After pushing me out of the room, the woman closes the door behind me. While I do have an idea what eventual instincts the woman is referring to, I don’t have time to stop and think about exactly what she was insinuating.
Hurrying up, I run to catch up with Sophia and Rin. When I find them, they are waiting in the building’s lobby and after I reach them, Sophia asks us both a question, “Now if this decision were up to me, we would return to the mansion immediately. But, the madam has ordered that I ask you where you wish to visit and take you there. So, I shall start with Rin, what do you wish to visit today.”
Without taking any time to think about it, Rin starts excitedly listing places she wishes to see, “Oh, I wanna visit the stalls we saw on the way here and there was a shop that sold bows nearby. I also want to visit a place that sells clothes, mommy and daddy always buy me my clothes, so I want to try buying my own. There might also be places that sell stuffed toys right, I want to try visiting those too and-”
Seeing that Rin’s plans are getting out of hand Sophia interrupts her and states, “Lady Rin, Not only would we fail to see everything you wish to see with a single day, but Lady Kitten would be given no chance to choose what she wishes to visit. I will ask that you both choose two places you wish to visit and no more.”
After hearing Sophia’s statement, Rin stops and thinks for a moment before saying, “I don’t like the idea of sis not being able to choose. I really want to buy a new bow for my collection and I would like to buy my own clothes. But, I really want to visit the collection of stalls we saw. Hmm, what about you sis, what do you want to go see?”
Receiving Rin’s question, I take a moment to think about what I would like to visit in the city. Thinking about it, I never went out much in my other life did I? But, when I think of going out in my other life three things come to mind, entertainment, food, and shopping. I don’t know what the people here do for entertainment, I guess I could ask Sophia… actually, she seems like the type to focus solely on work. So entertainment is out and I can’t handle solid food yet, so trying the local cuisine is also out. I guess that leaves shopping, but what do I even want to shop for? Thinking about it, didn’t Rin mention clothes earlier? I really would like to see what the local fashion is like and hopefully, I can get some ideas for new outfits to mold.
“Clothes...and stuffed toys,” as I’m informing Rin of what I would like to see, I think of a second place I would like to visit and meekly add it into my request.
Hearing my answer, Sophia quickly makes the final decision on what we will visit today and says, “Since Lady Rin wishes to browse for bows and I know of a shop that specialises in ranged weaponry nearby, we shall tend to that first. Afterward, we will visit the open air market and then search for shops specializing in clothing. While the two of you are inspecting clothing, I shall inform myself on where we might find a shop that deals in stuffed toys. Also, Lady Rin, if, at any point, you leave my sight without my express permission, we will return to the mansion immediately once I have confirmed your safety.”
“Hey! Why are you only warning me? What about...fine!” Rin starts to complain about Sophia’s last statement but quickly gives up when I tug on her hand, urging her to follow after Sophia who is already walking out of the building.
Following behind Sophia, we go by a few places that look like they sell bows, but when I ask her why we aren’t stopping at any of those, the response she gives me is, “Premium real estate, does not equate to a premium product.”
After some walking, Sophia turns us into a series side roads until we eventually reach a very worn looking door, with a barely legible sign that reads, Shooting Blind. As Sophia leads us inside, I’m surprised by the sheer range of weaponry lining the walls and shelves. There are all kind of bows, crossbows, things that look like throwing weapons, and a bunch of other weapons I don’t recognize at all.
Almost immediately after getting inside the shop, Rin excitedly rushes over to a wall displaying a selection of bows and Sophia calls out to chastise her, “Lady Rin, please remember you are not currently at home, you are going to inconvenience others by rushing about.”
