Pochi’s material hunt.
Pochi’s Point of View
Despite the commotion, I managed to visit the beautiful places around the world as planned. As a result, the draft for the stained glass was completed. Now all that’s left is to find the materials and create it.
With that in mind, I decided to have Suigetsu-san, who has evolved, translate for Crys-kun, the Crystal Rabbit. Normally, Mofumaru would handle translations, but since he has a surprisingly cunning side, Kou suggested Suigetsu-san for the job. Strange, considering how white and innocent Mofumaru looks.
Stained glass is usually made with regular glass, but I wanted to create something extraordinary this time. Crys-kun nodded enthusiastically, expressing his willingness to help.
“Pyu, pyuuui!”
“He says there’s a lot of that in his homeland.”
“Pyuu, pyupyu!”
“Colored glass can be melted with high heat. The colors also blend.”
“... Crys-kun, where exactly is your homeland?”
“”……………………””
Apparently, he doesn’t know. Thinking about it, Crys-kun was kidnapped and brought here, wasn’t he? In that case, maybe someone else could tell us.
And so, I went to the Adventurers’ Guild! Surely they’d know where creatures like Crys-kun live. According to him, their primary food source includes something akin to high-temperature-meltable colored glass. While Crys-kun and his kind also eat meat and vegetables, their homeland is free of predators, and this material is a moderately tasty delicacy for them.
In other words, I needed to inquire about caves where crystal materials could be harvested and that were relatively free of monsters.
“Oh? Isn’t this Rosarin’s…”
“I’m Pochi. Hello.”
It was lucky to run into the veteran adventurers known as the Free Wind. I know them well—they often played with me when I was little. They’re trustworthy adults. The one who spoke was Sole-san, the leader. He’s always friendly and approachable. After explaining the situation, he gave me several candidate locations.
“What’s going on, Sole?”
Mirula-san appeared. I greeted him, and he ruffled my head with his big hand. Mirula-san always makes sure to be gentle when patting me.
“Oh my, Pochi-kun?”
“It’s been a while.”
Sugar-san and Binet-san also arrived. The entire Free Wind crew was here.
“Hey, Binet! How did it go?”
“No noteworthy requests today.”
Even more reason to seize the opportunity!
“Umm, could you accept a personal request from me?!”
I explained my situation in detail.
“Isn’t this something anyone could handle? Like the Protectors of the Amethyst?”
Mirula-san tilted his head, puzzled. But that wasn’t what I wanted.
“No, this is a request I want to entrust to you. I want this project to be my greatest masterpiece! That’s why I can’t make any compromises! The Protectors of the Amethyst are my friends, so I might end up relying on them too much… and that wouldn’t do!”
“… I see.”
Binet-san nodded in understanding.
“Besides, the Free Wind is a group of trustworthy adults. You don’t belittle or look down on me just because I’m a beastman. Adventurers like you are rare!”
Thanks to Rosarin Oneechan, overt discrimination against beastmen has drastically decreased. Even so, it still exists. Naturally, I’d want to entrust my life to reliable adventurers.
“Here, this is all my savings! Please, won’t you accept my request?!”
“Hey, after being told all that, how could we possibly refuse?”
“Exactly.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m a woman, but not accepting isn’t an option here.”
“Thank you so much!”
Everyone nodded with smiles. I handed the money to Mirula-san, who froze after checking it. Then she smacked me on the head.
“Idiot!”
“??”
“What, was there play money mixed in?”
“That’d still be cute! But it’s the opposite! The opposite!! Ugh, go ask the Guild staff for the standard rates and make it an official request! You’ll save way more with the fee structure!”
Apparently, I’d offered way too much. Mirula-san scolded me thoroughly. But getting scolded for offering too much… it just proves how trustworthy they are.
This was money I had painstakingly saved for emergencies, so I thought now was the time to use it.
Even the Guild staff seemed a little taken aback. I wonder why? Still, they explained the market rates in great detail. Sure enough, the fee system was much cheaper.
Out of gratitude, I set the reward slightly above market value.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. There might be a next time. Please remember me as a good client.”
“Hah, I like that! If there’s a next time, make sure to request us!”
“I will!”
And so, I ended up going on a material-gathering expedition to a cave with the Free Wind.
“Still, who gives a kid like you that much money…?”
“Huh? That money is what I earned myself.”
“… What?”
“I sell paintings and sculptures to earn—”
“Pochi!”
“Oh, Duke Carlisle!”
Duke Carlisle stepped out of his carriage and gently patted my head.
“The painting you made recently was incredible! Be sure to let me know when you finish your next piece!”
“Oh, okay.”
Duke Carlisle is a customer introduced to me by Otousan… I mean, Rosarin Oneechan’s dad, who loved the landscape painting I gifted him.
“Oh, by the way… I think I have a painting you might like.”
The Duke loves waterfront scenery, so how about the one I recently painted? It’s a landscape featuring a watermill, a river, and fields. I’m quite proud of it.
“Marvelous! I must buy it!!”
The Duke happily purchased it.
“I must hang it immediately! Thank you for such a wonderful piece!!”
Overjoyed, Duke Carlisle left. I usually sell my works for whatever price the buyer suggests since I don’t really know their value.
The Free Wind members were stunned. Huh? Did I do something weird?
“Pochi… you’re incredible.”
Sole-san grinned and ruffled my head.
“??”
“That painting… it was beautiful.”
Yay! My painting got praised! I’m so happy!
“It was one of my best works! Waterfront scenery is lovely, isn’t it? Hehe, since the Duke paid so much for it, I’ll donate this money again.”
“… Donate?”
Binet-san tilted his head.
“Oh, I’m an orphan. So, I donate half of what I earn to the orphanage where I grew up. With money, the kids can eat plenty of food, right?”
Eating a full meal is pure happiness. I said this with a smile, but…
For some reason, the Free Wind members burst into tears.
“Are you okay?! Did I say something strange?! Are you hurt?!”
“They’re fine, full of happiness.”
“Pyui!”
“Exactly.”
Suigetsu-san and Crys-kun agreed. Being full truly is happiness.
Although I was patted endlessly by all the Free Wind members after that, I still don’t know why.
What do you think about this chapter?
