The Soft and Squishy Night

Shall we check the rewards that S-rank summon Luna brought back?

"Awooo~ I slept so well. Must be because I had no choice but to wear those pajamas like Master said? My body still feels stiff! But hugging Master while I slept made everything fine!"

"......"

Well. The EX-rank bait that had started last night.

Separate from that, I had truly suffered through a rough night.

It had been a soft, squishy, and warm sleep.

So was it comfortable? Did I enjoy it? How was it, sleeping in the arms of a beautiful wolf beast-human?

The moment I tried to drift off, Luna moved.

A soft and squishy sensation immediately pressed into my face.

When embarrassment made me try to pull away...

She let out a low "Wooooong..." and hugged me right back.

In short, I had become nothing more than a full-body doll for Luna's sleep.

From time to time she called my name in her sleep, flicked her tongue, and licked her lips with a soft "sshk-".

Afraid something might go wrong, I never managed a deep sleep.

Then why not just reverse-summon her? Of course I tried.

A status window flashing the warning.

No matter how much I was her Master and an EX-rank, I was still a creator who handled summons. A summon's betrayal would be like having the weapon I trusted most turn and stab me.

So I had no choice but to endure that warm, soft, and squishy night.

I told myself it was far better than having her doubt me or hate me.

"Woooong~ Wooong... Woooong? Master. You look tired. Like you barely slept!"

Luna hopped down from the bed, stretching her wolf ears and tail high while working the stiffness out of her body. Then she saw my face and spoke in surprise.

This was all because you hugged me all night. I couldn't exactly say that...

"Maybe my heart was pounding too hard from sleeping with you. That's probably why I couldn't sleep."

I softened the truth a little so I wouldn't hurt her feelings.

It was both a hint that I'd rather sleep a little farther apart and a way to make her feel good at the same time.

But then...

"Awooooo~ Master, really~ If you like me that much, you can just say so!"

She was delighted instead, shaking her whole body with joy.

Her wolf tail spun like a helicopter blade, and the status window was just a bonus.

"I like Master too! Master smells so good. Hugging Master feels safe! When Master is here I sleep so well!"

It wasn't empty words—she poured her sincerity into every part of her body. I scratched my head.

With her looking that happy, I couldn't bring myself to say we shouldn't do it again.

Anyone in my place would have felt the same.

Fine. Let's just think of it positively. This is still way better than her refusing to follow me or hating me, right?

I decided to let it slide with that thought, but...

"Still, Master shouldn't be losing sleep. Ah... that's it. Master! I figured out why you couldn't sleep!"

Luna suddenly clapped her hands and nodded, looking proud of her realization.

"I'm sorry, Master. I wasn't considerate enough."

Oh? Had she finally understood my feelings?

"I hogged the soft pillow all night, so Master's head was on the floor. That's why you couldn't sleep."

I had no idea how she reached that conclusion, but she was at least correct that she herself was the decisive cause.

"For that reason, from now on Master should use my pillow!"

"Your pillow?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"That's right. Here... uhuuhu... wooooooong~"

Luna folded her arms under her chest and leaned forward slightly.

Anyone could tell she was offering her chest as a pillow.

"I'll give Master a soft pillow all your own. I don't do this for just anyone, but since it's Master, I'll allow it!"

"......"

I froze for a moment, completely unsure how to answer.

Then my phone buzzed just in time, giving me a perfect chance to change the subject.

Hunter Gallery. That had more to do with me than with Luna.

But the moment I glanced at my phone, Luna leaned in curiously.

"Hunter Gallery? Master. Yesterday while I was sneaking into the dungeon I overheard some talk about hunters."

Her attention immediately shifted. Seizing the chance, I explained a little about hunters.

If she was going to live as my summon from now on, she needed to know at least that much.

"Hmm! I don't understand everything, but I get the general idea. So where does Master stand among the hunters?"

"Uh... obviously I'm at the very top, right?"

"Hnnngh! Wooooong! Of course—Master is the one who leads me. Naturally Master has to be number one!"

I couldn't fight on the front lines myself.

But I had an EX-rank ability, and just look—I had already created an S-rank summon, hadn't I?

The more S-rank summons I made, the stronger my authority would become.

Now that my EX-rank ability had already been exposed, I needed to create more summons as soon as possible.

Right! Let's check the dungeon rewards Luna brought back yesterday.

I needed to sell the rewards, raise money, and create the next summon.

Yesterday I had been too tired, and after Luna returned from the dungeon I had rewarded her with fried chicken and praise, so I pushed it to today.

Besides, it had been late at night, and since I wasn't officially registered with the Association yet, there was no legal way to process the rewards anyway.

"I'll prioritize making you more companions from now on. Let's check the rewards you brought back yesterday together."

