Chapter 1-58 : The Girl And The Dark Elf Return With New Family Members (part 2)
After Elle made a contract with Prox, they proceeded into the city.
Young adventurers carrying weapons were quite common, but Elle didn’t want to gather unnecessary attention, so she asked Flamberge to disappear before they reached the city gate.
Once they passed through the gate, they walked the street and headed straight for the Long Tail Factory.
Prox was following by flying slightly above Elle’s shoulder. She stood up a bit, but as expected, people thought she was just a normal living stuffed animal.
Reaching the destination, Elle opened the door and entered. She was expecting the muscular, middle-aged shopkeeper, but the one welcoming her was the familiar fluffy cat chilling on the counter table.
「Welcoー Ah! Elle!」(Yoyo)
「Yoyo, I’m back.」(Elle)
「Welcome back! Did you get hurt? I had been worried sick about you!」(Yoyo)
「I’m sorry to make you worry, but I’m alright.」(Elle)
「Fufu. Elle, your cat worries a lot as always.」(Ingrid)
「Hey, I can hear you.」(Yoyo)
「Ahaha… Anyway, I’m safe thanks to Ingrid protecting me.」(Elle)
「I see. You have my thanks. Well done, Ingrid!」(Yoyo)
「Nah, I was the one being protected by her, actually.」(Ingrid)
「No, that’s not true.」(Elle)
「You’re being modest, Elle. It was you who defeated the black wyvern and the red ogre.」(Ingrid)
「Ho, hold on! What did you say? Black wyvern? Red ogre!?」(Yoyo)
Hearing such names, Yoyo was surprised. He didn’t know Elle’s trip was that dangerous.
「Elle, what happened out there?」(Yoyo)
「Umm, well, a lot happened, but we can save it for later. By the way, why are you on the counter? Where’s the uncle shopkeeper?」(Elle)
Elle quickly changed the topic so as not to be questioned further.
「He’s busy helping the dwarves in the back. I’m watching over the shop for him. I can’t just do nothing as a freeloader, can I?」(Yoyo)
「I see. But, you don’t mind talking with other people?」(Elle)
「It’s alright. People in this city will think I’m a living stuffed animal anyway.」(Yoyo)
「Ah, you’re right.」(Elle)
「Gyau? (A talking cat?)」(Prox)
Prox, who had been hiding behind Elle, climbed up Elle’s back and peeked over her shoulder.
「Whoa! What is that red thing on your shoulder!?」(Yoyo)
「Ah, this is Prox. She’s a fire dragon.」(Elle)
「Fire Dragon!?」(Yoyo)
Yoyo opened his eyes wide and stiffened his tail in shock.
「Phu phu! That’s a nice reaction.」(Ingrid)
Ingrid giggled to see his funny cat-like reaction.
「Elle, dragons are said to be ferocious, and they don’t trust humans! How could you bring one of them here!? That thing will eat you!」(Yoyo)
「Gyau gyau! (Hey, that’s rude!)」(Prox)
「Don’t worry, she will never harm us. I’ve made a contract with her. She’s our new family member now. Besides, she doesn’t like eating meat. She likes your cookies, you know?」(Elle)
「Say what!? Cookies!?」(Yoyo)
「Cookies are the price I have to pay in our contract, so, Yoyo, can you teach me how to make your cookies later?」(Elle)
「I don’t mind, but… Really? A dragon prefers cookies over meat?」(Yoyo)
「Gyau gyau! (I like your cookies!)」(Prox)
「Fufu. She says she likes your cookies.」(Elle)
「What a weird dragon…」(Yoyo)
「Bwahaha! Your cat is so funny, Elle!」(Flamberge)
As Yoyo was flabbergasted, suddenly, Flamberge appeared out of nowhere and floated above Elle’s head.
「Whoa!? What is it this time? A talking sword!?」(Yoyo)
「Nice to meet you! Flamberge at your service!」(Flamberge)
「Yoyo, this is Flamberge. He isー」(Elle)
「ーThe one and only! The Crimson Hero! …Former hero, though.」(Flamberge)
「Crimson Hero? Never heard of it.」(Yoyo)
「Oi, oi, are you for real? Elle, looks like your cat isn’t as smart as you.」(Flamberge)
「Hmph. Of course, I’m not. Elle is the smartest girl in the world and can’t be compared to anyone else. Everyone knows that, but the way you say it kinda annoys me.」(Yoyo)
「Gahaha! Sorry about that!」(Flamberge)
「Umm, in any case, Prox and Flamberge will be living with us from now on, so, Yoyo, I hope you can get along well with them.」(Elle)
「Aa-ahh, two more weirdos join the bandwagon, I see. Alright, if you say so. You two, listen. I’m Yoyo, a cat fairy and Elle’s first companion. I’ve been taking care of her since a long time ago, so I’m your senior. Got it?」(Yoyo)
「Ou! Yoyo-senpai!」(Flamberge)
「Gyau! (Senpai!)」(Prox)
「Very well.」(Yoyo)
「Yoyo, I want to see the dwarves.」(Elle)
「Oh, right. Let’s not waste any more time. I’ll take you inside.」(Yoyo)
「Un. Prox, Flamberge, can you wait with Ingrid outside?」(Elle)
「Okay.」(Flamberge)
「Gyau! (Yes, Ma’am!)」(Prox)
Elle didn’t want to shock the dwarves and the shopkeeper with Prox and Flamberge’s presence, so she asked them to wait and proceeded into the back room with Yoyo.
「Yo, old man, guess who’s returned.」(Yoyo)
「Hm? Ohh, Little Lady, you’re back!」(Shopkeeper)
Entering the workshop, Elle saw the muscular shopkeeper and the three dwarves working.
「That was fast. I thought you would take two or three more days.」(Shopkeeper)
「Thanks to Prox, we didn’t.」(Elle)
「Prox?」(Shopkeeper)
「Ah, never mind that. More importantly, I got the ore.」(Elle)
Avoiding the man’s question, Elle quickly took out the crystal magic ore from her bag and presented it to him.
「Oh, this is it!」(Shopkeeper)
「Hoho~ It’s such a beautiful ore.」
「It’s a high-quality one.」
「Good job, Little Missy!」(Dwarves)
The dwarves stopped working for a moment and observed the ore closely.
「Can Neige be saved with this?」(Elle)
「You bet!」
「It will take a while, but we’ll do our best!」
「We’ll save your bunny. Don’t worry.」(Dwarves)
「Thank you.」(Elle)
「Alright, guys. Let’s get to work!」
「Ouuu!」
「Let’s do it!」(Dwarves)
The dwarves took the ore and immediately started working.
「You can leave it to them. I will let you know when it’s done.」(Shopkeeper)
「Thank you, Sir.」(Elle)
「Elle, what’s your plan for today?」(Yoyo)
「Oh, right. I have to go to the Adventurer Guild after this.」(Elle)
「Why the guild?」(Yoyo)
「I need to report and receive my bounty. Also, I want to ask them about my dad.」(Elle)
「I see. They might know what happened to Hugo. Alright, to the Adventurer Guild then. Old man, I’m going with Elle. You watch over your shop yourself, okay?」(Yoyo)
「No worries.」(Shopkeeper)
「Well then, everyone, I leave Neige in your hands.」(Elle)
Before leaving, Elle politely lowered her head toward the shopkeeper and the dwarves. They responded with smiles and thumb-ups.
After that, Elle and Yoyo joined Ingrid and the others outside the shop and then headed to the Adventurer Guild.
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