Calm Hydrangea ① – His Bed.
I’ve seen the Witch’s bed many times.
I don’t really get it. It’s ridiculously huge and cluttered with all sorts of things.
Several cushions, pillows, clothes, even underwear.
Well, I probably couldn’t afford it anyway. That thing.
Incidentally, about that billion-Oro debt I owe the Witch.
No matter how you look at it, it’s an amount impossible to repay through normal means.
Regarding that, the Witch said she has an idea.
So, she told me that the money I currently have and any money I earn from now on is separate from the debt.
Is that even a debt?
Saying she has no intention of collecting it… well, that can’t be right.
But even if I hypothetically repaid 1,000,000 Oro per month, it’s still an astronomical debt that would take years.
Also, concerning the debt, Mineha-san and Hayyarn told the Witch they would help repay it.
Hayyarn aside, I don’t want to involve Mineha-san.
But Mineha-san… she’s stubborn, insisting she’ll absolutely pay the debt and won’t listen.
Well, for now, I have no choice but to leave it to the Witch.
Also, I’m glad I realized it sooner.
I almost asked Mineha-san about beds.
“For now, let’s punch that rabbit. Yeah.”
I immediately returned home and went to the Watchtower.
In the corner of the first floor, there’s an old, unnaturally placed full-length mirror against the wall.
This is the gate. Inserting the key I received makes it reflect a different, distorted landscape.
Passing through led me to a corridor connected to the Lab.
There are two rooms on each side of the corridor, but the doors won’t open.
The corridor next to the gate is also a dead end, but I can tell.
From the unnatural diagonal seam, it must be a shutter. It was sealed tight.
I was bothered that Liv-san had been staring intently at this area.
Anyway, ignoring that and heading straight, a door automatically opened, and I arrived at the Lab.
The front is entirely glass, with a touch-panel console before it.
Four long, pedestal-like universal tables are arranged in a square.
The surroundings are covered not by stone or brick, but by strange gray walls.
I don’t really know what’s beyond the glass.
Hayyarn called it the Cauldron System or something.
Cauldron… right, that was the Witch’s cauldron, wasn’t it?
Also, Hayyarn said the Cauldron System is filled with liquid.
Apparently, it’s a liquid for eternal preservation. What is that?
Hayyarn was wrestling with the touch panel.
He grumbled that it was hard to use with rabbit paws.
One thing had changed: Hayyarn was wearing a lab coat.
A white lab coat on a white rabbit seemed odd, but he seemed to like it.
Or rather, lab coats exist in this world too, huh?
“Hayyarn.”
“Wof? I just got some interesting data—”
“Before I punch you, I want to ask one thing.”
“Wait. Punch me?”
Hayyarn looked bewildered.
I clenched my fist tightly.
“———Was advising me to ask girls about their bedding truly sincere advice?”
“Y-You… Don’t tell me you asked…? No, were you able to ask? No way. Did they actually answer you?!”
Hayyarn was astonished.
The rabbit’s large eyes widened even further.
“Oh yes, they answered me quite clearly.”
I raised my clenched fist and approached him.
“They? Wait, they? Plural…?! Don’t tell me multiple girls answered you, Wof?!”
“Yes, they answered me.”
“N-No way! Impossible! Impossibllle!! When I asked that long ago, I was told it was creepier than asking their underwear color! Which means you asked multiple girls about their underwe—”
I punched him.
“…Bedding data?”
“Mhm. Found data for Comfortable ☆彡 Bedding. We can make it if we have the materials.”
Hayyarn, sporting a bump on his head, operated the panel.
An image appeared in mid-air. What’s with the ☆彡 in the name?
What’s needed is: Slime Block. Fixing Liquid. Preservation Bag. I don’t really get it.
“Huh… Slime Block? Could this be Ms. Pachira’s bed?”
“What? Lady Pachira’s?”
“She mentioned her slime bed was a lot of work.”
“Hmm, hmm. I see. It says here it was shelved during the prototype stage because it was too troublesome.”
“Aren’t there any others?”
Well, anything other than straw is fine by me. Feathers would be nice.
“Oh, there’s a feather futon.”
“There is?”
“Comfortable 🌙 Feather Futon. Materials listed are feathers from Big Goose and Wind Duck.”
This one has a 🌙. Same creator, huh?
“Both sound like monsters. How many do we need?”
“Five of each. So, feathers from ten birds in total should do it.”
“Big Goose and Wind Duck inhabit wind-related Dungeons.”
Wind, huh? Right, the Wind Dungeon. I haven’t entered any besides the water one yet.
Maybe I should go check it out. Right. While I’m at it, I should take a request from the Guild.
Earn money whenever I can.
Walking through town after leaving the house, I can tell.
Hydrangea feels more bustling and lively than usual.
The anxiety from just a few days ago feels like a lie.
It was six days ago now.
Suddenly, not from the Guild, but from Hydrangea’s government administration, a major announcement was made.
By major, I mean周知 using precious loudspeaker-type and communication Legacies.
Broadcasting to the entire city like that is rarely done.
But an event occurred that necessitated it.
In one month, this city, Hydrangea, will be the host location for the 『Great O’Browns』.
The 『Great O’Browns』 is a major event of the Grand Guild, the parent organization of the Seeker Guild.
Held once every five years, it’s a grand conference where Tier I Seekers gather together.
Yes, a conference.
