Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Zzzzz...

"...Iss?"

Zzzz...

"...llo, miss?"

Zzz...

"Hello, miss?"

Slowly, heavy eyelids fluttered open. The olive-haired girl groggily blinked, her golden eyes adjusting to the light. Standing above her was a rabbit-eared woman, her soft features creased with concern.

"Miss? Oh, you're awake," the woman said, her long ears twitching slightly. "Please, you can't sleep here. My manager will be here soon."

The Harpy yawned, stretching her wings lazily as she sat up. She blinked around in confusion, her fingers brushing against the soft fabric beneath her.

"Huh? Manager? What are you talking about?" she mumbled, glancing around. "This bed is so comfy. And the fabric... it's just amazing. I'm going to sleep here every day." She flopped back onto the plush mattress with a content sigh.

The rabbit-eared woman, clearly a member of the Haulia tribe, shook her head, hands raised in a gentle but firm protest. "Miss, I can't allow that. These mattresses are for sale. While it's not against store policy to sample our goods, we can't let you sleep in front of the store."

The Harpy sat up, blinking owlishly. Only now did she realize she was lying on a pink mattress, positioned neatly at the storefront, right in the middle of the bustling market.

Shoppers passed by, casting curious glances at the strange sight of a Harpy napping on display.

The Harpy tilted her head, considering the situation. "...Oh," she muttered. "Is that why everyone's staring?"

The Haulia offered an apologetic smile. "It's alright, miss. Happens more often than you'd think. But if my manager sees you, I might get in trouble."

Standing, the Harpy stretched her wings and glanced longingly at the mattress. "Shame. It really is a great bed."

"Well," the Haulia chuckled, "if you decide to buy it, you can sleep on it all you want."

The Harpy slumped. "I don't think I have the funds for that. But for now, I'll just dream about it."

With a casual wave, she stepped away from the store, blending back into the lively marketplace.

The Haulia shook her head with a soft laugh, watching her go. "Strangest customer I've had all week."

The Harpy yawned as she walked through the bustling streets, her thoughts lingering on the soft, luxurious bed she had been forced to leave behind.

"That bed was heavenly," she muttered, wings drooping slightly. "Where am I going to sleep now? A mere inn might not have something that amazing..."

She paused at an intersection, glancing down each path. The marketplace stretched on, vibrant and alive, but none of the sights eased her growing concern.

"But I don't have a choice," she sighed. "Sleeping is the most important thing in the world, after all. I guess I'll have to settle for an inn."

Just as she was about to move, a commotion caught her attention. Raised voices, laughter, and excited murmurs echoed from further down the street. Her curiosity piqued, the Harpy tilted her head.

"Huh? What's going on over there?"

Drawn by instinct, she made her way toward the noise. The crowd thickened, monsters of all shapes and sizes pressing in, straining to get a glimpse of something, or someone.

With some effort, she weaved her way through the gathered spectators. Elbows brushed her wings, horns and tails bumped her shoulders, but she pressed on. Eventually, she reached the front of the group, and paused.

At the center of the commotion walked a human male, flanked by two winged figures. The monsters around him whispered, some casting admiring glances, others stepping aside in deference.

The Harpy blinked, her sharp eyes studying him. "A... human?" she whispered under her breath, observing the man as he passed.

He was clad in bronze-colored armor that gleamed beneath the afternoon light. A white cape draped over his shoulders, flowing gently as he walked. Brown hair, neatly combed forward, framed his face, while gray irises—oddly flashing with hints of blue, scanned the street. Monster girls giggled and blushed as he passed, some daring to offer shy waves.

Curious, the Harpy turned to the figure beside her, a tall man with slitted eyes and faint red scales along his jawline. A Lizardman.

"Hey," she said, keeping her voice low. "I thought there weren't any human visitors around right now."

The Lizardman chuckled, casting her a side glance. "You must be new here. That's Edward Vale. Captain of the city guard and leader of Root. Along with Lady Kaede and one other, he's one of the only humans in the city."

"Captain of the guard, huh? He seems very strong, maybe as strong as one of the twin wings." The Harpy's gaze lingered on the man as he walked by. There was something sharp in his stance, an air of discipline beneath his calm demeanor. Yet, despite his status, he seemed... approachable.

