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caharae · 2 years ago

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TNGDH 26

The study was filled with people even before the sun rose.

The Kyle who once kissed me ten times a day only kissed me thrice. He worked busily as if he had forgotten about my existence.

On one side, it’s a good thing. I don’t have to deal with his otaku-ness.

“Move that item to this side. The clothes too.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Good. And the report?”

“It has been sorted out, Your Highness.”

“Well done. Then call that person over here.”

“Are you talking about the demonic beast specialist? I am not sure if he is in his room right now…… as Your Highness has mentioned before, it seems the time he is out is longer than the time he stays in the room.”

Kyle drew a faint smile.

“Still, we promised to go together. He must be waiting.”

“I understand, Your Highness. I will call him over quickly. Then Your Highness…….”

“I will be going over the reports on the demonic beasts for a moment.”

With that, he came over briefly to give a pat on my head and began to read over the reports.

Since it was a crucial matter, Kyle’s expression became serious. Even the smallest detail could determine life or death.

I contemplated to whether I should use the replica hamster, but decided that a ‘Summon’ would be enough after seeing Kyle focusing hard on his duties.

‘Current Miracle Points are roughly 26 percent…….’

No matter how fast we return, it could take up to half a day.

Who knows how many acorn cookies I would have to eat. Do you not do bulk sales? Well, okay then…… I’ll think about it when the time comes. Worst comes worst, I’ll pretend to return early.

I used ‘Summon’.

[I wish you good luck! (ෆ`꒳´ෆ)]

I wore my now familiar clothes and pretended as if I have been waiting in the room for a while. The soldiers then came and guided me back to the study.

Until the moment I entered the study, Kyle was busy reading. Seeing him like this made him look very diligent and tenacious.

“The Northern winds are harsh.”

He gestured at a box on the table.

“Wear this now. We will depart immediately.”

I looked inside the box.

There were sturdy leather boots, a hooded long coat, and light-weighted bow and arrows.

“The bow and arrows will not be necessary for this reconnaissance, but it is good to get used to having them equipped.”

For him to say that, it must be extremely uncomfortable to carry around.

I suppressed my urge to talk back. What could I do anyway? If I wanted to find one that was comfortable, I would’ve just stayed quietly in the castle.

“I’ve also prepared something.”

I was trying to figure out when to give it to him for a while, so this would be a good time.

I pretended to carefully take out my coat pocket and called the store.

[Love Love Corner~❤]

I will never get used to that name ‘Whatever Corner’.

‘Anyways, let’s see. The hamster items…….’

[Fluffy hamster yarn! ｜ ❤×10]

[Small and precious knitting needle set ｜ ❤×10]

[Try making one yourself! 79 styles of hamster clothes ｜ ❤×20]

Hey, hey! Hey!

What’s with the prices! They all have an extra ‘0’ than before! Isn’t this a scam?

[o(TヘTo)]

If someone were to see us, they would think I’m the one scamming you with your expression like that. This is absurd.

‘Still, I can buy it since I have plenty of Hearts compared to Miracle Points…….’

From now on, I should buy items beforehand while they are cheap. To betray a person like this. I don’t have a choice so I should accept it at the moment.

[Currently Possessing Hearts ｜ ❤×185]

New items arrived in the Love Love Corner.

[Demonic Beast Encyclopedia ｜ ❤×200]

This is exactly what I want!

I cried of joy inside.

‘I wonder if the system requires the Hearts and Miracle Points to constantly update the store.’

If that’s the case, I could look over the increase in price from earlier. That is, if they release useful items like this.

However, there’s a problem…….

[Currently Possessing Hearts ｜ ❤×185]

……Not enough Hearts.

I probably could’ve bought it if I hadn’t been ripped off.

I resisted the urge to curse out loud.

“What’s wrong?”

The image of Kyle reading <Try making one yourself! 79 styles of hamster clothes> as seriously as the report from before appeared before me.

“Well…… umm, so. Do you like my present?”

“I don’t know if it’ll like wearing these clothes, but they are definitely cute.”

He flipped to a page and showed it to me. It was a picture of a pink cape with a strawberry-shaped embroidery.

“Oh…….”

Bastard. You think it’d like that? The hamster would punch you if it could. And how do I know that? I know that because I’m that hamster.

Of all 79 clothes, you just had to pick that one? How about the others? Don’t tell me all the other 78 clothes are also like that.

That stupid strawberry. In all twenty-seven years of my life, I never worn such a ridiculous print. I wouldn’t even wear it by accident.

“……I-I’m sure it’ll like it. Is that pattern to your taste?”

“Well. Just imagining Cashew wearing it makes me happy.”

Kyle’s expression grew a little brighter..

I quickly checked the amount of Hearts I have.

[Currently Possessing Hearts ｜ ❤×186]

I already knew it vaguely, but it was now clear.

A Heart was given when Kyle Jane Meinhardt became happy. And with that, I could buy something that might be helpful or that would help avoid a crisis.

For example, the <Demonic Beast Encyclopedia>.

