Sleepover

“Explain yourself Lupa.” Lucius snarled at his daughter who was now protecting Leo.

“Easy, he is not a Demon.” Lupa said as if that explained everything.

“Lobos has informed us that the catalyst in it’s current state has the ability to enhance and corrupt any individuals that get their hands on it. Even if they are not Demons.”

“Sure, but it won’t matter. He obviously is getting them for a reason. Lobos said that they would safeguard it. They never said that the clan is keeping that thing.”

The chief then slammed his fist down, “How would you know if he is not collecting it to use them!?”

Lupa then stood up proudly, “Cuz I fought him.” She then pounded her chest, “Someone clumsy and earnest in every move isn’t going to summon a Demon King.”

“You can’t call your little spats judges of character!”

“But you can!? You condemned them on a single word of a child. You heard an answer you wanted and made your decision.” She then turned to face the crowd, “If it bothers everyone so much why not let Lobos decide!” She then said something in their language, but Leo could understand, “I offer blood to the moon to cast over all lands of unity!”

A great murmur spread to the crowd as they take in her words. Leo felt like he could breath again now that their focus wavered.

The chief snarled, “You wish for him to take part in the ceremony?”

“Course I do. Lobos never said that outsiders can’t.”

“It is not about that Lupa.” He then pointed at Leo, “You are asking us to house them until the next full moon.”

“Then let him go get the shard if it bothers you to be around them.” Lupa said her voice losing her energy.

“What’s to stop us from killing them here and now.”

“Cuz I just formally invited a guest to the ceremony. So when you tell Lobos what you did and they reveal that you were wrong don’t come crying to me about the consequences.”

“And if Lobos deem their intentions unworthy?”

“Then I’ll accept my punishment like a big girl.” She added with a hint of irony in there.

Looking to the crowd who were still muttering amongst themselves as the fact Lobos was now brought into this, Lucius sat back down. “Fine, but they are your responsibility Lupa. Meaning you have to be here for the entire duration.” He then glanced back at her, “Understood?”

“Yeah yeah.” Lupa scoffed as she sat back down crossing her arms. With the two now settled the feast surprisingly went back to normal. Almost like the entire ordeal never happened. Leo even got a drink refill. Zentella made her way back to Cor and everyone seemed fine with it.

He turned to Lupa, “Hey, thanks back there. Also for trusting us.”

“Hey don’t mention it man.” She then slapped him unnecessarily hard on his back “Us Adventurers got to stick together right? Can’t have my juniors dying on me in my home turf.”
“You are an adventurer Lupa?” Leo asked surprised now looking for her tag.

“She is actually an A-Rank adventurer Leo.” Sophia explained as she sat back down. “She is quite well known. Able to take on any challenge or monster.”

“Which is crazy that you don’t know about me.” Lupa laughed, “You know being a C-rank and all.”

“I wouldn’t say that..” Leo said rubbing the back of his head. “After all I was auto boosted to C-rank when I joined.”

Lupa dropped her meat and stared at him. “What… you jumped ranks based off your stats?”

“Well that and-” He couldn’t even tell her the full story before she grabbed his hands.

“It all makes sense! The clumsiness, the flailing your sword around. The impromptu tactics! You are a natural born talent that hasn’t been polished! Even your magic had too much extra mana poured in!”

“I definitely wouldn’t say that.” Leo attempted to say but was ignored.

“Yes yes this is good. I’ve decided, Leo I am taking you in as my potato!”

“This world has a word equivalent to protégé?” He asked more to himself as he couldn’t hear their true language thanks to the translation magic. But French? This world has an equivalent to French!? Or how other languages just use other languages words from time to time.

“That too!” Lupa said proudly, “Starting tomorrow we will begin your training.”

“Seriously?” He asked in disbelief “What about the ceremony?”

“Well we got a month to kill, so what better way than to train our butts off so our new butts comes in steel.”

“Ok ok, I get it. But don’t i also need to learn about the ceremony?”

Lupa looked at him confused, “Why’s that?” Leo and even Sophia looked at her with the look that screamed; Seriously?

“You invited me remember? I don’t want to insult anyone.”

“Then don’t insult them.”

“Lupa…” Sophia asked also wanting answers, “We are asking what this ceremony is.”

“Ohhhh! Right, you guys don’t live here.”

“Do you see us with wolf ears?” Leo and Sophia both thought disbelieving the wolf girl’s intelligence.

“It is just the Blood Rune ritual art, nothing too fancy.” Both Leo and Sophia shared a silent agreement to ask Lucius later when he calms down for further details. “We just go up there and tell a story and if Lobos likes it enough we can get a new Blood Rune. Lobos says we can only bring one guest at a time though so I’m only taking Leo.” She said apologetically to Sophia.

“It’s fine,” Sophia sighed. "Why did I agree to be your manager?" she muttered to herself.

“But for you Leo, you just have to ask about the shard and then Lobos would realize you’re telling the truth. Simple tight?” She then gets a stray thought, “You are not going to summon the Demon King with that right?”

“No of course not!” Leo protested.

“Good, because Lobos always said that eating good people tasted bad.”

“Wait…” Leo paused feeling dread at the implication that Lobos doesn't only eat bad people, “Lobos chooses to eat someone if they tell a bad story?”

“No silly,” Lupa laughed, “Only the guests.”

“Lupa… I’m the guest!”

“I know, that’s why you guys are staying at my place!”