Chapter 72 They are all our own blades, so what's wrong with playing with them?
72.
A pet shop that appeared out of nowhere, a group of cute and human-like animals, and a shop manager who has not appeared for a long time...
The entire detective agency has a favorable impression of this store. From time to time, they would pretend to have walked into the wrong floor and wander around the store entrance. Then, after some hesitation, they would be welcomed into the store by the enthusiastic Pomeranians and enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by fluffy fur.
Occasionally, members who "get lost" will see the serious-looking boss sitting in the store, caressing each cat with his eyes - yes, except for the calico on the first day, the boss has never touched any other cats in the store. As long as the boss tentatively extends his hand, the cat will show strong non-Newtonian fluidity and nimbly slip away from his hand.
Rather, the animals in the store would just hang around, like curious elves observing a strange bipedal creature, quietly squatting at the feet of customers, but not giving people the chance to touch them.
The most enthusiastic and hospitable Pomeranian is actually the most difficult to approach. Whenever someone expresses the desire to "touch", the Pomeranian will change its previous enthusiastic attitude, the whole dog will start to stand up, turning into a fluffy marshmallow, and it will bare its teeth and make a super fierce "woof" to express rejection and disgust.
The animals' resistance in the store only makes people's hearts itch even more - this may be the eternal uneasiness of what you can't get - and makes the members of the detective agency more curious: Who is the store manager?
But the first day, the second day... a whole week passed, and the manager of the mysterious pet shop never showed up.
The animals' attitudes also changed from calm at first to anxious and unhappy. Even if someone entered the store, they would just look up to make sure the person was not dangerous and then lie back down, humming in distress.
"It's been a week." After finishing his work for the day, Kunikida Doppo raised his head from the pile of documents and pushed his glasses seriously. "Mr. Ranpo, does this store really have an owner?"
How could a pet store owner not care about the animals at all? If he hadn't made sure that there was enough food and water in the store so that the animals wouldn't go hungry, he would have called the police to arrest the person - no, the city police wouldn't handle such a thing... Should he ask Mr. Ranpo to find the location of the irresponsible store owner?
"Of course there is!" Edogawa Ranpo looked at him unsatisfiedly, "Are you doubting the detective's reasoning?"
"No! That's not what I meant, Mr. Ranpo... I'm so sorry!" Kunikida Dopo stood up and apologized hurriedly, "I just want to know when the owner of this store will come back... It's really outrageous to leave animals in the store without caring about them!"
"...I don't know!" Edogawa irritably tore open the wrapper of the lollipop, stuffed the candy into his mouth, and turned around with the chair, "There's no clue at all... Even if it's related to Mr. Cat..."
Because Edogawa Ranpo spoke too quietly, Kunikida Doppo did not hear the second half of the sentence clearly. He was about to say something else when a loud crash suddenly sounded from above.
The next second, the ceiling, unable to bear the weight, shattered, and a black shadow fell heavily from the sky.
"Hiss - it hurts! I should have lowered the pain..." You supported yourself with your tail and stood up from the ground. You looked up through the hole in the ceiling and greeted the Chocobo* on the rooftop. "We're here - see you next time, Shinji Mirihata*!"
The yellow chocobo flapped its wings happily when its name was called, chirped once, and then disappeared, leaving only a few yellow feathers behind.
Wow, it’s worth it that you spent a week to spell out the phrase “kiss my wife”. My wife is so cute!
You looked up and wiped away the tears from the corners of your eyes. It was worth it that you spent a week walking through the Yokohama map to open the Wind Vein Spring* and successfully took off - it turns out that Yokohama is a combination of the main city and the wilderness, why didn't you say that earlier.
Unfortunately, you haven't had the chance to touch the big crystal yet, and the system also says that the mission will only be issued after resonating and transmitting the crystal.
Before I knew it, I was addicted to running missions during the day and helping my wife open her pulse, and working part-time as a bartender at night to learn how to mix cocktails! Then I remembered that I also had a knife and pet shop...
Well, Chang Yi can understand that, right? As a special envoy, he was trying to understand the local customs and practices by getting close to the people's lives, so he was delayed for a day or two... a week or so.
Well, now you have learned... Mission accomplished? Anyway, come back! You turned around and now you can see what this pet module looks like -
Then you see an unfamiliar blond-haired boy with a pigtail, whose jaw seems to be about to drop.
No, where are the NPCs in your garden?
"Huh?" You scratched your head and flicked your ears, "Isn't this my store? Who are you?" Isn't your pet store shown here on the system map?
