Chapter 29

Kugarugu appeared with a burst of bright red flames, in the form of a beast.

His black, glossy fur and burning crimson eyes stood out starkly against the snowy, silver landscape. He had landed at the edge of a training ground that hadn't been cleared of snow, and for a moment, he was buried in the snow, floundering as he crawled out. Though the flames on his tail wouldn't go out easily, he protectively held it high, the small flame at the tip always burning, which was rather adorable.

"Milfuria!"

With a boyish, energetic and assertive voice, Kugarugu called out to me. But then he widened his eyes and stared at me, who was in human form.

"Milfuria... is that you?"

The knights around us were buzzing with excitement at the sudden cute visitor, but I decided to attend to Kugarugu first.

Actually, Kugarugu, a fire spirit, has been visiting Snowreia Mountain two or three times a week since we first met in the capital last year. Despite clearly not being accustomed to the cold climate, he seems to be enduring it in front of me.

Even without any particular reason, he often comes here. Once, I asked him, "Aren't you really cold? Why do you force yourself to come?" The usually assertive Kugarugu teared up a little and said, "Because if I don't come, Milfuria won't come to me..." I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my heart. I felt a flutter, but I still don't go to Kugarugu's place. If I go south, I feel like I'll be killed by the heat and the overly energetic Kugarugu.

"Yep, it's me! I can now turn into a human form."

I discarded the snowball I had intended to throw at Kicks and approached Kugarugu. Perhaps feeling frustrated that I had beaten him to it, Kugarugu said, "Hmph," with a look of disinterest. Do boys really care about such things?

"But I'm strong enough in this form."

Even though I hadn't said anything, Kugarugu, with a pouting face, continued. His childish pride was quite endearing.

"What's with that kid! His eyes are so mean! He's not being honest! He's so cute!"

Tina, who was standing behind, seemed to be swooning over the little black panther.

Noticing her voice, Kugarugu turned his attention to the knights, as if just realizing they were there. He glared sharply at the one-eyed knight who was closest to me. He's so brave.

"Who are they? Humans?"

"Yes, they're all good people. My friends."

Or, more like, guardians or something.

In response to my answer, Kugarugu again said, "Hmph," with a look of disinterest.

"This is the one-eyed knight."

I introduced the one-eyed knight by holding his hand, but Kugarugu furrowed his brow even more deeply.

"You don't need to introduce them. I won't be friends with them."

Kicks, who is still mentally a child, was irritated by this, but the others didn't seem angry at all. They were even grinning at the sullen little black panther.

However, I was a bit worried. I always receive help from the one-eyed knight and the others at the fort, and I didn't want them to be treated rudely. Besides, I didn't want the knights to have a bad impression of Kugarugu. Perhaps, despite everything, I'm starting to feel a sense of camaraderie with Kugarugu, who is also a spirit child.

I ran to Kugarugu, went around behind him, and lifted him up.

"Come on, don't say that. Say hello to everyone."

Kugarugu was quite heavy. I could barely lift him by putting my hands under his armpits. But his body was so warm.

"Whoa!? Stop it!"

Surprised to be picked up, Kugarugu struggled wildly. Once he escaped my hands, he glared at me with a face full of embarrassment, his ears twitching nervously.

"Sorry."

Perhaps it was embarrassing for him to be carried by a girl, even in human form. His cheeks, covered in short fur, seemed to be blushing. I might have hurt his pride. Boys are so troublesome... No, I did something bad.

"I'm going home now..."

Kugarugu, looking somewhat dejected, muttered in a small voice and returned to the south.

...Sorry, somehow.

***

A week later, while I was visiting the fort in human form, Kugarugu came again. I was in the dining hall with the one-eyed knights—apparently, they eat lunch after training in the morning—and when I felt the presence of flames next to me and turned around, there stood a boy about three years old, slightly taller than me.

He had brown skin, short black hair, and beautiful crimson eyes that flickered like flames, but his gaze was very intense. He was dressed in an Arab-style outfit, with round black panther ears on his head and a long tail with a flame at the tip.

Yes, this is definitely Kugarugu. He can now turn into a human form. Was he frustrated that I had beaten him to it?

Kugarugu stood there with his arms crossed, looking smug. I couldn't help but smile warmly, imagining how hard he must have practiced to achieve this in just a week. He's so cute.

However, like me, he still had animal ears and a tail, so his transformation wasn't perfect. That's also cute. So cheeky.

"How's this! I can turn into a human too! It was really easy."

"Wow, that's impressive."

Since I'm older than him in terms of mental age, I didn't make an immature comment like "You're lying." It would only upset Kugarugu and complicate things.

The innocent Kugarugu took my words at face value and seemed satisfied.

However, when he looked at me again, his expression quickly changed. He furrowed his brow, his gaze becoming even sharper, and he spoke in a clearly displeased tone.

"Milfuria, why are you sitting there?"

"Why...?"

