Chapter 32
I’m a Monster Tamer, But I Turned Into an Animal
I’d bought all the meat and daily necessities I needed, and I’d seen enough people to last a lifetime. The reports about a kidnapper targeting pets were a little unsettling, but I forced myself to stay calm as I thought about poor, exhausted Ruby.
“Luan said he’d report it to the city guard anyway, so…”
Now all that was left was to go back to the local guild and pick up my merchant registration. That would make for a perfect day out.
[Notice: Business hours have ended for today.]
I stared blankly at the guild’s tightly shut doors.
Sure, I’d gotten a bit distracted by street food and showed up a little late—but this early?!
“…Wow, the work-life balance here is amazing.”
“Work-life… balance? What does that mean?”
“It means this place must be really easygoing! But seriously, how can an official institution close this early?”
It couldn’t have been much later than 4 p.m.
Back in my old world, if a government office did this, people would be yelling, “You take our taxes and this is how you work?!”
“Ah, I see. I agree completely,” Luan murmured in his deep, steady voice. “At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if the inspectorate pays them a visit soon.”
Even if this world was inside a game, it was still run by people—meaning corruption was alive and well here too.
“Sigh… Whatever. I’ll just come back tomorrow morning before we leave.”
“Since the fine work-life balance has delayed us more than expected, that’s probably for the best.”
For some reason, there was something very menacing about the way Luan said that.
He’s not secretly part of the inspectorate, right? Like, undercover and about to clean house?
I chuckled at the thought of that kind of poetic justice and followed him back toward the inn.
Then suddenly—
“Get out of the way! Didn’t you hear me? Aaaah!”
A woman’s scream echoed through the street.
“Luan, did you hear that? It came from that alley!”
“Yes, I heard it too!”
We rushed toward the sound and found ourselves in a narrow, shadowed alley that looked like few people ever passed through. A woman lay on the ground, trembling, while a man loomed over her threateningly.
“You keep ignoring me, huh? You think I’m a joke? You’re really pissing me off!”
Just as the man raised his foot to stomp on her, Luan lunged forward and kicked him square in the chest with his long leg.
“Gaaah! What the—?!”
The man flew back like a rag doll, sprawling across the cobblestones. I couldn’t stop myself from swearing.
“That psycho—hitting a woman? Scum like you—no, worse than scum—Luan, hit him again!”
“I completely agree.”
Luan approached the fallen man again, and I leapt down from his arms, ready to smash the guy’s ugly face with my hooves—but then the woman shouted desperately.
“W-wait! I’m fine! Please stop—you’ll get in trouble because of me! I—huh?”
“Huh? Sophia?”
“Gasp! That cute little foal from earlier—wait, how is the foal talking?!”
It was Sophia—the carrot-haired receptionist from the guild—staring wide-eyed and pointing straight at me.
Oh, crap.
“Hiiiiiing!”
“Um, watch out—behind you!”
“Behind me? But that guy was—”
“So it is you talking!”
I tried to cover it up with a panicked whinny, but it was hopeless.
Ugh, so embarrassing…
“Anyway,” Luan said calmly, “we should move. Footsteps are approaching fast.”
He was right—multiple sets of boots were pounding closer. The city guard, no doubt drawn by all the shouting.
“Then can’t we just hand this guy over to them and go?”
“Given the situation, we might be the ones investigated for assault. That would keep us tied up for days. Don’t you think Ruby needs us back soon?”
He had a point. Looking at the man foaming at the mouth on the ground, it definitely looked like “excessive force” territory.
Still, leaving Sophia behind felt wrong. I glanced at her hesitantly.
“I’ll be fine,” she said quickly. “Even if they arrest him, he’ll be out in no time. It’s happened before.”
“…It happened before?”
Sophia looked pale as she stared at the unconscious man. Luan’s eyes went sharp and cold again.
Great, so this jerk’s got connections too? What a filthy world.
“…Then we’d better run, huh? Luan!”
“Understood.”
With that, I hopped back into his arms. Holding me close, Luan scanned the alley. Once he was sure no one else was around, he gave Sophia a silent nod and slipped away.
A little later…
“Here… I don’t know if you’ll like it, but it’s Belnoir black tea.”
“I’ll drink it gratefully.”
We’d escaped the guards safely and ended up at Sophia’s house. I’d tried to refuse a few times—Ruby was still alone at the inn, after all—but I couldn’t say no to those pleading eyes.
While Sophia busied herself in the kitchen, her orange hair fluttering as she prepared tea and snacks, I looked around the room.
“Cozy place.”
Her home was a warm little wooden cottage—simple but full of charm.
An old wooden table.
A vase of baby’s breath.
A chipped teacup that had clearly been loved for years.
Bundles of dried herbs hanging by the window.
Everything blended together perfectly, radiating a sense of peace.
But my throat was parched from all the chaos earlier. For a moment, I was seriously tempted to drink the water in that vase—but I resisted, for the sake of my dignity.
“Um, Sophia… what about me?”
As Luan sipped his fruit-scented tea, I gave her a desperate look.
“Oh! Right… Wait, can foals even drink tea?”
“I can! Hiiing!”
Finally, after what felt like forever, Sophia brought over a steaming cup.
And then I hit the biggest problem of my life.
My hooves were too blunt and big to hold the teacup.
“…Haaah…”
“Zoe, here.”
Seeing my hopeless expression, Luan gently lifted the cup and held it to my mouth.
“Thanks… hiiiing…”
Sip.
The tea was delicious—but for some reason, it tasted bittersweet.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Sophia said, flustered. “I should’ve poured it into a bigger bowl!”
“It’s fine. Anyway, Sophia—can you explain what’s going on now?”
“Ah, right… It’s just, um, this is so amazing. I’ve never seen a talking foal before…”
Sophia’s curiosity shone in her eyes.
“Sophia, I told you earlier—it’s because of a cursed mushroom. I ate it and turned into an animal. I’m actually human.”
“Oh, right… Still, I’ve never heard of a mushroom that does that.”
She tilted her head, puzzled.
Judging from her reaction, that “Animal-Transformation Mushroom” must be extremely rare—or nonexistent—in this world.
I made a mental note never to plant random seeds from the garden again.
Curses, animal mushrooms… This isn’t a healing game—it’s a killing game.
“Anyway, back to the guy earlier. You know him?”
“Ah… yes.” Sophia sighed deeply.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
“Yes. His name is Gerald Rasven. He’s the eldest son of the merchant guild master I work for.”
“Rasven… the baron?” Luan’s eyebrow twitched.
So that’s why she’d looked so nervous. The guild master was one of Luan’s connections.
Typical—some noble brat thinking he’s untouchable.
“And?” I pressed. “Keep going.”
“Gerald and I have known each other since we were kids,” she said quietly. “My father’s a merchant too, so we saw each other often. We grew up like friends.”
“…Friends? With that jerk Gerald?”
