Chapter Seventeen: This Chicken Loli is Not My Daughter

It was the next day. 39 Days before the next Wave of Catastrophe was supposed to hit.

"But Master, I want to-"

"No! I am not allowing you to change form when we stop!" Naofumi yelled angrily from the seat of his wagon. The sun was already high up in the morning sky, and Naofumi's grouchiness and tiredness had been stretched to the limit.

"Wahhhh! But I want to Master!" Filo whined as she continued to pull the wagon down the dusty dirt road.

"I said no!" Despite Naofumi forcing his foot down, the large owl-shaped bird continued to cry.

Naofumi grimaced deeply in his seat and held his head with one hand to fight back the coming headache. The other hand gripped the reins of the disobedient KFC monster tightly. 'My worst fears are confirmed. She is acting like a spoiled child. A spoiled child that treats me as her butler.'

He and Raphtalia had barely managed to convince Filo to change back into her big bird form the night before so they could travel a few miles outside of town. Somehow, they'd managed it again earlier that morning. However, she'd been wrapped in Naofumi's old cloak to cover her nakedness before she transformed. Now said cloak was ripped into several large pieces. Pieces Raphtalia still held cradled in her arms while she looked down sadly at them.

Raphtalia being sad strangely wasn't the worst part about that morning. He'd also found out that, for some reason, the monster crest that had been put on Filo when she was an egg wasn't working anymore. Naofumi had a feeling it was because Filo was a different type of monster altogether. But whatever the reason, he couldn't force Filo to obey him anymore. And she was being really whiny and disobedient.

It sucked. A lot.

"I want to transform when we stop! I want to!" Filo cried like a child.

'Freaking Beloukas!' Naofumi swore. 'If I ever get my hands on that rat again, I'm going to wring his fat little neck with that stupid bowtie of his!'

Filo stopped pulling the wagon and started to pout when Naofumi didn't respond. "Fine! I don't have to listen to you any way you big meanie!" She said childishly.

A vein pulsed largely on Naofumi's forehead. 'Correction, I'm going to wring my hands around this fat chicken loli's neck right after she transforms back to her loli form before I wring Belouka's neck.' He thought darkly.

"Master Naofumi, are you thinking of something dark?" Raphtalia asked without looking up from the tattered cloak.

'Aw hell. Ring in the anger. Just ring it in. Don't let it out.'

"Filo, can you get back to pulling the wagon please?" Raphtalia asked nicely.

Filo's pout dropped. "Okay, Master." She said to Raphtalia before grabbing the wagon and pulling again.

Raphtalia was honestly the only thing holding Naofumi back from acting on his dark and grumpy thoughts... And possibly one of the only reasons Filo had obeyed last night and this morning. She was still obviously sad that the old cloak Naofumi had used to wear, the one she'd spent many a night sleeping in, had been ripped into several large pieces, but she was still doing her best to treat Filo like her daughter... Plus, she'd bitten the bullet that morning and had some bitter anti-nausea medicine without complaining about it; so he owed her to not lose his temper and kill her daughter.

"Master, why can't Filo transform when we stop?" Filo asked Raphtalia curiously.

"Filo. We can't have you transforming into a naked girl every time we stop and visit a town." Raphtalia tried to say gently to the big bird.

"But what's wrong with Filo transforming inside a town master?" Filo asked Raphtalia innocently.

"Well, um, uh…" Raphtalia looked at Naofumi unsurely. 'I'm not sure I know the full reason why… other than my parents telling me that it isn't something either a guy or girl should do in public.' She looked to Naofumi along with Filo. "Maybe Master Naofumi could explain."

...

'Damn it… this just isn't my day.' Naofumi thought exasperatedly. He really hoped it wasn't a sign of how much Raphtalia was ignorant of in the world. He did his best to rein in his tiredness and anger. "Look. We just can't have you transforming out in public Filo. It's indecent, and other people don't want to see you naked." Naofumi explained calmly, hoping her childlike mind would understand.

"But why can't I walk around naked master?" Filo asked in a whiny voice.

"Didn't you hear me?! It's indecent and people don't want to see it! Including me!"

"But what makes it indecent?" Filo asked.

Naofumi gripped the reins more tightly to keep himself from losing it. 'Only 39 more days till the next wave. Only 39 more days till the next wave.' He thought like a mantra again and again to try and calm himself down. There were much worse things in the world that he could be dealing with. A trash king and a bitch princess were coming to mind. "Look, just listen and do as I say. Otherwise, I won't cook for you anymore." Naofumi threatened.

"Wahhhhh! But I always want to eat your cooking master!" Filo complained.

