Chapter 79

It has been half a year since the errand to the capital in spring, and winter is now approaching this area.

The summit of Snowlea Mountain, where my dwelling is, is always covered in snow, even in summer, thanks to Mother's efforts, but at this time of year, natural snow also begins to fall.

However, at the Northern Fortress at the foot of the mountain, not even sleet has fallen yet.

I sighed as I gazed at the wet ground, where I had come to play. The grassless areas had turned to mud due to yesterday's heavy rain, and the conditions were terrible. I couldn't even pretend to race around the buildings alone. My plans for the day were ruined.

I don't particularly like rain because it soaks my fur and makes my paws feel unpleasantly damp. I don't think I was especially fond of snow when I was human, but now I find myself hoping for snow to fall at the foot of the mountain and imagining how beautiful it would be to see everything covered in white.

Maybe I'm gradually becoming a proper snow spirit.

(I should give up on playing outside today.)

Just as I was about to return to the one-eyed knight, who was still working, I noticed a tree in my line of sight.

There were several acorns at its base.

Why were acorns there? As I wondered, I imagined the tough knights of the fortress picking up acorns and rejoicing like children.

Were they all that innocent...?

I stared at the distant acorns with a puzzled expression for a while, but then I suddenly realized something.

The acorns weren't placed there; they had been buried in the ground and were brought to the surface by yesterday's heavy rain. It must have been a squirrel that buried them.

Since they were collected for the winter, I should probably rebury them. With that thought, I reluctantly approached the wet ground.

When I reached the base of the tree, I used my front paws to move the acorns to the side and dug a few centimeters into the muddy soil.

At first, I was reluctant, but once I started, I didn't mind getting my paws wet or dirty. It might even be fun, like playing in the mud.

My tail, which had been drooping, began to wag. Mud splattered onto my belly and hind legs as I dug, but I no longer cared. I even felt like getting as dirty as possible.

Excitement building, I dug more vigorously with my front paws.

It had been a while since I last dug a hole, and it was fun!

However, digging alone wasn't enough to release the energy that was building up. I looked up and ran off.

I wish someone could control my sudden mood swings.

After running around the tree twice, I dashed at full speed toward the training ground, sticking out my tongue and smiling. I ran around for a while, wondering why it was so much fun to just run. Maybe it's because I have four legs and a body built for running, or because I don't get tired as easily as I did when I was human.

But the blissful time of running around in the mud didn't last long.

"Ah, Mil! You're dirty!"

"You need a bath."

I was spotted by Kicks and Jild as they passed by the edge of the training ground.

Oh no! I froze for a moment, then, not wanting to take a bath, I ran back at full speed.

"She's running away," Jild said.

"Hey! Come here!" Kicks shouted.

I heard their voices behind me as I returned to the tree where I had been, and I remembered my original purpose when I saw the acorns.

I was trying to rebury them for the squirrel!

I used my front paws to push the acorns back into the hole I had dug and covered them with soil, patting it down. Perfect!

Now the squirrel won't go hungry in the middle of winter. I did a good deed.

But just as I was about to turn and head back inside, I let out an incomplete scream when I saw an unexpected person.

"Ah...!"

Standing outside with his arms crossed was the one-eyed knight.

His gaze was directed at my mud-covered paws and belly.

I froze, unable to do anything but stare, and my tail, which had been up, instantly drooped.

H-how long have you been there?

"Um, the acorns, the squirrel, the squirrel would be in trouble..."

I mumbled an excuse and sat down on the spot. My wet bottom and tail were uncomfortable, but sitting might make it look like I was reflecting on my actions.

I didn't want to run away in front of the one-eyed knight because it would be scary afterward, so I adopted a posture of complete surrender, unlike when I ran from Kicks.

We stared at each other for a few tense seconds.

I thought I might be scolded, but the one-eyed knight surprisingly forgave me easily, smiling as if to say, "What can you do?"

"Did you have fun playing in the mud?"

Relieved that I wasn't scolded, I ran up to the one-eyed knight.

I like him because he's kind!

"Yeah, it was pretty fun!"

I laughed carelessly, but then the one-eyed knight picked me up and carried me toward the bath without a word.

What? No, no, wait a minute. That's not what I meant!

The moment I realized he intended to give me a bath, I started making excuses again.

"It's not that, I wasn't playing. The acorns were out, so I was reburying them for the squirrel."

"That's a good thing you did."

He patted my head and tried to calm me down, but if I stopped resisting, it would be a straight path to the bath. I whimpered and clung to the one-eyed knight.

I don't want a bath! Please, I don't want a bath!

The one-eyed knight looked troubled, but he didn't stop walking toward the bath.

"Mil, you can't stay like this. You need to get clean."

The choice was between living with hardened mud or taking a bath I didn't like.

But I felt that if I just went back to the dwelling and rolled around in the snow, I would eventually get clean, so I really didn't want a bath.

