Chapter 420 - Settled Where It Should Be?
"Hey there."
After finishing dinner and cleaning up, and quickly completing my homework, I headed to the virtual clubroom.
It was past 8 PM, so I expected only Mion to be there, but then,
"Shou-kun."
"You're here."
"I've been waiting for you, Shou-oniisama."
Bell-buchou and Seth were also there, which surprised me a little.
Or rather, this means something happened.
"What's wrong?"
It seems the cats have decided what they're going to do…
"They're apparently dividing into those who want to return to Ramune-san's island and those who want to stay on the mainland."
"Huh?"
According to Bell-buchou, the older Cait Sith who were used to their home island wanted to return, while the younger Cait Sith, enchanted by the new mainland, had different opinions, so they decided to let everyone choose freely.
It kind of makes the Boss Cat's return seem pointless…
"It should be seen as having settled well, with everyone's wishes respected."
"Well, if that's the case, it's fine, but… both groups of Cait Sith, will they be okay going forward?"
I had a feeling the Boss Cat would be fine, but I was worried about the younger ones. They'd been living on an uninhabited island up until now, after all.
"Apparently, that's not an issue. On Ramune-san's island, the fan club members have properly rebuilt the Cait Sith village and promised to protect them firmly in the future."
The cats who are staying on the mainland will apparently be looked after by the dragons for the time being.
Hearing that, I breathed a sigh of relief.
But if that's the case, there was no need to wait for me, was there?
"And there's something I wanted to ask you, Shou-oniisama."
"Eh? What?"
"You're the most knowledgeable about the Cait Sith's ecology, aren't you, Shou-kun?"
…No, I only spent a day, or rather, half a day with them.
They mostly managed on their own, or so it seemed. I guess I'll just convey what Azure-san told me: they don't eat anything that's poisonous to them.
And then…
The cats liked catnip fruit, didn't they?
"Ah, that. Is it found on the mainland, too? What was its name again?"
Please wait a moment.
Mion opened the archive and skipped to the part where we harvested the catnip fruit.
When she quickly played it, ah, right, it was [Silvina Fruit].
"Oh. Humans don't seem to eat it, but is it a delicacy for the Cait Sith?"
"One a day seems to be enough. Or rather, maybe eating too much is bad? Since it's catnip."
Other than that, they generally liked fish, seemed to eat meat too, so they didn't seem to be picky eaters.
Mion skipped through the videos efficiently, and I briefly explained the Cait Sith's behavior.
"That's about it, I guess. Well, some of them remained on the island, so if I notice anything…"
I'll inform Bell-buchou myself.
"Yeah, please do."
*
"Woof!"
"Krr-lulu~"
"Whoa."
Petting Lupi and Raz, who had jumped at me, I started Mion's private stream.
When I logged in for a quick check after school, the Cait Sith were helping the Selkies and everything seemed peaceful.
Maybe the Boss Cat told them a lot of things?
Shou-kun, Lupi-chan, Raz-kun, good evening.
"Welcome, Mion."
"Woof~" "Krr~"
I climbed down from the loft bed and moved towards the old tavern room, but no one was there.
The door was open, so they must be outside.
"Speaking of which, I hadn't asked what the Boss Cat was going to do, Mion, do you know?"
Ah, it seems the Boss Cat-san is on the mainland.
Apparently, there was another Vice-Commander, who would become the leader of the group returning to Ramune-san's island.
Well, he'd naturally worry about his comrades staying in an unfamiliar place.
"Kyuu~!"
"Oh, True."
As I stepped outside, I caught True who came running. Raz came out of my hood and settled on True's head.
Looking around, the Selkies and Cait Sith seemed to be getting along well… They're helping make dried fish.
"Kyuu?"
"Today, we're going to the back of that high place we couldn't reach before."
The place outside, through the hole in the ceiling from the collapse.
Can I see it from here?
"It's around there, right?"
I think so.
The camera should be zoomed in on where I pointed, right?
Well, it's a rough location, and looking up from below, I can't even see the rope-bridged rock.
"Alright, let's go… wait, where's Sweee?"
"Kyuu-kyuu~"
"Ah, she went to call Pan. Then, we'll move… but before that."
I sat down in front of Lupi and stroked Leda and Roy's heads, who were waiting in a "stay" position.
Then,
"We're going to explore a somewhat narrow place, so I'm counting on you two to guard everyone here."
"Woof!"
""Bow!""
Is that okay?
As for Azure-san suddenly showing up… there's no point worrying about it.
"Alright, let's go."
"Woof!" "Krr-lulu~!" "Kyuu~!"
………
……
…
Shou-kun. Check the party.
"Roger."
[Shou's Party]
Shou, Lupi, Raz, True, Sweee, Pan
(Leda, Roy)
Leda and Roy were also in the party, but perhaps they were too far away.
Experience wouldn't likely be gained in this state, but oh well.
"Ryuu?"
"Mm, it's fine. Alright, let's go."
Sweee and Pan had joined us at the place where the ceiling was open.
The Urisk who came with Pan were apparently exchanging the vegetables they brought for dried fish made by the Selkies.
"~~~♪"
"Ryuu!"
I removed a section of the temporary ceiling, creating a space just wide enough for one person.
Pan agilely scrambled up the wall, squeezed through, and went to set up the rope, just like before.
"Today, True goes first."
"Kyuu~♪"
Last time, I went up first and pulled him up, but this time, I'd lift True and Pan would pull him up.
My STR was much higher than in real life, and True and Lupi were still light, so I realized lifting them was faster than pulling them up with a rope.
"Yo-ho!"
"Kyuu~"
I lifted True by his waist, who had his arms up in a cheer, and Pan at the top took his hands and pulled him up.
I wish I'd thought of this sooner, I mused, then it was Lupi's turn.
"Woof!"
"Ah, I see."
Eh?
I lifted Lupi, who was sitting on the removed ceiling panel, directly over my head, and then,
"Woof!"
Amazing!
She jumped and landed easily on top.
With Lupi's physical abilities, that's definitely easier for her.
"What about Raz?"
"Krr-lulu~♪"
Raz happily hid inside my hood.
Yeah, well, that's easier for him…