"Well tough! I'm not your butler! And I'm not going to cook food for a spoiled child who doesn't listen to what I tell her!" Naofumi yelled, his anger and frustration escaping again in that moment.

"Meanie!" Filo continued to cry after sticking her tongue out at him.

It was like all of Naofumi's efforts to get used to smiling all the time since the Sacred Duel went flying out the window. He was still grimacing, holding a lid over his jar of dark thoughts as he looked to Raphtalia. "Please help me." He pleaded quietly.

Raphtalia looked confused. "What can I do?" Raphtalia whispered back.

"I don't know, speak whatever comes to your mind. She listens to you." Naofumi suggested. He just couldn't get through to this KFC girl without a ladle in one hand and a pot full of food in the other.

"What are you whispering about back there? Are you talking about me?" Filo whined as she cried about the possibility of not being able to have Master's delicious cooking. A delight she'd known ever since the day she was born… three days ago.

"Filo, listen to mommy please," Raphtalia said encouragingly as an idea entered her mind. Filo stopped crying and looked back at Raphtalia. "I think what Naofumi is trying to say is that you're special." She explained. "And if you show how special you are around other people, they might get the wrong idea and try to take you away from us."

…

Filo's blue eyes went wide in realization. "You mean, somebody would try to take me away from both my masters if I were to walk around naked?!" She loudly asked.

Raphtalia honestly didn't know, but Filo didn't have to know that. Naofumi was giving her a thumbs up from under his cloak, indicating her to keep going. "Yes. And you could end up being harmed if that happened." Raphtalia said while smiling affectionately. "After all, the last thing we'd want is for someone to try and hurt our daughter because she's different."

Naofumi's thumbs up became a thumbs down at her calling Filo his daughter. However, Filo thought it over in her mind for a moment… "Okay, master." She said happily, and with that, she continued to pull the wagon without another complaint.

…

Naofumi sighed in relief in his mind. 'Thank the Gods for Raphtalia.' He thought. "I should have you speak your mind more often," Naofumi whispered to Raphtalia.

"Or maybe you could put some better stuff in yours Master Naofumi," Raphtalia said happily, picking up the magic grimoire from behind her so she could study it.

'... Ouch. It's not my fault I'm not good at explaining things like why it's bad to be naked in public while I'm tired.' He thought in his defense, looking down at the magic grimoire with Raphtalia. He was feeling a little bit better about Melromarc's alphabet. At least, he could make out a few words here and there before he pulled out the familiar wooden tablet. 'Though to be honest, it's also taking up a lot of my brainpower trying to learn and retain a new alphabet in my mind. I have no time to deal with this stupid monster that so is not my daughter.'

"Also, Filo. Naofumi and I are your parents, not your owners. There's no need to address either of us by master." Raphtalia said.

Filo looked back at them confusedly. "What can I call you if not master?" She asked.

"Mommy and daddy sound nice," Raphtalia said happily.

Naofumi looked at Raphtalia like she'd gone mad. Had she not just read his mind there?! He didn't want to think of this loli as his daughter! "Wait, no, I'd rather she didn't call me her dad-" Naofumi tried to say.

"Okay mommy and daddy!" Filo said happily.

...

"Did you say something Master Naofumi?" Raphtalia asked curiously when she saw Naofumi glaring at him.

...

He grumbled and crossed his arms in front of him. Women.

…

"So, if I were to be dressed instead of naked, would I be allowed to transform inside of town?" Filo asked.

"No!" Naofumi yelled in his seat. 'Oh come on! I thought we were already past this?!'

"But why not?" Filo whined.

Naofumi gritted his teeth. He really didn't want to continue arguing right now. He just wanted to get to the town and take a nap or something after they found a tailor for Filo! "Look, if we can find something you can wear that won't shred on your transformation, then we can talk about allowing you to transform inside of a town! But only when I say so!" Naofumi said with finality.

"You promise daddy!?" Filo asked.

"Yes! And don't call me daddy!" Naofumi yelled back irritably.

Filo continued to pull the wagon, now humming happily to herself at the prospect of not having food served from Mas-, no, daddy taken away; and that she'd gotten her daddy to agree to let her transform. 'Daddy has a much nicer ring than master. Filo's happy to have mommy around to keep daddy in line.'

Naofumi heard giggling next to him and turned to lightly glare at Raphtalia again. "What's so funny?" He blandly asked.

"Oh, nothing," Raphtalia said, pretending to act innocent as she looked somewhere else. Her wagging tail behind her gave her real feelings about the situation away.

