Chapter 31

When I was a child, my mother took me to a boutique in Akasaka or Hiroo. I don’t remember the exact location, but it was a chic store on the second or third floor of a building. I remember watching the cars passing on the highway from the store. It was a clear day, and the cars sparkled in the sunlight.

Why was I watching cars? Because there was nothing else to do. It’s hard for a boy to enjoy shopping with his mother. I probably whined or threw a tantrum.

My mother only took me to the boutique that one time. She must have been discouraged after that. By me, who didn’t enjoy shopping.

That day, what did my mother expect from me? Was she looking forward to shopping with her child?

I can no longer do anything for my deceased mother. What should I have done? Should I have enjoyed shopping with her?

It was much later that I learned women enjoy shopping. And I never had the opportunity to experience it myself.

When Roxanne was told she could buy a coat, she happily started selecting one. She seemed ready to turn the store upside down. Literally, she might have done just that.

She took each coat from the rack on the left, examined it in detail, spread it out to check the overall look, tried it on her arm to see if it suited her, and checked the collar and hem. There were no exceptions. Even the coat that looked obviously bad, she spread out and examined carefully.

Ah, she folded it up. It was no good after all.

That coat had a strange color from the start. She should have confirmed it without hesitation. I wanted to say that, but of course, I didn’t.

The shopkeeper didn’t say anything either. It seemed he didn’t want to say anything that might upset her. If he asked Roxanne what she was looking for, she would probably say, “Show me everything.”

“Here, I would recommend this one.”

“...Hmm”

It didn’t work. The coat the shopkeeper showed her didn’t appeal to Roxanne. The shopkeeper probably recommended something that was a bit more expensive and had been left unsold. Roxanne is great. Let her choose the coat.

The shopkeeper moved on to another customer. He must have heard that I said she could buy whatever she liked, and he would be happy if one coat sold.

I just watched as Roxanne turned the store upside down. I don’t remember or realize what mistake I made with my mother, but I won’t repeat it. I’ll watch without complaining.

She’s beautiful and cute, so just watching is enjoyable. As a result, she started asking, “How about this one?”

Yeah. Asking me about fashion is taboo. I tried to come up with a casual response, like “That’s nice too,” to avoid the question. Since she showed me the ones she liked, I shouldn’t say anything negative. I understand that much. Or rather, that’s all I understand.

After checking all the coats in the store, Roxanne narrowed it down to two. One she had been holding in her left arm and one she found later. Both were a similar shade of maroon.

“Which one do you think is better?”

After comparing the two for a long time, Roxanne turned around. She had the coats on both her arms.

If she’s asking me, she probably has a 60-40 preference for one of them. If I choose that one, it’s over.

If I fail here, everything will be for nothing. Saying the cheaper one is a minefield. I think the cheaper one is fine, but I can’t say that.

The coat on her left arm, which she had been holding all along, must be the one she liked. If that’s the hint, this is the right answer.

I was watching the highway and didn’t notice the hint. But not today.

“This one has a more mellow, chic, and elegant color.”

I confidently recommended the coat on her left arm. The reason was arbitrary. It’s a post-hoc justification.

What does a mellow color even mean? I don’t understand it myself. Not sweet, not spicy, not delicious.

“Really? I thought this one had better stitching, but the color was a bit heavy.”

“Uh, yes.”

Oh. The color of the other one was better.

“But you’re right. Now that you mention it, it does have a more elegant color. I understand. Is this one okay?”

“Alright. Do you need anything else?”

She seemed to accept it. I took the coat from Roxanne.

“No, that’s all. But...”

“Since we’re here, why don’t you buy one more?”

“But...”

“There’s no need to be shy. Today is a special day, after all.”

I leaned in and whispered to her. It was the day I bought Roxanne. Or rather, we need to buy two to get a 30% discount.

“Can I buy some undergarments then?”

“Sure.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I nodded, and Roxanne started choosing. They were the same kind of pumpkin pants I bought before. There’s no gender difference. There’s no allure.