Actually, I was sitting on the one-eyed knight's lap, eating a sandwich with him. If asked why, I would have to say it was because there was no chair for children. The regular chairs were too high for me to reach the table.

"Get down."

Kugarugu, tapping the floor with the tip of his long tail, seemed irritated.

"But I'm still eating..."

Holding the half-eaten sandwich in both hands, I was at a loss. Kugarugu had come during my meal.

Realizing I wasn't moving, Kugarugu then glared at the one-eyed knight.

"You, put Milfuria down."

Oh no, don't call the one-eyed knight "you" like that. Why are you so confrontational?

Fortunately, the one-eyed knight was a mature adult. He didn't seem upset by Kugarugu's rudeness and, recognizing that he was dealing with a child, responded in a slightly gentler tone than he would with Kicks.

"Once Mil finishes eating."

However, Kugarugu, who didn't like being treated like a child, pouted even more. Baring his small fangs, he snapped at the one-eyed knight.

"Who are you to Milfuria?"

"...Like a guardian, I suppose."

The shouting Kugarugu, the laid-back one-eyed knight, and I, holding a sandwich and flustered.

Incidentally, the other knights in the dining hall had settled into a stance to watch the amusing confrontation between the "iron man" and the "sassy child." They were definitely enjoying it.

Kugarugu then pressed closer to the one-eyed knight.

"What's a guardian? Milfuria is mine!"

"What, what are you talking about..."

I was so flustered that I bit my tongue. It hurt. When did I become Kugarugu's?

Even without looking in a mirror, I could feel my cheeks turning red. When in human form, blushing is immediately noticeable.

Kugarugu often visits me, and I had a vague sense that he liked me. But I didn't want him to make such declarations in front of the one-eyed knights. It felt like being confessed to in front of my father or older brother. So embarrassing!

However, while I was flustered, the atmosphere in the dining hall had changed. The knights, who had been enjoying the show, suddenly became serious, and the one-eyed knight, who hadn't been angry at Kugarugu's rudeness, now glared down at him with a piercing gaze.

"Yours...?"

His voice was low. Very low.

"Because..."

Even Kugarugu, who is usually assertive, hesitated, sensing the tense atmosphere in the dining hall. His tail curled slightly under the one-eyed knight's intimidating presence.

But when he realized I was staring at him, Kugarugu regained his composure and shouted loudly at the one-eyed knight.

"Milfuria will be my 'mate' and have my children! So she's mine!"

I didn't have time to deny or be embarrassed by Kugarugu's unexpected declaration.

The one-eyed knight, who had me on his lap, said firmly from behind me.

"No, that's not happening. As long as my right eye is black, it won't happen."

It was a definitive statement.

He completely ignored my opinion—though I have no intention of becoming Kugarugu's mate right now, which is fine—but the tone of his voice was so serious that Kugarugu couldn't even respond, only bristling his ears and tail.

I was glad I couldn't see the one-eyed knight's face from my position. He must have had a terrifying expression, one that wouldn't accept any jokes.

Even the other knights, who are usually quite playful, had wiped the smiles from their faces and spoke in unison.

"Kugarugu, was it? You'll have to be strong enough to defeat all of us before we'll let Mil marry you."

"Come back when you're ready. A hundred years too early."

"No, a thousand years too early."

My marriage prospects were being extended indefinitely.

The knights, though acting immaturely by intimidating a child, were quite intimidating themselves. They are a tough bunch, with many having naturally fierce faces and large builds.

Kugarugu, still a child, seemed to be intimidated by the adults' seriousness. He became a bit teary-eyed and said,

"Defeating all of you will be easy! I'm strong! But I can wait until I'm an adult to 'mate' with Milfuria, so I'll spare you for now!"

With that, he turned into flames and disappeared.

I hope he's okay. I don't want him to cry when he gets home. After finishing my sandwich, I'll use my teleportation to go comfort him. It's scary to be intimidated by the knights of the fort.

I looked up at the one-eyed knight behind me with a slightly reproachful gaze. He looked a bit sheepish.

"...Sorry. I was a bit immature. Tell Kugarugu to come visit the fort again. I'll apologize for today. —But 'mating' and such are out of the question. It's not happening."

The tone of his voice changed halfway through. Did he mean "not happening" because we're still children, or because he has no intention of ever letting me marry? I hope it's the former.

"Everyone, don't scare Kugarugu. You need to be nice to him."

I shifted my gaze from the one-eyed knight to the other knights in the fort, who all looked away, pretending not to hear. Hey, are you listening?

I regret that Tina wasn't here. She would have been on my side. I'll tell her later.

However, with so many guardian-like figures around, it might be difficult when I eventually have a romantic relationship. I already felt a sense of crisis.

First, I need to report to Mother, get the one-eyed knight's permission, consult with the leader of the company, who is a friend, and since the knights of the fort will likely interfere, I need to introduce Kugarugu to my real father, the water spirit, who is surprisingly overprotective—

I don't plan to have a romantic relationship anytime soon, but just thinking about it... Ugh, my head hurts.