The rabbit-eared clerk bowed slightly to them. Customers who spent this much were rare.
After all, aside from a few high nobles who liked collecting ornate weapons and armor, almost no one would spend so many Asura Gold Coins commissioning such expensive equipment. They absolutely had to do their utmost to make these commissions a success. That would likely earn the pair's trust and bring them back next time.
"Oh, could you appraise this magic item for us while we're here?"
Roxy pressed her lips together and handed over the orange jewel she had tucked against her chest.
The bunny-girl clerk seemed to be an appraiser. Her smile turned serious, and a soft glow rose from her hand as she placed it over the orange jewel Roxy offered.
"Appraisal."
Once the appraisal was complete, the bunny-girl clerk let out a small sound. Her rabbit ears stood straight up, and her mouth twitched violently as she looked at them.
"Wh-what's wrong?!"
Roxy and Cain both swallowed. Was something wrong with the treasure?! Or was this actually a completely useless magic item?
If obtaining the red dragon's core could be chalked up to good luck, then this Dragon Jade was undeniable proof of their extraordinary strength.
"Y-you must be an S-rank adventurer... May I ask your name?"
Cain and Roxy blinked at the rabbit-eared clerk's grave expression.
"Kain Brand Reiback. Is something wrong?"
"You're the Sword God who slew the three-headed red dragon?!"
Huh?! Am I that famous...?
Cain scratched his cheek, puzzled by the rabbit-eared clerk's excitement.
He had no idea that the story of him slaying the three-headed red dragon had already spread like wildfire throughout the Ranoa Kingdom and its two neighboring countries.
Seeing the clerk suddenly grow excited, an inexplicable look of admiration on her face, Roxy frowned slightly, puffed out her cheeks, and hugged Cain's arm.
"I'm his teacher, Roxy Migurdia."
The rabbit-eared clerk gave an awkward little smile. It seemed the jealous teacher at his side had gotten the wrong idea.
She bowed slightly to Roxy.
"My apologies. It's just that this magic item has an extremely unusual ability. Ordinary adventurers couldn't defeat a dungeon guardian possessing a magic item this powerful, so I wanted to confirm who you were."
The clerk spoke with certainty.
Yes, this Dragon Jade had to be a magic item dropped by an elite boss monster even stronger than an S-rank Dungeon guardian. It was certainly not something an ordinary adventurer could possess.
"An unusual ability?"
"Yes. This is my first time seeing one, too. An extremely complex summoning magic circle is engraved inside this jewel. Infusing it with magic should summon a guardian monster. I'm actually very curious myself. Could you demonstrate its ability for me? Of course, we'll give you a discount on any magic items you commission from our shop in the future."
Looking at the curious clerk, Cain's mouth twitched. Did a mere shop clerk really have the authority to make that promise...?
"Teacher Roxy, what do you think?"
Cain looked at Roxy. Although he had been the one to defeat the Blazing Red Dragon, Glacium, they had taken it on together, so Teacher Roxy also had a say in how this jewel was used.
"You can decide that, Cain. You were the one who defeated the boss."
"If you demonstrate it, we'll give you twenty percent off. No, twenty-five percent."
Cain sighed, nodded slightly, and took the jewel in his hand.
"Yes, just like that. Simply infuse the magic item with mana and say 'summon' in your mind to activate the magic circle inside. Of course, I don't know what sort of guardian monster will appear."
"Wait, is this really safe...?"
"It should be fine."
"Don't say 'should.' Give me a definite answer." Cain's mouth twitched. The clerk in front of him, whose rabbit ears had just quivered, seemed rather unreliable.
Cain turned to find Roxy staring curiously at the jewel in his hand. He sighed. If Teacher Roxy was curious too...
"Teacher Roxy, please stand back a little. We don't know how big this summoned monster will be, or whether it'll attack the people around it."
Roxy nodded and backed toward the door, gripping her staff tightly and blinking with curiosity. The rabbit-eared clerk hid behind her.
"Hey, you with the rabbit ears! If you dare use Teacher Roxy as a shield, I won't hold back!"
