Reason

Chapter 42 - Reason

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"Sai...! Sai...! Wake-up...!"

"Mhm...."

I who was sleeping comfortably were forcefully being awaken by someone. I thank myself for having a good self-control because if wasn't, I would have shouted at this person who was pestering me this early morning.

Trying to control myself, I opened my eyes and saw a woman with a golden hair who is the suspect from pestering me from my sleep.

"...Man, you all should learn not to pester someone in their sleep" I complained in an angry tone.

"Ah—! I'm sorry. But it's that I'm so excited for you to see this" Lily said. "Here, look at her!"

Lily approached someone with an orange hair, probably Seia. My eyes are still blurry since I just wake up but there is also another person who was beside Seia. A Black hair with a mixture of white pertaining a loss of pigments, it was Luna.

"...What do you want me to see— !!"

When my sight started to clear, my jaw dropped from what I saw. I knew there were going to be some change, but I didn't expect to be this...

From the toned body who every girl probably wants to have, a meaty chest and an hourglass shaped tummy. there's so much thing that changed. The orange fur from her fox ears have become silky smooth and adorably fluffy. But what turned my attention is her fox tail who became very thick.

Compared to her last tail who is fluffy similar to those hairy dogs, her new tail right now looks like a very thick that shaped like a paintbrush.

"Wow... I knew something will change but I didn't expect to be this...."

I can't help but smile dumbfounded. No wonder Lily forced me to wake up. I forgive her now.

"Right? when Luna and I woke-up, we were very surprised when we saw Seia's tail Mhmm..."

"Kya?!"

Seia moaned when Lily brushed her face to Seia's face. Luna who was watching the two awkwardly laugh in response.

"Mhm... It was the same as me. I didn't think it would be this thick..." Seia worriedly said.

"Isn't that good? You look very cute, you know" I said with a smirk.

"Wha—!!"

"?!"

"Haha..."

The three made a different surprise expression. Am I getting ahead of myself perhaps?

"You really don't get embarrassed when you said something like that huh" Lily said.

"It was a compliment Lily" I told.

"Well, its Master after all"

When I looked at Seia, she was looking down with a red cheek making a relieved smile. Her thick fluffy tail who Lily is playing started to wag up and down which made me skip a beat. God, I want to put my—

"Master, you should probably get ready since it's kind of already pretty late"

"Nyi!! My bad. I'll go get ready"

I immediately get out of my bed and took the things including my clothes and went into the bathroom to take a shower. It didn't take much after I finished, so I got time to eat my breakfast while the three were waiting for me then head to the Academy after I'm done.

* * *

Similar to Lily, everyone's eyes were staring at us while the four of us walk into the academy. They are currently looking at Seia who was gathering so much attention to herself especially her thick tail who was dropped down.

"Mhm... I don't like being stared at..." Seia state her discomfort.

"Before was Lily and then that girl huh..."

"That bastard is surrounded by those beautiful girls. I want to kill him"

"Right, he is the enemy of every man. Let's kill him...!"

Unfortunately, I who was with these girls was being threatened by the boys who were looking daggers at me. Man, being popular sure is hard.

After we went inside our classroom, Sora and Astra was about to greet us but was dumbfounded when they saw Seia who became a bit different.

"Wow... Is it just me or all the girls you get closed with were becoming a different?" Sora jokingly said.

"I'm glad but seems like I became every man's enemy instead" I quipped.

"Sucks to be you. No, more like fortunate perhaps?" Sora said.

I gave him a shrug and sat on the chair in front of Sora.

"Wow Seia, you tail is so fluffy!" Astra said while caressing Seia's tail.

Seia just gave her an awkward laugh since she didn't know what to respond.

"Right? it was so cute I can't help but play with it since early morning" Lily said.

"Haha same with me" Luna said after Lily.

Astra is starting to get along with the girls. I didn't know how the girls easily get closed to each other but I'm glad to see them having fun together.

"Ah! by the way Sora, are you ready for the upcoming Mock Battle later?" I asked.

"Hm? Ah, of course. I have experience in terms of battle you know?"

"Hm... Good luck for both of us then" I replied.

I secretly used my ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ skill on Sora who turned his attention away. Let's see your current stats now...

『Sora』

『HP: 240』

『MP: 140』

『Armor: 20』

『AGI: 235-470』

『DEX: 70』

『ENDURANCE: 170』

I see... as expected of the protagonist. He's getting stronger thanks to the opportunism the fate is giving him. I must not underestimate this guy as I've never saw his skills in combat. Sora in the game, can be equipped with every type of weapons meaning—

(This guy is an 『All-Rounder』 type just like me)

While I ponder such things, Instructor Sherry finally came at the front pertaining the class is now starting. But first she announced something.

