The headquarters of the Victor Trading Company, where Cornelia and Kaito eventually arrived, did not strike the eye as particularly grand or majestic. Instead, it was a tidy, practical building that prioritized functionality above all else. With everything necessary organized as efficiently as a well-maintained municipal office, the facility was spotless from floor to ceiling.
Paintings of various monsters adorned the walls of the lobby, and a dedicated retail space showcased high-end monster supplies. Even a casual observer could tell at a glance that this was the heart of a major monster-related enterprise.
Word of Kaito and Cornelia’s visit had clearly preceded them. The company’s president greeted them in person, leadng them toward a private reception room with practiced grace.
"Allow me to welcome you once more to the Victor Trading Company. Since our agenda today concerns a custom-made brush for high-tier monsters, I have taken the liberty of asking our Resident Monster Scholar to join us. I trust you have no objections."
"I look forward to working with you," Kaito replied politely. "A monster scholar, you say?"
"Indeed. The creation of a dedicated brush requires specialized magic power appraisal and intricate technical assessments."
"I see. That makes sense."
As the president answered, Kaito noticed a distinct layer of tension beneath his professional veneer. It was hardly surprising. For the Victor Trading Company, the Sharon Trading Company—and by extension, the Sharon Count House—held undeniable authority. To have the eldest daughter of that house personally escorting a guest was a signal of immense significance. The president had likely been bombarded with warnings to ensure that "absolutely no discourtesy be shown," so it was only natural for him to be on edge.
Though the president was a commoner, his business centered on the luxury pet market. Since only the wealthiest nobles could afford to keep monsters as companions, he had extensive social ties within the aristocracy and had certainly heard the rumors surrounding Kaito.
Most of those stories sounded like tall tales, and he had remained half-skeptical until now. However, seeing Cornelia treat Kaito with such clear deference was proof enough. If a lady of the Sharon family was moving with such caution, Kaito’s standing was undoubtedly superior to hers.
"I understand that we are here to consult regarding brushes for your personal pets, Miyama Kaito-sama. Is that correct?"
"Yes. Ah, by the way... can you also make brushes for the scales of dragon species?"
"Of course. While the types of dragons that can be kept as pets are limited, they are exceptionally popular among the high nobility. We are fully equipped to manufacture dedicated brushes for both scales and horns."
"That’s a relief. Well then... I’d like to order brushes for a special individual of the Behemoth race, a White Dragon, and a special individual Rainbow Dragon. I’ve brought samples of the fur and scales here."
" " "...!" " "
The room fell into a stunned silence. The president and the scholar wore expressions of sheer disbelief at the legendary tier of the monsters Kaito had casually listed. Cornelia, however, was struck by a different detail.
(A special individual Rainbow Dragon? I know Kaito-sama keeps a Behemoth and a White Dragon, but the Rainbow Dragon belongs to Sieglinde-sama... Wait, they are lovers. He must be ordering this as a gift for her...)
While Cornelia quickly deduced the romantic subtext, Kaito set several jars containing the samples onto the table.
"W-Well then, if you will permit me... I shall begin the inspection," the Resident Monster Scholar stammered, his hands trembling as he put on a pair of specialized magic-appraisal glasses. He gingerly picked up a tuft of fur from Bellfried.
"...This is an astounding density of magic power. If the fur alone is like this, the creature's core magic power must be several times that of a standard adult Behemoth. To think a special individual could be this distinct from the rest of its kind... Oh, my apologies. Yes, the magic saturation is more than sufficient. We can proceed with a custom brush for this specimen without any issues."
Though visibly shaken by Bellfried’s fur, the scholar moved on to the jar containing Rin’s scales. As he inspected the contents, he tilted his head in confusion.
"A White Dragon? These are... White Dragon scales? That’s impossible. They don’t match the characteristics of a standard White Dragon, nor do they align with known special individuals. It’s as if I’m looking at an entirely new species."
"Oh, right. Well, Rin—my White Dragon—has been undergoing a special evolution lately because of her diet."
"I see. Diet-induced mutation is a documented phenomenon," the scholar replied, attempting to regain his professional footing. "Instances of mutation through long-term ingestion of mana-rich food have been recorded in the past. However, such cases usually involve monsters with low innate magic power who are easily influenced by their environment. To trigger a mutational evolution in a creature as powerful as a White Dragon would require a food source with an inconceivable amount of magic. For academic reference, may I ask what you have been feeding her?"
"Sure. I give her one Fruit of the World Tree every day."
"......"
The Resident Monster Scholar froze, his face going blank as if his brain had failed to process the words. The president, meanwhile, looked as though he were seconds away from collapsing.
The Fruit of the World Tree was a peerless treasure. Billionaires spent decades and fortunes trying to acquire just one. Even with limitless funds, it was an item that simply didn't appear on the market; it was nearly impossible to obtain.
To be told that such a miracle was being fed to a pet once a day was a total assault on their reality. The scholar, drenched in a cold sweat, shot a desperate look at Cornelia. She simply gave him a grave, confirming nod.
Realizing Kaito was telling the absolute truth, the scholar struggled to find his voice, his common sense shattered.
"I... I see... Yes... I... understand. If the food source is the Fruit of the World Tree... then... then a mutation is... only to be expected."
His pride as a scholar had been pulverized, but he forced himself to focus solely on his task—verifying if the magic power was sufficient for the brush. He decided it was safer not to think about anything else.
Serious-senpai: "It seems some nameless mob just got a sucker punch to the gut the moment they met him..."
White World Dragon Lindwurm
A special dragon species that has mutated and evolved to a point where it can be considered an entirely new race. This transformation was triggered by its doting master, who provided it with Fruits of the World Tree every single day. Even while Kaito was back in his original world, he left a massive stockpile of the fruit with Sieg to ensure the feedings continued. As a result, Rin absorbed the divine magic power at an incredible rate. She can now use Healing Breath, and her innate magic power is of a completely different order of magnitude.
Furthermore, because she has recently started eating Nebula's version of the Fruit of the World Tree, she has gained the ability to use breaths with buffing effects, making her a formidable healer and buffer.
In truth, her magic power has already reached a level where she can use Humanization Magic. Although Fafnir had encouraged her to eat mana-rich food, he never imagined she was consuming Fruits of the World Tree daily. Having not seen her for roughly two years since the Six Kings Festival, he assumes it will take another decade before she is ready for a check-in. Meanwhile, she continues to eat heartily to grow even stronger, and it is likely her magic levels will eventually rise high enough to receive formal Demon Certification.