The carriage rolled to a stop in front of Yumia Town's large stone gate, guarded by several armored soldiers.
"Identity card!" one guard demanded.
Ellyn's mother calmly handed over her ID. The adventurers, used to the process, provided their adventurer cards without issue.
Meanwhile, at the back of the carriage, Hazuki was still snoring.
The guard stomped over, shaking him. "Oi! Identity card!"
"Hmm? What?" Hazuki mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Identity card."
Still half-asleep, Hazuki fumbled in his pouch and pulled out his temporary ID from the capital, handing it over.
The guard squinted at it. "This thing can't be used here. It's only valid in the capital."
"EHHH!?"
The guards crossed their arms. "Now! You're coming with us!"
"EEEKKK!! WAIT, WAIT!" Hazuki panicked, flailing.
"What?"
"I have this!" He quickly shoved his adventurer card at them.
The guards grumbled. "Damn it! Next time, just use this one!"
They snatched his temporary ID away. "We're confiscating this."
Hazuki pouted. "Fine...!"
The guards ignored him. "Alright, you're clear. Move along!"
Hazuki sighed, finally stepping off the carriage. At least he didn't get arrested.
As soon as they stepped through the gates of Yumia Town, Ellyn's mother reached up and removed her cloak.
Hazuki's eyes widened as two furry cat ears popped up on her head. "...Huh?"
She stretched slightly, flicking her ears, clearly relieved to be free from the cloak. Ellyn, seeing this, smiled and removed hers too.
POOF!
Two smaller cat ears twitched atop her head.
Hazuki's brain shut down. "...HUUUUUUUHHHHHH!?!?!?"
The adventurers didn't even react—some just chuckled.
The merchant nodded. "Ahh, I had a feeling. You two are beastkin, huh?"
Ellyn grinned up at Hazuki. "Uncle, what's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost!"
Hazuki pointed a shaking finger at her. "Y-YOU—EARS—TAIL—YOU'RE BEASTKIN!?"
Ellyn giggled, swishing her tail playfully. "Half! I told you I'd be cute when I grow up!"
Hazuki held his head, still processing what he just saw. "Oi… what's with the cover? Why hide it?"
Ellyn's mother smiled gently. "We just didn't want to attract too much attention while in the capital."
Ellyn nodded, flicking her tail. "Yeah! If we didn't, people would surround us!"
Hazuki raised an eyebrow. "Surround you?"
Ellyn grinned. "And a lot of men would try to flirt with Mama."
Hazuki froze. "…Ah."
He slowly glanced at Ellyn's mother, who just smiled knowingly.
A single mother, beautiful and exotic? Yeah, he could see why men would swarm her like bees to honey.
Hazuki crossed his arms. "Hmmm...I guess that makes sense."
But still… half-beastkin, huh? What other surprises awaited him in this town?
"So, Uncle?" Ellyn's voice broke his thoughts.
Hazuki yawned, still tired. "Hmm?"
Ellyn smiled innocently. "We already promised, right?"
"Huh?"
Ellyn giggled. "We're going to get married when I turn into an adult! Hehehe~"
"..."
Hazuki froze.
The adventurers, the merchant, and even some random townsfolk turned their heads.
The world went silent.
Then—
"PFFFFFFFFFT—!!!" The adventurers exploded into laughter.
"OI OI OI!!!" Hazuki jumped back, waving his hands. "WHEN DID I AGREE TO THAT?!?!"
Ellyn pouted. "You pinky promised!"
Hazuki felt his soul leave his body. "WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! THAT DOESN'T COUNT!!"
"It does!" Ellyn crossed her arms confidently. "A pinky promise can't be broken!"
The merchant snickered. "Ohoho, looks like you're engaged now, young man."
Hazuki dropped to his knees, gripping his head. "WHY!? WHY DID I DO THAT?!?!"
The adventurers were crying from laughter. "BAHAHAHAHA! SHITMAN'S FATE IS SEALED!!!"
Meanwhile, Ellyn's mother smiled warmly, saying nothing—as if she already knew this would happen.
…
Damn it.
"Oi, oi, where are we going?!" Hazuki struggled as Ellyn dragged him forward.
