Lucky Bunny Tag!

It all started on what should have been a normal checkout.

The new guest’s fluffy white tail bounced behind the front desk like a fuzzy pom-pom on springs.

A single shout broke the calm.

“Oh! A Lucky Bunny!!” Hollered a male adventurer from the line behind her, eyes sparkling, mouth watering like he had spotted free treasure.

Others quickly turned. Conversations turned to hoots. In seconds, a small ring of grinning opportunists closed around her.

The Bunny Girl stiffened. Her big ears quivered, eyes darting for the exit. But the crowd boxed her in. So, she did the only thing that made sense: she bolted straight into the spa!

“[Ability: Holy Geyser Level 30]]!!”

I divided her from the rest of the snooping patrons.

“Master!” Rin ran to me. “You may want to know about this.”

“That rare girl. Even I know about them.” Sharlotte shared with me. “A Lucky Bunny. Because they’re born with high mana and experience, all creatures hunted those cute rabbit ears to near-extinction.”

Interspecies agreements were great, but who knew they could come in the form of such a terrible thing – killing?

I learned that in the past, the Lucky Bunnies would use a weak form of [Drain Touch] to tag adventurers and monsters before bounding away. They were happy and wild creatures that enjoyed innocent games.

“The truth is, when they collect too much mana this way, they slow down, helping each new person who is ‘it’ to catch up. They never had to be attacked. All that’s needed to collect their high mana and experience is to tag them, and it activates [Lucky Flow].”

“Hey, everyone!! Don’t hurt my client! It only takes a tag to get her experience!!”

“It’s okay, boss. We know we gotta touch her to get what we want. It’s what we intend to do.”

“Step aside! I pointed her out! She’s mine.”

“Why? Why were they driven to near-extinction if it’s only tagging?”

“They were killed when the one who is ‘it’ caught up. There was a rumor that got popular, that there was no way tagging would give the same amount of near-limitless mana. Committing a sin in exchange for sinfully gaining power quickly made more logical sense to many.”

What a sad story!

“Lay one hand on her and you’re banned for life!!” I announced.

“Gh!” One Monster cursed at the lost opportunity.

“Sorry, Kazuki! Forgive my idiot party leader!” Another apologized.

“I dunno. It may be worth it.” A Dwarf eyed her wickedly.

“[Divine Light Level 1]!” Sharlotte sparkled beautifully with runes and blasted pure light at him. She flew in quickly and strung up the blinded Dwarf into the sky. “I’ll be throwing out the trash!”

Woah! I didn’t know she could do that!

“Good quick-thinking, Sharlotte!” We had to completely erase, utterly eliminate that sort of evil thought! Not here at the Kazuki Sacred Spa!

But it had already entered the hivemind of our troublesome clients.

They were crowding around me and the Lucky Bunny, worse than paparazzi demanding photos with a star!

These were all my dear clients! Some of them were my friends! I didn’t want to see them like this!

What do I do? What do I do!?

For the greater whole!!

“Lucky Bunny.” I submitted. “You’re banned.”

“What?” She was astounded with tears in her eyes, her ears drooping with lost hope, and brushing her flushed cheeks.

“What about being interspecies?! Yeah, yeah, fighting for peace!” My troublesome clients raved.

“I do fight for interspecies peace. Yet, you’d use my morals to your advantage? Shame on you.”

I hardly ever get angry. My disappointment had a visible and profound effect on those troublemakers.

“Borkas! Please carry her out!”

“Brother? But banning her?”

“Go.”

Borkas found an earthy, secluded location in the nearby forest.

It took many nights, but I managed to move the earth and channel my water to this new location. My spring water shot out from the underground passage. Under the sparkling light, he and the Lucky Bunny were here expectantly.

“This is a rare exception.” I explained to her, tiny puffs of steam rising around me. “I get that you wanted to party with everyone, but because we’re all inclusive and you’re all-famous, we need to make this private pool for you. It’ll be hard to be in contact often, and all. So, I’ll hold the temperature and healing at a specific rate, so choose wisely. Here, your forest friends and allies will keep you company. You only need to pay for the pool!”

“Thank you so much for this, Core Kazuki.” The Lucky Bunny whimpered, perched daintily on the smooth stone at the edge of this private spring I’d carved just for her. “For protecting me as well. I feel like I can truly run free now. I finally get to enjoy this Sacred Spa everyone loves so much!”

“Loves? Of course they do! I’m already fairly powerful, and I have no use for your experience points or mana or whatever that is. All I need are new Abilities so I can get my human body back. Is this temperature good for you–? TAAAAGGG!!”

“Aaah!” The Lucky Bunny cried in blissful release.

SPLOOSH! My [Ability: Rocky Arms] broke from under the water with nearby pebbles!

“Gahahaha! This rock arm was put to good use for once!”

“Brother!” Borkas rose on his hind legs. “I always knew you had a scummy side, but my opinion of you has changed!”

“Heel, Borkas, heel! She and I agreed to this! If anything, doesn’t she look like she needed it? All in exchange for channeling water here. Tell him about it!”

Oh, she’s passed out.

“Gahaha! I’ll pretend I didn’t see that! Feel free to taste the waters of [Healing Flow Level 10] to recover, Bunny Girl!”

New [Ability: Fast Run Bunny Ears]!

New [Location: Forest Mini-Spa]!

She stirred from her sleep. “That felt great, sir…”

“I almost hadda’ report you to the Great Tree Elders.”

“I’m sure we can implement all Super-rare Monsters eventually.” I continued, franker. “I talked with Rin and Sharlotte about it. The issue from a few days ago likely arose due to misunderstandings of ‘tag’ versus ‘attack,’ but also because you showed up out of nowhere. If a beautiful, thumping Gold ingot appeared unannounced, anyone would take a leap at it. For now, keep this Mini-Spa and you’re hired.”

“Hired?”

“Are you interested? I’ll pay you on a case-by-case basis. Use this location to invite others like you. Monsters who are rare and might be too scared to take the first step out in public. Tell them that the Kazuki Sacred Spa accepts all. They’ll all get free access here or there.”

“How beautiful. But I’m okay with what I have, Sir Kazuki.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. There was no humiliation in asking. All I really want is for you to have your peace. I’m happy you found it here. I’ll just keep living for eternity inside this Core and with this handy rock arm. This rock arm. –TAAAAGGG!!”

“Aaah!”

“Brotherrr!!”