13 House Tasmania

When it was Lupus's turn, she tiptoed energetically to the counter and hoisted herself onto the ledge with playful ease.

"Two rooms, please!" she chirped, her fangs peeking out ever so adorably.

The receptionist nodded, tapping away on his kiosk, but his brow soon furrowed. He quickly masked his dismay before offering a polite smile.

"Apologies, dear guests. It appears we did have two rooms… until Sir Lunarius before you took one."

"Oh…" Jack's face betrayed no disappointment, though his mind raced with alternatives. He could sleep outside in a makeshift tent.

It was just one night, after all.

Anything would be better than an old man like him sharing a room with a beautiful girl like Lupus. What if Willhelm found out? Would he see her in a lesser light? Think less of her as a potential partner for courting another man at night?

Not that it mattered. Where he slept was irrelevant.

Tomorrow, he'd be scavenging for an arcanite engine from the wreckage of fallen Armatus on the battlefield. Scavengers and debris collectors weren't all that different, and he had high hopes that luck would be on his side.

Jack was about to step away from the counter, words forming on his lips to bid Lupus farewell, until he felt a firm grip on his wrist. Her fingers wrapped around it, holding him in place.

"Yes, we'll take that room!" Lupus declared to the receptionist, leaving no room for argument.

Jack blinked. "Hey! I can't share a room with you!"

"Shut your yapper! Don't be such a whiny old man," she cut him off, flashing an naughty smile.

"I can just sleep outside like the others. I don't even have any credits on me," he insisted, trying to pull away.

Lupus didn't let go. Instead, she tugged him closer. "I'm, uh, I'm scared of phantoms," she muttered, cheeks tinged pink. "So, you have to stay with me. To ward off those phantoms!"

"S~seriously?" Jack stammered.

Phantoms were little more than myths, urban legends whispered about in the south of Germund, akin to mischievous spirits of the dead who couldn't find their way to the underworld.

"Also!" Lupus added, cutting him off before he could argue further. "If you're planning any funny business, I know I'd take you down easily. Even without my arcane! Uncle Jack."

She sealed the deal with a cheeky wink before spinning on her heel, her hair twirling past his nose. A warm, sun-kissed scent lingered in the air, curling around his senses longer than he expected.

So that's where that nice smell was coming from… Her hair smells amazing, Jack thought absently.

Lupus tapped her Stellius ring against the payment machine, collected her key, and strode off, still dragging Jack by the wrist.

"Please let go of my hand, Lupy," he eventually muttered as they stood waiting for the lift to arrive.

She did so without hesitation, a giggle escaping her lips. "Hehehe!"

She was too innocent for this world. Jack couldn't help but think of all the what-ifs. What if I were a bad guy? Someone who would take advantage of her while she was asleep?

But then he countered the thought. Lupus was incredibly strong. If the mother and child's story was true, she had taken down two Armatus knights in a single blow.

An amazing feat.

And a reminder that, if anything, he was the vulnerable one in this situation.

Jack sighed, resigned. I guess… there's no way out of this now. I should've just accepted her hospitality and kindness. Tomorrow, we'll go our separate ways.

Upon entering their room, he was taken aback by its sheer luxury. It had all the amenities of a high-end suite, with a grand king-size bed at its centre, adorned with two towels folded into origami cranes.

The view outside would have been breathtaking, mountains in the distance and the stunning architecture of southern Germund, if not for the remnants of war scarring the landscape and the sight of miserable people gathering in the square below.

Lupus's lips curled into a wide grin.

"Bouncy!" she exclaimed, climbing onto the mattress and bouncing experimentally.

Her excitement mirrored that of a ten-year-old, yet Jack was certain she had to be over twenty to hold the prestigious title of Olympian Mage of the Agility Division.

Still, he dared not ask her actual age.

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"You should take a bath first," Jack offered as he collapsed onto the couch, twisting the cap off a cold bottle of water.

Lupus's eyes widened slightly, misinterpreting his offer. "Do I smell bad?" she asked, embarrassed as she sniffed herself thoroughly.

"N~no! I just meant that since you paid for the room, you should have the privilege of going first," Jack corrected hastily before taking a sip of water.

"Can't argue with that," she replied, eyeing him strangely before motioning for him to come closer.

Jack hesitated, then shifted forward awkwardly. "What… what?" he stammered, averting his gaze from her dazzling eyes.

Lupus took his hands and guided him to sit before her. "Lupy… what are you thinking?" he asked, his face flushing crimson. His heart pounded, and his mind raced through countless possibilities.

Without answering, Lupus hovered her palms over his head, focusing on the dried blood at his wound. Closing her eyes, she chanted softly, "Iasis."

Glowing green glyphs materialised in the air, revolving around Jack's scalp. A soothing sensation washed over him as the throbbing pain in his head subsided.

Is this a healing magic? Incredibly, this is even better than the stimpack!

As the green illumination dissipated, Jack ran his fingers over his head, searching for his wound—only to find smooth skin. His eyes widened as he locked eyes with Lupus.

"Thank you," he murmured.

The bunny girl grinned before flopping onto the bed in exhaustion. "Phew… I'm out of mana now."