"This... this is the Armed Detective Agency."
Kunikida Doppo used his shaking hands to straighten his crooked glasses several times, and saw a cat... a cat monster? A superpower? It was difficult for him, a minor, to deal with it normally. Besides, cats... cat monsters really exist, but ghosts... no, no, no, there are no ghosts in this world!
But looking for a store? This cat... this cat with super powers is not looking for the pet store downstairs, right?
"As for the store... there's a pet store downstairs."
“Oh, I totally understand!” You tapped your forehead and acted cute, “So I took the wrong path, hey~”
"It's okay, just let me do it again." You walked to the window, skillfully lifted it up, put your feet on the window sill, and smiled dotingly at Kunikida Dubu, "Private Marseille unknown yellow-haired mulberry, I missed a jump."
"886 I'm going offline first."
"Hey, wait—"
Kunikida Doppo tried to stop you, but you didn't listen at all and jumped down after laughing wildly.
Kunikida hurried over, leaned over the window and looked down, but he was a step too slow, so when he stuck his head out, he only saw your fluffy tail flash by.
Fortunately... he breathed a sigh of relief. The cat... the cat mutant fell to the third floor.
"Great... Ranpo-san, this is the owner of the shop downstairs... Ranpo-san? What's wrong with you?"
Kunikida Dopo stared blankly at the "cat" from the detective agency starting to sulk, and even took out all the snacks that he had treasured and was reluctant to eat and opened their packaging.
"Mr. Cat is a big idiot!" Edogawa Ranpo stuffed snacks into his mouth angrily, "These... and these, don't leave them for him! Humph!"
At this time, Kunikida Doppo had only one thought:
It turns out that Mr. Cat, the friend that Mr. Ranbu often talks about, is not fictional, nor is he a wild cat downstairs, but a real person.
But would it be more difficult for Ranpo to make friends with a cat demon... no, a cat with special powers? No, no, no, since Ranpo said we were friends, there was no need to worry.
It can't be that Ranpo-san unilaterally recognized me as a friend, right? Haha...
"...I see, Kunikida, that's so rude!"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Ranpo!"
*
"Lord! You are finally back!"
Hasebe, who possesses a super-critical master control radar, is the first to discover your spiritual power, and the Pomeranian, whose short legs can turn very quickly, comes over with a clatter.
"Master! During your absence, I, Hasebe, have taken care of the store and the customers... Who are you?!"
You are still wondering how Hasebe speaks in stereo surround dual voice, with barking on one side and normal voice on the other, when the little Pomeranian in front of you takes a fighting posture - referring to Hasebe who is struggling to pick up the dinner knife next to him, looking like he will attack at any time.
Well, the chances of a cute Pomeranian killing you are low, but not zero.
"Is there a possibility..." You pointed at yourself, flicked your tail, and smiled confidently like a cat man, "I am your judge?"
The large group of sword pets that arrived at the scene later fell silent after hearing this.
“Impossible!” Dabao Ping, who had turned into a red lorikeet, exploded. “Master… Master is obviously a super cute child, how could he turn into a red-haired cat-eared version of Dajuli?!”
The black python coiled in the corner raised its head, stuck out its tongue, and hissed in silence.
"Ah..." The green bird jumped to a higher place, raised its claws, and scribbled on the notebook, "Da Baoping is being silly again."
The blue bird next to him, Hatcho Nenbutsu, came over to see what he wrote: "Do you have to record this too? It's really hard..."
"Yes, but Dabaoping's observation record cannot be easily interrupted... Well, let's say hello to the master first." Yingwan calmly retracted his claws, spread his wings, landed lightly on your shoulder, and rubbed your chin affectionately with his head. "Are you back? Leisure time is also important. Let's drink tea together."
“Hahahaha, you’re finally back?” The chubby Totoro took a few steps and rested for a while, finally coming to your feet, and finally sitting on your feet, taking out a mini cup of tea from its thick fur. “Very good, very good, as long as you haven’t forgotten us.”
"What?" Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi, who had become a white firewood, squatted at the door. "The intruder from the other day turned out to be you... Really, you made me work overtime for a few nights for nothing."
"Honka, are you happy to see your master?" The yellow Shiba Inu - Yamaubakiri Kunihiro came over.
"What are you talking about, jerk? I didn't."
"Ben Ge, your tail has been wagging since just now."
"What the hell, why can't I control my tail? Hey, stop wagging it so happily, stop it!"
"Master... Master has also turned into a cat?! Has the master also been cursed by the cat, meow?" Nanquan Ichimonji was shocked when he saw your new appearance. He raised his paws and said sadly, "Will you never be able to change back in the future? Meow..."
