After we left the cave, I got into an argument with Riv.
"……No……Wof doesn't…need……"
"No. Please take it. This is fair compensation."
I tried to pay Riv the 500 oro for bodyguard work, just as I'd promised.
But Riv refused.
No matter how I tried to hand it over, she wouldn't accept it.
It got on my nerves.
And it got on Riv's nerves that I kept trying to force the money on her even after she refused.
"……Why……do you keep trying……to give……it……"
"Why do you keep refusing to take it? We made a deal."
"Well……because, Wof……you're poor……"
"Huh — well, no, I wouldn't say I'm rich, but…"
Being called poor stung a little. Okay, maybe it was accurate.
"So……I feel bad……taking money……"
Was her stubborn refusal actually kindness?
I was genuinely grateful for that, but still.
"Riv. I won't pretend I have money to spare. But I can still afford to pay a delver what their work is worth. Please don't assume I can't pay just because I'm poor."
I have my pride, too.
"……I'm……sorry……"
Riv bowed his head.
"No, the fact that you were thinking of me... that makes me happy. But it got me thinking — how about we do this?"
"Hm... what?"
"What if you consider my bodyguard fee as a loan?"
"...What do you mean...?"
"If the time ever comes when you need my help or my strength, I'll follow your lead. Unconditionally."
"Hm... so that's... a loan..."
"Yes. What do you think?"
"...Fine. I'll... take you up on that."
"Whether it's carrying luggage or running errands, I'll do anything."
"Hm... when the time comes... we'll see."
Riv gave a soft chuckle.
And so we parted ways along the road.
I entered the witch's house.
"I'm back."
"My, my, welcome back. That was quick."
"As promised... Mōryu grass."
"Hee hee hee! Oh ho hooo, how wonderful!!"
I handed it over and the witch was overjoyed.
The way she celebrated was a bit... intense, but I let out a sigh of relief. At least that was done.
I'm a little tired.
"Oh yeah, there were hobgoblins deeper in the cave."
"Hyah hyah, huh? Hobgoblins? Haven't seen those in ages."
"There was a delver's corpse, too."
"Oh my, oh my. Haven't seen that either. I haven't been to the Con in quite a while, you see."
"Is that so?"
"Mhm, mhm. I needed Mōryu grass on short notice for a commission, you see."
"A commission?"
"Yep, yep. A pharmaceutical commission."
"Huh..."
"Well now, first up is five bundles of Mōryu grass, you see."
Saying that so carefree, the witch starts patting down her clothes.
She tilts her head. She pats her clothes. She tilts her head again.
"What's the matter? Wha—!?"
Suddenly she starts stripping off her clothes. Wh-wh-what?!
"Hmm hmm, now where could it have gone, I wonder?"
"That's my line! Why are you taking off your clothes!?"
"Hmph hmph, my wallet seems to have vanished. I thought if I took them off, it might turn up, you see."
Without a shred of hesitation, she ends up in her underwear.
It's black and see-through—why is she wearing something like this!?
"Oh, if you're looking for your wallet, it's right on that table!"
"Oooh, there it is, there it is~"
"P-please put your clothes back on!"
"Hoh hoh, hoh hoh. So young Wof finds even Kon too stimulating, does he~"
"Good grief!"
Even so... I stare at the witch in her underwear.
"My, my, what's this? Directing such passionate eyes at Kon, are you~"
The witch smirks.
I said, unfazed.
"Your underwear doesn't match. The top and bottom are different."
"Huh? Huh?"
She blinks, ears and tail swishing.
"You really should wear matching underwear. It looks sloppy."
I say it with a cold, expressionless stare.
In an instant, the witch's face turns beet red.
"A-ah, y-yes. I'm sorry..."
She apologizes while sheepishly putting her clothes back on.
Somehow it just bugs me when things don't match.
So she does have a sense of shame after all.
Good.
The witch still had her cheeks flushed as she awkwardly picked up her purse.
I spoke up.
"That was six hundred each, as we agreed. So that's three thousand oro."
"Hmm, hmm. How about twelve hundred each instead?"
"Double!?"
"Mm, mm. They're in very fine condition, you see."
The witch produced six silver coins.
"Don't you have any copper coins or mixed coins?"
Without copper coins, shopping was a real pain.
"Let's see, let's see... no, I don't."
"How do you usually go about your shopping?"
I asked, the question slipping out as I took the coins.
"Well now, that's quite the thing. Once a week, an acquaintance of mine brings over various things I've ordered."
"Oh, how kind of them."
The witch picked up the legendary water bottle — the main event.
It was round and leather, with a large crescent moon emblazoned across the middle.
No wait — looking more closely, the crescent was raised relief... and made of metal.
"Now then, young Wof. Shall I give you a rundown of this water bottle?"
A rundown?
I tilted my head.