Nobles, Nonsense, and the Bunny That Filed a Tax Form

Fluff Co. had grown.

Not by design. Certainly not by Rei's will.

It started with herb sales and accidental beast-taming advice, but within two weeks of "accidentally becoming famous," Rei Valen found himself at the head of a fully functioning guild.

A guild with staff, contracts, courier birds, and—unfortunately—paperwork.

That morning, Rei sat hunched over a table, surrounded by scrolls, ink bottles, and a newly delivered tax assessment notice.

"It says I'm 'Head of Operations for a Class C Business Entity,'" he muttered, dead-eyed.

Kreg peeked over his shoulder. "What's Class C?"

"Apparently, it means 'Too Successful to Ignore, Too Weird to Categorize.'"

Fluff sat beside the paperwork, paw-stamping each page with a tiny clay seal bearing his face.

Rei stared. "Are you... filing the taxes?"

Fluff blinked innocently and kept stamping.

"That's not normal."

"He's faster than me," Ellyn said, entering with a stack of receipts. "And his accounting is more accurate."

"I hate everything about this."

---

Later That Day – A Visit from Nobility

A carriage rolled up to Fluff Co. so ornate it looked like a golden whale had grown wheels.

Two footmen jumped out, opened the doors, and a man stepped down in crimson robes embroidered with silver threads. His white gloves were too clean. His smile was too sharp.

He walked straight up to the stall and said, "You must be Master Rei Valen."

"Nope," Rei replied. "That guy left town."

"I watched you say that while wearing a name tag."

Rei looked down. Ellyn had pinned a fresh tag on his chest that read:

> HELLO, I'M REI – HERBS, BEASTS, NO RETURNS

He sighed. "Fine. Who are you?"

"I am Lord Ferrick Allthorn, commercial advisor to the Crown's Bureau of Magical Trade."

"Sounds fake."

"It's real."

"Still sounds fake."

Ferrick cleared his throat. "The Crown is aware of your… sudden rise in influence. You've become a regional hub for beast-related commerce. And after your display at the tournament, many now believe you possess… unique talents."

"I sell mint tea."

"And scare A-rank beasts into therapy."

"Exaggerated."

Ferrick smiled. "We'd like to offer you official patronage. A government-backed license to expand Fluff Co. across the kingdom."

Rei narrowed his eyes. "You want to put me in a palace."

"We want to fund your empire."

"That sounds like work."

"It is work."

"Then no."

Ferrick blinked. "You're refusing royal sponsorship?"

"I'm barely surviving assistant sponsorship."

Ellyn raised a hand. "He screams when he sees ledgers."

---

Later – Private Discussion

Inside the Fluff Co. backroom, Rei held a meeting with Ellyn, Kreg, and Fluff (who was wearing a tiny bowtie for unknown reasons).

"So," Ellyn began, "you turned down royal gold. Again."

"They want to chain me to expectations," Rei said, rubbing his temples. "Rank evaluations. Branch expansions. Hero collaboration contracts. Fluff Co. would become Fluff Corp. next."

Kreg frowned. "That does sound lucrative."

"I didn't sign up for an empire. I wanted a peaceful life."

Ellyn flipped a parchment. "Well, good luck. We've got seventeen requests for tamer training, six proposals to license Fluff's face, and—oh—two marriage offers."

Rei choked on his tea. "What?!"

"One from a merchant heiress. One from a warlord's daughter."

"I'm seventeen!"

"They don't care."

"I do!"

Fluff headbutted a heart-shaped envelope off the table.

---

That Night – Rei's Inner Monologue

He sat on the roof of the shop, watching the stars.

"Why is everything so complicated?" he asked aloud.

Fluff hopped up beside him.

"I just wanted quiet. A small shop. No explosions. Maybe a garden."

Fluff sneezed, and a tile cracked.

"Close enough."

He pulled out one of the unopened letters—this one from The Heroic Guild of Silvermist.

Apparently, their top hero-in-training, Auron Lightbrand, was now openly claiming Rei as his mentor.

"Of course he is."

The letter requested Rei's presence at a beast negotiation summit.

"I am going to fake my death. Again."

---

Meanwhile – In the Capital

Lord Ferrick sat across from a cloaked figure.

"He refused?" the figure asked.

Ferrick nodded. "He claims to be uninterested."

"He cannot remain uncontrolled. We've confirmed his beast is sealed-class. Possibly divine."

"Shall I pressure him?"

"No. That would trigger backlash."

Ferrick folded his hands. "Then what?"

The cloaked figure smiled. "We make him a problem... someone else has to solve."

Ferrick across him hearing this his smile grew wider...