Chapter 90: And Then, a Wind of Cats and Commotion Blows
Who’s the colossal idiot who, without learning a single thing, screwed up the scheduled post agaaaaain?
Me.
Yep. I’m posting chapters back-to-back. Yep.
Bilac: "Th-This is Aroncaleth Hard Lapis, the stuff they call the king of coating agents... A-And this here's Lapisteria Stellar Crystal, the First Star of the Canopy... D-Don't tell me—Lowenava Amber Crystal? At this size? This much... Th-Th-This here's Amurcidian Quartz... The real thing...?"
Sunraku: "There are also various materials from the Crystal Scorpions... everything except the stinger."
Emul: "Why is the stinger the only thing miss—"
Sunraku: "Stop, Emul. If you say any more, I'll spray bodily fluids from every pore and explode."
Emul: "Eeeeh!?"
Someday. Rematch. Raid. On sight.
I'd thought their personalities were completely different, but I suppose these rabbits really are sisters born of the same father. I find myself watching Bilac with an involuntary smile as she gazes at the materials I've pulled out with an excitement that mirrors Emul's.
Sunraku: "Can you make weapons or something with these?"
Bilac: "Right now, I'm livin' the dream of every Cait Sith there is... Never had much interest in gemstones beyond 'em being materials, but... Haaah, who knew just rubbin' yer cheek against a plain ol' rock could make ya this happy..."
Bilac rubs her cheek against a gem nearly the same size as her own face, its texture looking like the night sky was pasted directly onto it. This has gone past heartwarming—she's tripping at a level that's honestly a little off-putting. Any minute now, she's gonna pop it in her mouth and start sucking on it like candy.
Sunraku: "...Yo!"
Bilac: "Wabyaaah!? Wh-What's the big idea, ya jerk!?"
Sunraku: "You should be thanking me for yanking your sanity back from flying off into next week... More importantly, I'm asking if you can make something with these."
A brief silence. Bilac sorts through several of the items I've brought out, then turns back toward me.
Bilac: "The Crystal Scorpion materials and these ores here can be used to make weapons. But these ones can't be used for weapons or armor... These here are the domain of a Jeweler, not a Smith."
Sunraku: "A Jeweler?"
Bilac: "Someone who makes accessories—things that show their effects when ya wear 'em, not weapons or armor—and specializes in ones that use gemstones."
I see. Inventoria also falls into the accessory category. It's an important factor when it comes to strengthening yourself beyond just weapons and armor. Up until now, I've been acting like a half-hermit everywhere outside of Rabituza, so I never really bothered looking into accessories at all. But with my accessory slot taken up by Inventoria, it's too late for accessories now anyway... No, now that I think back on it, that Pencilgon woman had that flower ornament equipped on top of Inventoria. Maybe you can equip more than one accessory?
Sunraku: "Well then, the accessory craftsman in Rabituza..."
Bilac: "This country has accessory craftsmen, but no Jewelers."
Sunraku: "...Seriously?"
If that's the case, the accessory-grade ores become nothing more than vendor trash. Just as the gems' sparkle starts to look a little dimmer to me, Bilac—for some reason with a deepening scowl—continues.
Bilac: "That said, it ain't like we've got no connections to a Jeweler... Among the Cait Sith, the Cat Fairies who've sworn an oath of alliance with us Vorpal Bunnies, there's one hell of a skilled Jeweler."
Sunraku: "Cait Sith..."
Cait Sith. My personal image is that in fantasy, talking cats and bipedal cats mostly get categorized under this. I've played a fair number of games—even trash games—so naturally there've been games featuring Cait Sith. I've seen them many times, sometimes as allies, sometimes as enemies. But I've never seen a Cait Sith in this game. I look at Emul juggling a small gemstone on top of my head, and at Bilac, whose scowl is somehow getting worse and worse. If even the rabbits are like this, then if a cat in this game talked and walked on two legs, just how much destructive power would it have...? For some reason, Animalia's face floats up in my mind.
