The afternoon sunlight was warm.
"Meow~"
Lucky lounged comfortably on the Golden-Haired Big Dog's soft back, squinting as she basked in the sun. She was thoroughly satisfied with this big fellow, who was both her friend and her personal mount.
Today was another day of freeloading at Earl Hall's house.
The milk here was always fresh, and the meat was always perfectly tender.
"Where exactly is that new friend you mentioned?" Susie asked in a clear voice, her tongue hanging out.
"Mrow~"
Lucky gave a lazy meow without trying to speak. Unlike Susie, she felt that forcing human words out of a cat's mouth was far too much trouble, and beneath a cat's proper elegance and dignity.
At moments like this, she felt that this seemingly silly Golden-Haired Big Dog was actually much smarter than she had imagined.
Thanks to her Instigator abilities and the special nature of Susie's Spectator Pathway, she often needed only a few simple meows, a look, or a gesture for Susie to understand her perfectly. She never had to waste effort "explaining."
"Mrow~" She hopped lightly off Susie's back and flicked her tail, signaling for Susie to follow.
The cat and dog passed through several streets and arrived outside a shop in a somewhat out-of-the-way corner.
"Sniff, sniff-" Susie twitched her nose out of habit. She smelled a strong, unpleasant medicinal odor in the air.
Was this an apothecary?
"Are you sure this is the place?" Susie asked doubtfully.
"Meow." Lucky nodded firmly, indicating that she should be patient.
Beep, beep, beep-
"Idiot! You idiot!"
"Shut up! You stupid bird!"
"Where on earth did you learn that phrase?"
A sudden commotion erupted inside the shop. A fat man dressed in the robes of a rural wizard was waving a broom, furiously trying to chase away