Everybody Loves Large Chests All That Glitters 1

All That Glitters 1

Waaah!

Keira suddenly woke up, flailing and screaming as she did so.

Wuh? Keira?! Are you okay? asked Rowana, woken up by her girlfriends bizarre actions.

How could she not, considering they shared a bed every night. And just like every night, both of them were completely in the nude. The platinum-blonde elf rubbed the sleep from her eyes and saw that red-haired catgirl was breathing roughly, while looking around in a distressed state. She cald down a second later, lay back down and curled up in the fetal position.

... More night terrors? she asked while gently rubbing her back.

Uh-huh

Its okay, sweetie, Im here.

She then hugged the frightened catgirl around her waist and buried her face in that shoulder-length crimson hair, nuzzling against her neck. She didnt know the reason, but Keira woke up violently every 2 or 3 days like this. The beastkin told her that she suffered from recurring nightmares every now and then, but couldnt rember what they were after they woke her up. Being the understanding person that she was, Rowana didnt pry into it and rely tried to comfort her lover.

Of course, this wasnt actually the case, as Keira did not dream. She wasnt even a person, but a forr Mimic and current Doppelganger in disguise. One that had never quite gotten used to waking up without causing a fuss. Although it had gotten better at controlling those outbursts as of late, it was still one of the things it could never quite get the hang of, so it made up so plausible excuse to explain it. With Xeras help, of course.

At first it thought this might beco a problem, but Rowana actually seed to get more infatuated with the lie that was Keira Morgana because of it. Of course, such a person never existed in the first place, and had co to be out of necessity. The worthless Cat Job that Boxxy acquired through Cadaver Absorption of an alley cat, the need to appear as a foreigner who was ignorant to elven culture, and the want of an excuse for any bizarre or out-of-place behavior all combined together to create this persona.

Keira was observant, bold and energetic, but surprisingly shy and lacking in confidence when it ca to intimate relationships. She slled nice, had a pretty, smiling face, was a bit of a glutton, and knew absolutely nothing of elven society. She had co here to escape so terrible event she suffered in her past and forge a new life for herself. Her body was lithe, agile and quick, had a sensitive butt and ears, and got tired pretty easily.

It was this mixed bag of half-truths and blatant lies that made it easy for Boxxy to assu the identity while also keeping it believable. Any quirky behavior was just explained away as Keira being Keira and any deeper inquiries into her past were t with a firm, borderline angry refusal. The downside was that it had to keep a constant ntal checklist of dos and donts, as well as making sure to properly restrain itself. The fact that it was several tis heavier than it looked was also a problem, but a combination of two magic rings alleviated that sowhat. The Mimic wasnt quite sure what was the difference between a 40% reduction in weight and a 40% reduction in mass, but the outco was that its body was almost 3 tis lighter than normal. Its body felt floaty and a bit awkward to move in at first, but it got used to it pretty quickly as it was a necessary thing. After all, Rowana was sure to notice Keiras illogical weight during their night-ti activities, or at tis like these where she was embracing the catgirl with an arm stuck between her and the bed.

As the two lay there and Boxxy silently allowed Rowana to have her fill of cuddling, it realized sothing. Doppelgangers were apparently more widespread in the past, at least according to what that Beholder ntioned awhile back. How did they deal with issues like these? Surely not all of them had to resort to moderately expensive magic items, right? Did they avoid forging fake relationships because of that? Thinking it could learn sothing from their mistakes, Boxxy decided it would do so research on the subject. There was a shared library in the Central Consortium building that all of the associated guilds had access to, and that was bound to have so good information. It was finally ti to put those newly-acquired reading skills to work.

Filled with motivation, it tried to get out of bed, but was pulled back in by Rowana.

Nuh-uh! I havent given you enough cuddles to chase away the bad dreams! she said selfishly. Youre not going anywhere!

It could easily break out of her grasp of course, but doing so would not be in Keiras character.

But Rowie! I have things to dooo! it complained.

Not today! You told your class was taking a break today!

Oh, right! I almost forgot!

I even took a day off from work, just so I could get you all to myself! declared the elf.

