Chapter 1
175.
Returning to the Realm Sanctuary has been the main goal for FeLinE. Kita and others pledged to help her gather the 7 Mystical Runekeys, so they could enter the realm where Sentient Kemis live. Jumping to realm after realm, the group successfully collected 5 out of 7 Mystical Runekeys, some were near-death experiences, but one can argue that most of them were indeed life-threatening depending on perspective. The corruption of the Forbidden Runes has also been a huge problem for them, and they must hurry before it gets even bigger.
As the mission continues, the group believes that VesTris holds the 6th Mystical Runekey from Euchambersia, and is currently trying to obtain the 7th in the Underworld. The situation became more complicated when Hideo started to move again, leaving everyone perplexed, including Ovae herself. There are a lot of questions up in the air, but the group thinks they might meet both Hideo and VesTris by entering the Underworld.
It's been a tiring adventure in the Euchambersia and Catgirls also need some rest. Kita's group proceeded to the camp while Rubi, Celeste, Mae, and Mittsy assisted them as they eventually called it a day. When the daylight shined upon the UniPaws, the group immediately moved out to meet the rest of the team in Kemitopia. The preparations went fast and smoothly, thanks to the Catgirls' various talents, thus the voyage back to Kemitopia occurs.
While they are on their way, Yuna and Raven are a bit curious about Lulu and Darli's adventure. They were about to ask Mae and others but suddenly, Pily came out from the storage room. No one knows how he ended up there.
"Pily? What are nyu doing here?" Yuna asked.
"Chuu~ Sleeping," Pily answered while yawning.
"No, I mean, nyu were with Lulu and Darli, right? Where are they?" Yuna clarified her question.
"Oh yeah, Lulu and Darli dropped me off on the island 2 days ago…" The flashback starts as Pily tells the tale of how he ended up on the ship without anyone noticing. "Lulu and Darli don't want anyone to spot us, so they let me hop from the edge of the island towards the camp. It was quite far for me, though I met some Viper Beast Mimis along the way and became friends. I stayed in their nest for a day and then returned to my quest by the next morning. The island was way more confusing than I thought, I got lost and spent another day searching for the camp. After hopping all day, I finally found the camp by midnight. I can no longer move, that's why I slept inside a box. The next thing that I knew, I was already in the storage room." Pily told his story.
"I got a lot of questions but I don't know where to start," Raven commented.
"First of all, why are they sneaking?" Yuna questioned.
"I don't know, but they told me to inform you that they will build a nation where all the Giant Beast Mimis reside, including the 3 Kings. The location was still tentative because they began searching for the best island in the UniPaws after dropping me off. But I guess they already found one by now. Lulu and Darli promised to return once they were done with their goal." Pily answered.
"Earlier I got tons of questions, but now I'm lost for words…" Raven said.
"They told Pily to deliver the message to buy some time again, just like what they did last time…" Yuna responded.
This has been a sneaky tactic for Lulu and Darli, something Yuna and Raven cannot stop. The two of them brought Pily to the room and shared the story with the rest of the group. It was a bewildering morning and now everyone was in the same boat. Lulu and Darli truly commit to their own adventure.
The group cruised the ocean for days. Luckily, the ocean current worked for them this time, speeding their travel even for a bit. It's been 4 weeks since the UniKemi's announcement, and upon arriving at Kemitopia, the group observes the place. The surroundings seemed to improve greatly; the commotion had already settled, and the citizens were working together to prepare the place. Part of the plan is creating more facilities to cater to different emergencies, which is why the whole land is under construction.
"From an empty crowd last arrival to a busy one. A lot can happen in weeks, huh." Kita mentioned as they walked through the dock.
"Even our friends and families are helping too! They are updating us through Soc-Meds." Mae responded.
"FeLinE thought a civil war would erupt by the time we left the place, it looks like no one else thought of that," FeLinE:1000X said.
"Let's just head to the Castle before anyone hears us," Yuna replied as she chuckled. They don't want to open up this idea for the citizens, changing the subject is the best choice before FeLinE unintentionally sparks something bad.