Then, an idea struck her.

"Wait a minute," she muttered, her eyes lighting up. "That hobgoblin earlier said I should talk to the guards if I had important business, right?" She grinned slightly, wings fluttering. "Well, if this guy's the captain, maybe he can help me get a mattress."

Feeling rather pleased with her plan, she adjusted her posture and took a step forward, her gaze never leaving Edward Vale.

One of the winged men beside Edward, noticed her first, whispering something to the man as he turned and noticed her.

All of a sudden, her courage wavered. Now that his focus was solely on her, Edward looked even more intimidating.

He walked up to her, and she resisted the urge to disappear into the crowd.

"Hello there." He said, his voice, deep and smooth at the same time, it was soothing. "We didn't think, an Harpy would find themselves in our country."

She immediately noticed the tense air surrounding the two figures standing beside the human. 'Ah. They're Tengus, no wonder they were able to spot me so quickly.'

The Harpy hesitated, her confidence faltering. But there was no turning back now. "I, um... Well, you see, I was wondering if..."

She paused. 'No, be straightforward. No one likes a rambler.'

"I need a mattress," she blurted. "A really good one. And, well, maybe... you could help?"

A brief, stunned silence followed. One of Edward's companions, the Tengu with dark feathers, arched an eyebrow, while the other exchanged an amused glance.

Edward tilted his head slightly. "A mattress?"

"Y-Yes," she stammered, then cleared her throat, trying to salvage her dignity. "I mean, I tried one earlier, and it was... perfect. But then I was told I couldn’t sleep there, and I don’t have anywhere else to sleep, if anyone can help, it’s the captain of the guard, right?"

.

.

.

.

"A... Mattress?"

.

.

For a moment, Edward just studied her, as if weighing her words. Then, unexpectedly, his stern expression eased into something that almost resembled amusement.

"That’s... a first," he said lightly. "Most people come to me about crime or disputes. Not sleeping arrangements."

The Harpy's cheeks flushed. "W-Well, sleep is important. If I can’t sleep, I can’t function. And if I can’t function, how can I contribute to the city?"

Edward chuckled under his breath, but it wasn’t mocking. "Fair point."

He glanced toward his companions, exchanging a silent look, before turning back to her. "Alright. I can’t exactly hand out mattresses, but I can direct you to someone who might help. She's in charge of making the mattresses."

"Whoa!" Her eyes widened, stars twinkling within them. "You know the person who made them? They must be a divine creature, no, a god! Yes, they must be a god, and their mattresses are a path to heaven itself!"

Edward chuckled, the sound low but genuine. "I don't know about calling Sylra a god, but I will admit, the mattresses she makes are of unmatched quality. I stand by that statement, there’s nothing better in the entire city."

The Harpy grinned, her feathers fluffing slightly in excitement. "Ah, I see you understand the path. A fellow person of culture." She stepped closer, walking beside him as the crowd instinctively parted to give space to the captain of the guard and his strange new companion.

Edward shook his head lightly, amusement dancing in his gray eyes. "Kids these days," he mused before glancing at her. "So, where are you planning to put this mattress? Have you already purchased a house in the city, or are you planning to take it with you?"

The Harpy froze mid-step, her wings tensing slightly. "Eh?" The realization hit her like a gust of wind. Her eyes widened, and she stared at him, blinking rapidly. "A... house?"

Edward’s laugh was heartier this time, though not unkind. "You didn’t think that far ahead, did you?"

Flustered, she looked away, scratching the back of her head. "I-I mean, I figured... I’d just... find a place?"

He shook his head, still smiling. "You’ll need more than a mattress to claim a corner of this city. But don’t worry, I’ll have someone direct you to the housing officer. They’ll help sort out accommodations."

She sighed, her wings drooping slightly. "I guess I got ahead of myself. I just really wanted that mattress."

Edward chuckled again. "And that’s admirable in its own way. A good night's sleep is worth chasing, after all."

His easy demeanor made her smile, even as she realized she had a few more steps to take before she could rest easy.

"So, what brought you to Maple city?"

"Hmmmm? Actually, I don't remember anymore. It's probably not important."