Intimidation
W-What do I do...?!
This has gotten way heavier than I imagined!?
And on top of that, the situation seemed far more serious than I'd thought.
That pack of monsters that attacked Vice-Commander Carion and the others… who would've thought they might come attack the Black Iron Claws' base too...?
Come to think of it, Valdo did say that.
The place where the chapel stood, the Black Iron Claws' base, used to be a large town.
But ten years ago, it was destroyed in a monster stampede...
Thinking about that, I couldn't just dismiss Carion's concerns as overthinking it.
But… from what I'd just heard, even if they abandoned the base, it sounded like it'd still be difficult for everyone in the mercenary band to relocate to another city.
What are they supposed to do...?
The shock left my head all fuzzy, and I couldn't organize my thoughts at all.
After all, back when I lived in Japan, there had never once been a situation where my life, or the lives of those around me, was so easily threatened.
So… lost in thought, I never noticed someone approaching from behind.
By the time I realized it, strong hands had grabbed my body and lifted me into the air.
I froze in surprise, and a man with a suspicious look peered at me.
This guy... he's one of the members who was talking with Valdo outside earlier!
He was inside the house?!
“What the hell is this fluffy furball... wait, it's alive!? A m-monster!? How did it get in here!?”
“Miya, miyaa…...!”
D-Don't shout so loud!
If you make a scene, Valdo's going to notice from inside the room!
“Too small to be a forest rat... no... though maybe it's some dangerous monster despite appearances. Better kill it now.”
“Miya~!?”
Waaah, right!
People in this world basically default to violently dangerous thinking when it comes to me!!
Sorry, I take it back!
Valdo, please notice me after all!
Sorry to interrupt your important talk, but I'm in serious danger right now!
I cried out desperately, meowing as loud as I could.
Then, apparently hearing the commotion, Valdo came out of the room looking startled.
“That voice... don't tell me that's Al?”
“Minya~!”
Sorry for interrupting, Valdo!
But help me already~!
Seeing me desperately crying out, Valdo gave a wry smile.
Then he held out a hand toward the member gripping me.
“Sorry about that. He's mine. Let him go.”
“B-But Commander... what if it's a monster?”
“So what if it is? You worried this little runt's gonna eat you alive?”
“N-No... not one chance in ten thousand of that, I think. Honestly, he just looks like an ordinary black fluffy furball...”
At the man's words, Valdo burst out laughing.
“Hah! Right? If there's some coward scared of this furball, he can leave the Black Iron Claws right now.”
Hold it right there, Valdo!
That's not something I can let slide!
Sure, maybe I only look like a fluffy furball right now, but...!
Give me a few more years and I'm supposed to become a sleek, cool, ridiculously handsome tomcat! Probably!
“Miya, nyaa!”
I spread both paws wide at Valdo, meowing furiously, then shot out my claws with a flourish.
And then… the man holding me suddenly blushed.
“Ah... h-how cute...”
“Miya!?”
T-That was my ultimate intimidation display...!
Instead of being scared, he turned red and stared at me.
I took a bit of psychic damage there.
While I froze in place, Valdo's arm suddenly reached over.
“Alright, got it? Then give him back.”
Still grinning wryly, Valdo half-forcibly snatched me out of the man's arms.
The guy looked reluctant to part with me, but he clearly couldn't oppose Valdo.
In the end, he gave up and stepped away from the room.
Held in Valdo's arms just like that, his warm body heat slowly seeped into me, and a sense of relief welled up in my chest.
… But even so, the shock from earlier hadn't faded.
Ugh... I mean, it's better than being treated like a monster and feared.
Still... it stings a little.
“Mii...”
“Hey now, what's got you so down? Was that supposed to be intimidation just now?”
“Nyaa...”
“... Well, once you get a little bigger, you probably won't look like a furball anymore. Be patient a little longer.”
As if comforting me, Valdo gently rubbed my head.
The warmth of his palm felt so good that my eyes narrowed on their own.
But then, suddenly, the tone of Valdo's voice dropped.
“Still... Al, why are you here? I told you to be a good boy and stay behind, didn't I?”
“Nya!?”
Ah, crap!
That's right!
I came here behind Valdo's back!!
This is bad, I'm definitely getting scolded at this rate...!
In an instant, I filled my eyes with tears and looked up at Valdo, then let out the cutest sweet little cat voice I could manage.
… Do cats still call it a sweet voice when they're the ones doing it?
“Miyaaaaa~n.”
“Hey. Don't try to dodge the question.”
But Valdo only stared down at me with flat, unimpressed eyes.
Damn it, not enough...!
If this were Korn, he'd have folded instantly!
As I panicked over what to do, Valdo's lips suddenly curled.
That look in his eyes was like a wolf that had just thought of a prank.
“Hah... let me guess. Korn's the one who brought you here, isn't he?”
“Minya!?”
“Oh? That reaction means I nailed it.”
Ah, crap!?
He was fishing for an answer?!
As I froze at how thoroughly I'd been played, Valdo seemed to realize it. He raised one eyebrow and grinned in amusement.
“That guy's been acting suspicious this whole time. I thought he seemed weirdly fidgety... so that's what it was.”
“Nya, nyaa...!”
Uwaaaah, sorry, Korn!
B-But Valdo, Korn didn't do anything wrong!
I told him to! I forced him to bring me!
Desperately trying to explain, I meowed again and again while placing my paws against Valdo's chest.
Seriously! Times like this make me hate this mouth that can't speak words!
But Valdo didn't get angry. If anything, he looked entertained.
“What, defending Korn now? Well, thanks to him we found Carion and the others quickly. I'll let it slide this time for that.”
“Miya!”
I cried out in relief, and Valdo poked my forehead with his fingertip.
“Honestly... in this whole mercenary band, you're the only one who openly defies my orders.”
“Myaaa~”
That's because I was worried about you...
Wanting him to understand how I felt, I pressed my forehead hard against his chest and gave a small cry.
Valdo responded by slowly running his hand from the back of my head down my spine.
That thick palm was warm. And gentle.
The sensation made a relieved sigh slip out of me.
I wish I could just stay like this forever… I was thinking such idle thoughts when…
A low, composed voice came from inside the room.
“Valdo...? Are you speaking with someone?”
At that voice, my ears twitched.
Low and quiet… Carion's voice.
Valdo narrowed his eyes for just a moment, then relaxed his mouth into a grin.
And in a tone full of mischief, he said:
“Yeah, I am. Guess I oughta introduce our newest recruit to the Vice-Commander too.”
“Miya!?”
I cried out in alarm, but it was already too late.
Valdo adjusted his hold on me firmly, then walked straight into the room without the slightest hesitation.
What do you think about this chapter?