Bilac: "...Personally, meetin' that idiot... is somethin' I am deeeeply... profoundly unwilling to do. But lettin' these gems go to waste is somethin' my pride as a smith... as a person who makes things... won't allow. Hold on a sec, I'll call 'im."
Sunraku: "Huh? Right now?"
I mean, this isn't something you can just casually summon like calling over a guy in the next room...
Bilac: "Oi, idiot cat. Get over here."
???: "Ahhh! O beautiful dark maiden! If thou dost call, then even were I cast into the depths of a thousand-fathom valley, I would in an instant fly back to thy side...!"
Someone with an incredibly intense personality just showed up.
If I had to sum up the figure who appeared—likely via some sort of teleportation magic—in a single phrase, it would be "Puss in Boots." Roughly the same size as Bilac—meaning his head reaches about my waist, give or take—this black cat strikes a magnificent bipedal stance, clad impeccably in musketeer-style attire. He's what you'd have to call a Cat Musketeer. A slender blade, seemingly a rapier, hangs at his waist, but what stands out most is, of course, the boots. While the rest of his equipment prioritizes practicality over appearance, the boots alone are gaudily decorated with jewels and metal.
???: "Hmm! Thou art surely the younger sister of my beloved maiden!"
Emul: "I'm Emul... wa. And this person here is Sunraku-san... wa."
???: "Hmm? Why is there a Birdman in Rabituza? Nay, the shape of the arms differs... Perchance a Human? Yet, I have never heard of a human with the face of a bird..."
Sunraku: "Human is probably the right classification."
I can't say for sure since I don't know how the various races refer to humans. The Cat Musketeer regards me with a long, searching look, then suddenly strikes a pose.
???: "If that be the case! Then I must declare my name! Indeed, I am a Sword Saint! The raging gale, the Wild Wind! Deputy Commander of the Musketeers in Boots, pride of 'Cazzeria,' land of the Cat Fairy Cait Sith! Arameese!!"
Should I toss some confetti on him or something? The sight of him drawing his rapier and thrusting it toward the heavens is certainly accomplished, but since he is, after all, a cat, the adorableness outweighs the coolness. For some reason, Animalia's voice replays in my head.
Bilac: "Just remember 'im as Dumb-meese and be done with it. He acts all fancy, but inside he's a brat."
Arameese: "Ahhh! Maiden, thy words are ever cold and sharp as icicles! Yet, against the blazing, radiant heat of thy furnace fire, my heart melts like thawing ice in spring...!"
No good. If I leave this alone, it'll be the kind of conversation that turns into an endless comedy routine.
Sunraku: "So, you've self-proclaimed yourself a Sword Saint, but what about the actual Jeweler?"
Bilac: "Hmph. Oi, Dumb-meese. I've got... somethin'... to ask ya."
In contrast to Bilac, whose scowl has reached such extremes that a killing aura is practically wafting off her, the black cat's face shines like the sun. His name's probably Arameese.
Arameese: "Of course! Of course, O maiden! If it is thy request, I would even challenge that Lycagon for thee!"
Yeah, no... I feel like if you challenged Lycagon, you'd just die... Source: me. Arameese practically leaps with joy, and Bilac heaves a deep, deep sigh before holding out a gem nearly the size of her own face toward him. Arameese, who had been beaming a smile with the heat intensity of the sun itself, undergoes an instant transformation the moment his eyes land on the gem cradled in Bilac's hands—his expression shifting from a straight face to dumbfounded in the blink of an eye.
Arameese: "...Ah... Maiden... er...?"
Bilac: "That's Lowenava Amber Crystal that the bird-person here brought back. And there's more besides... Here."
A cat with a face like a pigeon that just got shot with a peashooter—now that's a pretty rare sight. With trembling hands, Arameese accepts the amber Bilac is holding, then pats it, rubs his cheek against it, sticks out his tongue, and licks—
Bilac: "Quit that, moron!"
Arameese: "Hah!? To think I, of all people, lost myself so...!"
