Vol. 3 Ch. 1 Tails and Ears

Prologue

In the south entrance of the main City, Anima.

Monsters are chasing a carriage from Quina going into the City of Anima. This is a normal sight in the four entrances of Anima. Whenever carriages are going into Anima, monsters will chase the carriage until it reaches Anima.

Because of this, Golden Knights are assigned to guard each entrance with different shifts.

"<Axe Boomerang>!"

A red haired, red bearded, red eared and red tailed buffed beastman wearing Red armor with a Red Cape with his big muscles showing on his arms threw an axe and it sliced all monsters the axe went through then returned to him

After killing all the monsters chasing the carriage, the carriage stopped near the entrance of Anima then unloaded the people inside.

"Thank you very much mister!"
"Gahahaha! You're Welcome!"

A young girl thanked the beastman and the beastman replied cheerfully to the little girl.

The people went inside the capital.

".................."

The usually cheerful Beastman looked towards the place where the carriage came from, Quina, with loneliness on his eyes."

He shook his head and thought that he should be protecting everyone and doing his duty as a golden knight.

Especially now where there are anomalies happening in the Capital, where weird purple walls sprout on some places around the field of the continent where Anima and Quina belongs to, 'The world Center'.

"This is for everyone... yes, this is my duty... this is for the better..."

The Beastman convinced himself not to go back to Quina... he doesn't want to escape his responsibilities.

His responsibilities as a golden knight...

Chapter 1

Ears and Tails

2 years has passed since those Moon Clansmen left and it was currently 08/10 which means I'm currently 12 years old. My height right now is around 144cm.

Aura-nee and her party also came here a week ago, and I had training sessions with them.

She said something like a graduation of her little sister so she came back.

I am currently headed for the pharmacy.

I went inside the shop and something caught my eye.

It was Onee-chan wearing her school uniform.

The one that caught my attention was something attached to Onee-chan and swayed back and forth.

It was a tail.

A tail of a cat that had a color similar to her red colored hair

"Hmm....hmmm.hmm...hmmm...hmmm"

"......"

"Hmmm....Hmm..Hmmm-Kyaaah!"

She was humming while fixing the things on the shelves, then I grabbed her tail tightly

"......"

"My...my... Center-chan... what's this about?"

"You...You were a beastman?

"Ohhh, you only found out recently?"

"This is the first time I saw your tail!"

"That is because I hid it in my shirt before rolled up, I didn't want to let anyone see it before because it was embarrassing."

"Why is it embarrassing?"

"My tail's growth was slow, so my tail was very small before... now that it grew long, I can show it now!"

Some beast-human with human dominant blood only had few things inherited from their parents, that's why they don't have complete beastman parts, like some only have ears, some only have tails, and some only has eyes of a beast.

"So you have beast blood.... Does Xeline has a tail too?"

"No, unlike me... she mostly inherited human blood... she still has some beast blood though, didn't you notice that her canines were longer than normal when you first came here?"

Whenever Xeline opens her mouth or grits her teeth, she sometimes show canines... but recently I haven't been noticing it because they were smaller than before... is that because her canines slowed down growing?

While holding her tail I also put my other hand on it and started touching it lightly and started observing it because it peaked my curiosity

"Ce..cee...Center chan....Wha...What are you doing?"

"Is something wrong?"

Onee-chan cheeks was red, her eyes were closed with tears on the edges and she was stiff and shaking

"My tail... is.... sensitive..."

"How does it feel..."

"It is ticklish... please stahp....."

I released her tail and she left out a sigh while holding her chest then turned her body to face me.

"Doesn't having a ticklish spot a disadvantage?"

"Eh? why?"

"I've read that people that get tickled gives an uncomfortable feeling because it was a reaction of the body towards dangerous elements..."

"Hmmmm??? based on how your speaking... does that mean you haven't been tickled before?"

"I... don't think so? I haven't felt any uncomfortable feeling that I can say that it 'Tickles' before."

"Hmmm so you haven't been tickled before ehhh? Why don't you feel it for yourself!"

"...Eh Onee-chan? What are you doing?"

Onee-chan suddenly raised up two of her hands and walked slowly towards me

"EIH!"

