Four legs facing the sky
Their club had not yet built a trophy showroom, so after consideration, Xia Luan decided to hang the three medals on the living room wall, right next to the wooden bird rack.
Although Xia Qi, and the others who had stayed behind, had heard that their club’s three cubs had all gotten into the top ten through Xingyou, it was another thing to see the three proud little cubs flaunting their shiny medals, with their own eyes. It really made them happy.
The sunflower shaped medals were also very cute, and especially so while hanging around the fluffy cubs’ necks.
Obviously it was just a friendly competition that tested the cubs’ basic flying ability. But when Xia Luan entered the house and brought the cubs into the living room, the other adults in the room exaggeratedly praised the cubs with sincerity.
Looking at the proud expression on the faces around him, Xia Luan coughed to hide the smile on his face.
“Tiuh! Tiuh-Tiuh!”
Being met with everyone’s praise, the three little cubs raised their chests high. Their black eyes were exceptionally bright and they happily called out several times.
When Xie Luan later removed the small medals from the three cubs, he could see that they were still a bit reluctant to part with them.
“Tiuh…” With a low chirp, the three cubs stroked against Xie Luan’s shirt. It was very obvious that the cubs were used to expressing their wants and needs.
Having three pairs of black eyes expectantly gazing up at him, as well as being snuggled by the fluffy cubs, Xie Luan naturally could not resist.
“Want to wear them a little longer?” With a smile in his eyes, Xie Luan added, “Later, I will just hang these medals on the wall, right beside your little house.”
The three cubs wanted to wear them, they really wanted to wear them. But they couldn’t always wear them. They would need to take them off when they bathed for example.
“Tiuh!” The medals were put on again and the small cubs happily chirped and flapped their wings, flying over to their little house.
On the other hand, when hearing the voice of the youth and discovering that he was back, the cubs playing and resting in the living room moved the tips of their ears and soon Xie Luan was surrounded by the cubs.
A mass of fluff together with one muka cub. Xie Luan’s ability to walk had been fully incapacitated by the innumerable forepaws firmly clutching his shoes and pants.
“I don’t think I would get such a warm welcome if I was away for three days.” Watching the human youth who had now sat down on the soft rug in the living room and already had several cubs climbing up onto his body, Zheng Zhou could not help but sigh.
To be able to be this close to the cubs was undoubtedly an important ability. In the Star Alliance’s Star Assessment of caretakers, it amounted to 15% of the total score.
After working together for some time now, Zheng Zhou had also realized that the human youth in front of his eyes seemed to have pretty good spiritual energy.
Even though the other sometimes fell short when it came to common sense, overall, his ability was obviously much better than that of a C-level caretaker.
So when he got to know that the youth did not have a star rating, Zheng Zhou felt it a bit unfathomable—
For the youth to partake in the Star Assessment, with the other’s ability, as long as he prepared for it, he would surely have no problem getting the B-level assessment, right?
Xie Luan who was buried in fluff, looked down at the three cubs still clinging to his legs.
Two of them were saimo cubs, who looked like small lions. Standing on their hind legs, they were grabbing onto his pants with their baby teeth which had not yet fully surfaced and were pressing their entire body against his right leg, clinging onto it while looking up at him.
On his left leg clung the takila just as firmly. Xie Luan tried to move his legs, but in the end, gave up on straightening them.
Occupying Xie Luan’s chest, a round cub with two small horns on his head was nestling into his arms with an eye half-open, looking down at the other cubs. As the nox cub had now already taken that place, the other cubs seemed to give up crawling into his embrace and instead most of them climbed up onto his legs and refused to move.
With so many fluffy cubs on his body, Xie Luan felt as if he was covered with a fluffy blanket, and it also brought the kind of cozy warmth that not only warmed his whole body, but also his heart.
On Orte, shortly after the cub left, Tanner had called the butler to his study.
“Sir, you don’t have to donate anonymously to this cub raising branch.” The butler tried earnestly to persuade him, “You may justly and honorably…”
Before he could finish, the butler was silenced under the man’s sharp gaze and took on a proper work attitude.
So, a few days later, Yunbao branch received an anonymous donation. When Feng Wenxian, who was in charge of the financial affairs of Yunbao branch, told the sum to the others, they all were stunned.
