Irene’s mood was at its peak since arriving in Duke Esper’s territory, having enjoyed balloon darts and even achieving good results.

No longer did she feel awkward or uncomfortable walking hand in hand with Carlos.

She even had time to take in the surroundings.

Only then did she realize there were quite a few people walking around with strangely-shaped pets.

‘Wait a minute.’

Those aren’t just strange animals… those are magical beasts!

Magical beasts were freely roaming the streets frequented by people.

Startled, Irene tightly grabbed the collar of Carlos’ clothes.

Carlos, who had involuntarily stopped, looked down at her, puzzled.

“Why are you doing that?”

“There’s a magical beast over there.”

Looking where Irene had pointed, Carlos smirked.

Jessie and others also smiled as if they found Irene cute.

I’m serious, why are they all laughing?

Confused, Irene looked at the people.

Jessie stepped forward to explain.

“Don’t worry, all the magical beasts wandering the streets have completed a taming ritual.”

“So they are tamed magical beasts that listen to human commands, right?”

“Yes, exactly. You can identify them by the engraved necklaces they all wear.”

As Jessie said, all the magical beasts roaming the streets did indeed have necklaces around their necks.

Irene finally felt relieved, although embarrassed for making a fuss without knowing this.

Gerard added an explanation.

“Being able to freely roam the streets is something only possible in Duke Esper’s territory. In other places, even a palm-sized tamed beast must be kept in a specially made cage.”

Dewey spoke in a tone full of pride.

“That’s because Duke Esper’s territory coexists with monsters and magical beasts, unlike other territories.”

Irene recalled that Dewey had mentioned this before coming to Duke Esper’s territory.

And when she had asked if that was even possible, he had said that she would understand when she saw it for herself.

Indeed, Irene now understood what Dewey meant.

If her main interest before had been street vendors selling fascinating items or street performances, now it was the tamed magical beasts.

She had thought that since they were magical beasts, they would look terrifying, but they were surprisingly cute and caught her attention.

She even remembered the cute Yomi monster she had met while strolling around Duke Esper’s castle before.

“…Aren’t you hungry, miss?”

Lost in her thoughts, Irene turned around when Jessie spoke to her.

Jessie smiled and asked again.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

She hadn’t been hungry a moment ago, but hearing Jessie’s question made her suddenly feel hungry.

She realized it was past lunchtime.

“I’m hungry.”

“Then let’s go have lunch. Is there something you’d like to eat?”

Instead of answering, Irene looked at Carlos.

She considered Carlos’ preference over her own.

Carlos, catching her gaze, bluntly said,

“I don’t mind eating anything, so just say what you want.”

Choosing anything is the hardest.

Hoping Gerard would decide for her, Irene looked at him with a glimmer of hope, but alas, Gerard also said he was fine with anything.

What should I eat?

Unable to decide on the menu, Dewey suggested.

“There’s a famous lamb rib place nearby, would you like to go?”

“Yes! That sounds great!”

Not having any specific preference and feeling that lamb ribs were a safe choice, Irene promptly nodded her head.

Despite it being past lunchtime, the famous lamb rib place was bustling with customers.

There was even a considerable line, making her think they’d have to wait a while.

But after exchanging a few words with a staff member, Dewey managed to get them inside.

And it was the only private room in the restaurant.
Seated, they ordered from the menu, and it took only a few minutes for the food to arrive.

“Looks delicious.”

Unlike Zerdin, who immediately picked up his utensils, drooling, Carlos looked out the window.

They called those responsible for training the magical beasts “guides,” and those guides seemed to be busy looking for something.

Something’s up.

“Deuce.”

At Carlos’s call, Deuce immediately stood up and approached him from behind.

Carlos whispered an order quietly enough for only Deuce to hear.

“Find out what the guides are looking for.”

“Yes.”

Deuce immediately left the room to carry out the order.

“What’s going on?”

Zerdin asked, puzzled, but Carlos did not answer.

And just as if nothing had happened, he began to eat.

Others also picked up their forks, watching Carlos’s lead.

As expected from a famous restaurant, the lamb was delicious, but the atmosphere was too strange to fully enjoy the taste.

They ate in such a quiet stillness that it was unclear whether the food was entering through the nose or the mouth. How long had it been?

Deuce, who had gone out and returned, reported to Carlos’s ear.

Deuce whispered what he had found out into Carlos’s ear.

After hearing all the reports, Carlos frowned and looked back at Duey.

“I have to go to the magical beast training ground, Duey.”

As Duey immediately stood up, Carlos added,