Chapter 194: The planned journey 3

It had been some time since Lumi began living with Julian.

During that time, the little fox had learned many things. One of them was the fact that she was still too weak to face the various dangers of the Dragon World.

That was why Lumi had to be careful!

She mustn’t carelessly trust anyone, much less fall into a trap that might kill her. After all, Lumi still had something very important to do.

She had to become stronger, then save her mother!

’...Right!’

Lumi felt that her thinking was perfectly sound.

Unfortunately, even though she had tried hard to avoid danger, her ability to recognize danger itself was still a bit faulty.

Sometimes, something she considered safe nearly got her killed. Conversely, something she thought extremely dangerous turned out not to do anything bad to her at all.

Julian, for example.

At first, Lumi had thought of that human as easy prey. But after seeing his strength, she began to realize that Julian was far more dangerous than she had imagined.

Yet after living with him, Julian had never tried to hurt her.

In fact, that human always gave her the most delicious Mana!

’...A strange human.’

Lumi still didn’t fully understand how she should treat Julian.

But there was one thing she was beginning to notice.

It seemed that as long as she stayed near that human, she didn’t need to worry too much about the dangers that might appear.

And of course, there was another reason that was no less important.

Mana!

Julian had such delicious Mana that Lumi always looked forward to the chance to get food from him.

That was why, when she heard footsteps she knew from outside the room, both of Lumi’s ears shot up.

’...He’s coming!’

Lumi immediately got up and ran to the door.

She then sat down neatly, watching the door while waiting for Julian to come in.

Her nine tails began to sway back and forth.

But Lumi herself didn’t notice.

’...Hurry up!’

She was only waiting for her food.

Yes, only that!

There was no other reason why she felt so happy on learning that Julian was coming.

And when the door finally opened, Lumi lifted her head at once.

"...Hm?"

Julian looked at the little fox who was already sitting before him.

"Lumi?"

"You finally came!"

Lumi stood up quickly.

But a moment later, she seemed to realize something.

"B-but I wasn’t waiting for you!"

Julian looked at the nine tails that were still moving with enthusiasm.

’...Is she happy to see me?’

The little fox looked so excited.

Feeling a little amused, Julian crouched down and reached out to stroke Lumi’s head.

"...Are you hungry?"

"Of course! I’ve been waiting for your Mana all this time!"

"...Didn’t you just say you weren’t waiting for me?"

"...!"

Lumi froze.

Then she quickly lifted her head haughtily.

"I was waiting for the Mana, not you!"

"...Is that so?"

’...Fine.’

He decided not to make an issue of the difference.

When Julian’s hand began to stroke the fur around her head, Lumi unconsciously closed both eyes.

’...Ah.’

So comfortable.

Julian’s fingers moved slowly, rubbing the back of her ears and her neck. Lumi actually wanted to maintain her wariness, but that touch made her body loosen a little.

Without realizing it, a small purr began to sound from her throat.

"...Mrrrr."

No!

She wasn’t enjoying it!

Lumi was only letting Julian do that because the human was kind enough to give her food.

At least, that was what she wanted to believe.

But when Julian began to pull his hand away, Lumi lifted her head and pressed her body closer once more.

"...Hm?"

Julian was a little puzzled.

"You still want to be petted?"

"...You may continue a little longer."

"....."

"But only a little!"

Julian complied, rather amused.

Lumi then sniffed Julian’s arm several times before opening her mouth near the surface of his skin.

And a moment later, Mana began to flow toward her mouth.

’...Delicious!’

Lumi felt satisfied at once.

That Mana tasted so refreshing. Even now, she still couldn’t understand how a human could have such delicious food inside his body.

She sipped it slowly while letting Julian stroke her fur again.

The small purr sounded once more.

And for a while, Lumi truly forgot the wariness she had always been so proud of.

"...Big fox."

A voice suddenly rang out.

Lumi opened one eye.

Not far away, Monk was watching them with both arms folded across her chest.

"If you keep clinging like that, Boss won’t be able to do anything."

"I have a name, rabbit!"

"Eeeh!? I’m only telling you!"

Monk raised both hands.

But seeing that Lumi still kept pressing her body closer to Julian, the rabbit girl narrowed her eyes.

"...Haven’t you gotten too fond of Boss?"

Lumi froze.

"WHAT!?"

Her nine tails puffed up at once.

"I’m not fond of him!"

"...Oh?"

Monk glanced at Julian’s arm, which was still near Lumi’s mouth.

"Then why do you keep clinging to him?"

"Because I’m hungry! Can’t you see I’m eating!?"

"...I see."

Monk nodded.

Then she looked back at Julian.

"Boss, it seems this big fox really is very hungry."

Julian looked at the two of them for a moment.

"...Isn’t that obvious?"

"That’s true."

Monk nodded again, looking satisfied to have confirmed something everyone already knew.

Lumi herself felt a little confused.

Why had the conversation suddenly ended?

Hadn’t Monk just been accusing her of being fond of Julian?

’...Hmph!’

Lumi finally decided to ignore the rabbit girl.

After all, she had no time to think about nonsensical accusations.

She still had to get strong!

