Welp, Sorry for the wait. life was busy with work and such. Also this past weekend was eso's welcome back weekend. Anybody play that? I'm thinking about buying it but I'm not sure.... Anyways here ya go! Chapter 11!

EDIT: Oh yeah, thanks to One Centimeter for reviewing! Or whatever it is now, thanks! :D

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I could really feel a change after my birthday.

It wasn’t the usual change that a kid this age feels when they become a year older though.

No, it had to do with the atmosphere in the Bakery.

Clyde and Claura acted much more naturally around myself and my mother. The kindness that they had begun to show me began to extend to her as well. It almost felt like the two of them began to truly view us not as slaves but more like……….employees I guess?

Clyde had certainly come a long way. I think he’s begun to understand that regardless of what society may think, the beast races are people too.

I had seen it on the few times I had gone out; most viewed us as dumb beasts of burden. Fit for only doing heavy labor.

However, Clyde has definitely come around to the realization that we are just as smart and feeling as humans.

And Claura has become much less nervous around us. The ticking of her heart has completely calmed down now.

Something that would normally only happen around her parents and sometimes around my mother. Now she seems and acts much more like how a seven year old should.

Though now she calls my mother ‘auntie’ and isn’t even afraid to call me ‘big brother’ around Clyde…..

It’s a strange feeling after experiencing six years of slavery to see such an amazing turn around.

Even Gertrude has seemingly mellowed out.

Though it really is odd how it came about. It happened after she went to talk to the wizard who would be teaching Claura.

She just came back and acted so much nicer. ‘Grand Archive’ even noticed a trend of her blood pressure dropping

gradually over the next few days after…..

…..I wonder if the wizard gave her this world’s equivalent of weed?

It would certainly do her good………maybe I should find out if he actually did.

….magic weed…….hmmm that sounds tempting.

I wasn’t able to partake back on earth due to NASA’s regulations but I had always been curious……….

Enough of that!!

“Oh Clyde your back! How did it----Waahh!”

The yelp rose out of me unintentionally as Clyde grabbed me and spun me through the air!

“What the hell are you doing!”

“AAAHHH Kitling you are amazing!”

Well…. I mean I already knew that but what the hell does that have to do with the current situation!

“So?”

Finally he set me down!

“Pah! You’re no fun sometimes. Anyways, the Snagan Retreat is ecstatic they say they will pay for the infrastructure necessary to increase production and whatever else we need….. on top of paying out fifty crowns a barrel!”

*CRASH!*

“H-how much did you say?”

Clyde rushed to Gertrude and gave her a massive kiss before shouting in excitement

“FIFTY CROWNS! WE’RE RICH!”

Yes, yes, you’re welcome. Your resident genius provided you with a taste of true civilization and now you’re reaping the benefits.

Clyde finally calmed enough to turn around and bring himself to my eye level where he firmly grasped my shoulders….. almost painfully I might add.

“Kitling…..thank you. It’s barely been an entire year since you and I began this deal…..but we just finished our first big deal and are opening a second location. Heck even the words I’m using come from you…… I don’t think I can thank you enough.”

Aaarrrggghh, Clyde now you’re making me feel all embarrassed!

“Hmmpphh, o-of course! J-just make sure to r-repay me later!”

Who am I!? Claura! Seriously this is really embarrassing

Clyde took a step back and gave me this oddly kind smile.

“Of course, just name it……that was our deal after all.”

He seems really thankful. Also his payments have stacked up, I’m sure he’s aware of just how much red is in his ledger…….soon, very soon I’ll be able to ask.

“W-well, let’s leave that for later! Shouldn’t we be celebrating?”

“HHMMMMMRMR?”

Clyde’s eyebrows nearly achieved escape velocity as he processed what I said!

“That is most definitely the case! Gertrude! Go and see if Claura can return for a night! In fact, invite her master along!”

“Yes Clyde.”

Ah I guess one thing I should mention, wizards obviously had a high status so when going out to invite them to something or others of higher status in general a human would be usually sent. Beast races are considered so inferior that sending one out to call upon people of higher status is viewed as an insult.

