Chapter 9

The content of the main story 05 is almost identical to the protagonist's perspective. If you don't like it, please skip it.

After letting Yuri eat the Resail skewers, I gave her the Nyada fruit, which I couldn't give her yesterday, as dessert.

After struggling for a while to break the fruit, she pouted, realizing her failure. The fruit was too large and hard for her small body to break. There was no way she could have the strength to break it.

When I cut the fruit open and sliced the flesh inside with a knife before giving it to her, her eyes sparkled. It seems she likes sweet things, especially fruits.

Given the amount of food she had eaten so far, it was only natural that she couldn't finish it all, and the rest went into my stomach.

Since I have work to do, I can't stay here forever.

As I started cleaning up the area that I hadn't properly tidied up yesterday, Yuri helped me.

With her small body that didn't even reach my waist, she folded blankets and looked for things she could do, working diligently.

"Yuri, do you have a place to go?"

While tidying up, I asked Yuri, and she shook her head no.

"I see, got it."

I need to think about what will happen to Yuri after this.

Once I stored the cleaned items in the subspace, she clapped her small hands. I guess it's a magic that children don't often see.

"Alright."

Since this is an important conversation, I squatted down to be at eye level with Yuri.

"This place is dangerous, so if you don't have a place to go, come with me. I'll take care of your food, clothing, and shelter."

After telling her what I had been thinking about since the cleanup, Yuri replied hesitantly, "Is it okay?"

It might be a problem that she's too smart. This child hardly ever acts spoiled or asks for anything.

"Of course. One kid isn't much of a burden."

I earn a pretty good income compared to others. There's no need for her to be so reserved.

If she won't act spoiled on her own, I'll spoil her.

Yuri seems to like having her head petted, and when I did, she smiled contentedly. So, I petted her head.

After telling her we would return to the castle, she looked puzzled and asked, "The castle?" but then seemed to remember my job and nodded in understanding.

"If things go well, I'll add you to my unit and train you to be able to survive and eat well. If not, there's a village near the castle. I can arrange for a guardian I trust to take care of you."

"Will there be lots of yummy food!?"

When I explained my plan, she latched onto it with great enthusiasm. This is still a child, after all, and she's easily swayed by food. I couldn't help but laugh.

"However, there's one thing I need to confirm with you before we return to the castle."

"Okay."

Yes, I needed to confirm something before taking her.

When I told her seriously, Yuri responded with a determined "Okay," but... "Okay" is so cute, man.

I almost smiled, but I held it back.

"Your magic level. Do you remember using any?"

"No."

When I asked what I needed to confirm, she shook her head and answered clearly.

If she had an overwhelmingly powerful ability, appropriate measures would be necessary. And that would undoubtedly be a significant burden for Yuri.

I needed to confirm this before taking her.

"Then, let's try to make a fire first.

Put your hands together and imagine a flame, then open them slowly."

Imagination is crucial in magic. Magic races, who can harbor a large amount of magic power within their bodies, don't need the cumbersome incantations that humans do.

When I guided her on how to handle magic, Yuri followed the instructions.

"Here it is."

After a while, when Yuri opened her hands, a tiny flame, almost extinguishable by a breath, appeared. This indicated that she had almost no affinity for fire.

Despite this, she succeeded in her first attempt at magic and showed me the flame with a delighted smile.

Ah, I remember someone at the castle's dining hall once passionately described the cuteness of small animals.

Yes, seeing her so happy just for being able to do it is incredibly cute. Even if her magic ability is terrible, her cuteness alone is enough.

After that, I had her check her affinity for other elements: wind, earth, water, lightning, and darkness, but they were similar to fire.

Only water showed some affinity, but it lacks decisive offensive power.

Yuri would be considered weak among magic races.

Despite this, she was

"I did it."

Wiping the sweat from her forehead with a satisfied look. Her reaction was so cute that I couldn't help but laugh.

"Big brother?"

"No, it's nothing. You did well."

Looking up at me with pure eyes, I cleared my throat and pretended it was nothing, then petted her head as a compliment.

"We've done what we needed to do, so let's go back."

After petting Yuri's head to her satisfaction, I stood up and whistled as usual.

Yuri tilted her head in curiosity.

