Never worn anything like that.

Karina-chan here! The beastkin adventurer Mashiro-chan I saved, she's cool and gorgeous, but it was my fault she ended up in danger. Sooorry!

So I compensated for the damages. Went all out. Ehehe, for the great mage Karina-chan, this much is a piece of cake～?

Okay. I got a bit too carried away. Sorry～?

 

 

Mashiro-san shouted "I don't get any of thiiis!" and it was cute, so I watched for a while. Eventually she seemed to wear herself out from all the fuss and lay down on the ground, huffing and puffing.

Incidentally, monsters were attracted by the commotion, but they saw the Black Mantis corpse and ran away. This thing might make a good bug repellent.

"… So. What's your goal? Spit it out."

Hm? Did she just say "anything"? … She didn't. Oh well.

"Then I have one request."

"What is it, damn it! I knew it, you are after something!"

"I want Mashiro-san's socks…"

"Socks? … I've never worn anything like that."

"Yeah. You're not wearing any, are you."

She's a fluffy silver wolf girl that furries would go wild for, but that means she's got a strong feral streak; even her shoes were just sandals. With such thick body fur serving as natural socks, she probably doesn't need to wear any.

… Hm? No wait. Let me reverse my thinking.

"A beastkin girl's first socks ever, wouldn't that actually increase the value?"

"Value of what!? I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Yeah, I don't really get it either."

It's all that sock-loving goddess's fault.

"So, anything else?"

"Huh?"

"I don't have socks, so there must be something else you want, right!?"

She said it half-angrily. But somehow, she also seems scared of me for defeating the Black Mantis? I got that vibe. Not to be rude, but she's kinda cute, like a puppy.

"Hmm… how about shaving the fur on your feet and making socks out of it?"

"What the heck, that's gross!? Why are you so obsessed with socks!?"

"I know, right? I don't get it either. My boss has a thing for socks."

"Y-you're in palace service? … Ahh, right, the way nobles think is beyond comprehension."

Hmm, does serving a goddess count as palace service? … Well, "miya" (palace) originally meant shrine, so I guess it's not wrong.

Anyway, Mashiro-san's attitude suddenly softened. Maybe this is also thanks to the Goddess.

"So, was hunting the Treants also orders from some big shot or something?"

"Huh? No, I just didn't know, plain and simple. Sorry for causing trouble. Oh, want me to make you a spare sword?"

"No, it's fine! Enough already!"

What a humble wolf girl. How cute.

"Geez, fine then. I'll ask around my acquaintances who wear socks and collect some for you. How's that?"

"Oh, I'll give them new socks in exchange. Can I also get some of the fur from the bottom of Mashiro-san's feet? Just what comes out naturally without forcing it, and preferably from the smellier parts."

"I don't get it… but fine, what are you gonna use it for?"

"I'll try delivering it to the boss first. She'll probably make tea with it or something."

"Ugh, that gave me the creeps… I'll give you some, but just this once!"

Saying that, Mashiro-san took off her sandals, brushed her feet to collect the loose fur, and plucked a few hairs from between her paw pads.

"Paw pads…! How lewd…"

"Huh? Paw pads are?"

Oops, that slipped out. But I mean, they're so beautifully shaped and big! In my past life, these would be rare paw pads you'd only see on a bear, tiger, or lion!

"You're weird too, not just your boss…"

Ah, I've creeped her out a bit.

No way. Isn't wanting to pet fluffy animals and squish and nibble their paw pads one of humanity's fundamental desires? Look, two out of the three basic needs are basically carnal desires, right? And this is the "flesh" of paw pads. So—

No wait, sorry, that was a lie. Just kidding. Okay?

"Also, here's some new socks. I've got a variety of sizes, so if there aren't enough, I'll supplement them later. And Mashiro-san, wear a pair too. I'll come collect them next time we meet, okay?"

"… Y-yeah. You even prepared replacements. You're way too serious about this."

"It's no joke, I'm dead serious. Can't be helped."

Besides getting the foot fur, I'll have Mashiro-san wear socks until we meet again.

Hm, she says the fur stands up and feels weird? … Sorry, I have no idea how beastkin are supposed to wear socks.