Resolve
W-what do I do…
I never imagined Korn was thinking about quitting the Black Iron Claws.
I’d only met him for the first time today, but… judging from what I saw, he was the one who searched the hardest for Valdo when he got separated from the group.
So I don’t think he’s a bad guy.
And the stuff he said, about “not being able to perform well” and “always needing someone to save him”… yeah, it’s probably painful for him, but honestly? If you’ve just joined a mercenary group, there aren’t many people who can shine right from the start.
Getting fired up and messing up, causing trouble for others… that happens to everyone in life.
It’s happened to me too…
Ah~ wait, thinking about it like that is just bringing back all sorts of painful memories!!
“Migyaaa~~~…!”
Remembering my own past failures, the sheer embarrassment was too much, I ended up scratching furiously at a wooden crate by the wall near the front door.
Maybe someone heard the noise, footsteps started coming closer.
“What’s this, Al? You’re over here?”
“Meow!”
It was Valdo.
“You disappeared halfway through, so I was wondering where you went. I went looking for you.”
“Nya? Meow~?”
“The party’s over for today. Carion and the others still aren’t back yet.”
Valdo scooped me up and started walking.
We went up the stairs deeper inside the priest’s residence.
This world doesn’t seem to have electricity or gas like modern Japan, so there’s no lighting inside the building. But thanks to the pale moonlight and the glow of snow filtering through the windows, Valdo moved through the dim halls like he knew them by heart.
By the way, I can see perfectly fine in here.
Honestly, it’s even clearer than during the day. Cat eyes, baby!
“This is my room. Apparently some important priest used it back in the day.”
At the very end of the third floor, Valdo stepped into the room, set me down on the floor, and lit a nearby candle stand.
A soft orange glow flickered to life, lighting up the space.
“Nya~o…”
I looked around curiously.
Faded religious paintings hung on the walls, along with what looked like prayer statues and an old lectern. But they’d all been shoved into the corners, and most of the room was taken over by leather armor, sword belts, and weapons that looked like they were in the middle of maintenance.
Yeah… no question who the current owner of this room is.
After looking around, I hopped up onto the bed.
Right then, Valdo was taking off his clothes.
His exposed body was tanned and covered in thick muscle.
Scars ran all over his skin, like a record of all the battles he’d been through.
Now shirtless, Valdo sat down on the bed and reached out, gently scratching under my chin with his fingertips.
I narrowed my eyes and pressed my head into his palm. He let out a quiet chuckle and spoke.
“By the way, where’d you go earlier? Exploring or something?”
Ah, that’s right, Valdo!
Listen to this, about Korn earlier…
“Miya~o! Nya, meow! Mroww!”
“… I can tell you’re trying to say something, but I’ve got no clue what it is. Anyway, just make sure you don’t get stepped on. You’re tiny.”
Ugh, it’s not getting through at all!!
Damn it, this cute little squishy mouth of mine!
Can’t I just awaken some isekai telepathy powers right now or something!?
“Migyaa~...!”
“What’s with that weird noise all of a sudden?”
Laughing, Valdo started roughly, but warmly, ruffling my fur with his big hand. From my head to my back, then my belly, he tousled me all over. It looked rough, but there was a gentleness in the strength. Even as my fur got completely messed up, the warmth felt so good my tail started swishing on its own.
“… Still, when you disappeared, I thought you’d run off.”
“Meow!?”
Wait, why would you think that!?
I haven’t even repaid you for saving me yet…
If anything, even if you tried to kick me out, I’d cling to your leg and refuse to leave!
I mean, in this world, everyone immediately starts talking about “killing” me the second they see me!
“I thought maybe you understood our language. So when you heard me say things like ‘might be able to use you as a scout if you’re trained’ or ‘I’ll kill you if anything happens,’ I figured you got scared and ran.”
“Miya~o!”
Yeah, you did say that, but…!
I know you were just saying that so your men wouldn’t worry!
And as for being a scout… well, I’m not confident yet, but maybe I really could do it once I grow up!
By the way, what exactly does a scout do?
Do mercenary groups have, like, a training manual or something?
“At this point, maybe I just overestimated you when I thought you understood our language…”
“Nya!?”
“Or maybe you’re still just too little to really grasp what I’m saying…”
“Meow! Meow!?”
H-hey, Valdo!?
I do understand you! And what you mean!
And even knowing all that, I still want to stay by your side!
I couldn’t hold back, I jumped onto his lap. Standing up on my hind legs, I pressed my front paws against his stomach, my little paw pads sinking through the fabric.
“Miya~!” I cried out in protest.
Valdo froze, eyes wide.
“… Wait. Don’t tell me, you actually understand everything, and you still decided to stay with me?”
“Meow!”
At my emphatic answer, Valdo shrugged his broad shoulders and gave a crooked, wry smile.
“Hah… guess I’m still tired. What am I even expecting from a little runt like you…”
Even as he said that, his large hand gently scooped me up.
He fell back onto the bed, placing me on his chest, and began stroking me softly with his thick palm.
“… Man, being around you really makes me do things that aren’t like me at all.”
His hand moved gently along my back, over and over, following the grain of my fur. It felt like he was enjoying the way the soft fur slipped between his fingers.
For a while, he just kept petting me in silence, then suddenly let out a small breath and smiled faintly.
“But… it’s not bad.”
Meanwhile, I…
His heartbeat and body warmth were just too comforting. Before I knew it, I’d closed my eyes, drifting off.
… But my mind was already made up.
There’s no way I can just let Korn leave the Black Iron Claws without a word.
So…
No matter what, tomorrow morning…
I’m going to stop Korn!
What do you think about this chapter?