Thus Gertrude was sent running off to get Claura from the magic district.

…….good she could use the exercise.

“Congratulations Master! You’ve worked hard for this!”

“Nonsense Kitten! It was your son that put forth the most effort! If not for him….well….we’d be living very differently

right now.”

Clyde’s eyes held a reminiscent look in them, he almost seemed like an old man with that look in them…..

Which is weird…….he’s definitely not older than I was back on earth.

Meh whatever.

Hrm? Now it looks like he reached some kind of decision.

“Kitten……Clyde is fine.”

“Master?”

My mother tilted her head in confusion, her tail flicking slightly.

“I said……Clyde…….is fine.”

Now my mother’s eyes turned as round as saucers, a slight hint of both happiness and sadness were mixed in them as

they narrowed and began to tear up.

Odd.

There seems to be much more emotion than what should be necessary for a slave that had its master just tell them to call them by name.

“Thank you…….Clyde.”

My mother’s voice was lower now as she looked at the ground. But then with a twitch of her ears and the sway of her tail she looked back up with eyes filled with vibrancy but still holding back tears.

“Well, I should begin cleaning up the back room! A wizard will be here! Can’t let him see a dirty house now can I!?”

“Very well, Kitling and I will take care of the rest.”

“Yes!”

With that my mother turned around and headed into the back room from the shop front. There was a slight spring in both her step and tail now though.

Clyde and I just stood there…..almost awkwardly before he looked at me again.

“Kitling…..I know it’s asking a lot but can you do me a favor?”

“What is it Clyde?”

“Is there something amazing you can make?”

“Huh?”

“I think it’d be great if we could have something truly amazing to eat to celebrate this deal.”

“Aaaahhh.”

My mind began to search through all of the recipes in my repertoire, trying to think of something that we could have right

now that would be satisfactory.

It was winter currently, so that excluded any vegetable that couldn’t be kept in cold storage.

That meant mostly potatoes and meat were left over, though we still had a few carrots and onions as well currently……

hmmmm.

Oh!

“Yes, I think I have just the thing. In fact, this’ll warm everyone right up since it’s cold out!”

“Really!?”

“This one will come free of charge…..just for today.”

“Thank you…..really, thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, thank the cooking god!”

“Praise be!”

Clyde had quickly picked up on sarcasm during our interactions with each other over the past year. Thank goodness, otherwise we definitely wouldn’t be where we are now.

“Alright, I will require your help though.”

“Whatever you need.”

“I need masla and chile from Vihk’s shop, we have the rest here.”

“Right! I’ll be back soon!”

Clyde quickly strode out of the shop like a man on a mission.

I shook my head, he really can be slightly over dramatic sometimes.

I walked back to the kitchen, though I briefly paused to talk to my mom.

“I’ll be in the kitchen, Clyde’s gone out for a bit.”

I kept the fact that he was out on my request to myself. Previous experience had taught me that my mom didn’t take kindly to when I ‘ordered the master about’.

“Really? Alright, be careful dear…. I don’t want you to get hurt!”

“Yes mooomm.”

No matter what world, mothers are always worry warts.

…………………………………………………………….

“Alright, done!”

I had just finished chopping up carrots, potatoes, and some chicken into bite sized chunks. I had also just begun to fry some onions in a large pot.

“All we need now is what Clyde is getting.”

While I waited I decided it would be a good idea to begin cleaning the rice.

“It has been a while since I last had this, hope it tastes as good as I remember it to be.”

I finished cleaning it and started heating up a pot to cook it. Thank goodness the magic oven had a stove top as well otherwise this would’ve taken forever! Furthermore thank goodness it was charged!”

*CLICK*

“Aah Clyde your back!”

“Yes, here’s the stuff you asked for….. the clerk at Vihk’s gave me a weird look when I asked for this stuff, what is it?”

“You’ll see.”