“Hmph, what others? Ya try’na make fun o this old man? Look round yaself ya damn war ‘ound, ya see customers? Ain’t no one round ere that’s gonna visit a shop owned and run by a crippled old arpy other than you lot. If the girly wants to look around, let er, little life’ll do the place some good.” hearing a shrill sounding voice, I look towards where it is coming from and spot a man reclining in a chair behind a wooden counter. Inspecting him, the man's most striking features, other than his strange way of speaking, are a small set of emerald green wings where I would expect his ears should be and a large scar that looks like a claw mark that runs across his whole face.
Seeing the man Sophia gives a sigh and says, “I see you are still lively as ever you old fool.”
Chuckling as his only response to Sophia, the man turns his head towards the back of the shop and calls out, “Ya ave an interestin eye girly, most wouldn’ give that bow more than a single look.”
Looking towards where the man is facing, I can’t see anything out of the ordinary, so I walk around the display stand that’s blocking my view and find Rin staring at a bow more than twice my size.
As she stares at the giant bow, Rin quietly mutters to herself, “Amazing.”
“Y’actually think this monstrosity’s amazin?” suddenly hearing the man's voice behind me, I turn around with a start and see the man standing behind me along with Sophia.
Responding to the man's question, I hear Rin’s excited voice from behind me, “Yeah, It’s, really, really amazing! I really want it, but it’s probably expensive, maybe mommy will buy it for me if I ask her when we get back home?”
Hearing Rin's self deliberation, the man starts laughing loudly and I cover my ears because it sounds like a loud shrieking cackle. Once the man looks like he has finally calmed down, I slowly remove my hands from my ears just in time to catch him say, “Aven ad a laugh that good in ages. That bow there girly, she was ma one and only attempt at makin a bow only an ogre could shoot. But, if ya asked me now, I’d tell ya it was a stupid idea. Ain’t almost no ogre that would shoot a bow stead of findin a big rock to throw. Fully drawn, I reckon ya could shoot right through a triple S ranked monster with this beast.
Problem is, damn material’s too unyielding, never did find anyone tha could even string the beast, let alone draw er. Found a couple willin ogres too, but even those lot could barely bend er, let alone managin to string the beast. But, ya know wha, if not only cause ya gave me a good laugh, I’ll make ya a deal girly. If ya, the war ‘ound, or the small girly can manage to string the beast, I’ll give er to ya for free. If none o ya can, she’s goin back on tha wall to continue er wait for the one who can tame er. So, whaddaya say girly, feeling up to the challenge?”
As the man finishes issuing his challenge, Sophia looks like she is about to say something but, Rin quickly runs up to the man while exclaiming, “I want to try!”
Giving a chuckle, the man steps around Rin and removes the enormous bow from the wall. After attaching the stringer to it, the man then walks back and hands the bow to Rin. Receiving the bow, Rin grimaces slightly, but after only making the bow bend slightly she stops trying while shaking her head.
Having failed Rin turns towards Sophia with an expectant look on her face. Receiving Rin’s expectations, Sophia sighs lightly while accepting the bow and says, “Lady Rin, I don’t believe that I shall manage to succeed.”
“Try!” not caring what Sophia has to say, Rin yells in an ordering tone and Sophia, seeing that Rin isn’t going to change her mind, attempts to string the bow.
But, one thing is completely evident after Sophia’s attempt. Even though she is bending it quite a bit, Sophia doesn’t seem to be anywhere near strong enough to bend the bow to the point where the string can be secured onto the ends.
Looking as if this was the result he was expecting, the man gives another chuckle and announces, “Valiant effort, an while our resident war ‘ound put in quite a good attempt, in the end, the beast wins again.”
Walking over to Sophia the man takes the bow from her and starts walking back towards the wall before Rin asks, “But what about sis?”
“If the war ‘ound couldn’ make the beast yield I don fancy that hedgin ya bets on… ya know wha, why not. Go on an give er a try small girly,” As he talks, the man turns around and walks over to me, before gently handing me the bow.
