Chapter 64

"Alright, this is the last one. If we do it too many times, we might get tired and not be able to do it when it really matters."

"Then I'll go to the other room again."

After we decided on the plan, the one-eyed knight suggested practicing the teleportation technique so that we could quickly escape from the enemy.

The one-eyed knight and I, along with Kugaru, who was in the four-person room, would fly to the one-eyed knight's two-person room.

I don't think I've ever failed at teleportation, so I don't see the point of this practice, but if it makes the one-eyed knight feel better, that's fine.

"Alright, perfect. You did a great job."

When Kugaru and I easily teleported to the one-eyed knight, he patted our heads and praised us, and we each received a piece of jerky.

Lucky!

But isn't this just like training a dog? I can't help but feel a bit uncomfortable.

I'll use the teleportation technique when it's dangerous, even without being bribed with treats!

After accompanying us in our practice, the one-eyed knight went to Hyariris to teach her the art of tailing.

Although he was against the plan, he seemed to have changed his mind and was now preparing himself.

I feel bad for worrying him, but I'm happy that there's something I can do.

It feels better to wait for the ambush in the forest and be able to do something rather than just watching everyone fight without being able to help.

"Mil, Kugaru"

The sub-leader, who had been watching our teleportation practice, suddenly called out to us.

"What is it?"

"Over here."

Following the sub-leader out of the room, Kugaru and I stepped into the hallway. The sub-leader headed for the adjacent four-person room.

Since everyone is in the two-person room now, this room is empty except for some luggage.

When the door was closed and we were alone, the sub-leader hugged Kugaru and me tightly.

"Stop it!"

Ignoring Kugaru's attempts to break free, the sub-leader continued to hold us and said,

"I'm sorry for using you as bait... What a cruel plan I've come up with..."

While being held in his trembling arms, I tried to encourage the sub-leader by licking his face. Since his face was buried in our bodies, I could only lick his black, silky hair.

"I said I wanted to do it."

Besides, I don't think it's a cruel plan. If it were a normal child, it would be different, but we are spirits.

We can use the teleportation technique and defend ourselves to some extent, unlike human children.

"It'll be fine, sub-leader. It'll work out."

I tried to say this while trying to spit out the sub-leader's hair that had gotten into my mouth.

Why does it keep getting in even when I try to spit it out?

"We'll definitely catch the mastermind. Your courage won't be in vain."

The sub-leader, lifting his face, said seriously while pulling his hair out of my mouth.

...We're not going to a place of certain death, right?

Our plan is as follows: Instead of waiting for the enemy to ambush us in the forest, we will take the initiative in this town.

Kugaru and I will pretend to run errands and wander around the town alone, waiting for the enemy to kidnap us.

If we are successfully kidnapped, Hyariris will follow us from the sky.

Meanwhile, the one-eyed knights will stay at the inn to mislead the enemy, pretending not to notice the kidnapping.

They will then chase after us at the right time.

To guide them, Hyariris will leave behind a spirit that will lead them to her.

We don't know where we will be taken, but the plan is for the one-eyed knights to storm in once the mastermind is identified.

"We're back."

"Kicks, Tina, how did it go?"

Kicks and Tina returned to the inn room.

They had pretended to check on the horses and performed a small act to be overheard by the enemy, who had been monitoring us since last night.

'They haven't done anything since the first attack, so maybe the enemy has already given up on Mil and the others. It doesn't seem necessary to be on guard anymore.'

'That's right, it doesn't seem necessary to be on guard anymore.'

'Mil and the others said they want to wander around the town alone. It should be fine to let them go.'

'That's right, it should be fine to let them go.'

Although I was a bit concerned about Tina's acting, Kicks is very skilled at such tricks, so he probably managed to make the enemy believe it.

They conveyed the message that we were no longer on high alert and that Kugaru and I would be wandering around the town alone.

That's the perfect opportunity for a kidnapping!

Kicks glanced at the closed window and said,

"They must have switched guards during the night. The men watching us were different from yesterday. There were two of them. One was a man in all black, and the other was a thug-like man, probably newly hired. The thug-like man was giving off a lot of presence, so it was easy to tell where he was. They were hiding in the shadow of the building across the street, a bit far away, but I think they could hear our conversation. The thug-like man ran off somewhere immediately."

"Got it."

The sub-leader nodded and put a rabbit backpack on me over my shawl.

It was almost time to put the plan into action. Kugaru and I would go out on our errand.

The one-eyed knight suddenly looked at Kugaru and said,

"I'm not sure if Kugaru will be mistaken for a cat by the townspeople. Mil can pass as a dog, though."

"He doesn't look like a fox. His nose is flat."

Showing my small fangs at the rude Kicks, I expressed my anger.

My fur is fluffy and long, and my eyes are round. Lately, I've been thinking that I might be a Pomeranian rather than a fox.