That book will clearly contain the characteristics, hunting habits, weaknesses, and other information on the demonic beasts in the North. That must’ve been why it was added to the store just recently, right before the reconnaissance.

As if to confirm my thoughts, the system window quietly floated up.

[Please replace bad moments with happy moments, and overcome dangerous situations!]

[Happiness is said to be another name for miracles. (๑˘ꇴ˘๑)]

Alright, I understand. I’ll do my best.

I showcased to Kyle how to use the small crochet hook.

During a volunteer work in the past, I learned to crochet wash scrubs. At the time, I thought it was one of the most useless thing to learn but now I’m using it here. As expected, who knows how life would turn up in the future.

“I’ll teach you more in detail next time…… this is basically how you do it. Your Highness is new to this, so I prepared everything carefully just for you.”

“Hm.”

“Since we have to go now, take a quick look and come back to it later. Rather than that strawberry thing, let’s start with simple clothes and try various other designs. Like sweaters and pants.”

“I worry it might not feel comfortable wearing clothes.”

I can put up with it once or twice.

“It should be fine if you don’t try to force it to wear them.”

He went silent momentarily. It seemed to be that he was imagining something in his head.

[Currently Possessing Hearts ｜ ❤×195]

……Crazy.

Aren’t you imagining things a little too hard? Just what exactly is going on in your mind right now?……No, never mind. Let’s not be curious about that. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

“Though I suppose it will be quiet for a while?”

I walked down the stairs, matching his pace. Kyle nodded, realizing I was talking about Belial.

“That’s right. There hasn’t been any big news so it should be quiet for at most a year, at least three months.

“You talk about it as if it’s some kind of annual event.”

“Well, it’s not any different.”

Kyle wrapped his arms around my shoulders to prevent me from being pushed around by the other knights.

It was comfortable to be honest. It felt like I was had some kind of special privilege. That being said, it didn’t make me feel happy in particular since I would have to return this favor eventually. Whether it would be a miracle, or happiness, by any means.

“He does not like me. His hate is similar to how I resent his bloodline. However, it didn’t feel as if he would try to get rid of me.”

He would be happy to put Kyle under his feet, but he wouldn’t try to kill him.

The reason was obvious. I bit my lower lips out of annoyance.

“He doesn’t want to manage the North. Well, not that he would be doing it directly with his own hands anyway.”

“That’s right.”

So, he would be keeping Kyle alive as a guard? I can’t deny it does look like that right now.

“Come this way.”

Kyle picked me up and put me on top of a black horse. It felt a little uncomfortable seeing that the current horse was taller than the one I rode yesterday.

I held the reigns awkwardly and looked down at Kyle. Seeing his face from above made him look slightly different than usual.

He mounted the horse in a familiar manner and also held the reigns from behind me. When his chest touched my back, I felt strangely stable.

“Lean on me.”

Kyle spoke bluntly. I naturally leaned on him as he placed both arms around from my back.

To be honest, it felt a little cozy. Our body size wasn’t too different and his solid chest was quite comfortable to lean on.

“You don’t seem to be nervous at all.”

“If we stay here talking, we’d only waste time and energy.”

“You’re right.”

Kyle took the lead and moved forward with the knights lined up behind him. Clip-clop. As the dust rose and the horses started to walk in unison, I felt the ground underneath shaking.

“About Cashew.”

I hesitantly opened my mouth.

To be honest, I’m not confident that I could make someone happy. Even trying to be happy myself was a struggle, how hard would it be to take care of others?

“Why do you like it so much? It’s just a small demonic beast. Nobody thought you’d even take it in as a pet. You brought in magicians, veterinarians, and me too… it’s as if you cherish it a lot and I find that curious. I thought demonic beasts were to be slain or conquered at all costs in the North.”

I don’t know how to make you happy, but I want to listen to you and understand you.

“The people of Blake took over to reside in the North, but at the same time they coexist with the North. Humans are beings who conquer nature, but at the same time they are beings who belong to nature. Destruction is not the only thing they do.”

“Demonic beasts are a dangerous existence. One careless mistake and it could instantly snuff out a person’s life and trample on the foundation you built over the years. Cashew is no exception. If I deem that it will become dangerous to keep as a pet, it will be disposed of.”

Please don’t do that. There’s a person inside.

“However, I cannot kill it for a reason that has not yet happened yet.”

So I…… no, Cashew could’ve died?

“It was separated from its group, shaking helplessly and unable to even open its eyes. If I hadn’t picked it up then and there, it wouldn’t even have lasted an hour.”

“Did you pity it?”

“Yes. Is that strange?”

“No, well…….”

Is there anything to think strange about it? That was his choice and in the end, it was a good choice. Who would’ve thought that the ruler of the North would have such a humane side to him.

“I just want to say thank you.”

Kyle looked at me for a short moment in silence. It was a strange look, but also a look of happiness.

“Would Cashew think that way too?”

“Of course.”

“How could you be so sure?”

“Since…… I’m a demonic beast specialist?”

And your one and only pet hamster.

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