Naofumi groaned to himself. If Raphtalia tried to get him to wear a patch saying World's Proudest Father on it, then he was going to throw himself off a cliff.

"So when we get to the next town, we're going to have to ask around for a tailor for Filo. Then we'll have to leave before dark since I didn't have time to compound new medicines." He grumbled. "Hopefully we'll get something that she can wear, and hopefully I'll be able to get herbs and a nap…" He had to rub at his face, groaning exaggeratedly. He could already tell that their finances were going to take a huge hit. They weren't going to be able to sell anything to make up for it. And he was tired, so tired; he wasn't even sure if a nap would help or not.

"This day can't get any worse." He muttered.

"Ooh!" Raphtalia suddenly said happily next to him while looking down at the grimoire. "As source of thy power-"

'No way. Another spell!' Naofumi thought as he turned to look at her. 'It's only been a few days since she learned the last one! I thought the witch said it was supposed to be hard!?'

"I command the elements to obey my will, and to hide me from my target… Hide Mirage."

A layer of light moved over Raphtalia's body, gradually hiding her from view until she'd disappeared next to him entirely, along with the magic grimoire she'd been holding. On his stat screen, Raphtalia's MP gauge went down a third from using the spell. 'What the hell…' Raphtalia could turn invisible now?!

He'd had dreams of turning invisible since he was a kid, and here Raphtalia had learned the freaking spell for invisibility! 'She's already learned two awesome spells, and I still can't read the damn book!' Pangs of childish jealousy coursed through him. The witch had made it sound like it'd be really hard to learn a spell from the damn thing. Was he cursed or something for not knowing Melromarc's language?!

"What do you think Master Naofumi?" Raphtalia asked somewhere nearby.

"Daddy, where did mommy go?" Filo asked. "I don't see her behind me anymore, but I can still hear her."

Naofumi grit his teeth. A small part of him was trying to remain calm. To stay neutral and to not lash out like a little kid... But the spell turned out to be the straw that broke the camel's back. "Run as fast as you want Filo!" Naofumi ordered her.

Filo's curiosity about where mommy had gone was replaced with joy at being given permission to run as fast as she wanted. Okey day!"

Whoosh! "Aughhhhhh!"

In a burst of speed, and with a loud scream, the invisible Raphtalia fell into the supplies in the back of the wagon. Filo was now taking off like a bullet down the road. Naofumi gripped the reins tightly while wind blasted at his face. "Master Naofumi!" Raphtalia complained somewhere behind him. "That wasn't fair!"

"Life is full of unfairness! Get over it!" Naofumi shouted back at her.

…

Raphtalia appeared beside him again. She was pouting at him. "You know that's really childish of you, right?!"

"I don't care! I'm tired, I'm frustrated, and now I have to deal with a disobedient monster loli girl calling me her daddy! I believe I deserve to act a little childish!"

An older lady in her mid 40's hummed to herself as she folded and stacked various styles of clothes on the shelves of her humble shop. It had been another slow day for her, just the way she liked it. Other than a little reorganizing every now and then, it wasn't very tedious work running her front of a clothing shop in a rural village. Hardly anything interesting ever happened way out here.

"Hmmm… Maybe I'll finally be able to finish that old book today." She muttered to herself.

…

The sound of the front door opening dragged the white-haired lady from thoughts on her book.

"Excuse me, are you this town's tailor?"

"Hmmm?" The older lady turned to face the pair that came in and studied them. There was a green hooded figure hiding his face in shadow. She couldn't make out any more details because of his cloak other than the fact that he was frowning.

Then there was the girl who had spoken. A beautiful looking young woman with rich brown hair and the most dazzling color of eyes she'd ever seen. Plus, if she wasn't mistaken, the girl was a demi-human while the hooded figure was a regular human.

"Yes, I am. You may call me Tanya." She responded lightly. These people seemed nice enough. If a little familiar for some reason.

"Do you have clothes that can fit a child by any chance?" The girl asked.

The older woman smiled. 'Aww, they're just a cute couple wanting to get clothes for their kid-'

"Preferably clothes that can transform with their wearer." The hooded guy added dryly.

...

Tanya blinked. "I beg your pardon?" She asked. She'd heard of some demihumans that could transform before but had never met one in person. Plus, the girl didn't look like any of the species she'd heard about that could transform.

The guy sighed. "Filo." He said behind him.

From behind the two came a little blonde-haired girl wrapped in the tattered remains of a green cloak. Her blue eyes looked around with childlike wonder at the clothes shop.

"Oh my. Hello, you little cutie." Tanya greeted in a sweet voice.

