Chapter 20

"Yuri, take off your apron. It’s understood that it’s only worn in the kitchen."

I was so happy that I was jumping on the bed, but Dillnan stopped me.

I obediently took off the salon apron, but I didn’t know what to do with it. When I looked at Dillnan, he had rolled it up and stuffed it into his back pocket. I decided to copy him.

"...You’re so manly."

The words that Kalaf blurted out after watching my actions stabbed me deeply.

I’ve been told this countless times by both men and women since I was young, but I never thought I’d hear it in another world...

"I’m manly."

Feeling frustrated, I smiled at her. ...Wait, why is Kalaf angry?

"You’re so cute, yet Captain Dillnan taught you to put the apron in your pocket like that! And you even look happy when someone calls you 'manly'!!"

"...Sorry."

"No, that’s not acceptable at all! I’ll hurry and prepare a pouch for storing the apron and handkerchief!!"

For some reason, Kalaf’s anger was directed at Dillnan, not me.

Dillnan also seemed to apologize awkwardly. It’s fine, putting it in the pocket is convenient.

Still, Kalaf dashed out of the infirmary, determined to make an apron storage pouch.

"Well, the conversation is over, so I’ll be heading back to work."

Elies, who had been seeing Kalaf off, said this.

Her unexpected departure left me feeling a bit lonely.

Elies, the captain of the paperwork team, who is usually extremely busy, had been with me all this time. I shouldn’t be selfish and want her to stay longer.

"...If you make such a cute face, I’ll take you away immediately. Don’t worry, I’m always here in the Northern Demon King’s Castle."

"Ah..."

"Yuri, you’re part of the paperwork team, so you can come to my office anytime. Even if Dillnan gets tired of you, you can stay there as long as you want."

Was my loneliness showing on my face?

Still, Elies’ hand, which gently stroked my cheek, was very kind, even as she casually used Dillnan. Elies is really wonderful.

However, her words were as warm and kind as her touch.

"Who’s going to hand you over!"

"Haha, try not to get tired of Yuri. Well, Yuri, I look forward to seeing you on workdays."

Elies easily brushed off Dillnan’s protest and left the infirmary with a very cool demeanor. Truly, Elies is amazing. I couldn’t help but watch her leave, mesmerized.

"Yuri, if Dillnan gets tired of you, you can join the medical team."

"Hey, old man, what are you putting in his head?"

Then Vincent joined in with a wink. This guy is really playful.

"Alright, enough jokes. I have something I want to ask Yuri."

After thoroughly teasing Dillnan, Vincent turned to me.

Wow, that was intense.

What was it? Vincent, taking advantage of Dillnan’s “putting in his head,” hugged Dillnan’s shoulder and whispered in a very sweet voice, "Send me to the medical team too," over and over in Dillnan’s ear.

Even though I was a bit away and it was a whisper, my heart was pounding and my skin was tingling. Bax was rubbing his arm too, so I guess he felt the same. Vincent’s seductive voice is truly formidable.

Despite this, Dillnan only showed a deeply displeased expression and endured it.

I wonder if he learned something from this. The current Dillnan looks a bit haggard, which adds to a decadent atmosphere. *cough*.

"Don’t worry about Dillnan. You’re a really cute kid."

...I’m sorry. I wasn’t worried, just imagining strange things.

But the current Vincent has a kind fatherly aura. That’s good, that’s good.

"Yuri, can you tell me where your memories start?"

I thought about it for a moment.

You mean the first memory in this world?

"...Well, the day I met you. When I woke up, I was very hungry and thirsty. I found some water to drink and calm down, but everything was strange. I didn’t understand anything."

Suddenly, I was in a jungle, the ecosystem was clearly wrong, and I was shrunk to a child’s size.

"Who am I? Why was I in such a place..."

Now I understand. This "small body" of mine isn’t just a lost child.

I need to think about what to do next and learn how to survive on my own. There’s no one in this world I can truly rely on.

...Ah, I was really naive.

Until now, I’ve been avoiding my fears because Dillnan was always there. I only thought about working as a cook.

There are aggressive monsters and magic. As a member of the Northern Demon King’s Castle, I’ll be required to fight.

That means I’ll be in constant danger.

I can’t think like I did in modern Japan. It’s something I should have realized easily.

"Yuri, it’s okay if you don’t understand. I just wanted to know how much you do understand."

"Huh...?"

I was lost in thought when Vincent’s voice brought me back to reality.

"Dillnan brought you to the Northern Demon King’s Castle, and Elies granted you temporary permission to enter. At that point, you have the right to work here. You won’t be abandoned. If you can’t get official permission, you can come to my house. My children are grown and out of the house, and my wife loves children. If you want to learn cooking, we can figure it out then."

"...But..."

"It’s fine. Be honest and rely on adults for difficult things."

"Ugh..."

...Vincent, please don’t pull my cheeks like that.

I appreciate the perfect balance to avoid pain, but it makes me look ugly.

"Hmm, even like this, you’re quite the little devil."

No, I’m not. It’s impossible.

I’m wriggling to get free, but why is Vincent just laughing?!

In the end, I was toyed with by Vincent, just like Dillnan earlier.

I’m really sorry for imagining strange things earlier. Please, Dillnan, help me!