Perhaps the lack of allure is because we’re modern. Roxanne is choosing without spreading them out. Maybe she feels embarrassed about undergarments.

“Is one enough?”

Since she didn’t spread them out, she chose relatively quickly. The case I brought from the slave market only had maid outfits. She probably doesn’t have much of her own.

“Well, maybe one more. How much for three?”

I ordered the shopkeeper without giving her a choice.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Thank you. For three items, considering you liked the coat, it will be 2,856 nals.”

We bought three items, including the same color pumpkin pants Roxanne took out. After paying, I gave her the coat and put the undergarments in her backpack from behind.

“Shall we go back to the inn?”

“Yes.”

The sun was already setting. It took quite a while, even though it wasn’t a big purchase. I should be prepared for shopping to take time from now on.

“Welcome back.”

We returned to the Bail Inn and received the key.

“I’ll go to the room first to put the luggage away. We’ll have dinner after that. When we’re done, ask for two hot water jugs and a lantern.”

“Two jugs of hot water and one lantern. That will be 35 nals.”

I paid and went up to the fifth floor. When we entered the room, Roxanne carefully put the coat in the closet.

“Thank you.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

I was grateful that she didn’t run away during the shopping. I approached her as she put away the items in her backpack and patted her head.

Yeah. She doesn’t seem to mind. The fear from earlier is gone.

“Since there’s still some daylight, I’ll do some maintenance. Please bring out your equipment.”

She said this while I was patting her head.

“I think it’s fine since we just bought it today.”

“No, it’s not.”

Roxanne suddenly glared at me. Her eyes were strong.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

She seems to be particular about maintenance. Roxanne took out a small bottle of olive oil.

“Ah, well...”

Roxanne turned to me and hesitantly looked down. The atmosphere suddenly returned to normal.

“What?”

“I want to use the undergarments I’m wearing now for maintenance.”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

“...Please have your dinner, Master.”

“Dinner first, huh?”

By the time we finish eating, it will be dark. It’s better to do the maintenance before dinner. The lantern only has enough oil for an hour. I’d like to enjoy it under the light.

“So...”

“It’s fine. Let’s eat together downstairs.”

“Is that okay? The inn’s dining room is expensive. If it’s just me, I can eat somewhere cheaper.”

Is she being polite, or does she not want to eat with me?

“We’ve already paid for the meal. If you don’t want to eat together...”

“I don’t mind at all.”

“Alright, then.”

I put the copper sword on the table.

“...Then, I’ll, um, excuse me.”

Roxanne suddenly started taking off her pants. I thought something was happening, but of course. She’s going to do maintenance, and she needs to use the undergarments she’s wearing, so she has to take them off.

“Ah, sorry. Don’t worry about it.”

I waved my hand. I should be the one to worry.

I’ll enjoy the view. The loose tunic didn’t show much. I saw her butt, which was cute, but the part I really wanted to see...

I can’t just stare.

Ah, her tail. Her tail.

Roxanne turned sideways, so her tail was clearly visible. The same chestnut color as her hair, fluffy fur.

So she does have a tail. I’ll touch it later.

Roxanne quickly changed. It was really fast. I wanted to see more, but I can’t complain.

When she sat down, Roxanne’s expression became serious. She started maintaining the equipment with a frightening look. She applied a small amount of oil to the cloth and began polishing.

“By maintaining them like this, they will stay in new condition.”

“Does the performance drop if you don’t maintain them?”

“If the user doesn’t feel good, the performance won’t be good.”

I see. It’s a matter of feeling. I don’t need to maintain Durandal today.

After the maintenance, we went down to the dining room and had dinner together. Everything went smoothly except for Roxanne trying to sit on the floor instead of across from me at the two-person table.

By the time we finished eating, it was dark. When we returned to the room, the inn’s staff brought the hot water and a lit lantern and left.

“Can you wash my back?”