Filo looked curiously at the lady. Then she smiled widely. "Hi. I'm Filo." She said happily, before looking up at her dad. "Is Filo allowed to transform now daddy?" She asked.

Naofumi sighed. "Fine, you can do it in here, but take off that cloak first so-"

Poof! Ripppp!

Filo transformed into her large owl form on the spot, ripping the already ripped green cloak into smaller pieces. "Nooooo!" Raphtalia yelled in agony as she quickly moved to pick the pieces off the floor around Filo.

Tanya blinked in surprise at the large owl-shaped creature standing in the middle of the store. She had to look up to see Filo's head close to the ceiling. "My, I can see why you need transformation clothes now." She said after a moment.

"Daddy! Something here smells really good! Can Filo have a taste?" The girl asked energetically as she tried to turn around to face Naofumi.

"I think we're going to need something that won't rip. And something that Raphtalia won't treasure as much in case you do rip it somehow." He said blandly to himself, ignoring the hungry Filo to look to the side at the silent Raphtalia. She was looking down through tears at the tattered remains of the cloak.

'I understand why she's sad about it. I used to wrap her in that cloak all the time to help keep her warm… it's almost like her childhood blankie... though, if I remind her about the time she peed on it, maybe she'll be glad to not have it anymore.' After the day he'd had, he was almost tempted but decided not to embarrass her in front of the cloth tailor. He was sure she'd get over it... eventually.

"And here I was thinking that this girl was your daughter," Tanya said to Raphtalia and Naofumi while she examined Filo with awe in her eyes.

"But Filo is Mommy and Daddy's daughter! That's what mommy told Filo!" Filo protested.

Raphtalia was brought out of her sadness, and a blush crossed her face. "Well, I mean, um," She said quickly while doing her best to hide her blushing face. She did think of Filo as her daughter, but saying Filo was her and Naofumi's daughter in front of other people brought a major blush of embarrassment.

"She's adopted," Naofumi said bluntly, again not understanding why Raphtalia was blushing. This girl wasn't their real daughter, after all.

"What does adopted mean?" Filo asked.

"So, do you have anything that could fit her or not?"

Filo pouted at Naofumi ignoring her. Tanya looked at Naofumi at last. Though she couldn't tell who it was under the fur-lined hood. "I'm afraid I do not. Neither do I have the skills to make a dress that can transform with its wearer… however, I do have the machine needed to make the material. And you're fortunate that my daughter is visiting me today. I'm certain she will have the skills necessary to fashion your daughter here a suitable dress." She said politely. "If she doesn't spend too much time gawking over her that is."

"How long is that going to take? I have some other errands to run." Naofumi asked dryly.

"I reckon it could take an hour. Two if my daughter isn't too busy gawking. Your daughter would have to stay behind the whole time." Tanya answered.

"Yes!" Naofumi exclaimed.

...

"I mean," He coughed into his hand. "Alright then. Filo, you'll stay with this lady while your mother and I go around town." Naofumi ordered.

"Awwww, do I have to daddy-" Filo started to whine. When she turned her head at dad though, he was giving her the father of all glares.

"Don't question me." Despite her being bigger, Naofumi suddenly looked far more intimidating and imposing. With anime fires like twin suns burning in his eyes, and hellfire springing up behind him. The dark look on his face completed the fatherly glare of death.

Filo gulped nervously, and with a poof! she turned back into a naked girl. Naofumi and Raphtalia both looked away while Tanya stared with amazement at the wings on Filo's back. "Filo!" He yelled.

She was naked, again!

"Sorry Daddy!" Filo said loudly. "Filo didn't mean to!"

"Stop calling me your daddy!" Naofumi said angrily.

"Fascinating. I can already tell my daughter is going to love working with her." Tanya said seriously while examining Filo's wings.

"Come on Raphtalia. We have to go." Naofumi said as he started to walk towards the exit.

"But-" Raphtalia was saying before she stopped talking and followed Naofumi. Finding it might be wise for the moment not to press when he was obviously in a bad mood.

He needed a nap. Or he needed to do something to cheer himself up. And come hell or high water, he was going to do just that.

"No way. These herbs are too low quality to be worth 10 silvers. I'll pay 4 silvers for them."

"Are you kidding me?! These are the best quality herbs you'll find for miles around boy!" The shopkeeper said angrily. "10 Silvers! Take it, or leave it!"

Naofumi finally seemed to be in a better mood. For some Gods forsaken reason, he couldn't nap in the back of the wagon. With the glare of the bright sun and everything else holy up above stabbing through the cloth material into his eyelids. So he settled for the next best thing. Haggling for supplies.