But it might as well be called a city-wide grand festival.
After all, every single Tier I Seeker gathers without exception.
The heroes sung about by minstrels on street corners, in squares, and in taverns.
This is the only chance to see them alive and in person.
The announcement one month prior is also for festival preparations.
And for this festival, truly distinguished individuals will also gather.
The royalty and nobility who govern this country.
And the nation’s leader. Even the King will come.
Well, the 『Great O’Browns』 isn’t completely unrelated… to me.
I’m involved just a tiny bit. Because I’m the apprentice of the Witch, a Tier I Seeker.
Entering the Guild, it was orderly as always.
However, several of the counters lined up were currently closed.
I heard staff were pulled away for 『Great O’Browns』 preparations.
So they’re short-staffed. Not only that, but people are also coming in from surrounding towns and villages on assignment.
It’s just one thing after another.
Since I’m partly responsible for some of this, I can’t really complain.
Right, a request for the Wind Dungeon, a request…
“Ah, gathering Big Goose meat.”
This looks good. I can keep the feathers and just hand over the meat.
200 Oro per bird. Minimum of ten birds, huh? This might be good.
Let’s see, the number is… hmm hmm.
“Um, um, woof! Lord Wof!”
“Eh?”
Turning around, the one running straight towards me was the black-haired dog-girl beauty, Juicy-san.
She stopped just short of hugging me. Good girl, good girl.
Her tail was wagging so hard it looked like it might fly off. Right, she was a wolf.
“Wof?”
“Rell-san. Hello.”
Rell-san called out.
Rell-san is a handsome elf youth with long silver hair, silver-rimmed glasses, and a black coat.
He gives off a cool impression.
He has a similar vibe to Dova-san. That makes sense. He’s her actual younger brother.
And he’s also Juicy-san’s older brother. A rare combination.
“It’s a little surprising to see you at the Guild.”
“Um, um, Lord Wof is a Seeker.”
“I know that.”
“Huh? Where are Ax-san and Hoss-san?”
“Ax has a cold. Hoss is looking after him.”
“Eh? Please tell him I hope he feels better soon.”
“So, I’m free. I remembered my fourteenth younger sister said she wanted to improve her archery.”
“Um, um, woof. Brother. I am Juicy.”
Juicy-san glared at Rell-san.
“Sorry. Force of habit.”
“Um, um, please be careful. You’ll be the one in trouble if our older sisters find out, Brother.”
“R-Right.”
“Um, by the way, Lord Wof, why are you at the Guild?”
“I came to accept that request and look for materials for a bed.”
I pointed, and Rell-san read it and nodded.
“…Big Goose meat, huh?”
“Um, um, a bed?”
“I thought it was about time I graduated from straw.”
“I see. A feather futon?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Coincidentally, we are also heading to the Wind Dungeon.”
“Um, um, if it’s alright, how about Lord Wof comes with us? That’s okay, right? Brother.”
“Ah, of course.”
“Is that really okay?”
I’d be more than happy to go together.
I don’t know anything about the Wind Dungeon.
“I don’t mind.”
“Then, please allow me to join you.”
“The pleasure is ours.”
“Um, um, woof! I’m so happy. Let’s go together!”
Juicy-san smiled cheerfully.
Rell-san went to the counter to handle the request, and we sat on a nearby bench.
Tail spinning wildly, Juicy-san looked only at me happily.
She dangled her legs, gazing at me constantly with shining eyes. R-Right. This was a good chance.
“Why is it, Juicy-san, that you pay attention to me, or rather, have such a high opinion of me?”
It had been like that since we first met.
I found it strange and had wanted to ask for a while.
Juicy-san thought for a moment, “Hmm,” then—
“Um, um, Lord Wof likes Butter Rice, right?”
“Yes, well.”
“Um, why do you like it?”
“Why…? The taste, I guess.”
Plus, it feels nostalgic.
Deeper than my past life memories… that kind of Butter Rice. I feel like I used to eat it.
“Um, um, the taste?”
“The taste is part of it, but… there are various other reasons why I like it.”
“Um, I feel the same way.”
“Eh…”
“Um, um, wan. For the same reasons.”
Juicy-san flashed a smile.
“I, I think I kind of… understand.”
I smiled too. I somehow got what she wanted to say.
Somehow, I guess that’s how it is.
Besides, being liked by such a beautiful girl is embarrassing, but not bad.
But having her intense gaze fixed on me makes me, well, nervous.
“O-Oh yeah, Juicy-san. So, in the end, you’re not becoming a Seeker through the special exception, right?”
“Um, wan. Yes. My birthday is soon.”
“Eh? Is that so?”
“Um, um, it’s next month.”
“So soon! Does that mean… you’ll be turning 14?”
Juicy-san beamed. Once she turns 14, she can become a Seeker.
Wait a minute. If that’s the case… she’ll be older than me?
I felt strangely conflicted.
Around me, among the women, everyone except Mineha-san is already older than me.
And even Mineha-san looks like an older sister, appearance-wise.
Man…
For now, I should prepare a present.
“Um, um, anyway, Lord Wof, so you possess a ranged weapon too. I didn’t realize.”
“Eh? Ranged?”
“Um, wan! The Monsters in the Wind Dungeon are always flying around in the sky. You can’t defeat them unless you shoot them down.”
“What did you say…?”
And then I realized for the first time.
Ranged weapons… I don’t have a single one.