Bilac: "Arameese. I wanna ask that Jeweler of yers... D’Artammeow... to craft some accessories. And not just any accessories—the finest work possible."
Arameese: "That is... rather... Just what is this human, exactly?"
Bilac: "Recognized by the Ruler of the Night. The one who vanquished the Tombguard of Eternity... Pops' underling."
The instant those words leave Bilac's mouth, the look in Arameese's eyes changes. It's no longer the look aimed at "a human in Rabituza"—it's the look of someone seeing "the individual known as Sunraku."
Arameese: "...If that be so, then though I am unworthy, by the name of Arameese—'Wild Wind,' Deputy Commander of the Musketeers in Boots—I vow to see that a supreme piece of adornment is most assuredly crafted."
Bilac: "Bird-person. This means usin' all these gems... That alright?"
Sunraku: "Fine by me. If they weren't getting used, my only option was selling them anyway."
Arameese departs via teleportation with the various items. Once I've confirmed that only Emul, Bilac, and I remain here, I set about clearing up my many questions all at once.
Sunraku: "...Cazzeria?"
Bilac: "The kingdom of the Cait Sith. Though callin' it a 'kingdom' is a bit... too generous."
Sunraku: "And, if you don't mind me asking, your relationship with Arameese is...?"
Bilac: "...A long time ago, I made a weapon for that idiot. That's all."
Sunraku: "And how strong is this Arameese, anyway?"
Bilac: "Stronger than me."
Oh... Yeah, figures... I kind of had a feeling from the moment it was clear he could match Bilac. He did call himself a Sword Saint and all.
Sunraku: "...Yeah, I'm gonna go get some sleep. Starting this evening, it's finally time to search for the magic power unit needed to claim the Ancient Craftsman."
Bilac: "I've thought this for a while now, but you're awful restless..."
Sunraku: "I'm the type who sprints straight to the destination."
Rather than steadily leveling up while progressing the story, it suits my nature better to focus on power-leveling in one big burst.
Sunraku: "Ah... I'm beat."
The time is... around four, I guess? I'll grab a light meal and a nap, then get back to clearing. As I'm thinking that and pick up my mobile device, I notice some emails have arrived. Three unread messages. One is a news email from a game I used to play, so I can ignore that. The remaining two are...
Subject: Got something I wanna ask From: Modor Katzo To: Sunraku Body: Where are you right now? Got something I need to meet up ASAP about.
Subject: Question for Sunraku-kun From: Pencil Warrior To: Sunraku Body: Sunraku-kun, where are you right now? Fivelle? There's something I'd like to discuss in person—you free this evening?
Sunraku: "Wow. Even carnivorous plants set classier traps than this."
If I translate this directly, it reads: "I've gotten dragged into a mess, so I'm dragging you in too." The fact that they're asking about my location instead of specifying a place is really fishy... In other games, sure, but when it comes to "trouble" in this game, nine times out of ten it involves other players...
Sunraku: "Not in the mood for PvP, so I'm setting off on a journey. Don't look for me. Also, depending on circumstances, can I use up one of the weapons inside Inventoria...? Sent."
Alright, I'll grab a quick meal, sleep, and—incoming ringtone. Still, I expected a reply, so I open them up. Looks like, on one end, pure rage, and on the other, a wry smile.
Subject: Don't screw with me! From: Modor Katzo To: Sunraku Body: Do you have ANY IDEA the terror of being surrounded by people with terrifying eyes who keep pleading "The rabbit..." "An appointment with Sunraku-san..." endlessly!? I'm not even involved, damn it! I'm gonna offer you up as a sacrifice and get back to my nice, comfortable play, so spit out your location RIGHT NOW.
Subject: Ahaha, well, I'm afraid it's not that simple From: Pencil Warrior To: Sunraku Body: When the commander of the Schwarz Vulf herself shows up in person with Maximum Firepower-chan in tow to negotiate, you really can't turn her down, you know. I will be abusing my authority as leader without mercy, so kindly cough up your location.
Sunraku: "Hmm... Alright."
I'll pretend I didn't see those!