Let's Train Heroine

"Hey, Lucan. I'm sorry, but could you help me look for a Golden Mouse?"

"Huh? Why all of a sudden?" Lucan looked up from the meal he was finishing, his brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

The setting was the dining area in the living quarters of the temple, a cozy room with wooden tables and chairs, and sunlight filtering through the stained-glass windows. The only ones present were Lucan and Julia, as Hima and Olive had stepped out to prepare for their expedition.

Julia's expression was a mix of determination and embarrassment, her arms crossed over her chest as she avoided his gaze. "I found traces that a Golden Mouse might have been in the forest nearby… but it runs away as soon as we get close. Golden Mouse are sacred creatures, so there's talk that they come closer if a priest approaches."

"A sacred creature, huh?" Lucan pondered, stroking the soft fur of the white fox nestled in his arms. "It might be a good change of pace. While we're out there, why not have a picnic?"

Julia's face turned a deeper shade of red as she turned away, fiddling with a loose strand of hair. "W-We're not going for a picnic! We're there to catch a Golden Mouse! But if you insist… fine, I guess we could bring some food."

Lucan couldn't help but smile at her reaction. Despite her tough exterior, Julia's tsundere nature often revealed itself in moments like these. "Alright then, it's settled. But if we find the Golden Mouse, I get a share, okay?"

Julia huffed, still not looking directly at him. "Sure, that's fine. Let's head out right away."

"Hey, right away?" Lucan raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, You don't have any plans, right? In this peaceful town?" She asked.

As a priest, Lucan's main duty was to heal the injured with his magic, but recently, the town had been unusually quiet, with few visitors needing his services. His afternoons were mostly spent cleaning the temple or tending to the garden.

"Well… no, okay, let's go right away," Lucan said, setting down the fox, which immediately jumped up onto his shoulder, perching there comfortably.

Julia frowned, eyeing the fox warily. "…You're bringing that too?"

"It's useful for various things. Trust me," Lucan replied, patting the fox on the head. Over the past few days, he had come to realize that the fox was main reason for preventing awkward situations like walking into each other in bath, and white fox Interrupted him wherever he was alone with any girl.

Julia pouted, her lips forming a small, sulky line. She had noticed the same thing and couldn't help but feel that the fox was a bit too good at keeping her from getting closer to Lucan. "Fine, bring it along… but don't blame me if it gets in the way."

Lucan chuckled softly, sensing her frustration. "I won't. Let's get ready."

After changing into more practical clothes, Lucan and Julia set out for the nearby forest, joined by Hima and Olive. The forest was a serene place, with tall trees casting cool shadows on the ground and birds singing overhead. The path they followed was well-trodden, often used by the townsfolk for hunting and gathering.

As they walked, Lucan glanced at Julia. "Is there really a Golden Mouse in this forest? I've never heard anything like that from the townspeople..."

Hima, who was walking a few steps ahead, turned back with a sly grin. "An adventurer from the royal capital said they saw one in this forest. And in the past few days, there are rumors that it's here."

"I was skeptical at first," Julia admitted, her voice a bit quieter. "But when we investigated, we found traces."

Hima pulled a small handkerchief from her pouch, unfolding it to reveal a tuft of golden fur. "See? Golden Mouse fur. These creatures are covered in golden fur and have a red gem-like jewel on their forehead."

Lucan examined the fur, nodding thoughtfully. "Interesting… But why did you all come from the royal capital to look for a Golden Mouse? The information seems pretty vague, and now these rumors are suddenly spreading."

"A count's daughter fell gravely ill and became unable to leave her mansion. The count, her father, tried various medicines and priests, but nothing worked. Desperate, he's searching for the miraculous Golden Mouse. We received a substantial advance payment, and the success fee is considerable, so we took on the job, even if it's a long shot."

"I see… So that's why you're in this forest." Lucan understood.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere became quieter, the usual sounds of the forest muted as if the animals were watching them cautiously. They followed narrow animal trails, brushing aside branches and leaves. Occasionally, they would hear rustling in the bushes, but it would always turn out to be a harmless creature scurrying away.

After about an hour, they reached the deeper part of the forest, a place where the sunlight barely reached the ground through the thick canopy. This was the spot where the group had found the Golden Mouse fur a few days earlier.

"Let's split up and search from here," Hima suggested, her tone brisk. "Olive and I will go together, so Julia, you search with Lucan."

"W-Wait, why do I have to be with Lucan!" Julia protested, her voice rising slightly.

Hima smirked, clearly enjoying the situation. "Lucan is a priest and can't fight. It's only natural for the strongest of us to pair up with him, right?"

Julia's mouth opened and closed as she tried to come up with a counter-argument. "Well, that might be true, but…"

"Even if there aren't any strong monsters here, we can't just leave our helper unprotected, right?" Hima's tone was sweet but had an edge to it that made it clear she wasn't going to back down.

Julia sighed in defeat, crossing her arms. "…Fine."

"Alright then, we'll meet back here in an hour," Hima said, giving Lucan a playful wink before heading off with Olive.

Lucan watched them go, then turned to Julia. "Shall we start over here?"

"Don't get any weird ideas," Julia muttered, though her cheeks were slightly pink. She started walking ahead, making sure to keep a bit of distance between them.

Lucan followed, the white fox still perched on his shoulder, its keen eyes scanning their surroundings. The forest was peaceful, the only sounds being their footsteps and the occasional chirp of a bird.

As they walked, Lucan couldn't help but notice Julia's slightly stiff posture. "Are you okay? You seem tense."

Julia glanced back at him, her expression defensive. "I'm fine. Just focus on finding that mouse."

Lucan nodded, deciding not to press further. They continued searching, checking under bushes and around tree roots. The atmosphere between them was awkwardly quiet, the tension from earlier still lingering.

After a while, they reached a small clearing where a stream flowed gently, its water clear and cool. Julia knelt by the stream, cupping her hands to take a drink. Lucan stood by, admiring the peaceful scenery.

As Julia stood up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she slipped on a loose stone by the water's edge. She let out a small yelp as she lost her balance, but before she could fall, Lucan was about catch her in his arms but White Fox jumped and using gravity like power white fox saved Julia.

"Are you okay?" Lucan asked.

"Yeah," Julia nodded, then pouted as she looked at White Fox.

"Well... Let's continue our search," Lucan looked at White Fox. He had to say, the pet left behind by Maris was quite capable. It seemed even if he wanted, it's diffcult to get together with women.

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