7 - It Seems There Was One More Family Member
By the next morning, Ray had returned to his usual self. After Kamiira confirmed this and removed his chains, Ray headed to the dining area. There, Rui and the other two were waiting for him with worried expressions.
"Ray!"
Rui called out as Ray appeared.
"Yo, morning."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Did I make you worry?"
What Rui had uttered wasn't his usual biting remark, but words of concern. Ray realized that he had made Rui and the others worry enough to prompt such a reaction.
"Of course we did! You went all weird!"
"I'm fine with that. I'm back to normal now."
"...Are you really okay?"
It was Kai who spoke to Ray timidly.
"Yeah, I made you worry too, Kai-chan."
As he spoke, Ray gently patted Kai's head.
"Mm. Um, thanks."
"I'm glad. Even I was able to help Kai-chan."
"Mm."
"Now, hurry up and sit down. I've prepared a meal."
"Ah, yes."
When he took his seat at the table, as Kamiira had said, a meal was ready.
"Eh?"
Seeing it, Ray let out a small cry of surprise. Placed before him was a soup made by stewing something that looked like meat.
"It's Magic Beast meat."
"That means..."
Ray worried that he might be consumed by madness again.
"I've checked it thoroughly. It's now the same as ordinary beast meat. You won't go crazy."
"Is that so?"
"Well, it's a product of chance. It seems that by having all its magic power sucked out, it was purified."
"Heh. Then, I'll try some."
He cautiously brought the soup in front of him to his mouth. Ray took only a small amount. For a while, he remained still, as if searching for something.
"...It seems fine."
"Right. That's good. For a while, you'll be able to eat Magic Beast meat."
"Yes."
Though it was called soup, it was mostly tasteless, but for the current Ray, it was a sufficient feast. Above all, he couldn't help but be happy with the chewiness of the meat. Even the beastly smell reaching his nose felt like flavor. He chewed the meat in his mouth repeatedly, savoring it.
"Is it that delicious?"
Seeing this, Rui asked Ray with interest.
"Hmm? Ah, it's been a while since I've had meat. But the reason I'm chewing for so long is for my body's sake, rather than because it's delicious."
"Your body?"
"I was in a state close to starvation. I've heard that eating hard things suddenly after fasting is bad for the body."
"Heh, is that so?"
After that, Ray continued to chew the meat he put in his mouth bit by bit, almost obsessively, before swallowing.
"...I think this is enough."
"You're done already?"
"As I said before, I shouldn't eat too much all at once. This is enough for now."
"I see. This is a bit hard to say, but..."
"What is it?"
"Eat your dessert too."
"E-ehhh?"
What Kamiira offered as dessert was the poison fruit that had become completely familiar to Ray.
"Eventually, the Magic Beast meat will run out. So, I think it's better to continue getting used to the poison."
"True."
Reluctantly, Ray took the poison fruit from Kamiira and put it in his mouth. Again, Ray remained still for a moment, then opened his mouth with a slightly puzzled look.
"...I've gotten used to it somehow. This amount is nothing."
"Really?"
"Yes. For now, at least."
"Could it be that?"
"Maybe."
What Kamiira suggested was Ray's ability to absorb the power of Magic Beasts. It wouldn't be strange for Magic Beasts living in this forest to have strong poison resistance. There was a possibility that Ray had acquired that resistance.
"If that's the case, you could say it was lucky."
"Yeah. In the end, I didn't lose anything and gained something big, right?"
Kai was safe. Ray was injured, but it wasn't much of a burden. It would likely heal completely in a few days. On the other hand, if he had obtained immediate food and strong poison resistance, it could certainly be called lucky.
"Now then, shall we start the usual training?"
"Eh?"
At Ray's words, Kara, who had been looking down the whole time, raised her head. Ray's gaze was directed at Kara. Since Ray had appeared, Kara had remained looking down without saying a word. Ray guessed that she felt she had put Kai and Ray in danger because of her selfishness.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yesterday was just because I let my guard down. As long as I'm careful, I'll be fine, right?"
"That's true, but..."
