29. I’ve Seen This Development Before

Once we were safely out of the dungeon, we headed straight for the Adventurer’s Guild. Our goal was to obtain a Tamed Monster Mark for Shiroru. I spotted Nina-san at one of the reception counters and joined her queue.

"What will the rest of you do?" I asked the party.

"They’ll likely have quite a few questions for us, so I’ll stay," Rei replied. "My presence should lend more credibility to the story than if Tort were testifying alone."

That was true. If we were going to talk about Holy Beasts and the like, having Rei there would be a huge help. I wasn't sure if Nina-san knew Rei’s true background, but he certainly carried more weight than I did on my own.

"I see. In that case, the three of us will go exchange the magic stones and other loot for cash," Mil offered.

"Got it. I’ll leave that to you."

As Mil spoke, I discreetly pulled the magic stones from my Storage Ring and handed them over. I had other dropped items as well, but if I pulled everything out here, the existence of my Storage Ring would be exposed. I decided to save the rest for later.

Not long after seeing Mil’s group off, our turn finally came.

"Nina-san, I’d like to request a Tamed Monster Mark."

"A Tamed Monster Mark? Does that mean you’ve tamed a monster?"

"Hmm. Is he a monster... I wonder? Anyway, I’ve found myself needing one."

"…? Just to be safe, would you mind if I confirmed the creature's identity?"

A confirmation, huh?

Worrying he’d stand out too much, I’d asked Shiroru to wait inside the bracelet for the time being. If he suddenly popped into existence right here at the counter, it might actually draw more unwanted attention. My attempt at discretion was starting to look like it might backfire.

"Um, doing it right here is a bit..."

"Yes, of course. Is the creature waiting outside?"

"For now, could you possibly lend us a private room?"

"A room...?"

Nina-san looked puzzled, but explaining the details in the middle of the lobby was out of the question. People would overhear, no matter how quiet we were.

After some effort, I managed to persuade her to let us use a space that looked like a reception room. Here, I could call Shiroru out without worrying about prying eyes.

"Okay, I’m going to call him out now."

"Wait, call him? In here?"

Leaving the bewildered Nina-san to her confusion, I called out to Shiroru.

(Shiroru. Sorry, but could you come out for a bit?)

(Oh, got it! Coming right now!)

The issue of my inner thoughts leaking had been resolved fairly easily; now I was able to convey only what I specifically wanted to tell him. That is, unless Shiroru was just reading the room and pretending not to notice my other thoughts.

Regardless, Shiroru appeared the moment I called. As if to offer a greeting, he sat back on his haunches like a human baby and waved his right front paw. It was a shamelessly calculated pose—though I doubt Shiroru himself realized just how "cute" he was being.

"This is the one. Um... Nina-san?"

"Ah, yes! This little guy? Oh my... he’s absolutely adorable...!"

The moment Nina-san saw Shiroru, she froze mid-sentence. It wasn't because he had appeared out of thin air, though—it seemed she was simply overwhelmed by his cuteness.

As expected of Shiroru!

That said, Nina-san was a professional and a capable adult. Once she snapped out of it, she got straight to work.

"At this size, a standard collar with a Tamed Monster Mark should fit just fine. I’ll go prepare one immediately. ...Even so, he’s a rare-looking creature. Is he truly a monster?"

"Ah, well, about that—"

(I am the Holy Beast Shiroru! Nice to meet you!)

Before I could explain, Shiroru stood up with a start and offered a cheerful greeting. He must have used Thought Transmission. Nina-san stood there, paralyzed with shock.

"It spoke...? Wait, a Holy Beast?"

"Indeed. A Holy Beast," Rei added in a somber tone, addressing Nina-san as she struggled to process the situation.

"A Holy Beast..."

She whispered the words like a prayer, her eyes darting back and forth between Shiroru and me several times. Finally, her gaze settled back on Rei.

"A... Holy Beast?"

Nina-san had officially glitched out.

To be fair, Shiroru didn't exactly radiate the majesty one might expect from a legendary creature, and I certainly didn't look like the kind of special person who could have a Holy Beast as a familiar. I could understand why she found it hard to accept.

"It may be difficult to believe at first, but that is our conclusion," Rei said. "You received a message of sorts just now, did you not? It is clear that he is no ordinary monster. I believe we should report this to the Guild Master as well."

Nodding repeatedly at Rei’s suggestion, Nina-san scrambled out of the room.

"Is this really something we need to tell the Guild Master?" I asked.

"I’m not certain, but it’s better to be safe. It’s best to have this on the record."

I hadn't expected it to become such a big deal. I knew Shiroru was special, but a direct report to the head of the guild? Looking at him now, he didn't seem like such a grand, imposing figure.

A short while later, there was a knock at the door. When Rei gave permission to enter, two men walked in.

One was an elderly man. He had likely retired from the front lines, but he possessed a sturdy build that practically screamed "veteran adventurer." He carried the heavy aura of a powerful warrior. This was surely the Guild Master.

The other was Dolga-san. I had no idea why he was there. As usual, the man was a mystery.

The man who seemed to be the Guild Master paused for a split second when his eyes fell on Rei. Given his position, he likely dealt with the city’s influential figures and recognized Rei’s face. However, he seemed to decide to treat him strictly as an adventurer for the time being.

"I am Madrus, the Master of the Adventurer’s Guild. I heard the report from Nina. You claim to be accompanied by a Holy Beast?"

As expected, he was the Guild Master. Madrus scanned the room, his eyes eventually landing on Shiroru, who was currently smiling and waving a paw.

"A Holy Beast...?" he muttered, his expression twisting into one of deep skepticism.

I’d seen this exact development before!