novelraw Chapter 238: Ear-tugging is bad
Chapter 238: Ear-tugging is bad
Meeting Rory’s gaze, both Xarion and Jasper shuffled forward, looking unexpectedly pitiful.
Jasper glanced at Nix, then spoke first.
"Rory, let me go first."
His tone was calm, almost clinical as he analyzed the situation.
"If Xarion’s ability can still backlash against me, then it means his power hasn’t been neutralized. In that case, there’s no need for Nix to try afterward."
Nix snapped his head toward him, stunned.
He hadn’t expected Jasper to step forward like that—placing himself in front of him.
A surge of emotion welled up in Nix’s chest, his eyes stinging as tears nearly surfaced.
No!
He was a man of pride—how could he let his brother take the hit for him?
Nix immediately strode forward, dragging Jasper behind him, squaring his shoulders as he faced Rory.
"Rory, I’ll go first!"
He thumped his chest, producing a series of dull, solid thuds.
"Jasper’s not as tough as I am. What if Xarion hurts him?"
"This kind of rough job—getting hit—it’s better suited for someone like me. I can take it!"
After all, serpent-beasts weren’t as physically resilient as lion-tiger beasts.
Behind him, Jasper’s composed expression cracked ever so slightly.
Did Nix even hear himself?
A vein pulsed faintly at Jasper’s temple as he yanked Nix back.
"Rory, don’t listen to him. I’m perfectly sturdy. I can do it."
This wasn’t something as simple as taking a minor backlash.
"Nix, don’t argue with me. Let me go first."
But Nix misunderstood completely.
He grabbed Jasper’s arm, his voice firm with conviction.
"Jasper, I know you’re just trying to protect me by stepping up first."
"How could I just stand by and watch?"
"Do you think I’m the kind of guy who abandons his brother?"
Today, no matter what, he had to take the hit first.
Jasper, however, had meant none of that.
"Nix, stop arguing. I’ll go first."
He needed to prove that his body was not weak.
"No. I go first!"
The two of them began pushing and pulling in front of Rory, each refusing to back down––one determined to prove his strength, the other driven by loyalty and sheer stubbornness.
Rory pressed a hand to her forehead, utterly speechless.
It was just a light test on Xarion—not a life-or-death battle.
Nearby, Vincent and Yuel watched the scene, barely holding back their laughter.
Xarion, on the other hand, looked like he was about to lose his patience.
Were these two idiots serious?
Did they really think he was that terrifying?
"Enough. Stop arguing."
Rory’s voice cut cleanly through the chaos.
Both Nix and Jasper froze instantly, turning toward her in unison.
Rory pointed at the two of them.
"You’re going together."
Jasper: "..."
Nix: "..."
Rory lifted Xarion’s arm, exposing his forearm.
"You two only need to lightly pinch his arm here," she said calmly. "No need to go all out."
"Just... a pinch?" Nix let out a breath of relief. "I thought there’d be blood."
Rory nodded. "Just a pinch."
Without hesitation, Nix and Jasper reached out and pinched Xarion’s forearm.
"—Hiss!"
"—Hiss!"
Almost instantly, both of them recoiled as sharp pain shot through their own arms—far worse than what they’d inflicted.
Nix turned to Rory, aggrieved.
"Rory, Xarion’s ability is still active. That really hurt."
He hadn’t even used any strength—yet the backlash was intense.
Jasper nodded in agreement. "Same here."
Rory frowned slightly. Then she reached out and pinched Xarion’s arm herself.
No pain.
Not even a trace.
"Xarion, did that hurt?" she asked.
He looked at her and nodded.
"Female Master, a little. But not much."
Vincent stepped forward, glancing at the marks on Nix and Jasper’s arms before speaking thoughtfully.
"Rory, it seems Xarion’s ability has only lost its effect on you."
Yuel added, "Could it be because you and Xarion have already formed a bond?"
Rory had never really hit Xarion before—at most, she’d tugged his ears playfully today. That was likely why she hadn’t noticed the change until now.
Xarion considered it, then nodded slowly. "That’s possible."
He looked at Rory and smiled, his tone light. "Whatever the reason, it’s a good thing my ability doesn’t affect you anymore."
He tilted his head slightly, voice teasing but sincere. "If you ever get angry, Female Master, you can hit me as much as you like."
Nix’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Rory hits you when she’s angry? Why doesn’t she hit me?"
...Was this really something to compete over?
Rory rubbed her temple, exasperated.
"Nix, I’ve never hit Xarion. And I’m not going to hit you either."
What kind of strange preference was this?
Xarion leaned closer, his wolf ears still out, giving them a deliberate flick.
"But Female Master, you did tug my ears just now."
The moment Nix heard that, he immediately leaned in.
"Rory, I want that too."
"What does ’tugging ears’ mean?"
A small voice suddenly piped up.
"I want it too! Me and Daddy want it too!"
It was Terry, his tone bright and curious, completely unaware of the chaos he’d just added to the moment.
Yuel chuckled softly, reaching up to pat the little fruit perched atop his head.
"Terry, you’re still too young. You haven’t even grown ears yet."
"Oh..." Terry’s soft, babyish voice drooped with disappointment. "Then when I grow ears, Mother can tug them. For now, she can tug Daddy’s ears instead."
Rory: "..."
What on earth were they saying in front of a child?
They were going to corrupt him at this rate.
Rory stepped forward and stopped in front of Yuel, gently correcting him.
"Terry, ear-tugging isn’t a good thing. Only beasts who’ve done something wrong get their ears tugged."
The little fruit immediately wobbled, shaking his round body in protest.
"Mother, Terry won’t do it anymore!"
He wanted to be a good child by her side.
Rory’s expression softened. She reached out and stroked him gently.
"Good boy. Mother likes Terry the most."
Then she turned her head—and shot Xarion a sharp glare.
Xarion instantly lowered his head, guilty, not daring to say another word.
It was getting late.
Rory glanced at her wrist device, then turned to Vincent.
"If everyone’s free, how about we go catch some sea beasts now?"
It wasn’t often they came to the water domain—and there were so many sea beasts here.
They had to bring more back.
"We’ll take the battleship," Nix said immediately.
Jasper added, "Wen should be back soon. He has space for capturing and raising sea beasts."
After all, the beasts had to be taken back alive.
Dead ones didn’t taste nearly as good.
Vincent nodded. "I’ll make arrangements. We can head farther out."
They could stay overnight on the battleship—and return in the morning to pick up Paros.
***
Soon enough, Wen returned.
Without delay, the group boarded the battleship and set out across the waters to hunt sea beasts.
Not long after takeoff, Rory’s wrist device chimed.
It was a message from Lola Brandon, asking if she had finished her business—and whether she could return before the Festival of Ten Thousand Females.
Rory quickly replied, assuring her she would make it back in time.
After sending the message, her gaze lingered on another name below—Aren.
Ever since he’d said he was going to find medicine for her, he hadn’t returned.
She had sent him multiple messages.
No replies.
Even her video calls wouldn’t connect.
Jasper’s Hunter Alliance hadn’t picked up any trace of him either.
Where had he gone to search for that medicine?
Rory’s fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before she lowered her hand.
Hopefully... by the time she returned to the Central District, Aren would be there too.