Chapter 94

"I'm going to Tina's place."

I said goodbye to the squad leader who had started making a to-do list with me and stepped into the hallway.

I wonder where Tina is.

Since it was lunch break, I headed to the cafeteria, but she wasn't there. However, I got a tip from another knight that "She seems to have gone to Woodbaum." So I headed outside.

"Tina, Woodbaum!"

I ran up to the two sitting in the shade, still carrying my rabbit backpack. Tina seemed to be brushing Woodbaum.

Thanks to the spring's effect from the other day, Woodbaum's coat was indeed shinier. But he must be even more beautiful in his true form.

"Oh, Mille."

Tina turned to me with a smile.

"Woodbaum looks so comfortable."

"Yeah, he feels good."

Woodbaum, still sitting, had his head resting on the ground, stretching his neck in a relaxed manner.

"Reika wiped his body this morning. She does it every day. It's not just regular dirt, so brushing and wiping don't really have much effect, but the knights' care makes me feel warm inside."

"I understand."

I licked Woodbaum's nose, trying to groom him. It tasted like wood.

"It's cool, isn't it?"

Woodbaum seemed cold.

"By the way, Tina."

I licked my own nose and turned to Tina.

"Your package has arrived. It seems to be from your mother."

"Thank you. What is it?"

Tina lifted my front paw to take off the rabbit backpack and took out a small package. Unlike Jild, she carefully unwrapped it, revealing a short letter and some delicious-looking cookies.

Tina read the letter aloud first.

"To Tina. Are you doing well? I baked some cookies for you. No one else in the family will eat them, but you've always liked them. As usual, it gets cold in the north, so take care of yourself. Come back to see us when spring comes. I'm waiting. From Mom."

Tina smiled happily, and I felt warm too.

Woodbaum also smiled and said,

"Of course, it's natural for humans to have such warm family bonds. Even as adults, parents worry about their children, right?"

"Probably, no matter how old I get, I'm still a child to my mother."

Tina said, a bit embarrassed. As I sniffed the cookies, she offered one to me.

"Want to try one?"

"Is it okay?"

"There are plenty. But be careful, they're quite hard. I like the hardness, but my family doesn't. Even my mother doesn't eat them."

They must be rock-hard cookies. I like crispy and soft cookies, but I also like hard, crunchy ones.

"Okay, ahh."

Tina fed me a thick, bite-sized cookie.

I tried to bite it, but it didn't break. What is this? Is it a rock?

"Woodbaum, here, ahh."

"Thank you. They look delicious. ...Huh?"

Woodbaum and I, confused, rolled the hard cookies in our mouths. Meanwhile, Tina easily crunched her cookie. She has strong teeth.

"Mmm, delicious! My mom is a terrible cook, but these cookies are good."

She muttered to herself while eating a second one.

A terrible cook? Does that mean she's as bad as Tina's level of making stuffed animals?

So, these cookies are not intentionally hard but the result of a mistake? Does Tina's mother always fail at baking cookies, and only Tina enjoys them?

I licked the rock-hard cookie like a candy. Given its lack of moisture, it might be excellent emergency rations. Maybe the knights could adopt it for expeditions, but it might break their teeth.

"Do you want another one?"

"No, I still have one in my mouth..."

"Me too..."

The cookie didn't soften at all, absorbing all the moisture in my mouth. What is this thing?

Fortunately, it still tasted like a cookie and wasn't bad, so it wasn't painful to keep it in my mouth. If I kept licking, it might eventually soften.

I changed the subject, still mumbling, and asked Tina,

"By the way, what happened with Reika? Is she moving to a single room?"

"No, it doesn't seem so."

Tina, looking gloomy, shook her head and put away the cookies.

"Probably the deputy leader said no. Only the squad leader and deputy leader have single rooms."

"I see."

"Hey, Mille. I have a favor to ask..."

Tina said softly.

"If my mother gives permission, will you stay in my room tonight? I want you to check if I do anything strange while sleeping. Maybe I snore loudly, grind my teeth, or talk in my sleep. Reika might be worried about..."

Tina seems genuinely concerned that her snoring or talking in her sleep might be the reason. I don't think that's the case, though.

"When we stayed in the same room at the inn during the spring errand, everything was fine."

"That was not my usual room, so I wasn't completely relaxed. Maybe it was just fine by chance. Please, Mille. I'm worried. I don't want to be disliked, especially since I get to work with the person I admire."

Tina took my left front paw and held it with both hands, looking serious.

I sleep deeply, so I might not notice, but if she snores really loudly, I should wake up. And I can't refuse her request.

"Okay, sure."

"Really? Thank you, Mille!"

She shook my paw like a handshake and sighed in relief.

"What are you talking about?"

Woodbaum, who had been silent, finally spoke. It seems Tina hadn't consulted the other knights, but she thought it was fine to tell Woodbaum, who wasn't closely related. She explained the situation with Reika.

Woodbaum responded calmly,

"Maybe Reika just wanted to sleep alone sometimes."

No, if that's the only reason, Reika is too free.

"Tina, you don't need to worry so much. Has Reika ever said she dislikes you?"

"That's what humans do, worry."

I think I would worry a lot if I were in Tina's situation.

"Right, humans are complicated."

I really think so. Compared to that, being a fox cub is so easy. It's just playing, eating, and sleeping.

The only things that are a bit challenging are my mother's special training and making sure to visit everyone at the fort, my father, and Kugaru equally, so they don't get upset. It requires a lot of effort.

(Ah, I haven't visited my father in a while...)

I've been busy lately, but I put that aside for now and called out to Tina and Woodbaum.

"I'm going to see the vigilant knight. I'll come back tonight."

"Okay, thank you, Mille."