Dragon Across the Multiverse (Si-WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 20: The Fox and the Dragon

Following Day

“Good morning, Lukreia, Sherry,” I greeted with a smile as I stepped into their new home. “Did you two sleep well last night?”

The home I had made for them and the ones around it, had been made with a combination of my Wood Release and Ciel while furnishing it them with the loot from the past two worlds.

Before Lukreia could answer, a pink-haired missile launched itself at me with a happy cheer, wrapping her arms around me.

“Akari-kun! Good morning~”

“Morning, Akari-kun,” Lukreia greeted warmly, her eyes soft as she watched her daughter cling to me. “We were expecting you. Would you like to have breakfast with us? I’m sure Sherry would love to eat with her hero~” she teased as she led the way toward the kitchen table.

Glancing down at the little limpet refusing to let go of me, I adjusted Sherry into a more comfortable position. She squeaked and clung tighter, forcing me to chuckle as I followed after her mother.

“That sounds lovely. Thank you.”

“We’re the ones who should be thanking you, for saving us, for giving us a safe home without asking anything in return. And… I noticed the pantry and kitchen were fully stocked too. Thank you for that as well.” Lukreia smiled as she began setting the table.

“Sherry dear, would you help me set the dishes?” she asked gently.

“Okay~” Sherry agreed instantly, finally loosening her grip on me. I set her down, and she dashed to help with an enthusiasm that made me smile.

“Let me lend a hand,” I said, already moving to help a far-too-excited Sherry. “And as for your thanks, don’t worry about it. By helping you, I gained some valuable information about the cult. But…” I trailed off, noticing Sherry’s ears twitch at the word and her small flinch. “…let’s save the heavy topics for later.”

Lukreia gave me a grateful look before quietly setting down pans of food and serving out soup filled with vegetables and meat.

‘Even the food here feels centuries behind,’ I thought silently, watching her prepare. ‘No stove, just some contraption that generates flame. No doubt something she designed herself.’

Breakfast passed in a light, pleasant atmosphere, with Sherry happily chattering about all the things she wanted to do today while Lukreia and I listened.

When we’d finished and moved into the living room, Sherry immediately claimed the seat beside me.

“This place is amazing~ Especially this house! There are so many artifacts I don’t understand at all~” Lukreia said, her voice filled with excitement.

“Hahaha, caught your interest, huh?” I smirked. “Stick with me, and soon you’ll have more artifacts than you know what to do with.”

The “artifacts” she meant, of course, were things like the automatic toilet, fridge, stove, television, and radio. Mundane conveniences from my world, but alien marvels in this one.

“That sounds like a dream~” Lukreia sighed happily, leaning back into the sofa.

“Ahem.” I straightened up, catching both of their attention. “With breakfast over, there’s something I want to discuss with you before I leave for a few days.”

“Y-You’re leaving?” Sherry’s voice wavered immediately, her big eyes growing watery as she looked up at me.

“For just a few days,” I reassured, gently patting her head until she relaxed against me. “And besides, even when I’m gone, I’ll still be here in a sense… if you need anything.”

Both Sherry and Lukreia perked up curiously at that, waiting for me to explain.

“Like this~” I said smugly, flashing through the Horse hand seal. In an instant, ten wood clones materialized behind me.

“Whoooaaa~!”

“Amazing~ What did you just do?” Lukreia asked, stars in her eyes just like her daughter’s. She even leaned forward, trying to tell which one of us was the real me, only to give up after several failed attempts.

“These are my clones,” I explained with an amused smile as Sherry ran up to them, poking each one curiously. Her starry gaze only grew brighter when she realized they were solid. “As you can see, they’re pretty sturdy, and they’ll be around the city building things up. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call one of them, they’re essentially me, after all.”

Lukreia, however, still looked unsatisfied with the vague explanation. So, I decided to throw her a bone.

“As for how I did it? I basically split my mana in half for every clone.” I offered the simplest version, using ‘mana’ instead of chakra.

