Chapter 95

After parting ways with Tina and Woodbaum, I sped down the corridor of the fortress, searching for the One-Eyed Knight.

"Oneyed Knight! Oneyed Knight!"

Shouting the name of the person I was looking for like this was convenient because passing knights would tell me where to find them.

"If you're looking for the Deputy, I just passed him. He went down the stairs."

"Thanks!"

I headed in the direction I was pointed, and halfway down the stairs, the One-Eyed Knight turned around and waited for me. He must have heard my voice.

"What's up? Weren't you going to Tina's place?"

"Yeah, but I also wanted to ask the Oneyed Knight something. You see, yesterday, Rekka asked me to 'give her a room of her own,' right?"

The One-Eyed Knight looked puzzled and picked me up.

"Why did she ask for that?"

"It's a secret. So, why did Rekka want a room of her own?"

"Is Tina worried about it?"

"Why are you asking that!"

Now it was my turn to say that line.

But if I think about it calmly, it's understandable that he would ask that after I said I was going to Tina's place. I was careless.

"Don't tell Rekka, okay."

I tried to cover the One-Eyed Knight's mouth with my front paws, but sadly, my arms were too short to reach.

"Don't worry, I won't. Rekka didn't tell me the reason, so I don't know either. I tried to question her, but she was evasive. It seems like it's a reason she doesn't want to talk about."

"I see."

"But, I have been a bit concerned about Rekka. She's new here, so she might be feeling uneasy. I've been keeping an eye on her. I'm not sure if it's related to this, though..."

He left his sentence hanging.

I tilted my head, but it seemed like the One-Eyed Knight hadn't found a clear answer either and didn't say anything more.

"But, Rekka's room isn't going to change, right?"

"That's right. We could allow a room change for a good reason, but if she won't tell us the reason, we can't approve it. Not just Rekka, but other knights might prefer their own rooms too."

"I understand, thank you."

I licked the One-Eyed Knight's cheek as a thank you and decided to return to Mother to get permission to stay overnight.

When I returned to Mother, who was in our residence, I explained the situation about staying in Tina's room and got her permission.

"Well, that's fine. But you must come back here in the morning."

Mother, in her human form, placed me on her lap and stroked under my chin. It was a bit ticklish.

"Why do you think Rekka wants her own room?"

I asked Mother for her opinion, but she replied indifferently, "I don't know."

"Don't say that, help me think about it."

I flipped over on her lap, held her white, beautiful hand with my front paws, and nibbled on it, making it wet with saliva.

"I don't understand human feelings very well. Even when I talk to the king, I sometimes can't understand why he thinks the way he does. Human thoughts are complicated."

"Then, is there a spirit who understands human feelings well?"

Actually, it might be better to consult with the leader of the detachment, the One-Eyed Knight, or the people in the fortress who know Tina well, but if it's someone close, Tina might not like it. So, I thought a spirit would be better. I know a lot about human feelings, but I can't figure out what Rekka is thinking or how to mediate between the two of us. I want an adult's perspective.

"Human feelings? Hmm, I don't think there's a spirit who is particularly knowledgeable about them."

"Father wouldn't be good, right?"

Even I knew that. Mother nodded deeply.

"He has lived for a long time, but he's not knowledgeable about humans or other spirits. ...However, how about Daphine? She might not be knowledgeable about human feelings, but she's good at listening to spirits' concerns and is very helpful."

Daphine. She's an adult and seems to be objective, so that might be good.

"Okay! I'll go to Daphine's place then!"

I received a kiss from Mother, who chuckled, and then headed to Daphine's place.

Teleportation between spirits is usually easy, but since this was my first time trying to go to her place, it didn't work. Daphine wasn't at the location I teleported to.

Instead, there was—

"Hey! It's Milfia!"

It was Hylgapa in the form of a large black panther. The tip of his long tail, like Kugaru's, was lit with flames, but they burned more fiercely than Kugaru's.

I'm more used to seeing Hylgapa in his human form, so I'm still not used to his panther form. When he approached and got close to my face, I flinched a bit.

"Hylgapa. ...And Kugaru too."

Kugaru quickly appeared from behind Hylgapa's body. When he saw me, his pupils dilated, and his tail stood straight up, looking happy.

I muttered as I received a headbutt from Kugaru.

"This is the volcano where the two of you live."

It's not my first time coming to Kugaru's residence. Even though it's a volcano, we seem to be near the base, surrounded by a green forest. They were probably patrolling their territory.

I might have ended up here because I subconsciously thought of Kugaru when I thought of Daphine. Daphine is technically Kugaru's mother.

"Ugh..."

After being knocked down by the headbutt, Kugaru rubbed his cheek against me, showing his enthusiasm, making it hard for me to get up.

When I tried to stand, he leaned against me and rubbed his cheek with all his might, knocking me down again.

Hylgapa said in a loud voice,

"It's rare for Milfia to come here!"

Instead of laughing, I wish he would calm Kugaru down a bit.

As if he heard my thoughts, Hylgapa licked Kugaru's head and told him, "Calm down."

However, when he saw me standing unsteadily, he seemed concerned about my messy fur and pulled me closer by the back of my neck.

"Come on, since you're here, let me groom you."

I growled, trying to convey that I didn't need grooming right now, but Hylgapa didn't understand.

He sat down with his belly on the ground, placed my body between his thick front paws, and licked my head with his large tongue.

Since Hylgapa and I were facing each other, my fur didn't stand on end like it did with Kugaru.

However, Hylgapa's tongue was even rougher than Kugaru's, firmly catching my fine, soft fur and pulling my skin.

When he licked my cheeks, around my eyes, and my forehead, my skin stretched, making my face look strange.

It felt like a massage and was surprisingly comfortable, but Hylgapa's tongue was very hot, making it painful for me. It felt like I was melting where he licked.

I tried to escape a few times, but each time, he skillfully caught me with his front paws and brought me back.

In the end, I was held down like I was with Kugaru, and Kugaru joined in, and the two of them groomed me relentlessly.

What is this grooming hell?