Chapter 81

"Ruria, you remember what I said at the mansion, right? You can't live with the birds in your room."

"Okay, I understand, but... it looks like it's going to rain."

"I'll have the birdhouse built today."

"Okay."

"That's why it's not allowed. It will be a mess with droppings, powder, and feathers."

"I understand."

After that, as I was feeding the birds mealworms one by one,

"Don't make them gather anymore, okay? Make sure they don't escape."

Mother emphasized and left the room.

"Mom, I thought she would stay and watch for a while."

Surprisingly, she closed the door firmly as she left. It was convenient for me to move around, but it was unexpected.

"Maybe she closed the door to prevent the mealworms from escaping?"

"Interesting."

If the mealworm cage were to tip over, the damage would be minimized with the door closed.

"Also, I think she didn't want to see me feeding the mealworms."

"Hmm?"

I looked at the birds again. The owl was tearing the mealworms with its beak and sharing them with the small birds.

"Indeed, it might be a bit unpleasant."

Feeding the birds the torn mealworms wasn't a pleasant sight. Anyway, it was good that I managed to fool Mother. My acting and deception skills must be improving.

"Hmm?"

The owl asked, "Is it okay now?"

"Wait a moment. Crow, where is Mother?"

"Yes. She went downstairs."

"Anyone else?"

"There is no one else on the second floor."

"Thanks. Crow, keep watch for a while."

It was reassuring to have Crow on watch.

"Thanks, Crow. Sara, it seems Mother is far away."

Hearing this, the birds stopped eating the mealworms. They no longer needed to act in front of Mother. Also, if they continued eating, Loa wouldn't have enough.

"Sorry."

"Hmm."

I petted the birds one by one.

"Thank you all. You really helped. Thanks, Korko."

"Hmm," "Pii," "Koko."

While petting the birds with Sara, I sensed a presence outside the window.

"Hmm?"

Looking out the window, I saw Daru for a moment.

"Is he here...?"

Sara was surprised and froze. Daru's face appeared again.

"Daru!"

Sara and I rushed to the window.

"Woof!"

Daru was hopping and peeking through the window.

"Amazing."

Sara gasped in amazement. Daru is large, but he managed to reach the second-floor window, which is nearly twice his body length of 1.6 meters.

"Daru, that's amazing?"

I opened the window wide. Daru clung to the window frame with his front paws.

"Ha ha ha ha."

"Can you climb in?"

"Woof."

Struggling, Daru wriggled his way into the room, clinging with his front paws and wiggling his hindquarters. It reminded me of when I was a baby and climbed onto the bed.

"Wow... as expected, Daru. Daru, that's amazing."

"Woof woof."

Sara and I petted Daru, who was pressing his face against us.

"Daru, you made a good judgment. You saved us."

"Woof."

If Daru hadn't run outside, Loa might have been found by Mother.

"Thank you, Sara, for buying us time."

"Did I help, Sara?"

"You helped a lot. Thank you."

"Hehehe."

As I petted Sara,

"Rya?"

Loa's face appeared from the fluffy part of Daru's neck.

"Loa, you were good for staying quiet."

"Rya~"

Sara and I petted Loa together.

"Loa, are you hungry?"

"Rya."

"Korko and the birds brought mealworms."

"Rya."

I picked up Loa and sat on the floor next to the basket of mealworms.

"Go ahead and eat."

I brought a mealworm close to Loa's mouth, and he ate it.

"Is it delicious?"

"Ryum!"

Loa's tail wagged happily. He seemed to like the mealworms.

Everyone watched Loa, not just Sara, Daru, Korko, and Caro, but the owls as well.

The birds must really like Loa.

"Ah, right. Caro, bring the food I got from the kitchen."

"Kyukyu."

"I'll help."

Caro ran, and Sara followed, bringing bread, nuts, and sausages wrapped in a handkerchief and a towel.

"Ruria, there are eggs too?"

"The eggs are in my pocket, so it's okay for now."

The eggs were in my pocket, not wrapped in a towel, making them harder to carry without pockets.

"Thank you. Sara, you can feed Loa too."

Feeding a baby is fun. I wanted to do it all myself, but I had to be patient.

"Can Sara feed him?"

"Of course. Sara, hold Loa."

"Okay. Hehe. Loa, do you want to eat? You're so cute."

Sara sat on the floor, holding Loa, and brought a nut to his mouth.

"Ryum!"

Loa ate the nut and wagged his tail.

"Ruria, you ate!"

"Yes, it's cute when he eats."

"Right, it's cute."

I petted Loa's head as Sara held him and went to the dresser to get the eggs. My clothes have more pockets than Sara's, making it easier to carry eggs.

"Does Loa like mealworms or nuts more?"

While putting all four eggs in my pocket, I talked to Sara.

"Which one? He seems to enjoy both. Oh, he likes the bread too."

"Ryum~"

Loa must have been very hungry. He was eating so fast that I wondered how it all fit into his small body.

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