ALL NOVEL chapter 73 - Divine cat Mee-chan gets more companions.
73 Divine cat Mee-chan gets more companions.
A pile of monster materials has appeared in front of us. They’re all being given to us as a gift.
The insect-type monsters outside Mii-chan’s shampoo barrier were knocked over by the explosion and shockwave, and then finished off. It’s clear that Mii-chan’s barrier is effective. Truly, a divine feature.
The Kobolds handled the dissection of the monsters, including the Glass Wolf we previously defeated. When I asked, I got a disapproving look from the White Wolf King. Well, what could I do? The Glass Wolf attacked us first.
The meat has been enjoyed by everyone. Little black leopards and wolves have been popping up from who knows where to join the feast. They look adorable when they’re not eating, but their mealtime antics are definitely not suitable for children.
The adults have their faces buried in barrels of ale and wine, drinking until they’re completely plastered. I hope they’re okay…
With the defeat of the Grandbear, the ecological hierarchy of the mountain will change. The White Wolf King will now govern the mountain, with Rodem serving as an advisor. The Kobolds, led by Pat, will return to their village at the foot of the mountain. Since the Kobolds are a fairy-like species, they are somewhat more aligned with humans.
Honestly, I’m quite sleepy, but the White Wolf King and Pat have been discussing various matters with me.
Mii-chan and Peo are sleeping in the embrace of the black leopard. Sumire, who was excited earlier, has calmed down now.
The White Wolf King has asked me to mediate between humans and the monsters, now that the Grandbear is gone. This is a welcome request as it will likely make the mountain and the trading caravans passing through it much safer. I’ll probably need to consult with the queen about this.
Pat has asked me to mediate trade deals with human merchants. It seems there are very few merchants willing to trade with the Kobolds, and those who do often offer very low prices. Currently, the Kobolds are pretending to be humans to sell their goods, but they’re unable to sell in large quantities due to not being part of the Merchant Guild.
The Kobolds, being the most human-like among the fairy species, rely on trading with humans for their materials. They bring these materials to exchange for human goods, so it’s vital that they can continue to trade effectively. For the adorable Pat, it’s imperative that we find a solution.
I ended up staying up all night listening to their discussions… A sleepless night, indeed.
I assured them that I wouldn’t let things go awry and asked for some time to work on it. The Kobolds returned the weapons and armor I had lent them, and I gifted them some daggers and short swords. Pat seemed genuinely thrilled, especially since he mentioned that metal goods couldn’t match human craftsmanship.
As I prepared for departure with Mii-chan and Peo, and took care of Sumire, Rodem and the White Wolf King arrived.
“This one is my grandchild. Please, include him among Mii-sama’s companions,” Rodem said with a warm smile.
“This one is my youngest son. As a token of our friendship, I entrust him to Mii-sama,” added the White Wolf King.
The black leopard and the tiny wolf cub, who had come to greet us first, were now being offered as companions. The wolf cub, barely weaned, was absolutely adorable.
“Mii-chan…”
Ah, Mii-chan seems to be saying, “Leave it to me!” and has already taken on the responsibility. I wonder if there’s a profession for Tamers in this world? More importantly, will they be allowed in towns and villages?
“Looking forward to working with you.”
The black leopard and the cub nuzzled and licked my hand with enthusiastic affection. They were just so irresistibly cute. Peo, who was also greeting them, got thoroughly petted and seemed delighted, so I guess everything is just fine.
The real issue is transportation. The wolf cub is manageable, but the black leopard is a different story.
“It’s not a problem,” Mii-chan reassures. “He’ll just follow Sumire.”
Indeed, with a body length of over two meters, and being a leopard, he should be fast on mountainous paths. However, I wonder if he can keep up with Sumire on the plains.
Anyway, even though I’m exhausted, it’s time to set off. The black leopard leads the way on the mountain path with impressive speed, as expected from someone familiar with the terrain. We took the beast trail that Sumire can navigate and exited the mountains. We should reach the target village by early afternoon.
As we change leaders to Sumire, the pace picks up. I glance back and, oh no, is that…? He’s falling behind more and more…! Sumire, stop!
The black leopard is clearly exhausted, panting heavily. I offer him some mineral water from Mii-chan’s dish, and he finally seems to calm down. The black leopard then goes to Sumire and touches noses with her, as if showing mutual respect.
What to do now? The black leopard then shrinks down. A black cat, huh? So he has a cat transformation skill… I forgot to appraise him. I’ll do that later.
Mii-chan is comfortably settled in her carrier bag, Peo is now riding behind me, and the black leopard has taken Peo’s former place. I’m holding the wolf cub. It should be manageable, but I need to figure something out. Maybe I should buy a saddle with storage to carry the gear?
Peo’s meowing from the back is getting a bit noisy. We’re over the capacity limit, so please bear with it.
Despite everything, we arrived at the village in the Duchy of Hildenburg by early afternoon.
I’m so tired and sleepy, but I guess I’ll push through one more time.
“Mii-chan…”