Chapter 825 – The Stunning New Home

Zhizhi’s jaw dropped wide open, and Clack’s mandible fell off and clattered to the ground. They were both utterly stunned by this “new home” that surpassed all imagination.

Only now did they understand — what their master had called a “new home” wasn’t a house at all. It was an entire small world!

“Zhiii——!!!”

Zhizhi let out a shriek of pure, peak excitement, shot out like a shadow, and began rolling around wildly on the soft grass.

“Clack! Clack!”

Clack also set off on its bony legs, running happily back and forth, its soul fire blazing with excitement as if it might burst into flames.

Mo Lan leaned against the doorframe, watching the two of them play, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

Just then, Sentai, rooted by the edge of the pond, sensed the arrival of its companions.

Its massive, moss-covered body shifted ever so slightly, seeming somewhat cautious. A soft, tender-green branch extended slowly and tentatively from its canopy, like a shy arm, lowering itself down and swaying gently, trying to touch Zhizhi, who was rolling on the ground.

At the same time, a thin, delicate root tendril covered in soft moss quietly burrowed out of the soil, winding its way over to Clack’s feet, tapping its foot bone like a little feeler.

“Zhiii——!!!”

“Clack!!!”

Zhizhi and Clack, who had been immersed in exploring this wondrous new world, were startled by this sudden “contact”!

Zhizhi bolted upright with a jolt, reverting to its original form in a flash, staring warily at the massive tree ahead.

Clack also leaped back a step, assuming a clumsy defensive stance, its soul fire flickering alertly.

Sentai seemed frightened by their intense reactions. All its branches and root tendrils retracted instantly, and its massive trunk radiated waves of hurt and unease.

Mo Lan watched this scene of utter chaos and couldn’t help but press her hand to her forehead with a soft laugh. She hurried forward and spoke to Zhizhi and Clack, who looked about one second away from pummeling the tree: “Relax, this is Sentai! It’s just trying to say hello!”

Then she patted Sentai’s trunk soothingly. “Don’t worry, Sentai. They were just a little surprised.”

Tree Friend only allowed a Witch to communicate with trees. To eliminate the communication barrier, Mo Lan cast Wood Speech — a spell she had learned from the Elven magic book — on Zhizhi and Clack.

The instant the Magic took effect, a gentle, childlike, and slightly anxious stream of mental intent flowed clearly into Zhizhi and Clack’s awareness.

“Big Sister Zhizhi! Big Sister Clack! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you! I’m Sentai! I’m Sentai!”

“Big sister?”

The title made both Zhizhi and Clack freeze.

They exchanged a glance, then looked at the enormous ancient tree.

From within that ancient, weathered trunk came a voice as pure as a toddler’s — even a little babbling and milky — and it kept calling them “big sister”!

“You’re calling us big sister? But you look bigger than us…” Zhizhi, back in its original form, compared heights with Sentai and found it was actually a tiny bit shorter.

“Because… you big sisters came to Master’s side before me!” Sentai’s mental message carried pure attachment and acceptance.

In truth, it was their master who had taught it to say this — that it would help the newcomer be accepted by its companions more quickly.

Ever since it had developed sentience, it had been curious about everything and loved having company.

Zhizhi, with its natural big-sister energy, immediately relaxed and decided this tree was looking rather agreeable after all. “Fine then! From now on, I’m the eldest sister, Clack is the second sister, and you’re the youngest! And once Master gets another familiar, you’ll be the third sister!”

Clack also relaxed, walking over to the thin little root tendril and gently tapping it with a finger bone, letting out a warm: “Clack? (Hello there, little sister Sentai~)”

“Hehe, Big Sister Clack!” Sentai replied cheerfully, its root tendril wrapping affectionately around Clack’s foot bone.

Watching the three companions who had been bristling at each other just moments ago now calling each other sisters, curiously poking and prodding and chatting away, Mo Lan’s lips curved into a gratified arc.

The little ones had finally accepted each other.

Mo Lan’s gratified smile hadn’t even lasted three seconds before she heard Zhizhi excitedly say to Sentai:

“Sentai! It must be so boring staying home all the time. Do you want to come work with me and Clack? Our boarding house is super fun — there are tons of friends there!”

Zhizhi grew more and more excited as it spoke, and with a clap of its paws, it made a momentous decision: “Oh right! Since you’re part of the family now, our ‘Mo-Zhi-Ka Familiar Boarding House’ needs a new name too! From now on, it’ll be the ‘Mo-Zhi-Ka-Sen Familiar Boarding House’! And we need to get you a custom bow tie! A family’s gotta match~”

Sentai’s canopy immediately rustled with joy, radiating elated intent: “Yes yes! Sentai likes it! Sentai can help big sisters take care of little plants and grow yummy fruits for our friends to eat!”

“Clack! Clack!” Clack raised every bone in its body in agreement, feeling that with Sentai’s addition, the boarding house would definitely be even better.

Standing off to the side, Mo Lan listened as these three little ones were already passionately discussing expansion plans for the “family business” — Sentai had even generously severed a piece of its own root to make a new sign. She couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head.

She quickly interrupted their enthusiastic planning: “Wait! Zhizhi, Clack — Sentai is a tree. Being away from soil for long periods isn’t good for it…”

Hearing that it couldn’t go along, Sentai’s branches drooped slightly, emanating a touch of disappointment.

Mo Lan’s heart softened immediately, and she hurried to console it: “But it’s not entirely impossible! We could prepare a larger spatial planting pot and put it in the boarding house for Sentai to temporarily take root in.”

This suggestion made Sentai’s branches lift slightly again, radiating anticipation.

But then Mo Lan shifted direction: “It’s just that… now that we have this enormous Witch’s home, no matter which other world I go to explore, I can bring all of you — bring our entire home with me. So with that in mind… do you still want to stay at the Explorer’s Camp running the familiar boarding house?”

This question made all of them freeze.

Clack, not considering itself the sharpest, quickly looked to Zhizhi.

Zhizhi’s paw unconsciously scratched its head. The whole reason it had struck out on this path was because it knew that even with the nourishing feedback from the magical familiar contract, its own and Clack’s growth was simply too slow to be of any help to their master in battle. So it had found another way — working, earning Mana crystals for their master.

It looked at Mo Lan, its eyes gradually growing clear and resolute:

“Zhiii… Master, running the shop is fun, and earning Mana crystals feels really rewarding. But…” Its paws clenched tightly. “But getting to adventure with Master across all kinds of worlds, seeing even more amazing things — that’s the best of all!”