I looked at the money with a stunned expression for a while, but managed to pull myself together.
âWuff. Wuff.â
Leoâs 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 Leoâs 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.
âSo, Mr. Takumi. Have you received the sword from Sebastian?â
âYes. It was a sword that I used when we were in the forest, so Iâm quite comfortable with it already.â
âI see. That will help, if you are used to it even a little.â
âFather, Mr. Takumi. Are you going to be using swords?â
Tilura was very interested in our conversation, and she listened intently while carrying Sherry.
âIndeed. I will start Mr. Takumiâs sword training tomorrow. â
âSword training⊠Can I join in too?â
âTilura?!â
ââŠTilura. Why do you want to train with a sword?â
Perhaps she was interested in swordsmanship.
While she was a girl, children in general seemed to like the idea of wielding swordsâŠ
Still, Ms. Claire was quite surprised by this request, and so was I.
âI am interested in swords. But I also want a familiar like my sister. And for that, I must be able to fight!â
ââŠHmm⊠I see.â
âTilura⊠This isnât a game, you know? Takumi will be training so that he can protect himself. And just because you learn to fight, it doesnât mean you will be able to get a familiar.â
âI know that! Iâve been studying it ever since Sherry became yours.â
At this mention of studying, I saw Sebastianâs eyes gleam as he stood behind Mr. Ekenhart.
Could it be that it was Sebastian who had been teaching her about familiars�
âTilura. Is playing with Leo and Sherry not enough?â
âI enjoy playing with Leo and Sherry. But I still want a familiar of my own.â
âWuff!â
I didnât 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?
âTilura, if you want a familiar, then youâll have to fight. Because they are monsters. Monsters do not obey the weak.â
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 wasnât 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. ClaireâŠ
âTraining 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?â
âI donât mind! I want to become stronger!â
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?
âTilura. Is there a reason that you want a familiar so much?â
âI cannot tell you that. But, I must have one no matter what!â
Must have one⊠It was like she was talking about finding her calling in lifeâŠ
Perhaps it was like how Ms. Claire had such strong feelings when it came to Silver Fenrirs.
âYou cannot say why, but you want one⊠I see. You are a lot like Claire.â
âFather?â
âYes, I know that Claire feels a special connection towards Silver Fenrirs. And perhaps you feel something similar, Tilura.â
ââŠYou knewâŠâ
âI am your father, am I not? Iâve been watching you more closely than I watch myself⊠Though, there is still a lot that I donât know.â
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 didnât want him to. Perhaps he wasnât as perceptive as he thought.
But then again, perhaps he came because it was close to a forest that was related to the Silver FenrirsâŠor Iâm just overthinking it.
Like Mr. Ekenhart said, even though they were his daughters, there was a lot that he didnât know about them.
âFather, does that mean!â
âAye, I will teach you the sword. âŠHowever!â
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 couldnât help but imagine it.
But I shook such thoughts aside and waited to hear what Mr. Ekenhart would say to her next.