Bump, bump.
The rhythmic vibration felt just like a rocking chair.
'Hmm... It's cozier than I thought?'
Pero was currently inside Rina's shoulder bag. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary leather bag that would be full with just a few textbooks and a pouch, but the inside was a completely different world.
Was it about 3.3 square meters? It was slightly smaller than the Goshiwon (tiny exam room) he lived in during his previous life, but for his current puppy-sized body, it was practically a spacious studio apartment. The floor was even lined with a fluffy microfiber blanket.
'Is this a Subspace Bag? The kind I only saw in fantasy novels?'
Pero rolled around inside the bag, lost in thought. He didn't know if this was an expensive item or a common one, but the ride quality was top-tier. Curious about the scenery outside, Pero poked his head out of the bag's opening.
"Pero, isn't it stuffy? Just hang in there a bit longer. We're almost at the village."
Rina was walking while supporting the bottom of the bag with one hand, worried that it might shake too much. To an onlooker, she looked like an ordinary college student taking her puppy for a walk, but from Pero's perspective, he felt like a Chairman being chauffeured in the back seat of a luxury sedan.
It was then. The bushes rustled violently, and a lump of green jelly popped out.
"Kiiiek!"
It was an 'Acid Slime', about the height of an adult male's thigh.
"Huk...?! An A-Acid Slime?"
Rina gasped and hurriedly stepped back.
"Pero! It's dangerous, don't come out! Stay still inside!"
Rina shouted urgently and pulled her staff from her waist. However, her white hand gripping the staff was trembling ever so slightly.
"O-Oh Wind Spirit... With your sharp blades... Ugh, why won't the words come out?"
Unlike Rina, who was sweating from nervousness, the slime calmly inflated its body. The green acidic solution bubbling inside its transparent body was clearly visible.
'If that splashes, it'll ruin Rina's skin and clothes.'
Pero sighed briefly.
'The owner is still a newbie, so the body suffers.'
Pero launched himself lightly from the bag's opening.
Tap.
Landing gracefully on the ground, Pero wagged his tail and scanned the surroundings. Just then, he spotted a pebble of the perfect size at his feet.
'If brute force doesn't work, magic will.'
Avoiding Rina's gaze, Pero stared slyly at the pebble.
[Skill Activation: Psychokinesis (Lv. Max)]
[Target: Pebble]
[Trajectory: Slime's Core -> Rock Behind -> Sky]
At the exact moment Pero pretended to tap the pebble with his front paw (without actually touching it)...
Zeeeow—!
The pebble became a blue flash and flew at the speed of sound.
SPLAT!
The center of the slime's body was cleanly pierced, scattering into green fragments in all directions. The pebble, continuing its trajectory, embedded itself into the rock behind with a loud BOOM!
"Kyaa?!"
Rina reflexively squeezed her eyes shut and crouched down. She nearly collapsed from the roar but barely managed to keep her balance.
A moment later, when she cautiously opened her eyes, only the rock with a hole in it remained; the slime had vanished without a trace.
"Uh...? Did... did I succeed just now?"
Rina looked back and forth between her staff and the empty air with a bewildered expression.
"Did the Wind Spirit... answer my desperation... with such tremendous power...?"
'...'
Pero shook the dirt off his paws and looked up at Rina. Her expression gradually changed from relief to overwhelming emotion.
"Oh my god... Pero, did you see that? I think I just used some incredibly powerful magic! It's true that potential explodes in moments of crisis!"
Unable to hide her excitement, Rina lifted Pero up high.
"Hah, thank goodness... I might actually have talent! Let's go, Pero! Let's go to the guild with this momentum!"
'Sure, sure. You are the next Archmage.'
[Part 2: The Mascot of Orem Village]
Jingle—
As she opened the door to the Adventurer's Guild, warmth, the smell of delicious stew, and boisterous noise washed over them.
"Oh? Rina's here?"
"Hey, Rina! You made it back safely today too!"
"Any injuries?"
Adventurers drinking beer near the entrance waved happily upon spotting Rina. They looked like rough, rugged men, but the way they looked at Rina was dripping with honey, as if looking at a niece who had just entered society.
