CH 17

I spent too much time thinking about my meeting with the king that it’s become morning already.

That means it’s the actual day of the meeting, but will I really be allowed to see him?

I bought formal clothing yesterday in preparation, but hopefully this will be good enough.

“Ryu, your clothes today look cool.”

“Thanks, though I’m not sure if they’ll be good enough.”

“Then I’ll fix it for you.”

She shapeshifts into a human and cleans up the messy and wrinkled parts of my clothes.

“Where did you learn to do this?”

“My mother taught me that it’s good for women to be able to do things like this.”

She said, straightening my tie. Ril is such a good woman, honestly I’m not in her league.

“Really, you’re a good woman.”

“Really! Then marry me!”

“Before that we’re going to need a proper house and lots of money.”

I pat Ril’s head as she puffed her cheeks out in anger. She’s cute.

“Sir Ryu, are you here?”

“Oh, it’s time.”

Ril turns back into a small wolf.

Well, let’s see how this wild situation’s going to proceed!

———-

A bit before noon, I am sitting alone.

Ril is waiting in a different room, so it seems only I’ll be meeting the king.

The room that I’m waiting in is ridiculously luxurious.

A large painting hung on the wall. Flowers inside vases that could cost more than I can imagine. Soft, fluffy sofas and chairs. There are probably countless items that I have no idea how expensive they are.

It really registers that the person I will be meeting is a king.

“Sir Ryu, it’s time.”

""

“Ok.”

I’ll think about the specifics after I meet him.

I already had Mark appraise and estimate how much the hide that I have left are worth yesterday, so I should be alright.

“Don’t be rude.”

Yes yes, I know…

A giant door is opened for me.

It looks like I’ll be talking in the throne room.

Is this what’s called the audience room? There are a lot of people, and around me are a bunch of fully armed soldiers. I’m sure I can run away if need be, but Ril’s is another room.

Maybe she’s going to be held hostage in some scenario?

They definitely picked the wrong person to be a hostage though.

Anyway, I should focus on the present.

I kneel down and wait, as I hear a rustling sound of armor coming closer.

“Raise your head.”

I look up as told.

So this is Dwar Crown.

My first impression of him is that he’s a sturdy old man. Because I was around strong beings in the Great Forest, I can tell that he’s strong. Not as strong as the father or the grandfather, but around the level of high-ranked monsters.

I can’t deal with him by myself. I’ll have to avoid fighting him.

“Your name and occupation?”

“My name is Ryu. My occupation is [Tamer].”

“Tamer, did you steal that hide?”

Man, of course I didn’t. I was prepared to be asked that, but straight out of the gate?

“No, it’s hide that I got with others. In no way is it stolen.”

“… I see. Then with whom did you go hunting? I would like to know of such people capable of hunting monsters like these.”

“They don’t have names. They were just hunters.”

“I’m sure they had some sort of alias they went by.”

“I have no memory of the sort.”

I need to make this clear, and say it as it is.

I don’t mean to suspect the grandfather, but I can’t trust this geezer. My [Sixth Sense] is telling me so as well.

“Well, very well. I’ll be buying all of the hide you brought, any problems?”

“Yes, there are problems. I intend to make some of this hide into armor for myself.”

The people around me reacted to my defiance. They’re getting ready to be in combat.

“Then take what you need. I’ll buy the rest.”

“No, there’ll be none left.”

“What?”

“I said that I don’t have any hide to sell to you.”

He’s getting visibly mad, with veins showing.

“You’re saying that while understanding the consequences, yes?”

“Yes, I can’t trust you.”

“Capture that man.”

The knights around me restrained me.

“You’re not resisting?”

“I felt that it’s useless to resist.”

“That’s been your only wise decision. Put him in jail!”

Well, I’ll leave the rest to you, Ril.