The Fluffy Café was closed twice a week. Today was one such day off, which Taichi spent relaxing and playing with Luke and the bunnies.
“Hey, Luke.” Taichi was stretched out on the sofa, while Luke was curled up on his beanbag chair.
“Hm? What is it?”
“I’m thinking of improving the working conditions for you and the bunnies. Have you got any requests?”
“Hm. I must praise you for your excellent thinking!” Luke’s tail rhythmically thumped against the floor. “Exercise and proper meals are important,” he said before quickly adding, “but do not misunderstand me.”
“Huh?”
“What I care about the most is this beanbag chair.” Luke would grab it up in his mouth and drag it along any time he moved rooms. Taichi had created dozens of them and spread them throughout the building, but Luke had staked his claim on the first one Taichi had ever made.
He’s actually so cute, Taichi thought to himself. The bunnies recognized Luke’s ownership of the chair and never tried to use it for themselves.
“So you want me to improve your environment,” Taichi concluded. “I guess you and the bunnies should get some exercise outside, huh?”
“Kree?”
The bunnies tumbled around on the sofa and bounced around the room. Taichi understood what they were trying to communicate: Being inside like this, they didn’t have to worry about rain or storms. They loved being in the café. Being outside might be a bit scary for them, since they are used to being targeted by adventurers. If they preferred to stay inside, then Taichi wouldn’t force them to do otherwise.
“Luke, you wanna go for a run in the garden?” Taichi asked.
“A noble Fenrir such as I could not possibly exercise properly in that tiny, cramped garden of yours! You should take me hunting occasionally.”
“What?!” Taichi cried. “Hunting as exercise? I mean, I guess you are a Fenrir. Either way, it’s important to work your muscles, so I can do that. I’ll work it into my schedule to periodically take you hunting.”
“You had best keep your word!” Luke’s tail was absolutely spinning at this point like a propeller, which went to show how happy he was.
Aww, you’re always so cold, but look at you now! Too cute! Taichi reached over and ruffled Luke’s fur, which earned him a huff. Even Luke’s attempt at being gruff and aloof was endearing. You act like a grump, but I can tell how happy you are! Taichi was half tempted to say as much to him.
“If we’re going out, I should nap first!” Luke declared, settling back into his beanbag chair. He’d already decided they would be heading out later that night.
“I guess all that’s left...is food.”
Taichi had retreated to the kitchen and was contemplating what he had in stock. Most of what he gave the monsters were fruits, veggies, and meat he’d bought from the city market. It might be better to make them dishes using his skill, but he was struggling to find all the ingredients he needed for that. The bunnies subsisted off strawberries and carrots, while Luke ate meat, but as far as Taichi could tell, they were willing to eat whatever.
“Maybe I can make something with strawberries and carrots. Let’s see... Prepare Snack!”
A screen popped up which read, “You don’t have the necessary ingredients to prepare anything right now. You require strawberries, carrots, Moongrass, flour, and eggs in order to make Bunny Cookies.”
This, Taichi decided, would be the perfect treat to make and sell for people to feed to the bunnies. He didn’t know exactly what Moongrass was, though. He used his Keen Eye ability and scanned the markets to see if he could find it, but he had no luck.
“I wonder if it’s a special, rare herb. Hmm...” Then he remembered he could ask at the Tamers’ Guild. There was no better time than now. He quickly readied himself, and with Luke in tow, set off.
Chartelle was sitting idly behind the counter when he strolled in, the place as empty as ever. As soon as she spotted him, her cheeks swelled with frustration. “Oh, Taichi! You haven’t been coming at all recently. I’ve been worried about you!”
“I’m sorry.”
“So...seems like you’re alone today.” Chartelle was glancing around either side of him as if she expected someone, or something, to be there.
“Huh?” Taichi quirked a brow at her. “Luke’s right here.”
“Woof.” Luke was incapable of communicating with anyone besides Taichi, but if he were to translate for Chartelle, Luke more or less said: “Are you so blind you cannot notice the noble creature right before your eyes? Tsk, humans always disappoint!”
“No, no,” said Chartelle, “I meant your other tamed monsters! The first time you stopped by with ten Berry Bunnies gave me quite the shock, you know.”
“Oh, them.” She was anxious at the thought of another surprise. Taichi smiled, shaking his head. “I didn’t bring them or any other monsters today. I came to ask you something.”
“Did you now?”
“Yes. I want to get my hands on some Moongrass, but I don’t know where I can find it.”
“Moongrass, huh?” Chartelle quickly nodded, indicating to Taichi that the plant must be relatively common. She retrieved a nearby monster guide and cracked it open, flipping through the pages until she landed on the right one. She turned it toward him, revealing the illustration of a white flower. “This is Moongrass. You can only find it in the middle of the night when the moon is out.”
“Seriously? The middle of the night?” Taichi understood he had Luke to protect him, but he was still reasonably wary about wandering out late, since this world was teeming with monsters. And there’s no street lights in this world. Well, there wouldn’t be in the middle of a Japanese forest, either, he had to admit.
While he battled inwardly with how to go about retrieving the Moongrass, Chartelle continued. “If you want to buy it...”
“Oh! People sell it?”
“They certainly do.”
Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough. There had been no Moongrass for sale in the markets, at least not as far as he could tell.
“You’ll have to visit a magic shop for Moongrass. There’s one about five minutes from here.”
“A magic shop?”
Taichi had scoured the city markets for the stuff. He’d never checked for a shop that dealt in magical goods; he didn’t even know they existed until that moment. Makes sense. This is a fantasy world, after all. Most of all, he was glad he wouldn’t have to wander out in the middle of the night to pick the Moongrass himself. It would make it more difficult to figure out how to price his monster treats if he had to procure all the ingredients himself.