With her curiosity satisfied, Shikibu gave a warm smile.

“Thank you for telling me. As promised, I will give him the book.”

The first clone jumped, nearly getting dirt on the scroll.

“Really! Then you must definitely give it to eldest brother!

The second clone was quick and with a flick of his hand, he managed to prevent the dirt from getting on the scroll.

Looking at the first clone, he frowned.

[Elder brother will kill First once he sees my memories.]

He noticed the sun slowly disappearing over the horizon. He turned to his side, making sure to get comfortable.

[I should get some sleep in before we continue with the scroll.]

Meanwhile, the third clone had once again whacked the head of the first after noticing how he had nearly dirtied the scroll. Right now, the scroll was already rolled up and was currently golden-brown in colour with red edges. The wooden doles were sticking out from the sides and all that was left to add to the scroll were the straps and some other minor necessities.

Shikibu couldn’t help but let out a giggle again.

“Okay. Let me not bother you any longer.”

The second clone groaned.

“Just when I lied down.”

The third clone let go of the first and patted the second on his back.

“Get up Second. There’s only a few more things we need to accomplish before we can finally disperse.”

“Haaaa…fine. I’ll get started on getting the materials for the straps.”

After the second clone said that, he vanished from the spot. Shikibu’s eyes slightly widened when she saw how fast the clone vanished.

The second clone came back with the corpse of a bison-bear and started peeling of its skin. Shikibu mind wondered when she thought how shocked her clan members would be if they were still around.

“You guys aren’t even half-a-decade in age yet your speed alone would put the elders of my clan to shame.”

The first clone was excited.

“Really?! How fast were the elders of your clan?!”

As Shikibu decided to entertain the first clone, the third inwardly sighed at the first’s antics.

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[Haa…this is tiresome. I still can’t understand how he can go from being the most serious of us in working on the scroll to being the most playful and child-like.]

As the third clone was about to reprimand the first, something surprising happened. In front of all of them, a black light covered Uehara’s figure and as it dimmed, it revealed him to be in his dragon form. He was curled up on Shikibu’s thighs and there was a brief moment where he adjusted his sleeping posture for maximum comfort.

Seeing the scene, the first clone, laughed.

“Hahahahahaha!!”

The third clone held a hand to his chin in contemplation.

“For elder brother to be so comfortable that he instinctively shifted into his dragon form? This is an amazing feat.”

The second clone watched Shikibu’s thighs with a blank, but focused expression.

“Can you spare one thigh for me to rest my head?”

Shikibu was confused as to what the clones meant and the third clone picked up on that.

“What happened to elder brother just now is proof that he, how do I say this…feels relaxed in your presence on an instinctual level. Maybe it has to do with the fact that you’re a demon as well? I’m not entirely sure. All I know is that besides you, only elder brother’s attendant can make him relax this much.”

Shikibu then understood what happened. Maintaining a human form requires a certain amount of focus. As a yokai, she understood that very well. After all, her true appearance is a four-tailed fox, not the other way around. One of the main reasons demons take humanoid forms is that they’re much more suited for combat and have very good versatility.

So for a demon to subconsciously shift back into their true forms, it is in a way a form of trust. And right now, this means a lot to Shikibu since she’s very clear that Uehara’s dragon form is his weakest form since he’s still a drake.

…

The day passed by peacefully. While the clones finished up with the scroll, Shikibu would periodically talk to them. Even though midnight came, Uehara still hadn’t woken up. The clones had explained that he had drained almost half of his internal nature energy and would wake up around a week at the very least.

After accompanying Shikibu to Uehara’s house, they dispersed themselves, leaving her with a sleeping Uehara and his scroll. Opening the door to the house, it was the first time that Shikibu had ever set foot inside. After all, the moment she had arrived on the island, she had ran away, not wanting to be the first thing Uehara sees when he wakes up.

But now that she entered the house, she couldn’t help but appreciate how simple it was. She never liked lavish things since they were pointless to her. As long as she had a normal house, she was fine. That’s why she never accepted living in the palace and instead had her own little home constructed outside.

Making sure that she’s holding Uehara properly, she went to the room where his scent was strongest. Uehara’s room, unlike the rest of the house, was dreadfully simple. There was a bed big enough for two people and a wardrobe. Right by the wall was a shelf that housed scrolls and books organised under the categories of alchemy, smithing, weaponry and miscellaneous. There was only one window which was to the left when you entered the room, giving view to the tea garden Chizuki had started a few years ago.

Ignoring Chizuki’s scent that was also in the room, she went over to Uehara’s bed. As she gently lowered him down in order to place him on the bed, she was surprised to find that he was clinging tightly onto her. Shikibu checked to see if her robes had snagged on his claws, only to be surprised by what she saw.

[?!]

Uehara was clinging to her using his chakra. It wasn’t so much as the action but the significance of it. Cubs of all demon races have the inherent ability to use chakra in a way that allows them to stick to their guardians.

Shikibu looked at the sleeping drake clinging onto her with a surprised, but warm expression.

[Does that mean he considers me his guardian?]

Giggling lightly, she lied down on the bed with him.

“Fufufu~ I guess this big sister will look after you for a bit.”