ALL NOVEL chapter 75 - Divine Cat Mii-chan: Enjoying Azuki Ice
75 Divine Cat Mii-chan: Enjoying Azuki Ice
From the top of a hill, while riding Sumire, I looked down and saw the lake shimmering in the distance under the sunlight. Our next destination, Nix, is a city by the lakeside. It looks like the lake extends out like a pier, perhaps serving as a port.
Sera jumped off and transformed back into his black leopard form, running alongside Sumire. After staying still on Sumire for so long, it seems he wanted to move around freely.
“Mii”
Rudy will have to stay calm and still; it’s not something he can handle.
“Mii…”
Sumire adjusted her pace to match Sera’s. Hunters, travelers, and merchants were startled and stared as Sumire passed by. Before we reached the gate, Sera transformed back into a cat and jumped back onto Sumire.
There was a commotion near the gate—something must be up.
“Is everything alright?”
Huh? Is he talking to me?
“It’s you! You’re riding a battle horse!”
It seems they were talking about me. According to the story, a traveler riding a battle horse was attacked by a black leopard, and the lookout guards on the walls, seeing this, hurriedly gathered people. Sera, however, seemed completely indifferent, yawning and suggesting it was none of his concern.
“I didn’t notice.”
I’m just saying that; I had no other choice.
“Well, it seems that if you’re riding a battle horse, this kind of thing is expected,” said the guard. However, the security will be tightened, and many hunters will be mobilized.
“Sera, absolutely do not transform back into a black leopard. And Perro, don’t say anything unnecessary. Let me cover your mouth.”
“Nyah-woooon.”
“Fugah fugah… nod nod.”
“Mii…”
Mii-chan looked exasperated. It’s unavoidable, Mii-chan; it’s out of my control.
We shouldn’t stay here long. We need to stop by the bazaar and buy summer clothes for Perro and me. Perro got three short-sleeved shirts and shorts, while I bought three thin shirts and trousers, plus one set of short-sleeved pajamas.
We also picked up some additional food and fruit and browsed around a bit.
The edge of the bazaar faces the lake, and one section was sandy, so we all went there. I removed Sumire’s saddle, and she leaped into the lake. Perro and Sera were swimming too—cat paddling, perhaps?
Mii-chan and Rudy stayed with me, playing in the sand. We built a large mound and dug a tunnel. Mii-chan and Rudy peered at each other cautiously from either side. Suddenly, Rudy dove into a hole smaller than his body, causing the tunnel to collapse and making Mii-chan leap onto me in surprise. I wondered if Rudy was okay, but he was already pawing at the sand to start digging a new tunnel.
It’s nice to have this leisurely time, but we should start looking for a place to stay soon.
After walking around and finally finding a suitable inn where Sumire and everyone can stay, I requested a twin room since a single bed wouldn’t be enough.
Once Sumire was taken care of, I headed to the public bath in the city before dinner. Everyone stayed behind at the inn.
The locals informed me that the main feature of the public baths in this area is the sauna, but since Nix is rich in water, there were also regular baths available. I thoroughly enjoyed it—soaking in hot water really helps to relieve fatigue.
When I returned to the inn for dinner, the owner was surprised that I ordered three portions. Even though Sera had transformed back into a cat and looked small, she ate normally. I wonder where she puts it all.
After dinner, I gave Mii-chan and Rudy a bath to wash off the sand. I scrubbed them at the sink and rinsed them with warm water, then they relaxed together in a tub of warm water. Perro and Sera were fine since they had already swum in the lake.
Meanwhile, I squeezed the fruit that looked like watermelon that I bought at the bazaar. Trying to extract juice with my water skill was tricky, but after supercooling it and giving it a shock, it turned into a frozen treat. Rudy and Sera enjoyed it, but I found it a bit bland. The natural flavor isn’t very sweet. If I were to sell it, I’d probably add honey.
I found some bananas and froze them on skewers for Perro. Since they were also a bit bland, I drizzled honey over them. Chocolate isn’t likely to be available here…
I also squeezed some citrus fruits and made a frozen treat. Although it’s not very sweet, the tartness is refreshing. I like it, but no one else seems interested.
Mii-chan was staring intently at me. It seems she was holding back until she could enjoy a treat in a place where she felt safe.
Sigh… I took Mii-chan out of the bag and put a spoonful of the frozen azuki bean ice cream on a plate for her. It’s rich and creamy.
Mii-chan couldn’t stop licking the azuki ice cream. It must be really delicious to her. I tasted a little myself and found it a bit too rich; it might be better if diluted with milk before freezing. Mii-chan didn’t seem to mind, though.
The inn’s room has its window open, allowing a cool breeze from the lake to come in. To keep the bugs away, I mixed a little shampoo into a bucket of water and placed it by the window. It’s great that no bugs have come near us.
Now, it’s time to sleep. Perro, Sera, and Rudy will share one bed. I’ve warned Sera and Rudy about Perro’s restless sleeping habits, so they should be careful. Mii-chan will sleep with me.
The next morning, I woke up to Sera’s scream… It seems Perro, in cat form, had Sera, also in cat form, pinned down. Oh, Jesus. Rudy seems to be okay. Perro is impressively skilled at this.
“Mii…”