Chapter 16

"Well, what should I do with you?"

After leaving the lieutenant's office, the one-eyed knight approached me and spoke. I tilted my head, wondering what he was talking about.

"Don't you find it boring to stay in your room all afternoon?"

Hmm... I don't like it.

But if the one-eyed knight tells me to, I'll obey. This time, I'll be a good girl and stay in the room. I'll stay in bed and not move around, so I won't knock anything over or break anything. It'll be terribly boring, but there's nothing I can do.

As I was thinking this, the one-eyed knight chuckled. What's so funny?

"You're so easy to read. Your tail drooped the moment I mentioned 'staying in the room.'"

If I were human, my face would probably turn bright red. My tail really does show my feelings. Right now, it's hanging limply.

"Want to go play outside? You might get a bit stiff if you stay in the room all day. You should also practice hunting, right?"

No, I don't really need to practice hunting. I can survive without hunting mice.

"Wild dogs are most active after dark. You probably won't be attacked during the day. If they do appear, you can ask for help from the guys training outside or the ones guarding near the gate."

Now that I think about it, I was attacked by wild dogs after dark yesterday. There are probably more people around during the day, so wild dogs don't come into the compound.

The one-eyed knight squatted in front of me and gently stroked my head. His hand is so big that it covers my entire head with one hand.

"If you were human, I'd keep you safe inside even if it's a bit cramped, especially since you're still young. But you'll eventually have to return to the wild. It's better to learn what dangers are out there than to stay quietly in the house."

If I were a dog or a cat, he might have kept me without thinking of returning me to the wild. Foxes are indeed a bit tricky.

I rubbed my head against the one-eyed knight's hand. More petting, please.

But his approach might be a blessing for me too. If I stayed glued to him all the time, it would be hard to part when the time comes.

Well, it's a bit too late for that. I already trust the one-eyed knight and really like him. I like him as much as my mother and the fluffy snow that just fell. By the way, after that, it's jerky.

How many more days until my mother comes back? How will I say goodbye to the one-eyed knight and the others who can't speak? They'll probably worry if I suddenly disappear...

Thinking about that made me a bit gloomy.

***

The outside is so much fun! Snow is the best!

The one-eyed knight let me out in the corner of the training ground, saying, "I'll come get you before it gets dark." He gave me a lot of instructions like "Don't leave the compound," "Stay away from dangerous places," and "Don't fall into the pond," but I was so excited about the snow that I barely heard them.

What was I feeling just a few minutes ago when I was thinking about parting with the one-eyed knight? As soon as I went outside, I dashed away from him at full speed. I think I heard him say something like, "Hey..." and "I'm going back inside," and "Are you really coming back...?" But I just wanted him to get back to work.

I ran around the empty training ground and then circled the compound along the buildings. The boring morning felt like a lie.

I thought my mind was human, but seeing myself playing in the snow like this, I'm not so sure. I must have the heart of a snow-loving spirit and a young animal's heart as well.

I was challenging myself to see how fast I could take the corners without slowing down. I pretended the narrow, cleared paths were roads and tried to stay on them even when turning.

How well could I turn while maintaining my speed?

Most of the time, I failed and crashed into the snow banks. It was fun when the snow was soft, but it hurt when I hit the frozen parts.

After crashing into the hard snow twice, I finally came to my senses. My human mind had returned.

I was covered in snow, so I shook my body to get rid of it. But some snowballs were stuck to my chest fur, belly fur, and legs, and they wouldn't come off with just a little movement.

Walking on the snow only made the snowballs bigger and heavier.

I tried to get them off myself, but my short limbs couldn't reach, and my mouth couldn't get there either.

What's the deal with these snowballs! I'm a snow spirit. Get off me.

As I was struggling on the snow, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I turned around to see two knights in full winter gear standing a bit away from me, smiling slightly. They were probably the guards at the gate, as I could see the main gate behind them.

"Can't get them off?"

One of them squatted and beckoned me over.

I didn't know him, so I was a bit scared. But I wanted the annoying snowballs gone. If I kept them on, I'd end up like a snowman.

The two knights didn't come closer and waited patiently for me to approach. Yeah, people like this make me feel safe. If they came too close, I'd run away without thinking.

