Chapter 87: A New Standing
The information Langus had gathered, though from Adventurers Guild staff and adventurers’ rumors, was no different from what Prime Minister Brighton had told him.
When he heard about the Flower Nectar, the topic of Bees had also come up. He had laughed off the idea of someone commanding killer bees as preposterous and regretted that leaving it unaddressed had been a colossal failure, but it was too late to do anything about it now.
No more blunders from his own people could be tolerated. He would have to strictly warn Cyndira, who would be coming down from the Royal Palace, and order his Butler to keep her surroundings under surveillance.
His grandson, Ashira, had been removed from the line of succession and would become a pensioned noble. He had to be thoroughly warned not to voice any dissatisfaction, or his own safety would be in jeopardy.
He would have Langus find someone capable of keeping Ashira in check and assign them as his butler.
Marquis Grandes, who was a constant headache, was truly glad that he had reconciled with Shinya.
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I went out for a leisurely after-dinner walk and some tea, and a cat walking down the street caught my eye.
There are quite a few stray cats around, but this was the first time I’d noticed one with a thick tail like Mii-chan’s.
It walked with its chest puffed out and its tail curled up, moving with a dignified air.
My interest piqued, I used (Tame). [Tailcat, 13] appeared. Tailcat, huh? Its name is exactly as it looks.
Or rather, it seems Beasts in this world are named based on their appearance, which makes me chuckle wryly, thinking it’s just like that careless Amadeus.
《Mii-chan, that thick-tailed cat walking over there, can you catch it without killing it?》
《Leave it to me, Master.》
《Try not to be too conspicuous, please.》
Mii-chan, chasing after the Tailcat, replied with a wag of her tail.
She seems to have gotten quite used to the Royal Capital; you could even pass her off as a cat that can run errands.
《Master, I’ve caught it.》
《I’m coming now, so hide somewhere inconspicuous.》
《I’m on a roof, so it’s fine.》
That’s right, both the target and Mii-chan are cat-types; they were cats.
Following Mii-chan’s guidance, I went around to an alleyway, where Mii-chan, having returned to her original size, jumped down holding a limp cat in her mouth.
I wrapped it in a Medicinal Herb Pouch and used (Tame). [Tailcat, 3]
I carefully weakened it with a finger flick, then (Tame, Tame). Its status returned to [Tailcat, 13].
Since this one is a cat with a large tail, I guess I’ll call her Shii-chan.
As it started to stir, I said, 《Your name is Shii-chan!》
《Yes, Master.》 [Shii-chan, Agile, Hunting]
Hmm, I get ‘Agile’, but ‘Hunting’ at this small size?
It seemed quite dirty, even making the Medicinal Herb Pouch look soiled, so I used Cleanse three times in a row.
Once cleaned, it had chocolate brown tiger stripes, and weren’t those gold and silver heterochromatic eyes?
Even including its fluffy tail, it was about the same size as Mii-chan’s tail, around 60cm, I’d say.
I placed my hand on Shii-chan’s back, made her about two-thirds the size of a normal cat, and then ordered her to follow me.
《Shii-chan, are you good at hunting?》
《Yes! I won’t let any targeted rats, frogs, or snakes escape!》
Ah, so that’s the kind of hunting.
When we got home, I had her follow Mii-chan and taught her how to unlatch the door from the inside, but she seemed to struggle because she was smaller than Mii-chan.
《Master, is this one going to be a companion too?》
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile at Mii-chan’s sulky-sounding voice.
《I thought she could be a friend for Mina. Or would you rather continue to be Mina’s playmate?》
《I’ll leave it to this one!》
She must really hate being held and petted all over; that was an instant reply.
Being a wild Fang Cat, she apparently dislikes being petted.
Even with me, she’ll ride on my shoulder, but she rarely comes onto my lap.
When she snuggles up to me while I’m sleeping, it seems to be as a substitute for heating.
Whether it’s a house cat or a stray cat, I don’t think there are many cats that dislike being petted by people, so I thought of Shii-chan for Mina, but… I realized I hadn’t gotten Milene-sama’s permission.
In that case, I’ll teach her a few tricks and try a strategy to get permission through Mina’s affection for the cat.
After making her grow larger and smaller a few times, I asked, 《Shii-chan, can you make yourself bigger and smaller on your own?》
《Like just now, Master?》
《That’s right, that’s right. Usually, stay in your small form, and when you’re hunting or something, you can return to your original size.》
Shii-chan’s training started with commands using gestures and claps.
Three claps meant (come), a tap on the shoulder meant (get on the tapped shoulder), and when on walks, tapping either side meant (one step behind), among other things I taught her.
When she wanted water (tap her body three times with her front paw), when she was hungry (tap three times, twice); I taught her tricks that ordinary house cats couldn’t do.
Partway through, I got curious and asked how long it had been since she was born, and it seems it’s been about a year.
She said flowers were blooming when she started walking on her own, so I’ll consider her one year old.
Hmm, I don’t know what that is in human years, but there’s no doubt she’s young.
While I was at it, I checked her claws and fangs. Her fangs were about 2cm, and if she extended her claws, they also seemed to be about 2cm.
Against rats, I guess weapons of this size are sufficient.