"Bwahahahahahaha! Bwahahahaha! Bwahahaha!!"

Onee-chan sudenly touched my side and moved her fingers

"Bwahahaha! Stop!! Bwahahahaha!

What is this feeling! It so uncomfortable, it feels like I'm gonna die! but it weirdly feels good too.

"I'm gonna die stopp!!, Onee-chan! Bwahahahaha!"

"Center-chan looks cute when laughing hard!"

While she was tickling me I was forced down and she knelt and continued tickling me

"Bwahahaha! Stop! Have mercy!!!"

"So cute!!"

As she was enjoying herself I saw her tail beside me

It was reachable by hand.

"I'm not gonna lose!"

"Hiiii!"

I grabbed and tail and tickled it the same way she tickled my sides

She suddenly stopped tickling me and her face became red and she started shaking.

"Hmmm? So people reaction towards getting tickled are different too!"

"Ce... Center-chan! Stop!"

"Hmmm... Hmmm I have turned the tables!"

As I tickled her tail her face became redder.

"I...I'm not gonna lose!"

She started tickling my sides again.

"Bwahahahaha! No! I will win this Bwahahaha!!!!"

"Le-Let's see who can hold it longer!"

"Bwahahahaha! Stop! Please!"

As I played with her tail, her face became redder and then started breathing heavily.

She was also sweating so hard and looked like her body was getting hot.

"Bwahaha! give up! Bwahahaha! Whoever stops first loses!!"

After a few seconds her finger suddenly slowed down.

"Ehh? I'm gonna win!"

"Ce... Center-chan... haa...haaa...Okay you win... Stop...."

After that I stopped tickling her tail, and she put her hands on the floor on my sides putting me in between them.

"Haa..Haa... Let that be our last battle... I don't want to do that again.."

"Haa..Haa..Haa..Haa...that was close..."

"Onee-chan?"

"Haaa..Haa..yeah...let's not..."

Both of us were breathing heavily trying to catch our breaths

Her face looked flushed and her pupils looks like they're shaking and sparkling while looking at me in the eyes.

*Thud*

""?!""

We heard something fell on the ground then we looked at where it came from.

When we looked, there were people there who looked like they just entered the shop.

"Y-You..."

".....so bold."

"I didn't see anything~~ I didn't see anything~~"

There were three girls wearing the same school uniform Onee-chan was wearing.

One was an elf with long blue hair, green eyes, and pointy ears.

The other two were twins with yellow hair and yellow eyes.

The elf was the one who first spoke her expression looked shocked and was pale. She was slightly taller than Onee-chan who is taller than me. I think the elf is around 163cm tall and Onee-chan is around 162cm tall.

The second person who spoke was one of the twins. she had messy hair that reaches up to her neck. She has Cat ears, Cat eyes, and Cat a tail. She was holding the back of her head with two hands making her look boyish but she is slightly blushing for some reason. She is slightly shorter than Onee-chan.

The third person who spoke was the other twin. She had an emotionless face but spoke in a playful and weird manner. She has hair up to her neck like her twin but her hair was cleanly combed. Unlike her sister, she only has a cat tail and has no cat eyes or cat ears. Same height as her twin. Why do I feel slightly scared at her even though she is talking playfully? Like she's emitting bloodlust?

Both of the twins are probably 157 cm tall not counting the cat ears of one twin.

"... I knew you were weird, but I didn't expect this... it's a little boy as well."

"D-Did we get in the way?"

"Execution in public~!"

"It's a misunderstanding!!!"

I wondered what did Onee-chan mean by it being a misunderstanding?

...I got curious so I just asked.

"How is this a misunderstanding?"

"Wait center -cha—"

"Little boy... first, would you please explain what is happening?"

"Wait, I will be the one to explain!"

"You have the right to remain silent, the one I will ask is that innocent boy."

The elf looked at me.

"So what happened?"

"Hmmm...well... Onee-chan said something about being tickled, but I didn't know what she meant so I got curious. Then she said that it will feel good and then touched me. When she did it, it felt weird and it was the first time that I felt like that. She pushed me down on the ground and continued touching me. I wanted to get back at her so I touched her as well, after touching her she started to become red, then started breathing heavily, then—"

"Stop Center-chan!"

