SIDE: Carion (3)
“... I’m surprised. Since earlier, it’s almost like you understand what I’m saying.”
“Nyaa!”
At those words, the furball let out a proud cry, almost as if puffing out its chest.
(... The more I look at it, the stranger this creature seems.)
Every monster I had ever known had been savage creatures driven mad with killing intent.
But this furball?
Its fluffy fur looked soft, and its body was absurdly tiny.
Its limbs were short, and even its head looked small enough to fit entirely in the palm of my hand. I couldn’t even spot any real claws or fangs.
Sitting there by my pillow so defenselessly, it was hard to fathom how such a creature had survived in this world at all.
As I stared at the furball, it suddenly began moving as though it had thought of something.
Pattering across my chest, it headed for the other side.
(What is it planning to do...?)
The next instant, the furball bit down on the edge of the blanket that had slipped aside.
Then, once again, it started trying to tug the blanket back up over my shoulder with that tiny body of its own.
Its forepaws braced firmly, tail standing straight up, putting its whole body into the effort.
Every time it strained, faint little noises like “mii!” and “mya!” leaked from its mouth again.
… I found myself staring blankly at what it was doing.
Apparently, this creature genuinely intended to nurse me back to health, despite only meeting me today.
Honestly speaking, it would have been far faster for me to simply pull the blanket up myself with my left hand.
But somehow, doing that felt crude, so I silently watched the furball continue its efforts.
But then… the furball vanished.
“!?”
“Migya!?”
Apparently, it had lost its balance from straining too hard while pulling the blanket with its forepaws.
The furball toppled headfirst straight onto the floor with a splat.
Its clumsiness was so absurd it hardly seemed like an animal at all, and I could only stare in stunned silence.
“Nyaaa~~~!”
Letting out a cry that sounded half like enduring pain and half like trying to hide embarrassment, the furball hopped back onto the bed again.
Thankfully, it didn’t seem injured.
Seeing that, I quietly let out a breath of relief.
Back on the bed, the furball seemed to collect itself and once again bit down on the blanket.
Apparently, it had no intention of giving up on fixing it.
And at that… a laugh slipped from my lips before I realized it.
“… What are you trying to do?”
As if reacting to my voice, the furball instantly released the blanket and looked up at me.
Its golden eyes sparkled like they were scattered with stardust.
I thought they were more beautiful than any glittering jewel I had ever seen.
The furball quietly padded closer until it was near my face again.
Looking at it this way… it really was tiny.
“Heh... To think the day would come when a little creature like this furball would fuss over me. I really have fallen far...”
Despite those self-deprecating words, my left hand moved before I could stop it.
When I gently stroked it with the back of my hand, the golden eyes narrowed pleasantly.
Its soft fur was unexpectedly sleek and smooth.
Without saying a word, I let my fingers glide through that silky coat.
The furball didn’t run away. It simply stayed beside me, eyes half-closed.
As I petted the fluffy little thing in that quiet stillness… I suddenly realized something.
(... Come to think of it... did I just smile? Even after learning my right arm is ruined and that I can no longer continue as a mercenary...)
And yet, even remembering that reality now, my heart strangely didn’t sink.
The pain and anxiety no longer stabbed into my chest the way they had earlier.
(... I see. So I can still smile...)
Before I knew it, the heavy weight pressing on my heart felt like it was slowly peeling away.
As though the warmth of this tiny creature had been shared with me, strength gradually began filling my chest again.
(... That’s right. Even if my right arm no longer works, so what? Thanks to my judgment, this mission succeeded, and not a single subordinate died. That wasn’t because of my skill with a sword. It was because of the experience and knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years. And those are not things anyone can take from me...)
I gently stroked its fur with my fingertips, as though combing through it.
The furball responded by rumbling softly in its throat, almost like it was pampering me.
The faint vibration tickled pleasantly against my fingertips.
(Even if I step down as Vice-Commander, my experience and knowledge can still serve the Black Iron Claws. More importantly, my left arm still works. There are any number of things I can still do…)
That was when I heard footsteps beyond the door.
Apparently, my subordinate had returned.
As my hand stopped moving, the furball immediately turned toward the door as well.
Then it started quietly walking away from my hand.
(... Don’t tell me it plans to leave the room the moment the door opens?)
The instant that thought crossed my mind… my left hand moved on its own.
Swiftly, but as quietly as possible, I grabbed the furball and pulled it beneath the blanket.
“Meow?”
A puzzled sound rose from beneath the covers as the furball squirmed around.
Almost simultaneously with me lightly pressing a hand over the blanket, the door was knocked on.
Without waiting, a worried-looking subordinate opened the door and peeked inside.
“Vice-Commander Carion, how are your wounds?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“Shall I change your bandages? The Commander and the others brought some painkillers as well…”
“No… I’m fine. More than that, I want to sleep now. Stay away from the room for a while.”
“… Understood.”
“If I need anything, I’ll call. You don’t need to worry.”
“… Yes.”
The man parted his lips as though he wanted to say something more, but in the end he said nothing and quietly closed the door.
Then silence returned to the room once more.
After a short while, a tiny black head poked out from beneath the blanket.
“Nyaa?”
Those golden eyes stared straight up at me, and instinctively I looked away.
Even I could tell my cheeks had grown slightly warm.
“… If you were found, you’d be thrown out.”
I gave a small cough. What an absurdly transparent excuse.
Fortunately, however, the one before me lacked the language necessary to point that out.
“Nyaa.”
The furball cried softly, then came closer to my face again.
It pressed itself against the base of my neck and curled into a little ball.
(.. .Curled up like this, it really does look even more like nothing but a furball...)
After a brief pause, I hesitantly reached out my left hand.
The furball showed no sign of disliking it and accepted my touch once more.
With the back of my hand, I gently stroked its soft fur.
Each time I petted it, the knots and stagnant heaviness inside my heart seemed to quietly unravel.
“... Stay with me a little longer.”
The words slipped out naturally, softer than anything I would normally say.
Surely, if the one before me had been anyone other than this furball… I never could have spoken so honestly.
The furball said nothing.
It merely rubbed its head softly against my palm.
~Read Chapter 32-44 in advance on Patreon~
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