Chapter 18

After being protected for two days, I get used to various things. I even get used to the one-eyed knight's grumpy face in the morning and his ironman-like training in the morning. I kind of seriously think his body is made of steel.

And my shyness around people has improved a bit from yesterday. I still keep my guard up around Kicks and don't let just anyone pet me, but if someone speaks kindly and slowly reaches out their hand, I don't mind them touching my head and back. My belly, paws, and tail are off-limits, though. They're delicate areas.

In the morning cafeteria, when Tina-san petted me, she let out an excited whisper, "Kyaaaah," and seemed moved by the soft, fluffy fur. She said things like, "Wow! So fluffy, it's unbelievable! Oh no!" Was it that bad?

When the one-eyed knight went to work, I was let out again, just like in the afternoon yesterday. After he patted my head repeatedly, saying, "Be a good girl," I decided to play by digging in the snow, so as not to disturb the knights who were training. The ground was quite hard and dirty, so it wasn't very fun, but the snow was easy to dig and didn't get me dirty, so I got absorbed in it.

After digging one hole, I sighed. But since I still had plenty of energy, I started walking to dig another hole next to it. Just as I did, my foot slipped, and I fell into the hole I had just dug, which was about thirty centimeters deep. This has happened before.

Feeling embarrassed by my clumsiness, I hurriedly climbed out of the hole. I hope no one saw me.

Looking back at the training ground, the knights had just finished running and were sitting on the snow, panting heavily.

They all looked exhausted but were smiling a little.

"It's too much, it's tough...!"

"Just running was hard enough, and now I can't breathe from laughing..."

So they did see me.

With my face flushed, I quickly left the training ground. I didn't want to distract them from their training.

After that, I went to the stable and watched from a distance as a man who seemed to be the caretaker was feeding the horses. When he noticed me, he showed me some hay, asking, "Do you want some too?" But even as an omnivore, I didn't need that.

After the caretaker finished cleaning the stable and left, I approached the horses and greeted each one in turn.

"Good morning, good morning. It's cold today, isn't it?"

The horses all responded by exhaling white breath.

I then approached a particularly large horse in the middle of the stable and greeted it the same way. I'm not very familiar with horse coat colors, so I can only describe the large horse in front of me as a dark brown, almost black in the absence of sunlight.

He was very muscular and well-built, with a strong and handsome face. He seemed masculine and reliable. In fact, the other horses seemed to trust him, so he was probably the leader.

He gently swayed his long, black tail and stretched his neck toward me. I think this is the one-eyed knight's horse. He still has a bit of the knight's scent, and their auras are very similar.

So, being near him feels a bit like being near the one-eyed knight, which is somewhat comforting.

I'm not sure if he overheard the humans talking or if he witnessed that night, but the horses seemed to know I had been attacked by wild dogs and were concerned, asking, "Are you okay?" Of course, the horses didn't actually speak, but I could sense their concern.

When I responded that I was fine, the one-eyed knight's horse snorted, saying, "If I see them again, I'll warn them off." I'm counting on you, Leader. I don't classify you as a weak herbivore.

Next, I greeted the horse next to the leader. Greetings are important in the animal world too.

This horse had a lustrous black coat and was very beautiful. I almost sighed in admiration. He seemed gentle and delicate.

They say a pet resembles its owner, and this horse smelled like the deputy commander.

Not too masculine, with a hint of soap, a clean scent.

As I was thinking this, the scent grew stronger on the wind.

The black-coated horse in front of me wagged his tail happily.

When I turned around, the deputy commander was walking quietly toward me, parting the snow. It was an unexpected appearance.

He still had his pale complexion, and his lustrous black hair flowed in the wind. As a former human girl, I was very envious. There's no hair treatment in this world, so how does he maintain his cuticles?

"..."

The deputy commander seemed to notice my presence only when he was near the stable. Maybe I blended in with the snow. It's my camouflage.

When our eyes met, the deputy commander froze. Why did he stop?

The black-coated horse neighed impatiently, and he blinked, then cautiously approached me again.

What's going on? The deputy commander's movements seemed awkward. He only looked at his horse, never down at me.

"Are you feeling well, Ailax?"

While ignoring me, he stroked his horse's nose, looking a bit tense.

To avoid interrupting their moment, I quietly moved away from Ailax and approached the one-eyed knight's horse.

The deputy commander continued to talk to Ailax, petting him repeatedly, asking things like, "How are you feeling?" and "Have you been eating well?"

Seeing him talk to his horse, I thought, "People who talk to animals can't be bad." Even though he's called the 'Ice Deputy Commander,' maybe he's different at heart.

But if my guess that he has no friends is correct, this scene becomes quite sad.

The horse is his only friend...

I cried. I cried in my heart.

The deputy commander must be awkward. He's probably just misunderstood because of his cool appearance and can't make friends.

I support you. Keep going! Keep going, Deputy Commander!

I made a chirping sound and scratched at his boots.

"..."

The deputy commander looked down at me with wide eyes and froze. Maybe he's not used to physical contact with people or animals? Or maybe he still doesn't like me? He likes horses but not foxes?

I looked up at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

He frowned and looked pained, then pressed his forehead to Ailax's nose and whispered,

"...It's hard."

I became even more concerned. Of course, it must be hard to have no friends. I chirped again and stood on my hind legs, clinging to his leg.

I'll be your friend. I'm sorry I'm not human, but being friends with a spirit isn't so bad, right? Do you dislike it? Do you dislike being friends with me?

The deputy commander looked up, and his expression twisted even more when he saw me clinging to him. He looked very pained.

Then, he closed his eyes tightly and whispered,

"I can't take it anymore."

As if he couldn't bear it, he suddenly hugged me tightly.

...Huh?

I was lifted by the crouching deputy commander and held in his arms, frozen in place.

I don't know how long we stayed like that. Eventually, the deputy commander gently set me down and, hesitantly but thoroughly, petted me from head to ears to chest to tail.

And his expression at that moment was... blissful.

His eyes were moist, his cheeks flushed, and his breathing was slightly labored. He occasionally let out a soft, "Ah..." It was very sensual, but I felt a bit conflicted. Where was the cool Ice Deputy Commander?

He lifted one of my legs and started petting my paws.

"This feeling...!"

Yes, yes, my paws are indeed soft and fluffy.

But I don't think they're that amazing...

I thought the deputy commander didn't like me or wasn't interested. What's with this sudden change in attitude? And what about friends? Are friends no longer important?

The deputy commander looked at me with a blissful expression.

"You're so cute. Why are you so adorable? ...Ah, of course, Ailax is cute too. Don't be jealous. Both of you are cute."

The Ice Deputy Commander's mask had fallen away. He was completely smitten, petting me and Ailax alternately.

What should I do? Is this a person who can only be friends with animals? Maybe he was bullied in the past and can't open up to humans.

Thinking this, I couldn't resist his touch. Instead, I licked his hand to encourage him.

"...I'm too happy, it hurts."

Hearing his soft words, my heart ached. The deputy commander must be... ugh.

In sympathy, I licked his slender fingers.

I'd like to introduce some gifts from readers.

An illustration of Mil and her mother [from Mr. Sugawara] ↓

http://8009.mitemin.net/i105929/

A Mil plushie (!) [from Hiyori-san] ↓

http://10119.mitemin.net/i106533/

http://10119.mitemin.net/i106532/

http://10119.mitemin.net/i106530/

Both make me smile.

The cuteness can't be expressed in words.

I don't want to enjoy them alone, so I hope everyone can smile together.

Thank you both very much.