Chapter 59

"…Ho, matching outfits, huh?"

"They look like a mother and son."

When I went to return the dishes with Dilnan to the cafeteria, Schnas and Ordima gave us a lukewarm look.

"Papa—"

"Stop calling me 'Papa.'"

Taking advantage of the atmosphere, I got a small punch from Dilnan.

"…Mom?"

"Yuri, do you really want to skip lunch that much?"

"The captain is a wonderful big brother!"

Feeling frustrated at being on the receiving end, I tried to come up with a new line, but Dilnan, with a serious face, gave me a terrifying threat, so I quickly saluted and corrected myself. Scary.

I knew that everyone in the cafeteria, starting with the cooking team in the kitchen, was secretly shaking their shoulders to hold back their laughter at our exchange.

After leaving the cafeteria, we headed to the infirmary.

Huh, I just said goodbye to Vincent a moment ago after telling him to work hard…

Baxus greeted us normally with a "Good morning."

"You came."

"Please give me the best disinfectant."

"Huh?"

When Dilnan made an outrageous request to Vincent, who greeted us, it seemed he had come to disinfect the cut on his cheek before leaving… huh. Was he still holding a grudge from earlier?!

"What happened this time?"

"It seems Yuri is starting to have a bad influence on the adults around him."

"Yuri is really shocked, so please go easy on him."

As Vincent and Dilnan were talking, Baxus came to our aid, and they both looked at me.

I must look like I'm about to collapse, half-crying.

"Baxus, Captain—"

"Okay, okay. The captain will do a good job disinfecting, so it'll be fine."

I instinctively ran to Baxus, who patted my head and comforted me. When I looked back at Vincent from behind Baxus, Vincent smiled wryly.

"What happened?"

"Thanks to Kalaf making my clothes, I got teased in the cafeteria. Then Yuri started calling me 'Papa.' When I gave him a punch, he started treating me like a mother. I thought he might stop saying strange things if he experienced some pain."

"Ha… I never thought the day would come when you'd be treated like a mother. Quite a masterpiece.

Yuri, if you want a dad, I can be your dad too?"

When Vincent heard the whole story from Dilnan, he changed his wry smile to a genuine one and spoke to me.

Could this be a chance for a comeback?!

"Papa, stop being mean…?"

When I looked up at Vincent and pleaded, his smile deepened. Could this be a success?

"I'll try to make it as painless as possible."

"Hey, old man. Don't give in to your desires so easily."

"Did you say something? Dilnan."

"You really are a low-quality person."

When Vincent smoothly deflected Dilnan's criticism with his even more polished beautiful voice, Dilnan's cheek twitched.

Amazing, Vincent. Even though he didn't like being treated like a father, he now called Dilnan 'boy.' Well, from Vincent's perspective, Dilnan might be considered a young man.

"Come on, Yuri."

"Okay."

If I push it, it might backfire. Let's just get the disinfection over with quickly.

I obediently walked to Vincent and, instead of the chair in front of him, was placed on his lap. Why?

But the bandage was quickly removed, and the disinfection was done in a flash. Good. I got a new bandage for one more day and was set back on the ground.

While I was relieved that it was over, Dilnan had a sour expression.

Baxus, who smiled wryly, was comforting him.

After the disinfection, we left the infirmary, and Dilnan led me to the stables.

We greeted the members of the riding beast team we met along the way.

The stables for the cooking team were deeper than the ones for the document team I visited yesterday.

"Let's go out, Rets?"

"Today. I'll take you out for a walk later."

When I asked Dilnan, expecting a positive response, he confirmed it.

Today, more fluffiness!

My mood lifted as Dilnan led me inside by the hand. Inside, there were other riding beasts besides Rets.

They were all large, as they were meant to carry grown men. With Rets, the white tiger, and the wolves and rams, it made sense.

But there was one riding beast with an extremely unique fur color.

A distinctive two-tone of white and black. A large bear that writes the character for cat, an idol at the zoo. Its name is P.A.N.D.A.!

Seeing this unexpected riding beast, my mood soared even higher.

"Rets, come here."

"Growl."

When Dilnan called, Rets, who was lying down in the back, stood up and came over.

"Hi, Rets."

When I greeted Rets, who came close, he gently rubbed his fluffy fur against the side of my face that wasn't injured.

Then Dilnan led Rets outside. Watching Rets, a shadow fell from above. ...A shadow?