Receiving the bow I find that it weighs almost nothing, but Rin’s expectant stare adds a different sort of pressure to the situation. Satisfied that its weight isn’t a problem I step on the stringer cord and start pulling up. While I pull, the bow bends rather anticlimactically, but simply due to its sheer size a problem arises. By the time the bow is bent enough to secure the string, I am in no position to do it myself. Seeing my problem, Rin helps me by securing the bowstring.
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After Rin gives me the okay that the string seems properly attached, I lower the bow and step off the stringer cord. Seeing as the bow is way too big for me to remove the stringer cord myself, I hold it out to the man and he gingerly takes it into his hands while talking in a shaky voice, “Never, never thought I’d live to see the day. Well, a promise is a promise, the bow’s yours girly, but, Sophie, would ya mind avin someone come pick it up another day? I-I at least wan some time to admire er before she goes to er new owner.”
With a faint smile, Sophia gives a shallow bow and says, “Understood, I shall inform the madam and someone will be made to pick up the bow at a later date. Also, I will let it slide this time, but never call me Sophie again. Now, Lady Kitten, Lady Rin, let us continue with our plans for today.”
Done talking, Sophia starts to walk away. Rin quickly gives me a hug while thanking me before grabbing my hand and starting to hum happily as we follow behind Sophia. With us following behind her, Sophia leads us back to the main street and we start to make our way towards the collection of stalls we saw earlier today.
As we walk, I think back to earlier and start to wonder about how strong Rin really is. Sophia is understandably strong, In the guild, she managed to hit that man hard enough that he hit a rather sturdy looking wall with enough force to crack it. But, from what I remember the man at the shop saying, Rin managed to bend the bow about as much as an ogre could. Then that means Rin is rather strong compared to how she looks, right? I could use ‘Status Other’, but without asking for permission I would rather not. It seems wrong for me to check the status of anyone in my new family without asking when they waited to ask me before seeing mine. I guess the easiest way to sate my curiosity would be to just ask Rin herself.
Looking at Rin beside me I try to properly word my question within my limitations and, hoping she will understand, I ask, “how’d you bend bow?”
Rin seems to take a moment to decipher my question before a look of realisation crosses her race and she says, “Oh, you want to know how I… well I’m not really strong like you and Sophia, so I had to use magic. Ah, I forgot to ask what it was made of! Whatever that bow is made of, it was really strong, but like that old man said, you have to be really strong to bend it. I used a lot of mana and I was only able to do that much. But, the way you were able to bend it super easily, was really amazing. One day I want to be able to do that too and then I’ll be able to shoot it properly. Oh! Look, we can see the stalls now, I wonder what they sell.”
As the stalls start to come into sight, Rin gets completely distracted, but her saying that she used magic does leave me wondering. Physics Magic, Mother used it to control air resistance and atmospheric pressure in a small area. Rin apparently used it to make a material she normally wouldn’t be able to bend at all, bend even a little and from what the old man said, that seems to equal the strength of an average ogre. While its effects clearly aren't as flashy or prominent as my Programming Magic, it seems to be really flexible to make up for that and if everyone can use it, then I can never be sure what someone will come up with. I will have to study my own magic more when I get the chance, otherwise, I might be disadvantaged when I really need it.
With that last thought, I notice that we are now at the collection of stalls and Rin is excitedly pointing out stalls she wants to visit. Inspecting our surroundings as we walk, rather than a collection of stalls, our current surrounding is more of an outdoor market. There’s a lot of stalls selling foods and each one is different from the other. There are also a few stalls selling different types of accessories, jewelry, and other nicknacks.
Looking around more, there is more than just food and accessories, but as Rin drags us to a stall selling various necklaces, I find myself more interested in inspecting the people running the stalls. I didn’t realize it at first, but most of the people manning these stalls either remind me of Rebecca or father. I’m not very well versed in the demon subraces, but from what I remember reading in the lab, most demons look humanoid with some kind of defining characteristic. Most of the people running the stalls in this market, however, either have animal ears and tails, which would make them beastkin like Rebecca was, or have long pointed ears like father.