The Northern Fortress's bath is a hot spring, and I don't like the hot water. I would prefer being washed with cold water, which would feel better.

Although I wasn't crying, I felt tears streaming down my heart as I hung my head in the one-eyed knight's arms.

"If you do well in the bath, I'll give you some jerky, okay?"

The one-eyed knight tried to encourage me, but I wasn't in the mood for jerky.

When we reached the large bath used by the fortress knights and entered the changing room, the one-eyed knight took off his coat and rolled up his pants. He led me to the washing area.

He scooped up some of the hot water from the tub and added cold water to cool it down. It seemed he understood that I don't like hot water, but even when it's lukewarm, it still feels too warm.

If I asked for cold water, he would probably comply, but his hands would get cold. I thought it might be uncomfortable for him, even if it felt right for me.

In the end, I let the one-eyed knight wash me in the bucket, splashing around.

While being dried with a towel by the one-eyed knight, I stared at my front paws with a deadpan expression.

I thought my legs were short, but when my fur was wet, the ankles appeared.

Even though I was just being washed and the one-eyed knight was the only one moving, I felt tired.

The warm, cozy feeling after a bath would be nice if I were human, but for a snow spirit, it was uncomfortable. I wanted to cool off by burying myself in the snow.

"You did well."

The one-eyed knight rubbed my head while drying me with the towel, and I snuffled and leaned into him.

"You were very good for staying still and being quiet."

The one-eyed knight seems to believe in praising, and he compliments me for even small things, which makes me feel good. My mood started to improve.

I lifted my tail and climbed onto the one-eyed knight's lap, where he was sitting cross-legged, and looked up at him with a smile.

"Are you feeling better? You're clean now, and you smell nice from the soap. Baths aren't so bad, are they?"

The soap he used wasn't regular soap but a pink, rose-scented one that the commander had bought for me.

I was washed with it today, so now I'm emitting a floral fragrance.

The scent is indeed nice, but it's different from my natural scent, so I feel uneasy. If I have a human, spirit, and fox personality, the fox part is panicking, thinking, "This scent will make me stand out in nature!"

I shook my still damp body on the one-eyed knight's lap, but the scent didn't go away. Instead, it spread more, making my nose twitch. Licking my body didn't help either.

Just as I was feeling uneasy, the Intimidating Squad entered the changing room noisily.

They were all covered in mud and, as usual, had scary faces.

"Ah, Lieutenant. And Mil too."

"Mil, you look more fox-like when you're wet."

"Especially with the winter fur, you've been getting even rounder lately."

The Intimidating Squad consists of six people, all from the same unit and usually together.

They seem to respect the one-eyed knight, and all the fortress knights might feel the same, but it's especially noticeable with them.

They probably feel a sense of camaraderie as fellow intimidating figures.

"What's going on?"

The one-eyed knight frowned at the mud-covered Intimidating Squad.

"You weren't reburying acorns, were you?"

"Acorns? No, a horse got excited and started thrashing around, and we were trying to calm it down, which led to this mess."

Gregorio, with his red hair and beard, in his late thirties, said this while shrugging.

The other members of the Intimidating Squad are Rodos, a Russian assassin-like figure with pale eyes and hair; Gil, a bald man with a menacing gaze; Bounts, a giant man; Daz, a tall, mercenary-like figure; and Jets, who has a mohawk like a delinquent.

All their names have voiced consonants, making them sound tough.

Rodos is the oldest and the most composed, often leading the group. I tend to call him "Rodos-san."

Gregorio is the talkative deputy leader, while Gil, Bounts, and Daz are mid-level knights in their mid-twenties. Jets is a young knight who gets along well with Kicks and Jild, but when these three are together, they cause trouble.

Once, they caught me and braided my chest hair. It was a hassle to undo!

The Intimidating Squad, as their name suggests, are the most intimidating members of the Northern Fortress, but they are all sensitive and kind, despite their scary appearances.

"Hey, Mil. You smell nice."

"Come to think of it, I haven't touched you in three days."

Gregorio sniffed, and Jets reached out his hand.

But the one-eyed knight warned him not to touch me with his dirty hands.

"I just washed her. If you want to touch her, take a bath first."

"Aww, I can't touch you even though you're right here..."

Jets reluctantly pulled back his hand, leaving behind a mix of earth, rain, and sweat.

For some reason, I was drawn to this natural scent and felt a strong urge to rub against the mud-covered Intimidating Squad.

The fox part of me wanted to use their scent to cover up the unnatural rose fragrance.

However, as a human, I didn't want to get their sweaty smell on me, and if I rubbed against them, I would get dirty again. I didn't want to go back to the washing area after overcoming the ordeal of the bath.

I braced all four of my paws to prevent my body from moving forward on its own. Even though the rose scent is nice, animal instincts can be troublesome!

No, I can't do it, I can't! I mustn't go!