Chapter 3

When I realized it, it was already morning.

I had set out with great enthusiasm to go to Mother, but my body, still that of a child in this life, couldn't keep up. I had walked a few hundred meters and then, exhausted, fell asleep.

Children can sometimes fall asleep as if their batteries have run out, even while playing. It was exactly like that. It's a bit embarrassing for me, who should be an adult mentally, to be in such a state.

I shook my body to shake off the snow that had accumulated on my back while I was sleeping. It was quite heavy.

And today, I resolved to descend the mountain in one go.

However, my stride is terribly short.

Even when I tried to run, panting and puffing, the distance I covered was minimal. Can I cry now?

The scenery remained a constant white, and at this rate, I wouldn't even be able to leave this mountain, let alone reach the capital. I had to run even harder.

Pant, pant, pant, pant.

Pant, pant, pant, pant.

I'm trying my best, I really am.

But because of this appearance, no matter what I do, it just sounds like a carefree effect.

Pant, pant, pant, pant...

***

One year since I was born in this world. Had I ever felt so acutely the shortness of my legs?

Fifteen days.

It took me a total of fifteen days to descend the mountain and cross the forest at its base.

...Half of my leave has already passed.

Now, I was walking on a path leading to a town inhabited by humans, having left the forest. My spirits were much lower than when I had set out from my home with high hopes.

The saving grace was that despite running non-stop, I hadn't developed any muscle pain. I accumulated fatigue every day, but it reset after a night's sleep.

Even now, I only felt the fatigue from today's run. It must be the recovery power of a spirit.

According to Mother, the mountain we live on is at the northernmost tip of the country, while the capital is in the center. She said it has less snow even in winter and is relatively warm.

But the snowy plains still stretched around me. If it took me fifteen days to get this far, it might be impossible to reach the capital.

Even as I reached a state of resignation, I continued to walk forward and eventually came to a fork in the road.

To the right, a town inhabited by humans spread out. It was the first time I had come down the mountain to a human settlement, so I observed the town with great interest.

The atmosphere was reminiscent of old Europe, with charming Western-style houses lined up. The town seemed large and populous, but perhaps because of the harsh cold and frequent snowfall, it had a quiet and secluded feel. Everyone must be huddled in their warm homes.

After observing the town, I turned to the left.

There, a large facility stood. From its plain and unadorned exterior, it seemed to be a military base, fortress, or stronghold.

Does this country have an army? Or perhaps a knightly order, in a more fantastical sense?

Standing at the fork, I wondered which way to go.

Just then, two young children from the town spotted me and ran over.

"Woof woof!"

Who's woofing, that's rude.

"Woof woof, woof woof"

The boy and girl ran up to me happily and, without any hesitation, hugged me tightly.

Ugh... please, just a little less force. All sorts of things that shouldn't come out of my mouth are about to come out.

"Woof woof!"

I get it, I get it, woof woof.

The children, with their angelic, Western-featured faces, were quite strong. They pulled my fur and tugged at my tail, and I couldn't help but let out pitiful "kyunkyun" sounds.

I'm losing to children.

But these kids don't have any ill intentions, so I can't bite or resist.

Twisting my face in pain, I thought about how to escape this hell—hell for me, at least—when a savior appeared at just the right moment.

"Alto, Mina, where are you?"

A woman's voice, presumably their mother, called from the town. The children were momentarily distracted and loosened their grip.

I didn't miss this chance and immediately ran in the opposite direction.

Like a white bullet, I raced across the snow.

...Sorry, I lied. In reality, I just rolled away, panting and puffing.

Hiding in a nearby thicket, I looked back to see the children, who were saying "woof woof, he's gone," with their fingers in their mouths, as their mother arrived.

"Let's go home."

The two were led away by their mother, heading back to their warm home.

Ah, how nice. I miss Mother too.

Who would think that I, who was nearly an adult in my previous life, am now such a crybaby? I feel like my mind is being dragged down by my body's age.

The original me was supposed to be more responsible. ...Supposed to be.

Well then. I slowly emerged from the thicket and thought.

I don't really want to go to the town right now because those children are still there. I need to be careful of children who run up to me with big smiles. They are innocent, cute, and terrifying creatures.

With the option of going to the town eliminated, I changed my course to the left and started walking.

I approached the imposing fortress and looked for an entrance. This is probably a branch of the country's military or a knightly order. There must be many people who know the way to the capital.

The problem is how I, who can only make "kyunkyun" sounds, will ask for directions.

Well, everything is a challenge.

I decided to try entering the fortress, so I slipped through a gap in the iron fence surrounding it.