Looking up, I saw the panda standing on two legs. Wow, it's huge!

Seeing it up close, it was even bigger than the pandas I've seen at the zoo. I wondered if it was a bear, but the black and white pattern was unmistakably a panda.

Staring up in amazement, I was suddenly picked up by two hands from the top of the fence and held against the panda's belly.

Thanks to the fat protecting the internal organs, the belly was a bit soft and fluffy, and it felt good. I was gently swayed back and forth.

This is incredible, like a dream. I'm so happy.

"Yuri... what are you doing?"

"Captain, he's holding me."

When I was happily swaying, Dilnan, who had finished preparing Rets, turned around and was taken aback.

While clinging to the panda's belly, I smiled and answered, and the door to the cooking team's stables opened again.

"Dilnan, where's Yuri?"

The riding beast team captain, Yahar, and another calm-looking young man appeared.

When Yahar asked his first question, Dilnan pointed to me with a bewildered expression.

"Captain Yahar, good morning."

While being swayed by the panda, I waved and greeted them, and Yahar and the young man's eyes widened.

"Why is Kalaf in parenting mode?"

"Is that parenting mode, that thing?"

"From what I've read, that's a typical way Chelin care for their young."

"Amazing. Chelin usually ignore any young that aren't their own."

From the way Yahar and the young man spoke, it seemed Kalaf was the name of the panda, and Chelin was its species. It also seemed to be a rare sight.

"Oji would be surprised if he saw this."

"Maybe not. It might just be fitting for an old man's riding beast."

"Is Yuri a favorite of Oji?"

"Oji is completely doting on his grandchild."

I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the conversation that followed.

What? Could this panda, Chelin's Kalaf, be Oji's riding beast!?

...I can't imagine him riding it. In a way, it's scary or surreal.

"At this rate, Yuri might end up riding Kalaf too. ...Just seeing Oji on Kalaf is quite a sight, but with Yuri added, it would be a visual assault."

"Yuri is a scary kid in many ways."

"Being accepted by Kalaf on first meeting is impressive. He would be a great addition to the riding beast team."

"That's why I'm saying he shouldn't be taken by others. Anyway, I want to take Yuri now."

Just as I was trying to imagine Oji and Kalaf together and failing, Dilnan finally seemed to have had enough.

When Dilnan spoke, the young man next to Yahar crossed the fence and came over.

"Kalaf, can you let Yuri go?"

When the young man spoke, Kalaf looked at me intently.

"Kalaf, I'm going out soon."

When I also spoke, Kalaf patted my head with his paw and gently set me down on the ground.

"Thank you. Can I come back and play?"

I really want to experience this wonderland again.

When I asked, Kalaf patted my head again. I'll take that as a yes.

Feeling satisfied, I looked up at the young man.

"Good morning. Nice to meet you, I'm Yuri."

"Good morning, Yuri. I'm Tsen, the deputy captain of the riding beast team."

"Tsen, deputy captain."

The gentle young man is Tsen, the deputy captain of the riding beast team. His name is hard to pronounce.

...In the past few days, I've met so many people, mostly in positions, that I have no confidence in remembering all their names (sweat).

I really need a notebook. I need to make some cheat sheets.

"Since the riding beasts seem to like you, Yuri, you can come play anytime."

Tsen, smiling, patted my head, but... what a comfortable hand!

The shape? The pressure? Everything is perfect. If I were a cat, I'd purr. I'll come back to play at Tsen's place!

"...It seems Tsen's touch is effective on Yuri too."

"Don't treat the cooking team members like monsters, even if they are children."

"Yuri would be happy to take care of them."

If I say, "More petting, more care," it might sound suspicious.

"Uuuuuu—"

"Rets."

In the midst of this, I heard Rets' voice and suddenly came to my senses.

Looking over, I saw Rets, who looked very sad and had his tail hanging down. His eyes seemed to say, "Cheater!"

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to cheat!!

"Rets, I'm sorry."

"..."

"Rets is the best. I love you the most."

I hurried over, hugged Rets' fluffiness, and tried to explain. But there was no response. He seemed to be completely upset or sulking.

Please, don't be a sulky Rets!

And everyone around, please don't look at me like I'm a pathetic cheater!

Finally, after a lot of petting and cuddling, I managed to cheer Rets up, and we were ready to leave.

During this time, the two from the riding beast team and Dilnan were discussing something and didn't help me at all. How cruel.

Even before we left, my HP was already below half (crying).