The next day, I packed up from the inn (the amount I'd paid in advance was not refunded) and headed toward the rented villa.

The rent was high, but it was a standalone house with a garden and excellent access to the labyrinth. There was no better property to rent in this town. Being far from the temple was also a plus.

The gift I took when I was transferred to this world, 'Spirit's Favor,' is known here as 'Beloved by Spirits.' While it grants the benefit of being able to replenish spirit power from outside, it also carries the downside of being loved by the Great Spirit—literally eaten—so long as I enter the range where the Great Spirit can sense me, it comes flying out from the temple.

In fact, I once got into a dangerous situation, so I've been avoiding the temples where the Great Spirit resides in this town.

Arrived at the mansion. The window to Jeanne's room is closed.

It's no longer early morning, but she might still be asleep.

I unlock the door and enter the house.

In a world without fluorescent lights or LEDs, the interior is extremely dark. I'm fine since I have a gift for night vision, but most people would probably find it stressful. I've heard there are spirit artifacts that can serve as lighting fixtures—maybe I should buy one depending on the price.

Jeanne was indeed still asleep, so I woke her up and asked what we should do today.

"I suppose we're going shopping?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I also have a small errand, but that'll be over quickly."

"I'll come too. There's still plenty of time until the labyrinth opens, right? If we had a game, five days would pass in no time..."

Indeed, in the other world, a five-day break would pass in the blink of an eye.

But here, you have to actively use your time, or else you'll just end up bored. Well, just sightseeing around town is enough to pass the time, at least.

After waiting for Jeanne to finish getting ready, we stepped outside.

"I have something to do at the building next to the guild."

"Next to the guild?"

"Yeah. Just a quick stop by the Links Mutual Aid Society. I'll only be there for a moment."

I've got an excess of fish from yesterday's fishing trip.

Links are cats, after all—they should like fish, right? Maybe that's just a stereotype.

After walking a short distance, we arrived at the old building of the Links Mutual Aid Society.

A few Links were dozing off, basking in the sun in front of the building.

"Hello. Is Grapefruit around?"

"Hmm? Grapefruit? I think she's here, maybe?"

"Are we on break now? The labyrinth is on break now."

"I know, I've got a little snack to bring."

"A snack? I'll go get it right away!"

The black and white lynxes patter inside.

It seems the lynxes live within this building. Of course, not all of them, but renting an apartment costs money. Until they save up enough to make a contract with the Great Spirit, they're probably living together to save money.

"……Hey, Kuro."

"Hm? What's up?"

"What was that creature just now?"

His cheeks flushed, wearing a very serious expression.

Has he never seen a lynx before?

"A mouse person? They had big ears, but not much whisker growth, so not a mouse—more like a weasel or maybe a dog... no, that's not right, they kind of look catlike. Anyway, some kind of mammal-human hybrid—"

"Hey, calm down. Linkus is probably a cat beastman."

"A cat?! A cat... cat person... Could such a thing really exist...?"

He seemed oddly excited.

Well, I was surprised too the first time I met him.

Actually, Linkus does seem pretty cat-like, but did Jeanne see him as a mouse? Probably just a difference in upbringing and environment.

　

"Mew, mew? I'm about to starve to death, so I don't really feel like moving much..."

"Hmm, kinda reminds me of Flora... over here, over here..."

"My stomach's so empty I'm seeing stars... nyaan? Nya? Hikaru-shan!"

Grapeflour stepped outside, muttering, her face lighting up when she saw me.

We hadn't entered the labyrinth together during the demon king's defeat, and we hadn't met since then—so it felt like a long time, even though it's only been a few days.

"I heard! You got first-class rank in the demon king's defeat! No wonder, Hikaru-shan!"

Grapeflour chirped excitedly.

While getting selected for first-class wasn't entirely due to skill—it had a fair bit of luck involved—I still felt happy seeing her so thrilled.

"Furu-chan, you know someone so promising? Introduce me!"

"I want to get out of being a two-layer specialist scout as soon as possible, nyao."

"It's just luck that I met Hikaru-chan."

The sight of two Links chatting with cute "nya" sounds is genuinely heartwarming.

It looks like Jeanne's eyes are bloodshot—probably just my imagination.

"Fleur. Can you actually eat fish?"

"Huh? Why suddenly? I love fish, but..."

"No, I caught too many recently. Sharing some."

"Really?! I was so hungry I was about to die—so happy, nya wa wa wa!"

Suddenly, Fleur lets out a strange scream.

Just as I wonder what's going on, Jeanne suddenly hugs her from behind.

"Fugu fugo fugo fugo... what's this? This little cat... so fluffy and soft, this one... fugo fugo fugo."

"Meow meow meow! Who is this person?! So much power! Don't let go! I can't let go!"

