Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends - V 2.1 Chapter 3.7

Carefully stepping on the stones so as not to fall into the lake, I made my way to the small island in the center. Kiril hopped nimbly from stone to stone and reached the island, just as the griffin let out a growl.

“Do not come!”

“!?”

I was startled. A deep male voice echoed throughout the cavern.

Did…the gryphon just speak…?

“Don’t come? Weren’t you the one who said to bring her here?”

Kiril stopped, snorted, and said that.

“…I did not call for you.”

The gryphon muttered tiredly.

What’s going on? It seems…weakened?

Kiril must have thought the same thing. He stopped and tilted his head.

“Hey, you…didn’t you get thinner since last time?”

“…Leave me be.”

“Leave you be? If you just drop dead here, we’ll end up looking like the bad guys.”

Kiril turned back and looked at me.

“Kuuna.”

He waved me over with a little beckoning gesture. Feeling uneasy, I looked up at Simon. He nodded reassuringly.

“Go on. It’ll be fine.”

“…Understood.”

When I turned around to look at Gier, he was wearing an extremely worried expression. It might not be the right time to think this, but I felt a little happy that Gier was concerned for me.

“Be careful.”

“Yes. I’m going.”

I nodded firmly and moved my feet forward. To be honest, I was incredibly scared.

What should I do? If I get yelled at again with that majestic voice, I might just collapse…

Step by step, I moved forward, passing Kiril, and finally reached the small island in the center.

I landed with a thud and let out a sigh. Slowly, I raised my face, and the gryphon, bathed in the light from the ceiling, blinked. Then, it elegantly stood up. I could hear the others behind me gasping.

“!”

Oh no. It’s even bigger than I thought.

It really looks like it could eat me in one bite…

The gryphon stretched its neck toward me, and I instinctively closed my eyes.

It’s going to eat me…!?

“…”

But, no pain came. Instead, something soft touched my cheek.

“Fwah!?”

When I opened my eyes in surprise, I saw that the griffin was nuzzling me!

A legendary creature! Nuzzling me!

So fluffy… So soft…

“I-It’s ticklish…!”

I-I can’t believe this! It’s fluffier than I imagined! I couldn’t help but think that in a daze. But the feeling of the fur was amazing—smooth, shiny, and it felt just like silk.

Pushed against the gryphon, I ended up clinging to its face.

Behind me was the lake, so if I fell, it would be a disaster.

“U-Um…?”

“I finally found you.”

“Huh?”

The gryphon stopped nuzzling.

“You are the chosen one.”

“Chosen…?”

What is this about? It’s hard to focus on the conversation because it keeps nuzzling me so much.

“It feels nice.”

I… it’s ticklish…

As I endured the nuzzling, the gryphon finally pulled back. I couldn’t help but sigh in relief. The others behind me also let out sighs of relief, as it seemed they were no longer worried about me being eaten. When I looked up at the gryphon again, it was staring at me with piercing eyes.

“What’s your name?”

“Ah… I’m Kuna. Kuna Leiria.”

“Kuna.”

The griffin nodded, then finally pulled away from me.

I naturally followed it, walking toward the center of the island.

“Good. I’m glad you’re still alive.”

“…?”

That’s what I should be saying.

“Um… so…”

I wonder if it has a name…

Not knowing what to call it, I fidgeted awkwardly, and the griffin lowered its head and spoke.

“My name is Ares. Aresol.”¹

“Aresol…”

“You can just call me Ares.”

The gryphon… Ares said that, then nodded contentedly.

I felt a bit relieved, thinking that it might be possible to communicate after all.