…
"Oh my, Master... why are you like this?" The golden lion cat walked gracefully in front of you, "Are you finally back? I don't have anything to say, just my younger brother..."
You followed his gaze and found the little green snake hiding behind the fluff. It seemed to be afraid that its appearance would scare you, so it shrank back again.
"I thought you wouldn't recognize it." You walked over and grabbed the snake and coiled it to play with it. Kneemaru was so nervous that the tip of his tail was stretched straight. Nobuko didn't dare to spit it out. The snake was stiff. "But there are so many kinds of animals in the store."
"How can a sword not recognize its master?" Although not all blades reacted at first... cough, "But master, look! I have turned into a real crane!"
You look down and see a...large white stuffed chicken. Uh, that's good, as long as Tsurumaru Kuninaga is happy.
"And..." You looked speechlessly at the other side - pointing at the dark sorrow embodied by Utsusemi Kanesada, Rantoshiro, Kashuu Kiyomitsu - and the furry creatures, "Is it so hard for you to accept turning into a handsome cat boy?"
"Ah..." Song Sensatsuna Kanesada-nyan was disappointed, "The cute little skirt I prepared for my master... can't be used even once?"
"Master has become like this, he is not lovable at all..." California Kiyomitsu cried, "I even listed a page of ways to make Master more lovable..."
"Master... isn't she a girl?" Rantoshiro was shocked and confused, "No, the master is obviously a girl... Then what does the master look like now... after growing up?"
…
"Give the children some time. Also..." The black crow landed on top of your head, "Go check on Hasebe, Lord."
You stood there and looked around, and saw the Pomeranian, who was full of energy before, crying like a ball of slime in the corner, while the reliable Doberman stood helplessly beside him, trying to help him get out of his emo mood with unconvincing words.
"I... I didn't recognize the master..." Hasebe sobbed, "I... I even pointed a sword at the master... I really..."
Does a dog holding a knife count as a sword attack against you? Isn't this just being cute?
He stood up in despair: "Let me do it myself..."
"Hasebe." You called him, recalling the process of Xiao Fei comforting Dao, then you squatted down, opened your arms to Hasebe, and your face was full of doting, "Come to my place... the song may be out of tune, but my embrace will never run away."
"Lord..." Hasebe was stunned for a moment, and the next second, he threw himself into your arms and cried even louder, "Oh...Lord, you are so merciful and forgiving..."
The puppy finally revived with full blood after being replenished by the master, its tail wagging in the air, its round little eyes staring at you brightly: "Master, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Uh...can you rub my belly?"
"It's not fair! Why did the master only reward Hasebe with one blade?" Hearing this, Rantoshiro was no longer sad. He walked upright, ran to you quickly, and tried to pull your hand away, "I want the master's touch too!"
"Hey, Master, can I get into your arms now? I can be your secret pet!"
"Please... touch me and the little tiger... please..."
"Master, Master, look! I learned a new attack in the water! Look at me wagging my catfish tail!"
"Wow, Catfishtail, why is it that when you swing your tail, horse shit comes out?! Who put the catfishtail in when they were on duty?"
…
It's just...quite lively.
You ignored the energetic swords because you were carrying a double-digit amount of plush. You sat cross-legged on the spot, clicked on the pet module, started to view more detailed instructions, and bought the furniture DLC to start a big renovation.
Oh, it turns out that the innermost door of the pet shop is connected to the Honmaru. The NPCs can return to the Honmaru through the door, but the swords in the Honmaru that you did not assign a role to that day cannot come in.
By using advanced Yin-Yang magic and the ability of Juss, non-pet shop members cannot see this door... Oh, this module is quite complete in all aspects!
You find a new line of text at the bottom of the pet module.
[Please note that if a customer has a physiological adverse reaction in the store, please ask him to leave immediately; if the customer stares blankly at the "door" at the back of the room, please knock him out and send him out of the pet store; if a customer has hair that does not belong to him growing on part of his body, please give him a blanket and he will leave on his own. If you find a new pet in the store the next day, please don't worry, this is a normal phenomenon, please treat your employees well. ]
[Let the character who plays the pet recite the spell with emotion, and the pet can be restored to its original form. Note: Non-character pets cannot use this spell, and the spell is only effective in the store. ]
[The spell is: ...]
"Since you're back..." Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi walked over with a forced smile on his white Shiba Inu face, "Can you tell me why you haven't come back for so long?" He didn't go back to the Honmaru or the store. If he couldn't still feel the spiritual power, they wouldn't know what would happen... Tsk, forget it.
