Cat and Dog ⑨
We returned to the guild and went to the Fairial Receptionist with the black and gold two-toned hair.
This time, she was in her Fairial form.
“Welcome back~ Did you finish~ the request~?”
“Mhm. It was a good harvest.”
Ms. Pachira returned the card, the key, and the Eye of Fortune, saying this.
“The items you gathered~ please put them in this~ heave-ho, wooden box~”
The Receptionist opened a part of the counter. There was a wooden box there.
Ms. Pachira tried to take the Horns out of her pouch… but they were too heavy, so she called Juicy-san.
Juicy-san carefully placed the four Horns into the wooden box.
“My apologies, Juicy.”
“Um, woof. I’m happy I could be of help.”
“As am I. Is this sufficient?”
“Yes~ Thank you very much~ Next, the requestor needs to sign~ the Request Acceptance Certificate~ Right here.”
The Receptionist presented the Request Acceptance Certificate, and Ms. Pachira signed it. How bureaucratic.
“Thank you~ As for the request fee, once I report its completion—”
“Aye. No need for that.”
That voice!? I turned around, and sure enough, he was there.
“Um, um, woof. It’s Verent-san!”
“Verent-san!?”
“Why are you here?”
“Aye. Looks like I came at just the right time.”
Verent-san laughed.
A white beard and a burn scar over his left eye. His muscular body, visible beneath his work clothes, was proof of his many battles.
Unmistakably a strong Dwarf. A reliable Dwarf Blacksmith.
“Are you the client~?”
“Aye. Let me take a look at that Monokeros Magic Silver.”
“Eh~ Just a moment~”
He picked up one of the Horns from the wooden box, took out a hammer, and struck it lightly.
A clear kiiin sound echoed. Then, a part of the gray Horn began to change to a pale, silvery-blue color.
“The color changed!?”
“Aye. This part is Magic Silver.”
“It’s not the whole thing, then.”
“That’s right. Only a part of the Horn.”
“What a curious color.”
“Um, um, it’s very beautiful.”
“The area of Magic Silver is quite large.”
“Is that so?”
“Aye, this is good stuff.”
“Naturally.”
“Um, um, we all worked hard to get them.”
“Aye. I see.”
He checked them one by one with the hammer.
Watching parts of the gray Horns transform into brilliantly shining, pale blue silver was captivating no matter how many times I saw it.
And then, the last, largest Horn. The Horn from the Monokeros with the yellow light. He stopped.
“…”
Verent-san touched the Horn, remaining silent. What is it?
Ms. Pachira asked.
“Is there something about that Horn?”
“I have a feeling… This one is— Magic Metal.”
“Just as I thought.”
“Magic Metal?”
“Wafu?”
“…No doubt about it.”
“Hmm. Is that so.”
“?”
“Um, um, both of you, um, is something wrong?”
“~Um~ Sir~ I’ll handle the paperwork here~ so will you be taking these with you~?”
The Receptionist hurried over and asked Verent-san.
“Ah, aye. I will. Pachira. Boy. Tasan’s—”
“Um, um, I’m Juicy.”
“My bad. Juicy. Sorry, but could you carry the Horns to the Blacksmith shop for me?”
“Mhm. Very well.”
“And I need you to wait at the shop until I get back. I’ll be right back.”
“Mhm. I do not mind.”
“I’m fine with that too.”
“Um, um, I’m okay with it too.”
“Ah, right. There’s someone waiting there already, tell them too.”
“Hmm. Very well.”
“Understood.”
Ms. Pachira put the Horns in her pouch, and we left the guild.
We headed towards Verent-san’s Blacksmith shop. I immediately asked.
“Ms. Pachira. What’s Magic Metal?”
“Um, um, um, I’m curious!”
It seemed Ms. Pachira had expected to be asked. Of course she had.
Still, Ms. Pachira spoke as if struggling to find the right words.
“Well now. How should I put it? Hmm. Simply put, it is an ore rarer than Magic Silver, and more useful than Magic Silver for repairing OOPArts and various other things. It is a superior version of Magic Silver.”
I kind of figured as much.
“Does that mean its value is high too?”
“Normally, that would be the case, but…”
Ms. Pachira wore a complicated expression. Her ears drooped, and her Tail seemed hesitant.
Juicy-san noticed too.
“Um, um, are there times when that’s not the case?”
“Could it be that its value is so high it’s unknown?”
“—Actually. I only know what my master told me, but while its rarity is quite high, its value is… unexpectedly low.”
“Low even though it’s rare?”
“Um, um, does that mean its market value is low? Even considering various factors?”
“It seems so. Because it truly appears so rarely, its value is surprisingly unknown.”
“Why is the value low?”
“Well. If it’s like the eye of a Three-Eyed Rabbit…”
“You mean it’s rare, but there’s no demand or use for it?”
“Wafu! Um, that’s… too much.”
“That seems to be the case.”
No way, it’s super rare!
No, wait. Tasan’s Engagement Ring was definitely super rare.
It had value, but… so this pattern exists too, huh.
I felt strangely… like I understood, yet something wasn’t quite resolved.
Eventually, we arrived at Verent-san’s Blacksmith shop.
There was someone inside the shop. Right, he did say there was someone waiting.
That person had their back to us, wearing a black robe with the hood pulled down low over their eyes.
Suspicious, but this kind of attire wasn’t particularly unusual.
Also, Three Tails were sticking out, and I could tell even through the hood that they had beast ears.
Hm? Those Three Tails. And that somehow voluptuous figure.
“So you are the one waiting.”
“Um, um, um, nice to meet you.”
At their words, the waiting person spun around. And looked at me.
They grinned slyly.
“Oh my, oh my, fancy meeting my disciple in a place like this.”
Saying so cheerfully, they dramatically threw off their hood.
Ah, just as I thought. Just as I thought— that beautiful face belonged unmistakably to The Witch.
The Cat, the Fox, and the Dog are gathered.