The tsundere mistress and her fox-eared servant on a yuri journey to defeat demons - Volume 1 Chapter 8
The tsundere mistress and her fox-eared servant on a yuri journey to defeat demons
Chapter 8. After a long night
After cleaning up following the events at the old castle and the underground canals, they returned to the inn, and dawn was breaking. They washed each other, soaked from the battle, with the warm water from the magical shower device, changed into fresh clothes, and lay down on their bed, finally feeling relieved from the extreme tension.
“Phew…” Shen Hu looked up at the ceiling, sighed in relief, and began to comb her still damp hair with her fingers. “That settles the matter, Mistress.”
Lisa, realizing by Shen Hu’s gesture that she was going to dry her hair, did as instructed and closed her eyes.
“Certainly, we defeated the mastermind, but have we truly resolved it?” In the city, which should still be asleep, she could hear distant voices as if searching for someone. There was also a faint sound of armor rubbing, as if the Sacred Knights or the guards were in action.
“Yes, we’ve uncovered everything. Tomorrow, we’ll report all of it.” Shen Hu slid her hand between the pillow and her head, gently stroking Lisa’s hair in a relaxed manner and smiling calmly.
The warmth of Shen Hu’s hand and the sensation of her magical power were so comforting that Lisa softly closed her eyes as she was drawn into a deep sleep. Now she didn’t feel it, but Shen Hu was right: something could change when the night was over, even if the outcome wasn’t optimistic.
“Rest now…” Shen Hu pressed her lips gently against Lisa’s eyelids.
The warmth of the soft kiss on her thin eyelids slowly spread throughout her body, and before Lisa realized it, she had fallen asleep.
***
A warm breeze blew gently through the window. Lisa woke up to the soft chirping of birds and leaned on the windowsill, gazing at the sky over the city of Naklabal. Birds crisscrossed the clear blue sky.
The demonic barriers that had covered the city of Naklabal had disappeared without a trace, and a pleasant breeze and the dazzling sunlight shone brightly over the city.
“That eerie mist is gone…”
“Yes. The death of the magic caster means the disappearance of the Gehenna.” Shen Hu woke up and sat on the bed, looking at Lisa.
Looking down, Lisa paid attention to the voices of the people, then glanced toward a corner filled with shops.
“Certainly.”
In front of the shops preparing to open, Sacred Knights and guards were talking to each other. The people gathered in the corner also seemed to anxiously look at posters and whisper among themselves.
“It will take some time for peace to return to the city.”
“It’s going to be tough from here on. Well, in times like this, it’s our job to carry on with our daily lives.” Shen Hu chuckled and jumped off the bed.
“I see.” Lisa nodded at Shen Hu’s approaching presence and quietly closed the window.
“Lady Lisa, Lady Shen Hu!”
After packing their bags and settling the bills, Lisa and Shen Hu went out into the city, where they were reverently greeted by the young Sacred Knight who served as their guide.
“What’s going on? Your attitude is quite different from the day before yesterday.” Lisa was puzzled by the attitude, as the young man looked at them as if begging.
“I made a lot of mistakes. Please forgive me.”
Blinking, not immediately understanding what he meant, Shen Hu stood beside her, wagging her tail, giggling, and tilting her head against Lisa’s.
“Yes, right?”
Lisa’s cheeks tensed as she realized from her tone that she was referring to her age.
“As long as you understand, it’s fine. Besides, I really don’t care.”
She managed to smile, but Shen Hu looked at her as if mocking her.
“We’ll know soon enough if that’s true.”
“Shut up!”
“Gyaahn!”
Lisa striked Shen Hu’s forehead with her finger and turned to the young man.
“By the way, what do you want from us?”
“Right! A messenger from Hazelnigrad has arrived.” The young man quickly saluted and responded energetically.
“Yay! A reward, a bonus!” Shen Hu rejoiced, jumping exaggeratedly and wagging her tail.
“…I envy you for your money.”
Following Shen Hu and the young Sacred Knight who began to show them the way, they started walking through the city.
Lisa, chuckling to herself and murmuring, was sure that pudding shop was open, and her cheeks softened gently.
“Now that we’ve received our reward, let’s go somewhere to have fun until our next mission.” Shen Hu, with her reward in hand, walked down the street humming a tune. “I’d love a vacation on some island in the south.”
“And are there any islands around here?”
There was a country island near the Forbidden Land, but it wasn’t the best prospect for a vacation.
When she asked Shen Hu, who had her back turned, she laughed and said with a big smile:
“Of course there is! Without beach episode, this wouldn’t make any sense otherwise!”
“You’re saying nonsense again…” She wasn’t sure if she was joking or being serious, but she certainly was looking forward to seeing swimsuits.
Lisa sighed, thinking that digging deeper would be like digging a grave, and pulled Shen Hu’s sleeve as she walked ahead of her.