Along the way, the group spotted Zela working in the field. She's using her talent to communicate with Maiko from afar.
"Oy Zela! Long time no see!" Kita greeted Zela.
"Oh, Kita, Maiko said 'hi' just now," Zela replied as she put down the shovel.
"How's everything? How are nyu doing?" Hana asked.
"Having Tribe Leaders that spearhead per place lessens our load in Riverania, not to mention, I can easily transfer them the information needed. After solidifying the trajectory for the tribes, Maiko and I went here to help Kemitopia. I must say, this feels better than following Ovae. I feel like I have a better purpose now." Zela answered.
"We are glad to hear that. So, where's Maiko?" Yuna replied.
"She's in the Royal Castle, the UniKemis are busy 24/7. Some of them went back to their nations but they all still do virtual meetings from time to time." Zela explained.
It's the first time the group meets Zela again after the Evil Mimis incident, which is why FeLinE took this opportunity to ask Zela, "Seeing nyu and Mathus again showed FeLinE that change is possible. Mathus also taught FeLinE that there are times when we need to rely on someone. Since our group is heading to the Underworld, we need guidance in navigating the place. Are nyu willing to help us in this journey?" FeLinE:1000X asked and the mood suddenly became heavy.
176.
Evidently, Zela is in a better state now. Her stay with Maiko gave her a different purpose which she truly enjoys. But by the looks of things, Zela cannot fully escape her past. Another responsibility is in front of Zela as FeLinE asks her to guide them into the Underworld. Now it's Zela's choice to either move away from it or face the realm once more.
"She is really straight to the point," Mittsy whispered.
"If we are judging how straightforward she is, trust me, that's the most empathic one I've heard from her," Kita whispered back.
"Yeah… Nyu haven't heard her talk to Kita straight to her face." Raven joined the chatter.
"True, true…" Kita agreed while nodding.
Judging from Zela's reaction, it's clear that she's hesitant. A part of Zela's heart still reflects her longing grudge, deeply engraved inside of her.
"FeLinE won't force nyu to come. Though if nyu are gonna ask FeLinE, nyu need closure. Our group will leave Kemitopia next week." FeLinE:1000X said. She then walked away, leaving Zela to decide while the rest of the group followed FeLinE.
Traveling through the sea surely took a lot of time for the Catgirls, it made Mae and Mittsy miss their loved ones in the midst of the situation. They decided to meet up with their friends and family first since the next voyage was scheduled for the following week. They promised to meet up with the group as soon as possible and would communicate through the wristwatches effectively.
Later, the Catgirls reach the Royal Castle and are escorted to their room. Eventually, Queen Grace and Maiko entered the room, both of them were not looking good due to stress and fatigue. The continuous duties from guiding their citizens to deciphering Hideo's motif are too much for them to handle, even Duke Nasmuir shoulders the same hardship. On the other hand, Eve is still in Zenshin, fulfilling her duties.
"The city is in a better state but not so much for these two," Kita commented.
"Do nyu still take some rest?" Hana worriedly asked.
"We do, the workload was just overwhelming recently. We can manage," Maiko answered.
"Also, we cannot fully relax if there are still pending tasks. Maiko and I prefer to finish the job early." Queen Grace added.
"It's clear to me now why these two are the heads of each continent." Raven praised Queen Grace and Maiko.
"It's a tall task to accomplish. Anyway, how's your mission?" Maiko replied.
The next couple of minutes were all about updating the events from both sides. For them, everything is somewhat interconnected, telling the group that the answers can be found in the Underworld. As of now, they have two options: (1) try to convince Zela despite knowing she doesn't want to. (2) unleashing Ovae and teaming up with her against Hideo. Those options are too problematic, but it is also the same case if the group just enters the realm without any form of guide. They still have a couple of days to make a decision while the ships restock, though they must solidify their plans on this one.
