Chapter 92

○ Month × Day

Today, the Second Enok Squad is peaceful as usual.

Except for the captain's face, of course.

Just a moment ago, a knight passing by muttered, "He looks like he killed three people before coming to work..."

Crow Roodtink -- his expressionless face is actually a menacing one with furrowed brows, sharp eyes, and a stern, chiseled face. His voice is deep, and he is a giant to look up to; it seems God has blessed him with many gifts.

Despite his appearance, the captain is a young man of twenty, with his own share of worries.

For some reason, he talks to me today as well.

“Hey, Amelia”

‘Quo?’

“Do I really have such a scary face?”

I was asked a difficult question to respond to.

If I were a heartless griffin, I would have replied, "Yes, you do." However, fortunately or unfortunately, I have a considerate heart.

I should probably say, "Your face isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea."

-- And at that moment, Mom and Urgas arrived.

“Captain, we’re back.”

“Same as Urgas.”

They apparently went to bake bread.

The basket was filled with freshly baked bread, wafting a fragrant aroma of butter.

“Good work, Captain! You look as stern as ever today~”

Urgas said something unnecessary. The captain's stern face became even more intimidating.

Mom then spoke up to Urgas, who made such an air-headed comment.

“Urgas, a stern face is a reliable trait for a knight. I envy it.”

Indeed, Mom, being a "little elf knight," often gets picked on by the town's ruffians.

Everyone runs away when they notice my presence, though.

After Urgas left, Mom, acting as if nothing had happened, handed the captain the bread, saying it turned out well.

The captain, looking completely flustered, took the bread.

After taking a bite, he smiled faintly, perhaps because it was really delicious.

Mom also smiled warmly.

... If the captain didn't have a fiancée, I think things would have gotten complicated by now.

Good for you, Zara.

I won't say what exactly, though.

○ Month △ Day

Today is sunny. It was a pleasant morning, but a commotion broke out in the squad building's corridor.

“Thief cat!”

“What, you’re the thief cat!”

It seems the maids are having a lovers' quarrel over a knight.

They were pulling each other's hair, engaging in a nasty fight.

The knight in question was only flustered -- no, stop it.

Other knights gathered around, but they were all taken aback -- no, no, stop it.

I wish they would do their jobs properly.

They were completely intimidated by the situation. No brave knight stepped forward to calm things down.

Mom and Zara also looked perplexed. They said that if they intervened, they wouldn't come out unscathed. Indeed, they might get scratched.

It seemed no one could stop them. But then, a knight appeared gallantly.

“What are you two doing!”

Anna Berry, a dual-sword knight with black hair and blue eyes, a slender build. She recently topped the "Top Three Knights I Want to Marry" poll among the maids, surpassing the second prince's guard, Silvesta Aurelia, our Deputy Captain Berry.

It seems she knew the maids who were arguing and stepped in.

“What’s going on?”

“Lady Anna! This woman stole my boyfriend!”

“No, Lady Anna, this woman stole my boyfriend!”

“I see.”

Deputy Captain Berry, how will she resolve this mud-slinging fight? Even I, a griffin, was on edge.

“Both of you, calm down. I prefer a delicate smile to an angry face.”

The maids, who were suddenly subdued by Deputy Captain Berry's words, fixed their messy hair and blushed.

This line must be useful! A few knights were taking notes.

“I’ll hear your story later. It’s almost time to start work. You’ll be late.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Okay, okay.”

The maids, who had just been in a fierce fight, left the scene with elegant bows, as if nothing had happened.

And to the knight in question, she said sternly,

“I’ll report this to the higher-ups. Give me your name, unit, and rank.”

“Yes, sir…”

And so, the situation was resolved smoothly.

The handsome and capable knight, Deputy Captain Berry, is undoubtedly a hero and the ideal knight for women.

× Month ○ Day

Garu Garu is always laid-back.

A young beastman with a wolf's head, a strong body, and fluffy red hair. The oldest in the squad, he is quiet but reliable, and everyone depends on him.

He is kind to me and always lends me his fluffy, long tail to use as a pillow.

Recently, he has become close to Slime, an artificial slime.

Slime was created by a pervert in the monster research institute, who misused the factory's budget. Made with a large amount of magic stones and gems, it is the strongest slime on earth. Only the pervert who created it, currently in custody, knows the details.

Its nature is closer to a spirit than a monster, likely due to its time with the kind Garu.

If it had stayed with the pervert, it would have become a monster.

It’s really good that Garu took it in. No one realizes the full extent of Slime's power.

Mom gave Slime fruit juice and watched over it with a smile.

Garu, watching over the two of them.

Today, the Second Squad was peaceful as usual.

△ Month × Day

Jyun Urgas is a very ordinary seventeen-year-old boy.

