Nozomu wondered why Koyaga was looking at him with her eyes glowing, and she said, “You will like her, Nozomu! Muse is a crazy woman, but an exceptional fighter! She can use anything as a weapon. When I was in the Academy with her, I dared her to fight with a broom, and I got my ass kicked! Oh, I almost forgot! Nozomu, this is the Guild Master, Agu Sirel, and for me, the greatest Dwarf that ever lived! Or used to be, but then his daughter was born. Darn it, I miss Muse. And this cute little thing is Tresuria. We just met her moments ago.”
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“Yes, I know Tresuria. She arrived yesterday with her Party. Where are they, by the way?”
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The smiling Gailie answered with her hands behind her back and with her body wobbling back and forth. “They went to the market, and this one was sightseeing. This one saw Nozomu and Koyaga arriving from the Magical Circle with two Unicorns, and this one got curious and talked to them.”
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“No way! Unicorns? Koyaga, how did you manage that?”
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“They are not mines. The white Unicorn belongs to Nozomu, and the red one to his friend, Taisetsuna. They were the ones that caught them and became their friends.”
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The Guild Master half-closed his eyes, evaluating Nozomu from top to bottom. “Indeed? Interesting... I bet you already managed to get him and his friend into that Guild of yours, right?”
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“They are working there for the time being, yes, but Nozomu is a Cook’s helper and Taisetsuna is a waitress. They are saving money to enter the Academy of Adventurers, and that is why we came here. For him to teach your Cook how to make his creations. You received Princess’s Mere message, I presume?”
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“Yes, I did. Come, follow me. The Cook is already preparing lunch, but this is far more important. What about you, Tresuria? What are you going to do? Do you want something to drink while you wait?”
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“Nozomu invited this one to watch and to try his food, so if the Guild Master doesn’t mind, this one wishes to follow.”
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The short Dwarf grunted and signalled them to follow him towards the corridor behind the reception counter.
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While walking, Tresuria asked, “Nozomu, you wish to enter the Academy of Adventurers? Do you wish to become one as well?”
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“Yes, me and my friend, Taisetsuna. Our Guild Master told us it would be better if we entered the Academy because we could learn a lot.”
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“I see. Maybe you and this one will meet there because this one also wants to apply. This one’s Party said it would be better, and now this one needs to talk with parents to ask for permission and money. This one was informed that it was expensive to study in the Academy, but father has money for that. He had already told this one that if this one wanted to attend, he would pay for everything. This one’s mother was not very happy with the idea, but mother knew that this one always wanted to be an Adventurer. This one will be the first Gailie Adventurer, ever. This one hopes to not make a mess in the Academy and disgrace all Gailies!”
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Nozomu nodded with a smile, and the moment he entered the kitchen, he greeted the Dog-kind Cook that was preparing meat for that day’s lunch, and while Koyaga went to check the oven’s and the stove’s temperature, Nozomu worked while explaining what he was doing to the curious Cook.
The Guild Master and Tresuria stood near a wall, with the strange pet seated on the floor near Tresuria’s feet, watching everything in silence.
…
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When the chocolates were cooling down inside a large bowl over the kitchen’s table, Nozomu took from the oven the first batch of pizzas that he placed on the counter. The Cook smelled the pizzas and asked with a big smile, “It’s just this? That easy? Outstanding! The smell is divine! It’s a pity that I can’t taste it right now, but I will for sure make one to take home and eat it with my wife. According to the letter we got from the Princess, the side effect of the pizza is very interesting.”
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Nozomu nodded with an awkward smile. “Well, it sure does wonders in a couple’s life, that’s for sure. The chocolates are also very good, but I think you can try one of them now, if you want, considering you already know what to expect.”
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“Already did, Nozomu. Very tasty indeed. I believe both of these new foods will sell very well, the moment we put them on display.”
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The Guild Master grabbed one slice that Nozomu offered and asked, “Do you know if this has any effect on Dwarfs? Or on Gailies, considering Tresuria also wants to try?”
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“I have no idea, really. I know there is none on Humans, but there are side effects on Beast-kind.”
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“Well, there is nothing better than to try, then.”
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Agu Sirel bit one corner of his slice and munched it with a serious look. He made a slight smile and nodded. “Yes, this taste is amazing indeed, and…”
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He then stopped talking and his eyes were wide open as he munched the pizza in his mouth. He swallowed and immediately drank a glass of water that he grabbed from the counter while staring at the smiling Koyaga.
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The Dwarf Guild Master sat down at the table once more and placed the slice on an empty plate. “Well, let’s just say the effect is the same, in Beast-kind and Dwarfs. I almost attacked Koyaga. You may need to spread that warning, Nozomu, just in case a Dwarf eats a pizza. Maybe Elfians don’t have a problem with pizzas, but you can never know with those tree lovers. What about you, Tresuria? Feeling strange?”