"Huh? Shouldn't you reserve some mana, at least?" Jack asked. He wasn't entirely sure how magic worked; he had never attended an 'Arcane 101' class, not that such knowledge was accessible to ordinary people anyway, but he could grasp bits and pieces from his keen observation.

From what he understood, Lupus's mana had a finite supply, and casting spells consumed it.

The real question was how she would replenish it. Did it work the same way as an Armatus's arcanite engine? Could she simply recharge her mana like replacing a battery?

Curiosity twirled in his mind.

Lupus drew her lips into a thin line, offering no reply. She shuffled around on the comfy bed, making herself comfortable.

"Don't be such a worrywart, Jackie. My mana will return after I get some rest and some food," she said, stretching her torso on the bed and letting out a soft, satisfying moan.

Jack nodded, intrigued. So it regenerates by itself, like fatigue in my physical body. That's fascinating…

Lupus wiggled her golden arc boots at him. "I'm so exhausted still. Would you mind taking off my boots for me?" she requested, a playful mischief in her voice.

Jack blinked, the playful tone flying completely over his head. "Huh? That'd be improper," he replied, as bashful as a teenager. If only he was twenty years younger.

"Come on! I healed your wound… please!" Lupus bargained, her body remaining sprawled on the bed with her legs dangling off the edge.

Jack exhaled a long, defeated sigh before reaching for her arc boots. The golden metal surface shone brightly. As he focused on figuring out how to remove them, his eyes located three straps on the side of her calf that held them in place.

His fingers went for the straps, but as he touched them, a sudden jolt of electricity shot up his arm.

"Ah!" he yelped, recoiling instantly.

A peal of laughter erupted from Lupus, and she clutched her toned stomach. "Hahahahaha! Gotcha!"

"Lupy! What was that?" Jack demanded, rubbing his stinging finger.

Eventually, the bunny-eared lady sprang up to face him, her eyes upturned in amusement. "I've noticed you've been tense since we met Lunarius Willhelm, so I thought I'd play a prank on you! Fufufu!" she explained between giggles.

"Oh…" His lips parted in puzzlement as he scratched his silver hair. "Is it a defence mechanism? An anti-theft measure?" he asked, his curiosity overriding any anger at the frivolous girl.

Lupus nodded happily, unbuckling the straps herself.

The boots came loose, and she stretched her feet experimentally, each toe bobbing with rhythm. A soft, satisfied moan escaped her lips involuntarily.

Her toes were surprisingly agile, more nimble than any human's.

Jack stared in awe, unblinking.

"Pervert!"

Lupus's voice boomed, her cheeks dusted red. Her abrupt accusation made Jack spring to his feet. "I was just admiring your range of movement!" he argued, realising immediately how strange he sounded.

"Oh… I thought you had a weird fetish for feet or something…" Lupus teased, winking playfully.

Jack exhaled, a frustrated sigh escaping him. He retreated to the relative safety of the sofa, waiting for Lupus to finally take her bath.

When it was his turn, he stepped into the shower. Her sweet, sun-kissed aroma still lingered in the steam-filled air. Shaking his head to banish any unsavoury thoughts, he scrubbed himself clean.

He let the hot water cascade over his shoulders, the heat a welcome sensation that soaked deep into muscles long accustomed to the persistent chill of space.

It must have been an hour before he realised he'd taken far too long. Hastily wrapping a white bathrobe around his body, he exited the bathroom, only to discover his clothes were gone.

Jack approached Lupus hesitantly. She was lying on her belly on the bed, kicking her feet in glee, as though being a Bunny Wildren came with a perpetual supply of cheer.

It appeared she was scrolling through a video feed of some sort. A projection emitted from her ring.

Neat magic tech. Jack thought.

"Um, do you know where my clothes are?" Jack asked, pointing at the empty basket where he'd left them. Lupus, now dressed in a satin robe supplied by House Tasmania, nodded eagerly.

Before she could answer, a knock came at the door. "Room service!"

"I had them dry-cleaned!" she said, motioning for Jack to get the door. He obeyed, opening it to find a young man in a hotel uniform.

The staff member tipped his hat and handed Jack his folded clothes, along with a new set of garments he had never seen before: a black tunic with intricate shoulder pads, well-fitted trousers, belts, and even a pair of leather shoes roughly his size.

Jack frowned, thinking it was a mistake. Just as he was about to clarify, Lupus appeared beside him in a blur of motion.

"Thank you! And before you ask, those are for you, Jackie!" she said, reading his mind. She took her newly washed clothes while Jack held his own, still slightly stunned. She thanked the staff member and shut the door behind her with her foot.

"Oh, you shouldn't have…" Jack said, the gesture making him feel an increasing sense of debt. She is incredibly nice to me.

She waved his concern away. "Now get changed! We're grabbing dinner right away, I'm starving!"

Before slipping into the bedroom to change, she paused. "Oh, about your jumpsuit… They said they don't know how to clean it. Something about the fabric being… peculiar."

Jack examined the new clothes in his hands, a soft smile touching his lips. "That's very thoughtful of you, Lupy… Thank you."

"So I'll ask them to bring it up tomorrow," Lupus told him, to which Jack nodded in approval.

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