Ellyn smiled innocently. "Hmm? You're buying me a ring or a necklace!"
"EEEHHH!?"
Hazuki turned his head, pleading for help.
But the adventurers, Ellyn's mother, and the merchant all followed behind.
Hazuki's panic doubled. "I didn't agree to this!!"
Ellyn stopped and turned toward the group. "A promise is a promise, right?"
They stared at Hazuki with dead-serious expressions.
Hazuki gulped. "Oi, don't just glare at me like that!!"
The merchant stroked his beard. "Hmm… can't break a pinky promise, boy."
The adventurers nodded. "Yeah, Shitman. Honor is important."
Ellyn's mother just smiled mysteriously.
Hazuki felt sweat roll down his back. I'M BEING FORCED INTO THIS!!!
Once they reached the vendor's stall, Ellyn immediately picked up a pair of rings. "We'll take these! One for me and one for Uncle!"
The vendor grinned knowingly. "Oho~ A matching pair? How lovely! I'll even give you a discount!"
Hazuki felt his soul leaving his body. "OI, WAIT A DAMN MINUTE! It was just a pinky promise!"
The adventurers and the merchant suddenly turned to him, serious. In perfect sync, they all said—
"Hmm? A pinky promise is sealed with divine magic. It's a serious oath. You didn't know?"
Hazuki froze. "…Huh?"
The vendor chuckled. "Oh my, you must be from far away. No one in this world makes a pinky promise without meaning it."
Hazuki's face turned pale. "EHHHHHHHH!? FOR REAL!?"
Ellyn grinned. "That means Uncle can't back out now!"
The adventurers patted his back, laughing. "Hahaha! Good luck, Shitman!"
Hazuki clutched his head. "I WAS SCAMMED!!!"
As Hazuki tried to find a way out of this madness, a curious onlooker—a middle-aged woman—approached the group.
She looked down at Ellyn. "Little girl? What kind of pinky promise did this man make you?"
"Oi! It's not me who made the promise!" Hazuki snapped, waving his hands.
Before he could stop her, Ellyn proudly puffed out her chest. "When I turn into an adult, he's going to take me as his wife!"
Her tail swayed excitedly as she grinned up at him.
The vendor gasped. "Oho~! You better remember that promise, young man."
Hazuki felt his knees buckle. "OI, DON'T JUST BELIEVE HER!!"
While he panicked, Ellyn seized her chance. With a quick movement, she slipped the ring onto Hazuki's finger without him noticing.
Ellyn clapped her hands together. "Now my turn~!"
The adventurers were dying of laughter. "BWAHAHA! HE'S ALREADY WEARING IT!"
Hazuki froze, looking down at the ring on his finger. "..."
"Now, Uncle, my ring~!"
Hazuki gritted his teeth. "Ugh! Fine!" With a deep sigh of defeat, he slid the ring onto Ellyn's small finger.
Suddenly, the ring shrank, perfectly adjusting to her size. "EHHHH!?!?" Hazuki's eyes widened.
Before he could react, both rings began glowing. A soft white aura swirled around their hands, forming a gentle, radiant light.
Gasps filled the market.
Then, as if summoned by fate, a priest "accidentally" appeared, walking toward them with Ellyn's mother beside him.
The priest raised his hands with a knowing smile. "O spirits of the old, bear witness to this vow. Bound by fate, sealed by trust, let no force tear them asunder. May their promise remain unbroken, till time itself fades. By the light of the heavens, let this bond be blessed!"
A soft golden glow surrounded them for a brief moment before fading.
Hazuki froze. "Oi… OI… OI OI OI OI!!! WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!"
The priest smiled warmly. "Congratulations on your sacred vow."
Ellyn beamed. "Yay! Now Uncle can't break the promise!"
Hazuki felt his soul leaving his body. "I GOT SCAMMED AGAIN!!!!"
The adventurers collapsed in laughter. The merchant patted Hazuki's shoulder. "Rest in peace, boy. Your fate is sealed."
Meanwhile, Ellyn's mother just smiled, as if she expected this outcome all along.
( End of Chapter )