From Eris, I learn that this world has two kinds of people.
Seventy percent of the population consists of humans—just regular, ordinary humans.
The remaining thirty percent?
Humans with animal traits.
They come in all kinds—cat people, wolf people, boar people, even lizardfolk and mermaids. Some have fur, some have feathers, and some are covered in shimmering scales.
Despite these differences, they all share the same name—Furren.
Even the ones without actual fur.
———————————-
"NyaaaaAaaaaa~~~!!! I'm so full!!!" I meowl, patting my now-round belly.
The amount of Filoan chicken I just devoured is outrageous.
Literally almost ten percent of my body weight.
Oh my god… I don't even know if I can walk right now.
Meanwhile, Eris lounges back in her chair, smiling with deep satisfaction. Her entire body is relaxed, her eyes closed in pure bliss. Her ears twitch slightly—too cute.
She ate three drumsticks, just like me.
But she also crunched through some of the bones.
I watched it happen.
And it was terrifying.
And amazing.
I even tried to eat a couple of small bones myself, but—nope. My teeth weren't having it. I gave up immediately.
"ALRIGHT!!!"
Eris suddenly sits up, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Felicia, are you ready for PIE???"
EHH???
PIEEE?????
"Wait! You're not full yet???" I shout, completely shocked.
"Full? What do you mean full?" Eris laughs, tilting her head like I just said something completely ridiculous.
"There's always room for pie and milkshake! They're reaaaaally good, you know?"
I don't even know how to react.
Is Eris trolling me?
But then—
BAM.
The kitchen door swings open, and Lilly rushes out, carrying two plates—each with a big slice of berry pie and a tall glass of milkshake.
I watch in horror as she sets the plates down.
I… I don't think I can handle any more food.
But.
But.
The pie looks so good.
The milkshake looks so creamy.
They're literally begging me to eat them.
The pie has a golden, flaky crust, the inside filled with dark, juicy berries, their syrup glistening under the tavern lights.
The milkshake?
Thick. Creamy. Topped with a swirl of whipped cream.
I tremble.
My belly is screaming no, begging for mercy.
However.
My mind says yes.
My sweet tooth is aching.
AAAAAA!!!
I'm internally screaming, agonizing over the decision.
"Enjoy your dessert!" Lilly chirps with a big smile.
"Thanks, Lilly!" Eris replies.
Then—without a second thought—she grabs her milkshake and takes a massive, enthusiastic sip.
"MMMMMMHHHHHMMMM!!!!! IT'S SO GOOOOOD!"
Eris purrs, her tail shooting straight up in joy. A white foam mustache forms on her upper lip, and she looks so smugly satisfied it's unfair.
Damn it.
Her reaction makes me want to try it ten times more.
I hesitate, staring at my milkshake.
A-alright.
Just a little sip.
I at least need to know what it tastes like, right?
However—
"MMMhhhhmmmmm!"
It's too good.
Too creamy.
Absolutely heavenly.
And the pie?
A masterpiece.
Crispy, buttery crust—perfectly tangy-sweet berry filling that melts in my mouth.
I succumb to the sin of gluttony once again.
My belly feels like it's about to burst—but I can't stop myself from indulging.
————————————
After finishing the amazing dessert, we sit back and relax.
Eris hums a soft, cute tune, her tail swaying slightly as she leans into her chair.
Meanwhile, I just stare at the ceiling, feeling every pulse in my now balloon-like belly.
The fullness settles in, and as the bliss of food fades, something else creeps in.
Guilt.
Those extra pies and milkshakes…
Definitely a mistake.
I'm so bloated right now.
But—
They're already in my stomach.
There's nothing I can do about it now.
I guess… I'll just make a mental note to have more self-restraint next time.
And to not let myself be swayed by good food again.
Probably.
Maybe.
…Okay, who am I kidding? That's never happening.
As we relax, time seems to slow down.
Before I realize it, twenty minutes have passed.
