Chapter 7 - Awakening, and a Profession
I opened my eyes. The dog-eared girl who had been sleeping beside me was gone. I turned my head. She was kneeling by the side of the bed, facing me, her hands clasped together at her chest. It resembled the posture of prayer in a church from my old world.
"?"
Noticing I was awake, she stood up, sat primly in a chair, and fixed her gaze on me. I sat up as well, perching on the edge of the bed.
"Morning. You look like you're feeling better."
"..."
Could it be she doesn't understand me?
"Woof, woof, woof-woof, woof!" I tried speaking in dog language. Translated, it means, "Woof, woof, woof-woof, woof!" In other words, it's meaningless.
"I may be of the dog-eared race, but I am not a dog."
"Thank goodness. I was worried you couldn't speak."
I was trying to make her laugh, but it didn't seem to be that kind of atmosphere. Though her expression was composed, I could feel a quiet anger in her eyes.
"Tell me your name."
"It is Fam."
"Fam-desu, huh?"
"Fam!"
"Sorry. I knew what you meant. Just trying to lighten the mood. I'm Mash."
She didn't even crack a smile. It seemed my opening gambit with the dog language had backfired, and she looked quite angry.
"Are you my Master?"
"Master? Nope. Try taking the bandage off your arm."
Fam removed the bandage, her face a mixture of shock and confusion at the absence of a slave crest.
"I need to tell you something first. Unfortunately, your illness isn't cured. It will relapse in a few years."
"Is that so... The settlement couldn't heal it, so I was bedridden for a long time."
"How long?"
"About four years."
That was far too long. It must have been a painful time for her.
"It's been so long since I've had such a clear-headed morning."
And yet, despite feeling clear-headed, she was still angry.
"Glad to hear it." I took five gold coins out of my storage.
"Here, take these. You don't have a master. Go wherever you want, do whatever you like."
"Huh?"
As Fam stared in astonishment, I gave her a thumbs-up.
"I cannot accept this. I was delirious, but I remember. You got me out of that cage and had me treated. I am indebted to you."
"Then why are you making the air so heavy? I'm starting to think you hate me."
At that moment, for some reason, Fam averted her gaze and her face turned red.
"That's because... when I woke up, we were sleeping together. You took my... my virginity while I was unaware!"
"Didn't you get messed with plenty when you were a slave?"
Probably best not to mention I touched her chest.
"N-No, I wasn't! They thought the curse was contagious, so I was kept in isolation!"
So that's how it was. I'd planned on asking her eventually, but it was better to hear it from her directly. The corners of my mouth crept upward.
"Wh-What are you smiling about?"
"Hey, there was only one bed, so I just let you sleep next to me. You're brand new, Fam. Nothing's happened yet."
"I'm not completely ignorant, you know! I checked properly!"
You've got to be kidding me. Did I assault her in my sleep? Or was she attacked by someone else while she slept next to me? Either way, it was the worst possible scenario. I started to panic.
"How did you check?"
"Th-There's... the blood from losing my virginity..."
There was nothing but despair. I buried my face in my hands.
"Wh-Why do you look so devastated, Master!"
Seeing my reaction, she began to panic.
"Can I see?"
"Wha? N-No, of course not!"
"I honestly have no memory of this. But you think I attacked you. And if you think I've already seen everything, then it shouldn't matter if I look now, right?"
"That's completely twisted logic... Honestly, you didn't even know my name... You didn't have to do it while I was sleeping, it's just cruel. As if I could have resisted..."
Muttering to herself, she started to touch her crotch. When she realized I was staring intently, she hastily turned around, chair and all.
"Here."
Her outstretched index and middle fingers were sticky with blood.
"Is there usually this much blood when... you know? That's a lot."
"It's my first time, so I'm not really sure, but this blood is... Ah!"
Something seemed to click. Her face turned beet red as she started to fluster.
"What is it?" So it seems it wasn't my doing after all. Did she just remember inserting a cucumber herself or something?
"U-Um, something to wipe with, and, if possible... I'm terribly embarrassed to ask a man, but... I'm so sorry, but could you get me some sanitary products...?"
She fidgeted and looked down. She tried to hide her blood-stained fingers, but not wanting to get blood on anything, she had nowhere to put them and finally rested them on her lap. The deep red color gave off a strange eroticism. Did she mistake her period for the blood of deflowering? I handed her the small pouch Maira had given me for Fam. Looking inside, I saw what appeared to be sanitary napkins. They have these things?
"I'm sorry. There wasn't a spare pair of underwear inside."
She looked utterly devastated. It was kind of funny. I pulled two pairs of panties out of my storage.
"Are the panties you seek these light blue ones, or these white ones?"
I held up Mizuki's panties in my left hand and Racshell's in my right.
"Ugh, they both smell like a woman. I don't want to choose."
Wow, she can tell. Being dog-eared, I guess she has a dog-like sense of smell.
"Better than smelling like an old man. If you refuse, I'll make you wear my underwear."
"...That's fine."
"Don't be an idiot. Pick one."