Once she had gained enough power, Lumi would leave this human, go looking for her mother again, and then save her from the Dragons.

That was her grand plan.

And of course, before leaving, she had to make as much use of Julian as she could!

’...Hehehe!’

Lumi felt very pleased with her own plan.

Unfortunately, she didn’t realize that Julian had kept stroking her fur all this time, while her body had almost entirely leaned against that human’s arm.

***

"By the way, there’s something I want to talk about."

Hearing Julian’s words, Monk quickly turned her attention to him.

"...Hm? What is it, Boss?"

"We’re going on a trip tonight."

"...A trip?"

Monk raised both ears slightly.

Lumi immediately stopped eating.

’...A trip?’

"We’re going somewhere?"

Julian nodded.

"Yes. We’ll be leaving the Qiezhuran for a while with Garph."

Hearing that name, Monk looked a little calmer at once.

"...Oh! With Elder Garph?"

"That’s right."

"In that case, we’ll be safe!"

Monk nodded with great confidence.

After all, she had seen for herself how strong that old Dragon was. As long as Garph was with them, at least Monk didn’t need to worry too much about being bothered by other Dragons.

But a moment later, her ears moved again.

"...Wait, Boss."

"Yes?"

"Where are we going?"

"To meet a few small Clans to discuss the Qiezhuran’s affairs."

"...Dragon Clans?"

Julian nodded.

"Yes."

Monk fell silent.

Then, slowly, both of her ears began to droop.

"...So we’re leaving a place full of Dragons to visit even more Dragons?"

"...More or less."

"Uwaaaah!"

Monk grabbed her head at once.

"Boss! Isn’t that the same thing!?"

Julian felt a little amused watching her reaction.

"At least we’ll be with Garph."

"...That’s true."

Monk considered it again.

She was actually rather glad to hear that they would be leaving the Qiezhuran. From the start, being surrounded by so many Dragons hadn’t been a pleasant experience for her.

But visiting a few other Clans also meant facing more Dragons she didn’t know.

And not all of them would necessarily be as friendly as Garph.

"...Boss, we won’t be separated from Elder Garph during the trip, right?"

"There’s no plan for that."

"Good!"

Monk nodded quickly.

"In that case, Monk will prepare our things."

Monk did sometimes think a bit differently from others, but that didn’t mean she was incapable of considering important matters.

What’s more, this trip might last several days.

"Yes. Prepare what’s necessary. But not too much, we still have to travel."

"Leave it to Monk, Boss!"

The rabbit girl rose at once with great enthusiasm.

But before leaving, Monk looked at Lumi again.

"...Big fox, you have to be careful during the trip too."

Lumi lifted her head.

"Why?"

"Because the Dragons are looking for you, of course!"

Monk then pointed at the nine tails behind her body.

"Especially those tails. If you walk around carelessly, everyone will recognize you right away."

Monk sighed.

"Anyway, don’t get too far from Boss or Elder Garph. If a strange Dragon approaches, you’d better not try to fight it."

"I know! I’m not that stupid!"

Lumi felt a little offended.

But thinking about it again, Monk’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

She still remembered how the Dragons had tried to catch her before. Even now that she had grown stronger, Lumi still had no confidence she could face them all.

’...Fine.’

For the time being, she would stay with Julian.

After all, that human was still far too useful to leave behind.

Besides having such delicious Mana, Julian could also handle many dangers that Lumi couldn’t deal with on her own yet.

And if she could use this trip to learn more about the Dragon World, perhaps she would find something useful for saving her mother.

’...A new adventure!’

Lumi began to feel excited.

She didn’t yet know which Clans they would visit or what they would find along the way.

But as long as there was a chance to become stronger, Lumi had no intention of missing it.

What’s more, she would be getting Mana from Julian the whole trip!

"I’m coming!"

Her nine tails moved enthusiastically again. Julian nodded, then stroked her head once more.

"In that case, don’t cause trouble during the trip."

"I never cause trouble!"

"...Really?"

"Of course!"

Lumi lifted her head proudly.

***

The rest of the day was spent preparing for the departure.

Monk gathered the things they would need, while Julian made sure nothing important was left behind.

Felicya herself didn’t seem very bothered by the trip. The little girl spent most of her time resting, as if a change of residence were nothing to worry about.

As for Lumi, she grew more and more impatient.

Several times, the little fox watched the door and window, trying to tell whether the time of departure had come.

But every time she looked at the situation outside, the sun was still in the sky.

’...Why is it taking so long?’

Lumi finally lay down near Julian again.

She actually wanted to start her new adventure right away. But if she still had to wait a while longer, maybe she could use the chance to get a little more Mana.

With that thought, Lumi pressed her body closer to Julian once more.

Of course, all of this was only part of her plan to get stronger!

And without realizing it, time kept passing.

The sun finally set behind the Qiezhuran mountains, while the light of lanterns began to illuminate the various roads and buildings outside Cleenah’s residence.

Night had come.

Julian, who had been checking their belongings, finally lifted his head when he heard a knock at the door.

"Lord Julian."

Garph’s voice sounded from outside.

"All preparations are complete. It is time for us to depart."