He wasn't the best seller by a long shot. But years trading in online games and learning how to do business in college had given him a love for haggling for other merchants wares, even if the item he was haggling for wasn't needed. Oddly enough, it was a great mood lifter when he could get something for a much lower price.

He couldn't sell his wares the way Raphtalia could, but damn could he get a discount.

"I said 4 Silvers. And I won't accept anything more." Naofumi said determinedly.

"And I said I won't lower my price you cheating bastard." The shopkeeper responded angrily. "Now if you won't buy, then get lost!"

The hooded Naofumi sighed. He decided to pull one of his old tricks. "In case you aren't aware." He pulled out several high-quality herbs from his inventory. "I picked these just outside of this town. Take a look, they're a much higher quality than what you're trying to sell me you cheat."

The shopkeeper didn't believe it at first, but then he gawked as he saw the item's description appear in his status menu. "There's no way. I know the woods here better than anybody. The herbs are never that high in quality here." He said in disbelief. These had been found right outside of his town?

"If you wouldn't mind trying to rip me off, I'd like your box of herbs for 4 Silvers please," Naofumi said calmly. The herbs had honestly been the same quality before Naofumi picked them. His shield helped out a little bit in that regard.

Was it a bit dishonest, probably. Could he have gone out and picked more if he wanted, sure. But that was time-consuming, and he wanted to haggle somebody desperately if only to alleviate his frustration. Especially someone who was already ripping off his customers by selling lower quality herbs for such a ridiculously high price. Even he wouldn't sell a box of high-quality herbs for that much.

The shopkeeper growled. "7 Silvers!" He finally countered.

"3 Silvers." Naofumi countered back.

"Are you mad!? 8 Silvers!"

"2 Silvers."

The haggling and negotiation were really helping him to feel a lot better. He'd almost forgotten what it was like as it went on and on. Maybe it helped that someone else was getting frustrated at him and not the other way around. It was weird how that sounded, but it worked.

The shopkeeper grimaced at one point. That was when Naofumi knew he had him cornered. All he had to do was take a look around at the other stalls with a bored expression from under his hood. It didn't look like any of the other merchants sold herbs. It was likely why the shopkeeper was charging so much. The move made it look like he was about to leave the shopkeeper high and dry. "6 Silvers, but that's the lowest I'll go!" The shopkeeper said with finality.

Naofumi sighed. "I guess I could just go to some other village to buy the herbs I need. Or I could just pick the better quality ones myself. After all, it won't cost me anything." He said while looking down at his fingernails to examine them.

The man behind the stall started to sweat profusely. A rural village already made it hard enough to get new customers as it was. He'd thought he could get away with the high prices he sold his herbs for since none of the other shopkeepers knew where the herbs grew in the forest. But if this hooded individual knew of places he didn't know about that yielded better quality herbs. And if he were to get any ideas about sharing it with the other shopkeepers, then... "Alright, you got me! I'll sell to you for 4 silver!" The shopkeeper gave in.

"Hmmm. Looks like we've got ourselves an agreement." Naofumi said as he smirked under his hood. He dropped 4 silver onto the counter and took the box of herbs given to him. "Thanks for your business. And for giving me such a good deal, I'll leave you this as a parting gift." Naofumi said as he dropped one of his higher quality herbs next to the silver before walking away with his new box of herbs. "Try not to lose it. It might help you out one day."

The shopkeeper stared down in surprise at the high-quality herb as Naofumi left.

"Master." A hooded Raphtalia whispered to Naofumi as she fell into step beside him, placing the supplies she'd purchased into her pack. She didn't add his name since they were in public. "I saw what you did there. That was mean to do to that shopkeeper."

"He was overcharging customers," Naofumi replied boredly. "Besides, I showed him a better way of doing business."

"And what was that?" Raphtalia asked.

"Don't cheat your customers, give them good deals, and you won't have to worry about others stealing your business." He replied. It was sound business logic.

Raphtalia looked back at the shopkeeper Naofumi had been talking to. Even though they were farther away, she could see the gears turning in the guy's mind. This simple action might turn out to be enough to make the fellow merchant a little more honest in his dealings. Maybe. "Still, I don't think you had to bully him into it, Master."

"I wasn't bullying him. I was persuading him to not be a thief." Naofumi said dryly.

"That doesn't make it right." Raphtalia quietly fumed.

Naofumi looked at Raphtalia and gave her a smile. "You know, you're looking really beautiful today." He said seriously.

Raphtalia's eyes widened, and her face started turning a deep red. "Um, uh, oh, um…" She was rendered speechless at Naofumi calling her beautiful.