"W-Well, the light blue one, please."
"Sorry. This one's an irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind item. Use the white one."
Mizuki's panties were from my old world. They also had the high brand value of having been worn by a high school girl. If I let these go, I'd never get another chance. I handed her Racshell's panties.
"These look very expensive. I might stain them."
"Don't worry about it. I'll just go get another pair."
Facing away so I couldn't see, Fam diligently changed. All the while, she kept wagging her tail back and forth, perhaps to block my view of her butt.
"That tail. It's real, huh."
It was obvious, but the tail was growing from around her tailbone. I'd wondered if it was just a hobby, something she stuck on her butt, but I was wrong.
"? Do you dislike it?"
She turned just her head toward me, as if to check my expression.
"No, it's insanely cute. And this might be a weird way to put it, but it really suits you."
"R-Really?"
Fam let out an embarrassed smile.
"By the way, you're still a virgin, right?"
"Ugh... Yes. I'm sorry for the commotion." She bowed her head apologetically.
"Oh, thank God..." A sigh of relief escaped from the bottom of my heart.
"Why are you the one who's relieved, Master, and not me?!"
"Well, you know. Anyway, there was also medicine in that pouch. A lot of it. Isn't it for your illness?"
I changed the subject to distract her.
"...That's not medicine for my illness."
"It's not? Do you know what it's for?"
"...It's birth control for women. And you knew that!"
In my mind's eye, Maira-san flashed a V-sign.
After she finished changing, Fam was blushing beet red and looking down. She was fun to tease. Cute.
"Um, Master, are you a pimp?"
"No, where did you get that idea? And stop with the 'Master' stuff. Mash is fine. And you can talk to me casually."
It had been bothering me for a while. I didn't like being called 'Master'. I wanted to be friends, not impose a hierarchy.
"You say lewd things and make suggestive faces, Master. And you seem to have money."
It was a wild assumption, but it felt like the shadow in her heart had lightened a little. And it seemed she had no intention of dropping the 'Master' title.
"You're the one who started talking about lewd stuff. Besides, if I were going to procure women for others, I'd keep them for myself. I'm starving. And finally, I'm an adventurer."
"Ah, I apologize for my earlier behavior. But, an adventurer... is that some kind of lewd code for exploring a woman's dungeon?"
"Let's try to get your mind out of the gutter for a second. I'm just a regular adventurer. And just so you don't embarrass yourself later, I'll tell you now—I'm incredibly weak. F-rank."
"An adventurer..."
She seemed to be mulling over my words.
"Um, am I really free to go wherever I want?"
"You are."
"Then, I shall become an adventurer too and follow you wherever you go, Master. Please let me join your party."
"Are you sure? I was actually planning to ask you myself once you'd settled down."
That was unexpected. I hadn't seen that coming. I'd been wondering how to get her to join me, but this saved me the trouble.
"I was in a bind on my own, too."
"Is that so?"
I scratched my head and nodded at Fam.
"But there's one thing I'd like you to promise."
"What is it?"
"The settlement where I lived is near the border with the Demon Kingdom. It's fine if it's just when we're nearby, but could we stop by?"
"Got it. We'll definitely stop by."
Hearing that, Fam stood up and gave a small, formal bow.
"Fam, I want to hold a ritual to welcome you as my companion."
"A ritual?" Fam tilted her head.
"That's right. I want to become good friends with you, Fam."
"I see. I would also like to learn many things about you, Master."
"What we're about to do is for that purpose."
"Okay..." Fam tilted her head again, giving a half-hearted reply. I held up both hands, pointing only my index fingers at her.
"I'm going to poke your chest with these index fingers."
"Wha— What are you talking about? If you do that, I'll be angry. Besides, it's morning!"
I know what she's getting at, but I spent the whole night listening to her breathing, and my frustration is about to explode.
"If I successfully poke your nipples, I win. You have to lift your shirt and show me your chest. It's a game people call the Nipple-Guessing Game."
I gave her a meaningful smirk. Fam seemed both stunned and contemplative.
"Gulp. There's nothing in this for me, but I am indebted to you. Very well. I accept your challenge!"
From our earlier conversation, I had a feeling she'd be receptive to this kind of thing. Fam was very curious about the opposite sex. I carefully observed Fam's small breasts. The two mounds asserted that they had room to grow. The more I looked, the more they seemed like the ideal chest. She fidgeted uncomfortably but didn't run away.
"There!"
The moment inspiration struck my brain, I simultaneously poked her left and right breasts with my index fingers. A soft, gentle poke.
"Ahn! T-Too bad. They're here and here."
It seemed I'd missed both. Dutifully, she used her own fingers to touch the correct locations of her nipples. I had lost, but I was completely satisfied.
"Alright, same time tomorrow. Let's get breakfast and go gather some herbs."
"Huh? Tomorrow again?"
"Every day until I get it right."
"Kuh... I suppose I have no choice. I feel like my emotions are drifting further away from 'friendship,' but I'll play along."
