Dog-Eared Clan and Black Panther Clan
"Grr..."
We learned that Myra had been set up the next morning, in the inn's dining hall.
The shopping groups were decided by a vote—four to one in favor of me and Fam in one group, and everyone else in the other. It was blatantly obvious.
For some reason, I didn't get a vote.
"Fam and Mizuki, that's so mean! I want to go with Mash too!"
That automatically made her enemies Cecily and Ira. Even though Ira was her little sister, she apparently wasn't counting as an ally. There was some sisterly drama there.
Come to think of it, Ira's skin looked extra glossy today. Cecily seemed a bit off her game.
"Well, you can't just wander around town alone with Mash, right?"
Mizuki replied desperately.
"That's not true at all! Everyone would welcome us as a cute, wholesome couple. Right, Mash?"
"..." I mean, what am I supposed to say to that?
"...Huh? Right, Mash?"
Sorry, but this old guy's not the wholesome type. I knew that much.
"Myra, you should think about your position in this city,"
Ira said.
"Come on, can't your big sis have a boyfriend like you do?"
"Sigh... what's so great about this old geezer anyway?"
At Ira's words, Fam, Mizuki, and Cecily all shot her looks. Ira fell silent and looked down. Myra blinked around in confusion, then her gaze stopped on the bruise at the base of Ira's neck.
"Wha—? Huh? Ira? No way... Why am I the only one...?"
Myra's eyes welled up with tears. It was starting to get pitiful.
"Myra, you're still a virgin, right?" I checked quietly.
"Eh? ...Well, I don't have any experience," Myra nodded.
"Then let's gather the whole town in the arena for your deflowering ceremony. From the elderly to the kids—everyone'll love it."
"Myra, this is where wholesome couples end up," Mizuki added.
"Mash, I have a favor to ask."
Ira said to me.
"What is it?"
"Please help Lead. Get him out of jail."
Ira bowed deeply.
Me, Mizuki, and Myra exchanged glances. Fam looked down.
"Cecily, is this both of your opinions?"
I asked Cecily, who looked uncomfortable.
"...I feel the same way. But I think it's wrong to ask Mash when Lead hasn't even apologized. So no."
I nodded at Cecily's words.
"Ira, being in jail is actually protecting him right now. He's an enemy of the gods. Can you protect him?"
Myra said to her.
"He can just leave the city. Live quietly in some far-off town."
Could a guy like that even manage that kind of life? Well, as a noble, he could probably hole up deep in some mansion.
"There's a condition."
Fam glared at me when I spoke. Sorry, Fam. Just hold on a sec.
"I hate how he treats his slaves. I know I'm soft on that front. But don't treat people like disposable trash. Ira, if you take responsibility and make him stop, I'll have Myra talk to the church after we reach Migurutto to get him released."
"..." Ira seemed to be thinking it over.
"One more thing upfront: even if you break the promise, I won't do anything to you."
Once Lead's free, he'll bolt somewhere Ira can't reach—back to noble society, where she can't touch him. So she'd have no reason not to break it from the start, freeing him without penalty and avoiding the backlash. Breaking it would turn Cecily against her, which would hurt most. Plus, this issue might come up again, so I'm dumping the choice and responsibility on Ira. If she likes him that much, she can deal.
"Master... If you trust Ira that much, I'll forget about him."
She clearly had no intention of forgiving. She didn't trust Ira at all on this. But I trusted Cecily, so I was giving her the choice. It was all gut feeling, nothing else. I couldn't say that here—I'd tell her, Mizuki, and Myra later.
"Anyway, think it over until we reach Migurutto."
I told Ira.
Grilled corn on a stick was being sold at a street stall. Soy sauce glaze.
Fam and I chowed down. The kernels were perfect. Incredibly delicious. Probably brought by a transferree.
Stock up on corn, soy sauce, mirin, and store it in Storage. No spoilage over time—super convenient. Could even store cooked stuff. I'd partitioned some for Fam and the others, so mine was tighter, but still felt like a 31-foot container's worth of space.
Stuff everything in and it'll get messy eventually, but it holds anything. Well, not living things. Corpses are fine, though. Maybe fresh meat counts as 'alive' at the cellular level? Eggs went in too. No clue on the criteria.
Fam's group's partition was about 12 feet—plenty.
Why bother with caravans? Just have adventurers with Storage pack and go. Some do, apparently. Inconvenient since only they can access it, but easier than wagons. Risky, though—if the adventurer dies, stuff's unrecoverable. Items don't vanish; they pop up in some dungeon chest. Imagining Mizuki's panties in a deep dungeon chest after I croak... heartwarming.
Adventurer jobs are rarer than you'd think. I got mine via Rakushel's power—a greedy newbie pack, but few start with it; usually need prior jobs. No one knows the conditions.
And even among adventurers, few do merchant runs full-time. Mostly side gigs for quests or pocket money.
"My inner thighs are sore from muscle pain. Mizuki said hers hurt too," Fam said.
"No way—you girls hooked up with some other guy yesterday...?"
"...Don't lump me in with that. I'm loyal! Weren't you with me this morning, Master?"
"Right. Actually, my inner thighs hurt like hell too."
"N-No way—did Cecily and them take your back door?!"
Fam's face went beet red. She yelped without thinking and glanced around nervously.
"Heh heh, maybe," I grinned meaningfully.
"...It's from yesterday's horseback riding, right?"
Fam didn't sound convinced.
"Got everything we need?"
"Yes."
Fam nodded. Still time left.