Boxxy thought perhaps it had overdone it with the Pheromone Control Skill it acquired at Level 10 of its Doppelganger Job. At first it was a way to cloud Rowanas judgent by filling her head with pink thoughts, sothing Xera wholeheartedly recomnded. Just a smoke screen to help cover up any little details that might tip her off to its true identity until it managed to cover them up. But recently she was becoming downright clingy.Well, it wasnt necessarily a bad thing, as their interactions gave the monster a relatively huge amount of XP for its Doppelganger Job. Therefore, now was the ti to return those affections.

Keiras body twisted around in Rowanas embrace so the two were face-to-face. They then shared a light kiss.

Hehehe, I wouldnt have it any other way! said the make-believe-catgirl with a smile.

Of course, it wasnt like it specifically targeted this elf. Rowana Slyth just happened to be the first one it caught in its sweet-slling trap. It honestly didnt expect to get a bite so quickly, but it wasnt about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Unfortunately, it failed to realize that sa-sex relationships were such a big deal in elven society. After all, its familiars got along quite well and both of them were technically female, so it assud it wasnt a big deal. Still, it decided it would run with it rather than disappear and start over again, as the elf had fallen head over heels for the Mimic in just 3 days.

Besides, getting a little bit of extra attention and establishing its identity as the girl fighting for her forbidden love would serve as Keiras excuse and motivation to beco a great adventurer. Once the Mimic had established itself as a reliable and dependable adventurer, then it would gain access to more powerful items and information. Not only that, but the gold and XP earned while on the job would be quite tasty in their own way.

And to that end, it thought it was perhaps ti to take things a step further.

Say Rowie will you go out on a date with ?

In other words, if others were to believe Keira truly cared about soone, then the two of them would need to be seen in public together. Plus, it seriously didnt want to spend the whole day cooped up in this one house.

A d-date? But-!

I dont care what people think! I just want to share a romantic day with you!

The elf looked troubled by this proposal, but Keira almost never made any demands like this, so she was figured it must an a lot to the beastkin.

... Okay, she consented, but no kissing in public!

Aw Hugs are okay though, right?

Uhm m-maybe?

Yay!

Keira pulled her in tighter and affectionately rubbed her cheeks against hers.

Okay! N-none of that either!

anie, said the catgirl with a pout.

Maybe, but this is just how things are, so bear with it, okay?!

Okay

Now then, where were we

Rowanas hands stroked Keiras back as they moved lower and lower until they were groping her well-toned bum. She had been buried in that lust-inducing sll for a while now, so she was already raring to go. Especially since she didnt get enough last night due to Boxxy legitimately needing so sleep.

After a quick morning romp, the two of them got up and got dressed. Rowana started cleaning up and preparing breakfast while Keira helped out. The Mimic didnt normally find cooked food to be particularly tasty unless there was at involved, so it made sure to establish Keiras character as a voracious at eater. As it turned out, however, at was rather expensive, aning it would often have to make do without. After all, Keira was supposed to be soone who just ca here and had just enough money with her to pay for Ranger training and buy the standard armor-and-weapon kit provided by the Hidden Arrow guild. Soone like that would not normally be able to afford eating at for every single al.

After a breakfast of eggs, bread, jam and so porridge, the two of them put on their town clothes and went out into the city. Rowana wore a modest, long, navy blue dress while Keira wore her guild-issued green tunic and custom-tailored leather pants that had a special opening in the back for her tail.

We have got to get you so new clothes, stated the elf. That one set is all you have, and frankly I need to wash it.

Probably, but I dont have much money left over from that pest control expedition a few days back.

Even if they were trainees, the guild still paid Keira and her class for their assistance with the termite control. The Hylt tree farm they were at was a source of timber and fruit for the city as well as the surrounding area, so it was important to look after it. Granted, the students pay wasnt much as part of it went towards paying for their training fees, but it was enough to cover their day-to-day expenses.

Nonsense! declared Rowana. Im the one that wants to see you in cute clothes, so Ill be the one paying!

Even if she lived in apparent poverty, she wasnt exactly struggling to survive. Although she was frugal when it ca to herself, she just really felt like spoiling Keira a bit. Besides, even if it was small, her girlfriends contribution to the households finances was not insignificant.

Really?! Then Ill be taking you up on that!

