28. No Mission in Particular

“Tort, what’s wrong?”

Maybe it was because I’d suddenly let out a strange yelp, but Rei was looking at me with a worried expression. I hurriedly explained the situation.

“Sorry. Don’t worry. The moment Shiroru touched this bracelet, I became able to understand what he’s saying.”

“You can talk to Shiroru? I’m so jealous! I want to talk to him, too. If I borrow that bracelet, will I be able to talk to him as well?”

The one speaking with such envy was Halfa. Since she was the one doting on Shiroru the most, it felt a bit cruel that I was the only one who could communicate with him.

I wondered how it worked. When I cast an inquiring glance his way, Shiroru shook his head from side to side.

“The Bracelet of Bonds can’t be shared. It’s the ultimate proof of the bond between Tort and me! However, if it’s just chatting, I can do that without the bracelet!”

Shiroru waddled over to Halfa on two legs, looking a bit unsteady, and raised his front right paw in a wave.

“Hey, thanks for giving me a name! I am the Holy Beast, Shiroru. From here on out, I’m going to follow Tort as his partner, so nice to meet you!”

“Whoa! I’m Halfa! Nice to meet you, too, Shiroru!”

It seemed everyone heard the greeting this time, not just me. I’d seen a skill called Thought Transmission on his status screen earlier; this must be the effect.

If he had an ability like that, why didn't he use it from the start? What was that whole game of charades earlier even for?

“What do you mean by ‘partner’? I don’t mind you coming with us, but...”

Once Shiroru finished his round of greetings, I asked him about the part that was bothering me.

“A partner is a partner. Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s not a problem. I just wondered why you chose me.”

“Because we’re both Kin of Lord Lamuyadas, so I figured we’d get along!”

Lord Lamuyadas was another name for the Destiny God. Most people, including myself, usually just called him the Destiny God. I wondered why? Maybe there was some kind of religious commandment against speaking the deity’s name too casually.

Regardless, I wondered when I had become a Kin of the Destiny God. At the very least, no such title had appeared when I appraised my own status. I was constantly being saved by the Destiny God’s Smile, though, so I didn't really mind the "Kin" label.

“So, that seems to be the deal...”

By a strange turn of events, we were taking Shiroru with us. I looked around to see how the others were taking it. The three women looked delighted to have a new fluffy companion. Rei, however, had a slightly different reaction. She looked… strangely motivated.

“A Holy Beast as a partner, huh? Does that mean you have some kind of mission?”

Ah, I see.

Receiving a divine mandate and saving the world with a Holy Beast at your side. It was exactly the kind of setup you’d find in a heroic epic. I could understand why Rei found it so romantic.

But still. I doubted anything like that would happen to someone like me. Setting aside how he looked before he shrank, the current Shiroru didn't exactly radiate "chosen savior" energy.

“A mission? Not really! If I had to pick one, I want to be fed delicious food. That is my mission!”

I knew it!

Though, honestly, I think seeking out gourmet food is a perfectly noble mission in its own right.

However, it was clearly a disappointing answer for Rei. Her excitement visibly deflated. In her place, Sally spoke up with a question.

“Why did you get so small? You were huge when we first saw you.”

“That’s because of Tort’s influence. A Holy Beast’s form changes depending on its partner.”

Was that why his stats were so low? I certainly didn't feel any of the dignity he’d displayed at the start. If I was told it was my influence, I couldn't really argue. But he’d definitely shrunk before I even put on the Bracelet of Bonds. Maybe there was a sort of provisional contract in effect the moment we met?

“Tort...”

Rei was looking at me reproachfully. She probably thought his "grand mission" had vanished specifically because of my influence.

Hey, my personality and stats might have affected him, but I’m sure the mission thing has nothing to do with me! It's not like the gods would say, "Well, we can't give this guy a mission because he'd never finish it, so let's just scrap the whole thing," right?

...Actually, if there were multiple candidates, that might exactly be what happened. I was starting to feel like that was a distinct possibility. Yeah, I should probably keep that thought to myself.

“If we’re taking him along, is it okay to just walk around with him out in the open?” I asked.

“You should be able to get a Tamed Monster Mark at the Adventurer’s Guild,” the ever-knowledgeable Sally answered. “Most people attach those to a collar.”

Without a mark like that, people wouldn't be able to tell if he was a wild monster or a pet. It would be a disaster if someone hunted him down by mistake. The only issue was whether Shiroru would agree to it.

“Mmm, a collar? It sounds a bit constricting, but I can endure it for a bit. Besides, I’m usually vanished anyway, so it shouldn't matter much.”

Once I explained the situation, he agreed surprisingly easily. Being able to actually communicate made everything so much smoother.

But he’d said something a bit curious.

“What do you mean by ‘vanished’?”

“Hold on. I’ll show you.”

The moment Shiroru spoke—or rather, the moment I thought I saw him grin—his entire body faded away.

“Shiroru! He really disappeared!”

Halfa reached out to the spot where he’d been standing, but her hands only swiped through empty air. He wasn't just invisible; he was physically gone.

“See? I’m gone! I’m actually inside the bracelet right now. Oh, just so you know, I can’t talk to anyone but Tort while I’m in here.”

According to Shiroru, he was currently residing inside the Bracelet of Bonds. Apparently, there was a living space inside that was unexpectedly comfortable.

“Oh, that’s right. In this state, the door should open, so you can leave without any trouble.”

Ah, right. Since there was currently no "boss" in the boss room, the doors would unlock. But what would happen to this room once Shiroru was gone?

“The original boss should spawn. I was just tricking the dungeon into letting me sublet the place!”

What does that even mean?

Is it actually possible to deceive a dungeon or rent out space in one?

And then it hit me—I hadn't even spoken that thought aloud, yet he’d answered me. By any chance, were my thoughts leaking directly to Shiroru?

“You should be able to control what you send and what you don't to some extent. But right now? You’re an open book!”

Leaking completely, huh...

Well, whatever. I’d deal with that later. For now, I needed to explain things to the others and get out of here. If we dithered for too long, the actual boss might decide to show up.