'And just like that, I made her forget what we were talking about.' Maybe he was finally learning a thing or two about girls…

However, his face was starting to blush from calling her beautiful out in public. 'Damn. I need to sort out my feelings for Raphtalia. And soon.' He also needed to improve on his flirting skills... and figure out if he knew what the hell flirting was.

"How about we go check up on Filo?" Naofumi suggested, wanting to immediately change the subject so it wouldn't feel so awkward anymore. It's probably been long enough, right?

Raphtalia had paused in her stuttering to think of something intelligible to respond with, but at his words, she came back to reality. "Yes, let's do that."

…

For a moment as they walked down the street, the two were silent… then Naofumi felt one of Raphtalia's arms hug him from behind. She leaned up against him while still walking. "And... thank you for saying I'm beautiful Naofumi." She whispered quietly so only he would hear.

Naofumi smiled and put an arm over her shoulders. The two looked like a cute young couple now to passerby. "No problem."

…

"Though I still don't approve of what you did to that poor shopkeeper." She added.

Naofumi's smile turned into a frown under his hood. "Way to ruin the moment." He said dryly. 'And to think I thought I'd managed to change the topic.' It turned out he didn't know as much about girls as he thought.

"You're welcome." She responded happily from under her hood.

'And there's the sarcasm I've been missing. Great.'

Despite his fouler than usual mood, for just a small moment, everything felt right in the world…

Raphtalia's ears perked up, and she looked behind the two of them. All of a sudden, her tail stood on end, and she faced ahead again. Her face was stony under her hood. "Naofumi…"

Naofumi looked at her. "What is it?" He asked.

"Behind us." She whispered. "Three figures are following."

He turned his head, pretending to look at another stall so he could glance back. He saw three hooded figures following the two of them from a distance. He realized Raphtalia was right because even though they were looking at the various vendor's stalls around, they kept looking back at him and Raphtalia. When he moved on to the next stall, he glanced back again and saw that they had moved to another stall closer to him and Raphtalia.

Naofumi would have found it unsettling, but he also noticed they weren't knights. And under their hoods, their facial features didn't look exactly… human. 'Wait, were those demi-humans...' He glanced back again and saw the lead figure gazing at him with gold pupiled eyes. His cloak also shifted, revealing fur on his arms.

That definitely wasn't a normal human. He looked to Raphtalia again. "Holy hell, I think we finally found ourselves some demi-humans-" He started to say.

"We have to grab Filo and get out of here." Raphtalia whispered so lowly Naofumi barely heard her. "Make sure we aren't followed."

He looked down at her frowning face curiously. "Is something wrong Raphtalia?" He asked. 'Why do we need to leave? We finally found some adult demi-humans! Now I won't have to give Raphtalia the talk, and-'

"Those three are from Siltvelt," Raphtalia said as quietly as she could. "I overheard what they were mumbling behind us. They're excited they found you. They want to take you to Siltvelt, but they don't… they don't want to bring me along." Though the last part was quiet, there was a little anger mixed into it.

'... oh.'

Suddenly, Naofumi wasn't so happy to have found some adult demi-humans. "Can you use your magic to hide us?" Naofumi asked.

"Maybe, but that might set them off. Better we let them think we didn't see them and try to lose them." Raphtalia said back quietly.

They tried changing streets, even though the tailor's shop had been on the street they were originally on. They then went through an alleyway into a crowded shop and exited onto another street. Pretending to quickly browse and window shop as they went along and tried going through crowded areas to lose their pursuers. Yet the demi-humans kept following them, never leaving their sight for long.

'It's like they're following our scents…' Naofumi mentally facepalmed. They were demi-humans. They had better senses than normal humans!

The three figures gradually started to get closer to the pair. And they were running out of areas to take side trips down on the way to the tailor's shop. Naofumi tried to listen to what was being said behind him as the demi-humans were getting closer and closer. After a little bit, he finally started to discern what they were saying to each other in low voices.

"... can't believe how this kingdom has treated our Savior."

"These people should be ashamed of themselves. Don't they realize the evil they've committed against our great God? The mighty Shield Hero?"

"Tis a shame indeed. We would have treated him much better had we summoned him to Siltvelt as the Grand Council planned."

'Hmmm, so far, I'm not getting any red flags-'

"I can't believe our God has even had to sink so low as to have a traitorous Raccoon girl as his only source of aid."

"No doubt the whore has whispered things to him to corrupt his mind and kept him from our spies."