But unlike me, who trusts humans and acts like a pet dog, Kugaru is very wary of strangers, and this wariness is reflected in his sharp eyes.

Even though he is still a child, his movements and gestures have a wild quality.

His ears are rounder than a cat's, and his limbs are soft but strong and thick.

While the people of this country may not be familiar with leopards, some might realize he is not a cat.

If he is recognized as the cub of a large carnivore, it could cause a commotion in the town and make it harder for the enemy to kidnap us.

"Don't worry. I have something good."

The sub-leader said this with a rare smile.

"Wow, cute!"

"It suits you."

Tina and Hyariris praised Kugaru.

Kugaru, still in his leopard form, was dressed up—rather, forced to dress up—by the sub-leader.

"I don't think it's cute. I don't want to wear this."

Kugaru, wearing a charming hood with antennae, pouted.

"Sub-leader, this..."

I also looked at Kugaru and said.

What he was wearing was, in short, a bumblebee costume.

The top was made of yellow fabric with sleeves for his front paws. The bottom was yellow and black striped, with Kugaru's black tail coming out instead of a stinger.

The hood, which fit his head perfectly, wouldn't come off even if he ran a little. White wings were attached to his back.

It looked like a pet being dressed up for Halloween by its owner.

Kugaru's round ears were hidden, making him look more like a cat, or rather, a bumblebee. It was a bit confusing.

"Mil, do you want to wear a shawl or this? Of course, I have one for you too."

"Huh..."

The sub-leader rummaged through the luggage.

While the sub-leader, the one-eyed knight, and Kicks watched, I was also dressed up.

What was I dressed up as?

A fluffy white sheep.

The hood had curly brown horns attached.

"Mil, you're so cute!"

"Is she a fox, a dog, or a sheep? I can't tell."

Tina and Hyariris commented. And I had to carry a rabbit backpack on top of this. It felt like a traffic jam of animal characters inside me.

"Kugaru, instead of a backpack, I'll give him this. I bought it in Gorda, and couldn't resist."

A stringed purse, a child-sized wallet, was hung around Kugaru's neck, who was dressed as a bumblebee.

"Sub-leader, when did you buy that in Gorda..."

Kicks muttered in amazement. The sub-leader, who was looking at Kugaru and me with satisfaction, didn't hear him.

While the purse might have been bought in Gorda—probably because he saw us using simple pouches for money and impulsively bought one for us—the bumblebee and sheep costumes were likely prepared in advance.

When I realized the sub-leader had brought the raincoat he wore in Gorda, I had a bad feeling, but it turned out he had more of our things in his luggage.

I hope nothing else comes out...

"Cromwell has changed."

The leader whispered to the one-eyed knight while the sub-leader, who was happily adjusting my hood, didn't notice.

But the leader also looked pleased.

The sub-leader, noticing the warm gazes from the two, tightened his expression and cleared his throat, looking embarrassed.

However, I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of myself. I was a fox dressed as a sheep, carrying a rabbit backpack, and next to me was a leopard dressed as a bumblebee.

It was so ridiculous that it made even my minor worries seem trivial.

"It might attract a lot of attention from the townspeople because it's quite interesting."

"If too many people gather, we'll go into an alley to make it easier to be kidnapped."

"Don't overdo it."

The one-eyed knight came closer and patted my head over the sheep hood.

He then put the snake from his other hand into the rabbit backpack I was carrying.

The snake, which should be able to fight if necessary, was meant to be our guard, as the sub-leader had said.

The snake settled down in the backpack without resistance. Being a spirit, it didn't feel very heavy.

"Don't crush the letter inside."

It was an important letter from my mother.

I had almost forgotten amidst everything, but delivering this letter to the king was my errand.

The snake, hearing my voice, wriggled around in the backpack.

Did you crush it?

The spirit from my mother, after circling my head hesitantly, also entered the backpack.

While the spirit doesn't have the strength to fight like the snake, it seems to be coming with us.

Maybe it's worried about us.

"Alright, let's review one more time. What do you do if it gets dangerous?"

Squatting in front of us, the one-eyed knight asked, and I, the sheep, answered clearly.

"Use the teleportation technique to escape! Immediately!"

"What if you can't use the teleportation technique for some reason?"

"Huh? Um, ask for help from Father's snake. Then, make a loud noise to call for Hyariris!"

"Right. And what do you do while waiting for help?"

"Try the teleportation technique again. If the knight fails, then to Mother, or Father, or Kugaru, to fly to Hylg Papa."

The one-eyed knight seemed worried because I accidentally mentioned not being able to fly to my mother during the argument with Hyariris.

But at that time, my mother was refusing to let me come to her to protect me, so it should be fine now.

"Alright, good. Then, it's time..."

The one-eyed knight said reluctantly.

The others also looked concerned about Kugaru and me, but our ridiculous outfits made it hard to maintain a serious atmosphere.

The more serious I tried to look, the more their mouths twisted in suppressed laughter.

That's rude!