7. Awakening and Choosing a Vocation
I woke up. The dog-eared girl I'd let sleep beside me was gone.
I turned my head. She was kneeling toward me by the bedside, hands clasped in front of her chest. It looked just like the prayer pose from churches in my old world.
"?"
The moment she noticed I was awake, she stood, sat primly in the chair, and stared at me.
I sat up too and swung my legs over the edge of the bed.
"Morning. You look a lot better."
"……"
Maybe she doesn't speak the language?
"Woof, woof, woowoof, woof!" I tried talking to her in dog-speak. It translated to "Woof, woof, woowoof, woof!" In other words, no actual content.
"I may be of the dog-eared tribe, but I'm not actually a dog."
"Phew, good. I was starting to panic thinking you couldn't talk."
I'd meant it as a joke to lighten the mood, but the atmosphere didn't call for it. Her eyes held a quiet anger, even if she looked apologetic.
"What's your name?"
"Fam."
"Famdesu, huh?"
"Fam!"
"Sorry, I knew that. Just trying to loosen things up. I'm Mash."
She didn't even crack a smile. The dog-speak opener must've backfired; she looked seriously pissed.
"Are you my master?"
"Master? Nah. Take off the bandages on your arm and see."
Fam unwrapped the bandages and stared in shock and confusion at the bare skin—no Slave Crest.
"One thing I gotta tell you upfront: bad news, your illness isn't cured. It'll come back in a few years."
"I see…… Back in the village, no one could heal me, so I was bedridden the whole time."
"How long?"
"About four years."
Way too long. Must've been hell.
"It's been ages since I woke up feeling this clear-headed."
Clear-headed, yet still pissed.
"Glad to hear it." I pulled five gold coins from my Storage.
"Here, take these. You don't have a master anymore. Go wherever you want, do whatever."
"Eh?"
I gave the stunned Fam a thumbs-up.
"I can't accept them. I was delirious, but I remember—you got me out of that cage and had me treated. I owe you."
"Then why make the air so heavy? I'm starting to think you hate me."
At that, Fam suddenly looked away, her face flushing red.
"That's because……when I woke up, you were sleeping right next to me. You took my virginity without me knowing!"
"Didn't they do that plenty when you were a slave?"
Better not mention groping her tits.
"N-no! They thought the curse was contagious, so I was isolated the whole time."
Ah, that made sense. I'd figured I'd pry it out of her eventually, but hearing it straight from her was good. I couldn't help smirking.
"Wh-what's so funny?"
"Nah, there was only one bed, so I just let you sleep next to me. You're brand new, Fam. I haven't done a thing."
"I know stuff too! I checked properly!"
No way. Did I assault her in my sleep? Or did she get attacked while I was out cold next to her? Either way, disaster. I panicked.
"How'd you check?"
"Th-the blood from my broken hymen is still there."
Despair. I clutched my head.
"Wh-why are you despairing, Master?!"
She got flustered watching my reaction.
"Can I see?"
"H-huh? N-no, of course not!"
"I seriously have no memory of it. But you think I did it. You've already resigned yourself to being seen, so what's the harm?"
"That's ridiculous logic…… You didn't even know my name…… You could've waited till I was awake, you jerk. I couldn't even resist……"
Grumbling, she reached between her legs. Noticing my stare, she spun the chair around.
"Here."
Her index and middle fingers were caked in blood.
"Does hymen blood come out that much? That's a ton."
"First time for me too, so I'm not sure, but this blood…… Ah!"
She seemed to realize something. Her face went beet red as she flailed in panic.
"What?" Not my doing after all. Did she remember stuffing a cucumber in there herself or something?
"U-um…… Could I have something to wipe with? And, if it's not too much trouble for a guy to hear……sorry, but could you get me……some sanitary products……?"
She fidgeted, head down. Tried hiding her bloody fingers but had nowhere clean to put them, so they ended up on her knee. The deep red had this weird erotic vibe.
She'd mistaken menstrual blood for deflowering blood. I handed her the small pouch Myra had given me for her.
