Raphtalia and I head for the pub. We stop briefly to read the notice read 'No Demi-human Allowed' on a board standing next to the entrance.
Unlike other heroes, I can understand the language of this world. This is due to the skill that I've created. This skill is called Language.
I know it doesn't sound creative, but this kind of skill doesn't need a particular flair of visible skills.
The effect of Language is granting me the understanding of all languages created to communicate by sentient beings in the vast cosmos. As long as it's a structured language and not an unintelligible gibberish, I can understand, speak, and write it.
By the way, when I mentioned about the other heroes yet to understand this world's language, I was talking about Naofumi and Ren. I don't know if Motoyasu has learned this world's language.
"Mi... B-Brother!" Raphtalia calls me awkwardly and tugs my cloak. She has almost slipped up but corrected herself.
It seems like she's still uncomfortable with our fake background story. However, I don't really mind it.
"What's it?" I ask, curious. I've turned in her direction and found her staying very close to me.
"Can I really enter? I mean..." Raphtalia glances at the board pointedly.
It seems like she's forgetting that she's under a disguise.
"Remember, you're disguising as a human girl now," I whisper to her, reminding her present disguise.
"Ah!" She gasps as if recalling that she's disguised as a human girl, "Sorry..." and she apologizes timidly.
I release out an amused chuckle and pat her head softly, remembering to scratch the sensitive zone on the base of her invisible Tanuki ears. "Never mind that. You've done nothing wrong. It takes time to be accustomed to something new, after all," I say, trying to soothe her worry.
As I pat her head, she melts in my hand and sighs in bliss. She appears extremely adorable, and I want to savor this experience a bit longer. Alas, we don't have free time to procrastinate. We have been standing at the bar's entrance for a while now.
"Come on! I'm sure you never had any decent meals in that place. We'll have something sumptuous for late breakfast, or is it early lunch? Well, I haven't figured what it is called yet..."
"Ehehehe... You sounded silly B-Brother!" She laughs at my attempt to lighten the mood.
"You're silly." I playfully retort and tussle her hair, getting an adorable pout from her.
I make a mental note of Raphtalia's behavior around me and realize that she has become very comfortable in my presence. She still has her misgivings such as her hesitation or timidity, but it's better than her fearful and suspicious behavior a couple of hours ago.
Such is the effect of my charm on animals and demi-human. To be honest, I have no complaints here. It allows me to easily indoctri—ahem—teach her how to behave like a good girl.
I bring Raphtalia inside the bar and make my way to a table in the corner. I guide Raphtalia to take the spot at the corner, so her back and her side are protected by the walls. It's my attempt to ward off any touchy people who want to pat her head due to her adorableness. If someone pats her head, they'll discover Raphtalia's true race, and I won't let it happen.
A male in his mid-twenties wearing an apron approaches us. He has an average face framed by his dark brown hair. His eyes are dark green. I guess he is the waiter of this establishment.
"Welcome! Could I get your order, please?"
"Could you bring us chef's recommendation?" I question the man in return.
"Two chef's recommendation, right? Well, then. Do you have another order?"
"I guess that's all."
"That would be 14 pieces of bronze, sir."
I give him a piece of silver.
"Excuse me, sir. Allow me to prepare the exchange. I'll bring them together with your order."
"Sure."
The man walks off. I turn in Raphtalia's direction to check her out because she has been oddly silent. I find her with a tense expression and then rub her head to calm her nervousness. It works like a charm, and Raphtalia soon relaxes.
We wait for our meals in silence. Luckily, we didn't need to wait for long. The waiter returns with a wide tray, on which our meals are carried. After stopping at our table, he skillfully put the dishes on our table.
The menu is a stew with cube-shaped meats, stir-fried vegetables, and a loaf of bread. There are also two wooden mugs of clear water. By the look alone, I expect it to be less tasty than the meals served in the castle or my normal meals in my original world. Still, I can feel the unique and novel experience of living in the medieval age.
Be that as it may, let's go back to the present.
While holding the tray with one hand, the waiter uses his free hand to take out many bronze coins from his apron's pocket and presents me with 86 pieces of bronze. I give him 2 pieces as a tip, and he shows his gratitude, thanking me. Then, he walks off, leaving me and Raphtalia alone to enjoy our meals.
"Let's dig in," I say to Raphtalia, who has been eying her meals right after the waiter put in front of her.
"Mmh!" She nods vigorously and starts eating, messily.
I sigh in exasperation with a touch of fondness. (It can't be helped,) I think. (She's still a kid, after all.)