"Roxelle... There is no escaping this one..."

"Noooo!!!!"

After this Onee-chan stood up explained it to them with detail.

"Oh so it was like that?"

"Yes... Center-chan, don't say things the way that others will misunderstand."

"I explained correctly what happened, like I said... How is it a misunderstanding?"

"Still being innocent even though you're already 12 years old... Center- is so cute! should Onee-chan explain it to you why it will be a misunderstanding?"

"Oi, you just cleared up the misunderstanding, don't start another trouble. Don't corrupt the kid's mind!"

"What brings you three here? Did you miss me too much?!"

"No, we just want to celebrate your birthday... We just wondered how you want to celebrate your 15'th birthday next month."

"Noooo! Why?!Why did you tell me?! You should've just prepared a surprise party for me! I want a surprise party!"

The 15th birthday is an important day for people in this world. It's the day they can choose to become an 'adventurer' or a 'citizen'.

And after turning into an adventurer, it's only a short time before reaching level 10 since they said that the first 10 levels are very easy, but being level 11 and above is impossible.

Being level 10 means a person can leave town to go to Anima.... meaning Onee-chan will leave a few days after turning 15.

"You're not a kid anymore... come on lets go to your room to discuss it"

"It's not about being a kid! It's about the thought!"

"Surprise parties make people special~"

"But she is already special... in a way."

Suddenly.

*BOOOOOOOOM!*

"A success!! With this, we could heal more people!"

Oi... how can an explosion heal people?

"Hiiiii!"

"Ahhh... So that was the famous Xeline-san"

"Xeline-chan is always lively!"

"Wait! Are we safe in there?!"

"Booooom~"

The explosion surprised the elf then the boyish twin said something about that crazy girl being famous. The emotionless twin just said 'Booooom~' in a playful voice.

So being crazy makes you famous...

Because they turned I saw their tails exposed.

"Umm, how does it feel to have a tail?"

"Hmmm? What do you mean?"

"Well... I don't have a tail...so I'm wondering how it feels like? How do you move it?"

"Just move it~"

"I'll explain it in behalf of my sister, we can move it like it is just part of our body... well, it Is part of our body, in other words, we can move it like we move our hands."

"Is yours sensitive too?"

"No, usually, the less beast blood someone has, the more sensitive the tail is if a beastman has a tail... By the way, I'm 88% beast, which is extremely high. My sister is 74%, and Roxelle is...."

"65%! oh by the way... Xeline-chan is only 10% beast."

So that was why Onee-chan was very athletic.

People are classified depending on what the higher % of which species they have.

"Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!."

Xeline came down and went to the back again.

"So that was Xeline-chan~"

"Come! I will introduce you!"

With that we went inside the room and saw Xeline collecting her materials again.

The 4 were aligned horizontally while I was behind...

Staring at this cat-eared person in front of me curiously.

"Xeline-chan... These are my friends."

Xeline turned around and stood up and faced them.

"I'm Elaine."

"Hi! I'm Risa!"

"Riza!~"

"Hello, I'm Xeline, Roxelle Onee-chan's little sister, I'll be in your care and also—"

Xeline bowed her head.

"I'm sorry for my sister that I'm assuming that is always causing trouble."

The elf breathe a breath of relief.

"I'm glad that the little sister is more respectable than the older one....I thought you would be another weirdo... but it seems that you care more about your dignity than this person here."

"No boom? Buu~~"

"Wahhh, Xeline-chan! Protect Onee-chan"

"Ehe he he.."

Xeline laughed dryly as Onee-chan hugged her while playfully pretending to cry.

I have been staring at the ears all this time and found an opening to ask then walked beside and asked the boyish girl, Risa.

"Those ears..."

"Hmmm? What curious again?"

"Yeah, it has been bugging me for a while."

"You want to touch?"

The person then bended down her knees and her face was aligned with mine.

"Okay here you go."

"Okay then..."

I checked if she also has ears on the side of her head like humans aside from the cat ears on top.

"Hyaaa?!"

""""?!""""

For some reason the others have surprised expressions when I touched her ears.

Why? They already knew I was going to touch the her ears why were they surprised?

And also, when I touched it, why did this girls face become red?