"We can't stay cooped up in the cave forever. If it's something we have to resume eventually, it shouldn't matter if it's today."
"That's right. Besides, I'm here today, so it'll be fine."
Kamiira agreed with Ray's words. Kamiira understood Ray's consideration.
"Then, shall we go?"
"Mm." "Yeah!"
And so, everyone went outside the cave. The pairings were the same as usual, Ray and Kai, Rui and Kara. Kamiira watched from a short distance away from the four, keeping an eye on the surroundings.
"Hoi! Look! Here!"
"Mm! Ei! Yah!"
Ray flicked pebbles one after another, and Kai received them.
"Hoi! Hoitto! Nah!"
"Hey! Don't use such weird shouts! It throws off my rhythm!"
"It's my business what kind of shouts I use, isn't it!?"
"It's distracting! It's getting in the way of training!"
"Rui is the one getting in the way!"
"What did you say!"
"Don't get angry over something like this."
"...Come to think of it, I owed you one."
"Owed me? Then pay it back."
"Yeah, I'll pay you back!"
Saying that, Rui suddenly lunged at Ray.
"Eh!? Ah! What are you doing!"
Completely caught off guard, Ray was pinned down by Rui in an instant.
"Hehe. I win."
"What do you mean, you win? This is paying me back?"
"Yesterday, you completely pinned me down. This is revenge."
"Did I do that?"
"You don't remember?"
"I don't."
"You had incredible strength. Can't you use that same strength now?"
"...I don't know."
"Try it!"
"Alright."
Ray tried to push Rui, who was pressing down on him, away with all his might, but it didn't seem to be that easy. It was something he could only do because he had been possessed by the Magic Beast's madness. Realizing this, Ray gave up and decided to use a underhanded tactic.
"Rui. Aren't you embarrassed to be straddling a man like that?"
"Eh? Ah!?"
"Got you!"
Taking advantage of the moment Rui's strength wavered at Ray's words, Ray flipped him over with all his might. As long as Rui was just putting his weight on him, flipping him over was no trouble at all. This time, Ray ended up on top of Rui, pinning him down.
"That's cowardly!"
"This is called a strategy. And this, is a technique!"
As it was, he shifted his position, and this time it became a form like a Judo pin.
"What!?"
"Can you escape this? This is a technique from a martial art called Judo from the world I was born in."
"W-wait, you..."
"Oh? Is the Judo technique effective?"
"That's not it! Close. Your face is too close!"
The pinning technique Ray was using was Kesa-gatame (Scarf Hold). He was pulling Rui's head toward himself as if embracing it. The faces of the two facing each other to talk were so close they could feel each other's breath.
"Ah?"
"G-get off."
"Then, say you surrender."
"You pervert!"
"How am I a pervert? I'm telling you to admit defeat."
"Who would!?"
"Ah, if you keep saying things like that, I'll drool right on your face."
"P-pervert! S-stop it!"
"Heh, heh, heh."
"Ray-kun."
Ray's movements stopped at the voice called from above. There was no need to check. It was Kamiira's voice. Slowly releasing the technique, Ray sat in seiza on the ground.
"I'm sorry! I got a bit carried away!"
"A bit? I think it was quite a lot."
"...I'm sorry."
"Rui is also Rui."
"Eh? Me?"
"If you had gotten serious, you could have pushed him away immediately, right? Yet you did nothing but complain with your mouth."
"T-that's because he's the one at fault. He did perverted things."
"Perverted. I don't get aroused by children!"
"Children... don't call me a child. I'll be like Mother in a little while."
"That's impossible. Absolutely impossible."
"...I hate you. I absolutely hate you!"
"Huh?"
Ray stood dazed, watching Rui run away toward the cave. As far as Ray was concerned, it was their usual interaction, so he never imagined Rui would react this way. Then, a cold voice called to Ray again.
"Ra-y-ku-n?"
"I'm sorry! I'll go apologize!"
Ray ran toward the cave, following after Rui.
"...This is troublesome. I wonder if the one who was Charmed was actually Rui?"