Two million credits???
Their first reaction was that they must have misheard. Which wealthy person would so kindly donate two million to their club out of nowhere? The fact that they were anonymous made it even more incomprehensible…
Confirming that it was indeed two million credits, Xie Luan involuntarily shifted his eyes to the kuhti cub playing with his two friends.
Using the method of exclusion, the most likely person to do this was clearly the kuhti cub’s parents…
But as the other had chosen to remain anonymous, Xie Luan, even though he had basically confirmed it in his mind, could not voice his guess.
A large anonymous donation had been received and they had recently also attained their first share of fame. Two days before the end of the month, Yunbao branch welcomed the first new cubs since the kuhti cub.
There were six new cubs, five of whom were kuhti, kuwei, and cotto cubs.
Considering that the event that made Yunbao branch gain fame was mainly related to these three races, Xie Luan was not surprised by this.
“Tiuh-tiuh, tiuh—“
Having been carried and put down on the soft carpet covering the living floor, the five cubs looked similar to small fluffy baby chicks as they sat together and curiously took in their new environment.
Not counting the three original ones, there were now five more. Xie Luan walked up to the wooden bird rack that was not far away and looked at the three fluffy cubs sitting outside the cabin at the top. Suddenly, this rack looked quite small.
The three cubs were also a little at a loss. They really liked this wooden rack a lot, but now that there were five new companions, it would not be enough for all of them…
”Ah Luan, I think we should just buy an indoor tree directly. There is some space over there, in the upper right corner, we can place it there.” Xia Qi paused to think and then said, “We should buy a Bannou tree, they don’t require much care and they have a very nice appearance. They should be suitable for indoor planting.”
Xie Luan did not hesitate and quickly made the purchase according to Xia Qi’s suggestion. The wooden rack would not be removed and soon there was also a big tree with colorful autumn colored leaves growing in the living room.
Additionally, they even made several small nests and added them to the branches. Now that there were many places for the cubs, they did not have to worry about unfairness due to lack of space.
“Tiuh-tiuh.”
The cubs of the three races were obviously very interested in the nests in the tree and after Xie Luan finished, they all, one after another, flapped their small wings and flew up to the tree, choosing their own favorite nest.
Their club now had a fluffball tree…
Looking at the cubs squatting in their respective nests, each one of them appearing exceptionally round and fluffy, people would not help but think this.
In comparison, the last cub out of the six was different, it was a moye cub.
Xie Luan had before heard that the moye race was known in the interstellar for their rough and thick skin, and that they had the strongest defense capability out of all the interstellar races.
Having never seen the original form of this race, Xie Luan was stunned for a second when he for the first time saw the cub form of the moye race.
It looked like… a small turtle.
“He just turned one this month and our cub is still a little unskilled when it comes to balance, so you may need to take extra care of him.” The one speaking was an adult moye male, a race where men and women generally had a much larger and sturdy figure than the other races; when in humanoid form, they measured up to at least 2.3 meters tall.
Balance?
Just as he showed some doubt regarding this statement, Xie Luan saw the moye cub, who had slowly been taking two steps after being put down, suddenly turn over onto his back.
The moye cub’s four short legs were restlessly kicking in the air for a long time and when he could not turn over, the cub began to hum and whine for his parent.
“That’s it…” The parent standing next to him explained rather helplessly that he did not know why his cub would flip onto his shell when walking and that the cubs of their race would normally not be so easily turned over like that.
In response, Xie Luan approached the moye cub and squatted down beside him. He then stretched out his hands towards the cub.
Touching the edges of the hard shell of both sides, Xie Luan then moved one of his hands to gently touch the cub’s belly and with a warm voice said, “Be good.”
Feeling a sense of security from the youth, the moye cub, who was humming and wildly pedaling his four short legs in the air, gradually stopped moving and his sight shifted to the youth’s face.
Xie Luan turned the moye cub back over and then patted the cub‘s shell.
Seeing the young man’s behavior for himself, the moye cub’s father felt reassured and decided to let his cub stay at this Cub Raising Branch.
After the parent had checked in and left, Xie Luan picked up the moye cub from the ground and prepared to take him to the cub house.
As they were walking there, Xie Luan remembered that the moye people were a water-loving race.
