Chapter 62

This is a story I wrote as a form of rehabilitation. It's not very good, but please enjoy it if you like.

That day, Newt was wandering around the Felis mansion, looking bored.

Usually, he would move around with his father, Nod, but today, Nod couldn't bring Newt along, so he was left alone in the house.

On such days, his younger sister, Iris, would usually take care of Newt, but unfortunately, Iris wasn't home today either.

"Kyu..."

"Ah, Newt. Sorry, I'm heading to the knights' guild after this."

Newt tried to get some attention from Albiore, Nod's older brother, but he only got a pat on the head.

"Kyu..."

"Oh, Mr. Newt. I'm sorry, but I have work to do now."

Newt tried to get some attention from Alex, Nod's beloved butler, but he was politely turned away again.

"Kyu..."

"Oh, Newt. You're alone today... I'm sorry, I have something to do after this."

Newt tried to get some attention from Nod's mother, the most important person in the Felis mansion, but she gave the same response.

"Ah, sorry," "Sorry, Newt," "Sorry, I'm going to study now," "Oh," "Doh," "Hey, Newt, don't bother me."

It was strange.

Usually, they would fuss over him, but for some reason, no one was paying attention to him today.

So, Newt, slightly annoyed, wandered around the Felis mansion, feeling bored.

"Hehehe, serves you right, doesn't it?"

"Kyu!?"

Someone was laughing at him maliciously.

Who is it!?

Newt was surprised and on guard at the presence he had never seen before.

"You don't know who I am... Really, these young ones these days have no education. I wonder what Nod is teaching you."

"Kyu! Kyu!"

Teach me some manners, will you?

Newt protested with a cry, defending Nod, who he wouldn't tolerate being spoken ill of.

"Hmm, for a little one, you're quite bold to defy me. Do you know who I am?"

"Kyu... Kyu?"

"Hmm, indeed... Listen up, my name is Baron. I rule this area. As the name 'Baron' suggests, I hold the title of baron. A baron is... Ah, you're too young to understand, I guess."

"Kyu! Kyu!"

Although he didn't understand much, Newt could tell that the other was making fun of him.

He cried out in protest, raising his head and spreading his wings to intimidate.

"Hmph, so you want to challenge me, huh? Well, that suits me just fine. I need to teach the new guy the pecking order!"

"Kyu!?"

With that, Baron closed the distance between them in an instant.

A sudden, lightning-fast move with no preparatory action.

The speed was like a flash of light, something even a seasoned warrior couldn't achieve. In an instant, Newt realized he was within Baron's killing range.

Oh no!?

He tried to fly away by flapping his wings, but it was too late.

"Not a chance!"

Baron pounced and pinned Newt down.

He held Newt's neck and prevented his wings from moving.

"Kyu! Kyu!"

Newt struggled and cried out to be let go, but Baron's assault didn't stop.

"Hmm, still resisting, huh? You've got some guts. Alright, I'll give you a thorough lesson."

"Kyu!?"

With that, Baron started delivering rapid strikes.

"Yah, yah, yah!"

The strikes were so fast they were a blur.

Super-fast punches, faster than any master, rained down on Newt.

Completely restrained, Newt couldn't dodge or defend against the attacks.

"Kyu!? Kyu!?"

It hurts, it hurts, stop!

Despite his cries, Baron didn't relent.

He continued to punch, and only stopped when Newt was in tears from the pain and humiliation.

"Alright, that's enough. Listen, what's your name?"

"Kyu"

"Hmm, Newt, huh? That's a good name. Newt, if you agree to be my subordinate and follow my orders, I won't hit you anymore."

"Kyu!?"

"Don't worry, it's not a bad thing. Nod is my subordinate too. In fact, everyone in the Felis mansion is my subordinate. Well, except for Maria, the lady of the house... Ahem, but that's beside the point. So, what do you say?"

"Kyu!?"

He asked, but it was a threat. The fist raised high in the air clearly showed what would happen if Newt refused.

Remembering the pain, Newt reluctantly agreed to become a subordinate.

"Alright, that's good. From now on, you're my subordinate. You better listen to me well."

"Kyu..."

Newt didn't agree, but he didn't want to be hit again, so he weakly cried out. And then...

"I'm home!"

"!"

The front door of the Felis mansion opened with a bang, and the familiar voice reached his ears.

"Hey, you!"

Before Baron could stop him, Newt took off running.

He headed straight for the front door. Baron chased after him, but Newt, who had a head start, was faster. Once in the air, even Baron's godlike speed couldn't catch him.

"Oh, Master Nod. You were with Miss Iris?"

"Yeah, I met her on the way back."

"She bought me a snack!"

"That's wonderful, Miss."

"Kyu!?"

Help me!?

Crying out, Newt flew into Nod's chest as soon as he reached the front door.

"Phew... Phew... What a fast one. I couldn't catch him."

Baron, who had been chasing after him, also reached the front door. But Newt had already taken refuge in Nod's chest.

"Kyu! Kyu!"

"Welcome back, Newt!"

"What's wrong?"

"Maybe he's hungry..."

Help me! That guy, that guy was bullying me!

Newt tried to ask for help, but Nod and the others...

"Oh, Baron's here. Were you playing with Baron?"

"Kyu!?"

"Oh, Baron, I'll give you a treat later. Please take care of Newt."

"Kyu!?"

It was a betrayal.

Newt was shocked, despairing, and cried sadly.

"Ah, Baron, you were bullying Newt, weren't you? That's not good, you should be nice to each other..."

The only one who noticed the truth and reprimanded Baron was Nod's younger sister, Iris. At that moment, Newt decided he would follow Iris for the rest of his life.

And...

"That's not true, Miss. I was just teaching him the pecking order."

Baron, feeling wronged, let out a cry.

As mentioned in the activity report, the second volume of Nod is being released.

I worked really hard on revising the first half, rewriting about 60,000 words. Please give it a read.

I'm currently writing the third part, but it's uncertain if I can update by the end of the year, so I'm posting this for now.

Wishing everyone a happy new year.