"Wha-wha-wha?!"

"What's wrong?"

I wonder what was wrong?

I pushed up her hair up that was covering her ears and drew my head closer to have a closer look.

"Hyaa?!"

When I lifted her hair she let out another weird sound, her face was redder than before.

I moved my head closer to get a closer look at her ears.

"mmnmmm!!!"

When I did this, she closed her eyes and her whole face turned red and she shook.

Then someone pulled me back and grabbed me by the collar.

"What are you doing?!"

"Why did you stop them Xeline-chan?! it was getting exiting!"

"What was that?! This boy! Is this boy really innocent!"

Risa's legs gave out and she was lying on the floor with her legs forming a W with a red face.

"Risa-nee... Ecchi!~"

"What the hell shitty brat? Why did you pull me back?!"

"What do you mean by that? Why the hell are you being disrespectful of our visitors!"

"Xeline-chan is jealous! She's so cute!"

Xeline ignored Onee-chan's comment knowing that it will only feed her then faced me and continued shouting at me

"Explain your rude actions, Kid!"

"Why? Are you so stupid that you can't comprehend it?!"

"What? After reading so much fiction book you finally tried to copy them in real life?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Xeline-chan... it's your sister's fault, she assaulted that boy a while ago and pushed his maturity to overdrive."

"What is Elaine-san talking about, Onee-chan?"

"I-It's nothing Xeline-chan! Just a misunderstanding!"

"Roxelle-chan Ecchi too~"

"What the hell is up with you people!"

I shouted confused at what is going on in this situation.

"Oi, just explain what you were doing!"

"I will, but Calm down first!"

After Xeline let me go I explained what I was curious about.

Oh, if in case you're wondering, Risa really had 2 set of ears... I wonder how weird that felt.

"Haaa... So it was that it ah. ha ha ha."

Risa breathe out relieved and laughed dryly.

"Oh? Risa-chan what were you expecting?"

"Wha-"

"Risa... is being friends with Roxelle already affecting you?"

"Risa-nee wants kiss~"

"Wha?! You're wrong!!!!"

Risa shouted with a red face.

"Still... Even though he is at an age where boys usually say dirty jokes and stuff, he is very innocent."

"How does Elaine-chan knows about that? Even though we're from an all girls school."

"My father's friend has two sons!"

"So you already have a boyfriend..."

"Noooo!"

After messing around with Elaine, Onee-chan said something I don't understand that well.

"From what I heard from Acei-chan, they're too smart and thinks first before they feel."

When did that Berserker say that to Onee-chan?

After this Xeline said something Xeline-like.

"This guy won't mature because his brain is so stupidly small."

"Heee? That's funny coming from someone who is as small as you."

"You think you're more mature than me because you're big?"

"Kyaaah!"

""??""

Me and Xeline faced the direction where that came from and it was Onee-chan.

""what?""

"You two! What are you talking about? How far have you gone?"

What did this person mean? anyway, because of this event... Me and Xeline looked at each other and nodded. This means that the Nameless and Xeline truce have been temporary in effect once again.

We faced Onee-chan with a dry smile and answered.

"Ohh... we have gone far."

"Yes... very far."

"How far?! How far?!"

""Farther than what your imagination can take you.""

"Kyaaaa!"

After seeing this the other girls faces were red except for Riza, and they went near us and then elf whispered.

"Hey... what are you guys talking about?"

"Hmmm? I don't know... it's just hard to deal with Onee-chan."

"Yeah, we agreed that if Onee-chan's weird flip gets switched on, we would answer her questions with dry answers to get it over with. "

"I feel sorry for you guys... hang in there!"

""Thanks...""

Risa breathe out relieved.

"Haaa... I thought it was something else."

"Risa, you..."

"Risa-nee relieved? Risa loves little boy!~"

"Nooooo!"

I don't know why this girl called me little boy but she was almost just as tall as me.

After this they all went upstairs and Xeline got a few materials then went back to her room.

I opened the book, wore the glasses and started reading.

While I read I was thinking about something

"Birthday huh? I wonder what present I should give Onee-chan."

I read about it before, and I read that we give people presents on their birthdays.