After the short discussion, the Catgirls attend to their tasks. Each of them plays a role in ensuring that the continents are ready for what's about to come. This also applies to the citizens of each place. Tons of volunteers with specialized roles were helping the 3 major continents. Kemis from Riverania secures the raw materials needed for construction while replanting trees to replace the cut ones. Those who are from Kemitopia contribute to manpower and other resources for the projects. Lastly, the Zenshin citizens focus on building stronger network servers, connecting all continents virtually for faster communication. Maiko, Queen Grace, and Eve are the ones who are spearheading this cross-continental teamwork, while the rest of the members of UniKemis guide and implement the procedures.
Thanks to the drastic change across the continents, a centralized Soc-Med platform called the UniBulletin was created, it will serve as the universal news outlet governed by UniKemis. It is also accessible through wristwatches which can be used on multiple occasions such as; inviting Kemis during an event, guiding the readers through a set of instructions during an emergency, and/or posting updates globally, an integral upgrade that helps the Kemis know the state of each continent.
Later in the afternoon, Maiko informed Kita and Hana that they had given their families wristwatches too. She also handed them the contact details which truly made Kita and Hana's day. They both immediately called their pawrents and it was truly heart-melting, refilling the fuel for Kita and Hana in their current path. Afterward, Kita, Hana, and Yuna walked through the streets of Kemitopia to breathe some fresh air as the daylight diminished.
"I never thought I would be needing that," Kita said, referring to their video call with her pawrents.
"Knowing they are all doing great is indeed a relief," Hana replied.
"I also appreciate how your pawrents accept Lulu and me like their own. Although I have to lie earlier about Lulu's current activity, I don't want to make them worry." Yuna added.
"Actually, both of our pawrents immediately asked for you and Lulu coz they only saw me and Hana on the screen. I guess the four of us will forever be linked together," Kita responded.
"Do we have a choice? Can I say no?" Hana kiddingly questioned.
"May I also know until when?" Yuna added to the joke.
"Oy! Don't make it sound like I'm the only one who's happy in this setup!" Kita complained.
"Hai, hai… We're just messing with nyu." Hana said as the three of them laughed.
"This reminds me of the time when we were at the ship, Lulu was sleeping, and the three of us were talking in the storage room. Now that I think more of it, she is definitely exceeding our expectations." Kita mentioned.
"It's funny how I said I'll protect her regardless of where she came from. But in reality, Lulu is fine on her own," Yuna replied.
"She's growing up quickly, but I'm sure she still needs us by her side. There are just times when they need to go on their own adventures." Hana responded.
"I wonder how they are doing by now, I can't even imagine how cool the Giant Beasts' nation would be," Kita said.
"We will eventually find out," Hana said as the three of them continued chatting under the night sky.
177.
Walking under the street lights in the middle of the night is a scenario that is therapeutic for some. It was not as peaceful as their usual night walk in Kemitopia due to the construction, but it was still a relaxing moment for Kita, Hana, and Yuna. The only thing that they wish for now is the safety of Lulu and Darli in their adventure.
Roaming around the Kemitopia eventually led Kita, Hana, and Yuna to the Trio Brews and Sweets. It wasn't on purpose, they were just randomly wandering around the streets, and then they ended up in front of the maid cafe. It must be their muscle memory automatically leading them to the place. Since the three of them are already here, they pay the maids a visit.
"Is the cafe still open?" Yuna asked as they entered the store.
"Oh, nyu guys are here, come in!" Aoi welcomed them, she then called the rest of the maids. "Guuuys! Kita, Hana, and Yuna are here."
"Where's Lulu?" Coco asked while running from the kitchen.
"Well, Lulu and Darli are somewhere out there, building a nation for Giant Beasts," Kita answered as she chuckled.
"At this point, I'm not even gonna question what I heard," Lisa commented.
"I guess that's what they meant when they about going for an adventure. I hope they are alright." Coco said.
"So, what brings nyu here? Would nyu like some tea, it's on the house." Rin offered.
"If it is free, then don't mind if I do!" Kita replied as she proceeded to the table.
"We actually don't have a plan, we just thought why not visit since we were already here," Hana answered.
