30: An Unexpected Snack Time

Nice to meet you, Madrus. I am the Holy Beast Shiroru. Did you have business with me?

"Hmm. It seems you can indeed communicate. However, as for whether you are truly a Holy Beast..."

The Guild Master seemed taken aback by Shiroru’s greeting, but he wasn't about to believe the claim on that alone. I could understand his skepticism. Shiroru’s appearance—more like a cuddly plushie than a legendary creature—didn't exactly scream "Holy Beast."

"Tort, could you lend the Appraisal Loupe to the Guild Master?" Rei suggested.

"Oh, yeah. Sure."

In response to Rei’s idea, I handed the device over. Since the race would be explicitly listed, it was the fastest way to settle the matter.

Madrus peered through the Appraisal Loupe and let out a pained groan. "Nuuu..."

Was he struggling to reconcile his expectations with reality? Personally, I didn't see why a Holy Beast couldn't be cute.

Afterward, Dolga-san took a look as well, but he accepted it much more casually. "Oh, it really is a Holy Beast," he said easily. The two of them were quite the study in contrasts.

Once the Guild Master acknowledged Shiroru’s identity, Rei began explaining the circumstances surrounding him. Her explanation was concise and logical, making the story easy to follow. Thanks to her, it didn't look like I’d need to interject at all.

Hey, Tort. How much longer is this going to take? Can I go back yet?

Eh? I’m not sure. Just hang in there a little longer.

Muu. I’m bored. Oh, I know! Give me something tasty to eat and I'll behave!

Troublesomely, Shiroru was getting restless. I wasn't sure about bringing out food in a formal setting like this, but I didn't want to dismiss him while we were still discussing his nature.

Tort, is it ready yet?

He was in full meal mode, staring at me with wide, expectant eyes.

...Fine. If we stayed in the corner and ate quietly, it should be okay. Probably.

I moved to the edge of the room and sat Shiroru on the floor. Now then, what should I give him? I didn't have many options for a discreet snack, so I pulled out something I’d made myself. It was a simple dough made of flour, sugar, and water, kneaded and fried in a pan.

I’d originally wanted to make cookies, but eggs and butter were nowhere to be found in the market. Eggs were luxury goods with a limited supply, and butter was nonexistent in this region. Even with access to an oven, the temperature was a nightmare to control and fuel was expensive, so I hadn't experimented much. The result was a thick, crepe-like flatbread.

Despite its simplicity, Shiroru happily stuffed his face, munching away with gusto.

It’s a weird kind of bread, but it’s sweet and delicious!

I’d splurged on the sugar, so while the recipe was basic, the ingredients hadn't been cheap.

"Ahem!"

A thunderous throat-clearing suddenly echoed through the room, snapping me out of my daze. It came from the Guild Master.

I hadn't noticed that Rei had finished her explanation because I was too busy watching Shiroru eat. What a blunder!

Shiroru had just finished his last bite at the perfect time, so I picked him up and turned back to face the Guild Master.

"...Umu. For now, I approve the Tamed Monster Mark. Nina should have it ready soon. However, I have a question for the Holy Beast myself."

Oh, finally. What is it? Ask away.

"In truth, an unfamiliar black beast has been spotted within the dungeon recently," the Guild Master began.

According to him, sightings were frequent from the Fifth Floor onward. For veteran adventurers who braved the Deep Floors (Eighth and below), it wasn't a difficult foe to defeat. However, for the mid-tier explorers on the Middle Floors, it was a dangerous opponent that couldn't be taken lightly.

Worse yet, anyone wounded by the black beast's claws or fangs suffered from fevers and rashes, eventually falling into a state of extreme weakness. Several adventurers had already been affected, and some were in such a state that they hadn't regained consciousness.

"A black beast...? Could it be...?"

The description rang a bell. Before I’d officially become an adventurer, I’d encountered a Black Wolf while being dragged along by Ludovis and his party. I didn't know if there was a connection, but that wolf had felt different from other monsters. It possessed a sense of dread that was the polar opposite of the divinity I’d felt from Shiroru—a true malevolence.

"I might have seen it before," I said.

I told the Guild Master about the Black Wolf and, while I was at it, mentioned Ludovis’s group and their misdeeds. I wasn't looking for revenge, but I wasn't going to pass up a chance to report their behavior directly to someone in power.

"Ludovis... those guys again," the Guild Master grimaced.

It seemed their reputation was just as bad as Nina-san and the other adventurers had suggested.

"Wait, didn't you get wounded by that wolf, Tort?" Rei asked. "Did you have a fever?"

"No, nothing like that. It might be a different monster after all."

That was the main discrepancy between the Guild Master’s "black beast" and my Black Wolf.

However, it was unlikely that two different, unknown species would appear at the exact same time. Dungeon monsters were usually fixed. While rare, undiscovered species were found on occasion, the odds of two appearing simultaneously were slim compared to the possibility that they were the same entity.

The Guild Master nodded gravely at my reasoning.

"Indeed. I suspect as much. I actually have a lead on what it might be. There are descriptions in old texts regarding a calamity that once plagued this region. Legend says a Hero and a Holy Beast sealed it within the dungeon, but..."

He glanced at Shiroru. Shiroru had been busy growling to himself, seemingly ignoring the conversation, until he suddenly let out a sharp "Waf!"

Oh, I remember now! That thing is the Plague-Cursed Black Wolf!