"A mistake. The Grand Council should have killed off the whole traitorous Raccoon race instead of exiling a few from our beloved nation and enslaving the rest."

"Our God deserves a much more suitable mate of a more worthy noble class than a Raccoon."

Naofumi had a dark look under his hood. Raphtalia might not have known why her parents said not to go to Siltvelt, but now he was getting a pretty good feeling why she'd been told that. And as good as it sounded to be considered a God by someone, he did not appreciate most of what they said.

Only the lead figure with gold colored eyes didn't talk Raphtalia down. "Enough you two. We're here to convince the Shield Hero to rejoin his true followers in Siltvelt. Not to argue over his choice of wife. Now we're getting close, try not to spook him."

…

'They want to convince me to go with them to Siltvelt... But they don't approve of someone who's helped me out since I got to this world?! Bah!' He felt himself getting angry. It didn't sound like these demi-humans actually cared for him! If anything, they probably wanted to use him as a figurehead! Naofumi didn't think he'd have interaction with demi-humans from Siltvelt so soon... but they were definitely not making a very good first impression on him. If only he had an attack stat.

Raphtalia's hand itched under her cloak to grab her sword. She looked like she wanted to turn around and show these idiots what the weak Raccoon whore girl they wanted to dismiss was capable of. He was about to give her permission when the two of them noticed that another hooded individual was approaching them from the front. Another demi-human. This one looked like a female.

Naofumi quickly glanced at the sides, trying to find another shop they could enter. But there was nowhere else. They were right in front of the tailor's shop. If they went in, they'd be surrounded by demi-humans who were likely going to cause a scene to convince him to go with them. And if he refused, they'd attack thinking Raphtalia had him under her control. Then it'd cause a bigger scene, and...

'Damn it!' Things couldn't get any worse-

"Halt!"

Up ahead behind the female hooded demi human, a group of Church Knights wearing rosaries around their necks appeared running out of an alleyway. "There they are! Seize them!" The Squad Captain ordered before the Knights charged in Naofumi's direction.

Naofumi's eyes widened. 'Are you kidding me?! Are we going to have to fight both groups-'

Before Naofumi could react, the demi-human who'd been approaching him and Raphtalia turned to the side and ran down a different alleyway. He also heard running behind him. He turned his hooded head to see the original cloaked demihumans running away. Their hoods had fallen back, and terror was written on their faces. 'Are... are they part tiger?' Despite the situation, that was the first question that came to his mind as he saw their ears and tails.

The Church Knights ran past the hooded Naofumi and Raphtalia without giving them a second glance. "Come back here you damn demis! You can't hide where the Shield Demon is hiding forever!"

The two watched as the chase scene disappeared from view… both looked surprised at how quickly their problem had resolved itself.

…

"I guess two wrongs can make a right." Naofumi muttered to himself.

"What does that mean?" Raphtalia asked.

"Nothing. Just a phrase from my world. Let's hurry and purchase Filo's clothes so we can get the hell out of here." He wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. And it was a pure stroke of luck what happened here.

Naofumi didn't want to try and press his luck anymore today.

"Right."

He also decided to save the questions he had for Raphtalia for later. That could wait until they were a safe distance from this part of the country.

Before they entered the store, he took out some anti-nausea medicine from his inventory and gave it to Raphtalia. "Drink it up now. When we leave, I'm having Filo run as fast as she can again." At least he was forewarning her this time.

Raphtalia grimaced. 'Ohhhhhhh.' She moaned in her mind. 'Twice in one day?' Yet she was quick to drink down the bitter medicine and follow Naofumi into the store.

"Daddy! Mommy! Doesn't Filo look great in her new-" Filo was saying excitedly as she twirled around in her new dress. It was a mixture of white and blue, mixed in with ribbons. It complimented her Filolial form well. With the fringes really complimenting her feathers. Had Naofumi not been in a hurry, he might have taken a second to appreciate it.

"How much is it?" Naofumi asked Tanya curtly. He saw no traces of Tanya's daughter who made the dress anywhere.

Filo pouted off to the side. "Daddy! Aren't you going to tell Filo how cute Filo looks?!"

"I said how much?" Naofumi dryly asked again.

When Naofumi ignored Filo, she pouted and stuck her tongue out at Naofumi childishly. "Daddy is a Meanie."

"Don't worry. I think you look adorable Filo." Raphtalia said happily, giving Filo a head pat as she did so.

"Mmmm, but Filo wants Daddy to acknowledge Filo is cute too!" She yelled as she threw a tantrum.

Tanya sighed. She'd honestly wanted to soften the blow with how great the outfit looked. But... "The outfit will be 4 Gold Coins," Tanya said.

