Sakura led me through a beautiful royal-looking area in the retirement home.

Honestly, the entire place was very large and spacious.

We passed through wide stone corridors lined with heavy smooth curtains embroidered with silver threads.

We also past low tables that were set with porcelain tea sets and small incense burners, until we finally reached a grand open chamber that felt both ruins-level archaic and comfortable.

This room, unlike the many parts of Shishi-no-su, wasn’t Japanese-like at all:

It had massive stone slabs forming the floor, being polished smooth by centuries of feet stepping on them.

The walls rose high, covered in intricate carvings of past events, blooming fields, and mythical beasts which were locked in eternal portrayal.

The cushions in deep reds, golds, and purples were scattered everywhere; some were in neat rows, others were piled haphazardly like someone had just collapsed onto them while fooling around.

The space carried this rich mix of warm sake, aged tea, and faint woodsmoke from a low stove-like thing in the center.

In this place, several elderly beastkin women lounged on the cushions, with cups in their hands. Their voices were carrying on in easy conversation.

"Ohoho! And what did they say?" one granny asked, in a resonant and amused voice.

"Hehe! You can already guess it; they said they will—ah, Sakura-chan!" another called out, as they spotted us.

Their chatter stopped, and all eyes turned our way.

"Goodness, child, you never come visit!" A blue-furred bunny woman with bright red eyes frowned.

She wore heavy velvet robes trimmed in gold thread, the kind of stately garment that looked like it belonged in a royal portrait, with her sleeves so long they pooled around her wrists. She was so beautiful despite the wrinkles and all.

"C’mon, take it easy on her." a raccoon-featured granny said, siding with Sakura. "It’s not so simple being the Queen of Shishi-no-su."

She wore a beautiful flowing kimono-like dress of deep prestigious silk, with a voice so warm but somewhat teasing.

So cute! If I squeezed her chubby cheeks, I might get in trouble.

"Queen or not, are we not family? Some of us have very little time left, you know." This one had visible muscles even in such aged form.

Her countenance was just like a bear’s, with a short puffy brown tail flicking behind her. Her wild and honestly frightening claws tapped idly on her sake cup, and protruding bear-like ears swiveling on her head.

So cool! She reminds me of Elara.

"Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan! Do not listen to them; we all know the effort you put in to preserve King Leorin’s legacy. Keep up the good work, okay?"

This granny had subtly glistening scales on her hands and cheeks; when she spoke, her slitted tongue flipped out briefly, split like a snake’s. And her yellow eyes were also slashed and sharp, like a reptile.

She was somewhat small and cute, but there was that terrifying aura about her small form.

"And my, who do we have here?" A human-like granny in elegant layered robes of charcoal and silver leaned forward, her gray hair cascading past her shoulders, and her old silver eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Has Sakura finally found the one she loves?"

The entire circle went "Ooohhh!" in perfect unison, staring at me like I’d just walked in carrying a crown of gold.

Sakura greeted them all with deep, respectful bows, her ears lowering politely.

"Good day, everyone. This is Benjamin Mark, my love—no, I mean, the new god-touched that arrived some weeks ago! Please ignore what I just sai—"

"I knew it. She really has found the one!" The hyper bunny granny raised her sake cup in celebration. "You know, Lily tipped me some days ago that Sakura-chan might be in love."

Lily, she says?

Ah, now that I look at her, there were some resemblance: Lily might be this one’s granddaughter—or even her daughter, considering how ancient Lily herself was.

"Geez, Oba-san!" Sakura blushed furiously. "Y-You’re making Benjamin uncomfortable!"

"Boyo! Come let me test you to see if you’re worthy of my adorable stepdaughter!" The bear granny stood up, glaring at me, with those terrifying claws flexing.

"Ohoho! Aren’t you a bit old for sex, Kumai-san?" The human-like one laughed, while sipping her tea.

In response the bear granny blushed a little. "Idiot, I meant a battle of strength, not sex."

"Oh? But he doesn’t seem to mind, with the way he’s looking at you and all. Do you happen to like older women, son?"

"Eh?!" I waved both hands frantically. "No, not that I like them or not! I just... uhm, like her muscles despite her age. I mean, I find them cool."

"Ah, he says he’ll sleep with Kumai if we all promise to join?!" The hyper bunny granny stood up, with her red eyes wide.

"H-He didn’t say that, old hag!" Sakura snapped, her face turning red from embarrassment, as the grannies burst into laughter.

Relative issues, huh?

"I can’t believe you’d call me that, when you’re a hag yourself." The bunny granny hopped with surprising energy and draped her arm over Sakura’s shoulders.

This bunny... She reminded me of Usagi-cha... I mean, Usagi-sama. Except Usagi-sama (when she’s not horny, I’ve learned) is just so pure and innocent.

But then something caught my attention from the corner of my eyes.

[Alert: Master is being appraised.]

Huh?!

The serpent-like beastkin was gazing at me for an awkward moment, before she smiled.

"You are a good boy, aren’t you?"

"Eh? How can you tell?" I asked.

"I just can. It’s a gift I have, and haven’t lost with all the aging... Come here, boy."

She stretched her hand toward me, and I stepped closer, you know, out of politeness.

But—SMOOOOOOCH!

She... suddenly kissed me!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com