"Then, that dark-skinned creature suddenly appeared."
It seemed to sigh, then stroked its ear hair, flicked its long ears behind its back, paced back and forth, shaking its head as it said, "I have absolutely no idea why it suddenly started making noise at the door, but it's obvious that it's hostile to me, and it's trying to disturb my dear master's peaceful sleep with noise. This won't do! As an excellent butler, how can I allow other uncontrollable, or even potentially hostile, beings to roam near my master? That's one of the reasons I decided to take action."
Hikari and I looked at each other in bewilderment.
After a long pause, I finally figured out how to begin: "While I appreciate your protection, isn't this going a bit too far? [The cat] is Miss [Aisha's] pet, and we're quite close. It poses no threat to me. Besides, An has always been by my side, and... wait? What's the situation with 'One'?"
Faced with my questioning, Alice sighed indifferently and began grooming her fur again: "Oh, it doesn't mean anything special. It's just that its classification is also beast-like, which overlaps with some of my attributes."
I:"……"
Such a pathetic rabbit should be sent to receive Hikari's love.
Honestly, why bother dealing with disputes caused by some trivial reason when you're so busy?
Ignoring Hikari's cheers and the wretched rabbit's wails in the background, I brushed non-existent dust off my hands and turned to Aisha: "Miss Aisha, the cat is your derivative. Perhaps you know how to heal it?"
My question was not unfounded. I had noticed earlier that even though [the cat] was not in good condition at the moment, [Aisha], as its nominal creator and owner, remained calm and composed, without the slightest sign of panic. She even spoke patiently and logically, providing her testimony.
Her gaze occasionally swept over the cat lying on my lap, but it was mostly reassuring; only when she glanced at me did she reveal a slight unease.
This made it clear to me that she seemed to possess some unusual method for treating [cats], but was hesitant to say it.
“Please feel free to do as you please. After all, I extended the invitation first. If you’d like, you can consider this little miniature garden your second home,” I said.
The artist hesitated again, but after a moment of eye contact with me, she finally nodded gently as if she had made up her mind: "Yes, thank you for your generosity. It's not really a complicated method. Although the [cat] has now gained its own life, at its core, it is still a painting."
"Miss Hikari's healing magic is ineffective precisely because it can only remove the surface grime of a painting, not penetrate to its core. To heal such wounds, one needs to use the means of 'painting'..."
"So, you want me to allow you to use the paintbrush?" I instantly understood what she meant.
The artist nodded gently, her head slightly lowered, her cheeks flushed. Yet, a rare glimmer of hope and innocence, like a child catching a glimpse of a shooting star streaking across the night sky, shone deep within her weary eyes: "Yes… if I want the restoration to be at its best, I must use the paintbrush that possessed me… but I haven't painted in so long, I don't even know my current skill level… and I don't know if it will have any negative effects…"
"Yes, I'll ask."
I answered without hesitation, drowning out [Aisha's] increasingly faint voice. Seeing her obviously dazed state, I could only comfort her a few more times, indicating that she could do whatever she wanted.
Anyway, this is my little garden. No matter how much she tries to cause trouble, she can't turn the world upside down, right?
After bidding farewell to Miss Aisha, who was happily leaving to prepare for repairs, and having a half-cold breakfast, the morning finally came to an end amidst Alice's pleas for mercy.
Hikari, carrying her new favorite item, returned to the Sacred Tree Stronghold. I looked around to make sure it was still that inconspicuous alley before I was satisfied and prepared to walk out.
The crowd continued with their daily lives. Although the atmosphere was somewhat tense, what was more evident on their faces was anticipation for the upcoming celebration.
However, before I had even walked half a street, I was stopped by a familiar voice from behind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com