Even before the sun rose, the study was bustling.
Kyle, reducing the kisses he loved so much from ten to three, moved diligently as if he had forgotten my very existence. On the other hand, that was fortunate; I wasn't that helpless.
"Move that over here. The clothes." "Yes, Your Highness." "Good. That's how it's done. What's the report?" "It's all cleared up, Your Highness." "Hmm. Alright. Now, let's get him." "You mean the Demon Mathematician? I'm not sure if he's in his room... Your Highness mentioned that he spends more time out of his room than in it."
Kyle frowned, then a faint smile touched his lips. "But I said I'd go with him, so he'll be waiting." "Yes, Your Highness. I'll summon him immediately. Then, Your Highness..." "I'll take a look at the magic math reports for a while."
Soon, he patted me, said he'd be back, and began reading the Demon Math Report. As it was a matter of survival, Kyle's face was more serious than ever. A little knowledge could decide life and death.
I thought I would leave the replica hamster behind, but I couldn't. I glanced at him and mentally typed 'import'.
"The miracle figure is now about 26 percent..."
Even if I returned in the middle of reconnaissance, it would take half a day, or even a full day. I wondered how many acorn cookies I'd have to eat. No bulk sales? Well, what could I do... I'd go and think about it. If it didn't work out, I could always pretend to go back.
I grumbled and used 'import'.
[Good luck! (ෆ`꒳´ෆ)]
I dressed myself, now accustomed to it, and followed the soldier back here, as if I had been waiting in the room from the beginning. By the time I stepped into the library, Kyle was reading without a hitch. Looking at him like this, he seemed so earnest that he almost looked reverent.
"The wind in the north is fierce." He gestured to a box on the table. "Wear these. Let's leave right away."
I checked the box. It contained sturdy leather boots, a long coat with a hood, and a bow and quiver that seemed quite lightweight.
"Bows and arrows will be useless for this scouting mission. But you must wear the leather strap to hold the quiver, so you get used to it."
Did that mean it would be terribly uncomfortable? I held back my urge to whine and shook my head. What could I do? If he wanted to find something comfortable, he should have stayed quietly in the castle in the first place.
"I have prepared something too."
I had only been watching for a reduction, but in the end, I couldn't time it right. Still, I thought I could pretend to return it. I carefully pretended to take something out of my coat pocket and called up the store.
[Love Love Corner~❤]
I don't think I'll ever get used to this shop name, even if I see it a hundred times.
'Anyway, let's see. It's for hamsters...'
[Fluffy Hamster Yarn! | ❤ ×10] [Small and Precious Knitting Needle Set | ❤ ×10] [79 Hamster Clothes | ❤ ×20]
Hey, hey! What's with these prices?! They all have zeros on them! Isn't this a pure scam?
[o(TヘTo)]
The money felt like I was being ripped off, but I made a pitiful face on my own. It was absurd.
'Still, there are more hearts than miracles, so I can live with them...'
In the future, if something comes out at a low price, I'll buy it in advance. They hit you in the back of the head like this. I'd just have to shed those unavoidable tears.
[Current Holdings | ❤ ×185]
As I was giving Kyle a bunch of unidentified yarns, new items appeared in the Love Love Corner one by one.
[Demon Beast Collection | ❤ ×200]
Yes, this is it! I sang with joy in my heart.
'Are they constantly updating the shop to give me these items, and do I need hearts or miracles every time?'
If that's the case, I think I can acknowledge it a little bit, even if I get ripped off like that. At least I'm sure I'm getting help from these things. However, if there was a problem...
[Current Holdings | ❤ ×185]
...I didn't have enough hearts. It wasn't enough. If I hadn't been ripped off, I could have bought it!
I kept holding back the urge to scream into the air.
"What's wrong?" Kyle, who had been reading "79 Hamster Clothes" as seriously as he had been looking at the report, looked at my expression.
I quickly shook my head. "Oh, it's nothing... Well, something like that. Do you like the gift?"
"I don't know if you like this kind of clothing. Oh, but this is definitely cute." He opened one side of the book and showed it to me. A pink cloak embroidered in the shape of a strawberry unfolded in front of me.
"Oh..."
No, you idiot. Would I like it? From an omniscient hamster's point of view, you're going to get hit. Because I'm that hamster. Why strawberries out of 79 designs? Is there anything else? No way, not all designs are like this, are they? That strawberry. Strawberries like those enemies. I've never seen such a messy print for a twenty-seven-year-old.
"...You, you'll love it. But do you like that?"
"Just. Just imagining the cashew nut wearing it makes me a little happy." Kyle's face brightened slightly.
I quickly checked the number of hearts.
[Current Holdings | ❤ ×186]
I was vaguely aware of it, but now it was clear. If you make Kyle Jane Meinhardt happy, you will get a heart. And with it, you can escape your crisis or buy something that can help you. In particular, the was a math illustrated book. This book must have written about the characteristics of the Northern Beast, how to hunt it, its weaknesses, and how to use it, so it was added to the shop before the scout.
