23 - Cotton Candy

Almost a year had passed since I first came to this new world.

After the events with the guildmaster, the King assigned Ilta as a stand-in guildmaster while they continued investigating the old one's atrocities. I saw her occasionally when I visited with Toast for quests and every time she pretended like she had no idea who I was. She seemed overworked, but the manager lady with slicked-back hair fawned over her like a "big-sister obsessed" fan. Maybe she had a thing for authority. When I'd see them together the manager lady was always fussing and trying to get Ilta to let her help with every little thing. I will gladly ship the 3rd and 4th.

We visited our shop the day after my return from prison to see it had burned down, save for the bricks on the side wall, so Pinnea's "dance club" was safe from most damage aside from smoke stains.

"Don't mind dears, don't mind! Both of my buildings had insurance!"

So she did know what it was. I'm surprised it exists here.

"Yes babies, your beautiful and brilliant Pinnea is always one step ahead of the game! I'm going to get so much money out of this old dump I can afford to renovate both buildings! How marvelous! Yes yes, such brilliance!"

She roared with laughter and we let her take the reins on getting us back up and running. 

It took about two months, but when we returned for the grand unveiling we were stunned by all the work she'd had done. The buildings looked new and fresh too! I'm sorry. 

Pinnea's 'dance club' looked like a luxury hotel, and she'd had a bar put into the front room. Now she could have her girls host and drink with customers instead of just...'dancing' with them.

"It's much more respectable this way don't you think? Yes it's simply wonderful! A revelation on the industry!"

More roaring laughter.

Our shop had been upgraded too. The storefront was still a bit on the small side, but now it had a back room with a proper kitchen, and the upstairs expanded upwards totaling three floors for the building. The second floor had two large rooms, and the third floor had three rooms that were a little bigger than what they were originally. 

Pinnea had even furnished them similarly to how we had it before, with the addition of a much larger table and extra chairs in my room, one of the larger ones, which I guess was still the designated hangout spot. 

Kana had the second large room, and Pinnea had filled it with crafting supplies and fabrics, and even a foot pedal sewing machine. She was so delighted Pinnea got a leaping hug and a big kiss on the cheek. 

Maja's room was filled with book shelves, her writing desk that had survived the fire and been repaired, and a fresh stack of paper, pens, and ink. Maja's ears turned a bright pink and she bashfully shared her thanks, but I caught a rare glimpse of her tail slapping the floor. I'd only ever seen her happy enough to do that one time before, coincidentally also when Kana had bestowed the treasure of a kiss on the cheek.

Tamon no longer had to share his room with an oven, so Pinnea admitted she wasn't sure what to put in it, but when we opened the door we discovered a wide array of gorgeous flowers and cute items, to which Tamon also considered giving Pinnea a kiss for, but recoiled when Pinnea aggressively tried to kiss him first.

We reopened the shop a few days later, and our peaceful lives returned just like that. Over the next few months we built up our customer base, selling baked goods, hand crafted items, potion energy drinks, anything anyone might want from us. I'd been useful as an all-rounder and took some jobs cleaning, doing household repairs, helping out with the deliveries, etc. We still took on hunting and gathering requests here and there, but ultimately I'd grown wary and self conscious of taking jobs like that outside of the guild. The old guildmaster was corrupt but he did have a point that I was taking work away from new adventurers.

All in all, Silver Bounty was becoming a recognizable name in the city, and around my and Toast's one year anniversary in this world, we closed the shop and had a party.

Toast had come a long way with Telepathy, and spoke at the same level as a toddler. I don't know if he'll ever progress much further than that considering his brain is still just a dog brain, and he's just a little guy, but none of us minded much because it was adorable hearing him baby-talk to us.

~Dadi! I wan food!~

"You gotta wait buddy, we're still putting things out for the party."

~Okay. Yes. But. But. I jus wan, jus -some- food~

"No Toast, you gotta wait."

Toast grumbled and huffed and trotted over to Kana to try his luck with her next.

~Mami!~

I don't know where he picked up the idea, and I had my suspicion Kana had been teaching him silly things when I wasn't around, but at some point he started calling us mom and dad. Again, we didn't mind because it was heart-wrenchingly adorable.

We buzzed about setting out food and snacks and things Tamon had baked for the party, and once Pinnea had arrived we popped a cork on some wine and celebrated the whole day.

By the late afternoon, Tamon drank a whole bottle of red to himself and was whispering sweet nothings to Maja, who was coldly ignoring him and spacing out sipping from her own glass. Pinnea was dancing and singing for us on a makeshift stage at the front of the shop while Toast jumped around her excitedly, taking breaks to check the floor for any dropped snacks or spilled drinks.

Kana had a few glasses of wine herself and was asking me all sorts of questions about my life before. Her face was flushed and she almost seemed to get jealous when I brought up the curly haired girl who'd confessed to me in 4th grade. Wishful thinking?

Kana and I had definitely gotten closer over the year. We held hands that one time, and hugged a few times, and I got a kiss on the cheek too the day I came back from the Valoritari headquarters. Maybe I'm not reading into things and there is something here? I had let the drink go to my head and started mentally preparing myself to confess at some point while I had the liquid courage.

At the peak of the party, music began to ring in our ears, and clouds formed in the middle of the room. Toast ran behind the counter and put his paws up on my leg.

~Dadi what izzat?~

I ignored him and watched entranced. Almost like the pixel portal I'd seen the Valoritari use, a slender leg stepped out from the bright clouds, and hovered above the ground. The rest of the second most beautiful woman I'd ever seen emerged and to my horror I realized I knew that body. That face. That white and silver hair, and most of all that look of absolute boredom.

The Goddess that had brought me here stood before us, looking around at our shop completely unimpressed. She caught my eye and her gaze hardened. She pointed a finger at me.

"Child of man."

Everyone turned to look at me with jaws dropped and eyes widened.

"Have you forgotten your task?"

"No, I haven't. Toast is fine, he's right here."

I learned down and picked up Toast, holding him out for her to see. Her face contorted and I could tell she was holding back her desire to bum-rush him for cuddles. The corners of her mouth twitched.

"I see you've done well protecting him, however I refer to the task of saving this world."

"When did you task me with that?"

"Wh-! When I-!"

She briefly became flustered and composed herself. She floated over to us and snatched Toast from my hands, and held him like a baby, stroking his chest while maintaining eye contact with me.

Creepy!

"You were tasked with defeating this world's demon lord. Do not forget again, or I will send you back without this precious little babywaby oh he's so fluffy little boy I wuv you-"

She'd broken eye contact with me and had gone full infatuation with Toast again. 

~hehehehehe~

Kana accidentally squeaked, and the Goddess snapped to attention, realizing her ooey-gooey affection session was being watched by a room full of people. She cleared her throat and leaned down to place Toast on the floor, but hesitated to actually drop him. His feet waved in the air like he was swimming, and the Goddess contained a squeal before releasing him. 

She angrily looked at me again and broke character to yell at me.

"Just don't forget again! Do it soon or else I'll take him!"

And with that she turned her nose up, and flew back into the cloud portal. They turned into raindrops and left a small puddle on the floor.

The room was silent for a moment before everyone exploded with questions. The party continued long into the night while I explained myself, and we all drank with confusion and excitement at what was to come.