Chapter 29

On the way back, I didn't encounter Genkou.

I thought he would be raging and searching for me, but it seems I was overthinking it.

After unloading the goods in the village and returning, Raphatalia was feeling better.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Wow, that was fast..."

The woodcutter was surprised by how quickly we returned.

"This one seems to be a good runner."

I answered the woodcutter while petting Filo.

"Guah!"

Filo responded energetically. Yeah, you're fast.

"Shall we start exploring the forest in earnest?"

"Yes."

"Take it easy on the way back."

"Guah!"

Piki... What's this sound? Her growth should have finished, right?

The sound is coming from Filo. I hope it's not some strange illness.

That day's harvest was quite impressive.

While Raphatalia's performance was notable, Filo's movements and attacks were truly remarkable.

Honestly, her speed and the strength of her attacks might even surpass Raphatalia's.

Me: Level 26

Raphatalia: Level 29

Filo: Level 19

The conditions for the White Usapil Shield have been unlocked.

The conditions for the Dark Yamaarashi Shield have been unlocked.

The conditions for the Usapil Bone Shield have been unlocked.

The conditions for the Yamaarashi Bone Shield have been unlocked.

White Usapil Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Defense +2

Dark Yamaarashi Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Agility +2

Usapil Bone Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Stamina increase (small)

Yamaarashi Bone Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, SP increase (small)

All of them are purely for stat boosts.

If there were more efficient ways, I could equip higher-performance shields, but I don't know any efficient places to get money or experience. I have no choice but to gradually unlock abilities and improve the overall quality of the shields.

I wonder how many abilities I've unlocked in total... There are too many to count.

Besides, I haven't used lower-tier equipment like the Orange Small Shield since unlocking them.

I only use specialized shields with specific effects when needed.

If they're not specialized, they can be used with all shields.

Well, at least I won't use the four I found today after unlocking them.

By the time the sun started to set, we returned to Ryute Village slowly.

Raphatalia needed to get used to the cart.

She felt nauseous a few times, so we took breaks and moved slowly.

As a result, we arrived after the sun had almost completely set.

"I'm very sorry."

"Don't worry about it. You'll get used to it gradually."

I don't get motion sickness, which is unnatural even to me. But I don't think that means others lack perseverance.

I've heard that motion sickness can be overcome with practice.

I want Raphatalia to get used to the cart quickly.

Well, it's Filo's fault for sometimes going on a rampage.

"Guah!"

At that moment, something strange was already happening.

It had probably started long before, but we hadn't noticed. Or rather, we had noticed but ignored it.

The next morning.

Even I noticed the strange occurrences, and Raphatalia, like me, was deep in thought.

"Guah!"

When we peeked into the stable, the changes were already extreme.

Filo... she had grown far beyond the average size of a Filoreal.

The average height of a Filoreal is around 2.3 meters, similar to an ostrich.

However, Filoreals have a more robust skeleton and larger heads and necks.

But... Filo's height had reached 2.8 meters.

She was almost touching the ceiling of the stable when she stood up.

"Did I really get a Filoreal egg? I'm starting to wonder if I bought something else."

"Yes... I think so too."

"Guah!"

Filo had just swallowed something.

Looking closely, the Chimera meat that was drying in the stable was gone.

There had been enough meat for two cows, but it had vanished without a trace.

Was that the last piece she just ate?

"I thought she had lost her appetite..."

"She was eating all along!"

"Guah!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

"It's not funny!"

Well, what should we do... For now, I can pass off her unusual size as a special trait.

However...

Piki...

The growth sounds are still ringing out.

"The sounds are still there!"

"Perhaps, Naofumi-sama, it's due to the power of your shield?"

"There's a good chance. The Monster Tamer Shield III had a 'Growth Correction (Medium)' bonus."

"N-Naofumi-sama... didn't you also have a Slave Shield?"

"Yes, there's a similar bonus on the Slave Tamer Shield."

"...Does that mean its power is affecting me?"

"Yes, it's already been unlocked. Raphatalia has been affected to some extent."

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Raphatalia screamed and ran out of the stable.

"R-Raphatalia!?"

"I've been feeling lighter lately. It was because of Naofumi-sama!"

"Hey, calm down!"

"Am I going to grow as big as Filo!? I'm scared!"

"You're not making any growth sounds, are you?"

"Come to think of it, that's true. I'm relieved, really relieved!"

...The situation is still concerning.

I looked at Filo, imagining Raphatalia growing into a muscular, buff form.

"Are you thinking something rude?"

"...What should we do?"

Ignoring Raphatalia's suspicions, I continued the conversation.

"We should go to that tent and get it checked out."

"Right."

I don't want to go back to the town for no reason, but there's no other choice.

"Guah!"

Filo, pulling the cart energetically, and Raphatalia, struggling with motion sickness, we left Ryute Village.

On the way, we fed Filo and fought monsters, arriving in the town by midday.

"Hey..."

I noticed Filo's appearance had changed again.

Her legs and neck were gradually shortening, and by the time I noticed, she had transformed into a short-legged, long-bodied owl-like creature.

She still loved pulling the cart, but her method had changed.

Before, she used a rope to pull the cart.

Now, she skillfully grabbed the handle with her wing-like hands.

"Quah!"

Even her call had changed, and her color was pure white.

"Hmm?"

I slowly got off the cart and visually measured Filo's height.

