“Why are you two staring at me instead of eating?”
In the evening, Wanda noticed the strange atmosphere. Meowna and Wolff kept their eyes fixed on her, never looking away.
As the sister-in-law, it wasn’t particularly appropriate for her to stay at her sister and brother-in-law’s house, even though they had built a rather large villa.
Living together inevitably brought some inconveniences, so Wanda stayed in the house at the back with Rin and Hachi. Different regions of Wano Country had been divided among their own people.
Most of the authority in Kuri had been handed over to Zeraora, making this place essentially the second settlement for the Minks. She only drops by occasionally to mooch off the food. With the huge dining hall on Onigashima, having one person in charge of getting food is enough.
It wasn’t her first time eating here, so these two little ones should have been used to it by now.
“Do you want to eat this?”
Seeing that the two kids hadn’t taken their eyes off her, she looked at the food in front of her, trying to figure out what was wrong.
It was just a few more chicken legs. Minks didn’t eat mammals with fur, so birds, fish, and sea beasts were their main sources of meat. Depending on their genetic differences, Minks had different dietary needs.
Her family’s genes were all carnivorous, so the food for this household was mostly meat-based, with no significant differences.
“Auntie, isn’t it time for you to train?”
“Tra… Train?”
Wolff’s words left Wanda puzzled. When did it become these two brats turn to urge her to train?
“Yeah, yeah! You’re so big, but you still can’t use Sulong.”
Meowna chimed in from the side. A Mink who learned to use Sulong could move freely on the night of a full moon. Children were confined indoors that night because the power boost from Sulong, while terrifying, was ultimately a berserk-type skill.
If a novice used Sulong, they could exhaust themselves to death. Except for the elite among elites, even ordinary Minks would feel fatigued after using Sulong. Children’s self-control wasn’t strong enough to ensure they wouldn’t look at the moon on a full moon night.
To prevent accidents, even with the Minks’ laissez-faire parenting style, they wouldn’t let children go out on full moon nights.
This is also why Setsuna refuses to teach the two children Sulong right now. Their age is one factor, but given their talent, it might not be entirely impossible for them to learn Sulong now.
But these kids were already a bit “unruly” without mastering this ultimate skill. Letting them learn Sulong too early was definitely not a good idea, and this was the main reason Setsuna refused to teach them Sulong.
Teaching them now might result in the house being torn apart during the full moon. These two kids seem to have inherited Hachi’s hyperactive genes.
“Who said I can’t use it? I’m part of the Musketeer Squad, okay? How could I not know how to use Sulong?”
Hearing Meowna’s doubt, Wanda seemed to understand the reason. These two little ones seemed to think she was just a useless freeloader, which she naturally had to refute.
Wanda was 21 this year, and although she wasn’t as monstrously talented as Setsuna, she was still above average for a Mink.
Being selected for the Musketeer Squad was the best proof of this. Minks don’t have a large population and they don’t have a formal military structure because they are a warrior race by nature. They live isolated on Zunesha’s back, and if they encounter an enemy, it means an invasion.
At that time, all Minks could turn into powerful warriors.
The Musketeer Squad is a special case; they perform military duties but aren’t a regular army. On Zou Island, the Musketeer Squad is responsible for guarding the medical facilities at the rear of the Mokomo Dukedom and ensuring the Duke’s safety.
Those who could join the Musketeer Squad were elite Mink warriors. As the Duke’s personal guard, they weren’t just for show; they were the real elites.
Mastering Sulong was the key to joining the Musketeer Squad, and Wanda had been able to use Sulong many years ago, though her stamina was somewhat lacking.
“I…”
“Wanda, when did you learn Sulong? Why don’t I remember?”
With a bang, a large wooden tray was placed in the center of the dinner table as Setsuna returned with the heated main dish.
Wanda was about to say that it was Setsuna who had taught her Sulong when she noticed the slightly threatening look in Setsuna’s eyes.
“Auntie, can you actually do it or not?”
“Yeah, Auntie, are you just bragging?”
Seeing that Wanda didn’t immediately respond, Meowna and Wolff’s expressions shifted from excitement to disappointment, and then to a hint of disdain.
“I… I can… or can’t…?”
Wanda suddenly lost her confidence, unsure how to answer.
“I think you didn’t get enough rest last night. I don’t remember you learning Sulong. Have a sandwich and take a rest; this is a special treat that Zeraora brought back from Onigashima.”
With that, Setsuna picked up a sandwich and stuffed it into Wanda’s mouth, temporarily silencing her.
Onigashima’s special fried chicken sandwich, Herba Mystica Supreme Mix, was rich in both flavor and nutrition, though it was a bit hard to swallow.
Setsuna didn’t actually use an example of someone who couldn’t use Sulong, like Bepo, who still hadn’t mastered it due to his lack of talent in that area. If she had brought up someone who couldn’t use it, it would have been troublesome if they suddenly learned it or never did.
Thus, she just found an excuse. Whether Wanda could use Sulong or not wasn’t important; what mattered was that in Wolff and Meowna’s minds, she couldn’t.
Only at the right time, like when it was appropriate for them to start learning, could she then “learn” Sulong.
“You two should stop thinking about it. That form isn’t suitable for you right now. Just grow up properly, and when the time comes, whether it’s Sulong or Lord Arceus’s power, you’ll have your share.”
“For now, eat well so you can grow up quickly. Don’t even think about sneaking lessons—your dad won’t teach you, either.”
The food successfully changed the subject. Children’s interests usually didn’t last long, and before long, they had moved on to something else. However, it seemed that Wanda had earned a new title as a braggart.
The food on the table was quickly devoured, leaving everyone feeling quite full. And they weren’t the only ones—over in Hakumai, Yamato was observing Pupitar, who seemed a bit lethargic today, looking listless.
Unlike usual, it was not energetic at all and just lay lazily on the ground, showing no reaction to her calls…
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