He might be described as a young man in appearance, but he’s at that awkward age where it’s hard to say.

He wants to be popular, but he doesn’t go around flirting with maids like the other smooth-talking knights.

“Ah, I want to be popular…”

I don’t know how to respond to his muttering.

He has short, clean hair, cute eyes, and a decently toned body.

He doesn’t look bad, so he should be popular, right?

“Archers aren’t popular, you know…”

It seems weapons can make you popular or not. I don’t understand how that works.

“Mostly, when I say I’m an archer, people react like, ‘Oh, that’s so boring…’”

Incidentally, the most popular weapon is a slender sword.

“The captain’s big sword is a bit too bulky and intimidating.”

Urgas muttered that he should have chosen a more popular weapon.

He’s really worrying about trivial things.

◇ Month ○ Day

Zara likes Mom. But he’s too timid to say it.

Lately, he seems anxious and busy with restraining himself.

Mom, despite her appearance, is quite popular.

Elves are typically tall and beautiful, and Mom, who grew up among such people, has a very low self-esteem.

But to the men in the capital, she is quite cute.

She waves around her charm for no reason, which makes Zara uneasy.

Moreover, she gives Zara an innocent smile, leaving him wondering what she’s up to.

I think Mom is probably bottling up a lot of feelings.

She might be feeling something, but it seems to be affecting her work, so she’s pretending not to notice.

Just because they are connected by a contract doesn’t mean she can read Mom’s mind.

Mom has recently shown some changes.

She’s seriously considering whether to wear lipstick to work.

This is likely influenced by her peer, Liette.

Mom also has a special trust in Zara, though she doesn’t realize it.

So, I hope Zara will patiently keep trying.

But it’s painful to watch.

Go for it, Zara!

○ Month △ Day

Liette Lichtenberger loves幻兽. She always looks at me with a dreamy gaze.

With her long, elegant purple hair, silver-rimmed glasses, and a well-proportioned figure, she is a beautiful marquise’s daughter.

They say children grow up watching their parents, but this is a particularly bad example.

However, aside from her love for幻兽, she is a good, normal girl.

I’m very happy she became friends with Mom.

But isn’t she at the age where noble girls should be thinking about marriage?

She shows no signs of going to social events, and the marquis doesn’t seem to be looking for a match for her. It’s a mystery.

The knights, being cowards, don’t approach Liette, perhaps intimidated by her noble aura.

Something interesting happened recently.

Silvesta Aurelia, who ranked second in the “Top Three Knights I Want to Marry” poll and is a popular knight in the second prince’s guard, came to hit on Liette.

With his golden hair, blue eyes, and a slightly droopy look, he is handsome but clearly a ladies' man.

His family is a count’s house, and as a second son, he is likely aiming to marry into a marquise’s family.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Silvesta Aurelia.”

“Okay.”

“...”

“...”

That’s it, the conversation ended.

Liette shows no interest at all.

“Um, I’m in the second prince’s guard...”

“...”

She turns her face away.

Wow, she’s ignoring him. That’s harsh, cruel, cold-blooded, Liette!

She’s always like this unless it involves幻兽.

Silvesta Aurelia, trying to get her attention, is flustered. It’s impressive that he hasn’t given up yet.

Then, Deputy Captain Berry and Mom arrive.

“What are you doing here!”

Deputy Captain Berry asks sternly.

Liette runs to Deputy Captain Berry, clinging to her.

“...I was scared.”

She was ignoring him just now?

Cunning Liette.

Deputy Captain Berry pulls her close, protectively, and glares at Silvesta Aurelia.

Mom, wary of the unfamiliar knight, grabs Deputy Captain Berry’s sleeve.

“Again, you, Anna Berry!”

“...? I’ve never met you before.”

“Shut up!!”

Silvesta Aurelia leaves, half-crying.

I felt a bit sorry for him, but hitting on someone at work is not appropriate.

Well, he brought it upon himself.

○ Month ○ Day

Album was sprawled out in a position where Mom could see her while working.

She kept sending glances and wriggling her body.

It’s apparently a cute pose for Album, but it just looks like she’s wriggling around pointlessly.

She probably wants to be petted.

Unfortunately, Mom won’t pet her unless she asks directly.

Album, you’re too sweet. All your cute poses are in vain.

After giving up, Album lies on the table with Bette.

Feeling a bit sorry for her, I picked up Album and placed her on Mom’s lap.

“Oh, Album is warm!”

Mom petted Album, using her as a heater to warm her fingers.

I thought the purpose was a bit different, but...

‘Hehehe’

Album looked happy.

Well, yeah. Good for you.

◇◇◇

-- And so, the Second Squad was peaceful as usual today.