Having completed our solemn ritual, we headed for the dining hall.
After breakfast, I took the opportunity of adding Fam to my party to check her character sheet. To my surprise, Fam's profession slot was empty. She had no special skills either. She was just a villager.
"I've never been on an adventure. I was sleeping the whole time."
"Right. To get a profession, you have to pray to the god who presides over it at the church, correct? Let's head to the church for now. I want to show Maira how well you're doing."
"Okay. I want to thank the person who helped me."
Fam smiled and nodded. She had a friendly feel to her.
"So, want to become an adventurer for now?" Racshell would probably be happy about it.
"No, Adventurer is a profession only humans can become."
Racshell, discrimination isn't cool.
"Is that so? Do the dog-eared have their own dedicated professions?"
"Yes, they're combat-oriented, but there's Dog Warrior or Mibu-Rō. I'd like to try to become a Mibu-Rō."
Dog Warrior sounds cute, but a little weak. Still, Mibu-Rō, huh?
"That sounds super cool, but what's with the nickname for the Rōshigumi?"
"The Rōshigumi?"
Fam, of course, knew nothing of my world, so she didn't understand what I was saying. Come to think of it, the god who grants professions knows about both worlds. But is that really okay? This was definitely something I needed to protest to Racshell about.
We met Maira at the church. She was overjoyed to see Fam looking so healthy.
"Yaay!" she squealed, hugging Fam and bouncing up and down. Fam, looking embarrassed, simply let it happen. I'd have to ask her about the sensation of Maira's breasts later.
"So, about Fam-san's job change. Right this way, I'll show you to the Chamber of Professions."
The room she led us to had a high, open ceiling, and the walls and ceiling were covered in magnificent and solemn frescoes of all the gods. Among them, I found the image of Racshell. The solemnity vanished.
"Just climb onto the central altar, think of the profession you wish to have, and pray."
"You can get it just by thinking about it?"
"Well, there are some professions that require you to have mastered another one first, or have stats above a certain level. Magic-wielding professions and advanced jobs are like that. Oh, but before that..."
Maira held out her palm.
"One silver coin, please."
I handed her the silver coin. Fam climbed onto the altar and began to pray. It was the same pose she'd been in when I woke up this morning. I wondered if she was deeply religious, or if this was just a custom for the people of this world. It didn't seem like anything was happening, but soon she finished her prayer and returned. The three of us checked Fam's status sheet. Her profession slot now read 'Mibu-Rō'.
"You did it!"
Maira was the first to react, pouncing on Fam just like before. What happened to the mature older sister persona? I wanted to pounce on them too, but getting labeled a pervert in a church seemed like it would be a pain, so I refrained.
"By the way, what kind of weapon would be best?"
A katana, probably? I wonder if they even exist in this world.
"It says any kind of bludgeoning weapon is fine," Fam answered.
"That's vague. What do you want, Fam? For now, let's try out whatever weapons you like in the field and find one that suits you."
"A weapon I like? I can't think of anything. Maira-san, do you have any recommendations?"
"Hmm, if you were a priest, I'd say a mace, no questions asked. Just keep hitting things and they'll eventually get smashed."
What a dangerous woman. I'd better be careful when I get a chance to grope her breasts.
"Fam, stay away from the mace."
"Aww, I wanted to match with Fam-chan."
Fam is petite; a heavy weapon would be too much for her.
"Alright, Fam, close your eyes."
"Okay."
"Imagine it. I'm in a pinch, about to be taken down by a monster. Just then, you appear heroically and defeat it. In that image, what are you equipped with?"
Nodding at my words, Fam closed her eyes and began to fantasize.
"Mmm, hah! Hyaah! Fuhahaha, yaaah!" Fam was smiling proudly, her eyes still closed.
"Come on! Yaaah! Hehehe, tooh!"
Sounds like a pretty intense battle.
"Ngh! Ugh... Kuh... grumble..."
That's a pretty long fantasy.
"Hey, aren't you about to lose? You just went 'grumble'."
"Ah, right. This was supposed to be the part where I look cool. I was saving you, Master, but then a whole bunch of monsters showed up and it got really difficult."
"And what was your weapon?"
"It was an amazing magic sword, and when I swung it, some amazing power defeated the monsters. It was just an amazing weapon!"
There were no magically enchanted swords or armor at the weapon shop. The trading company might carry them, though. I'd have to ask Mateo.
"A magic sword is out of the question. They don't sell them. But you were in a 'grumble' situation even with a sword like that?"
In the end, we settled on a short sword that seemed easy to handle. After parting with Maira, we went to the weapon shop and bought one with a blade even shorter than the one I used. We also got shields for both of us, and since I wanted to try a two-handed sword, I bought one of those too. We also bought a set of leather armor. As a nod to Fam's new profession, I bought a pair of light-blue armguards. Since they came as a set of two, Fam and I each wore one. Then we headed to our usual spot to gather medicinal herbs.
Thank you for reading. To those who have bookmarked and rated, I am truly grateful. It encourages me. I'll do my best.