She had shrunk?

Her height had reduced to around 2.3 meters. However, her width had increased, and she might even look more imposing now. To put it negatively, she looked like an oversized mascot from an amusement park.

"Quah?"

"It's nothing."

Is Filo aware of her changes?

I can't even tell what kind of creature she is anymore.

"Ah... I came here wondering what was going on, and I'm speechless. Here."

The slave trader, wiping cold sweat, was closely observing Filo.

"Quah?"

Filo had become a purely owl-like monster, losing her ostrich-like appearance.

"So, to be honest, I want to know. This monster hatched from the egg I bought from you. What kind of egg did you give me?"

Depending on the situation...

When I snapped my fingers, Filo growled, ready to attack.

"Quahhhhh!"

The slave trader, looking flustered, repeatedly checked some documents.

"That's strange. The lottery we provided clearly states that the egg you bought was a Filoreal."

"Is this it?"

"Quahhh!"

When I threw a large piece of food, Filo skillfully caught and ate it.

"Um..."

I noticed that the growth sounds from Filo had stopped.

Has she finally reached physical maturity...?

"However, for it to grow this much in just a few days, you truly are an impressive hero, sir. I take my hat off to you."

"Don't try to flatter me. Just tell me what kind of egg you gave me."

"Was this monster always like this from the beginning?"

"No."

I told the slave trader about Filo's growth from birth to now.

"So, it was a Filoreal until a certain point?"

"Yes, but now I can't tell what kind of monster it is."

"Quah?"

Filo tilted her head, making a somewhat cute pose, which made me a bit frustrated.

Who's fault is it that I have to deal with this?

"Quahhh"

She rubbed against me with her large wings, which felt hot due to her bird-like body temperature.

"Mm..."

Raphatalia frowned and held my hand.

"Quah?"

Raphatalia and Filo were staring at each other.

"What's going on, you two?"

"Nothing."

"Quah quah"

Both shook their heads. What's going on?

"So, what's the deal?"

"Um... well..."

The slave trader looked troubled.

Doesn't he know how his monsters grow?

"For now, I'll have an expert check it out. Can I keep it here?"

"Yes, but don't dissect it or anything."

"Quah!?"

"I understand, but it will take some time for the expert to arrive. Here."

"...Alright, I'll leave it to you. If anything happens, I'll demand compensation."

"Quahhh!?"

Filo flapped her wings in protest to my response.

However, the slave trader's subordinate put a collar on Filo and led her to a cage. Surprisingly, she entered the cage without much resistance, probably because I was nearby.

"I'll come to pick her up tomorrow. Have the answer ready by then."

I made sure to emphasize this and left the tent with Raphatalia.

"Quahhhhhh!"

Filo's loud voice could still be heard even after we left the tent.

That evening, while staying at an inn, the innkeeper suddenly called me.

"Hero-sama?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"A customer has arrived."

Who is it? I peeked at the counter where the innkeeper was waiting, and there was an unfamiliar man.

"What do you want?"

"I... I'm a messenger from the monster trader."

Monster trader... Ah, the slave trader. He can't introduce himself openly, can he?

"What's going on?"

"I've been instructed to return the monster you entrusted to us."

"Huh!?"

It had only been a few hours... What's going on?

I took Raphatalia to the tent, and Filo's calls were still echoing.

"Sorry for the late hour. Here."

The slave trader, looking somewhat exhausted, greeted us.

"What's going on? We agreed to leave her here until tomorrow."

"I intended to, but your monster is quite a problem."

"Quahhhhhh!"

Filo, who had been thrashing in the cage, finally calmed down when she saw us.

"She broke three iron cages, sent five subordinates to the clinic, and severely injured three of our monsters. Here."

"I won't compensate you."

"I admire your focus on money even in such a situation. Here."

Is he a masochist? This slave trader.

"So, what's the deal? Did you figure it out?"

"No... but I found a report of a similar individual to a Filoreal King."

"King?"

"More accurately, there's a leader that oversees Filoreal groups. It's a well-known story among adventurers."

The slave trader had apparently used his information network to find any relevant information.

He learned that wild Filoreals live in large groups, and there's a king that oversees them.

The speculation is that Filo might be the Filoreal King.

"Hmm."

Just a rumor, huh.

If I remove the monster crest and let the shield absorb it, I might find out the truth, but that would mean killing Filo.

Even if I let the shield absorb feathers or blood, only the Monster Tamer Shield would appear, and I can't tell what it means even if something lights up.

I need a higher level and more skill points.

I stared at Filo.

"...Quah?"

Companion monsters don't show their species name with status magic... only enemies do.

"So, what is it called?"

"Filoreal King or Queen."

"Filo is female, so Queen."

"Right... If she's this attached to you, it would be a problem if she were sold in this state."

She was making noise and breaking cages, sending five subordinates to the clinic.

Crap! My plans are being disrupted!

I didn't plan to sell her anyway.

"...sama"

"Hmm? Did you hear a voice you don't recognize?"

"Um? I thought I heard something too."

"Um..."

Raphatalia, covering her mouth, pointed to Filo's cage. The slave trader's subordinate also pointed, looking stunned.

The slave trader and I, confused, turned around.

"Master-sama-"

There, a white, winged girl, naked, was reaching out to me from between the bars of the cage, leaving a faint glow behind.

It's a cliché, isn't it?