Dimensional Storekeeper

Chapter 213: Kurome’s Claws vs Whis’ Curves

Whis lowered her head, her lips parting.

’Big sis, I – ’

Kurome raised her paw slightly.

’Speak only if it is an apology.’

’Do what you must, Whis. Kneel. Apologize. Or I will be the one to correct you myself.’

Whis paused. The weight of Kurome’s words settling into her bones.

Then, slowly, she nodded.

’…Understood.’

Despite her deadly curves and dangerous charm, her posture now resembled a scolded cub. Her pride simmered under the surface, but she didn’t speak again.

Kurome turned her gaze back to Hao.

’Master.’

’Thank you for your mercy… especially towards my clan member. My sister, Whis.’

Hao leaned slightly against the counter, exhaling as if he’d just wrapped up a minor errand rather than stared down a serpent-blooded bombshell trying to charm his soul away.

’Didn’t I already tell you?’

’You can call me Master if it suits you, but I never thought of you as beneath me. You’re not a servant.’

’You’re a friend. A close one.’

’No need to bow so deeply over something like this.’

Kurome’s ears twitched faintly. Her posture eased.

Hao gave a small shrug, eyes drifting toward Whis.

’And her? I get it.’

’She’s from your clan, and she was just… checking me out, yeah?’

He scratched the back of his head.

’Honestly, I wasn’t offended. She didn’t know me yet. Just needs to tone down the whole charm-and-dominate thing before saying hello.’

A pause.

With a crooked grin, Hao added. ’Besides, I’ve had worse first impressions.’

’I did not expect Whis to introduce herself that way, Master.’

’What she did was wrong. Completely.’

’If you’ve decided to spare her because of my words, then I’m grateful… but if you still choose to punish her more harshly, then she must accept it.’

’She alone bears the blame for overstepping. No one else.’

’Not my clan. Not me.’

Kurome lowered her head in a respectful nod, but there was steel behind her voice.

’Even as her elder sister… I will not defend what cannot be defended.’

Hao gave a slow nod, serious on the outside.

But inside?

’Alright alright, Kurome. I get it. Chill.’

Of course, he didn’t dare say that out loud. Not when Kurome looked that serious.

The last thing he wanted was to make her more embarrassed than she already was.

She might be calm, reserved, even a little icy most of the time…

But when it came to her clan, she turned into a full-on big sister general.

Still, Hao understood.

Spirit beast social systems were a whole different beast. Pun intended.

According to the s he’d read, they had entire rules based on power, instinct, bloodline, and who got to stand on the tallest rock during full moons.

Or something along those lines.

Whatever the case, this kind of thing – clan pride, hierarchy, ancient duty – it all ran deep in them.

So really, Hao couldn’t blame Kurome.

He was just glad she wasn’t the type to suddenly swear a blood debt or offer to jump into a volcano as an apology.

Some cultivation beasts definitely took it that far.

’Spirit beasts, man…’ Hao sighed inwardly.

’More dramatic than cultivators.’

What Hao didn’t expect…

Was that they were this type.

Whis took a step forward, eyes locked on Hao’s. She dropped to one knee.

Dark hair falling over one shoulder.

“My actions were foolish.”

“I acted on instinct. Not wisdom.”

She bowed her head.

“My life is in your hands now, Master.”

A pause.

“If you’ll have me, I wish to serve under your name.”

Kurome blinked once.

Hao blinked twice.

Little Sneak mouthed the words. “She’s doing that speech?” from the side.

Hao blinked, absolutely unsure what to say. He slowly glanced toward Kurome.

Kurome was already gone from her spot.

In the next breath, she dropped straight down onto Whis’ head with both front paws, perfectly balanced. Her black fur fluffed up, ears twitching, and her glare was sharp enough to cut metal.

’Don’t try to slither your way into his good graces with those old tricks, Whis’

’You’re not fooling anyone. Especially not me.’

She crouched lower, tail flicking once with clear irritation.

’If you really plan to go that route… then by all means, challenge me to a duel. It seems your tongue’s gotten a little too bold since I left.’

Whis opened her mouth, but before she could reply –

Clap!

Hao stepped between them with a too-bright smile.

“Alright. That’s enough. No need to start a mortal showdown over me, yeah?”

He cleared his throat, then gestured toward the back room.

“How about you two settle this over a game of billiards?”

Whis tilted her head. “Billiards…?”

Little Sneak perked up from the side. “Wait, is that one of those new snacks?”

Kurome still looked like she’d rather toss her sister into a boiling lake, but she huffed softly.

’No. It’s a test of skill.’

Whis smiled again, slowly rising to her feet.

“Very well, Master. I accept… whatever that billiard is.”

Good, Hao thought. This worked out. Kurome was a solid player – crafty and precise – even if she played using her shadow limbs instead of a human form.

And most importantly, this avoided any sisters-dueling-to-the-death situation.

Or so he thought.

Until Kurome glanced back over her shoulder and said coolly:

’I’ll let a kid handle you, Whis. Just so you don’t cry that I was bullying you.’

Then she padded out the room.

By the time Kurome returned, Hao had just wrapped up his rushed, semi-chaotic explanation of the rules, and a demonstration on how to play billiards.

“So this one’s called the cue. You hit the white ball into the colored balls… no, not that hard -”

He sighed as Little Sneak accidentally launched a ball off the table for the third time.

Whis twirled her cue stick with far too much grace. “Mm. Seems easy enough.”

“You say that now.” Hao muttered.

That’s when he noticed Kurome coming back.

She wasn’t alone.

Right behind her was Yan Shu’er, sleeves rolled, fan already half-open, and eyes locked on Whis with immediate judgment.

“So.” Yan Shu’er said. “Who’s the girl I’m supposed to flatten into the table, Lady Kurome?”

Whis raised an eyebrow.

Hao blinked. “Uh.”

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