I dumped the chicken into the pot with the onions and began to brown them, the fragrance from the frying ovens tickled our noses as it wafted out from the pot.

“Hmmm fine, do we have any beer on hand?”

“Stuff that isn’t for the Snagan Retreat you mean? Hmm, there’s a small bottle or two of an experiment that should be done. Be careful though, this stuff is…..shall we say ‘hoppy’ you might not like it.”

“Pah! What of yours haven’t I liked before!?”

“Well I think this may be more of an acquired taste…….”

“Baahh!”

*SLAM*

“I warned you….”

The stuff I had brewed was my first attempt at an IPA…..which even among regular beer drinkers was an acquired taste.

I had taken a sip before to test it…..very hoppy….very….very…very hoppy.

Just as I was pouring in several cups worth of water into the pot with the now cooked chicken and onions, Clyde comes running in.

“Kitling! What is this!? It’s too bitter!”

“That is called an IPA. It’s quick to make and has a ‘biting’ taste as you’ve seen. Actually it’ll go quite nicely with what I’m making right now.”

“That doesn’t explain anything!”

“Look, it’s a lighter beer that has had hops dry soak in it. It’s highly carbonated and has a very hoppy flavor. That is what it is. Alcohol content is lower than a stout but at least it isn’t like you’re drinking liquid bread.”

“Better.”

“Whatever hand some over. Since we’re celebrating I might as well have some.”

Clyde hesitated a bit before handing it over. Even in this uncivilized world they know giving alcohol to a six year old isn’t that great of an idea.

I don’t care, one night isn’t gonna kill me. Besides with this small of a body, even one standard drink will get me sloshed.

Oh! The pot’s boiling! Time to add the potatoes and carrots!

………………………………………………………………………..

“Mister Darney declined but he does send his best wishes.”

“Ahwell, he is a wizard after all…..Claura! Have you grown!?”

“WaaahH! Papaaaa! Don’t do that!”

Clyde had lifted Claura high into the air before hugging her……he really likes doing that to us kids….doesn’t he.

Also he is correct, she did grow……just not in height. She had clearly gained a bit of weight, ‘Grand Archive’ had

determined this based on a change in her usual inertia and the force Clyde typically exerts to lift her.

…Guess she’s been eating well at the wizard’s mansion.

“Enough Papa!”

Oh! She freed herself, but her muscles clearly aren’t strong enough to push herself off of him.

Magic? She must’ve learned something over the past two months since she’s been there.

Eh!? For a second I thought I saw something flash….. ‘Grand Archive’ might be awakening a new ability. At least it’s not all of the sudden like with the ‘Instantaneous response’ ability. That was the one that had allowed me to ‘save’ Claura a while back. I have only used it twice since to gather an understanding of what it is.

No matter, I suppose I should just enjoy the party.

“Big Brotherrrrrr!”

“Whaaa-OOOMMMPHH!”

I was tackled by the magical bundle of cuteness.

“I’ve missed you!”

“It’s been only fifty-seven days, ten hours, and four minutes since we last so each other.”

“That’s so long!”

No that definitely isn’t all that long…..though I’m using the yard stick of someone who is nearly in their forties while she’s

still just an eight year old.

“O-ok then- aack! Too much!”

She’s definitely using magic! This is too much strength for her!

“Gaacck! C-Clyde….help!”

“BAHAHAHAHA!”

Damn you Clyde!

………………………………………….

“Ahem, anyways. Congratulations Clyde. You now have a large deal with an upscale bar. So without further ado, dinner is served!”

Before each person was set a plate that had one half beautifully cooked white rice. The other side had and orange-ish red stew with meat and vegetables in it.

That’s right.

It’s curry!

Thank whatever gods created this world that they saw fit to create these spices!

“…..What is this Kitling?”

“It’s called curry. It’s a spicy stew that you eat with rice. Also that IPA you tried earlier will help cut through the spice……you’ll probably need it.”

*CHOMP*

“OOWWW! It’s too spicy Big Brother.”