Of course, said girlfriend could probably purchase a mansion with what was tucked away inside her Storage and owned what was steadily becoming one of the largest dungeons in the country, but that was besides the point. Speaking of which-

ssage from Ambrosia: Milord, we hath finished establishing milady Fizzys workshop.

That was fast, though hardly unwelco. There was just one problem.

ssage to Ambrosia: How co youre the one telling this and not Snack or Arms?

The familiars should have been the only ones capable of using the features necessary to creating the facilities the forr gno required. Surely they should be the ones doing the reporting.

ssage from Ambrosia: We had a friendly competition to see which one of us would give milord the good news. I won.

The Mimic had no idea what they were on about. Was such a thing really that important?

ssage to Ambrosia: Does Fizzy need anything else?

ssage from Ambrosia: Yes, milord. Milady Fizzy spoke about procuring additional materials and tools and is currently on her way out of the Dryads Domain.

ssage to Ambrosia: Very good. Ill co back to check on it later tonight.

ssage from Ambrosia: Yes, milord.

Keira?

Rowana called out to the catgirl who had suddenly gone silent as they were walking up so steps.

Ah, sorry Rowie. I spaced out for a bit. You were saying?

I asked whats your favorite color?

I dont know. Yellow, I guess? Maybe white.

Hm, I figured youd like bright colors like those.

Well, they were the colors of gold and mithril, both of which were extrely shiny.

Okay! said the elf, full of motivation. I think I know just the place!

The two of them kept climbing up the long staircase that circled around the massive tree until they reached the thick, street-sized branch that was normally directly over their house. Various shops and markets were built around the edges, allowing pedestrians to comfortably walk along the flattened middle of it. Living on tree limbs like this wasnt for everyone, as they ever-so-gently swayed in the wind. It was barely noticeable and people got used to it fairly quick, but it made so individuals quite nauseous. Of course, city officials kept a close eye on the health of these branches as one them suddenly snapping off would be a disaster that would result in many deaths and incalculable property damage.

Rowana led Keira to a small boutique, manned by a kindly-looking, gray-haired old woman. Unfortunately, the Tailor in question was human, which made her naturally apprehensive of being around Boxxy. It was the sa with the few human Warrior students from the day before, as they were loathe to shake hands with the catgirl that bore the Butcher of Humanity Perk.

It was okay though, because Boxxys Pheromone Control was capable of counteracting the psychological effects of the perk. It was able to release a calming scent that chased away any inherent uneasiness or distrust humans felt around it, although its range was rather limited.

Having cald down the old granny before she could raise a fuss, the Mimic then proceeded to get asured and looked through several clothing designs the elf found cute. Rowana ended up placing an order for 4 outfits in total - 2 dresses, one set of rather risque-looking nightwear and a lighter blouse-and-skirt combo. She explained it away as helping Keira get ready for her future wedding, sothing she said more like a wish than an excuse.

Afterwards the couple just walked around and chatted idly for a while, before getting on one of the floating public elevators and riding it all the way down to the ground. They sat quietly in a park while discreetly holding hands, then looked for a place to have lunch. Rowana said she knew a place that served great food at a reasonable price, even though it wasnt a restaurant. And the place she led Keira to was a certain inn that was 3 stories tall.

Well, well, well, said the old elven innkeeper when he saw the conspicuous catgirl enter his establishnt. If it isnt the hooligan who wont stop jumping on my roof!?

The roof!? Keira, is there sothing you want to tell ?

Uhm. I may have leapt down onto this building a few tis

Leapt down?!

You know this girl, miss?

You could say that. Were, uh, roommates, answered Rowana.

Well please tell her that vine-swinging is dangerous, and I wont be held responsible if she hurts herself.

Oh-hoh! said Rowana while crossing her arms. Vine-swinging, huh? You an that dangerous thing I told you to stop doing?

Its just! Uh, Ranger training! Yeah, thats it! Gotta get used to traversing difficult terrain!

This was a blatant lie, of course. The real reason Boxxy did those things was because it helped build proficiency for its Feline Agility Skill, the only one derived from its Cat Job. Plus, it was genuinely faster than using the proper way.

Bullshit! said the old innkeeper. My daughters never had to do things like that! Isnt that right, Lia?! he called out to the back.

