Interlude 4:
The People of Rellim
CHARTELLE DROPPED BY the café.
“Taichi, I’m here!” she said in a sing-song voice. “Congratulations on opening Fluffy Café!” She had a bouquet of flowers with her for the occasion. It was a colorful mix highlighted by baby’s breath, giving it a lovely, carefully curated look.
“Wow, thank you,” said Taichi.
“It’s nothing. I’m your personal receptionist at the guild, after all!”
I didn’t realize I had a personal receptionist. He hadn’t seen any other personnel at the guild. Curious though he was, he thought better of touching on the matter.
Chartelle glanced around the café, awestruck. “Wow, I’m surprised at how beautiful and clean it is. What’s with this transformation?! I only did the hand-off just a few days ago. How did you manage to collect so much furniture and...” She was in the midst of effusively praising the interior when her eyes landed on the Berry Bunnies.
Oh man, I sure hope she doesn’t ask too many questions. It would be big trouble if anyone found out he had the Create skill. Ignorant as he was in this world, he could tell that much.
“Wow, you really do have the bunnies in the café with you! Goodness. You must have traveled quite a bit to have come up with such a novel idea.” Chartelle settled down on the sofa and began stroking the head of the nearest Berry Bunny.
“This place still has a long way to go, but I plan to take my time making improvements,” said Taichi.
“And I’ll support you every step of the way! If you need anything—anything at all—just drop by the guild and let me know.”
“Thank you. It’s reassuring to know I have you in my corner.”
There was still so much Taichi was ignorant about in this world. He appreciated having someone like Chartelle to teach him everything he didn’t know.
“Oh, right. I have a refreshing beverage called green tea, as well as black tea and coffee available. Would you like anything?”
Chartelle eyed him with interest. “Well, I have never heard of this green tea you mentioned, so I’ll try that!”
“All right. I’ll get it ready for you. Wait out here, and I’ll be back soon.”
She nodded. “I’ll play with the bunnies in the meantime.”
Taichi disappeared into the back, and Chartelle spent her time petting the adorably fluffy bunnies. They were so soft and silky that she couldn’t get enough of them. She eventually tried lifting one up. It let out a cute little “Kree!” as she did.
“Taichi is such a mysterious guy,” she said to herself. “I’ve never seen someone tame ten Berry Bunnies before.”
A novice Tamer might test out their skill by taming one, but most wouldn’t even bother because of how weak Berry Bunnies were in battle.
“Many people hunt you, but none protect you.”
“Kree?”
The bunny looked at Chartelle with curiosity as she lowered it to the floor. She giggled at it. “I guess that’s not something I should be saying to a tamed bunny, huh? All I’m trying to say is that your master sure is eccentric.” She didn’t mean that as an insult, to be clear. Chartelle recognized Taichi’s capabilities as a Tamer and anticipated he would do great things in the future.
“This whole fluffy café concept might take other towns and cities—maybe even the whole country—by storm.” It would be revolutionary for the Tamers’ Guild if that happened. “And you guys might be here to witness it all! That’s incredible, don’t you think?”
As she was getting herself pumped up by the possibility, Taichi returned.
“Hope I didn’t take too long,” he said. He had cookies and green tea on a tray.
“Huh? I didn’t ask for cookies,” said Chartelle.
“You gave me that beautiful bouquet. I wanted to thank you. If you’re interested, please try them.”
“Awesome! I’ll gladly do so!” If Taichi was offering, who was she to refuse? Chartelle plucked one up and savored the taste of it in her mouth. “Mm, scrumptious!”
“I’m glad you like them.”
“You’ve got fluffy monsters, delicious treats...mm, and this green tea is incredible too! You’ll have me addicted to this café in no time.”
Her compliments sounded genuine. Taichi hoped she would find the same appreciation he had for fluffy monsters. In fact, he considered taking some to the guild.
“You’re welcome to come hang out here whenever you like,” he told her.
“Yes, thank you, Taichi.”
“Kree kree!”
“And you too!” Chartelle added, glancing down at the bunny in her lap with a great big grin.
Taichi chatted with Chartelle for a little while when the door to the café sounded with a jingle.
“Welcome,” he greeted, spinning around. “Oh, you’re the receptionist from the Adventurers’ Guild, and you’re the owner of that armor shop. I’m glad you two could make it. Thank you for coming.”
Emilia was the receptionist from the Adventurers’ Guild who had helped him sell the rare monster materials he’d collected. The armor shop owner was the one who had sold him his coat.
“Hello! You got me curious about this place, so I decided to stop by,” Emilia said with a little laugh.
Taichi smiled at her in turn. She and the armor shop owner had run into each other in front of the café and had spent a little time peeking in through the window before working up the nerve to enter, according to Emilia.
“Oh, really?” Taichi hadn’t notice them at all. “There was no need for you to feel nervous about coming in.”
Emilia laughed again. “Yes, you’re right. I couldn’t just stay outside and watch for long. I’m anxious to play with the fluffy bunnies!”
“As for me, I figured this place would be as good as any to take a break,” said the armor shop owner.
“Well, I’m glad the two of you visited. What do you want to drink?” He explained that customers were required to purchase a drink for their stay at the café. Emilia requested black tea, while the armor shop owner opted for coffee. “I’ll have it right out to you. Feel free to pet and play with the Berry Bunnies in the meantime.” With that, Taichi disappeared into the kitchen.
“So this is what a fluffy café is. This seat here is much softer than I—whoa!” The armor shop owner located a beanbag chair a short ways from where Luke was occupying his and plopped into it. He was surprised by the initial softness and even more so when his whole body sank into it. Luke snorted with laughter, but the shop owner pretended not to notice. “The monsters are something else, but so’s this interior. What’s with all this?” He peered around, feeling restless with all the stylish furniture around him.
After a beat, his attention wandered to Luke, who was nestled comfortably in his own beanbag chair. The Berry Bunnies were merrily bouncing around Luke, but he didn’t show any inclination of rousing.
Hm. Guess I won’t be able to touch that one. If he tried, it might interrupt the wolf’s repose, leaving him snarling, lips curled to show his fangs. Being able to see him is good enough, I guess.
Luke had a magnificent silver-gold coat, which made the armor shop owner question whether he was truly a Wolfking. He’d believe it if someone said Luke was an even higher-ranking rare beast. Whatever he is, he’s a beauty. There was an undeniable part of him that would love to work with such material and fashion armor with it—how could he not, his vocation being what it was?—but he was actually even more interested in simply petting the wolf and feeling its silky coat on his skin.
As he sat there in the café, the armor shop owner continued to contemplate. Just how long would he have to visit the café before Luke warmed up to him and permitted the armor shop owner to pet him?