Bidding farewell to Porlyusica, Tike found Alice fishing by the stream.
Sensing Tike's arrival, Alice immediately put down her fishing rod, picked up the bucket beside her, and flew over.
"Tike, look! I caught so many fish today! Every single one is big and fat!"
Tike patted Alice's head and praised, "With so many fish caught, we can have a feast tonight!"
"Mm-hm!"
Alice raised her head even more proudly, her tail wagging happily.
"How should we eat them... Right, let's go back and have hotpot!"
Decision made, Tike waved his hand. A pale blue light swirled slowly in the air. Then, together with Alice, he stepped into this portal and returned to the streets of Magnolia.
Ever since following Ur to this vibrant city, Tike and Alice had naturally joined the Fairy Tail guild.
Setting aside the good impression of the Fairy Tail guild formed back in Edolas, Tike quite liked the warm atmosphere here.
But he still had some regrets.
Back in Edolas, there was a big sister who always took care of him.
In this bustling guild, Tike didn't see anyone similar to her, unlike the Tike of Edolas.
Otherwise, he would probably like this place even more.
He looked around slightly and immediately covered his face.
"Still a bit off."
By sensing those markers imbued with his own magic power, Tike could set the landing point of his teleportation magic more precisely. Although there would still be some deviation, it was within an acceptable range compared to before.
To make up for this, Tike decided—
"Let's walk back."
"Okay." Alice followed Tike's steps, then asked curiously, "Tike, I remember when you used animal-type markers for teleportation before, the landing point was more stable, right? How come I haven't seen you use them anymore?"
"Sigh, small animals run and fly around randomly, not as obedient as plants."
What gave Tike even more of a headache was that they liked to squeeze into places full of strangers, completely opposite to him, their master.
Chatting like this, Tike and Alice walked toward their current residence—the Fairy Tail guild's boys' dormitory.
Although Tike didn't like being in environments with too many strangers, the people here emitted an aura that made him feel safe and comfortable, just like the members of Uncle Chill's guild. Plus, with Gray and Lyon also living here, Tike quickly adapted to dormitory life and got along well with everyone.
Both psychologically and physically.
Unknowingly, the person and cat had arrived at the entrance of the boys' dormitory and noticed two girls standing there—Kagura and Millianna.
Seeing Tike and Alice return, Millianna's eyes lit up instantly.
"Alice—!"
She cheered and rushed over, hugging Alice tightly.
The sudden hug startled Alice, and the bucket in her hand slipped out.
Tike caught the falling bucket steadily. After placing it on the ground, he looked at Millianna, who was rubbing against Alice with an intoxicated expression, revealing a look of "I knew it."
Like Tike, Kagura, Millianna, Erza, Yukino, and Kagura's brother Simon had all joined the Fairy Tail guild.
Currently, the girls lived with Ur in the girls' dormitory. Considering their financial situation, Ur paid out of her own pocket to rent rooms for them, stating they could repay the rent themselves when they were capable of working and earning money in the future.
Among these new members, besides Kagura often coming to the boys' dormitory to find her brother Simon, Millianna came the most frequently.
She came for only one thing.
Petting the cat, petting the cat, and still petting the cat.
Watching this familiar scene, Tike couldn't help asking, "Millianna, do you like Alice that much?"
"Mm!"
Millianna answered without lifting her head, gently kneading the pink ears with her fingers.
"Meow~ Meow~"
The pink mechanical cat narrowed her eyes comfortably from the petting, emitting satisfied meows.
Tike didn't stop her but turned his gaze to Kagura beside her.
He saw her staring at Alice with a tangled expression, a mix of longing and hesitation.
"You want to pet Alice too?"
"No... I don't." Kagura denied hurriedly, her eyes darting away, afraid to meet Tike's gaze.
No need to rely on smell to discern lies; Tike saw through Kagura's duplicity with just his eyes.
During their previous travels, Kagura had to hug Alice to sleep almost every night.
It was just that after reuniting with her brother Simon, due to various reasons, she no longer had the opportunity to be intimate with Alice like that.
After all, everyone lived in separate dormitories now, and of course, Alice had to sleep with Tike in the boys' dormitory.
Alice was his cat!
Watching Kagura's conflicted look of wanting to touch but not daring to, Tike's heart moved, and he actively proposed, "Alice, how about you accompany Kagura and Millianna to play outside for a while? I'll call you when it's time for dinner, okay?"
"Sure!"
Alice agreed on the spot.
As a childcare robot cat, she naturally liked playing with children.
"No need."
Kagura shook her head, rejecting the proposal.
"I came here today because I wanted you to train with me, Tike."
"Huh? Train?" A look of confusion appeared on Tike's face. "Then why don't you go find Big Sis Erza? I remember both of you are practicing swordsmanship; she should be more suitable to guide you."
"Big Sis Erza just took a request and went out today; she might not be back for a few days," Kagura explained.
"Oh, she's not here. Then I'll train with you."
Tike turned to look at Millianna, who was still immersed in the joy of petting the cat.
"Millianna, you and Alice take these fish to the master chef in the kitchen first. Ask him to help prepare them, and say we're all having hotpot tonight!"
"Got it!"
Millianna responded happily and dragged the fish bucket into the dormitory with Alice.
After watching them leave, Tike extended his hand to Kagura, revealing a relaxed smile.
"Let's go."
"Mm."
Kagura responded softly and held Tike's outstretched hand.
In the next instant, a pale blue light flashed. The two vanished from the dormitory entrance and arrived in the forest.
Tike looked around, confirming this place was suitable as a training ground.
(A bit off... but acceptable.)
"How do you want to train? Want to try the breathing technique I taught you before again?"