"We appreciate the visit, nyu are absolutely welcome here. Nyu can also stay a night here if nyu want." Rin replied.
"Oh like a sleepover? That sounds fun! I'll tell FeLinE and Raven that we won't be returning to the castle tonight," Kita excitedly responded as Lisa served them some refreshments.
A few moments later, while the maids and former ones enjoy chatting in the cafe, someone knocks on the door. When Rin opened it, Raven, FeLinE, Rubi, and Celeste were at the front door, joining the unplanned sleepover in the maid cafe. The Catgirls are not complete this time, but they will still make the most out of it.
It was a slow but progressive week for the Kemis in the UniPaws, a lot can happen in a short span of time. The group witnessed how fast the changes can be when everyone works together. With that being said, they also need to get back to their mission. The Catgirls have decided that they will explore the Underworld without any form of a guide and proceed to the dock. However, it looks like that won't be the case as a familiar voice echoed in their ears and sent chills down their spines.
"Hello there~" Ovae said as she approached the group.
Everyone was startled, and the Royal Guards nearby immediately surrounded Ovae. "What are nyu doing here?" Raven questioned.
"Relax, I sneaked my way here and didn't harm anyone," Ovae said. "I've been listening to your plans and figured you need a guide in the Underworld. I can offer something much better than that. The Underworld is survival of the fittest, you either fight everyone or team up against others. You cute Kemis won't last there without an ally, particularly, without my protection." She explained.
"She is right," Zela said as she joined the conversation. "Ovae may be ruthless and manipulative, but she kept me safe in the Underworld. Letting others know that you are under Ovae's troops will make them double-guess in attacking you. As much as I hate Ovae, her influence will be better than my guide," she added.
"Oh, Zela, glad to see you again. I appreciate your support despite hating me," Ovae replied.
"How can we make sure that nyu won't betray us?" Raven madly questioned.
"Good question, let's see… I guess my recent actions were proof that I'm willing to team up this time. I could just sneak and secretly ride along with your ship, but I approach your group directly instead. When Hideo left me without explaining anything, I realized that he might have been lying the whole time. I cannot just sit here and wait, Hideo and Cerono could have been teaming up all this time." Ovae answered.
"What will happen once nyu know the truth?" Hana asked.
"It depends, I might eliminate him. I can assure you that I won't harm your group, and other Horn-type Kemis would do the same if I'm on your side." Ovae said. "To sweeten the offer, I will also tell you what I know about Cerono." She added.
"We'll manage on our own, we don't need nyu." Raven firmly said.
"Wait, it is surely risky but this might be a good opportunity for us," Yuna argued.
"I thought we were both against this idea?" Raven questioned.
"I was against it last time because we were the ones who needed to pursue her, but now she's the one teaming up with us. This changes the equation, we also need info about Cerono." Yuna explained.
"Even so, we cannot trust her," Raven replied.
"I understand Raven's frustration, Ovae pretended to be her friend for a long time. It's hard to regain that trust." Hana supported Raven.
"FeLinE thinks that we should take Ovae's offer. Mathus already warned us about Cerono." FeLinE:1000X sided with Yuna.
"Hold on now, let's all calm down," Kita told the group. She is currently torn in the middle.
"Let me inform Queen Grace and Maiko first," Rubi added, trying to de-escalate the situation.
Upon notice, Queen Grace and Maiko moved instantly, arriving at the place in a short while. But despite their intervention, it all still falls to the group's decision. Weighing on the situation, the group eventually took Ovae's offer, though Raven is still fully against it.
Raven approached Ovae and talked straight into her eyes, "If nyu think nyu can play me again, then nyu better think twice. My friends trusted nyu but I don't, I'll be watching nyu." Raven then walked away.
It was a bewildering sequence of events and the group will now voyage with someone who effortlessly wounded the scholars and wreaked havoc in the UniPaws. They are currently wielding a double-edged sword in their inventory, but it also gives them the best shot at navigating the Underworld.
End of Chapter 1