"Finally, the time for revenge has come!"
The village chief had donned her academy uniform since morning and declared this triumphantly before me.
She'd been reviewing the presentation script late into the night until yesterday, and now her under-eyes were pitch black.
I should probably get her some makeup.
But nothing like that exists in a rural spot like this.
"Now, now, you haven't forgotten anything, right?
We've been sharpening our blades all winter for this revenge.
You won't mess it up by overlooking something, will you?
And get some proper sleep on the way there. Got it?"
There's that thing where students hyped for exams or kids excited for their first school trip get too worked up the night before, can't sleep, and end up late.
Right now, I'm babysitting just such a student—or kid.
"The thermodynamic principles you taught me.
They'll elevate my understanding of magic's fundamentals.
The academy won't be able to ignore me anymore.
That one-eared fool who dismissed me—they'll see him flapping those lop ears in frustration!"
She seemed really high on the thrill.
"Got it, so comb your hair at least.
Is the uniform on properly? Wait—why is your underwear on the floor??
...No way?"
I seriously can't even.
Winter had passed.
As the snow melted away with the cold, the ground began to thaw.
Over the winter, I'd served as the chief's assistant, translator, paper planner, butler, and more.
The result: her presentation script for the magic academy's podium was finally complete.
In my home world's terms, it was like a professor finishing a research paper.
She'd wanted me to come along, but I declined.
If there were two people like her at the academy, I'd be under constant threat of kidnapping.
What I wanted wasn't magic research.
Now, it was time for me to seriously prepare for the adventures I'd dreamed of since arriving.
She was disappointed, but she threatened to put my name on the paper no matter what.
At least as a co-author—or even first author, it seemed.
"Chief! Are you in?"
"Ferio's here. Chief... Chief!!"
Ah, she'd conked out.
Good grief, she's not some elementary kid hyped for her first field trip, or a test-taker on exam eve.
Luckily, the trip to the academy takes about a week, so she'll sleep either way—early or late.
But why now, of all times!
In the end, Ferio and I loaded her luggage—and her limp form—into the carriage.
"You're escorting her too, Ferio?"
"Yes. It's the lord's orders as well."
She didn't seem thrilled about that.
Her expression had been stiff and sullen since she arrived.
She's gotten better at talking, but she still can't hide her displeasure. Or does she only show it to me?
"Oh, and you actually tied your hair with a ribbon?"
"Uh, yeah. One of my subordinates did it this morning. Said I had to look proper for the city... so..."
"Suits you."
"Does it?"
She really can't hide her expressions.
Now she's grinning ear to ear. Does she only do this with me?
"Captain Ferio, ready for departure!"
Ah, Ferio's face switched to career-woman mode.
Still strict with the soldiers. Funny.
Once the coachman and soldiers reported in, Ferio said she'd do a final check for anything left behind and headed into the chief's house.
And then.
"Kirgil, you're leaving?"
"Yeah. I've mentioned it before.
Don't tell me you're worried I'll be gone when you get back?
Relax—I'll see you and the chief off, then wait a month or so. Got a lot to prepare."
"I know you're not the heartless type. More importantly, take good care of Reshi."
"Ah, that's what I wanted to talk about."
The women in the novels I'd read back home seemed possessive.
Ferio must not be like that.
Somehow, that left me a bit disappointed.
I got it, though.
Our statuses were worlds apart—we couldn't tie each other down.
"Got it. Safe travels."
I gave Ferio a light hug.
Work hours for her, so nothing too intimate. She was strict about separating business and personal.
"Since you're heading to the city for once, scout out some fine noble husbands beyond just me."
"If you're gonna say annoying stuff like that, at least pull off some heroic feats and snag a title."
"I'll try."
But I already knew from my old world how tough that was.
A dirt-poor nobody without decent cheats rising in status? No different here.
And I wasn't young anymore. Probably couldn't fulfill Ferio's hopes.
Finally, I straightened her slightly mussed ribbon and hair.
Taking care of the chief had leveled up my girl-grooming skills unintentionally.
Someday, I wanted to see her in a dress. Even if I couldn't stand at her side, I'd cheer from the crowd.
"Mm, all dolled up like this, you're quite the beauty..."
Whoa... Ferio actually kissed me instead.
The ever-stiff Ferio showing this much emotion!?
...I was shocked, but happily accepted it.
Ended up having to fix her hair again.
Only regret was we couldn't linger with people waiting.
"Well, see you."
She'd been searching for something and kept folks waiting, so I handed her the comb I'd used to brush her aside on the way out.