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It’s been over ten days since I heard that the Queen wanted more Flower Nectar and Gold Mash, but there’s been no word.
Just when I was thinking that, three days later, Shii-chan announced a visitor.
Looking through the peephole, Sebance, who should be in the town of Holm, was standing there.
“It has been a while, Shinya-sama.”
“What about Holm?”
“It is practically vacant, with only a caretaker there now. If it pleases you, I shall come to pick you up tomorrow.”
“Understood. I’ll be waiting.”
Sebance bowed gracefully and departed. His Butler attire suited him so well I almost wanted to call him Sebastian.
The next day, I boarded the carriage that came to pick me up, heading out with only Shii-chan on my shoulder.
When I was guided to the usual salon, there was one person already there, and a guard standing by the wall.
“Don’t look so displeased,” the man said. It was Prime Minister Brighton. “The Gold Mash you provided, unlike Flower Nectar, is a valuable item that captures the stomachs of many people. If you continue to provide a certain amount, I promise to offer suitable compensation and conveniences.”
Indeed, if the taste of ordinary dishes improves by one or two levels, eateries would surely attract a flood of customers and rake in profits.
Food is an indispensable element in diplomacy. It can showcase a nation’s power and cultural differences, and if you can even capture their stomachs, everything will proceed advantageously, is that it?
I took out two jars from my Magic Bag and placed them before Milene-sama, who had entered at some point.
The pretext is not that I’m giving them to the kingdom, but that Milene-sama is presenting items I provided to her to the Royal Family, just like with the Flower Nectar.
“Things like mushrooms are affected by the year’s weather, so I can’t promise exactly how much I can provide.”
Since it’s just leftovers from my own consumption, providing it isn’t an issue, so I had them promise it wouldn’t become an obligation.
“Flower Nectar is 100 Gold Coins per jar. For Gold Mash, in the same jar, we’ll make it 300 Gold Coins. Is that acceptable?” Prime Minister Brighton asked.
“Since they are natural products and I can’t guarantee their quality, that’s fine.”
Three jars of Flower Nectar and three of Gold Mash for 1,200 Gold Coins, huh. I’ve secured the means for a safe and comfortable life, but it was so easy it’s almost anticlimactic.
“You don’t seem interested in becoming a noble,” the Prime Minister said, “but do you have any wishes?”
“Nothing really. If I had to say something, it would be enough to live without interference from nobles or wealthy merchants.”
When I answered that, the Prime Minister and Milene-sama exchanged glances and nodded.
“In that case,” Prime Minister Brighton said, “please exchange the Queen’s Attendant Identification I entrusted to you before with this.”
The card presented had the same crest of a Dragon roaring within a ring of fire, but it was even flashier with a golden border.
The three flower patterns below the crest were still there, but they were now crimson, apparently still indicating a connection to the Queen.
As usual, when I dropped a speck of blood on it, my face, name, and age appeared on the back, just like the card issued by the Adventurers Guild.
“If you have any troubles, show this to the local lord and make a request, and you should receive their cooperation,” the Prime Minister explained.
“Even though the Identification has become flashier, am I still just an attendant?”
“That’s right. However, you will be an attendant who is considered a close aide. There’s a risk your requests might be mistaken for the Queen’s requests, so please be careful about that.”
I caught a glimpse of the Prime Minister smirking out of the corner of my eye, and felt a bit like I’d been played.
“By the way,” Prime Minister Brighton continued, “I hear that in the Florence territory, Beasts are overflowing, and the Adventurers Guild conducted a compulsory summons for Beast subjugation. Since you’re also an Adventurer, if there’s a subjugation request, would you accept it?”
“Prime Minister, I just earned 1,200 Gold Coins. I won’t do dangerous things that risk my life. I’ll leave that sort of thing to those who boast of their skills and seek to rise in the world. Even without Flower Nectar and Gold Mash, I was earning enough to live. Unless it’s a compulsory summons, I won’t accept any Beast subjugation.”
Ignoring the bitter gazes of the guards, I declare that I have no intention of being a puppet of the kingdom.
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When Prime Minister Brighton left, Mina burst into the salon and rushed over to me, but she froze when she noticed that the one on my shoulder wasn’t Mii-chan.
《Shii-chan, this girl is Mina. Go say hello.》
《Yes, Master.》
Jumping down from my shoulder, she slowly approached Mina.
“Mina, this is Shii-chan. You can hold her, but she’s smaller than Mii-chan, and if you hold her for too long, she’ll start to dislike it.”
“Why are her eye colors different?”
How am I supposed to explain her gold and silver mystic eyes? I wonder if it was a mistake to bring her here without knowing how heterochromia is viewed in this world.
“What’s wrong, Mina?”
“It’s not Mii-chan! And… her eyes…”
Hearing Mina’s words, she looked at Shii-chan and nodded. “Mina, sometimes cats have different colored eyes,” she said, and deftly scooped Shii-chan up.
《Master, her scent is very similar. Is she a parent?》
《That’s right. Remember the people of this house well, and don’t attack them.》
“Did you Tame this one too?”
“If it’s permissible, I thought she could be a friend for Mina. Since she’s a cat, there’s no danger even if the Tame were to break.”
Hearing that, Mina rushed over and reached out her hand to Shii-chan.