“Amazing… To think you could actually do this,” Lukreia breathed, unable to resist joining her daughter in poking and prodding at my clones. The copies gave her amused glances but patiently let her indulge.

I spent a few more minutes answering their curious questions before it was time to say goodbye. Sherry had already claimed one of my clones as her personal pony, giggling happily atop its shoulders while the clone discreetly flipped me off. I couldn’t help but laugh harder.

“Take care, you two. I’ll hopefully be bringing more guests back with me when I return, so please get along with them, alright?” I said, floating gently up into the air to their wide-eyed surprise.

“Bye, Akari-kun! Please come back soon~ I’ll take care of the other Akari-kun’s while you’re gone!” Sherry waved enthusiastically from her perch.

“Take care, Akari-kun,” Lukreia said softly, her tone more subdued. She likely already guessed I was heading toward something dangerous, something connected to the cult.

I nodded at them both, then turned in the air and shot off into the clouds, heading north toward Therianthrope territory.

‘Here I come, my fluffy ears and tails,’ I thought with a giddy smile.

=====

Therianthrope Lands — Minutes Later

At a leisurely pace, it only took me a few minutes to reach the northern continent where the Therianthropes lived. Leisurely for me meant flying at a few hundred km/h, still slow compared to simply teleporting there instantly.

From above the clouds, I came to a stop. My Bounty Tracker app confirmed Yukime’s location below. More concerning were several red dots converging toward her.

‘Good. Looks like I arrived just before she meets Gettan,’ I thought, relief mixing with anticipation. ‘Now, for my weapon of choice, something more showy than Kotetsu, but not flashy enough to draw too much attention.’

After a moment’s thought, I used Material Creation to form an elegant broadsword, intricate, gleaming, yet simple in design. I gave it a swing, feeling its weight and balance. Perfect.

“Now for my final adjustment.” My body glowed faintly as I shifted from the form of a ten-year-old to that of a fourteen-year-old. “Much better.”

With preparations complete, I grinned and let myself freefall from the sky, the wind roaring in my ears as I accelerated.

Time to make a grand entrance.

=====

Down Below — Yukime’s POV

A fourteen-year-old Yukime staggered backward, clutching a small knife as two dog Therianthrope men closed in.

‘Why now… why is this happening now?’ she thought in panic, narrowly dodging one sword slash only to feel another graze her leg. Pain shot up her side, and she collapsed to the ground. Escape was no longer possible.

Yukime belonged to the Spirit Fox tribe, the proud daughter of its leader, a three-tailed fox Therianthrope. For their kind, the number of tails marked strength and potential. With one tail already, she had a bright future ahead of her.

“Hahaha, she’s a looker,” one of the men sneered.

“Forget killing her, let’s take her as a souvenir,” the other leered, stepping closer.

Tears welled in Yukime’s eyes as she closed them tightly. She prayed, silently, desperately, for someone, anyone, to save her.

But no pain came.

Slowly, she opened her eyes again and gasped.

Standing between her and her would-be captors was a young figure, bluish-silver hair shining faintly in the sunlight. He wore a white-and-black outfit woven with intricate detail, and in his hand rested a broadsword whose edge still dripped with fresh blood.

Her attackers lay collapsed nearby, their blood the only explanation for that crimson drip.

‘A human? Here, in Therianthrope lands?’ Yukime thought in shock. But her fear was gone, replaced with awe and a strange sense of safety.

Then he turned.

Golden, glowing eyes locked with hers, warm despite their strangely sharp features. A smile curved his lips, soft yet undeniably powerful.

‘Not human,’ Yukime realized instantly. No human could carry eyes like those, that while appearing normal threatened to consume everything in his gaze.

The boy radiated a weird majestic presence, yet she felt no magic from him whatsoever. If not for seeing him directly, she might have thought he was an illusion, a figment conjured by her desperation.

But there was one thing she knew for certain, a fact that she would remember for the rest of her life. He had saved her from a fate worse than death.

‘Why… why would he save me?’

