Chapter 111: The Intruding Digimon

“This is... a Terriermon?!”

Everyone was momentarily at a loss as they watched the fluffy Digimon hatch from the egg.

After all, the handling of Digimon is quite different from that of Digi-Eggs.

“So cute!”

Daigo’s younger sister, Chika, suddenly sprang forward, seemingly drawn by some unspoken bond, hugging the newly hatched Terriermon and nuzzling it affectionately against her cheek. She appeared to have fallen in love with the newborn Digimon at first sight.

“Coincidence or fate? This Digi-Egg seems to have come specifically searching for Chika.”

Qin Fei murmured quietly, unease flickering in his eyes as he glanced at the Terriermon cradled in Chika’s arms.

This Digi-Egg, from which the Terriermon had been born, must have slipped away from Mercurymon. If nothing unexpected happened, the Nightptermon he had encountered earlier tonight would soon come looking for the Terriermon. Following that, Mercurymon himself would manifest in the human world.

That was one of the true apex Ultimate-level Digimon, belonging to the Olympian Twelve Gods.

Qin Fei did not believe he possessed the strength to defeat such a formidable Ultimate Digimon in his current state.

“...”

“Milk, milk... Terriermon, you have to drink plenty, okay?”

On the other side, Chika seemed destined to adore Terriermon the moment she laid eyes on it, as if it were her lifelong companion. She had even somehow managed to procure a tiny milk bottle and was carefully feeding the little Digimon.

“We need to get this little guy back to headquarters immediately!”

Daigo, seeing the small Digimon in his sister’s arms, did not share her joy. Instead, he was somewhat wary.

Based on his past experience dealing with Digimon incidents, even a Rookie-level Digimon posed some danger to ordinary people, let alone a child like Chika. Daigo was reluctant to let his sister come into contact with such a mysterious lifeform.

“That’s not possible. Once hatched, it cannot be transported directly like that.”

Toma flatly refused Daigo’s request, then turned to Chika, saying, “Digimon are highly susceptible to human emotions. Transporting them like this could lead to accidents.”

“How could that be... then, what should we do?”

Daigo was troubled.

“Leave it to me!”

Toma suddenly said confidently, unlike the others who were at a loss. He seemed very sure of himself.

“Snap.”

“Yes, Master.”

With a snap of his fingers, Gaomon leapt out obediently and left as if to fetch something.

As dusk approached, a truck finally arrived, pulling up at Daigo’s front door. Gaomon pushed a heavy machine out from the truck bed, drawing curious looks from everyone.

“What is this thing?”

Daigo was baffled by the strange device now occupying much of his living room.

“It’s an emotional shield generator I invented. It can block human emotions…”

Toma explained patiently, a proud smile creeping onto his face—a genius’s self-assuredness.

“This means there’s no room left for meals!”

Daigo frowned sharply, displeased either by the disruption to daily life or Toma’s smug expression.

Still, with things as they were, Daigo could only grit his teeth and accept it.

...

“Please take care of it from here…”

“All right.”

At the doorway, Yukino and Qin Fei said their goodbyes to Toma, who was to stay at Daigo’s house.

He needed to keep the machine running continuously to prevent Terriermon from being affected by human emotions during this delicate time.

“What about Terriermon?”

Still uneasy, Yukino asked again as she prepared to leave.

“It’s with little Chika; it seems ready to sleep.”

Toma reassured her, signaling that there was no cause for worry.

Yukino nodded and left with Qin Fei without further hesitation.

“...”

“Yukino…”

“What is it?”

Seeing Qin Fei linger and not get into the car, Yukino looked at him curiously, unsure of what he intended.

“Do you think it’s okay for that Digimon to be with Chika?”

Yukino laughed, unconcerned about any danger from the Terriermon.

“Don’t worry, Terriermon is very gentle and still in its Rookie stage; it’s not very dangerous…”

Qin Fei looked at her seriously.

“What if I’m not talking about Terriermon?”

Yukino’s relaxed expression slowly stiffened. She knew the boy’s uncanny ability to predict things accurately, even without evidence.

Though lacking proof, seeing Qin Fei’s grave face, she began to sense an ominous premonition.

“What do you know?”

Yukino got out of the car, facing Qin Fei’s impassive expression.

“Tonight, there may be danger in Chika’s room… but it’s only a guess.”

Hearing this, Yukino hesitated. It sounded like nonsense, and no one would believe such a claim without reason.

“Chika…”

After a moment’s wavering, she bit her lip and decided to trust Qin Fei this once.

“Qin Fei, you should return to DATS first. I’ll keep watch outside the Daigo residence tonight. If nothing happens, that’s best. No one will blame you. But just in case…”

Hearing Yukino’s plan to stand guard alone for the night, Qin Fei sighed with relief and, with Lolo, got into the car.

“We’ll accompany you. If there’s danger, we can help. I can’t bear to leave you, a girl, to keep watch alone.”

“Oh, so chivalrous. But I’m not about to spend the middle of the night dealing with a child like you. Be a good boy... go back to the dorm and sleep.”

Yukino smiled slyly, reaching out to pinch Qin Fei’s cheek teasingly.

Qin Fei instinctively brushed her hand away. As a mature young man, he couldn’t tolerate such intimacy. It seemed Yukino still regarded him as a child.

“Since I can’t sleep anyway, I’ll wait here.”

“You…”

Seeing Qin Fei unwilling to leave the car, Yukino opened her mouth to protest but then gave up on kicking him out.

“All right, if you get sleepy, you can nap in the back seat. I’ll keep watch.”

The two fell silent as Lolo rested on Qin Fei’s lap, quickly falling asleep. Qin Fei, however, kept his gaze faintly fixed on the window of Chika’s room.

If all went as expected, Nightptermon would break in through that window.

“...”

“Qin Fei, there’s a Digimon…”

Suddenly, Lolo, who had seemed asleep, opened her eyes and looked up at the dark night sky, her gaze devoid of any sleepiness.

Qin Fei narrowed his eyes and peered out the window. In the darkness, he vaguely saw a figure resembling an owl circling above, searching for something.

“It’s here!”

Qin Fei flung the car door open and stepped out.

At that moment, something abnormal seemed to stir inside Chika’s bedroom. The previously dark window suddenly brightened, and the distressed cries of Agumon could be heard. Daigo and the others were comforting Terriermon, who was hiding beneath the bed.

“What’s happening, Qin Fei?!”

Yukino looked where Qin Fei’s eyes were fixed, her expression tense.

“Is that... a bird?”

“No, that’s a Digimon’s presence.”

Yukino’s face changed as she pulled out the digital reaction device on her person, which was now flashing.

“Lalamon, materialize!”

“Kya-la~”

“Ah!!!”

At that moment, the owl-like figure in the sky seemed to have spotted its prey. It dove fiercely, crashing through the second-floor balcony window and intruding into Chika’s room, provoking a terrified scream from her.

“Bastard! Who are you?!”

Daigo’s roar echoed through the night as he rushed to defend his frightened sister.