It had what looked like pads inside. They even had pads here?
"Sorry, no spare underwear in there."
Her face fell in despair. Kinda funny. I pulled two pairs of panties from Storage.
"Is it the light blue ones you want, or the white ones?"
Left hand: Mizuki's panties. Right: Rakushel's.
"Ugh, both smell like women. I don't wanna pick."
Damn, she could tell? Dog-eared tribe had dog-level noses, huh.
"Better than an old man's stink. Keep turning me down, and I'll make you wear mine."
"……That works."
"Idiot. Pick one."
"U-um, light blue then."
"Sorry, that's a one-of-a-kind irreplaceable. Use the white."
Mizuki's were from the old world—high school girl brand power. No way I'd ditch 'em. Handed over Rakushel's.
"These look super fancy. I might stain them."
"Don't sweat it. I'll snag more."
Fam turned away so I wouldn't see, diligently changing.
Her tail wagged nonstop—probably to block the view of her ass.
"That tail. It's real, huh."
Obviously, but it grew right from her tailbone. I'd half-thought it was pierced on for fun.
"? You hate it?"
She peeked back, checking my face.
"Nah, it's crazy cute. Might sound weird, but it suits you perfectly."
"R-really?"
Fam gave a shy little smile.
"By the way, you're a virgin, right, Fam?"
"Ugh…… Yes. Sorry for the fuss." She bowed apologetically.
"Phew." A deep sigh of relief escaped me.
"Why are you relieved, not me?!"
"Anyway, uh, that pouch had meds too. A ton. For your illness?"
Topic change to defuse.
"……Those aren't for the illness."
"Huh? You know what they are?"
"……They're contraceptive pills for women. Don't play dumb!"
My inner Myra flashed a V-sign.
After changing, Fam stared at the floor, face crimson. So teaseable. Adorable.
"Um, are you a pimp, Master?"
"No. Why jump there? And drop the 'Master.' Mash is fine. Casual talk OK."
It'd bugged me since earlier. "Master" felt off—I wanted to get close, not enforce hierarchy.
"You say lewd stuff with that pervy look. And you've got money."
Wild imagination, but the shadow in her heart seemed to lift a bit.
And no sign of dropping "Master."
"You're the one who started with the sex talk. Plus, why pimp women when I can claim 'em myself? I'm starving. Oh, and I'm an adventurer."
"S-sorry about earlier. But adventurer…… Like treating women like dungeons? Some dirty code?"
"Can we drop the ero? Just a plain adventurer. Embarrassing upfront, but I'm super weak. F-rank."
"Adventurer……"
She pondered my words.
"Um, can I really go wherever I want?"
"Yeah."
"Then I'll become an adventurer too and follow you. Add me to your party."
"You sure? I was gonna ask once you settled."
Unexpected. I'd been agonizing over recruiting her. Saved the hassle.
"I was struggling solo too."
"Really?"
I scratched my head and nodded to Fam.
"But promise me one thing."
"What?"
"My village is near the Demon Kingdom border. When we're close, can we stop by?"
"Got it. We definitely will."
Fam stood and bowed deeply.
"Fam, let's do a ritual to make you my companion."
"A ritual?" Fam tilted her head.
"Yeah. I wanna get close to you."
"Sure. I wanna learn all about Master too."
"This is for that."
"Uh-huh." Fam tilted her head, half-hearted.
I held up my index fingers.
"I'll poke your chest with these."
"Ehh? What're you even saying? I'll get mad. And it's morning?!"
I got it, but after a night of her breathing beside me, my frustration was peaking.
"Nail the nipples, I win. You lift your shirt and show me. They call it the Nipple Guessing Game."
I grinned meaningfully. Fam looked stunned, maybe pondering.
Gulp. "All downside for me, but I owe you. Fine, you're on!"
From our chat, I figured she'd bite. Super interested in the opposite sex.
I eyed her modest chest. Those swells screamed future growth. Perfect the more I looked. She squirmed uncomfortably but didn't flee.