Since we were alone, I started immediately. Calmly and boldly. If I act shy, Roxanne might get nervous too.

First, I undressed. I took off my trunks as well. Everyone is born naked.

I placed the lantern on the table and moved the basin to the center of the room.

“Here. Master.”

Roxanne wiped my back with a hand towel from behind. This part was successful. I dipped the hand towel in the water, wrung it out, and wiped the front myself.

“Can we use this?”

I took out the small bag of Koichi’s fruit and showed it to Roxanne. She turned around, and the thing hanging in front of me faced her. No, it should be fine. Probably.

“I don’t think I’ve washed a person’s body before.”

Roxanne must have seen it, but she didn’t react dramatically. That’s a bit disappointing.

My son is quite lively. I had a little accident when I went to the bathroom earlier.

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“Usually, we just wipe the body with water.”

“Do you... take baths?”

It’s fine. It’s translated.

“If you’re a noble.”

It seems to be quite a hassle. In my case, I can use magic to prepare water and fire. Maybe I can figure out a bath eventually.

“How do you use this?”

“Koichi’s fruit is only used near water.”

I showed her the Schokolade branch next. She’ll need water to rinse her mouth. This can wait until tomorrow.

After wiping my body, I put on the pumpkin pants.

“Then, it’s your turn, Roxanne.”

I tried to sound as calm and casual as possible. As if it was just my turn.

“...Y-Yes.”

“Yeah.”

Roxanne squeezed out a small voice. She put her hands on the tunic.

Since I can’t just watch, I turned to the basin and wrung out the hand towel again.

“Ah, um... I’m a werewolf, so I might be quite hairy. I’m sorry.”

“Wow. Really?”

I turned around at her words. She was just taking off her tunic.

In the dim light of the lantern, Roxanne’s body appeared fantastically. Her breasts, squeezed between her clothes and arms, were...

Ah, those are violent.

They’re projectiles. They’re unfair.

Roxanne’s front was filled with the ultimate weapon. They were big.

And soft.

They seemed to bring happiness to everything they touched.

“Actually, my back...”

Roxanne hid her chest from my gaze and twisted her body to face away. There was no need to hide. It’s a shame.

When I looked at Roxanne’s back, her hair covered her entire back...

Wait, it’s not hair, it’s fur.

I approached with the hand towel and saw fur growing on her back. The fur extended to her waist but didn’t stick out from her body. It wasn’t like hair growing from her head.

It wasn’t hair, but fur growing from her head to her back and waist. It was a very short bob.

In a word, that’s the hairstyle.

Roxanne took off her pants and undergarments. A tail extended from the end of the fur-covered area. The fur only grew to her tail, not on her butt. Her butt was smooth and looked delicious.

I stroked Roxanne’s back fur with my right hand, the one not holding the hand towel. The fur was soft and gentle, caressing my hand.

“It’s fluffy and soft. I like it.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I wiped her back fur with the hand towel. I wiped from top to bottom, following the contours of her body.

“Hmm. No problem.”

“Ah, um, I can’t let Master do this.”

“It’s fine. This way is faster.”

When I peeked around her back, I saw the massive mountains of her chest. The sacred peaks, two spiritual summits.

Roxanne was wiping her body with the hand towel, so she couldn’t hide them all the time.

I wanted to worship.

No, I want to be allowed to worship.

Namu, Roxanne.

Viva, Roxanne.

Worshiping wasn’t enough.

I had to venerate.

I wrapped my arms around her from behind, feeling the contours and cleansing the sacred mounds.

“Ahh...”

“What?”

“I, I’m fine...”

I silenced Roxanne, who was trying to say something, with determination.

The divine conical shape gave a resilient feel.

It was wonderful.

I enjoyed the solid weight and carefully polished it.

I wiped every hill gently, slowly, and meticulously.

It was soft.

Even through the hand towel, I savored the weight and resilience.

It was big.

It didn’t fit in my palm.

“Perfect.”

“...”

It was clearly taking longer than if Roxanne had done