"Awoong~ Got it, Master. As expected, Master is the best. I follow Master's words, and Master treats me with love~"

With that she wagged her tail and brought over the bundle she had left in the corner of the room.

"Master. That dungeon was weird—treasure was scattered everywhere. But I knew! It was all an illusion. The real reward from that dungeon is only this."

"Oh, really? As expected of my summon!"

"That's right, Master! So the reward I brought is this!"

Unfortunately there had been no boss monster there.

The deepest point. The moment you touched the treasure, the dungeon was cleared.

So that reward was not a soul I could use as material—at least not yet.

Don't tell me it's just jewels or gold bars?

Honestly that would be a little disappointing.

Items obtained from dungeons didn't exist in the real world, which made them extremely valuable.

Jewels and gold bars were nice, of course, but not what I was hoping for.

"Look at this, Master. It's a strangely shaped jewel."

Hearing her call it a jewel made me lower my expectations.

Still, since Luna had brought it, I put on a face that said I was extremely excited.

"Ta-da! How's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this, Master?"

Luna unwrapped something like a cloth. What appeared before me were jewels and gold bars.

But nestled among them was one unexpected item.

A jewel with a unique, distinctive luster unlike any of the others.

Any hunter—or anyone with enough knowledge about hunters—would recognize it instantly.

No way? This dropped here too?

No matter how I looked at it, this was clearly a boss monster's soul.

"How is it... Master... You're not saying anything and your face looks serious. Did I do something wrong?"

"Huh? No, you did great. I was just a little surprised."

"Surprised?"

I picked up the soul stone and explained it to Luna myself.

I also told her that if we wanted to awaken the beast-human companions she desired, we would need a matching soul.

"Hmm! I see. My beast-human companions! Being stuck as souls might feel stifling, so I'll work hard and wake them up quickly."

"That's the spirit. Let's do our best from now on."

"Yeah! I believe in Master."

With Luna's smile as accompaniment, I decided to examine the soul.

Unless you were an appraiser, there was only one way for me to check this soul!

Of course I had no intention of selling the soul.

Even if I did, souls weren't particularly expensive items on average.

Without hesitation I inserted the soul.

Luna watching with sparkling eyes was a bonus.

Golden Guardian. A summon I had never heard of could be created.

Judging by the quirks, it was clearly meant for a tank role.

"Did you... happen to see anything gold-related inside the dungeon?"

"Hmm? The big altar where the dungeon treasure was placed was completely gold-colored. Like it was made of pure gold!"

A massive golden altar. So that was why Golden Guardian?

Anyway, the image of a golden warrior standing on the front line blocking attacks rose in my mind.

But it didn't give off the beast-human vibe Luna wanted.

I had a feeling that forcing a beast-human form with this soul would only backfire.

"Luna. If we end up fighting other enemies later, how would you feel about having a companion specialized in defense?"

I decided to hear her opinion first.

"Hmm... Having a companion would be nice, but I fight better alone. Are you thinking of creating someone who isn't a beast-human?"

"Yeah. The jewel you brought turned out to be a different soul. Definitely not a beast-human soul either."

I told her it was a defense-specialized summon.

Luna thought it over with a surprisingly serious expression, then...

"If it can protect Master, I'm fine with it. If Master isn't safe, my heart can't rest easy either."

Was it because she was a wolf? Or because she was my summon?

The way she thought of me and worried about me filled me with pride.

Finding that look adorable, I stroked her head ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once and then fell into brief thought.

The second summon I would create. Specialized in defense, yet enjoys pain?

Well... that might actually work out okay?

Still, I wanted to see exactly how and in what way it would block attacks.

But since I already had the soul, why not make one lightly?

I checked my remaining materials and nodded.

At this level, S-rank was too greedy, but A-rank was a realistic expectation.

"Alright. Let's try making one. We're going to have to fight a lot more from now on, so having more companions is better, right?"

"Just in case, I'll stay by Master's side and protect you!"

Saying that, Luna took her place at my right side.

Honestly, just having Luna was already reassuring.

An S-rank who thought only of me like this!

She had proven her skill yesterday, so I could start sending her into proper dungeon raids.

And creating summons with different personalities and traits so they could handle a variety of situations was important too.

With my future tasks and resolve in mind, I moved to the next step.

Golem. I didn't know how large it would be, but honestly I preferred something with intelligence.

Even a summon needed to be able to make appropriate judgments on its own if it was going to shine in critical moments.

Besides, with the materials I had left, a giant golem form wasn't even an option.

Just like last time, the status window showed a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠preview of the result.

Apparently Luna could see it too—she suddenly let out a loud "Wooooong!"

"Master. Is this kind of female your type? I think I have a body like that too! I'm pretty confident about it!"

Luna was getting angry over appearance rather than ability.