Behemoth's Pet

On a certain day a week after Aria and co. returned from Usalda Pekura—
（Uhm, the peaceful daily life is the best.）
Tama thought as he enjoyed the feeling of being stowed into Aria’s valley.
Naturally, Aria and co. were taking a week’s break from adventuring after their long, fierce battle against Belphegor.
Currently, they were strolling in the commercial district along with Stella, Lily, and Faeri for lunch.
It was early summer. Lily and Faeri closed their eyes as they enjoyed the warm, gentle wind.
As for Stella, she restlessly looked around at the street vendors along the way.
「Come to think of it, it’s about time for the summer solstice festival in 〝Ryuudou?, right?」
「Aah… it’s already that time, huh! I want to go there, but the ship fare is so expensive.」
The group heard a conversation among the street vendors.
「Aria!」
「What is this “summa solstice festival” they’re talking about?」
Lily and Faeri tilted their heads as they asked Aria the meaning of those words that they had heard for the first time.
Aria gently smiled and replied,
「Lily-chan, Faeri-chan, Summer solstice festival is a grand, yearly festival held in Ryuudou, a country governed by the queen of the oni-tribe.」
「Fest…ival? is that delicious?」
「Stella-chan, a festival is an event that is celebrated by everyone. People eat delicious food, sing, and dance.」
「DELICIOUS FOOD!」
「FESTIVAL!」
「Sounds fu~n!」
The eyes of the trio of Stella, Lily, and Faeri shone. They were extremely interested in this festival.
「Come to think of it, a vacation sounds like a good idea since we have only traveled to battlefields until now. If my memories serve me right, it’ll take us a week to arrive in Ryuudou by ship.」
The dragon girl and the fairy girls wore excited looks on their faces as Aria pondered the thought of a vacation.
（Ryuudou, huh! That reminds me, I’ve never gone there in my previous life.）
Tama, who was stowed in between Aria’s melons, swung his tail as if to express his interest.
Ryuudou was an archipelago country whose main inhabitants were the tribe called oni-tribe.
Aria had heard that a long time ago, the ancestor of their tribe came from another world called earth and left behind many things such as their civilization or their lineage.
Originally, the Summer solstice festival was a festival that belonged to their culture―― in the other world.
Although Ryuudou had many unique skills they carried from the earth, most of these skills were considered lost technology nowadays. Even their current capital had been moved away from the old capital.
「Fufufu, are you interested in the festival too, Tama?」
Maybe because he was in her embrace, Aria noticed Tama’s mood. She gently smiled and brushed Tama’s head.
Since everyone seemed to be really interested in this, Aria and co. decided to go to Ryuudou.
◆
One hour later, at Vulcan’s weapon shop―
「Nnyaa! That sounds inyeaowresting! Can I go with nyuu too?」
Vulcan immediately agreed when Aria and co. came to invite her to participate.
Aria had thought that Vulcan would refuse her since she would have to close her shop for a while during the traveling period. However, Vulcan looked really interested in the festival; she didn’t seem to care about the shop’s matter anymore.
「It’s decided then. Let’s book a ticket for Vulcan too! When will we depart?」
「Since that’s the case, next week, meow! if it’s next week, I’ll have enough time to finish my customers’ last orders, nyan!」
After hearing Vulcan’s reply and exchanging a few more banters, Aria and co. went to secure the tickets. Since they had some time to spare, they visited the guild to make a report about them taking a vacation from adventuring.
Although adventurers had no obligation to make such a report, the diligent Aria felt that she had to at least inform the receptionist, Arnold.
◆
In the guild―
「Oh my! Visiting Ryuudou during the Summer solstice festival sounds lovely! I want to go there too~?」
Arnold sweet(?)ly smiling upon hearing Aria’s report.
Although the sight of her(?) always sent a chill running down Tama’s spine, Tama couldn’t bring himself to hate Arnold since he knew that she(?) always took good care of Aria even before Tama had met Aria.
Arnold was also an elder sister(?)-like figure to Aria. She(?) was a (wo)man with a great personality.
「Fufu! How about you come with us too, Ana-san?」
「Oh my! Going on a vacation with Aria-chan and co. sounds lovely! Should I tell Cedric-chan about this matter?」
Arnold seemed to be completely hooked by Aria’s joke.
She(?) might be imagining the trip with Aria and co., whom she(?) get along with, and Cedric, her(?) lover.
Previously, Cedric had left with Aria and co. to subjugate Belphegor without telling anything to Arnold due to the circumstances. Thus, Aria could understand Arnold’s feelings.
「Well then, I guess I shall go and confirm whether Cedric-sama can take some days off. If he’s okay with it, it’d not be too late to buy the ticket tomorrow.」
「Ufufufun? Traveling together sounds fun?」
After exchanging a few more banters with Arnold, Aria and co. left the guild.
The next day, Arnold told Aria that Cedric would go on the trip too. It seemed Cedric had managed to get some days off.
After the group had secured the number of ship tickets for all of them, all that was left for them was to prepare for the trip to Ryuudou next week.
「FESTIVAL!」
「Yea~h!」
「Lots of delicious food!」
Lily, Faeri, and Stella were in high spirits.
「I’m looking forward to the festival too, Tama?」
「Nya~~~n!」
Tama, who was stowed in between Aria’s melons, cheerfully replied.