"He'll be here soon."

Sure enough, the one waiting for us landed in front of Yuri, who had a question mark on her face.

A rare magical beast, the Tigas, with white fur and black stripes, over 3 meters long. It can run at high speeds on the ground and in the air and can use wind magic. It has the intelligence to understand language but is fierce and solitary, only obeying those it recognizes.

The Tigas is an evolved form of the Tigar, which has yellow fur with black stripes, is smaller than the Tigas, cannot fly, and has lower intelligence and no magic abilities.

I discovered this "Deep Forest" and, after a day-long intense battle, captured it while in a daze. The battle was so intense that I apparently collapsed for three days afterward.

When I woke up, Retz was lying beside me. It seemed he was tired and had recognized me as his master, protecting me.

I brought Retz back to the Northern Demon King's Castle as my mount and spent time training him, even though he was covered in injuries.

I just watched how Yuri would react to seeing Retz, with no intention of intervening.

Yuri gaped at Retz.

She was taken aback by his sudden appearance and size, but she didn't show any fear.

On the other hand, Retz...

Sniffed Yuri and suddenly licked her face.

Yuri, surprised, exclaimed, "Ah!" and was further licked, causing her to fall backward. Retz continued to play with her, growling contentedly.

...Are you really a Tigas? You're acting like a Neria.

Seeing Yuri struggling due to the size difference, I couldn't help but rescue her and pick her up.

Her face was covered in Retz's saliva.

"Retz, it's good that you like her, but you're being too affectionate."

"Growl."

When I scolded him, he let out a dissatisfied growl. It seems he really likes Yuri.

What was the point of the time I spent taming you, who used to bare your fangs and threaten me?

In any case, I wiped the saliva off Yuri's face, smoothed out her messy hair, and cleaned her dirty clothes.

"Yuri, this is Retz. My mount, a Tigas."

"...'Mount'?"

To Yuri, who repeated the unfamiliar word, I explained what a mount is.

"Can it fly?"

"Retz doesn't have wings, so he runs. Tigar, which looks like Retz but can't fly, is a different species."

It seems Yuri didn't know about the Tigas and had confused it with the Tigar. That's why she was surprised but not afraid.

"Retz is amazing."

Yuri praised Retz with shining eyes, and Retz washed his face with his front paw. He seems to be blushing, you know.

...Are you really a Tigas?? You don't show any of the characteristics of a fierce, intelligent, and solitary rare magical beast. You used to act like you were mocking people with a sneer.

The contrast with the past Retz gave me a headache.

"Retz, we're going back to the castle. Yuri will ride with us."

"Growl."

When I gave the order, I was amazed that Retz, who didn't resist, lay down.

Do you really like Yuri that much?

I picked up Yuri and placed her on my lap, then took out the reins from the collar around Retz's neck.

"Big brother—"

Just as I was about to finish the preparations, Yuri called out to me.

Looking down, I saw her fidgeting and looking up at me.

"I want to touch the fur. ...Please?"

Her pleading eyes and the word "please" sent a shock through me. It was more effective than a poorly executed lightning magic.

This was Yuri's first act of being spoiled. She wanted to touch Retz's fur? Could I say no? No, I definitely couldn't.

I had to fulfill this request!

I gently placed her hand on Retz's fur.

"Huh? ...Oh, so soft."

Yuri touched Retz's fur and rubbed her cheek against it happily.

Retz, you're growling again. I've given up on you.

The young women in the village around the castle used to argue that "cute" means "heartwarming." I never understood it until now, but watching Yuri play with Retz, I finally get it. So this is "cute."

After a while, Yuri seemed satisfied and returned to my lap, smiling.

The headache I had just a moment ago was gone. I felt incredibly healed.

"...Let's go."

Holding Yuri securely from behind, I manipulated the reins, and Retz started running and ascended into the air.

We headed for the castle, with Retz running at full speed.

[Additional Explanation]

Neria = Cat. A small, popular magical beast known for its affectionate and playful nature. It is a favorite among pet lovers in the Magic Continent.

Dilnan, you are steadily opening doors that should not be opened. After 325 years of living as a magic race with little interest in anything other than what he likes, he finally experienced "cute" today. *snort*