What is it now, dad? said the green-haired elf in question as she poked her head out of the kitchen. Oh! Keira!

Her pained expression beca pleasantly surprised when she saw her classmate. She shouted sothing about taking a break into the kitchen and went out to greet her properly.

Hey there, didnt expect to see you here! she said, completely ignoring her fathers surprised look.

Lia! What are you doing here?! asked Keira in genuine surprise.

Im helping my dad out in the kitchen. I may not look like it, but my croquettes are pretty great you know!

You know this hooligan!? butted in the innkeeper, causing the young elf to roll her eyes.

Shes no hooligan, dad. This is Keira, the one I told you about, rember?!

What? Thats her?!

Duh! How many catkin girls do you think there are in this city?!

Well, I never! Lia, I forbid you to-!

Oh put a sock in it dad, your roofs fine.

Lia grabbed her father by the shoulders and pushed him into the back where they had a few quick words in private, after which she returned by herself.

Sorry about that. My dad likes to yell at people for no good reason. I think I need to find him a hobby.

Is that so said the stupefied Rowana.

Ah sorry, I dont believe weve t. Im Lia Torlee, one of Keiras classmates. And you must be Rowie.

I am Rowana Slyth, yes.

I heard a lot about you.

Well, you have at a disadvantage. I had no idea you existed.

Boxxy was montarily stumped. Rowanas tone of voice was subtly different. More harsh, accusatory even. And why did she keep glancing at Lias breasts as if she were comparing it to her own?

*Ahem* I assure you, Keira is not my type, said Lia in a hushed voice. I have no intention of stealing her from you so please stop giving the stink-eye.

R-right. Of course. Sorry its just that I dont get a lot of chances at finding lo- love so I got a bit jealous.

Its okay, I understand.

Oh, so she was being jealous! Boxxy hadnt seen that emotion up close before, so it made sure to morize it for later use. Now was probably a good ti for a response, but what kind? If Rowana was jealous, that ant she suspected her lover might be seeing soone else behind her back. Which ant she apparently didnt trust her girlfriend completely. Of course, Boxxy had no intention of cheating on her. According to her made-up profile, Keira was the devoted and faithful type, so that sort of thing would not happen, even if Lia did sll incredibly delicious for so reason. Therefore, the appropriate response in this situation was to vehently deny there was anything between them.

Rowie! You should know better! it stated in a harsh whisper. Im not gonna go after any woman I see just because her tits are bigger!

Hey! responded both elves in unison while covering up their chests by crossing their arms. Realizing they had the sa reaction, they shared a small, embarrassed laugh.

Co on, you two, lets get you a table, offered Lia, and showed them to their seats. She ended up joining them for lunch and even said it was on the house. They chatted while they ate, and Rowana and Lia seed to get along quite well. Boxxy didnt particularly plan for this, but it was hardly a bad thing. After all, the Agent of Chaos Skill had not triggered at all recently, so its recent actions would probably not have so deep, profound impact on it surroundings.

Co to think of it, the last ti that Skill ca up was during the ti it was making its way towards the elven border, after it passed by that fancy carriage with the ard escort. That particular chain of events was still in motion, so maybe the Agent of Chaos Skill could only manage one such thing at a ti? Then again, it was only the second ti it activated, so it knew too little about it right now.

Say Lia, you wanna join us for a girls day out?

Rowana made an odd suggestion as they were finishing lunch.

Huh?! I thought you two were, you know, Lia lowered her voice, on a date?

She really did not want to make herself a third wheel.

We are but honestly I could really use a friend

Friendships were hard for Rowana to maintain. n mostly wanted to get into her pants, and other won would start acting distant once they found out her inclinations. Lia, however, seed to more or less be fine with it. She felt she could be herself around her, and share things she couldnt really say to her girlfriend.

Well the lunch rush is over so I can take a few hours off from helping my dad in the kitchen But is Keira okay with it?

I dont mind! declared the catgirl instantly.

More people to socialize with ant more XP for its Doppelganger Job. In fact, if things kept going this way it would probably hit Level 14 before the day was over.

Alright then, Ill keep you company for a while. Just let know if Im a bother and Ill make myself scarce.

Lia excused herself to change out of her stained apron and ca out in a casual dress similar to Rowanas, except that it was cream-colored and the three of them left the building.

