suddenly bringing guests."
"Kyuu~~~♪"
I stroked True's head, who was sitting beside me.
He was a little surprised to see the Cait Sith, but Sweee had explained everything clearly, so there was no trouble. It probably helped that the boss cat next to him bowed politely.
「~~~！」
"Alright, alright, just a moment."
The sweet smell of Mauvepra (sweet potato) was wafting from the stone oven. It was the sign that the sweet potatoes were baked...
"Oh, nice color."
Carefully taking them out with gloves, bite-sized sweet potatoes with a good baked color appeared. Finally, I sprinkled toasted Perilsense—toasted sesame seeds—and they were complete.
"Be careful, they're hot."
"Kururu~~~♪"「~~~♪」 「「「~~~♪」」」
While watching the Fairies cool them with Wind Spirits, I started on another snack.
Since I'd only used egg yolks for the sweet potatoes, I made meringue cookies with the leftover egg whites and put them into the stone oven.
I left the Selkies in charge of checking when they were done.
Shou-kun. Bell-buchou and Seth-chan want to come to the studio.
"Ah, yeah, okay."
Bell-buchou's live stream should be over by now.
She was supposed to have gone into the Dwarf Dungeon in Amiera Territory today, so maybe there was some new development?
Brother. Is that the leader of the Cait Sith there?
"Huh?"
That... the one with presence.
"Ah, you mean this boss cat? He certainly was the leader of the Cait Sith recently, but... 'Chieftain'?"
Come to think of it, we used [Appraisal] on the young ones to check their condition, but not on the boss cat. And 'Chieftain'?
[Cait Sith (Chieftain): Friendly]
Forest Fairy Cait Sith, Chieftain of the Silver Cat Knights.
The Silver Cat Knights once served as the knight order of the Cait Sith Kingdom.
Silver Cat Knights? Cait Sith Kingdom?? Knight order???
"It's all so mysterious..."
It seems those Cait Sith escaped from Natural Ramune's island via a Transfer Magic Circle...
""Eh?""
Could it be that Natural Ramune...
You may be thinking something dangerous, but Natural Ramune-dono did not commit any evil deeds, you know? Well, it seems things went in a strange direction because they crossed mountains they wouldn't normally cross...
According to Seth's explanation, Natural Ramune and her fan club left the Ancient Ruins they found untouched, crossed the mountains where the ruins were located, and then launched a surprise attack on an Orc settlement they found beyond.
However, the Orcs they failed to defeat fled to a Goblin settlement, and the Orcs and Goblins, being pursued, fled further to a Cait Sith village...
"Wow. So the Cait Sith fled to the ruins, right?"
Indeed. I don't know the details, but it's likely so.
Um, did you only just find this out?
Mion sounded a little angry.
The Transfer Magic Circle the Cait Sith came through was collapsed beyond, a dead end. They apparently cleared the landslide this afternoon and encountered Natural Ramune and the others beyond it.
"I see. So that's how they finally realized the Cait Sith were being chased by Orcs and Goblins."
That's how it is.
Hmm, it was unavoidable, I guess, but I still feel a bit uneasy... It's very like Natural Ramune, but the Cait Sith certainly had a rough time.
"Um, so, does this mean the Cait Sith can go back to their island now?"
Yes, that's right, but some people said it would be dangerous to send them back to Natural Ramune's island, so there was quite a debate. In the end, it seems they settled on respecting their wishes, but...
I see.
Even so, it means the boss cat... the Chieftain's opinion is needed.
"I'd like to call the Chieftain to gather the Cait Sith's opinions. I understand, but... Argenta-san or Azure-san would have to come pick them up."
If I went to the Large Transfer Room, there's a Transfer Magic Circle leading to the Necropolis, so I could send them off regardless of their situation over there... but it's supposed to be a secret.
Shall we go back and send a letter?
"Is that the best option after all?"
If I returned via the Divine Tree from the Selkie village, could I send a letter today?
"Kyuu!"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
The Selkies were looking up at the eastern sky...
"Ah, problem solved."
Hmm?
What had looked like a speck was gradually getting bigger, and it seemed to be carrying something... was that the main body of a carriage?
Azure Dragon... right?
Yes. It's Azure-san, the Azure Dragon.
I'd only seen an image of his dragon form once, using [True Appraisal].
A beautiful blue dragon, just as I'd seen him then.
"Shou-kun, so sorry!"
He shouted that as he circled directly above us.
「「「Fugyaa!」」」
"Nyanya~~~."「~~~♪」
"Calm down. It's Azure-san, the one who brought you here."
The boss cat and Sweee were trying to calm down the panicking Cait Sith.
I thought True and the others would be surprised, but they seemed surprisingly okay... perhaps because they had seen Argenta-san before.
"Kyuu~~~?"
"Woof."
"Yeah. Around the lighthouse would be good."
A place where he could set down the carriage, and where Azure-san's wings and tail wouldn't hit anything around.
I raised both hands and pointed diagonally forward, towards the embankment leading to the lighthouse. Azure-san seemed to understand, hovering and then landing there.
Standing on two legs, he was about as tall as the lighthouse itself...
"Let's go."
"Woof!""Kyuu!"
Azure-san didn't return to his human form, but lowered his head nearly to the ground, welcoming us.
"Sorry for the sudden visit again. It's about the Cait Sith being able to return to where they came from."
Brother. Master Chef-dono has already conveyed the situation to the Dragonkin.
So he said.
Well, of course, they'd explain it to the Dragonkin who were looking after them.
"Um, I've mostly heard about it."
"Good. I brought a Dragon Basket just in case everyone wants to return, but what should we do?"
What should we do... what should we do?
Brother. It would be fine if only the Chieftain returned.
That's right. The young ones who came because they were unwell should continue their recuperation on the island without overexerting themselves.
I agree!
"Um, let me consult with them for a moment."
Mion and the others said that, but if the individuals themselves wanted to return, I thought it would be better to let them. Their condition seems fine now too.
First, I needed to consult with the boss cat, and I was about to call Sweee when...
「~~~♪」
"Hm, is that okay?"
"Nyanya."
According to Sweee, who had approached, it seemed only the boss cat would be returning.
Um, what does that mean?
"Ah, only the boss cat... the Chieftain, will be returning."
"Understood. Then I'll relay that the others will continue their recuperation."
"Ah, yes."
I answered Bell-buchou, and it seemed to have been conveyed to Azure-san, but it worked out as an explanation, so I guess it's fine.