-Freya’s POV-
A few days had passed since Pero-sama had left the Royal Capital. Today, I am again working day and night as an apprentice knight of Medil Family’s Royal Guard.
“Have you gotten used to being a knight guard?”
Eating in front of me is Edner-sama, the leader of the group. I calmly answered his questions while tearing a piece of bread.
“Yes, I’m working hard on my duties.”
“You look absent-minded though. Is it because of the Sacred Beast?”
Edner-sama was right. It’s been a few days since I was separated from Pero-sama. I think about him every day. I want to touch that fluffy fur again. I want to smell it. My instincts kept screaming at me to do that.
“Better go to Mana. I’ll report to the family head that you’ll take a long vacation.”
“N-no need! You don’t have to go that far! I will fulfill my duties properly!”
I hurriedly denied it, but Edner-sama looked at me in a doubtful manner. He chews on the meat he pierced with his fork, swallows it, and continues talking.
“Someone reported that you may be slacking off in your work. Of course, I know you are not slacking off, but it is clear that you are certainly less ambitious than you used to be.”
“T-that’s ….…”
“I know that you love animals and that you love dogs like no other, but we’re in charge of protecting the great pillars of this kingdom, the Duke’s family after all. We can’t afford to let our guard down for any reason.”
“Yes……”
I was terribly depressed by the leader’s words. Inability to fulfill my duties as a knight. It was tantamount to being told to stop being a knight.
“You are an excellent knight, and neither the Duke nor I, would want to let you go. I would like to suggest again, why don’t you take a long vacation in Mana for a while?”
“I’m not getting fired?”
“I’ll tolerate it for a few years. Going to see the Sacred Beast means meeting up with Homeless. If you can, I’d like you to keep an eye on their movements.”
“So, it’s ostensibly a vacation, but it’s actually a mission?”
“Yes”
I felt radiant. I can meet Pero-sama and have some free time. Isn’t this the best mission? However, now that I know that it is a job, I need to know what to look out for.
“You got two goals. First is to follow the Sacred Beast closely. Protect him if necessary. I’ll leave that part to your judgement. The other is to investigate Homeless, especially Shinichi Tanaka. If he is a nuisance to the Duke’s family, get rid of him. If you don’t think it’s possible, send me a report.”
“I understand.”
As expected of Edner-sama. I didn’t think he was planning such a thing. Come to think of it, there is no evidence that Shinichi Tanaka did not murder the leader’s son, Novan-sama. He’s neither black nor white. In that case, it is a reasonable judgment that a long-term investigation is necessary. As for me, I would like to judge whether he is an appropriate parent for Pero-sama.
“Then, starting tomorrow, go to Mana. I’ll report to the family head about this. Also, tell the Homeless that you’ve quit being a knight. That way, they will let their guard down.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
As soon as I got up from my seat, I decided to go back to my house to get dressed.
I finally get to meet Pero-sama.
I’m looking forward to it and I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.
◇◇◇
-Edner’s POV-
After seeing off Freya who looked so excited, I let out a deep sigh. The conversation earlier was all nonsense. Well, it’s true that the investigation on Shinichi Tanaka is rather serious, but I don’t doubt him as much as I told her. I can understand a person’s personality by talking to them. I had seen him for a week, so I knew very well that he wasn’t a bad person.
However, I knew that if I didn’t say that she wouldn’t take a long vacation. Besides, I felt like sending her off to be an adventurer would make her come back with some skin. In addition to judgment and leadership, a knight needs combat power above all else. I felt that it would be more efficient to leave it to Homeless to hone her.
“On the other hand, she might get taken in and seriously quit being a knight.”
I couldn’t help but mutter as I cut the remaining steak on my plate with a knife. Freya has an aggressive personality. In other words, she’s a straightforward one. I somehow feel like she will eventually say she’s going to be with the sacred beast.
Well, if she decides to do so, I don’t have the right to stop her. After all, it is a relationship between a boss and a subordinate. However, is fluffy really such a good thing? To be honest, I don’t really understand Freya’s feelings. Whether it’s a cat or a dog, I think they are cute. But that’s all, I don’t feel anything special.
“Animals huh…… It could be just right.”
I go home after work. At home, I was greeted by my wife and daughter.
“Welcome home father~. You’re late today!”
“My bad. I brought back something good instead.”
“Hey, Darling, what’s that box you’re carrying?”
“Let’s open it. It’s something you look forward to.”
Guiding them into the living room, I let them open the white box I placed on the table in front of me. Then my daughter made a happy voice.
“So cute! Ye~y, a rabbit!”
My daughter jumped up and down with a light brown rabbit in her arms. My wife also smiled at the scene. From my point of view, rabbits are nothing more than food, but they seem to be seen as pets by children and women.
Today is my daughter’s birthday.
The rabbit is that gift.
“Lend it to me a bit.”
When I got the rabbit from her, I pressed my face against its small back. I decided to experience the fluffiness that Freya was always talking about.
“This….…”
My face is wrapped in fluffy fur. It’s like a super high-end carpet. No, it’s more than that, it’s just that I don’t have the proper words for it. I can feel the heartbeat of the rabbit. It’s as if the small creature is trying to tell me that it’s alive. I could feel the warmth of the animal on my cheeks, and it made me strongly imagine that this guy and I were alive. Yet, the unique smell stimulated my nostrils, and I felt like a door deep inside my head was opening.
It’s instinct. The instinct of someone who have hunted beast and lived with animals tell me that to rub on this fluffy thing is a pleasure.
“Father, it’s time to give it back!”
“Oh, okay….…”
I handed the rabbit to her and sat down on the sofa. The feeling that I just had…. is it because of that fluffy fur? That should be the one that captivated Freya. Even I wanted to cuddle that fluff for a moment. This may be a forbidden world.
“I’m going to buy another rabbit tomorrow.”
I blurted out.
“Another one? It will be troublesome if they breed and multiply.”
“Don’t worry. The next one will be a female too. Anyway, I’ll ask a servant to take care of the two of them….…”
Then I was stunned.
Why am I trying to get a second one? Am I subconsciously thinking that the current one is for my daughter and the new one is for myself?
N-no, that’s ridiculous. I think it’s because two of them will make my daughter happier. Yes, it must be so. While making excuses in my mind, I recalled the feeling of cuddling the fluffy rabbit earlier. An intense, vivid healing experience dominated me.
Thus, a little curiosity led me to walk the road to fluffy. It is another story that a few months later, I attained the enlightenment of fluffy from the Fluffy Hermit.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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