Chapter 35

That afternoon, I went to the mayor's office with Yui and returned to the guild.

We had the carriage stop at the back of the guild hall, and just as we were about to enter—

"Huh? What are everyone doing?"

Several guild members were crouched down, surrounding something.

"Oh, Guild Master!"

"What are you all doing at the back door?"

"Actually, we found this little one."

The guild members pointed to a dirty cat that was trembling in the corner.

"Wow! A cute little cat!"

Yui's eyes sparkled as she picked up the cat.

It was a black cat, but its limbs were white like it was wearing socks.

"I'd love to take it home, but at the inn..."

"I'm single and can't take care of it..."

The guild members kept glancing at me.

"What's with those looks?"

"Well, it looks hungry and pitiful..."

"It's trembling from the cold and looks so pitiful..."

Yui nodded as if making a decision.

"I, I'll take this little one home!"

I took the kitten from Yui.

"Don't be silly. You live at the orphanage, don't you? Do you even have the means to keep a cat?"

"Umm... that's..."

"I'll take care of it. Yui, I'll leave the follow-up to you."

"A... Act-sama..."

Yui's shoulders drooped.

The guild members patted her head.

"It's okay, it's okay," "Yui-chan, don't worry."

"What...?"

★

The next day.

While I was working in my room, Yui kept glancing at me.

"What's with the glances since morning?"

"Well... I was wondering what happened to the black cat from yesterday."

"Oh, that cat. I took care of it properly."

"Take care...? D-did you... kill it...?"

"I put it in hot water first."

"Huh?"

"Then I forced milk into its mouth."

"Wait, you bathed it and fed it?"

"Don't misunderstand. It was making a lot of noise because it was hungry, so I just shut it up."

For some reason, Yui's expression brightened.

Then, the guild members from yesterday came into the room.

"Guild Master! Show us the kitty!"

"Again? Did you all do your jobs properly?"

"Absolutely!"

The guild members approached my desk.

"Yui-chan wants to see it too, right?"

"Huh? What exactly...?"

At my feet, there was a box.

Inside, the cat was sleeping soundly, nestled between a blanket and a crystal (magical item) for warmth.

"It's the cat from yesterday!"

Yui crouched down and stroked the kitten's head.

"But you said you were going to dispose of it?"

"I decided to keep it."

"Really? Thank you, Act-sama!"

"Don't misunderstand. If I had left the cat, it would have lowered your and the guild members' morale."

I have the financial means to keep a cat.

"Despite everything, you can't abandon a weak animal, can you?"

"Indeed, our Guild Master is kind to both people and animals."

The guild members stroked the kitten's head as they said this.

"By the way, Yui-chan, have you ever been to the Guild Master's house?"

"Um, no, I haven't."

"Then you should go sometime. It's amazing."

I sighed and waved them off.

"Get back to work. Taking care of the cat is my job."

"Okay!"

The guild members left the room.

I checked the time and took out a bottle of hot milk.

I soaked a piece of cotton in the milk and brought it to the kitten's mouth.

"It's food."

"Ah, yes. A kitten this size needs to be fed milk regularly to avoid dehydration."

"You seem to know a lot."

Yui looked at me with a smile.

"What?"

"Just that you seem experienced."

"Indeed."

"Can I visit Act-sama's house today?"

"Do as you please."

★

After finishing the day's work, I returned to the mansion with Yui.

At the annex in the garden.

"Wow! So many fluffy ones!"

Many dogs and cats ran towards us.

They rubbed against me and licked me.

"Oh, Master, welcome back."

"What are you doing, Frederica? Isn't today your day off?"

"I was playing with these little ones."

I went to prepare food for the animals.

They followed me in a group.

"Frederica-sama, what about those dogs?"

"Master rescues and keeps animals that have been abused or abandoned."

"I see... That's why you're so experienced."

"By the way, Master also runs a café with the rescued animals. Have you heard of it? A cat café."

"! I know, I know! It's very popular among young people, where you can have tea with cats... So, Act-sama runs it!?"

"Exactly. Master runs cat cafés nationwide and various other businesses that include animal adoption."

Frederica said this proudly.

"Wow... Act-sama, you're not just an excellent Guild Master of the Adventurers' Guild, but also a top-notch businessman!"

While animal handling is just one of the many businesses I run, it's a profitable venture.

There are no competitors, and it's used by a wide range of people, from young to old.

The income from animal-related businesses is quite substantial.

"By the way, will this kitten be given to someone else?"

"Of course."

"Right... It would be happier with someone who will take good care of it."

Yui stroked the kitten's head, looking sad.

"Yui, do you want to keep this cat?"

"Yes! But... I live at the orphanage now..."

"In a few years, you'll be an adult and leave the orphanage. I can keep it here until then."

"! Really!?"

"Yes. However, you must come here every day after work to take care of the cat. Can you do that?"

"I can! Yes! Kitty, kitty!"

Yui hugged the black cat happily.

"Thank you, Act-sama!"

"Master really liked that little one too."

"..."

"Master? Why aren't you saying, 'Don't misunderstand, I don't like it' as usual? Ow!"

"Don't say unnecessary things. I might make you a stray dog."

"That would be a problem. Since you picked me up, you have to take care of me properly until the end."

Frederica smiled as she said this.

【※To the Readers】

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