Seeker 311

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Chapter 311. Naming

After conquering the pyramid dungeon and finishing helping Queen Lulu, we decided to enter a restaurant in town for a meal.

We had been walking through the desert from night till dawn, only having simple meals. All three of us were starving.

After returning to the inn and getting some rest, we would depart the city again as escorts for the caravan at night, but before that, we needed to fill our stomachs.

Although it was bright outside, it felt like dinner time.

Sitting at a four-person table, we looked at the menu and made random orders, and soon the landlady brought us dishes and drinks.

"Today's a good day, so here's a little extra," she said, adding dishes we hadn't ordered.

"""Cheers!"""

Kupi!! Kupi!!

Among dishes like grilled skewers, pie wraps, and stuffed leafy vegetables with meat, Kazane, Yuzuki, and I clinked our wooden tankards and glasses together.

The mini griffon seemed delighted as it sipped milk and transferred into a shallow dish.

"Munch, munch, munch... Ahh! Now then, Daichi-kun, have you decided on Griff's name?"

As Kazane, having consumed half of his beer, licked the foam off his lips, he asked while looking at me.

Ah, so it's that topic, after all.

"Well... I've thought about it. But I'm not good at naming things. I've come up with something, but I thought maybe it'd be better for you, Kazane, or Yuzuki to decide. Ouch, what was that?"

Clunk, clink!

The Griffin pecked at my hand with its beak.

Its cry had a tone of protest.

Seeing this, Yuzuki sighed heavily.

"Sigh... That won't do, Senpai. It's the owner's responsibility to decide. Right, Gri-chan? Gri-chan must be upset because Senpai hasn't named him yet, right?"

Kupi!! Kupi!!

Griffon nodded at Yuzuki, bobbing its head up and down.

I wonder if this guy really understands what we're talking about.

"Hotaru-chan's right, Daichi-kun. It's your responsibility as the owner. It won't work if Daichi-kun doesn't name it."

Kazane chimed in.

No good, huh? I see.

"By the way, what have you come up with?" 

Yuzuki asked casually.

There's no helping it.

Although I have no confidence in my naming sense, I guess I'll have to make up my mind.

Reaching out to Griffin and cradling its body against my chest, I answered.

"Well, I thought about it. Both of you have been calling it 'Griff', right? I thought it might be awkward to change it now."

"Hmm, that's very like you, Senpai. But go on, let's hear the rest."

While urging me to continue, Yuzuki delivered a relentless body blow with her words.

T-This girl...

I steel myself and continue speaking.

"But just leaving it as 'Griff' might not be quite right either. So, I thought maybe 'Griffy' would be good... What do you think? This way, you can still call him Gri-chan as usual..."

I cautiously gauge their reactions.

Is this okay...?

Yuzuki puts her hand to her mouth, showing a pensive gesture.

"Griffy-chan, huh... Yeah, I think that's fine. Especially since it's a name Daichi-kun thought hard about. Right, Hotaru-chan, what do you think?"

"Yeah, I think it's good too. -- How about you, Griffy-chan? Do you like the name 'Griffy' that your owner gave you?"

Kupi!! Kupi!!

As Yuzuki speaks to Griffin nestled in my arms, Griffy chirps happily.

Confirming this, Yuzuki and Kazane give me a thumbs up.

It seems like it's been approved.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

If the name I had thought about was disparaged, I might not have been able to recover.

"Take care from now on, Griffy."

I stroke the head of the small monster I hold to my chest.

Griffy chirps happily and wiggles in my arms.