...

Naofumi sputtered. 4 Gold Coins!? He know they weren't in the Capital and things were more expensive out here, but it was that much for a stupid-

First, there was the 100 Silvers Filo's egg had been worth. Then there was the 15 Silver for Firo to appraise the egg. Not to mention the unknown cost of food Filo had already eaten. Now Filo's outfit was worth 400 Silver Coins!? 'This little brat just sucked up all the money Ren and Itsuki gave me, and then some!'

Raphtalia gasped as well. "Is... is that a lot of money mommy?" Filo asked Raphtalia.

'That's like… ten times what I was worth when Naofumi bought me…' Raphtalia cringed. Not only because Filo's dress was far more expensive than she had been, but because of how big a blow it was to their finances.

In the status menu, Naofumi's wallet started to plead for mercy because of Filo.

…

"Is that... okay with you?" Tanya asked unsurely.

"Filo, I want you to transform," Naofumi said coldly.

"What, what does daddy mean-" Filo tried to ask.

Naofumi glared at her. "Do it or I won't cook for you anymore!" Naofumi yelled back at her.

"Eep!" Poof!

In a poof of feathers, Filo transformed back into her Filolial form. The large owl-shaped bird looked at Naofumi, who gave her a nod. "Change back." He ordered more calmly.

Filo didn't question this time. Daddy was definitely scary when he was in a bad mood. And threatening to not cook for her was obviously the most effective way to make her compliant. It'd probably be best if she obeyed whenever he was cranky. Hopefully, it wouldn't be all the time. She transformed back to her girl form and was once more dressed in the dress she'd been wearing before her transformation. Naofumi carefully examined Filo and saw no tears anywhere.

"It'll have to do." He pulled out four hundred silver coins from his shield and looked calmly from under his hood at Tanya. "You're not ripping me off with this price now, are you?" He'd already dealt with one cheating shopkeeper that day.

Tanya shook her head. "I'd never dream of ripping off a customer." She said calmly.

Naofumi gave a slight nod and dropped the stack of coins in her hands. "Good... And thank your daughter for me for making Filo a good outfit on such short notice."

Tanya slightly smiled, and bowed to Naofumi. "I am sure she will appreciate the praise."

Naofumi looked to Raphtalia and Filo. "Come on, we're leaving now."

"Right," Raphtalia replied.

"Okay!" Filo said excitedly. Daddy had said her outfit looked good!

The group of three walked out the door. "Take care you three! Come by again anytime!" Tanya said happily.

She continued to smile. It'd turned out not to be another boring day after all. It wasn't often Tanya got to help out one of the Four Cardinal Heroes by making a dress for his Filolial Queen to wear. She put a sign up in the front window saying her shop was closed.

She was sure the Queen would be happy to hear a report from this undercover Shadow.

Hero Clips!

What can I call you?

"There's no need to address either of us by the term master," Raphtalia said next to Naofumi. Both of them sat in the driver's seat of the wagon.

Filo looked back at them confusedly as she pulled the wagon. "What can Filo call you if not master?"

"I don't know," Naofumi said boredly. "Owner sounds pretty nice,"

"But isn't that just another word for Master?" Raphtalia asked curiously.

"Yeah, so what? It's simple and easy to remember." Naofumi said in a bored voice.

Raphtalia started to pout. "We are not doing something because it's simple, Naofumi!"

"Alright then. How about she thinks of us as... her boss." He suggested.

"That still doesn't sound right," Raphtalia said unsurely.

"Then how about overlords,"

"That's even worse than being called Filo's owner!" Raphtalia responded angrily.

"Fine. She can just call us her lords then." Naofumi corrected.

"That's literally the same word!" Raphtalia screeched.

"Well sorry! I'd rather not be thought of as some monster loli girl's daddy!" Naofumi responded heatedly.

"You can't say that in front of our daughter!" Raphtalia responded just as heatedly.

"I'll say whatever I want! I'm not allowing her to call me her daddy!" Naofumi responded. The two continued to argue and bicker on the driver's seat of the wagon.

Filo looked down at the ground. "Mommy and daddy would sound nice." She said quietly to herself. Meanwhile, her 'parents' continued with their arguing.

"Her chiefs then!"

"No, her parents!"

"Her rulers!"

"Parents!"

"Her governors!"

"Are you using a Thesaurus to find words that mean the same thing as Master!?"

"... well, Master does have a nice ring to it-"

Slap!

"Ow!"

"We will definitely not be called her Masters!" Raphtalia said with finality.

Till Next Time

Allen