Eris suddenly gets up, stretching her arms.
"Alright, let's go settle the bill."
I nod and follow closely behind as she heads toward the bar.
Lilly is already there, waiting for us with her usual cheerful expression.
"Thanks, Lilly!" Eris says with a bright grin. "The food was awesome as always!"
"I'm glad you liked it!" Lilly chirps.
"So, how much do we owe?"
"That will be one hundred and twenty-three crowns in total," Lilly replies, her tone polite and professional.
"Alright!" Eris says, pulling out some coins from her pouch and handing them over.
I stand by, watching the transaction closely.
So, the currency here is called crowns…
Over a hundred crowns for just two people?
I have no idea if that's expensive or cheap.
I don't really have a sense of money in this world yet.
Still—
A thought crosses my mind.
"Eris, may I ask, how much does it cost to rent a room here?" I inquire, curious.
"Oh, it's fifty crowns per day for one person," Eris replies casually.
I blink.
That's… not helpful.
I still have no idea if that's a lot or not.
But wait—
That means…
I do some quick mental math.
50 crowns per day x 30 days = 1500 crowns per month.
Then add food…
50 crowns per meal x 3 meals a day x 30 days = 4500 crowns per month.
Oh.
Ohhh.
"Wait… with me here, that means it'll cost you an extra six thousand crowns per month!!!"
I whirl around, staring at Eris in horror.
"Hey!" Eris frowns, cutting me off before I spiral any further. "We're friends, and friends help each other. You don't need to worry about it! I'll take care of you until your memories come back."
"No! I can't let you do that!" I protest, shaking my head firmly.
"What if my memories never return?! And besides, because we're friends, I can't just take advantage of you like that!"
There's no way I can let her carry this burden alone.
Yeah, I can't just leech off her like this.
That wouldn't feel right.
That would make me a terrible person.
I refuse to be a freeloader.
I take a deep breath and turn to Lilly.
"Lilly, your inn is hiring more kitchen staff, right? Can I apply for the position?"
I know this because I saw a poster on the wall earlier.
The Gilded Horn is looking for someone to chop vegetables and butcher meat—basically, a prep cook position.
The job pays 50 crowns an hour, with an 8-hour workday, 6 days a week, starting early in the morning.
Lilly blinks, looking genuinely surprised.
"Y-yeah!" she stammers. "But… I can't decide that myself since I'm just a waitress. Give me a few minutes—I'll ask my boss!"
"Yes! Thank you so much, Lilly!" I reply gratefully, bowing my head slightly.
The sheep-girl waitress gives me a quick nod before disappearing into the back to talk to her boss.
Now we wait.
I can feel my heart starting to race again.
I'm nervous.
Really nervous.
Eris leans against the counter, watching me carefully.
"Felicia, are you sure about this?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, one hundred percent!" I reply, forcing confidence into my voice.
Back on Earth, I worked as a prep cook for a while after graduating university—finding a job in my field back then was nearly impossible.
So, I actually have plenty of experience.
With this job, I can finally take care of myself without having to rely on Eris!
Just a minute later, Lilly returns.
I immediately straighten up, my stomach twisting with anticipation.
"So… am I accepted?" I ask, my heart pounding harder.
Lilly smiles.
"My dad—ah, sorry, my boss, the owner of this place—wants to talk to you first. Are you free right now?"
"Oh! Absolutely!" I respond eagerly.
"Alright, follow me!" Lilly says, motioning for me to come along.
As I step forward, Eris suddenly chimes in.
"Lilly, is it okay if I come too?"
Lilly tilts her head.
"Hmmm… I don't think there's any problem with that. But…" She turns to me. "Felicia, are you okay with Eris coming along?"
"Well, of course!" I nod quickly.
In fact, I'm relieved.
My nerves are already on edge.
I have no idea what this interview is going to be like.
Having Eris by my side makes me feel so much more reassured.