Her trembling hand reached out almost on instinct when he extended his own. The moment their hands touched, she was gently pulled back to her feet, her gaze never once leaving those golden eyes.

=====

Back With Akari

Must not pet ears.

The thought was almost impossible to resist, but with an iron will I forced my hands to stay put. Sheathing my sword, I finally spoke.

“Are you alright, Miss?” I asked softly, not minding that she still hadn’t let go of my hand.

Blinking at my question, Yukime’s mind seemed to reboot. She flushed slightly, quickly letting go of me and nodding. “Y-Yes. Thank you, for saving me.”

Smiling at her reaction, I straightened and offered her a friendly grin. “Don’t worry about it. I was in the area and decided to lend a helping hand. My name is Akari and yours?”

Her eyes widened at forgetting her manners. Yukime quickly bowed. “M-My name is Yukime. Thank you again for saving me, Akari-san.”

“There’s no need to bow. Now, are you sure you’re alright? There are still a few other attackers I need to take care of.” I said, my ears still catching the faint sounds of screams in the distance.

Yukime’s expression shifted instantly from flustered to worried. “The others!”

She tried to rush off, but I gently rested a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. Panic flickered in her eyes as I met her gaze. “As I said, let me handle it. You just rest here.”

Without waiting for her response, I launched back into action. Cutting through the remaining attackers in a quick and efficient manner, and as the last one fell, two new notifications appeared at the corner of my vision.

One was for saving Yukime before Cid did. The other was for rescuing her entire village.

The rewards were impressive. Even if I didn’t particularly need the ability to heal and regenerate any wound on myself or others, the reward for saving Yukime was what caught my attention: a free companion in the form of Tamamo-no-Mae from the Nasuverse.

‘Two foxy waifus for the price of one,’ I thought with a grin as I dispatched the last enemy. ‘Though… best to wait until I’m back home before summoning Tamamo. Wouldn’t want to cause a scene.’

When I regrouped, the villagers were understandably wary of me, until Yukime stepped in to vouch for me, insisting I meant them no harm. With her help, I quickly earned their trust and gathered everyone in one location.

There, I spent several minutes healing every injury, further endearing myself to them. Their awed gazes followed me as wounds closed and strength returned.

Just as I finished tending to the last villager, a commotion erupted. The village elders had returned from hunting.

“Yukime!” a mature, sweet voice cried out. A woman with an uncanny resemblance to Yukime ran forward, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace and fussing over her.

All around, the returning elders checked on their loved ones. Relief rippled through the crowd when they saw everyone was alive, if a little shaken.

“It was all thanks to our savior, Akari, Mother! If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know what would have happened,” Yukime said excitedly, her tail flicking with nervous energy.

Her words drew every elder’s attention. At once, their gazes fell on me, some filled with gratitude, others sharp with suspicion.

Keeping a relaxed smile, I raised a hand in greeting before focusing on the woman I’d identified with [Analyze] as Kumiho, Yukime’s mother.

“Good day. I presume you are Yukime’s mother?” I asked politely, my tone even and calm. “My name is Akari Tempest.”

Kumiho studied me for a moment, then straightened and gave me a small bow of the head. “I am. My name is Kumiho. You have our deepest thanks for saving my daughter and our village.”

At her words, the rest of the villagers bowed as well. Yukime, still clinging to her mother’s sleeve, smiled at me brightly.

“I was in the area and decided to lend a hand,” I said with a shrug, before letting my gaze sweep across the village. “Though… judging by the signs, this wasn’t the first time your people have been attacked.”

Beyond the recently destroyed homes, I could spot old swords and building that had been in disrepair for a while now.

“Yes,” Kumiho admitted with a bitter smile. “At present, strife between the beastkin tribes runs deep. Our village has not been spared from the conflict.”

I nodded thoughtfully, then as though struck by an idea, looked back at her. “What if I were to invite your village to live in my country, away from all this strife?”