Although she was a perpetual D-Rank and clumsy, the diligent and cheerful Rina was the guild's official 'Little Sister'.
"Hello, everyone! I'm back."
Rina greeted them with a bright smile.
"Welcome back, Rina. You're not alone today?"
Anna, the receptionist at the counter, rested her chin on her hand and smiled. Anna's gaze fixed on the glowing fur ball in Rina's arms.
"Yes! I came to register a partner. His name is Pero!"
When Rina lifted Pero slightly to show him off, all eyes in the guild focused on him.
"Oh my, what is that? He's so pretty! Is that a doll?"
Anna's eyes sparkled. The adventurers around them also showed curiosity and crowded around.
"What the heck, Rina. Where did you find such a precious little guy?"
"His fur looks like silver thread. Can I touch him once?"
Even rough adventurers were disarmed before Pero's mysterious appearance and cuteness.
"Alright, it's regulation, so we have to do a Monster Assessment, right? Pero, can you put your front paw here?"
Anna took out a transparent crystal ball. Pero tensed up slightly. If something like 'Beast of Destruction' popped up here, Rina's peaceful guild life would be over.
'System! Let's go natural. Very cute and harmless.'
[System: Engaging Camouflage Process. Setting mode to 'Pet Dog'.]
Pero tapped his tiny silver paw onto the crystal ball.
Woom—
The crystal ball emitted a weak and cozy pink light.
[Species: Silky Wolf]
[Threat Level: F- (Extremely Safe)]
[Special Ability: Fur is soft and glossy]
"..."
Silence flowed for a moment, then Anna covered her mouth and burst into laughter.
"Oh my god, it says Silky Wolf! A wolf with texture like silk! What do I do, he's so lovely!"
"His special ability is 'Fur is soft and glossy'? Bwahahaha! What is that!"
"He's perfect for Rina. You're both small, pretty, and cute!"
The guild instantly turned into a sea of laughter. It wasn't mockery, but a pleasant laughter from people who didn't know what to do with the cuteness.
"Ah, really! Don't laugh too much! Our Pero is very smart!"
Rina protested with a slightly flushed face, but people had already fallen for Pero. A bearded man secretly offered some jerky, and a mage playfully sprinkled glitter powder to make the silver fur shine even more.
'Geez... These people are treating a Divine Beast like a neighborhood mutt.'
Pero turned his head as if annoyed, but seeing Rina shrug her shoulders happily, he obediently ate the jerky.
"Okay, registration complete! I'll classify the grade as... 'Pet'. He's perfect as our guild mascot."
Anna stamped the document with a Thud. Rina hugged Pero tightly and smiled happily.
"Thank you, unnie! Pero, you heard that? We are official partners now."
"Bark!" (Yeah, take care of me, butler.)
After the heartwarming welcome ceremony, Rina enthusiastically headed to the Request Board.
Avoiding dangerous requests like 'Subjugation' or 'Hunting', her eyes stopped at a green request sheet in the corner.
[Request: Moonlight Moss Gathering]
[Location: West Forest, near the Rock Cave entrance]
[Difficulty: D]
[Reward: 5 Silver Coins]
'Oh...'
Pero's eyes shined. Gathering—how peaceful and safe. Just pluck some grass at the forest entrance, get paid, and buy meat. That's it.
"Great, this is perfect! I'll earn money safely and buy our Pero some delicious meat."
Rina tore off the request sheet with a satisfied expression. The surrounding adventurers watched them with heartwarming smiles.
"Right, Rina. Don't push yourself and come back safely."
"Take good care of Pero! Don't get lost, okay?"
"Yes, don't worry! I'll be back!"
Rina left the guild with light steps.
However, neither Rina nor the guild members waving her off noticed it.
Right next to where the 'Moonlight Moss Gathering' request had been torn off, a freshly pasted [Emergency Alert] flyer was fluttering in the wind.
[WARNING: 'Red-Maned Wolf (C-Rank)' sighted near the West Forest Rock Cave!]
Unaware of this, Pero was licking his lips in Rina's arms.
'Should I ask for a medium-rare steak for dinner tonight...'
The future of the world's strongest entity disguised as an F-Rank pet, and the clumsy rookie adventurer loved by all, was still destined to be bumpy.