"Class, it's unfortunate to say but today's supposed mock battle was being moved next week. According to our principal, the noble elves from the higher-ups informed that they aren't able to attend this upcoming event so management decided to move the event so that every noble can attend which everyone agreed on"

Lily, Luna, and Seia looked at me with a serious expression when they heard the relativity of the news to our personal problems. I gave them a nod in response. Either way, just by the news I can see that they're starting to make a move.

But why though? Is Lily really that much problem to them that they had to cancel their visits?

Suddenly, I remember Rina-san. Yesterday she said that she will be doing something on the sidelines. Perhaps Rina-san was related to this? I got to ask her later after this.

When it's time for our break, our circle of friends went to the cafeteria. Just like I expected, Seia is gathering so much attention as we head towards the cafeteria. I was actually glad for her since she won't be below Lily and Luna according to the boys who likes to gossip about these group. For me, I don't really care. I like both Seia from before and now.

After we found our seat through the cafeteria, as expected, our first topic started about the mock battle. Sora once again asked me for my opinion about this occurrence. Since this topic is outside for both of Sora and Astra, I tried my best to explain something far from the actual situation.

"Hahaha, I really like how you cleverly think of something like that" Sora said.

"Man, you like enjoying my answers, do you?" I replied frowning.

"Because it was cool you know? You look like a delinquent but right now you look like a nerd" Sora said.

"Hey! is that an insult or a compliment?" I replied.

The girls are enjoying our alternate insult to each other like an entertainment. In the end, both of us enjoyed it and it feels like our relationship to each other strengthen a little.

* * *

(That night)

Rina-san was nowhere to be found until night falls. When she finally came back to the Villa, I came to asked her about earlier.

"Rina-san, I came alone. Mind if we talk about something?" I asked.

The three were already in their room, I intentionally didn't call them since Rina-san probably wants it this way.

In response, Rina-san gave me a nod and points her thumb finger towards my room. After receiving her signal, I left her a nod and went into my room.

While I sat on my bed, someone softly knocked on my door and Rina-san who was wearing casual clothes went inside.

"I'm here. Then? what do you want to talk about?" Rina-san asked.

"Yeah, it's about the academy earlier" I continued. "The thing is, our supposed mock battle was moved because the elf nobles can't visit our place since something occurred"

After saying my story, I stared at Rina-san to her eyes.

"Rina-san, that cause was your doing isn't it?"

Rina-san didn't answer. She just looked at me without saying anything.

"We can't do that Rina-san. Your daughter is finally happy to reunite with you. What do you think would happen if Lily knew that something happened bad to you?"

Rina-san bit her lips in grief. I knew it, it's impossible that she won't do anything when she heard about her husband's reason of his passing.

"Then what do you want me to do?! You've never experience something like this, so you didn't know. You think it's okay for me to just accept what they did to my husband?!"

Rina-san couldn't help but let out her frustrations to me. Tears also started to drop to Rina-san's cheeks as she tried her best to hold it in.

"I've never said that we should just let it go. I just want to say that we should plan it in detail. Our lives are dependent on this so don't just recklessly do something" I replied. "For now, we should patiently wait until we got stronger. You should know that we can't fight them with our current strength yet"

"Yet?" Rina-san asked in realization.

"Yeah, that's why I have request for you" I continued. "Would you please, just monitor them and assess their strength? With your ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ skill, it's possible"

I actually already given Rina-san the 『Mana Essence』 and the ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ skill just to be careful. Although, she can handle it with her superb skill, being too careful won't hurt.

"It would probably took later but please trust me Rina-san" I said while looking at her wet eyes.

Rina-san went silent for a while thinking of such an answer, but it was to no avail.

"I don't know Sai. I know you're very capable, but I can't just trust this to other people" Rina-san replied.

She was right. I am just an outsider who was just butting in their own personal problems. But it was because of them that I and Luna were having an easy living in her Villa. It might because of their said debt that they are currently letting me stay here but that's not the reason I save Lily.

"Rina-san, the thing is, I consider you my family... our life here with Luna became easier thanks to your generosity given to us. That's why, I want to help even if just a little" I replied in a soft tone.

"Little you say... do you know what little even means?"

"Compared to my dream, this problem is just a walk in a park" I confidently said.

"Fool"

Rina-san left my room but stops midway at the door.

"I'll keep what you said in mind. Also..." Rina-san paused for a moment. "About what you said earlier, did you mean it?"

Does she mean about the family thing?

"Of course. That's why, I want to help to anything if possible" I answered.

"I see... then, I guess I'll be careful next time" Rina-san said and left.

I let out a sigh and lie into the bed.

"Man, problems keep coming and coming huh....."

I should probably relax myself tomorrow. Hm....