“…What?” Kumiho blinked, clearly caught off guard. Yukime mirrored her expression, staring at me as if I’d said something absurd.

My smile widened. “It’s as I said. I’m building a new country, and I need people to settle it. It’s a safe location, far removed from this conflict.”

“You’re… building your own country?” Yukime repeated in awe, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at me as though I had sprouted a tail. “But you don’t look any older than me.”

I gave her a playful wink, enjoying the way her face turned pink, before turning back to her mother. “Perhaps we should discuss this in a more private setting?” I suggested, glancing at the curious stares of the gathered villagers.

“…Yes,” Kumiho said after a pause, composing herself. “That would be best. Please, follow me.”

She ordered the villagers to begin cleaning the wreckage and disposing of the bodies, then beckoned me to her home.

=====

Half an Hour Later

‘Either these guys really want to get away from this conflict, or they’re a bunch of pushovers,’ I thought as I watched how quickly Kumiho convinced the others to leave their home for a new country.

The discussion hadn’t taken long. Kumiho had asked some practical questions about where they would be moving and how I could guarantee their protection. Perhaps because I had just saved their village, and thanks to Yukime’s glowing praise, Kumiho seemed inclined to trust my words. When I released a fraction of my magic, their remaining doubts evaporated. Their shocked faces had told me everything.

Now, I stood back while Kumiho broke the news to everyone. Some looked skeptical, but in the end, they followed her orders and began packing.

Yukime, already finished with her things, lingered at my side and asked curiously, “How will we get there? These lands are dangerous to travel, especially with all the infighting and even worse in a large group.”

‘Thank goodness you at least have some common sense, Yukime. I was starting to fear your clan was just a bunch of naïve, too-trusting, well-meaning idiots.’

Without really thinking, my hand drifted to her head, patting it lightly and brushing her fluffy ear. ‘Aaah bliss~’

“M-Mnya! A-Akari-san, th-they’re sensitive~” Yukime mewled with a blush, pulling me out of my thoughts. I quickly snatched my hand back.

“Sorry about that. Your ears just looked way too cute and I couldn’t resist.” I coughed into my hand, which only made her flush deeper. “As for your question, don’t worry. Leave the travel to me. I’ve got plenty of tricks up my sleeve.”

“H-How is your home like?” she asked, clearly trying to move past her embarrassment, though she didn’t seem entirely upset about my words or actions.

“It’s by the ocean…”

From there we drifted into casual conversation, Yukime’s curiosity keeping her engaged as I shared a few stories.

Before long, the whole village had gathered. Yukime walked with me to meet them, and Kumiho addressed the crowd.

“We must travel as far south as we can before night falls,” she said, her tone serious.

I shook my head with amusement. “There’s no need for that. Is everyone ready?” I asked with a relaxed smile, folding my arms.

“How will we get there, then?” a fox therianthrope called out.

“Like this~.”

My grin widened as I raised my hand. A massive magic circle bloomed beneath the villagers, their gasps echoing through the air. Then, with a snap of my fingers, the entire group vanished, leaving me alone with a stunned Yukime.

She stared at the empty clearing, eyes wide.

Placing a hand gently on her shoulder, I asked, “Shall we join them?”

Too surprised to speak, Yukime only nodded. Another snap of my fingers, and the village was empty once more.

Of course, what the villagers would never know was that aside from slaying their attackers, I had also taken the liberty of wiping out Gettan and most of his clan. They were destined to join the Cult of Diablos anyway. As for the ones who wouldn’t… well, most of them would have died regardless, and since nearly all were men, I wasn’t particularly interested in saving them.

‘I have more important matters to focus on anyway,’ I thought, recalling Ciel’s earlier words.

“Master, Rose Oriana is heading toward the Midgar Kingdom as we speak. That means it’s only a matter of time before she’s kidnapped.”

‘If things are still moving like in canon… I might be getting my first meeting with Cid,’ I mused, amusement bubbling inside me. The thought of trolling the guy for casually ignoring all the girls who fell for him in canon had me grinning ear to ear.