Though, I haven't given her any presents all these years we know each other... I have to find a good gift to give to her.... it was to repay her for the things she thought me since I don't like owing people.

After an hour of reading I heard multiple footsteps that I know wasn't a rushing crazy girl go down the stairs.

Then the door opened and someone went in.

"Center-chan! Go to my birthday party okay? It will be in this house at my birthday! Wait, do you even remember when my birthday is?!"

"09/10?"

"You remembered! I'm so happy!"

Then three people peeked from behind her

"We will be leaving now, bye little boy!"

"...Yo! Goodbye."

"Goodbye Center-chan~~"

"The name's Nameless!"

Onee-chan left and closed the door.

After that I heard voices outside the door.

"What was he talking about?"

"Oh, it's just Center-chan saying weird things when introduced to other people again... he's very shy."

It's not weird! My name really is Nameless! Don't call me Center-chan! I'm not a tall guy who is positioned under the ring of some ball game!

I wanted to shout that but will probably just a waste of breath.

I should also be leaving now but I have to wait for a few minutes so that they don't see me go to the secret exit when I go monster-hunting again after I eat.

After leaving the pharmacy. I hunted monsters again from 7:30pm up to midnight.

I defeated a single Giatoad again killed a few Minibears and Charge Dogs before going back and doing my daily routine.

For how I kill Giatoads will be a story for another time.

The next day, after doing the usual at the pharmacy, I went to the library to read about presents.

I took out a book called 'How to give the perfect gift.'

For some reason Berserker wasn't in her seat again.

I read about many things that I don't care about this book but there was one part that caught my eye.

It was 'Sometimes, the best gift to give to a person are not material possession but memories.'

Maybe I can do that.. and say 'my gift to you are the memories that we spend together'!

...That just sounds stupid and embarrassing

After that I continued reading and reached a weird part it says 'If a person is away from the person loves, or vice versa, it would be the best gift if you make them meet after not seeing each other for a long time.'

I thought about it and wonder if Onee-chan has someone like that.

Thinking about the possible people, I haven't seen their father my whole life. And base on what I observed, he is a Beastman.

I better ask Onee-chan about her father.

When I turned, I saw Xeline reading far away.

"Hmmm. It's her father too... maybe I should ask her."

I sat beside her and saw her reading the book in a fast pace again.

Why hasn't she scored the settle with me if she is that fast in reading?

I wondered as I started to get into business.

"Hey."

"What?"

Xeline answers while reading and not turning her head.

"Where is your father?"

"Hmmm? Out on an adventure or protecting Anima probably."

"He's an adventurer? so that's why I haven't seen him before."

"Yeah, he left after I finished reading all the potion books saying, he said something about finding more potion books and went to the Capital."

"Do you want to see him again?"

"I don't really care since he sends me potion books and some unique potion making materials."

Doesn't she care about her father? Well, I don't know, I don't have one. But in the books that I read almost all the time people loved their father... but those who don't love them want to kill their father for some reason...

Well, fiction books are just for entertainment anyway. I should not base things on those.

She finished reading those books at 4 years old, which means...

"So that means it was around 8 years ago?"

"Yep."

"What's his name?"

"Axe."

After that I stopped speaking and read some books beside her quietly until lunch came.

She left the library...

After a few seconds I also left the library to go to lunch then do my jobs.

I have my woodworking and piano from 12:30-3:30, blacksmith at 3:30-6:00, then pharmacy at 7.

While I was heading towards the pharmacy... I thought about Onee-chan being an adventurer... will she be okay?... wait why am I thinking of that? Anyway I have to bring her dad home.

When I got to the pharmacy.

*Swoon**Thud*

"This potion is a Success! With this, I don't have to worry about dirt!"

I heard something drop from upstairs but I know it's just the crazy girl doing crazy things again.

I went to the back and started reading again.

As I read I thought about how the hell I would bring her father back for her birthday.

After a lot of thinking I have come up of a solution.

I went out the pharmacy only 30 minutes after I entered.

While going to my destination I saw Onee-chan on the way, Pushing a cart that hold buckets of water from the well. The water from the well is unique and can be used in making potions.

"Center-chan! What are you doing outside?"

"I have some errands today... So I just read a few pages and left..."

