🦊 🦊 🦊
OUR trip to the city is relatively uneventful. We do, of course, run into a few monsters along the way, but Rinny and Macro take care of all of them. They truly are amazing. Rinny looks especially cool in his beast form, with his bright red fur, triangular ears, and big, fluffy tail, so similar to our own. Worgs and foxes used to be pretty similar, I tell Claire, who immediately snaps back about how wrong I am.
Wolves, worgs, whatever!
Claire’s occasional use of these mysterious-sounding words from her previous life usually leaves me scratching my head in confusion.
“We’re almost there,” Ektor says. “We’re going to get off right before the city, though.”
“In a big city like this, beasts and domesticated monsters can only enter if they’re properly registered,” Claire says. “I’m assuming the Rinos isn’t?”
“Popo is registered, right?” I ask.
I assume demi-humans can’t enter the city in beast form, either. All the rules are in place to keep the city safe. Our village is so small that everyone knows each other, and it’s very easy to spot strangers or wild beasts. In a city this large, however, things could quickly get out of hand without proper rules and regulations. But surely Popo, who dutifully carried us all the way here, is registered, right?
Ektor grins in response to my question before answering.
“Popo is definitely registered, so he’s allowed in without any issue. However, he can’t enter the city while pulling a carriage filled with passengers. That privilege is reserved for the royal family and emergency situations only.”
“It’s probably so they can properly document exactly who’s entering the city. If someone was hidden or riding and an unforeseen situation occurred, it might be harder to deal with later.” Claire speaks up after hearing Ektor’s response.
I guess she’s right. It makes sense no one can ride into the city, aside from emergencies or the royal family. I mean, there’d be a huge ruckus if the king was seen walking around town. And folks in emergencies need to get where they’re going, fast.
“Rinny needs to return to his demi-human form before we arrive as well, right?” Claire asks.
“You’re right. It’s kind of a shame, though. He’s so beautiful,” I say dreamily.
Rinny’s beast form really is breathtaking. It was charming the way the wind blew through and over his shiny red fur, ruffling it.
“Hmph… The only beautiful one around here is you, Miku.”
“M-Me?!”
So entranced by Rinny’s appearance, Ektor’s words completely catch me off guard, and I’m unable to hide the surprise in my voice!
B-Beautiful? Does he mean my fur?
He said the same thing when he saw my beast form earlier. A part of me was thrilled at the time, my silver fur being my pride and joy, but hearing him call me beautiful directly to my face makes me even happier. I’ve heard the same compliment from others in our village, but to hear it from Ektor, who is, himself, spectacular, makes my cheeks blaze with warmth!
“Hey! Stop flirting with Miku!”
“C-Claire…” I babble frantically.
She’s way too direct!
Claire slings an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close, before snapping at Ektor. “You’re going to give her the wrong idea, saying things like that.”
“You’re making me look like the bad guy when I’m only saying exactly what I think,” Ektor counters.
“Oh, really? Well, I won’t deny my Miku is both beautiful and adorable!” Claire proclaims.
“Exactly. I agree with you completely,” Ektor says.
“But you aren’t allowed to ever say it out loud!” she snaps at him.
“You’re being ridiculous!”
Eep! What sort of argument is this anyway?! They’re both quickly holding back less and less. How can two people get along this badly? And on that note, is something different about the way Ektor speaks, or is it just me? Maybe this is the real him.
Perhaps he’d gone specifically out of his way to act extra polite and kind around us before? I guess it makes sense. After all, the three of them are part of a mid-tier guild, which means they must take on a wide variety of jobs. Being able to communicate well with others is important, especially for Ektor, the leader. He’s amazing, especially for someone relatively young.
“…We’re almost there. Stop flirting and get down,” Macro says from on top of Rinny.
“We’re not flirting!”
“We’re totally not flirting!”
Claire and Ektor snap at Macro at the exact same time. It seems as if the two have, at some point, become friends over their mutual annoyance with Macro. I burst out laughing, wondering if they’re friends or enemies.
“Miku? This isn’t funny!” Claire says to me.
“B-But it’s hilarious!” I giggle.
“It’s not hilarious! Urgh! But seeing you laugh makes me feel better… All right, time to get down.”
She climbs down from the carriage, her cheeks puffed out in clear annoyance, and I follow right behind her. Honestly, Claire acting all sulky is one of the cutest things ever. Granted, as her younger sister, I’m probably biased.
“What’s wrong with you, Ektor? Finally stopped putting on airs?”
“You—! Rinny?!”
Rinny, back to his human form, stands and watches Ektor get down from the carriage, his hands laced behind his head, clearly amused. Ektor, meanwhile, seems annoyed.
So, he really was putting on an act of politeness when around us earlier.
“Well, well! You were putting on airs, huh? And now the mask is finally slipping, and your true colors shine forth!” Claire teases.
“Rgh! No! It’s just…”
Gosh. Why would Claire say something like that? Assuming anything about someone, even her suspicions that he might be Reborn like herself, isn’t great. I notice Ektor sneaking apologetic glances in my direction.
“Thank you for treating us kindly and making sure we weren’t afraid, but please don’t go out of your way for us. Treat us like you would anyone else, okay?” I tell him with a smile.
“M-Miku… You truly are an angel…”
An angel?! That’s going a little too far!
My cheeks are so flushed, I feel like someone lit my face on fire!
“Stop flirting with her!” Claire shouts angrily, shaking her fists in the air. Unsure exactly how to respond, I simply stand there, wordless.
At the very least, could you two please stop fighting? Pretty please?