Chapter 27

The next morning.

I slipped out of the room without waking up Laftalia, who had been studying late into the night, and went to check on Filo.

I was worried she might starve to death, and besides, I had nothing else to do.

I had been gathering medicinal herbs, but I had already finished mixing the medicine yesterday.

“Gua!”

When I reached the stable, I heard a rough voice.

Looking over, I saw that Filo's body, which had been round like a bun, had changed. Her legs had grown longer, and so had her neck. She looked somewhat like an ostrich.

It was an incredible transformation. She was growing in a way that was completely different from any bird I knew.

She was about as tall as my chest. It would still be impossible to ride her.

Grr...

She seemed to be hungry. That's why I had bought feed from the farm first thing in the morning.

It was a bit of a strain on my finances, but it was cheaper than buying equipment.

To grow this much in one day... I couldn't help but feel something amazing was happening.

“You haven't even been born for a full day yet.”

“Gua!”

Filo, who was rubbing against me, made me smile naturally.

It wasn't that I had suddenly developed a love for animals.

I was just excited about what I could do with her once she grew up.

She was going to be a carriage, after all. I was looking forward to how much she could earn for me.

Gua...

Her feathers had changed and were now a mottled white and cherry color.

I used her feathers as a shield while cleaning.

The conditions for Shield of the Monster Tamer III have been unlocked.

Shield of the Monster Tamer III

Abilities not unlocked... Equipment bonus, growth correction (medium)

Hmm... I didn't need blood. Maybe I could cut Laftalia's hair again and use it.

Even though Filo had just been born, she was running around and playing energetically.

“Gua!”

Though she wasn't a dog, I threw a branch far away and had Filo fetch it and bring it back.

She seemed to be fast, catching the branch before it hit the ground and bringing it back.

She was quite intelligent.

Hehe... It seemed my luck was finally turning around.

So, I played with Filo until Laftalia woke up.

It was like a kind of refreshing agent. That's what pets are for, right?

“Hmm... Sir Naofumi is showing a smile he's never shown before.”

When Laftalia woke up and came looking for me, she muttered something that sounded a bit unhappy.

It was more like an evil smile, really.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Gua?”

Filo gently pecked Laftalia with her beak.

She was probably trying to make contact.

“Sigh... I can't help it, can I?”

Laftalia smiled and stroked Filo's face with both hands.

“Guaa...”

Filo closed her eyes in pleasure and leaned against Laftalia.

“Well, where should we explore today?”

“Hmm, how about going to the southern grasslands to save on Filo's feed?”

“Hmm... That sounds good.”

That area was overgrown with weeds and had plenty of medicinal herbs. I thought it was a good place too.

My current goal was to earn money for good equipment.

“Alright, let's go then.”

“Gua!”

“Yes!”

So, we went to the grasslands in a relaxed manner and fought monsters. Our levels also went up a bit.

Me: Level 25

Laftalia: Level 28

Filo: Level 15

We focused on gathering medicinal herbs and getting Filo's feed, so today's harvest was mixed.

I had been unlocking the conditions for shields by defeating various monsters, but the bonuses were only +1 or +2 at most.

...I still haven't found a shield that gives intermediate synthesis recipes.

That evening,

Filo had grown into a fine Filoreal.

“Wow, that was fast...”

The innkeeper and the farm owner were surprised. They said it was too fast.

It was probably because of the growth correction (small) and (medium).

“...If I had noticed the ink when I bought Laftalia...”

“Aha...”

I wonder if Laftalia wants to grow like that too.

Biki...

I heard a sound like bones creaking. It must be the sound of growth.

“Gua!”

Filo, who had grown enough to carry a person, sat down in front of me.

“Can you carry me?”

“Gua!”

Filo chirped as if it was obvious and tilted her head to indicate I should get on her back.

“Alright, I'll get on then.”

I didn't have reins or a saddle, but if she said I could get on, I would. Thanks to the shield, she was sturdy, and I wouldn't fall off.

The ride was... not bad thanks to the feathers. As long as I kept my balance, it should be fine.

“Gua!”

Filo stood up with a push.

“Whoa!”

The view was much higher. So this is what it looks like from a Filoreal. I had never ridden a horse before, but riding a living creature felt quite profound.

“Guaaa!”

Filo chirped happily and started running!

“H-Hey!”

“N-Naofumi-sama—”

Thump thump thump!

It was fast! The scenery passed by in a blur. Laftalia's voice quickly faded away.

Thump thump thump!

Filo must have been testing it out. After circling the village lightly, she stopped in front of the stable and sat down to let me off.

“Are you okay?”

Laftalia ran over to me, looking worried.

“Y-Yeah. But she's fast.”

Filo, who didn't seem tired at all, started grooming her feathers.

I was surprised by her speed. Maybe I made a good purchase.

“Well, let's call it a day and head back to the room.”

Someone grabbed the collar of my armor.

It was Filo, who had grabbed my collar with her beak.

“What's wrong?”

“Guaaa!”

She chirped in a way that sounded like she was crying, stopping me.

“Hmm?”

I decided to let it go.

When I tried to leave, I was grabbed again.

“What is it?”

“Guaa!”

Filo chirped, stomping her feet a bit, looking unhappy.

“Um, did you not play enough?”

When Laftalia asked, Filo shook her head.

Could she understand us?

“Are you lonely?”

Filo, despite being a monster, nodded boldly.

“Guaa!”

She spread her wings and started showing off.

“Well...”

I didn't want to sleep in the stable, and I couldn't bring such a large monster into the inn room.

“Let's keep you company here until you fall asleep.”

“Hmm... Alright.”

This guy was only two days old. It was too early to leave her alone in the stable at night.

That day, we studied the world's script with Laftalia in the stable.

Filo stayed quietly in her nest, watching us.

Biki...

“I wish I could read the script easily!”

If there was a shield for that, I hoped it would be found soon.

“It's not going to be found, so there's nothing we can do. Relying on legendary shields won't do you any good, Naofumi-sama.”

“...Laftalia, you're saying it now.”

“Yes, so let's learn the script and magic together.”

...Damn.

There's no such thing as an easy way to do good things. I hoped this effort wouldn't be in vain. We continued studying in the stable until Filo fell asleep.

After returning to the room, we tried making medicine with the new medicinal herbs we had obtained.

...The results were, well, I don't want you to ask since I haven't deciphered the recipe yet.