Chapter 108

“Eliza, you’re going home tomorrow?!” “Arwf?! (Huh?! Wait, really?!)” Right after the two girls and one dog get into bed one night, Drills suddenly announces her departure. “Yes. Lord Gandolf has already sent word of the timing of my return. He says he will prepare the airship for me tomorrow morning.” Tomorrow morning? This is sudden. We’re not having a going-away party or anything? It would have been the perfect chance for some good cheer. “Nooo! I want you to live here with us!” The young lady goes over my body to embrace Drills. She pushes her cheek around the other’s head. “I knew it would be like this, so I didn’t say anything until now. I was in the exact same position when you had to go home after your trip to the capital.” Yeah, the way Drills bawled her eyes out when my lady had to return from her trip was definitely something. But now she’s so calm about it. People really do grow up. “I’ll come back again during winter break. It won’t be long.” “…Okay.” Lady Mary stops rubbing up against Drills and raises her face. “Then let’s at least stay up all night talking! I’m not letting you get any sleep tonight!” I should have known my lady would recover that quickly. “Hee-hee. Okay.” The two snuggle up and talk about the past until late at night. My lady, who was breathing very heavily after telling Drills she wouldn’t let her get a wink of sleep, fell asleep straightaway, in fact. Every time I see her sleeping face, it’s adorable. Same goes for how she nibbles on my fur like that. “I should go to sleep, too. Routa, I’ll turn off the lights.” Drills reaches for the crystal lamp. “Arwf! (Oh! I forgot something!)” I jump out of bed. I keep thinking I need to go, but I’ve never had the opportunity. Drills and my lady have generally been two for the price of one, after all. I could never find a chance to get Drills alone. “Wh-what is it? Do you need to use the restroom?” “Arwf, arwf? (Drills, since we’re up late anyway, would you mind giving a little of your time to me?)” “You can’t go to the bathroom by yourself? You sure are timid-hearted, Routa.” “Arf. (No, not that.)” “Well, you can’t help it.” “Arf. (I’m not talking about the bathroom.)” “Let’s go.” “Arwf! (I’m not talking about that!)” It would be inconvenient if she did know what I was saying, but her not knowing is annoying, too! “Where are you going? The bathroom is in the other direction.” Yes, I know that. I’m not taking you to the bathroom. “Arf, arf. (It’s cold outside, so you’ll need a blanket.)” I stop by the linen room on the way and drag the blankets out. This fluffy one here should be warm enough. After bringing Drills outside the mansion, I lower myself and gesture for her to get on. “Arf, arf. (My back is ready.)” “? You want me to climb on?” Drills, wearing the blanket, hoists herself up, her legs over the side. “Arf, arf! (Then here we go!)” “But where are we goooiiiinnnggg?!” I asked Garo about the place in advance, so I won’t get lost. I run like the wind through the forest, lit by the moon. Ever since my body got so big, I’ve been giving my lady rides on my back, so running without shaking her around is easy. In the blink of an eye, I reach my destination. “Arwf, arwf. (Drills, take a peek in these bushes.)” “I swear. What did you take me all the way out here for?” She brings her face up to mine—I pushed open a gap with my nose—and then gasps. “…!” What Drills sees is a group of monsters living there peacefully. They are of many species, but they don’t especially start fighting very much—they’re all gathered here in harmony. They’re the monsters I rescued. Well, maybe not rescued—Nahura was the one who brought them here, and Garo and the others are the ones helping them live here. “Why, they’re…!” Drills seems to have figured out who the monsters are. They include the ones that were being raised at her home, which had slave collars put on them and were passed off as rare animals. Others were rescued from that harbor warehouse. We brought them here on the condition that they wouldn’t make trouble, and it seems they’re keeping their word, getting along despite differences in species.