Chapter 34

Since it's a bit long, I've split it into two parts.

According to a piece of the wind, the genders of the wolf pups haven't been decided yet.

This is because, apparently, the genders of spirits and mythical beasts are determined during their growth process, and in their youth, they are neither male nor female.

"There aren't any particular rules for naming them."

"That's true..."

Shiro glanced at a piece of the wind lying on the living room carpet and looked around at those sitting on the sofas.

Currently, everyone was surrounding Nina.

"From Nee-sama?"

"Yes, Will. Be a good boy and wait, okay?"

"Okay, I'll wait."

Will smiled and answered as Serena patted his head.

Serena, too, hadn't decided on a name yet and was muttering to herself, trying to come up with one.

Will was the same.

After all, it was impossible for a three-year-old to come up with a suitable name.

"Hmm..."

Will grunted as he looked at the wolf pups, but then tilted his head.

Imitating him, the wolf pup also tilted its head.

Will turned his gaze towards the adults, but they seemed to be focused on Nina.

"Oh..."

Will stood up as if an idea had struck him.

"Serene-sama, Will is going out for a bit."

"Where to?"

"To Rosa-san's place."

The "Rosa-san" Will mentioned was a maid named Rosa.

She was supposed to be at the guardhouse.

The other adults were busy, and it seemed Will wanted to get the guards' opinions as well.

"Hmm... Wait a moment, Will."

Serena ran over to Cecilia, exchanged a few words, and then returned to Will.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Will. I'll go with you."

Even within the grounds, it was still dangerous to let the young Will out of sight.

"Let's go, then."

Serena took Will's hand, and the wolf pup followed, moving its short legs quickly.

After leaving the front door and walking down the stone-paved path for a while, they reached the guardhouse.

Serena knocked on the door of the shack, and a maid's face appeared.

"Oh, Serena-sama, Will-sama."

"Sorry to bother you, Rosa-san. Will wanted to come here..."

Serena briefly explained to the surprised maid.

Next to her, Will held up the wolf pup to show her.

"Rosa-san, look."

"A puppy...?"

Rosa tilted her head in confusion.

She had been helping with guard duty since the morning and didn't remember letting such a creature through.

Had it wandered in from the garden?

That would be a problem.

But Will shook his head.

"No, I got it from Hito-hira-san."

"It's from Father's mythical beast."

Serena continued the explanation after Will.

Hearing the detailed story, Rosa was taken aback.

"Oh, so the young masters have also made a contract with a mythical beast. Then, you're comrades."

A young man peeked out from behind Rosa and said with a smile.

"Edgar-san, look."

"Comrades?"

Next to Will, who was holding up the wolf pup, Serena tilted her head.

Edgar laughed and invited Will and Serena into the shack.

"Take a look."

Edgar held out his palm in front of the two, who were sitting on chairs.

A faint yellow magic power overflowed, and something appeared.

"Wow..."

Will's eyes sparkled with excitement.

A small body covered in brown fur and a thick tail.

A small animal resembling a squirrel sat on Edgar's palm.

"It's a squirrel! ♪"

"Is this a mythical beast too?"

Serena looked up at Edgar in surprise, and he nodded with a smile.

"It's a lower-class mythical beast, but it's an adult. It doesn't have much power, but it's a reliable companion with excellent detection abilities."

When Edgar said, "Detect," the mythical beast activated its magic power.

"......?"

Seeing no effect, Serena tilted her head.

Next to her, Will's eyes widened.

"It's a detection spell. It can explore the surroundings centered on the user. It's quite convenient..."

It can detect hidden things and objects without seeing them.

Mythical beasts with weak power and strong caution are particularly good at such abilities.

"It's called a Tsuchirisu, a mythical beast of the earth."

Rosa, who was peeking from the side, added to Edgar's explanation.

When Will stroked Tsuchirisu's small head, he looked up at Edgar.

"What's its name?"

"It's called Brown."

"Brown..."

Hearing the name, Will thought for a moment.

Edgar and Rosa exchanged glances.

"Actually, we came here about the names of the mythical beasts..."

Serena explained the reason for their visit.

The three siblings had been given mythical beasts, and they were struggling to decide on names. The adults were all racking their brains to name Nina's mythical beast first.

"That's very... like Nina-sama."

"Indeed..."

Edgar chuckled, and Rosa nodded.

Nina was the type of girl who would name a cute rabbit plushie "Andrew."

She had quite a knack for naming.

"Is there a reason for Brown's name?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Brown at Serena's question.

It was brown.

"Well, it's brown, but..."

Edgar scratched his cheek with an embarrassed smile.

"Do you know the book 'Brown's Adventure,' Serena-sama?"

Books were very valuable and could only be obtained by those with a comfortable lifestyle, like nobles and wealthy merchants.

The Turquis family had a library that rivaled those of nobles and wealthy merchants.

Serena, who had been curious about the family's extensive collection, now understood why, knowing Shiro was a former top-ranked guild member.

"I know it."

Serena loved reading.

She was familiar with most of the books in the house.

"Brown's Adventure" was a popular story and was in the Turquis family's bookshelf.

It was about a boy named Brown who goes on adventures and grows with his companions.

"When I was a child, a noble read it to me..."

Edgar was a former adventurer.

Serena remembered Tomason saying he was an excellent scout.

As a boy, Edgar had been fascinated by "Brown's Adventure" and became an adventurer because of it.

"When I met this one, I named it without hesitation... Maybe because I dreamed of adventuring with Brown."

Brown stood up on Edgar's palm, looking somewhat proud.

"Huh?"

"Edgar-san got his name from a character in the book."

Seeing that Will didn't understand the long story, Serena explained it in simpler terms.

Will, who had been puzzled, suddenly brightened.

"Will, I got an idea!"

"Did you think of a good name?"

When Serena asked, Will nodded excitedly.

"Then, let's go back to where everyone is?"

It would be a shame to let a good idea slip away.

Serena took Will's hand.

The wolf pups, realizing they were going back, lined up at their feet.

"I'll go with you."

"Thank you, Rosa-san... Oh, and..."

Edgar, who was seeing them off, scratched his head with an embarrassed smile.

"Please tell my wife I said hello."

"Hehe... Sure, sure."

Rosa couldn't help but smile, and Edgar scratched his head.

Edgar's wife was Stella.

"Edgar-san, Brown, see you later!"

Will waved, and Edgar and Brown, who was on his palm, waved back to see them off.