It seemed that now the mermaid cub would finally have a small companion to play with.
_______________
Translator’s note:
Yay, more cubs! A fluffball tree! \(^o^)/
We even got a moye cub!!! It was just so adorable when he was laying on his back, waving his legs in the air, I think I have died of cuteness once again! XD
[x] – “Four legs facing the sky” is an idiom and means laying flat on one’s back.
While I personally find lizards less freaky than insects, I do think it would be better to go with a more accurate translation.
Thank you for the chapter! Fluff tree! Yay! Turtle! Yay!
Thank you for the update and your hard work.
Thank you for the chapter! 😀
Thank you for the chapter! This story never fails to make me smile, it’s so cute!
Thanks for the chapter! ???
Loved the fluff tree and the new cubs.
Thanks for the chapter! I love this story so much…
Thank you for the update
Honestly, I can imagine the ML more of a lizard instead of an insect, but choose whatever makes it easier to translate.
Thank you for the chapter and for your hard work (already looking forward to next Friday)!
Maybe it’s sort of like in Bouzu to Kumo manga spider like appearance?
I’m sorry… I’m really confused!!! I thought the ML was going to be the knox… That fluff ball with horns… Umm the one who can turn into a human-like form? Perhaps I had read it wrong? (´∀`;) Anyways, thanks for the chapter!!!
Oh, sorry, I did not mean to affect your ship.
This novel makes it quite hard to know who the ML is and there are many different ships. Our MC is most often shipped with the Muka, Zarad or The Knox. As I don’t want to destroy any ships I will just say this—
In the note, I just meant to say that, at that time, I thought the Muka was the ML.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The information in the note only says what my personal ship was at that time and even though I now know who the ML is, the note does not show who it is. My ship can have changed since then or I might still ship the Muka with the MC and the author simply broke the BL law. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
No problem~ I had misunderstood.(^∀^)
I always imagined the Muka cub to be something like a big ant so it doesn’t really make a difference to me but I would prefer the more accurate translation.
Thank you for the chapter~!
While the image of a lizard definitely looks better in my head, when I think of the impression the galaxy has of the Muka race and pair it with the insect drawing it somehow seems more plausible…. but Imma go ahead and say lizard. I’ve always pictured Mike as a reptile…. Mike was his name right…?
Thanks for the chapter!
I suuuuper look forward to this update every Friday. Totally makes my week. XD
Muka cub (:
I know its a Muka cub. XD
What I meant was the cub’s name; it was mentioned in a previous chapter, I think its name was Mike but I can’t remember properly.
I think his insect appearance is pretty cool, but I do what you think is the best (and easiest) for you. I like both appearances ≧ω≦
Thanks for the chapter! While I usually prefer more accuracy, I admit I am really having trouble visualizing the Muka cub as an insect type. Your pictures usually help, but I’m still blanking out on this. So go with whatever is easiest for you. Maybe it’s kind of a cross between a lizard and an insect type? Or maybe it’s like an armadillo or an ankylosaur with heavy plating? I’m not not sure what cues you have that point towards insect, so I’m just throwing out some thoughts. I just feel that the caretakers would be more grossed out by the appearance if it was really a full on insect, whereas they focus on it being big and stupidly strong with low intelligence. It’s cute with the MC regardless.
Thanks for the chapter! ?
Thank you for the chapter!
The mermaid has uhuu company
I think a more accurate teaduction might be better.
Insects are also cute … the beetle of the movie “life of insect” is a grace … only lose to the ladybug kkk
Oh that muka picture. Its exactly what i thought it to be. XD
A sort of slim hard shelled long tailed black thingy xD
Maybe the turtle has neurological problems regarding his motor skills? Or his shell needs a scrape cuz its too heavy for him O.o
Thank you for the chapter! Fluff ball tree! ??
I think the insect appearance is cute…(I’m weird I guess) but I will support wathever you decide to do.
Honestly I’ve always imagined the Muka cub as a huge Chesire cat looking cub. I don’t even know why ? despite knowing it has scales. I think I filtered the entire looks because it’s still a cub? Lol
We might need an adult Muka to appear before I can fit that image into my brain.