"Charm? Hey, what's Charm?"
"That's a story for later for you two. Now, since those two are gone, Mother will do the training for you today."
"Mm!" "Yay!"
◇◇◇
Ray returned to the cave following Rui, but Rui was already nowhere to be seen. What met his eyes was the dining table, which had been overturned.
(Wow, they're really angry.)
He passed through the dining area and went deeper into the cave. The door to Rui's room on the way was left open, and Rui was not there. Going further to the water area, the surroundings were flooded.
(Another rampage here. Then... the back?)
It was Ray's first time stepping beyond the water area. He knew Rui was beyond that from the water tracks remaining on the ground. He arrived at a single room. Listening closely, he could hear something like crying.
(This is bad. I can't believe I made them cry.)
He lightly knocked on the door and called out to Rui, who should have been inside.
"Rui? Are you there?"
"I'm not!"
"...I'm coming in."
Ray opened the door and entered the room. His feet stopped.
"What!? A Magic Beast!? Rui, run!"
A wolf-like creature covered in pitch-black fur was in the room.
"Hah? Are you an idiot? Shiro isn't a Magic Beast. He's a wolf."
Rui told him so while leaning their body against the wolf.
"Eh? Is that so?"
Indeed, far from attacking Rui, the wolf was lying down leisurely and behaving quietly.
"Grrrrrrr."
However, a faint growl could be heard from its mouth. It was clearly intimidating Ray, but Ray didn't care about that at all. His interest was directed elsewhere.
"Is that really not a Magic Beast?"
"It's not."
"I see... Rui, I'm sorry. I said terrible things without knowing your feelings."
"Eh? M-my feelings..."
"I didn't know you cared about me this much."
"N-no. I don't care about you..."
"Thank you. I'll gratefully have it next time."
"...Huh? What are you talking about?"
"That's food for me, right? I don't know if wolf is tasty, but it's better than Magic Beast. And above all, it's fresh."
To Ray, the wolf in front of him looked like nothing more than fresh food.
"G-grrr?"
Far from being feared, the wolf let out a flustered sound at Ray, who was staring at it while swallowing his saliva.
"A-are you an idiot!? Shiro is like family. You're going to eat Shiro!?"
"Family?"
"Ever since I picked him up in the forest when Shiro was still small, he's lived in the cave."
"I see. In other words, he's my senior."
"...Well, I guess so."
"I see. Shiro-senpai, nice to meet you. I'm Ray."
"Grrr."
"I-idiot. You really are an idiot."
Seeing Ray seriously bowing his head to greet Shiro, Rui burst out laughing, clutching their stomach.
"Are you in a better mood now?"
"Hmm? Ah!"
"Just in case, I'll apologize once more. My bad. I intended it as our usual fooling around."
"N-no, it's fine. I was a bit strange too."
"Then, let's call it a reconciliation."
Once he confirmed that Rui's mood had completely recovered, Ray approached Rui. He reached his hand toward the head of Rui, who had raised their upper body while still sitting on the ground.
"Treating me like a child again."
Lightly brushing away Ray's hand that tried to pat their head, Rui became a bit grumpy again.
"Do you hate being treated like a child that much?"
"Of course I do! You and I are about the same age, aren't we?"
"In appearance, yeah. But, you're right. I'll stop from now on."
"Do that."
"This wolf."
"It's Shiro."
"Ah, Shiro. Shiro? Why Shiro? Normally, it would be Kuro, right?"
Shiro's fur was pitch-black. Ray couldn't understand why it was named Shiro.
"A little mistake."
"...I see. So, has Shiro always been here? It's my first time seeing him."
Ray was very curious about the reason for the "little mistake," but he stopped pursuing it.
"Shiro doesn't go in and out through the front."
"Is there a back door?"
"Yeah. Further back in this room. But rather than an entrance, it's just a crack. Only Shiro can go in and out."
"There was something like that. That's why I never saw him."
Despite being in this cave for over a month, today was the first time he met Shiro. Ray learned the reason.
"Ah, I remembered!"
"What?"