I cautiously approached the one who was squatting. I was a bit nervous. This was the first time I'd approached someone other than the one-eyed knight.

I unconsciously took a deep breath and sniffed the knight in front of me. He didn't smell dangerous, so I was okay.

I stopped in front of the knight, heart pounding. Please, get the snowballs off.

"Wow... you really came. Did the deputy make you more comfortable around people? Stay still."

He was surprised that I came closer but started crushing the snowballs with his gloved hands.

"We had a long-haired dog at my house. He used to get snowballs stuck in his fur on snowy days."

He said this with a nostalgic smile.

Once all the snowballs were gone, I slowly moved away from him. Phew, that was tense. But thank you!

I felt lighter, and my tail wagged.

"I'll be here until sunset. Come to me if anything happens."

The knight pointed to the gate behind him. He raised his hand and said, "See you," then walked back to his post with the other knight.

Thanks, bro!

In the end, I had to ask for help from the bro twice more that day.

The snowballs form so quickly...

When the sun started to set, the one-eyed knight came to pick me up.

I was waiting at the spot where we parted earlier, as I thought he would come soon. I was still a bit out of breath from running around.

"Did you have fun?"

The one-eyed knight chuckled at me, panting with my mouth open. I had a lot of fun!

I didn't realize how much I liked snow until I spent the whole morning indoors. I guess I really do like snow. I love running around outside. My fur keeps me warm, and I'm not really drawn to cozy kotatsu-like things right now. When I was human, I didn't want to leave the house in winter.

"You really like being outside, don't you?"

The one-eyed knight said this a bit sadly, so I tried to cheer him up by tugging on his boot laces.

"Did you learn a new trick?"

He patted my head as if I were a bad girl.

No, I was trying to comfort you! I really wanted to lick his hand, but I couldn't reach!

After I let go of the laces, he petted me again. The warmth of his hand felt so good that I didn't mind what he did.

When he said, "Let's go eat," I felt even better.

But the dining hall was a challenge.

He brought me a bit earlier than the busiest time, but it was still much busier than in the morning. Seeing me shrink back, the one-eyed knight asked if I wanted to wait in the room. But I can't be scared of everything from now on. I'll be staying here until my mother comes back, so I need to get used to people other than the one-eyed knight.

I barked softly to say, "I'm okay." It came out weaker than I expected.

I stuck close to the one-eyed knight's feet as we walked through the crowded dining hall. I heard him mutter, "I'm scared I might step on you."

When we reached the counter, a middle-aged cook greeted us. I like him because he makes delicious food, but his loud voice makes me jump a bit.

The one-eyed knight carried both our meals in his hands and sat at a corner table, the same one as in the morning. Is this his special seat?

Today's meal was a thick soup with finely chopped vegetables, a few bite-sized pieces of meat, and a half-cooked egg.

The egg...! The half-cooked egg looks so delicious! I was more excited about it than the meat.

When the plate was put in front of me, I immediately took a bite of the egg. The rich yolk melted in my mouth.

"Mil! There you are!"

As I was enjoying the egg, Tina and the blonde knight from this morning appeared. I swallowed the egg I was chewing.

I like Tina, but I'm a bit wary of the other knight. His youthful eyes, full of curiosity, make me feel an inexplicable tension. My instincts sense a danger similar to the children I met before coming here.

"You're still a fur ball, aren't you!"

The blonde knight suddenly ran over and, as if playing "up high," lifted my small body high up.

Gah, so high! I'm scared!

My instincts were right. This person is dangerous. He has a dangerous innocence, a "boy's heart."

"Kicks!"

Tina quickly intervened. So his name is Kicks. I'll remember that.

As soon as I was put back on the ground, I plopped down. My legs felt weak. It might have been scarier than the roller coaster I rode in my past life.

I was in a daze, trembling slightly, when I heard a heavy thud next to me.

"Ow... that hurts!!"

I turned to see Kicks holding his head and crouching. The one-eyed knight had stood up and was clenching his fist. He must have punched him.

The one-eyed knight's fist is as hard as a rock, so it must have hurt a lot. It's not a cute "genkotsu" in hiragana or a "Genkotsu" in katakana. It's a "fist" in kanji.