The Moye cub is so cute / pitiful ? definitely the type I like to coo-ed at for its struggle to get up. Thank god the little mermaid is given a water friend.
I always imagine the Muka like a insect like animal since its remind me of Overlord’s Cocytus.
I love turtle!! Moye will be so cute! More birds ahhhh
A fluff tree~! It must be so lovely to cuddle all those cubs~!
Looks like our MC has to help another cub overcome something. Also, our silent mermaid cub can now have a friend!
Thank you very much for the chapter~!!!
I thought of the Muka like a dragon insect hybrid.
Rather cool plates (like exoskeleton) and less scary than an actual insect (Like Lucas the Spider)~! Also way less hairy.
I don’t mind either way as long as he’s cute~!
I read the raws through MTL and that’s kinda what I thought from the description also.
Wahhh! That’s so cute! I imagine a round cute turtle helplessly waving it’s four cute stumps in the air~♡
Thank you for the chapter!
The mermaid cub has a companion now! I hope they get along and the Yunbao Branch has a Fluff Tree! If what XT says that the three Birb races are so round and fluffy when they’re in cub stages, I want to snuggle and be submerger in a birb cub mob then I’ll happily die.
꒰˘̩̩̩⌣˘̩̩̩๑꒱♡
I’ve always imagined the Muka Cub as a big komodo dragon like creature (´・ᴗ・ ` )
So I prefer the second images
My that so cute like 3 already awesome and now with extra 5 fluffy chick wow it’s like like a paradise for me ~~???
Keep the hard work I’ll root for this book (^^)
Fluffbol trees reminds me of the Lorax XD which reminds me of green ham and eggs which also reminds me that I’m hungry and haven’t eaten anything for a whole day…. (^.^; thank you for the chapter~~ a lil turtle is here yay XD
Thank you for the update…
thanks 4 the chapter……….
Thanks for the chapter! A cuteness, warm blanket on a cold day!
The Mika sounds like it might look like a axehound, chasmfiend, or white spine from the Brandon Sanderson novels.
https://i0.wp.com/www.tor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/tWoK_SKETCHBOOK-4_AXEHOUNDS-webres.jpg?resize=678%2C1023&type=vertical
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/762515780633578781/
https://brandonsanderson.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/03/whitespine_sketch_06.jpg
Stupid autocorrect, I wrote Muka!
Many thanks for the chapter!
I would say that I somehow was receiving the zerg-like vibe from the muka cub. Like a miniature version of some nice, obedient ultralisk… Ekhm, sorry for that, please don’t ask how I managed it XD Crayfishes are, unfortunately, not so cool in this cat’s opinion… But the fanart in the bottom left corner also looks interesting?
It probably would be better to translate more accurately if it’s really the case. But maybe it’s just that different people are imagining him differently? There is a huge difference between the two fanarts on the left XD I just hope that there are no crab claws…
Overall I think that it will be fine, just choose whichever version you’re more comfortable with!
Thank you for the chapter, and about the Muka cub….i always just thought he was a fluffy big bear….and i’m never not going to think he’s a bear….cause…..big fluffy bears are just adorable especially cubs
Accurate translation please!
And crayfish insect like creature cub can be adorable!!
Why do you think Bug Pokémon Exists!!
Thanks for the Chapter!~
To be completely honest, I like that blue picture the best~
But if you decide to do the more accurate version it’s fine!~
I just spend the night reading this story.
Its soooooo cute.
Love it to the core of my heart.
Hope to see more and more.
I’m back! And now I’m all caught up. Now, the hard part…. waiting. Again. I’ll be back.
Accurate is better, I think…
But I like the pictures you had of the muka.
Thanks 4 the chapter! 🙂
Yep, yep, accurate all the way.
Thx 4 the chap XD
About the Muka cub, I actually like the design of the fanart better. I just think it looks cooler.
Referring to fanart on the top left.
thank you for your translating. 🙂
i think the muka is the bull at first. i don’t know why but the name muka gave me an impression of that like tauros in pokemon.
Haha the dad is a tsundere!!! The turrrrrrtleeeeee is so cuuuutttttteee!
For some reason I’ve always been picturing Nick as a crab creature. I have died from cuteness…x_x…I have died happy
I always imagined Mike to be like a “Zerg” (aesthetically kinda an insect)