As if to confirm that I was right, the system window quietly popped up.
[Overcome unhappy moments and dangerous moments with happy moments!] [Happiness is another name for miracle. (๑˘ꇴ˘๑)]
Yes, I understand. I will do it.
I unfolded a small crochet hook and showed him how to use it. I used to do volunteer work and made and sold scrubbing brushes, so I knew crocheting roughly. At the time, I thought it was a useless trick, but here I was, using it. After all, you never know what life will bring.
"I'll tell you more about it later... This is how it's constructed. For a beginner like Your Highness, I've taken special care of everything!"
"Hmm."
"We have to go out on patrol now, so just watch and let it go. Don't be too loud... Cover up some of his strawberries as well. Let's start with simple clothes and then float things around. I'll knit sweaters, I'll knit pants."
"He won't feel uncomfortable, will he?"
They put up with it once or twice.
"If you don't force him to wear it too much."
He was silent for a moment. And he seemed to be imagining something in his head.
[Current Holdings | ❤ ×195]
...Insane. Didn't he try too hard to imagine? What on earth was he imagining? ...No, no, don't wonder. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
"But it will be quiet for a while, right?" I walked in step with him. Realizing that I had told him about Belial, Kyle nodded.
"Yes. There were no major incidents, so it will be quiet for a while. If it's long, it's a year, or if it's short, it's three months." "You talk like it's some kind of annual event." "It's no different."
Kyle wrapped his arm around my shoulders so I wouldn't be overwhelmed by the other knights. To be honest, it was easy. I also felt like I was enjoying privileges. But that didn't mean he was devastated. I'm sure I'll give him back as much as he deserves. Whether it is a miracle or happiness. By any name.
"He hates me. It's similar to how I resent his bloodline. However, if you can clearly suppress me, you won't feel the need to get rid of me."
They try to torment me and put me under their feet, but they don't kill me. I could see why. I pouted my lower lip as if I was going to die of disgust.
"I don't want to manage the North. Well, it's not something he should do." "Yes."
Are you just going to keep him as a guard? I didn't see it that way, but I actually saw it that way, but it's really unlucky.
"Come this way." Kyle hugged me and placed me on top of the black horse. It was different from the horse I rode yesterday, so I felt a little strange. I raised my arm and awkwardly squeezed the reins, looking down at him. Kyle's face looked a little different from usual.
He climbed onto his horse, familiar with the motion, stretched out his arm behind me and squeezed the reins tightly. When his chest touched my back, I felt strangely secure.
"Expectations." Kyle said bluntly. I put both arms on my body and naturally leaned into his arms. To be honest, it was a little cozy. Even though the difference in size wasn't that big, his well-built body felt quite supportive to lean on.
"Well, no hesitation." You don't have to dwell on beginner topics. I leaned on him without hesitation. "You don't feel any nervousness at all."
"If I say the same thing here, Your Highness will only get tired." "That's right."
Kyle took the lead and moved, followed by the knights. Multifaceted, multifaceted. As the dust rose and the horses began to walk in unison, I felt the ground shake.
"Cashews." I hesitated, then opened my mouth. In fact, I have no knack for making someone happy. I struggled to even make my own life happy, so I wondered if taking care of others was a shame.
"Why do you like him so much? He's just a small beast. I didn't expect you to take him as a pet. Besides, seeing how well you treat wizards, veterinarians, and even me, I think you care a lot... That's amazing. In the North, demons were usually seen as tasks to be tackled or enemies to be conquered."
I don't know how to make you happy. But I wanted to hear your story. I wanted to understand you.
"Blake's people pioneer the North, but at the same time, they coexist with the North. Human beings are beings who conquer nature, and at the same time, they belong to nature. And destroying is not the only way to do it." Kyle continued briskly.
"Demons are dangerous. If you are careless, they can take people's lives in an instant and trample on the homes you have worked on for years. Cashew nuts are no exception. If it becomes dangerous to take him as a companion, then I will have to release him or deal with him."
No, don't do that. I heard people inside.
"But I couldn't let a young one die because something hadn't happened before."
I... Or did 'Cashew Nut' almost die?
"He was alone in the group. He couldn't even open his eyes properly, and he was trembling helplessly. If I hadn't picked him up, he probably wouldn't have survived an hour and would have died."
"Was he pitiful?" "Yes. Is that strange?" "No, what..."
Is it strange? It was his choice, and objectively it was a pretty good choice. I didn't think the northern lord would have such a humane side.
"Thank you." In a short silence, Kyle looked down at me. It was a strange look, as if it was odd, yet happy.
"Do cashews think the same way?" "Of course." "How can you guarantee that?" "Well... Because you're a mathematician?" And because he's your only companion hamster.