CHAPTER 448: CHAPTER 448: BUBU... WHAT’S IT DOING? IS IT—SNIFFING ME?

Glimora puffed up her chest proudly, as if to say, still cuter than them.

The creatures exchanged glances—dozens of glittering eyes flicking between each other—and began inching closer. Their tiny feet padded softly against the stone, some slithering, some hopping, all moving with cautious unity.

Isabella straightened a little, nervous again. "Uh... Bubu? They’re coming closer."

"They are curious," Bubu said calmly.

"They’re also glowing. And crawling. And whispering my reproductive status. That’s not comforting!"

"Remain still. Sudden movement could startle them."

"Then say that first next time!" Isabella hissed through clenched teeth, frozen in an awkward crouch.

The glowing creatures kept advancing, their soft light spreading around her like a halo. She could see the shimmer of their translucent scales and the faint gold flecks that dusted their bodies. It was like standing in the middle of a living constellation.

Isabella swallowed hard. "Uh... hi again."

No response.

"Hello?"

Still no response.

She waved a little. "Nice weather we’re having? I mean... for a cave."

Glimora facepawed.

Finally, the creatures began murmuring again—disjointed words mixing with chime-like sounds. Isabella tried to pick them apart, but it was like listening to a half-remembered melody.

"Mortal... kind..."

"Soft... eyes..."

"Life... breath... hum..."

And then—clear as day—one voice rose above the rest, smooth and almost melodic.

"Mountain... knows you."

Isabella’s breath hitched. "It... what?"

The others murmured again, repeating variations of it—like an echo passed down through many mouths. "Mountain knows. Knows life. Knows woman."

Her heart pounded faster. "Bubu, translation?"

"They believe you are recognized by the mountain," Bubu said.

"Recognized? Like... as what?"

"Unclear."

"Oh great. Love that for me."

The creatures whispered again—low, soft, almost reverent. And then, one of them broke formation.

It was smaller than the rest, no taller than Glimora’s shoulder, its body faintly translucent like living glass. It tilted its head, large eyes blinking up at her.

Then, very slowly, it took a step forward.

The small translucent creature tilted its head again, the light in its chest pulsing like a heartbeat. Then, with a sound almost like a tiny sigh, it shuffled closer to Isabella’s boots and sniffed.

Isabella froze, her entire body stiff, heart pounding like a drum in her chest.

"Uh..." she whispered, "Bubu... what’s it doing? Is it—sniffing me? Because that’s seriously questionable."

"It appears to be conducting an energy assessment," Bubu said matter-of-factly.

"Energy assessment?!" Isabella hissed, recoiling in disbelief. Her skin prickled, and she clutched Glimora tighter. "It’s smelling me like I’m a snack! Oh my god, Bubu, tell it I’m not on the menu!"

Glimora, in contrast, found this deeply amusing. She hopped down and mirrored the creature’s head tilt, chirping at it. The translucent being blinked back and let out a faint, tinkling sound, almost like laughter.

The others, seeing this, began to inch closer—hesitant at first, then all at once, a swarm of shimmering lights surrounding Isabella in a soft, glowing haze.

She stood completely still, arms raised awkwardly. "Okay... personal space. Anybody? No? Great."

A few of them hovered near her hair, fascinated by the shiny strands that reflected their light. One tiny creature tried to braid a piece of it, its tiny glowing fingers moving in clumsy loops. Isabella just sighed and muttered, "Oh, sure, let’s turn this into a salon day."

The soft laughter-chimes rippled through them again. This time, the sound wasn’t eerie. It was light. Joyful. Warm.

They liked her.

"Host," Bubu said softly, "they are welcoming you."

Isabella blinked down at the creatures, all clustered around her boots and hands. She’d expected claws, teeth, maybe a demonic chorus of "leave our sacred land." Instead, she got a bunch of glittering noodles with wings trying to pet her fingers.

Her lips twitched upward. "Well... you guys are weirdly adorable."

One of them beamed brighter in response, clearly pleased by the attention. Another offered her a pebble that was faintly glowing blue. Isabella stared at it, touched. "Oh my god, they’re giving me gifts."

Glimora chirped proudly and accepted the pebble like a trophy on Isabella’s behalf.

The translucent one that had first approached her looked up, its voice barely a whisper. "Safe... here."

The words made her chest tighten. "Wait... safe? Are you saying I can... stay here?"

The creature blinked once. Twice. Then nodded.

Her heart thudded softly. "You mean it? I can actually stay here?"

This time, the whole group responded. A faint hum filled the air, like the sound of wind brushing through crystal. "Stay... safe... warm..." they murmured in overlapping harmony.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Isabella exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

She lowered herself onto her knees, hands trembling slightly. "Thank you," she whispered. "Really. Thank you."

The glowing creatures chirped softly in reply. The translucent one touched her knee lightly before backing away, the others following its lead. Then, one by one, they began to scatter—some slithering into glowing pools of moss, others floating back toward the corners of the cavern where they’d come from.

Soon, the cave quieted again. Only the faint blue glow remained, painting everything in soft silver-blue tones.

Isabella just sat there for a long moment, blinking at the now-empty space, her mind blank.

"...Okay," she muttered finally. "That... happened."

She rubbed her temples, looking around the cave. "You know, Bubu, I’ve fought demon goats, argued with snake-tailed women, dragged a corpse-bird man through a forest, and now I’m being babysat by glowing jelly noodles. I’m starting to think this mountain is allergic to normalcy."

"Life on this mountain was not designed for the weak," Bubu said simply.

"I’m not weak," she said, pouting. "Just... tired."

Her stomach growled loudly. The sound echoed embarrassingly across the cave.

She blinked. Then looked down. Then up.

"Did that really just—"

Glimora’s ears perked. The tiny creature tilted her head like, Yeah, you hungry, mama.

Bubu’s screen flickered once.

"No," Isabella said immediately. "No, don’t you dare."

"Task generated," Bubu said in its usual calm tone.

"Bubu—"

"Hunt Mode: Active."

Isabella’s eyes widened in horror. "You have got to be kidding me."