Cain fixed the clerk with a stern stare. You're actually hiding behind a customer?! And behind my Teacher Roxy, of all people! You damn cowardly rabbit monster!
"S-sorry, Lord Sword God!" The rabbit-eared clerk's ears shot upright in fright, and she hurriedly hopped aside.
Roxy gave a helpless smile, inexplicably feeling a little pleased.
"By the way, how do we dismiss the guardian beast once it's summoned? It would be a problem for us if it turned out to be too big and wrecked the shop."
Hearing Cain's question, then noticing Roxy's gaze, the rabbit-eared clerk's mouth twitched.
"O-oh, I suppose it would!"
What do you mean, you suppose?! Didn't you think of that?! Do you even work here...?
But it was already too late. The magic item in Cain's hand was a Dragon Jade. Even without him saying "summon," it would summon its guardian once enough magic had accumulated.
A thunderous crash rang out! The rabbit-eared clerk watched in horror as a gigantic dragon skull suddenly appeared and smashed through her shop's ceiling!
A monster with a massive dragon skull and four skeletal hands, each holding a different weapon, appeared before the three of them. Its huge bony feet crushed the shop's mahogany floor as it knelt on one knee before Cain.
"An S-rank Flamebone Dragon Guard?!"
Cain's mouth twitched hard. This thing could use Blade of Light and the Water God Style's Secret Art: Flow. It was an elite guardian from an A-rank Dungeon. Even a Sword King might not be able to take it down. Its overall strength was probably already approaching Emperor-class.
Cain instinctively drew his tachi, Instant Void, but Roxy quickly called out to stop him.
"Wait, Cain! You summoned it. It won't pose a threat to you."
Silly teacher...
Cain looked at Roxy with concern. He had killed a Flamebone Dragon Guard in an instant before. How could he possibly be afraid of one?
"It's precisely because I summoned it that I'm worried. I don't know whether it'll attack you, Teacher Roxy."
"Oh, i-is that so?" The little spark of happiness in Roxy's heart grew, though she didn't know why.
Between them stood the enormous skeletal dragon monster.
The rabbit-eared clerk was on the verge of tears. Her legs trembled, and she nearly wet herself in terror.
So, you two... couldn't you worry about me a little, too...?
Battle aura coiled around Cain's tachi. His concern wasn't unfounded. Summoned monsters and summoned divine beasts were supposed to be different. Monsters should retain their own consciousness, and a creature like this might instinctively regard every living being other than its summoner as an enemy.
Cain immediately issued an order to the Flamebone Dragon Guard, which stood over four meters tall even kneeling on one knee.
"Do not attack any living beings around you."
Cain felt that the undead would probably harbor hostility toward living creatures with souls.
Roxy blinked. Seeing that the Flamebone Dragon Guard remained motionless on one knee, she breathed a sigh of relief and gave Cain a gentle smile.
"Cain, our Migurdia Tribe raises a kind of demon tree. They're monsters too, but they have relatively gentle temperaments. They repel insects and easily grow attached to our people, making them suitable for cultivation. We usually plant them beside our fields to keep pests away from the crops."
Still watching the Flamebone Dragon Guard with his sword in hand, Cain paused at her words and looked at Roxy.
Teacher, this thing isn't some weakling like a demon tree... Besides, can something like this really grow attached to people...?
Still, his curiosity got the better of him, and he asked.
"Hmm... raising monsters?! And they can even grow attached to people? Really?!"
"Yes, it's true, Cain."
The Flamebone Dragon Guard turned his empty eye sockets toward his master, then toward the little blue-haired girl smiling and chattering away as she shared her knowledge. He scratched his dragon skull with one clawed hand.
So, what did my master summon me here for...?
"U-um, I really hate to interrupt, but... could you perhaps send that big fellow back now...?"
Cain and Roxy blinked and turned to look at the rabbit-eared clerk, whose face had gone pale with fright. Then they glanced at the ruined ceiling and the two gaping holes the Flamebone Dragon Guard had stamped into the floor. Their mouths twitched.
"S-sorry... We'll pay for the damage..."
Before you continue