Luckily, I'm quite patient with children, thanks to my experience in taking care of younger relatives. I haven't forgotten to discreetly create a napkin before hanging it on Raphtalia's neck. With that, she won't accidentally leave food stains on her cloth.
"Nom, nom, nom, gulp!"
Raphtalia seems really enjoying her food. Granted, she probably never ate decent meals under the Slave Trader's care. Anyway, I also enjoy my food, albeit slower than Raphtalia's hasty pace.
After finishing our early lunch, I bring Raphtalia outside of the wall. I can sense Raphtalia's nervousness as we approach the exit gate. To calm her down, I keep petting her head.
Upon exiting the Castle Town, fields of grass extend in every direction. It seems like the world is nothing but green and green and green. For someone who lived in an urban area, it strikes me as novel and fascinating.
I can see both the expanse of the sky and the horizon itself. I figure that running around in giddy excitement will not reflect well on me, considering I am trying to leave a good impression on the still impressionable Raphtalia, and so I do my best to swallow my emotions.
"Now then, Lia." I call her with her shortened name, taking her attention. "This place is filled with rather weak monsters, and battling them should make for very good practice. We will hunt for Balloons for starters."
"B-but..." Raphtalia seems fretful and nervous.
"No need to worry! Remember that I'm here! I promise I won't let you get hurt," Raphtalia relaxes after hearing my words, but she immediately tenses upon hearing my next word, "...much!"
"M-Mister Ran! What did you mean by that?!"
"There's a saying in my world. No pain, no gain. You want to grow strong and move on, right? Then, you must be ready for a bit of pain. Don't worry! I'll only let those balloons tackle you. When they try to bite you, I'd stop them before you get bitten. Being hit by a balloon's tackle isn't different from being hit by a ball. Have you played ball before?"
Raphtalia nods in affirmation. Well, I gambled on that due to my memory of the anime's scene of Raphtalia's past when she played with a ball with other children of her village before the Waves of Destruction. I continue, saying, "Have you been hit by the ball when you played?"
"Some times..." Raphtalia replies with an uncertain tone.
"Did it hurt?"
"...a bit."
"Did you stop playing after being hit?"
"...no."
"Well, then. You get it!"
"B-but, I'm going to fight a monster, and monsters are scary!"
"You won't feel scared of them after you defeated your first monster! Believe me! I'll help you take your first step, so don't worry!" I say cheerfully, contrasting Raphtalia's nervousness.
The disguised Tanuki girl is pretty much wishing to be everywhere else but there, but I ignore her averseness for facing monsters and start poking around in the fields for a little while before spotting something among the grass. It is an Orange Balloon.
I catch it easily and carry it to Raphtalia's location. She's standing stiff while gripping the handle of her sheathed knife. Her face is a little pale from fear, and her hands that hold the knife's handle are trembling. I approach her spot while carrying the futilely struggling Balloon with my two hands.
"Well, then. You see this?" I hold the Orange Balloon in front of her. It is trying to pounce at Raphtalia and is snapping its jagged teeth in her direction, making her flinch in fear.
"Y-Yes..." She replies with a stutter, her body trembling in fear. It seems like she will collapse on the ground anytime.
"Are you scared of it?"
She nods her head wordlessly.
"Then, how about this?" I spin the Balloon until its back is facing Raphtalia. "Do you still fear it? It looks like a normal ball used in children's games, right?"
Her body stills and her eyes watch the struggling 'ball' unblinkingly. She seems extremely wary of the 'ball.'
It seems like she's unable to imagine monsters as harmless things. Granted, her trauma due to monsters runs deep.
"Come on! Unsheathe your knife! I'm holding this monster! It won't hurt you! Stab it!" I coax Raphtalia to draw out her knife.
Surprisingly, she follows my instruction, slowly unsheathes her knife, and holds the handle tightly with her shaking hands. Yet, she's still hesitating in taking the real first step.
"You are scared of monsters, but you hate them more, right? After all, they have killed your parents and destroyed your home!" I choose to goad her and appeal her hatred for monsters.
Understandably, Raphtalia holds a deep grudge and hatred for monsters because they have destroyed her simple and peaceful yet happy life.
My words have finally gotten a reaction from her. Her trembling body stills, yet her breath turns harsh and short.
"Look! There is a monster unable to hurt you! But, you can hurt it! Release your frustration, anger, sadness, and hatred on this monster! Do it! Now, stab it!"
Raphtalia raises her head, and I see her face contorted in fury and hatred. Then, she snarls and pounces at me, her knife ready to stab the balloon in my grip.
"HYAAAAAAAH!" She roars and stabs the balloon.
POP! The Orange Balloon pops out, killed by Raphtalia, who has taken her first step to becoming strong.