But, the few people running stalls that I can safely guess are demons, do all have one thing in common and that is that they all have collars around their neck, much like the one that was put on me in the lab.
“Collars of punishment,” too absorbed in my observations, the sound of Sophia’s voice makes me jump a little and I notice we are now in front of a stall manned by a demon with a collar around his neck.
Seeing my reaction, Sophia stifles a laugh as she continues to talk, “You seem to have a habit of getting lost in thought Lady Kitten. Curiosity can be a driving force, but try to remain aware of your surroundings. Though, since it seems Lady Rin shall take some time still to decide herself, I shall aid in satiating your curiosity while we wait.
You have most likely already noticed that there are relatively few demons running shops in this market. The reason is simple, in demon society, your strength determines your rights. Seldom will a demon work outside of a combat specialization and most of the time those that do are either the crippled or the punished.
As for what the punished are, they are the fools that tried to enact a law that is now very seldom used, without the strength to follow through. The punished can be very easily spotted by the collars of punishment they are forced to wear. The lucky among them may be taken care of as servants. The extremely lucky are even given reprieve and freed from having to wear a collar of punishment. But, those without luck are thrown to the streets, left to helplessly fend for themselves. However, this lesson will have to end here, it seems Lady Rin has decided on what she wished to purchase.”
While I am still curious about a lot of point Sophia just talked about, she doesn’t seem intent on explaining any further. Since that is the case I turn my attention to Rin instead.
Looking at her, Rin is walking back from the stall with a small wooden box and curious what she bought I ask, “What’s in the box?”
Giving me a mischievous smile, Rin hands the small box to Sophia as she says, “It’s going to be a surprise. Sophia, keep it safe for now and give it back to me immediately when we get home. Now let's go find some clothes, there are a lot of clothes I want sis to try wearing.”
Storing the box, Sophia gives a small bow of affirmation and turns while saying, “Understood Lady Rin, let us head off then.”
With Sophia leading, we stop at quite a few stores dealing in all ranges and cultures of clothing. In every store we visit, Rin has me try all kinds of outfits while trying quite a few herself. But, for the most part, instead of actually trying the actual clothes I can only use them as a model. Thanks to my current body build, clothes that properly fit my upper body seem nearly impossible to find.
As we are browsing through, what Sophia warned us will be, our last clothing store, Rin picks up a simple white blouse and black skirt. Walking over to Sophia, Rin holds the clothes up against her and after looking her over says, “I think you would look really cute in clothes like these Sophia. It’s no fun that you are always wearing armor or your maid clothes.”
Taking the clothes from Rin, Sophia puts them back where they were found while flatly stating, “Lady Rin, I have made this statement before, I am merely a tool, not a friend. I do not seek to be cute, I wish to be efficient. Now, If you are both finished browsing this store, we shall head to our last stop for the day.”
Puffing out her cheeks, Rin runs back to me and yells at Sophia, “Fine then, keep being that way, but if you ever make sis sad I won’t forgive you.”
While trying to find a shop that sells stuffed toys the atmosphere between Rin and Sophia is rather tense. But, when we finally do find and enter a shop that sells what we are looking for the tense atmosphere immediately melts.
Seeming to completely forget about her sour mood from the clothing shop to here, Rin grabs my hand and leads me to the large selection of stuffed toys. After quite a bit of time, plus a bit of urging from Sophia, I finally decide on a small white stuffed cat toy. Having decided on what to get, Sophia is about to pay for it, like she already has with the clothes we bought, but Rin adamantly states that she wants to pay for my stuffed toy herself. With a sigh, Sophia lets Rin do as she pleases. Paying for it, Rin gives me my stuffed toy and I hug it closely to my chest.
As we leave the store it’s already starting to get dark and so Sophia starts leading us back to the mansion. Though, during the uneventful walk back, I do catch Rin sending my stuffed toy envious glances every now and then.