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The smiling Gailie was carefully munching, enjoying the new flavour, and she slowly shook her head. “This one doesn’t feel strange, only a warm fuzz in the belly. It is a nice feeling, by the way, but this one doesn’t want to attack or ‘experiment’ with anyone. At least for now, but this one doesn’t know if this will be true with another slice. This tastes very good, Nozomu. Here, Draiky, taste this tiny bit, let’s see if you feel weird or not.”
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The weird plant opened his mouth full of sharp teeth, and when Tresuria dropped the small portion of pizza in his mouth, he closed it and munched. He then raised two of his vines and shrugged, as if showing he felt nothing different. Tresuria waited for her pet to swallow before dropping a chocolate into his open mouth, and then she also ate one. They all stared at the weird pet, and he shrugged again.
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Tresuria faced Nozomu with a big smile after swallowing her chocolate and said, “The chocolates are amazing, Nozomu! I don’t feel anything different, so this one thinks that the pizza and the chocolates are safe for Gailies and their pets.”
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Nozomu scratched his head as he was looking down at the plant that was near Tresuria’s feet and he said. “I have no idea how this strange plant understands you or see where he is going. He has no nose, eyes or ears, for what I can tell. This is really a weird pet.”
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As if he understood Nozomu, Draiky clacked his teeth, showing that he was not happy with what Nozomu said. Tresuria gently tapped the plant’s head and explained. “This one and Draiky are somewhat linked. That’s why this one can understand him. He senses the vibrations in the air and on the ground, and he always knows where he is and what is around him. This one did an excellent job with Draiky.”
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Nozomu smiled at the happy Gailie. “You sure did, Tresuria. Well, I think it’s time for us to go. Guild Master, if you need anything else, just send a message to Ourelona, to our Guild.”
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“If everything goes as I think, in two days I will send you a message together with a purse full of coins, and if the same happens in the other Cities that you are going to visit, very soon you will have more than enough money to apply to the Academy. Heck, in a few months, you won’t even have to worry about working as an Adventurer! You hit the jackpot with the pizza and the chocolates, Nozomu, and having the Princess sign a contract with you was a stroke of genius.”
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“That was all our Guild Master’s doing. He was the one suggesting that I should visit the Princess and show her my creations. Talking about creations…”
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Nozomu took from his belt purse some chewing gums and he gave one to the Guild Master and another to the Cook. Tresuria wondered what those rectangular things were, and Nozomu gave her one and another for her pet, while he explained. “This is chewing gum. You just munch them but don’t swallow. Use your tongue to move the gum inside your mouth. It is good to clean your teeth after eating chocolates. You can keep on munching until it loses its flavour, but I don’t have a contract for this yet, because I made them yesterday afternoon. It has a strange side effect on Humans, but not on Beast-kind. Dwarfs and Gailies, I have no idea. As soon as I have a contract, I will either come here or send a message with the instructions and the recipe. This is easy to make. What is difficult is thinking about how to do it and what ingredients to use.”
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The Dog-kind Cook frowned as he was munching, and asked, “This has disinfectant and Rambutan? Because I know this fruit’s flavour.”
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“Yes, it has indeed, but a very particular disinfectant and a certain amount of Rambutan juice. Too much juice would make it sweeter than needed. Too little, and the flavour would end rather quickly. It also has other ingredients, and it’s made with some easy steps. Let me sign the contract and you will be able to do it as well.”
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“Well, I can see the advantages of this, and my breath now smells like fruit. This will also be a good sell, Guild Master.”
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Agu Sirel was chewing the gum and nodded. “I see the advantages, yes. I don’t feel anything different, though.”
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Tresuria carefully unwrapped one gum and gave it to her pet. Draiky chewed, and he then jumped and ran around the table, tremendously excited. He went to Nozomu’s right leg and, while using his vines to wrap the leg, he humped up and down, rubbing his entire body against it. Nozomu stared at the strange pet, wondering what was happening, and saw him drop the vines and sit on the ground as if he was satisfied. He was still chewing, and after a couple of seconds, he ran to Koyaga and wrapped around her leg, humping up and down again.
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Koyaga laughed and pointed at the strange plant. “Ahahah! Tresuria, I believe he enjoys chewing gum! He went nuts!”
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Tresuria was looking at the still wrapped gum on her open palm while breathing deeply. Nozomu noticed that her red flower, which was closed until that moment, was opening and closing as Tresuria breathed.
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Nozomu touched her hand and became amazed by how smooth it was. He noticed her cheeks were turning dark green, and he asked in a worried tone, “Tresuria, are you feeling alright? What’s the matter?”
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Instead of answering him, Tresuria looked at her pet and she almost shouted, “Draiky! Spit that out!”
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The weird plant immediately obeyed, and let go of Koyaga’s leg after spitting the gum on the ground. Tresuria was panting and squeezing Nozomu’s hand. She then looked at him and made an awkward smile. “You remember this one is linked to Draiky? Well, this one can more or less feel what Draiky feels. This one is glad for not trying the chewing gum, or you would be in trouble, Nozomu.”
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