Chapter 92: Not Everyone Is Shocked
“Ahaha, I knew it would be surprising!”
“Y-yes, it certainly is…”
Fleur placed a hand on her chest, trying to steady her breath. I hadn’t intended to startle her this much, so I felt a bit guilty.
“Could it be… that creature is the monster everyone has been talking about?”
“Ah, no, this one is different. I heard at the Guild that the monster that appeared in the Forest was a Silver Wolf over four meters tall.”
I almost nodded in agreement but managed to stop myself just in time. I had been told not to speak about it outside, and while I couldn’t quite grasp what an S Rank monster was like, I decided to keep quiet to avoid causing any panic in the town.
“I see. But that tamed monster… it looks like a Silver Wolf.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Is that really true?”
She looked at me with a suspicious gaze, but since that was the situation, I chose not to elaborate further. Still, this woman is sharp.
“…I apologize. My bad habit has surfaced again. Now, let’s refocus…”
As Fleur spoke, her expression shifted back to one of curiosity.
“Ah, could it be that the wood is in your Storage Bag? If so, feel free to take it out here.”
Ah, right. When I sold the monster to Fleur before, I had tied it up with rope and dragged it here.
“Then I’ll bring it out now.”
Since I wasn’t hiding it anymore, Rio and I retrieved the wood from the Dimensional Box.
“The Dimensional Box…!”
“That should be ten pieces.”
“Y-yes, I have certainly received them.”
I handed Fleur the designated request slip, and she signed it. Although I felt I had surprised her quite a bit, she quickly regained her composure.
“That completes our transaction.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Thank you as well. This will help move the workshop’s work along.”
“By the way, I noticed that a lot of furniture is made in this town.”
“Yes, that’s right. We can’t keep our customers waiting.”
“…Could it be that Beldran Workshop is waiting for wood as well?”
I was jolted by Rio’s words. If that were the case, our bed’s construction would be delayed. We needed that comfortable bed made with Gel Slime as soon as possible.
“That’s possible… Are you perhaps planning to make a request to Beldran Workshop?”
Nodding in response to Fleur’s question, I was then offered the suggestion to deliver the wood directly to Beldran Workshop. That would likely speed up the completion of the furniture we ordered, and I had no objections, so I agreed. After receiving the additional reward for transporting the wood, I reported the completion of the request at the Guild before heading to the workshop.
“Welcome!”
As I entered the workshop, just like last time, Clay-kun was sitting at the counter. His slightly childish speech was as endearing as ever. After noticing us as customers, I expected him to call for his mother, but he kept his gaze fixed on us.
“Hello, Clay-kun.”
Thinking it was odd for the conversation to stall, I greeted him, but he still didn’t respond.
“Whoa! A doggy!”
Suddenly, his eyes sparkled, and he shouted with excitement. He hopped down from the chair he had been sitting on and came around to our side.
Standing in front of Nil, who was sitting quietly, he looked up at her face, which was well above his own. The height difference was quite remarkable.
“Can I touch her?”
Clay-kun asked Nil directly, but I wondered if she understood him. She seemed to respond, so perhaps she did comprehend.
As I pondered this, Nil suddenly stood up and approached Clay-kun. She pressed her body against him and lay down on her stomach.
“Ahaha, she said it’s okay to touch!”
“Really?!”
Clay-kun squatted down happily and reached out to Nil’s neck.
“Fluffy! So warm!”
With a beaming smile, he began to stroke Nil’s neck, his tentative movements gradually becoming more confident.
“It looks like Clay-kun could ride Nil…”
“Eh?”
Clay-kun looked up at Rio, who had muttered that softly. Meanwhile, his hands continued to pet Nil without pause. Impressive.
But it did seem like he could ride her easily. Once Nil returned to her original size, I could probably ride her too. Just imagine being surrounded by all that fluffiness! My dreams were expanding…
“Do you want to try riding her?”
When I asked, Clay-kun glanced between Nil and me, then asked Nil, “Is it okay?”
“Woof!”
With a single bark, Nil took a stance as if to say it was alright.
“It seems it’s fine.”
“Thank you!”
Carefully avoiding stepping on Nil’s feet, Clay-kun climbed onto her back. Once he was securely on, Nil slowly stood up. However, it seemed he struggled to maintain his balance, and he ended up leaning forward, clinging to Nil’s back.
“Whoa! …But it’s so soft!”
He looked surprised, but it turned out well in the end. He buried his face in her back, looking blissful.
“Clay! If a customer comes in, you need to let me know!”
Just then, Sariana, Clay-kun’s mother, appeared from the back of the shop.
“Hyahhh?!”
But the moment she saw Clay-kun riding Nil, she screamed and fainted.