"Here!"
Inspiration flashed—I poked both with index fingers. Soft squish.
"Ahhn! T-too bad, here and here."
Missed both. Sweetly, she touched her nipples to show. I lost but was thrilled.
"Alright, tomorrow again. Breakfast, then herb gathering."
"Huh? Tomorrow too?"
"Every day till I hit."
"Grr, fine. Feels like it's pushing us apart, but I'll play."
We finished the solemn rite and headed to the cafeteria.
After breakfast, I added Fam to the party and checked her character sheet.
Shockingly, her profession field was blank. No Special Skill either. Just a villager.
"Never adventured. Bedridden forever."
"Right. Professions—you pray to the god of that job at church, yeah? Let's go. Wanna show Myra your healthy self."
"Yes. Wanna thank her properly."
Fam smiled and nodded. Friendly vibe.
"Adventurer first?" Rakushel'd love it.
"No, adventurers are human-only."
Rakushel, discrimination's bad, yo.
"Huh. Dog-eared have their own?"
"Yes, combat types: Dog Warrior or Mibu Wolf. I'd like Mibu Wolf."
Dog Warrior sounded cute but weak. Mibu Wolf, though.
"Sounds badass, but what's with the ronin crew nickname?"
"Ronin crew?"
Of course she didn't know my world's stuff. Gods granting professions knew both worlds, though. Protest to Rakushel later.
We met Myra at the church.
She squealed "Kyaaah!" and glomped the healthy-looking Fam, bouncing. Where'd the big-sis act go? Fam blushed but took it. Gotta ask about those tit-feels later.
"So, Fam's job change. Right this way."
The room she led us to had a second-floor atrium, walls and ceiling covered in frescoes of gods—majestic, solemn. Spotted Rakushel among 'em.
Solemnity gone.
"Climb the central altar, picture the job you want, and pray."
"Just imagine it?"
"Some need prior jobs or high stats—like magic professions, advanced ones. But first……"
Myra held out her palm.
"One silver coin."
Paid the silver. Fam ascended the altar and prayed—the same pose from when I woke. Devout? Or world habit?
No visible change, but she returned done.
We three checked her status sheet. Profession: Mibu Wolf.
"Yes!"
Myra pounced again. Big-sis vanished. Wanted to join but church perv label'd suck.
"What weapon, anyway?"
Japanese sword? Did they have 'em?
"Any blunt weapon works," Fam said.
"Casual. What you want, Fam? Test in the field, find what fits."
"Favorite? Nothing comes to mind. Myra, any recs?"
"Mmm, priestesses go mace. Smash solves all."
Scary sis. Careful groping those tits.
"Fam, skip mace."
"Aww, wanted to match Fam-chan."
Fam was petite; heavy weapons no-go.
"Yeah, close your eyes, Fam."
"Okay."
"Imagine: I'm monster-fodder, pinned. You swoop in, slay it. What're you wielding?"
She nodded, eyes shut, fantasizing.
"Mmm—ha! Toh! Fuhahaha, yah!" Eyes closed, proud laugh.
"Come at me! Yah! Fufufu, toh!"
Helluva fight.
"Nngh! U…… Guh…… Grrnnuh……"
Long fantasy.
"Hey, you're not losing, are ya? Saying 'grrnnuh'."
"Ah, right. Hero moment. Saving you brought tons of monsters. Chaos."
"Weapon?"
"Amazing magic sword. Swing, boom—some power obliterates 'em. Super weapon!"
Enchanted gear not at weapon shops. Guild maybe. Ask Mateo.
"Magic sword's a no. Not sold. But you 'grrnnuh'd with it?"
Settled on an easy-handling short sword.
After Myra, bought one shorter than mine at the smithy.
Two shields, plus a two-hander for me to try.
Leather armor too.
As nod to her job, light-blue arm covers—one each for us.
Then, herbs as usual.
Thanks for reading.
Bookmarks and ratings—seriously grateful.
Means the world. I'll keep pushing.