"Anything you want, or places to go, stuff to see?"
"I'd like spare arm covers."
"Once we leave town, won't you need 'em?"
Might just cause slave mix-ups and hassle.
"I like them."
"Got it. Let's go buy some."
"Yes. Then, how about crossing the central bridge? And climbing the bell tower again."
"Sounds good. Lead the way."
I followed Fam's lead. She took my hand.
"Do we look like lovers?"
"More like parent and kid." Girl and old guy.
"...I wanna grow up faster."
"Better not. Adulthood sucks."
"Muu, always negative."
"N-No, honestly, you're cutest like this. Stay this way. Though grown-up Fam'll be fun too."
Fam peered into my face. All true—no lies.
We bought arm covers, walked a bit, and hit the river path.
Across the river loomed a massive stone palace—the Rugul family's seat ruling the city.
A covered corridor stretched from it, crossing the river.
"That it?"
Stone arch bridge with three arches, upper level two stories—like a long tenement linking the palace. Ground level for citizens.
About 50 meters long. Huge. Felt familiar, but couldn't place it.
"Impressive."
"Won't it fall?"
Yeah, top-heavy.
"Arches below disperse the weight. Makes it sturdy. ...Probably."
Fam peered at me. I said probably. Not confident.
We reached the bridge. Packed with people.
Stalls lined both sides—upper corridor as rain cover. Prime spot.
Mostly shoppers. We browsed as we walked.
Lots of metalwork and accessories.
"Actually, I'm jealous of Mizuki's necklace."
Asking for one? Little devil side, huh. I grinned; Fam puffed her cheeks.
"Yeah. Necklace for you?"
Rings might snag on weapons; no dog-ear earrings or studs.
"Really? But I want a helmet with 'Sincerity' engraved."
Fam pointed, tail wagging wildly. Why's a Kyoto souvenir here?
"...Necklace today. If you're worried about money, half of mine's yours anyway. Don't hold back."
Me and Fam shared funds; Mizuki and others managed their own.
"Then use the half that's not mine."
"Mmm, fine."
Mizuki's influence, for sure.
Thought it'd take time, but Fam picked one quick.
Leather cord with teardrop crystal—shallow green-blue. Her usual taste.
"Can enchant it with magic too."
Seller was a dog-eared boy Fam's age.
"Two gold."
Steep for stall trinket. Can't verify authenticity.
"...A bit pricey,"
Fam started returning it, disappointed.
"Ugh, fellow dog-ear solidarity. One gold."
Half off outta nowhere—sus. But she loved it, so we bought.
Fam handed me the necklace, tilting her head proudly. I put it on her.
"Looks good?"
"Yeah, insanely cute." I nodded.
"Yay!"
The dog-eared boy kept glaring at me.
Climbing the bell tower stairs. Dim, narrow spiral forever.
The spot where Fam confessed. Wanted one last visit. Me too.
Light from above. Observation deck soon.
Two ahead: hooded black robe figure. Beastkin woman—short black hair, sharp black ears peeking, brown skin, silver eyes, long black tail.
"Cat ears?"
"Nope. Black panther clan."
The self-proclaimed black panther grinned. Black tank top, khaki pants. Lithe, springy muscles. Slave crest on arm.
"You're Mash, right?"
Hooded one spoke too. Deep hood hid face—woman's voice.
"Wrong. I'm Mish. Mix-up."
"Then the girl next to you's Faam. Hard to say."
Robe woman laughed.
"...Something like that."
I nodded vaguely. Hate strangers calling my name.
"Annoying. My master's talking to you, and you lie about your name."
Black panther glared; Fam stepped between us.
"Oh? What, dog-ear? Wanna throw down?"
She crossed arms—hook claws with four talons extended. Cool. Fam drew sword in response. Gotta stop her.
"Black panther girl, you know my real name and wanna fight with those toys?"
"...Whatever you try, these claws rip your throat first."
Her voice dropped an octave.
"I won't let you!"
Fam crouched, ready to spring.
"Hey, stop. What if he calls the goddess? He's got other special skills to kill you too."
Robe woman held her back.
"...Tch."
Claws retracted. Still cool.
"Sorry. She's got a hair-trigger temper. Always dragging in trouble."
"...Yeah."
I nodded.
"Don't interrupt them. Let's go."
Robe woman told the panther. They descended.
"Hey, new faces—staying at Asukatei? Drinks on me tonight."
"Heh, hitting on me? Too bad—I'm here on a noble's quest, staying at his mansion."
They left.
"Not so lovey-dovey anymore, huh."
"Master, that robed woman..."
"Transferree or knows one."
She knew about multiple special skills.
No clue if hostile, but hot-headed panther was trouble. Physically prime, strong fighter. Robe had a partner like me and Mizuki. Wanna probe, but it'd look aggressive—full opposition. Nothing we can do. Frustrating.
Standing out was the biggest mistake.
"Master..."
"Hm?"
"I thought we couldn't win. Still shaking. You had to protect me again. I wanna get stronger. Strong enough to protect you."
First time she'd faced direct killing intent, probably.
"You're plenty strong, Fam. Don't rush. We'll keep going together."
Day I bought her from the slaver, our kiss here—feels ancient, but recent. Please don't rush. She could get a special skill too. But Fam just nodded, holding back tears.
"...Can I hug you?"
"Yeah, I wanna hold you too."
I hugged Fam. Tiny body. Still a girl.
Fam cried in my arms.
I wanna get strong so she never has to cry.