Onesco took the raw gem in both hands, as if scooping it up. Then she let out a cry mixed with joy and confusion.
"What!? Why!? I tried all morning and could not get it, so why was it this easy!? Why, why, why!?"
She was as worked up as a little girl who had finally been handed a star she could never reach.
"If it makes you that happy, I'm glad."
Onesco looked up at once, eyes sparkling.
"Happy doesn't cover it! I've always wanted a gem! L-Leopin-kun! Th-thank y...!"
She caught the word about to jump out of her mouth and clapped a hand over it. Then she cleared her throat.
"I-I'll say thank you. For the record As a common courtesy."
I asked the obvious question.
"Didn't you almost say a sincere thank you just now?"
Onesco's eyes sharpened, as if that were unthinkable.
"I-I would never! For my knight family, that word is the highest thanks there is! It is given with a kiss, a knight's oath that you would offer your life for that person! It is not something you say lightly!"
"Huh. Sounds rough."
A piercing cry cut in between us. A flash of light blinded me for a moment.
A huge white bird, wings wider than my arms spread, dove in and attacked Onesco. It pecked her hair and pulled, raked her hands with its talons, and flew off.
Onesco, kicked by its hind legs, started to fall with a cry. I reached out and pulled her in. In my arms, she went pale.
"The gem is gone! That bird took it! W-wait!"
She tried to run after it. I kept hold of her shoulder and did not let go.
"L-let go, Leopin-kun!"
"Calm down, Onesco. It's flying. We can't reach it from here."
She was completely rattled.
"H-how are you so calm!? It took a precious gem! I finally got it, I can't just give up! Without that, I, I...!"
"I said calm down. I haven't given up either. I only said we can't reach it."
Onesco blinked. "Huh?"
"What does that mean...?"
"Same as a gem at the back of a small hole. If we can't do it, we ask a friend who can. Look."
I pointed at the bird flying off. The moment Onesco looked up, a black shape leapt from a high tree.
It was the supple silhouette particular to cats. If I ever opened a sporting-goods shop, I might have used it as the logo.
While the bird was attacking Onesco, I had ordered Tom, waiting behind me like a shadow, up into the tree. A backup, in case the bird got away.
Tom and the bird tangled hard in the air. White and black locked together, like the yin-yang mark passed down in the eastern country.
The bird kicked hard with its talons, trying to throw Tom off. The fight ended when Tom's bite caught the bird at the nape.
Tom landed with the bird under him, using it like a cushion. He came trotting back with the recovered raw stone in his mouth.
Onesco was stunned.
A moment ago she had been trying to get away from me. Now she clung tight.
"A-a black panther!?"
"It's fine. He's my pet."
"Y-you're kidding!?" Onesco's pupils stayed wide.
"When I heard about it from Lady Monaka, I thought it was just a big cat or something...! N-no way it was the real thing...!"
Good grief. Even Onesco had been at the same level as those boys.
"Come on. Tom wants to give it back. Take the gem."
"O-okay..." Onesco held out a nervous hand. Tom dropped the gem onto her palm with a soft tap, and she twisted, unable to stand it.
"C-cute! How is he this cute!?"
When Onesco petted Tom, he rolled onto his side like a pose of submission. Onesco let out a bright squeal and forgot the gem, rubbing his belly.
"A cat, a cat, a cat! A big cat! Leopin-kun, what's this cat's name!?"
"Tom."
"Tom, Tom, Tom! Cute, cute, cute!"
Onesco was a model student, the kind you could put in a picture, always sharp-eyed and composed. She put out an aura that kept people away. Right now she was a different person.
No. She was bubbling like a high school girl her own age.
While Onesco played with Tom, I collected the drop items from the bird Tom had taken down.
Griffon-Bird Gizzard
Quantity: 1
Quality Level: 5 (Material Level 5)
A bird organ with a mild, chewy texture. Used as food, and also as an alchemy material.
Griffon-Bird Flight Feather
Quantity: 1
Quality Level: 22 (Material Level 22)
A flight feather, rare even among griffon-bird feathers. Depending on the angle of the light, it shifts white, pale blue, and silver. Hidden magic gives a special effect if it is made into a feather ornament.
"Yes! Another of Akemi's requested items. And a rare item that looks worth working, too!"