After silently delivering the iron fist, the one-eyed knight patted my head and sat back down.

"Idiot!"

Tina rolled her eyes at Kicks.

"Kicks, what are you doing?"

Then a crowd gathered. There were about five or six of them, and seeing their faces made my face under the fur turn even paler.

Because they were all intimidating knights... oh! I recognized them as the people who helped me yesterday! The bearded one and the bald one were there. Their faces are still scary!

They greeted the one-eyed knight with, "Good work,"—it looked like yakuza members bowing to their underboss—and then smiled at me. Their smiles were also scary.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Didn't you catch a cold?"

"Did Kicks bully you?"

But their words were kind. I shouldn't judge people by their appearance.

"Do you remember meeting us yesterday?"

The bearded one pointed to himself. Of course, I remember.

But being surrounded by these intimidating, large knights made my knees shake involuntarily. I felt like I might pee my pants. I had just thought it was wrong to judge people by their appearance, but my tail curled inward.

"Hey, you're really scared, aren't you?"

"It's because of your scary face, right?"

"Your face is scary too, you know!"

Stop it, don't yell at me with that deep voice! My tail curls even more!

"You guys are being noisy."

The one-eyed knight continued eating calmly while giving them a quiet warning. He seems used to this.

"Sorry."

The intimidating group bowed their heads in reflection and then sighed.

"But if we keep scaring people like this, no one will ever get close to us."

"True. It's hopeless. You didn't even remember meeting us yesterday."

"Ah... I wanted to pet that soft fur."

Hearing their genuinely sad voices, my conscience ached. I remember meeting them yesterday and am grateful for chasing away the wild dogs and trying to help me.

But I can't speak, so I can't tell them, "My knees are shaking, but I don't dislike you. I'm really grateful."

"Being feared by women and children is one thing, but being feared by animals too..."

"I blame my parents for giving me this face..."

Tina added a small voice, "I'm not scared," but was silenced with, "You were terrified at first." By the way, Kicks was still recovering from the punch.

"We'll always be like this. If we protect a lost child in town, we're mistaken for kidnappers—"

"Even though we're wearing knight uniforms."

"If we try to help a woman being harassed by a sleazy man, we're mistaken for thugs—"

"Even though we're wearing knight uniforms."

The one-eyed knight continued eating silently, but I couldn't help feeling sympathy for their sad stories. Tears welled up in my eyes.

I can't express my feelings with words right now.

But what's the point of words? What's the point of not being able to speak?

I can show my feelings with actions!

I grabbed something in my mouth and, mustering my courage, approached the intimidating group. They gasped in surprise.

It's okay, their faces and personalities are different. They're actually good people. I told myself, "This face is scary! It belongs to a very strong and powerful person! Run, or you'll be hurt!" to silence my animal instincts.

My tail was still curled, and my legs were a bit shaky, but when I stood in front of them, I dropped what I had in my mouth. It was a piece of meat from tonight's dinner.

I nudged it with my nose and offered it to them, who were staring at me with wide eyes.

The intimidating group, who had been frozen in shock, suddenly started talking excitedly.

"Wh-what? This is your dinner, right? You're giving it to us?"

"You were scared of us..."

"We thought you hated us."

"Wait... could you remember what happened yesterday? Is this meat a thank you for that?"

"I see, that makes sense! A thank you for yesterday! Well, the deputy actually jumped into the pond, and we didn't do much to deserve thanks!"

It's okay, it's okay. When you surrounded me by the pond, I felt a different kind of fear from the wild dogs, but I was happy that you tried to help me.

I don't have much, but please share this meat. It's a token of my gratitude.

"Wow! I'm so happy!"

"Being thanked feels great. I might cry!"

"Being kind to people doesn't always pay off."

The intimidating group was teary-eyed in front of the small piece of meat. What a tough life they must have had...

After that, I also gave a piece of meat to the one-eyed knight, who saved me from the pond last night, and to Tina, who took care of me when I fainted. I practically forced it on them.

They looked a bit overwhelmed with the meat but were very happy. I hope they understood my gratitude.

By the way, Kicks was still recovering from the punch (omitted).