"Beach volleyball match, second round, Faruzan versus Nilou! Athletes, please prepare!"
After Nahida's announcement, the two walked towards the infinitely durable court personally built by Jack.
The sand underfoot was still soft.
It looked fragile, but even if Morax were to cast a Heavenfall here, the sand would not budge.
Faruzan looked at Nilou a few meters away, her expression somewhat puzzled.
"I've been wanting to ask since earlier, you know what happened in those few seconds when the Traveler left, don't you?"
Nilou's eyes darted around, stammering, clearly having something unspeakable.
This made Faruzan even more confused.
What kind of thing is it that she can't even mention it?
Never mind, after winning this match, I'll go ask that person!
Faruzan raised the volleyball in her hand and tossed it into the air.
Bang!
The battle began!
...
"She... did that to you?"
Nahida left the referee's position, letting Dinazade take over.
She herself came to Dori's side, curiously looking at this 'adult' who was about the same size as herself.
"Mm."
Dori buried her head, somewhat afraid to meet Nahida's gaze.
"So how many days did you stay over there?"
"Th-three days."
"That long! He didn't let you rest at all?"
"It wasn't all about doing that kind of thing."
The two were speaking in encrypted conversation.
This left Dehya, who was eavesdropping, completely bewildered; she nudged Candace next to her and asked,
"What are they talking about? It feels somewhat intriguing. Can you understand?"
"I don't have a habit of eavesdropping on people's conversations."
"??"
This is something related to that man, and you don't even eavesdrop?
Can you stand this feeling of being excluded?
Dehya looked at Candace in shock.
"Ahem."
Candace cleared her throat, finally giving up on her pointless reserve.
"What I mean is, I don't quite understand what they're talking about either. Why don't you go ask them directly?"
A hunter knows best how to set a tiger against a wolf.
Instead of foolishly trying to uncover that person's secret, it's better to let Dehya go and ask, and then she can eavesdrop.
After all, with Dehya's straightforward personality, even if she asks something sensitive, it won't cause ill will.
"You're right, I'll just go ask Jack!"
Dehya adopted Candace's suggestion and walked towards Jack.
Jack was currently holding Dori and tidying her curly hair.
"Um... Jack, could you come over for a moment?"
Jack's lips curved slightly.
He had actually heard Dehya's conversation with Candace, and he knew that Dehya was being used by Candace as a pawn.
However, seeing embarrassment on the face of this valiant Lioness was quite interesting, so he feigned confusion and said,
"If there's something, you can ask here. Or does Dehya want to talk about something more private with me?"
Dehya's face instantly flushed.
Dehya's appearance is very misleading; in reality, she herself is a typical low-offense, low-defense character.
"It's, it's just some private topics! Um... can we?"
"With that tone, are you pouting?"
Jack said, amused.
"Who can refuse a big kitty's pouting? Little Dori and Nahida, you two chat. I'll go see what private words our big kitty sister wants to tell me."
"Who's a big kitty~"
Dehya pouted.
Unexpectedly, Jack's large hand immediately touched her head.
"Ah!"
"Hmm, this touch, it's almost as good as Diona's."
Dehya didn't even have a moment to be shy and quickly asked, "Who is Diona?"
"You met her at the last gathering, she's that cat girl from the Kätzlein family."
"Oh, her."
Dehya secretly noted down the name.
Since Jack likes cat girls so much, and calls her a big kitty.
Then next time, she'll go learn from a real cat girl... No, no! This is not trying to please this man! Absolutely not!
...
Dehya chose a slightly distant spot, with a coconut tree nearby.
Here, they probably wouldn't be able to hear.
She looked at Candace, who wanted to follow but couldn't bring herself to, and showed a smug little expression.
One must know that for lions in the Desert, besides ferocity, wisdom is also a very important part.
Miss Candace, as a hunter, forgetting this characteristic is very fatal, you know~
"So... what exactly do you want to talk to me about?"
Jack leaned against the coconut tree, observing the hunter and lioness duo from Sumeru.
This kind of scene of girlfriends competing for affection is indeed never tiresome, no matter how many times one sees it.
"Cough! Um... before I ask, I want to ask, Jack, how do you... how do you see me?"
"A direct hit right off the bat?"
"Oh, never mind if it's direct or not! Just tell me!"
It was rare to see Dehya's cute, roguish expression, and Jack's playful mood was also aroused.
A frivolous look appeared on his face, and his finger slowly hooked her chin.
At this moment, the windows to their souls opened towards each other, and their eyes held only each other's presence.
"Wild, unrestrained, free, generous... Hmm, and a captivating maiden's fragrance; you are a fine delicacy."
Jack leaned in and gave her a light kiss on the lips, offering this evaluation.
Dehya froze for a moment, then shyness burst from her chest, her eyes wide with a cute blankness; even when Jack's supporting hand left, her posture remained suspended, unchanged.
Candace: Damn it! It's too far, I can't hear clearly!
Candace: What?! Why did they suddenly start kissing? Isn't that a reward only given after winning the match? What did Dehya say to get the reward early?!
Candace: I should have gone up and asked too! Look at that spineless Dehya, what is she frozen for at a time like this? She should counterattack!
...
After taking a few deep breaths, Dehya recovered.
Her Don't dare to look Jack's appearance truly resembled a shy kitten.
"Actually, I wanted to ask why you said you were leaving just now, and then came back a few seconds later, and Dori and Collei even changed two outfits."
"Oh, that? Sorry, I can't say."
"Ah?"
Dehya suspected she misheard, but still politely didn't press, though her expression was a bit regretful and downcast.
"I see, then I won't ask. Well, let's go back quickly, Nilou is still in the match!"
Snap!
Jack grabbed Dehya, who was trying to escape.
"You really are a cat, giving up after a little teasing. Where's your patience for hunting prey?"
Jack used some force, pulled Dehya into his arms, and gently bit her earlobe, saying,
"I'm not telling you because it's related to the match's reward. Whoever wins will know what the reward is.
Of course, at the end of the match, regardless of who wins or loses, I will inform all of you of the content."
His words resolved the confusion in Dehya's mind and ignited her determination to defeat her good friend Candace!
The prize of the victor, huh?
She, Dehya, the Blazing Mane, was determined to have it!
-------------------------------
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