Be Careful not to Forget
Why did I forget? There’s one reason. Alicia’s tail is to blame. It has evolved into a fluffiness that easily surpasses Mr. Coote, and it was flying in and out of my consciousness because it’s always by my side.
“Mr. Coote! Mr. Coote! Mr. Coote! Mr. Coote!”
“Oh, come to think of it, he chased after the fleeing monsters to the ends of the horizon.”
Alicia, who jumped over with a surprised expression, murmured as if she just remembered. It seems like Alicia forgot about him too.
I immediately started searching for Mr. Coote’s current location through our soul connection… He was chasing the monsters to a very distant place. As long as the connection remains, he’s safe, so I feel relieved.
(My Lord, do you need something?)
(Sorry, I forgot!)
(… We have been pursuing monsters as per your command…)
It seems that he diligently followed the order to exterminate and relentlessly pursued. The monsters fled in all directions, and even the leaders were eaten, leading to a state of destruction. Still, about 100,000 remained, and he was chasing after them.
At this point, my Big brother and parents also entered the room. It seems that the Knights outside the door judged the situation as abnormal and called them over.
“… Well, reducing the number of monsters is a good thing, right? If we don’t forget in the future, Mr. Coote should forgive us… However, it could be a problem that Alice’s familiar is moving on its own… ”
Since Mr. Coote is technically my pet (familiar), taking military action in another country is not good. The King of Ostland was called to handle the situation. Normally, he wouldn’t come right away, but when they mentioned my name, he arrived in about 30 minutes.
“Hmm, personally, the extermination of the country’s monsters is a great help, but the nobles are likely to make a fuss. Well, the Viceroy was in a coma and couldn’t give the orders to withdraw, and there hasn’t been any damage to civilians, so I will be able to handle it on my end. I just want to know where he is now. They might seem like a pack of magic beasts at first glance, so Ostland’s nobles and adventurers might attack them.”
“Lend me a map.”
“… That’s a military secret, but well, showing it to Arland won’t make much of a difference. You probably already have it, right?”
My Father nodded at those words. Apparently, he has been researching the geography of other countries. Normally, only simplified maps circulate among civilians because detailed ones are needed for military operations.
For now, I borrowed a map from the Knight who looked reluctant.
“[Long-distance Reconnaissance]… around here, maybe?”
“Not at the border… Did they escape to the Empire’s side?”
(Strange groups with flags started to snatch our prey…)
? A report came in from Mr. Coote. I asked for a rough description of the flag through telepathy, wrote it down on paper, and the surroundings erupted in commotion.
“It’s the Imperial Army’s flag!! We didn’t receive any report of this.”
“Maybe they were trying to take advantage of the situation? The Imperial State was also trying to do so, after all.”
People on the Ostland side were in an uproar about the sudden appearance of the Empire’s Army along the border. But my Father remained calm… or rather, according to Mr. Coote’s report, they encountered a swarm of magic beasts and were on the verge of annihilation.
“Ignore them. It’s the Empire’s fault for not reporting anything. We don’t know anything.”
“We have no obligation to help the Empire, let them self-destruct.”
(I feel a bit bad, but leave it alone and come back. Just run straight to the Capital of Arland.)
(Understood. I’ll capture more underlings on the way back.)
It seems he planned to return while capturing more family members.
He seemed to have understood the necessity of strengthening underlings and coordination, rather than enhancing his own strength through battles with me and the Knights of Arland. He persuades (fights) strong magic beasts to turn them into his underlings. Since he didn’t encounter any strong magic beasts in the past month, the number was still around 100, the same as when he came as reinforcements. However, they have eaten a large number of magic beasts, so individual enhancements were progressing. I wonder where he is headed… If he overdoes it, he might be targeted as a dangerous species and subjugated. Well, let’s trust Mr. Coote’s training.
“Anyway, it’s a relief that there’s no harm other than the foolish Imperial Army. I’ll send messengers along the border. Tell Coote to return first.”
Since passing through the Arland border like a swarm of magic beasts will be treated as a threat, if Mr. Coote, marked with the familiar’s seal and a collar, contacts the Arland soldiers first, they will let them pass. He can’t communicate, but if we let them know he’s my pet in advance, and if they don’t do anything outrageous beforehand, his pack can safely reach the Capital… unless he does something and becomes an immediate target for extermination.
I sternly ordered Mr. Coote through telepathy not to cause trouble, and the conversation ended.
“Well then, should you get some scolding now, my dear Alice?”
“I’m busy.”
For some reason, when I tried to escape from the angry Mother, she caught me. Why am I being scolded? It was an oversight, and I think there was room for consideration.
“The contents of the bookshelf and the fact that you increased the number of pets on your own. Did you think I wouldn’t notice for a whole month? And you always say you hate animals, right?”
“That’s unreasonable!!”
Come on, they are my pets. And I’ll discipline them properly from now on. As for the grimoires, there’s nothing I can say. I’ll obediently accept the punishment… I’ll continue to increase my pets in the future, though.
I was dragged into another room. How many times has this happened? Well, they are being lenient by not investigating the Spirit Magic Armor incident… My bottom is going to be in trouble soon, though.
“Sniff… I want to go home… I’m done getting ready.”