"Uh... this is a long story..."
You just did some things that other players would do, such as fishing - fill up Yokohama's fish illustrations; playing cards - compete with customers in the bar, and the loser has to drink the special cocktail you made; bird racing - use your created wife to compete with the birds in the sky.
Ah, I collected some local specialties while tracing the wind veins, and also found that the collection tools can also cause damage to the map environment.
So you sneaked into a few communities, pried open a set of 99 door locks, and stuffed a set of glass panels into your backpack - I don't know what they are for, but these two are the fastest way to collect information, so you can go and remove the doors and bricks in a few days.
The next night, when you heard the bar patrons talking about a thief stealing door locks and glass windows, and several residents from the neighborhood jointly called the police, you said, "This thief is really crazy. How could he do such an immoral thing? He must be caught!"
The player's door locks and glass? You must be kidding. Is it stealing if the player collects? Shouldn't the things collected by the player be automatically refreshed after 24 hours? If you go to check the next night, the door locks and glass are clearly there.
"Haha..." Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi sneered, and other male mothers slowly gathered behind him. "It's okay, we have plenty of time, you can talk slowly."
"I've brought you all the documents on current affairs from Honmaru." Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi tilted his head and smiled more tenderly, "You'll finish them well, right?"
Haha, let’s see who the Inquisitor can find to help write the document this time.
"Also, your Inquisitor ID and personal information documents need to be rewritten... What race are you? Are you a shapeshifter?"
"You figured this out. You're worthy of being me, Chang Yi!"
“…Don’t change the subject.”
Seeing that you were surrounded by the fluffy ones and couldn't get away for a while, you sighed and raised your hands to compromise: "Okay, I'll confess, but before that--" You looked at Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi, "Nagayoshi, repeat what I said, and I will confess obediently and never run away|?ω?`)"
"What?"
Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi was quick to sense that you had some sort of conspiracy, but there shouldn't be any problem with just repeating a sentence...right?
"Okay, please read after me--" You twitched your ears, "Pet shop that hides the power of the Gate Key, listen to my request and show your true power--the seal is lifted!"
“Huh? What kind of role-playing game are you playing again?” Seeing you looking at him expectantly, the white Shiba Inu sighed helplessly and repeated without any emotion, “The pet shop that hides the power of the Gate Key, please listen to my request and show your true power. The seal will be lifted... That’s it, okay...”
"Bang!"
Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi, completely naked but with ears and a tail on his head, makes a stunning appearance.
"Oh... So that's how it is. Chanting a spell without emotion will keep some of the animal characteristics..."
“You! You…!”
Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi, who had no idea how to cover himself, helplessly clamped his legs together and sat there, bathed in the sight of everyone.
His whole face was flushed, and a thin layer of mist filled his beautiful blue eyes. He looked pitiful and helpless.
It was Yamaubakiri Kunihiro who reacted the fastest and raised his tail to help cover Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi's private parts.
"Oh, sorry sorry."
You pull out a black cape for doing bad things from your backpack - it has no special effects and won't make you more agile, but this cape looks cool - and put it on Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi.
"I didn't expect this effect..."
After you wrapped the blade tightly and were about to withdraw your hand, Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi grabbed your arm again, and the next second, he hugged you in his arms.
“…Don’t tease me all the time, Master…” He buried his head in your neck. You could clearly feel the scalding temperature coming from his cheeks. “I…will be sad too…”
"And..." He buried his head deeper and whispered in a muffled voice, "Welcome back."
You don't feel anything when you are hugged... or you feel nothing inside? Besides feeling a little hot, why is the cat man still shorter than the civil servant? Damn it, next time you don't covet the cat man's beauty, you must become a 2-meter-tall hunk and look down on everyone!
It's okay, being better than the short sword and the partial threat is also a victory. You successfully comforted yourself, but thinking back a little, the embarrassed expression of Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi just now was so embarrassing that he was about to cry...
Just, it feels weird.
And is the butt of the office blade so cocky? It's comparable to that of the leather pants ball. I thought that the butt of a blade who sits in an office for a long time would be flat... Uh, no, the values of NPCs are fixed, right?
I dare not even think about what will happen to Chang Yi if he falls into the hands of Master Ma.
Random thoughts flashed through your mind, and you hugged Yamaubakiri Nagayoshi with your backhand, showing a brilliant smile: "Well, I'm back."
As for whether he would still tease me...
Hey, it’s fun. I love playing. I’ll do it again next time.