I looked at the money with a stunned expression for a while, but managed to pull myself together.
“Wuff. Wuff.”
Leo’s fur was nice and clean after bathing yesterday, and so I ran my fingers through it, which had a calming effect.
So I would be paid a lot more than I had been expecting. And I decided to think of it as something that would help me live in this world.
Shortly after, it was time for dinner.
Ms. Gelda came to call us, and so I took Leo and followed her to the dining hall.
As Sherry and Tilura had arrived ahead of everyone, they played and climbed onto Leo’s back for a while until Mr. Ekenhart and Ms. Claire entered the dining hall.
And then the food was quickly served and we sat down to eat.
Mr. Ekenhart ate ravenously like before, and we talked of things of little consequence.
But once we were finished and were having our tea, Mr. Ekenhart turned to me.
“So, Mr. Takumi. Have you received the sword from Sebastian?”
“Yes. It was a sword that I used when we were in the forest, so I’m quite comfortable with it already.”
“I see. That will help, if you are used to it even a little.”
Tilura was very interested in our conversation, and she listened intently while carrying Sherry.
“Indeed. I will start Mr. Takumi’s sword training tomorrow. ”
“Sword training… Can I join in too?”
“Tilura?!”
“…Tilura. Why do you want to train with a sword?”
Perhaps she was interested in swordsmanship.
While she was a girl, children in general seemed to like the idea of wielding swords…
Still, Ms. Claire was quite surprised by this request, and so was I.
“I am interested in swords. But I also want a familiar like my sister. And for that, I must be able to fight!”
“…Hmm… I see.”
“Tilura… This isn’t a game, you know? Takumi will be training so that he can protect himself. And just because you learn to fight, it doesn’t mean you will be able to get a familiar.”
“I know that! I’ve been studying it ever since Sherry became yours.”
At this mention of studying, I saw Sebastian’s eyes gleam as he stood behind Mr. Ekenhart.
Could it be that it was Sebastian who had been teaching her about familiars…?
“Tilura. Is playing with Leo and Sherry not enough?”
“I enjoy playing with Leo and Sherry. But I still want a familiar of my own.”
“Wuff!”
I didn’t know if it was to have a playmate or some other reason, but Tilura was desperate to have a familiar now.
Leo was nodding as if she agreed with Tilura… Are you sure?
“Tilura, if you want a familiar, then you’ll have to fight. Because they are monsters. Monsters do not obey the weak.”
Said Mr. Ekenhart. And he was probably right.
Perhaps not all of them, but monsters attacked humans.
And in order to make them submit so that they can be tamed, you had to fight them.
Leo wasn’t my familiar, and Ms. Claire and Sherry were a special case.
Ms. Claire had taken care of her when she was badly injured, and she had already been submissive, because Leo was with us. So it was no wonder that Sherry had allowed it.
Well, maybe it was less about that, and Sherry had merely become attached to Ms. Claire…
“Training with swords is not a game. As an instructor, I will hold back, obviously, but you might still get hurt. Besides, you are still small, Tilura. It will be very difficult for you, you know?”
“I don’t mind! I want to become stronger!”
Obviously, Tilura was still growing, and so would be taller eventually.
So perhaps it would be an advantage for her to start training early. But as the training would have to be adjusted as she grew, it might be quite severe.
Mr. Ekenhart talked like he was trying to scare Tilura, but her resolve remained firm.
But why did Tilura want a familiar so badly?
“Tilura. Is there a reason that you want a familiar so much?”
“I cannot tell you that. But, I must have one no matter what!”
Must have one… It was like she was talking about finding her calling in life…
Perhaps it was like how Ms. Claire had such strong feelings when it came to Silver Fenrirs.
“You cannot say why, but you want one… I see. You are a lot like Claire.”
“Father?”
“Yes, I know that Claire feels a special connection towards Silver Fenrirs. And perhaps you feel something similar, Tilura.”
However, Mr. Ekenhart understood the reason that Ms. Claire had wanted to search the forest.
For a moment I thought of praising his ability as a parent, but then I remembered the stories about arranged marriages and how he had come here when they didn’t want him to. Perhaps he wasn’t as perceptive as he thought.
But then again, perhaps he came because it was close to a forest that was related to the Silver Fenrirs…or I’m just overthinking it.
Like Mr. Ekenhart said, even though they were his daughters, there was a lot that he didn’t know about them.
“Father, does that mean!”
“Aye, I will teach you the sword. …However!”
As Tilura looked at him with great expectation, Mr. Ekehnhart agreed to her request. But he paused and gave her a serious look.
He had made this expression while signing the contract as well. It was rather intimidating.
Upon seeing his gaze, Tilura seemed just a little shaken, but she straightened her posture and then looked back at him with an equally serious gaze.
She was certainly his daughter… I had a feeling that if she was in the same position, Ms. Claire would have also shown a similar spirit, and would not back down. I couldn’t help but imagine it.
But I shook such thoughts aside and waited to hear what Mr. Ekenhart would say to her next.