The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
"We're finally home!!!"
After compiling reports and having discussions, we spent about a week wrapping up various loose ends.
And now, we finally had some free time and were able to return to Horizon's house.
Just like Kanade and Luna said, it's been a while since we were last home.
We had left because of Rifa's request, and from there, we got caught up in all sorts of trouble...
It's been over a month since we were last here, hasn't it?
I was really happy to finally be back.
There's just something about being in your own home—it makes you feel safe, relaxed.
"Gyaaaaaah!?"
Suddenly, Tina let out a scream.
"Tina, what’s wrong!?"
"W-what in the world…!? The whole house is covered in dust…!"
"Oh… so that’s why you screamed."
As a maid, Tina couldn’t stand seeing their home in such a dusty state.
She rolled up her sleeves, her maidly spirit burning in her eyes.
"This house has become a cleaning challenge… but that’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Leave it to me!"
"Uh… Tina?"
"Nina! Rifa!"
"Mm."
"Yeah?"
"We’re cleaning this place together! Follow my lead!"
"I’ll… try my best."
"Roger!"
With the two younger members in tow, Tina charged into the house.
At some point, Nina and Rifa had wrapped cloths around their mouths, fully prepared.
They looked so determined that it was probably best to just leave them to it.
"Hey, hey, Rain. What should we do?"
"I’d love to just take it easy, but with the house like this, we should help clean. It looks like the outside is just as bad as the inside."
The yard was overgrown with weeds, a complete mess.
Vines had started creeping up the outer walls, and the windows were so dirty that the place could almost be mistaken for a haunted house.
"Ugh… I guess we have no choice but to clean. But it’s such a pain."
"Want me to burn it all away with my breath?"
"A-ah… i-if it's burning stuff, l-leave it to me…!"
"No, no, no!"
The house would definitely go up in flames if they did that.
Also, why was Finia agreeing to this plan?
Well, in her case, she probably just wanted to be helpful.
She still had a tendency to go along with whatever others were saying, so I really wished Tania wouldn't joke about such extreme things around her.
…Wait, was she even joking?
"Let’s split up and get to work. Finia and I will take care of the front entrance. Kanade and Tania, you handle the backyard and the garden."
"Then what about me?"
"Hmm…"
Iris had been in critical condition until recently, so I didn’t want to push her too hard.
"Alright, Iris, you can stay with me and Finia."
"Fufu, understood."
"Alright then. Let’s get this done so we can relax tonight!"
""Yeah!!""
With a lively cheer, everyone got to work.
I worked with Finia and Iris, pulling out weeds.
"Uh… R-Rain? This flower is really pretty, so maybe… um, w-we could leave it? Ah—! S-sorry! I shouldn’t be so selfish—!"
"No need to apologize. You’re right. It is a beautiful flower, so let’s leave it be."
"Ah… o-okay!"
"Fufu."
Iris watched our exchange with a warm smile.
"What’s up?"
"Oh, nothing. You two just seem so close—it makes me a little jealous."
"Hyaaa!?"
Finia's face instantly turned bright red.
Iris, finding her reaction amusing, smirked playfully.
"U-uh, um, I-I, uh…!?"
"Woof!"
"Huh!?"
With a single bark from Sakura, Finia snapped back to reality.
"Phew... Ah, thank you, Sakura-chan. I was able to calm down."
"Woof!"
"Ehehe, Sakura-chan, you always help me out."
"On!"
Sakura proudly puffed out her chest… Wait a second.
"Why is Sakura here!?"
"…Ah."
Finia's expression also changed, as if she had just realized it.
"Oh? This little pup has been with us the whole time… I assumed she was already part of Rain-sama’s party."
"Iris, you noticed? Well… I guess it's because she's been with us constantly lately that I just got used to having her around. I didn’t even question it."
"Did she sneak along with us? Fufu, quite the bold little one. There, there."
"Woof!"
As Iris petted her, Sakura wagged her tail wildly from side to side.
She seemed… even happier than when Finia was petting her.
Seeing this, Finia puffed out her cheeks in an adorable pout.
"Well, this is a problem."
I hadn't heard anything from Shigure about Sakura.
She must have followed us on her own.
"We’ll have to take her back to Shigure later."
"Woof…! On! On!"
Sakura shook her head side to side.
"Wait… do you not want to go back?"
"On!"
"Why not…?"
"Um, well… I think Sakura-chan wants to be helpful to you, Rain-sama. That’s probably why she followed us."
"Woof."
She gazed up at me with big, round eyes.
Even though she couldn’t speak, I understood what she was trying to say at that moment.
"Let me stay with you?"
"Ugh…"
"Fufu, Rain-sama, it looks like you’ve lost. I don’t think anyone could say no to this little one’s request."
Iris looked like she was having the time of her life.
Honestly…
"Haah… Alright. I’ll ask Al to deliver a letter for us later, so either I or Finia will write to Shigure, letting her know Sakura is here. But we need to get her permission first. If she says yes, then Sakura can stay."
"On!"
"Whoa—!"
As if to say "Thank you!", Sakura suddenly pounced on me, licking my face all over.
It reminded me of the first time we met, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
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