"Is that so?.... Oh Center-chan! By the way!"

She smiled at me while pushing the cart.

"We were selected to participate in the battle event this coming week for school event! Want to come?"

"Battle event?"

"It's an event where Alumni and current students are allowed to participate! There will be battles in our school, person vs person. I'm sure you'll have fun watching it!"

Should I watch it? I won't learn anything from monsters when watching that. People will have to battle very differently than fighting monsters.

Hmmmm, people are probably a danger for me as well... in fact, some are more dangerous than monsters. Maybe I should watch them.

"Okay, I'll watch... but will that be okay? Won't those people get hurt or something?"

"It's okay! When a person's HP reaches 0, the person will not die but will only be unable to move and turn gray!"

"That's amazing... how does that work?"

"I don't know, some people from the capital were the one who made it. It seems that it was only added fairly recently. It was said that it was made by a Moon Clansmen Genius."

Whoever that person is is probably on the same level as Xeline when it comes to being a genius in whatever field that is.... probably the field of manipulating the 'adventurer's blessing' or something?

"Okay, Onee-chan, I'll come then."

"I'm gonna miss you! Take care!"

After that I said good bye and she left

Why will she miss me if she will see me again tomorrow morning?

As I think about this I remembered that I might die anytime at night when I hunt monsters so I laughed at myself.

She will miss me eternally if I die.

I reached at my destination and it was the adventurer guild.

I went up the receptionist.

"Is Aura-Nee in?"

"Yes, they are in room 23 and 24."

Why would they take two rooms?

I went to the room and opened it.

After opening it Varii showed up.

"Hmmm? Cool Kid."

"Oh, it's the clairvoyant kid."

When I peeked inside, the one who spoke was Varii and Aura and there was another person inside.

She wearing a black robe with she had purple eyes and short purple hair up to her neck.

"It looks like you aren't with the 'Moi' guy today."

"He's in the other room... I don't want men staying in this room even if it's costs me extra money."

The one who said that was the black robed girl. Seems like she hates men.

"Aura-nee, I have a request to make."

"Okay, then I'll step out in a bit."

Me and aura went downstairs to the guildhall and sat down in a table for two.

"When will you go back to Anima?"

"We'll probably be going next week, after my little sister participates in her school's event."

"Ah. That's good, you see I want you to make someone return to Quina
next month."

"An adventurer?"

"Yes, His name is Axe, A beastman..."

Then I thought about what could be his features?

I remembered the two sisters having red hair, maybe he has red hair?

"And maybe he has Red hair?"

"Maybe? You don't know him?"

"I don't...."

"Why don't you use your clairvoyant powers?"

"I did... but he is in Anima so he is just on the limits of my range so I can only find out a little about him..."

"Hmmm.... an adventurer named Axe huh? Why are you looking for him?"

"It's for a person. She will have her 15th birthday next month, I want to make her see her father at her 15th birthday... because a few days after she will already be leaving for the capital."

"Since she can head to the capital after she turns 15, they would probably meet anyway, so why bring him back?"

She's right about that... is there any other reason? Is it really only for Onee-chan?...

"......I don't know, but it's the only way I can think of to repay her for taking care of me for all these years... Don't worry, I will pay you for your job."

"You know what?... you're a good kid..."

As she said that she tilted her head and smiled with her eyes closed... I was caught off-guard because the emotionless face was able to do that face.

"Eh-ahh-umm."

"Hahaha, okay then I will tell him."

"So how much do I pay you?"

"Hm? About the payment, I won't take any money from you, but you said you will be an adventurer right? Then with this, you owe me one favor. We would probably meet up somewhere in a few years."

"Okay thanks! Tell him to come to his house at 09/10 which is his daughter's birthday! Thanks Aura-nee!"

"You don't have to thank me, you will owe me a favor... that's just how adventurers are."

"Is that so? also, can you tell him that I said 'Get your lame ass over here!'"

"Hehehe..."

She chuckled.

"Axe-san huh.... okay, I'll tell him."

"You know him?"

"Hmmmm, not really... but I do hear things about a beastman named Axe, I wonder if it's him though... I can just search for him by asking around in the capital."

After saying goodbyes, she went back to her room.