"I was supposed to be forbidden from keeping pets... I've always wanted to have a living thing with me... Gugugu... What even is this creature... Is it a cat? A giant cat? This thing... Gugugu, Cat-chan..."

Jeanne clung tightly to Grapeflour, burying her face in the fluffy fur and muttering something unintelligible. Objectively speaking, it was extremely terrifying.

The nearby Lynxes were visibly repulsed.

"Meow meow meow! Take it! Take this person away!"

"Come on, Jeanne. Let go already—you haven't even introduced it yet."

"Guhu guhu guhu... just a little longer..."

After finally pulling Jeanne away from petting Flou with overwhelming force, she at last came to her senses.

"I'm so sorry. It's just the backlash from long-term stress... Please forgive me. I'm Jeanne. Jeanne Collet."

"So, Jeanne-shan, are you also a scout, huh?"

"Yes, though I'm just a brand-new recruit—registered only yesterday."

"Ah, I see, I see. I'm Grapeflou, a scout. If you get the chance, please hire me, okay?"

Even after being rubbed all over, Grapeflou didn't seem too bothered, smoothly pitching herself for work.

Quite mentally tough, really.

...I'd like to say that, but since I'm hiding behind him, he's clearly quite frightened. No wonder he's scared. I'm scared too. Jeanne's a fellow Earthling, but she's a bit eccentric and doesn't always follow common sense.

"Anyway, we don't have anything to put the fish in, so we need to get to someplace where we can leave it—maybe the kitchen?"

"Then just grab one inside. Right now, it's pretty wild in there."

Upon hearing that, I stepped into the Links Mutual Aid Society, and there they were—everywhere, just Links.

And most of them were sprawled out, fast asleep.

"Fwoooaaaah! A cat mansion!"

"Calm down. The Links aren't cats. Touching them freely is strictly forbidden."

"B-b-but! Can you really stay calm in a place like this!?"

"Where's your steel willpower gone...?"

Well, I guess Link is indeed cute. That feeling might just be something unique to us transmigrants, but I can't really blame Jeanne for wanting to pet her.

Still, I was a bit surprised she likes cats.

After all, she's just a regular 17-year-old girl.

I take out the fish I caught earlier from Shadow Storage and place it on the sink they showed me.

It's not alive, of course, but it doesn't seem to have lost freshness, and there's no odd smell. It should be perfectly safe to eat then.

There are fifty-seven in total. Did I really catch that many?

"Nyanyaa~. So many Garul. Smells delicious. Can I really eat this many?"

"It was just for fun, so it's fine."

So this fish is called Garul?

It's not a mackerel, huh... Looks almost exactly like one.

"If you're bored, why don't you try catching flou? They're super easy to catch?"

"Linkus all hate swimming, so they don't like the sea. If you fall in, no one can save you."

"I see."

If they can't swim, that does sound a bit risky.

Maybe I should go fishing with them if I have time.

It's such an easy place to catch fish. It'll save on food costs.

"Hey everyone! Hikaru-san gave us garool!"

When Flou called out loudly, the Linkus lounging around all snapped awake and rushed over excitedly.

"So much! It's a garool party today!"

"Quick, quick♪ Tonight I can eat my fill of fish♪"

"I could eat it like this. I could even eat it like this right now."

"I'm so hungry I'm glowing... Such a kind spirit king who gives me such a gift..."

It seemed the labyrinth had indeed been closed off and dried up.

If something like this is enough, I might bring more next time. Fishing is a good change of pace, and the sea is nearby anyway.

"F-fufufuuu... Clo, sorry, but can you tie me up with a rope? I can't hold on much longer..."

Jeanne said this, breathing heavily.

Still, tying her up was definitely too much of a pervert move.

"I'm done here, so I'm leaving now."

"S-so, okay..."

"Alright, Grapeflow. I'll call you when the labyrinth reopens."

"Really? I'm so happy! I'll study for the fourth floor and wait for you."

"Yeah. I'm counting on you."

When the labyrinth reopens, the three of us—me and Jeanne—will venture in together. Naturally, it'll be easier with a scout, so I planned to hire Grapeflow too.

Though we're few in number and it's a bit worrying, we managed with just three during the Reflair incident.

Two or three floors shouldn't be a problem.

If Jeanne gets comfortable by the fourth floor, we can give it a try.

We've set a reasonably long timeframe of five years to clear the labyrinth. No need to rush.

After resigning from the Links Mutual Aid Society, I once again wandered the streets, buying necessities for daily life.

The mattress was on display at the craftsman's shop, so I bought it as-is.

Now, starting today, I'll be able to live in that mansion.

Though I'm not completely comfortable with the idea of living alongside a woman of my own age, Jeanne surely doesn't have any such intentions.

In that case, I should make an effort not to overthink it.