A Wonderful Aspect of Autumn: Action (20)

When I entered the exit at the mountaintop, I was given a choice of destinations. There were two options: the event area's lobby or the place I had been before coming to the event area—in other words, my room.

I opened the clan chat to write that I would return to the city ahead of everyone else. The chat was filled with messages celebrating our second-place finish. I was embarrassed, but my companions' warm words made me even happier. After thanking everyone, I wrote that I would return to the city ahead of them.

The moment I moved to my room, the Dragon Puppy looked around restlessly. Being brought somewhere unfamiliar would naturally cause that reaction. I gently patted the Dragon Puppy sitting on my head.

"Kyuuuu..."

"Don't worry. This is my room. Shall we go outside?"

After changing into my usual equipment, I left the palace with the Dragon Puppy on my head. The residents stared curiously at the unfamiliar Dragon Puppy, but they accepted the newcomer when I introduced it as my new companion.

I asked them to be friendly with the newcomer and to spread the word throughout the city. I wanted the city's residents to accept the Dragon Puppy as soon as possible.

We headed for the plaza in the center of the city. There, Cal was asleep while surrounded by children playing noisily. The Dragon Puppy shuddered and clung tightly to my head. Before I could calm the Dragon Puppy down, Cal woke up and stared intently at us.

"Hello, Cal. This is a new companion. Be kind to the newcomer."

"Grrrrrr?"...