“I’d like to make a stop before leaving the city.”
“For what? Are you going for pudding?” Shen Hu turned around and handed Lisa a package from a paper bag she pulled out of nowhere.
“What?” Lisa looked at her, surprised by the weight of the bag.
“I bought it as soon as I could. I apologize… for the other day.”
She opened the paper bag, and inside were two cold puddings.
Lisa hugged the paper bag tightly and invited Shen Hu to join her on a bench on the street corner.
“Oooh, ladies!”
After finishing the puddings and approaching the accessory shop they desired, a boy who had been displaying his goods noticed them and greeted them with a big wave of his hand.
“Ah, do you remember us?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? That’s the basis of business, as my uncle used to say!” The boy puffed out his chest and proudly rubbed the tip of his nose.
Lisa fell silent, remembering her uncle and aunt, who were still missing.
“Well, I don’t know where he is now, but he and auntie will be back in no time one of these days.” Noticing Lisa’s expression as she turned her head, the boy smiled cheerfully and gave her a pat on the shoulder.
Lisa smiled and nodded deeply, unwilling to deny any hope that might exist somewhere.
“So, what do you want?”
The boy stood in front of the chair at the front of the shop, in a fixed position, and quickly glanced at the merchandise.
“This…” Lisa pointed without hesitation to the gold ring with the red gem.
“What, you’re so interested in that ring? If so, I can buy it for you and…”
“No, I’ll buy it myself.” Interrupted Shen Hu’s statement and paid the price from her reward.
“I’ll wrap it for you.”
“No, it’s not necessary.” She smiled at the boy who tried to wrap it and took the ring as it was.
Shen Hu looked at the ring in Lisa’s palm and sniffed.
“It’s a bit big, isn’t it?”
“It’s not for me. Give me your hand.”
“Hmm?” Shen Hu blinked and looked at Lisa’s face.
“Hurry up. I already said… it’s for you.”
Shen Hu’s eyes went blank, surprised by Lisa’s comment.
“For me?”
“Yes, don’t you like it?”
Shen Hu, as if still not believing it, extended her hand. Her tail lazily moved as if expressing joy.
“I’m so happy…”
Shen Hu, with flushed cheeks, gazed enchantingly at Lisa’s hand. She took Shen Hu’s hand and was about to put the ring on her finger when she felt her cheeks warming.
“Wait, wait, let it be here!” Shen Hu guided Lisa’s hand to her left ring finger with her other hand.
“Eh, why…?”
“If you want to give me a ring, it should be on the ring finger.”
Shen Hu smiled and squeezed Lisa’s hand holding the ring. Lisa smiled and slid the ring onto Shen Hu’s ring finger.
“…It couldn’t fit better…”
“See, I told you, right?” Shen Hu rejoiced, caressed it, and looked at the red gem through the sunlight, confirming the existence of the ring and relaxing her cheeks. “So, what’s all this about? Or should I take it as you changed your mind?”
“N-no, it doesn’t mean anything.” Shen Hu’s joy made her feel embarrassed, so she turned on her heels and began to walk away. “…But I am your mistress, right?”
Shen Hu quickly caught up with her and stood elbow to elbow with her.
“So, this ring is proof that I am your mistress.” Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Hu’s golden hair shimmered in the sunlight.
She couldn’t look Shen Hu in the face, as just saying it made her overly embarrassed.
“…Proof… Not bad…” Shen Hu, slowly repeating Lisa’s words, hugged her arm as if playing with it.
“…And now what’s wrong with you, you’re suffocating me.”
“Hehehe, it’s nothing, I just felt like doing this.” Shen Hu laughed as she waved her hand to show the ring at the end of her intertwined left arm.
“…Well, it’s a bit cold today. This way, it’s warmer and at the perfect temperature.”
The wind, which should have felt warm a moment ago, was cool and caressed her cheeks.
“Don’t you think so?” Shen Hu snuggled against Lisa’s body and nodded repeatedly. “They say it cools down at night, and that makes me miss human contact.”
“You’re thinking of something strange, aren’t you? I won’t fall for your tricks this time.”
“That’s what you say now, but your body is still more honest…”
“Silly…” She gave Shen Hu a headbutt on the shoulder. Shen Hu didn’t flinch, looked her in the face, and laughed.
“Kwahaha, but I think I’m the reason you won this time, right?”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“Now that you know how useful I can be, you can help me eat more, right? Right, Mistress?” Shen Hu asked playfully, as a reminder, and smiled innocently.
“Only if I feel like it.” Lisa looked up at the clear blue sky and took a deep breath.
The wind gently caressed her flushed face.
“I love you with all my heart, my mistress… Lisa.” Shen Hu intertwined Lisa’s right arm as they began to walk and leaned her cheek against her.
Shen Hu’s hair, the color of the sun, playfully tickled Lisa’s cheek.