Soon after, the group spotted Piper waiting by the roadside.
"Everyone, I've brought your motorcycles! Ah, moving all this stuff around is seriously tough for someone my size."
From the way she said it, it was clear she had loaded all the motorcycles onto the vehicle by herself.
It just proved that her reputation as a Sons of Calydon freight driver with over twenty years of experience was well-deserved.
"Wow, Piper, you got the bikes here so fast!"
Burnice clenched her small fists in excitement, while Piper responded with a look that clearly said, "Naturally."
"The moment I got Wise's call, how could I waste even a second? Your bikes are all set, so hurry up and go!"
"Thanks, Piper! Everyone, let's move!" Burnice called out.
Without waiting, she jumped onto her motorcycle, pulled Wise along with her, and sped off.
"Wise and I will scout ahead! Catch up as soon as you can!"
By the time her voice faded, she was already far ahead, completely ignoring Caesar as she called after her.
Ever since she had seen Wise in his Bangboo form, she had been itching to get her hands on him.
'He's just too cute...'
From the very first glance, she had wanted to hug and squeeze him, but Caesar had always been the one holding him.
Now that she finally had the chance, there was no way she would let it slip.
Wise, seated in front, was still adjusting to the strong wind as his body was pressed tightly against Burnice.
His head was pushed into something soft and familiar, and he could even hear a steady heartbeat. Startled, Wise tried to sit up properly, but Burnice's excited voice rang out immediately.
"Wise! Please, haha, don't move around, it tickles!"
"Okay, sorry."
With that, Wise could only stay still. Every time the motorcycle bounced over uneven ground, he felt something soft and full brushing against the back of his head.
"Nice! We really made it here first!"
As their destination came into view, Burnice grinned. But Wise's expression shifted, his eyes locking onto several oil drums stacked nearby.
"Wait... Burnice, watch out!" The warning came too late.
A loud explosion erupted, sending both of them flying before crashing into a rock wall not far away.
Because Burnice had been holding him, Wise remained unharmed, though the front of his body was scorched black from the blast.
"Ouch... That stung a little."
Despite taking a direct hit and slamming into solid rock, Burnice simply rubbed the back of her head before getting to her feet.
She looked completely fine. Not even the sunglasses resting on her head had a scratch.
"Burnice, are you okay? Wait... who are you?!" Wise asked, his voice turning sharp as he noticed the Thiren woman who had suddenly appeared before them. Yet she didn't react to him at all.
It seemed his Bangboo body made him easy to overlook.
"I was thinking of leaving while I still had the advantage... but seeing you two like this has really awakened my predatory instincts."
The Thiren woman wore a metal mask that concealed her face. She leaned in close to Burnice's ear, clearly trying to intimidate her, but something unexpected happened.
"Ah~ So soft~"
Her pupils shrank instantly. At some point, Burnice had grabbed her tail and was now gently rubbing it.
"So warm~"
The Thiren woman quickly tried to pull away, but she was too slow. Burnice swung her flamethrower and ignited her tail.
Wise, standing nearby, barely managed to dodge the sudden burst of flames.
Burnice's tendency to attack without warning was genuinely terrifying. If it had been any other Bangboo, they would have been roasted on the spot.
"Are you insane?! You're setting me on fire!"
The Thiren woman frantically slapped at the flames engulfing her tail, shouting at Burnice in disbelief.
"Eh~? Don't Cat Thirens usually enjoy a bit of warmth?" Burnice asked, casually swinging the flamethrower with both hands.
She tilted her head in an almost playful manner, then gave a confident nod, letting the sunglasses resting on her forehead slide neatly down over her eyes.
Beside her, Wise pressed a small hand to his forehead, looking utterly helpless. He had already seen this coming.
"Burnice, Wise, are you two alright?"
Caesar and the others arrived a moment later. Her worried voice immediately drew Burnice's attention, even in the middle of the confrontation.
"Oh, Caesar, you're here! Look! She's a Cat Thiren! Her tail is incredibly soft!"
"Burnice, even I know you can't just touch a Thiren's tail like that!" Caesar said, both startled and concerned.
Burnice blinked, then nodded as if something had just clicked.
"Oh, right! When you meet them for the first time, you're supposed to scratch their chins!"
'Please don't say something like that right in front of her. That's just rude! Even when I met Nekomata, I took it slow before getting anywhere near her chin or ears.'
Wise thought to himself, and just as expected, the Thiren woman completely lost her composure.
"Ugh, don't push your luck!"
"Oh~ Even an angry Cat Thiren is so cute!"
Burnice kept her bright smile, but the flames from her weapon didn't lessen in the slightest.
"Damn it!"
Grinding her teeth, the Thiren woman quickly realized how bad things were getting. If this continued, she wouldn't be able to escape.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Wise.
'I've got it!'
A sharp gleam flashed in her gaze.
While exchanging blows, she subtly shifted her position, drawing closer to him. After taking a hit from Caesar, she seized the moment and dashed straight toward Wise.
"This is bad! Wise is in danger!"
Caesar immediately moved to intercept, but she was a step too late. The Thiren woman had already grabbed him.
"Don't come any closer!"
She restrained Wise with one arm while pressing a gun against his head with the other. From his position, he could clearly feel the soft fur of her belly against him.
"Sorry, little guy. Don't worry, I'll let you go once I'm out of here."
She leaned closer and whispered into his ear, but Wise wasn't paying attention.
Instead, his hand twitched slightly, as if it were acting on its own.
'Now that I think about it... ever since I parted ways with that Nekomata, I haven't felt anything like this. And I didn't even bring Inky with me to the Outer Ring...'
For the past few days, he had been quietly holding back the urge to pet a cat.
"Hey! Members of the Sons of Calydon, let's talk this through... Wait! What are you doing? Mmh! Ha... no! Stop, stop right now!"
Her voice faltered as her body suddenly gave out beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground. At the same time, Wise's hand moved, gently stroking her belly.
It was nothing more than a simple touch, yet it carried an oddly irresistible effect. A sensation so soothing, so overwhelming, that she couldn't muster the strength to resist it at all.
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Novels Available:
-> Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street. (Translation)
-> Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives! (Translation)
-> Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White. (Original - P@treon Only Until It Reaches 30 Chapters)
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