*CHOMP*

“Really? I think it’s about right. Try it with more rice, that might help.”

“Uuuu, ok.”

We continued to eat in silence as everyone savored the dish, even Gertrude was trying it! Though I noticed both her and Clyde frequently sipped the IPA from their mugs.

“Actually, it’s not too bad. Certainly it’s spicy….but it’s quite pleasant and the flavor is outstanding!”

“Mmm, Kitling the flavor is so complex…I really like it!”

So says Clyde and my mother after a while. Thankfully my mother doesn’t seem to be forcing herself, guess even with her sensitive cat’s tongue she can appreciate the flavors.

Claura and Gertrude seem put off though.

I guess this time I missed the mark.

Darnit! I like being right!

Though the food was too hot to handle for some, the conversation wasn’t lacking.

Claura had nearly two months worth of stories to tell us.

“---And then, master Darni crushed the boulder with his pinky!”

“Woooww!”

“Amazing!”

Everyone listened with rapt attention as she described her lessons with the wizard Darney. It seemed he specialized in body strengthening magic. Apparently the magic was accomplished by covering the outside of the body with a film of mana and manipulating it to assist a person’s base strength as well as protect them from the new and stronger forces they were exerting.

The magic didn’t seem popular since it required a large mana pool to maintain and very fine control. Two things which were normally not present in most wizards. They either had a bunch of mana or very good control not both.

Darney seemed to be researching how to make the magic easier and more efficient. ‘Grand Archive’ had already compiled my ideas on the subject and had them sitting at the corner of my vision along with any knowledge I had about this kind of magic from fantasy novels from my old world.

…..thanks for the needlessly excessive information ‘Grand Archive’ ……. Real helpful.

………………………………………

Eventually the celebratory dinner concluded with me serving up blonde brownies which I had made while making the curry.

After that Clyde and Gertrude decided to stay downstairs as Claura, my mother, and I went up to mine and my mother’s bedroom.

…..Or really, Claura followed us in saying she was lonely.

This girl……really I don’t know what to do.

Somehow all three of us managed to cram ourselves on the bed, it wasn’t all that large.

My mother than told us a little fairy tale about a wizard who protected the innocent and saved a village…blah blah blah.

It was making me sleepy for a whole different reason than the usual for someone my age.

“Oh yeah, Big brother. Mother wanted me to give you something.”

A necklace with a small gem on it flopped into my field of vision.

“It’s really pretty right?!”

“Hmmm I think it’d look better on you.”

I really don’t want to receive anything from that damn woman.

“naah try it on.”

“ooff!”

Now Claura herself flopped over my mom’s lap and thrust the necklace at me.

Really why is she so insistent! Besides the real question is why did Gertrude get this for me!?

“Try it try it try it try it try it try it!”

“Ah wait…….Claura!”

She then forced herself on top of me and fastened the necklace in place.

Then pulled back and looked at me with a childishly critical eye.

She’s really just too adorable!

“Hmmm, it doesn’t look good!”

Geh! She needs to learn subtlety! Though right now it’s in my favor, I want to quickly get this thing off.

“Like I said, it’ll look better on you. You should try it.”

“okayy~!”

Good! Now I can get this necklace off me, for some reason it has been making my skin crawl.

I quickly untie it though I paused to exam it. In essence it was just a piece of died leather with a small pendant on it with a red jewel inlaid into it. Really something that a little girl would wear.

“Ow that’s my hair!”

“Sorry, just a second and it’ll be on.”

I had to help Claura put it on. Meanwhile my mother looked at us with a slightly amused expression.

“There we go!”

“Oh Claura it looks great on you!”

My mother cooed praises for a while.

Oddly enough Claura was un-responsive.

“Claura?”

What’s wrong with her?

Suddenly her head snapped up and her eyes had an odd blankness to them.

“Mistress Claura?”

*FFFFSSSSSSSS*

I could smell something burning……flesh. Also Claura was suddenly way closer to my mom.

“k-Kitling.”

“M-mom!?”

“I l-love, y-you.”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

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