Keira really needs so cuter clothes, said Lia while they were walking down the street.

I know, right? Dont worry though! I already placed an order for so this morning! The blouse and skirt I picked out would look positively adorable on her!

Wow, she has it bad, huh? mumbled Lia.

The way Rowana squird and squealed was almost exactly like how Keira behaved whenever the catgirl talked about her girlfriend. That sort of behavior fit the youthful beastkin perfectly, but seeing a grown elf act that way was a bit weird. Then again, Lia had never been in love before, so she had no right to judge others. Especially not these two.

Hmm? Keira whats wrong?

The catgirl in question had suddenly stopped in her tracks and was staring into the window of a pawn shop they had passed by. Rowana was still daydreaming so it took her a few seconds to realize it too.

Oh, see anything you like? asked Lia.

She leaned in closer and looked through the glass as well, but couldnt tell which of the myriad of items lined up on the windowsill had caught her interest.

Yeah, I gotta check sothing out.

Keira walked into the shop, the door fra ringing a small bell as she did so. It was a decently-sized place, slightly bigger than Fizzys store back in Erosa. Nurous curious objects of all types lined the shelves along the walls or were put on display inside the glass cases that doubled as counters. Books, bells, weapons, jewelry, jugs, jars, board gas, dolls, statues, flutes, lutes, hamrs, screwdrivers, even the odd potion - this place had it all.

Welco to Oryms Pawn shop! said the dark-green-haired elf behind the counter. Im Orym. Oh, I see the little missy already has her eye on sothing, eh?

The sight of a beastkin entering his shop was rare, but he didnt question it one bit. This type of place attracted all manner of odd individuals looking to buy or sell various goods, and it wasnt his business to ask about their circumstances. He just needed so proof or confirmation the items he was buying were not stolen, and that those he was selling to were not wanted criminals. And he was sure hed not heard of the authorities looking for a cute catgirl.

Ah, sorry, apologized Keira. I was just wondering, where did mister Orym get this?

She was pointing towards an ornate jewelry box in the windowsill, which was around 15 to 20 centiters on each side. It appeared to be made of wood, with so faint and worn out vine-like patterns carved on the sides of it, and stood on four very short legs. The rectangular lid was also wooden and had a small rose carved into each corner of it, while a single, circular red gem was faceted right into the middle of it. The corners, the legs and the rim of the lid were gilded, giving the small box the undeniable feel of a miniature treasure chest.

That, huh? said Orym while staring at it.

He blinked a few tis trying to jog his mory, but couldnt rember where he obtained it. Well, it didnt matter much where he got it anyway.

I cant divulge that information.

You dont know, do you?

Geh! Of course I know! Its in my shop, so I should obviously know how it got there, right?!

No, I an do you even know what that is?

... Its just a vanity box, right?

The catgirl shook her head.

Can I pick it up for a mont? I want to show you sothing.

Okay, but if you break it - you buy it.

Keira, whispered Rowana, are you sure about this? We dont really have the money to afford that thing in the first place.

Splurging on so outfits or a day out on the town was one thing, but that expensive-looking box was completely out of the question.

Its okay, I got this, ca the whispered answer.

The Mimic in disguise then reached over, took the shiny box off the shelf and placed it on the counter in front of the pawnbroker. It then smiled, directed as much animosity towards the box as it could, and firmly knocked on its lid.

Yap!

All three elves in the room jumped in surprise when the jewelry box gave out a high-pitched yell. It suddenly sprang to life and moved along its small legs towards the edge of the counter, trying to get away from the terrifying creature that had caught onto its identity. However, Keiras hands deftly grabbed it by the sides, denying its attempts at escaping.

The pawnbroker and both elven girls all stared in silent disbelief as the catgirl dragged the living jewelry box back in front of her and held it down. She then forced its lid open to reveal two rows of short, flat teeth and a long, coiled tongue.

Im sure you wont mind if I take this mimic off your hands, right?

The shopkeeper gave a few short nods of his head.

Thanks, mister!

Keira then hugged the miniature chest against her underdeveloped chest and left the shop with a huge smile on her face.

What just happened? asked Rowana.

I think you just got a new pet, answered Lia.