Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 599: Times Passes As A River

After months of staying away from the mansion, Moxy was finally back with intentions to stay. Choux and her drake had come in her tow as well, but staying in the desolate garden, they had yet to enter the main building. Moxy, on the other hand, having arrived with grim news, searched through the mansion for anyone that she could find.

The main floor was deserted, with a thick layer of dust coating the tiles. The stairs were no different, and the same went for the rest of the floors. Nobody was there, not even the servants and not because the place was abandoned but for entirely different reasons that the fox girl was unaware of.

In the end, when she couldnʼt find a single soul in that place, Moxy made for the backyard where her fatherʼs grave was laid. Picking some wildflowers from the overgrowth in the garden, she got on her knees and placed them by his grave. For a good while, she prayed, she prayed for his soul to be in good hands in the heavens.

”Where is everyone?” But once she was done praying, the question arose once more. And as if answering her prayers, the distant sound of the main door being opened perked her ears up. Listening closely while still on her knees, she could make out a faint male voice and the playful shrieks of Daema the drake. ”Is that the butler?”

As faint as his voice may have been, Moxyʼs perky ears could easily assess whom it belonged to. Quickly getting up, she made her way back to the garden. Upon getting there, she was left quite surprised by the increase in height in the raccoon boy. He was twice as tall as before and actually appeared as a demi-human with a humanoid and even quite a charming face.

Standing right by him while he was talking to the arctic fox was his girlfriend, Blossom, but given the state of her outstretched belly, Moxy assumed that their relationship had taken a massive leap since the last time she met them.

ʼSheʼs pregnant? Oh by the goddess, does time fly…ʼ Looking down at herself, she didnʼt want to admit it, but even her body had grown more mature–especially in the department of curves and plumpness. ʼI might need to go on a diet.ʼ

With a sigh, she shook her head and slowly approached the raccoon boy. Noticing her as she walked closer to him, Tan flashed her a smile before bowing lightly. Blossom tried to do the same, but with her hand outstretched, Moxy urged her not to do it–especially since she was quite visibly pregnant.

”Quite the coincidence, running into you while Iʼm on my run to reopen this place…” Lifting his head, Tan moved his hands to his back and stood upright courteously.

”Reopen? What is that supposed to mean?” Moxy asked, a bit confused by his words.

”The hero and party are finally returning, apparently.” Before Tan could answer, however, Choux, whoʼd been told everything by the raccoon boy already, began speaking up. ”The maids and other servants were staying in Lululalia, but now theyʼre coming back.”

Shrugging his shoulders with a smile, Tan heaved a sigh and looked at Moxy again. His hands placed on his hips reflected how he felt now that his task was stolen from him. And yet, with a light laugh, he added further to the explanation.

”It was a vacation of sorts–the mountain bay city is such a majestic place; it really helped everyone get a sense of what true rest is meant to be like.” Leaning slightly towards his now wife, Tan locked his hands with her, and she leaned into his arms as well. ”But all vacations have their end, donʼt they? Duchess Amelia and Ophelia should be here in a day or two with our master and his companions.”

Stretching a free hand towards Moxy, all the while, the fox couldnʼt help but smile at the couple, Tan decided to make a request to her.

”Will you mind staying over? Help us clean up the place? Even with the maids and other servants returning, Iʼm sure the kitchen at the least will be underhanded and need all the help that we can get.”

”Hmm, well…” Giving it some thought, Moxy too shrugged her shoulders and took Tanʼs hand. ”I have my luggage waiting by the main door, so itʼs not like I can go back to the inn. Might as well help, right? Ahaha~”

Although glad that he would have help, a light frown appeared on Tanʼs face. He was confused by Moxyʼs statement, and his confused expression alone made the fox girl realize that there had been a misunderstanding between them.

”Donʼt worry, I havenʼt sold the Boartooth Inn. It would be a stupid decision to do so after the recent surge in tourists.” Pulling her hand back, Moxy folded them under her chest and glanced over to Choux and her drake. ”Not to mention I have two more mouths to feed, one larger than the other.”

”GAUHH!” The drake screeched in annoyance, almost as if offended by Moxyʼs comment.

”Oh, shut it, you guzzle meat like a sailor does cheap ale,” Moxy shot back, and this time, the drake simply frowned and hid behind its owner.

”But still,” cutting into the quarrel, Tan brought everyoneʼs attention back to him. ”If youʼre here, then whoʼs looking after the inn?”

”Aelin–Dariusʼs fiance.” Looking at Tan and Blossom, Moxy wondered why Darius hadnʼt married his fiance yet. ”Iʼve been training her along with a handful of succubuses that were brought in by the so-called mistress about six months ago. Those guys are a handful, but ever since the king made a deal with the Mistress, they only do what theyʼre supposed to and nothing more.”

Shaking her head, Moxy pushed that matter to the side and decided to ask what sheʼd been curious about all this time.

”But enough about me, where are Raven and the others? I havenʼt seen them even in Athenia in quite a few months…”

”Oh, you werenʼt aware?” His eyes wide with shock, Tan let go of his wife and stared at Moxy while absolutely flabbergasted. Frowning with visible confusion, the fox girl stared right back but remained hesitant to ask what was happening. Thankfully, it didnʼt take long for Tan to let the cat out of the bag. ”The hero and his companions have been at war against a demon general.”

”WHAT?!” Even more shocked than Tan from before, Moxy could not believe what sheʼd just heard. But the reality did not care for her opinion or her worry; thus far away past the nameless city, a war was being fought against the forces of evil.