"When on earth will these injuries of mine heal?"
Chizuki looked at her patchy fur and limbs that still felt weak, feeling utterly drained.
"Your leg hasn't healed yet?" Still, at least his mobility wasn't a major issue anymore.
Chizuki stared, momentarily stunned, as she watched Shimamura walk with a slight limp.
But it was a huge improvement compared to before.
"It should... heal soon," Shimamura said with a sweet smile.
"Oh." Chizuki still carved out some time each day to complete her Daily Commissions, but due to her injuries and her attack power hitting a plateau, she spent most of her days resting and recovering.
The days passed one by one, and the stormy weather gradually improved.
Although the Nobushi still launched occasional raids, they were fortunately all within a manageable scope.
The sky cleared.
Watching the long-unseen sun hang in the sky, Chizuki squinted and couldn't help but reveal a look of pure enjoyment.
Basking in the sun was so comfortable.
"The fleet is going to Narukami Island?"
The moment Chizuki heard this news, she scrambled up from the ground, her eyes shining brightly, her cat-like pupils filled with anticipation.
Narukami Island?! She wanted to go too.
"Can you take me with you?" Chizuki immediately ran to Shimamura's side to ask for the fleet's specific departure time.
She had no choice. After all, her "Fluffy Guardian" talent only gave her the ability to communicate with children at this stage.
"Do you think I could sneak aboard?" Chizuki's eyes lit up as she looked at the Crystal Marrow being loaded into crates not far away. "For example, if I secretly slipped into that pile of Crystal Marrow, no one would ever find me."
"Ermm..." Shimamura paused, not quite processing it for a moment. "Chizuki wants to go to Narukami Island?"
"Mhm! I'm so curious! I want to go see it!" Chizuki took out her treasured Amulet and said in a rather proud tone, "This was a gift from the great Lady Yae Miko, who is as wise as she is beautiful."
"So, I want to go take a look around Mt. Yougou." On the surface, this was an absolutely reasonable excuse.
"Then would you like to go have some fun in Inazuma City with me, Chizuki?" Shimamura invited her.
"Are you going to Narukami Island too, Shimamura?"
"We can go look around."
"Okay!" Chizuki grandly produced a bag of Mora and slapped it on the table with the coolest pose she could muster. "Then can you take me to see the delicious food on Narukami Island, Shimamura? My treat!"
I'll go! I'll buy! My treat!
Only as the land gradually vanished from her vision did Chizuki truly believe she was leaving Yashiori Island.
She ran back and forth on the deck, quite excited.
Although the ship wasn't very large, it was enough for Chizuki to have a blast for a while.
This was Chizuki truly leaving Yashiori Island!
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a country cat visiting the city.
The country bumpkin cat of Yashiori Island?
A bizarre nickname popped into Chizuki's mind.
No, no! How could I think of myself like that?
As a purple mountain in the distance entered her field of vision, she immediately leaned against the ship's railing and began to gaze at the faraway scenery.
Narukami Island was just ahead.
"Be back before the sun sets this afternoon, okay?" the adults called out, waving to Shimamura as a reminder.
"Let's go!" Chizuki, held in Shimamura's arms, declared, pointing ahead with a small paw.
"Where are we going now?" Shimamura asked, seeking Chizuki's opinion.
"Uh, is there a blacksmith in Inazuma City?" Chizuki was more concerned about this. "My silver sword was shattered in the last battle, so I want to buy a new weapon."
Although Chizuki still had the well-worn Hunter's Bow, she couldn't use it, so she planned to visit a blacksmith to buy a more practical weapon.
For instance, an ordinary silver sword.
As for greatswords and the like, Chizuki wasn't considering them for the time being.
How could her tiny body possibly lift such a massive sword?
"Sorry, I've got a lot on my hands, so I'll have to help you while I work. Is the customer looking to buy a weapon or commission a forging?"
As the blacksmith's apprentice spoke, the motion of his hammer never ceased for a moment.
"I'd like to buy a suitable weapon," Shimamura said, conveying Chizuki's request.
The apprentice pointed to the weapons hanging on the wall and said, "They're all over there. Please, take a look."
Chizuki led Shimamura to the weapon rack.
"The Iron Point spear looks pretty good, too," Chizuki noted, her attention drawn to a different type of weapon. After a moment of thought, however, she decided, "Let's stick to the original plan and just buy a silver sword."
"By the way, can the weapon be forged again?" Chizuki thought of the unusual attack power of her previous silver sword.
Only a reforged weapon could possess such strength.
"Yes, it can. Do you have your own materials?" the apprentice inquired.
"Huh? I have to provide my own materials?" Chizuki was taken aback. She immediately rummaged through her bag and finally found a few pieces of fine enhancement ore. She had Shimamura hand them over for her, along with her old, well-worn bow.
"Come back in the afternoon to pick them up," the apprentice said, accepting the items.
"I'll take this silver sword," Chizuki said, paying the Mora at the same time.
"Alright, let's go to a nearby restaurant and get something to eat," Chizuki suggested, seeing that their business was concluded. She intended to follow their original plan and buy some snacks.
"I remember you said you liked Tricolor Dango, Shimamura. Let's go buy some to try," Chizuki said, handing over some Mora for Shimamura to handle the payment.
No matter how you looked at it, a super-intelligent cat would probably attract a lot of attention.
"Is Chizuki still going to Mt. Yougou?" Shimamura asked, glancing at the tall mountain in the distance. It was the highest point in all of Inazuma, and the Sacred Sakura standing atop its peak seemed to cast a faint pink hue visible even from within the city.
Chizuki's gaze also fell upon the great sakura tree behind them, and she considered going over to sit beneath it.
She shook her head and said, "There isn't enough time. We'll go when we have another chance."
Mt. Yougou wasn't a place one could simply ascend at will. It would take a considerable amount of time, and by the time they went back and forth, more than half the day might pass before they even reached the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Taking all this into account, Chizuki naturally felt that strolling around Inazuma City today was an excellent choice.
If worst came to worst, there were so many cats in Inazuma City, she could always find some to bond with.
In a sense, weren't they all just cute cats?
She just happened to have an extra tail.
Chizuki swallowed the Raspberry Mochi she had bought in one large gulp, then extended a paw to stroke her whiskers and replied in a serious tone.