Even a Cat’s Paws Would Help
Now then, after that, I ended up sticking with Korn again.
After all, Valdo was busy as the Commander.
Overseeing the camp in this abandoned village, arranging treatment for the wounded led by Carion, figuring out the route back to base, he had mountains of things to do.
So yeah, for a while, I was going to be with Korn.
Valdo didn’t have the spare time to fuss over me, and Korn was the one who’d brought me here in the first place.
And when that decision was made…
“You were the one who decided to bring him here. Then until we get back to base, you take responsibility and look after him… He’s your friend, right?”
“Yes, sir! Leave it to me! I’ll make absolutely sure he doesn’t get hurt, and I’ll bring him back safely!”
“Meow!”
Yes, I shall be looked after!
… We had an exchange like that.
And as a result, Korn became the one in charge of me.
Now then. Once Korn left Valdo’s side, he rejoined the others and headed deeper into the abandoned village, where they started gathering lumber from the half-collapsed houses.
It was for preparing camp for tonight.
Apparently the reason he’d been wandering around near Carion’s house earlier was because he’d been searching for houses with wood worth salvaging.
The farther into the village we went, the more roofless houses and broken fences stood out.
Korn and the others smashed apart those ruined homes and unused furniture with axes, then carried out the wood. Their movements were practiced, and while calling out to each other, they worked briskly and efficiently.
I sat a little apart from them, quietly watching it all.
Tucked beneath an eave where the snow didn’t reach… perched neatly on top of a wooden crate lying there.
Compared to the inside of Korn’s pouch, the view was great, and honestly it was a pretty comfy VIP seat.
As for why I was openly showing myself in front of everyone… it was because Valdo had officially informed the mercenaries earlier that I’d come along.
So there was no longer any need for me to hide my breath inside Korn’s pouch.
Yep. Not only Valdo, but Vice-Commander Carion and his men had seen me already. No way I could keep it secret anymore.
That said, even Valdo didn’t say, “Korn secretly brought him.”
So the official story was that I’d slipped into the baggage on my own and tagged along.
Well, that’s about half true anyway!
“... Korn! What should we do with this lumber over here?”
Just as I was thinking that, one of the men working called out to Korn.
“Ah, the Commander said, ‘Carry out everything that looks usable.’ Sounds like Vice-Commander Carion still isn’t in any shape to move. Said we should gather it now so we can keep warm too.”
“I see... so the wounds really are bad.”
“... Yeah. The Commander didn’t say anything, but sounds pretty serious.”
“I heard there’s a chance he may never hold a sword again. Is that true?”
“Hey, don’t go saying stuff like that so lightly. If the Commander hears you, he’ll yell at you again.”
“Haha, yeah, no thanks. Guess I’d better get back to work.”
“Yeah! Let’s finish before it gets dark!”
Talking with the others, Korn kept working.
Even with fine white snow steadily falling, not a single person stopped moving.
The sight of the members working willingly in the snow felt like a reflection of the Black Iron Claws’ bond itself.
Like that, they carried usable boards, beams, broken fences, even furniture out of the ruined houses and stacked them along both sides of the road.
This abandoned village had a stream at its back, with one narrow road running through the center, lined on both sides by tall single-story houses.
Because the road was narrow, once wood was piled there, it already felt cramped.
If those stacks collapsed and blocked the road, there was no other route around it, so pushing farther ahead wouldn’t be easy.
Of course, Korn’s group weren’t the only ones working.
Other teams were carrying out their own roles in the snow.
A team heading to the forest and river to gather food.
A patrol team circling the village outskirts, checking for bandits, thieves, and signs of monsters.
Apparently abandoned villages like this often became dens for outlaws or monsters after being deserted.
Reports had come in saying there were no such traces inside the village so far, but even so, not one person let their guard down. They kept working while calling to each other.
… Valdo had said it earlier, but most of those who joined the Black Iron Claws hadn’t become mercenaries because they wanted to.
Most were people who’d been forced to leave their hometowns for reasons beyond their control.
Their diligence and caution probably came from experiences like that.
Thinking so, my chest stung just a little.
Because… I was the only one here doing absolutely no work!
Ahh, and yet there’s that saying: “So busy you’d even borrow a cat’s paws!”
But me? All I was doing was sitting nearby, watching everyone work their hardest...!
Well, there were some who’d stop during breaks and come over to me, cautiously petting my back or head.
Apparently even if they were interested in me, they normally found it hard to casually touch me when I was usually beside Commander Valdo.
So with Valdo not around, they treated this like their golden chance, touching me with keen curiosity, talking to me, all that.
For people like that, I quietly let them pet me as a reward for their hard work.
Gotta provide at least this much service to everyone working so hard.
As a bonus, I’d flop over onto my back, show my belly, and let out a spoiled little “Myaaan~” while looking up at them.
Then the mercenaries all melted at once.
“Whoa!? What was that adorable voice!?”
“Hey, look at these paws, they’re all squishy and feel amazing!”
By the way, Korn happened to pass nearby, clutched his chest, and got knocked out all over again.
… No, why are *you* taking collateral damage, Korn?
Seriously, shouldn’t you be used to this by now?
You’re way too easy when it comes to me. I’m starting to worry.
Well, anyway, I spent the time healing the mercenaries while watching them work, but even then, it’d be hard to say I was really helping Valdo yet.
Which means, I should follow everyone’s example and “get my paws moving” too!
Hands... or front paws, anyway.
Waiting until Korn and the others’ attention shifted away from me, I quietly hopped down from the crate.
Then I headed for a certain house.
And of course, my destination was… Vice-Commander Carion.
What do you think about this chapter?
