After hearing my words, Kazuma displayed a miserable expression before collapsing from exhaustion onto the grass.
He had literally fainted, overwhelmed by the effort and mental attacks I had inflicted on him.
In the end, I had to carry him on my back to his room.
Maybe I had been too hard on him?
That was a possibility. Yet, I couldn't afford to make concessions, even for an act that, on the surface, seemed trivial.
I consider him a friend... but there are limits.
"Indeed, I mustn't get too close... or is that an excuse?"
Maybe I'm simply trying to avoid reliving a betrayal from someone close, like what happened in Japan... So, without even realizing it, I'm erecting a barrier between me and Kazuma.
A possible idea, which I preferred to push aside for now.
My mental insecurities aren't my priority. Better to focus on something else.
I ended up chasing these thorny thoughts from my head as I got out of the bath.
"Renji, are you planning to rest today too?"
After putting on my clothes and equipment, I was intercepted by Megumin.
I noticed YunYun, who had hidden behind a pillar of the residence, but that detail wasn't important.
"Hmm... I don't know. Getting items from merchants and visiting the blacksmith could be considered a break... but, to tell the truth, I feel like having fun outside of Axel."
All the skills and magic I've learned need to be tested in real situations, right?
Thus, after brief reflection, I answered Megumin honestly.
She seemed to appreciate my response, as her face took on a slight reddish tint betraying her excitement.
"Great! Since you don't have anything planned after the blacksmith and the clothing shop, you could come with me to unleash my magic?"
Oops... I had forgotten this aspect of Megumin.
Every day, except in case of serious injury or valid reason, she had to use her Explosion magic.
Not because of a curse... but simply because she loved making things explode.
Dangerous behavior, but one I found extremely useful as a party leader.
Come to think of it... it was even strange that she had been so well-behaved until now.
"No problem, we'll go unleash your magic after my business in town."
"Awesome! I can't wait to test the effects of the Shortened Chant skill," she said, unable to hide her joy.
Surprisingly, YunYun hadn't intervened during the entire interaction.
She simply remained crouched in the shadows, like a stalker.
Is it a good sign that a teenager is secretly following me?
An intriguing question I never thought I'd ask myself.
...
"Why are you staring at me like that? You wanna fight?"
Quite the attitude... but I like it.
On the way to the forge, we chatted with Megumin about the Crimson Demon village.
The more I learned about this place, the more I burned with desire to go there for... educational reasons.
The chuunibyou culture of the Crimson Demons was certainly problematic, but the artifacts and interesting locations there were numerous.
There was even a hill that tourists used to directly observe the Demon King's daughter's room.
Frankly... I'm curious to see what the future demon sovereign looks like.
Of course, I don't intend to... cough... observe her naked through that observatory.
It was in this relaxed atmosphere that my eyes fell upon a place absent from my Konosuba memories:
a pet shop.
According to Megumin, users of the Tamer class possess the ability to easily domesticate animals, and sometimes even certain monsters.
However, in the case of monsters, everything depends on their overall strength and especially their level of intelligence.
After all, the skill used by tamers is never 100% effective on a target.
Thus, many tamers ended up reselling creatures deemed too weak... or too intelligent to be quickly subdued.
The creature that suddenly addressed me through my hat was a young Beginner's Bane.
(Image)
It's a formidable monster for beginner adventurers, so for anyone below level 20.
Unfortunately for me, this one was still just an adolescent, not a full adult.
Its size was barely equivalent to that of a terrestrial tiger.
However, according to the adventurer's guide I had obtained at the guild during my first days in Axel...
An adult's size is nothing to envy from that of a cow.
"Dear customer, you seem to appreciate our Beginner's Bane."
A young girl with cat ears approached Megumin and me.
"My name is Anya ~ welcome to my pet shop!" she declared, making an exaggerated movement with her hands toward the cages. They contained various abnormally large terrestrial animals, as well as monsters with menacing appearances.
(Image)
"It's strange... but you remind me of someone from my homeland," I let slip without thinking, expressing my honest thoughts after observing her.
"Haha, I hope that person is ravishing ~ wink," she replied, laughing.
Fortunately, she didn't take my remark badly.
Anya was clearly the extroverted type.
"Indeed, Miss Anya. But let's get back to business: how much for this Beginner's Bane?"
I pointed at the creature that was, despite itself, wearing my magic hat. That's how I had been able to hear its thoughts a few moments ago.
"Oh... yes, business. Um... I'll let you have it for 500,000 Eris."
"W-What?!"
Even Megumin wasn't wrong to be shocked.
An elimination quest related to Beginner's Banes didn't exceed 200,000 Eris. So paying more than double for just one?
"Calm down. Understand that capturing a creature is much more difficult than eliminating it. Plus, I've been feeding it since its childhood..." she explained.
Listening to her, I ended up agreeing to pay the requested sum, with a bonus, on the condition that Anya teach me two skills: Taming and Two-handed Sword Handling.
How did I know she was a swordswoman?
Despite her cute appearance, her palms bore the typical marks of a warrior.
A detail she didn't much appreciate me pointing out during negotiations.
No matter the universe, women always seem to pay great attention to their appearance... and the perception we have of it.
...
"I like you. You'll now be called Chimotsuke the Second!"
Barely out of the pet shop, Megumin settled without hesitation on the monster's back.
The black panther had transformed into a mount.
"How dare you give me such a name?! I already have a name... and it's Alpharius!" roared the Beginner's Bane, transmitting its thoughts to Megumin and me.
I stared it straight in the eyes.
"If Megumin wants to call you Chimotsuke the Second, then that's what it'll be."
The staring contest went on for long minutes... until the creature finally gave in.
"... Very well. I'll be called Chimotsuke the Second... but only after you've proven your superiority."
As expected from a Beginner's Bane.
My adventurer's guide already specified that this creature possessed formidable intelligence.
It could submit on its own, the instant it felt it risked losing against an opponent.
In the wild, these monsters are even capable of setting traps for adventurers... by exploiting their greed.
A monster perfectly embodying cunning... and danger.
I then noticed its black paws, claws already out but skillfully concealed.
That sneaky bastard... it was planning to launch a preemptive attack on me.
"Alright... but our fight will happen soon. Not now," I warned it, without looking away.
"... Understood."
"Then move forward, my Chimotsuke the Second."
Surprisingly, it was easy to read the miserable expression on the black panther's face that was now carrying Megumin.
...
"Marvelous! You came at the right time."
After dropping off Chimotsuke II at the stable — giving him a little warning in case he attacked someone or went after a horse — I headed toward Drol's forge.
Upon my arrival, a middle-aged man greeted me with a wide smile and a compound bow in his arms.
(Image)
"D-did you succeed?"
The blacksmith simply smiled and nodded.
If I get the military clothes, then I'll indeed be ready for that damn island now.
It's just too bad I'm no longer as sure I can obtain Sylvia's skill before my return.
"Why are you standing there drooling over it? Don't you want to try it... partner?"
Now that Drol mentioned it, it was clear: we're now business partners thanks to this revolutionary invention.
Maybe I should register with the merchants' guild?
At this rate, I'm going to revolutionize the archery market... and other weapons throughout this universe.
Goodbye to my money problems.
"Haha, indeed! I want to test 'our' product in a real situation."