"You promised to do the cleaning, right?"
"Come to think of it."
"Clean properly. Cleaning here is your share."
"I see. Come to think of it, was this why Kamiira-san looked worried? Is it okay? Will I be attacked?"
The reason everyone was worried over mere cleaning. He realized it was Shiro's existence. That meant Shiro was that dangerous an existence.
"It's fine as long as you don't make him angry. Shiro is smart."
"But..."
"I told you it's fine. Even if I sleep like this, Shiro stays quiet."
Saying that, Rui again leaned their body against Shiro and lay down.
"...I see. Can I try too?"
"Mm, it's fine. Shiro, it's okay, right?"
"Grrr."
"He says it's okay."
"Is that true? Well, then, excuse me."
Sitting on the ground like Rui, Ray also cautiously leaned his body against Shiro.
"This... feels so good, I might get addicted."
The warmth of Shiro's fur was like lying on a blanket, and it was comfortable.
"Right? I sometimes sleep like this."
"Hmm. A bit more of my back..."
Due to the extreme comfort, Ray tried to lean his body even deeper against Shiro.
"Wait! It's cramped!"
"It's fine. It's my first time, so Rui, give me a little room."
"I don't want to."
"How selfish. You say it's cramped, but there's still plenty of room."
"That's true, but..."
"Look, get closer. That way, I can properly lean my back."
"Pervert again."
"Listen... let's stop, it'll lead to another fight."
If he treated Rui like a child and made them angry again here, the reconciliation would be wasted. Thinking so, Ray swallowed his words.
"That's true... hey."
"What?"
"I wonder if I can become a beauty like Mother?"
"Eh? Was that what you were angry about? That's obviously a lie. Rui is a beauty even now. You'll become even more of a beauty when you grow up. I guarantee it."
He could guarantee it without a doubt. The current Rui was a beautiful girl that would surprise anyone. Once the childishness faded, she would be a beauty just as she is.
"Will I be the same as Mother?"
"The same... you're mother and daughter, so you'll be similar, but Rui is Rui. Rui will become a beauty in her own way. That's what I mean."
"I see..."
Despite being told she would become a beauty, Rui had a gloomy face.
"I'm praising you, so why are you getting depressed there?"
That bothered Ray.
"I'm not depressed... hey, reach out your hand."
"What's this all of a sudden?"
"It's cramped with your hand down, right?"
"Ah, I see... eh? Are you telling me to give you an arm pillow?"
"Why not? It's more comfortable that way."
"That's true... can't be helped. Here."
"Hehe. Yeah, this is more comfortable."
"True. I feel calm too. But this really feels good."
"Right."
◇◇◇
"It seems they've reconciled. But as a mother, how should I handle this?"
Worried that Ray and the others hadn't returned for a long time, Kamiira returned to the cave and found Ray and Rui leaning against Shiro's back, sleeping while snuggling together.
"Grrr."
"Oh, it must be hard for Shiro not to be able to move. Shall we wake them up for now?"
Kamiira was about to wake the two, but...
"Ah! No fair, Kara wants to sleep with Shiro too."
"Mmph! Kai too."
Kara and Kai, who had followed Kamiira, saw the two and squeezed themselves in between them.
"Hmm? What?"
"What is it. I was sleeping so comfortably."
"Kara's sleeping too."
"Ah, I see. Then, here, get in the middle, Kai too."
"Mm!"
"Wait, four of us is definitely too cramped."
"It's fine if we squeeze. Ah, is Shiro okay?"
"G-grrr."
"Um?"
"Shiro is okay!"
"Grrr?"
"Right. Sorry. Then, please bear with us a bit more."
"Grrr."
In the end, Kara and Kai lay down, not so much in the middle as overlapping on top of Ray and Rui. Ray and Rui, who had been in the middle of sleeping, and Kara and Kai, who were exhausted from finishing their training, all fell asleep in an instant.
"Well, this feels like close-knit siblings. Then, I guess it's fine to leave them like this."
"Guh, grrr!?"
"Shiro, I'm sorry. Please endure it a little longer."