Essential for the sprawled-out chief in the carriage.
Long-haired women need their combs.
"While primping the chief, let her pretty you up too."
"Yeah. Look forward to it."
With that, I saw them off and stayed on at the chief's house.
Without them, the place—and my heart—felt empty.
I'd manage it while the owner was away, but holing up here would just make me gloomier.
So I headed to Elias's place.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Potbelly had whelped six pups before winter's end.
Man, calling that mutt by name just pisses me off more each time, but I hold it in for the pups' sake.
The dam was human-sized, but these were proper puppies—yipping little dogs.
Before their eyes opened and Potbelly could saddle them with gut-related names, I'd named them first.
Never saw the sire, but he must've been black-furred—lots of black pups.
One male I named on sight: Husky. His coat matched a Siberian Husky perfectly.
The other four I named after gods here, tweaking the ancient-language names for ease.
Erve from the moon god Elbensinkara.
Karde from the sun god Kalderan.
Parde from the earth god Pandelsinkara.
Haide from the sea god Haidelan.
Plenty more gods, but I picked four matching sexes. The ones with -kara are female.
The last, a pure-white female like Potbelly herself, I first called Whitey—but it felt too Potbelly-ish, so I pondered.
Reshi chimed in with "Feedooey?"—her mangled version of my name, Kirgil.
So Feed it was.
Better than Whitey.
I felt extra attached to Feed.
As the runt, she was too weak to nurse at first.
Reshi and I hand-fed her other beasts' milk for days, warmed her, rubbed her belly—barely nursed her back to health.
Now Feed adores us.
If Potbelly looks away, Feed toddles after Reshi all the way home—Potbelly comes barreling after, snatching her back.
Thinking of these cute pups cheered me up.
Lately, playing with them was one of the few entertainments—and therapies—in this quiet village.
A few already spotted me, tails wagging as they bounded down.
But there were already visitors.
"Mr. Shtai, Reshi's here too, huh."
Shtai seemed to like the pups, often dropping by with Reshi.
Wild animals get touchy protecting young, but Potbelly naps peacefully when these two visit.
Yeah, motherhood's exhausting.
Feeding and grooming six pups would drain anyone.
As usual, mid-play, Reshi left to help with her mom's meals.
Aw, Feed's chasing after Reshi again.
Ah, Potbelly too.
Shtai and I stayed, watching the scene fondly.
Still, Shtai made me a bit uneasy.
Not that I disliked him.
He just felt like meeting my girlfriend's dad—nerve-wracking.
So I figured it was time for training and started to leave.
"Kirgil, spar with me today."
Ughhh. No excuse to refuse.
Actually, prime opportunity.
Guidance from a seasoned ex-adventurer.
In the end, I got sparring and pointers.
"Monsters aren't human.
Forget courtesy, technique. Aim to kill."
Still terse. But after hearing it so long, I got the gist.
Don't hold back like against people, don't bother with form—just go for the finishing blow.
"Alone is tough. Share with allies.
First time? Divide roles. Keep it simple."
Hmm. Team up, basically?
Assign roles. For new parties, fight simple—no fancy switches.
Attackers attack, defenders defend.
Flitting between messes up unpracticed teamwork.
"I'm frontline defense. You're backline attack."
We even assigned roles against a straw dummy, signaling each other.
Switched next—really felt what party combat meant.
After sweating it out awhile, that post-workout camaraderie started budding...
"Reshi..."
"Y-yes... Yes!?"
Whoa!
Sudden serious Reshi-talk startled me.
Tense now.
We're fresh and sweaty—why the ambush, Dad!?
"Takes after Ti."
"...Yeah. Both daughter and Latia are beauties."
I'll keep "thank god she doesn't take after you" to myself.
"Ti's stubborn. Tenacious."
"...Yes?"
What? Getting scary all sudden.
"Ti attacks in all sorts of ways."
"...Yes?"
Why bring up attacks now?
Dunno what he means, but it's creepy!
"Kirgil."
"Y-yes, sir!?"
"Reshi'll grow fast."
What am I supposed to do!? I screamed internally.
"...Yes. Yes."
Shtai's tone wasn't a demand or threat.
Resigned, almost pitying me.
Hey, you're her dad, right?
Shouldn't you be growling "You eyeing my girl?"
Feels more like "My girl's eyeing you."
"Get stronger."
"Uh, how strong, exactly?"
To my question, Shtai just sighed long and deep.
C'mon, Dad—spit it out! Say something!!
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