Chapter 112: A Whiff of a Cold |
Before returning to Hamel,
Olivia and I found ourselves at a pet hotel on the outskirts of the capital, ready to pick up Gomtang, who we had entrusted to their care.
I had presumed such a concept as a pet hotel wouldn't exist in this other world, but I was pleasantly surprised. It turns out, the nobles' penchant for luxury here had provided ample opportunity for astute merchants to profit from even the most frivolous of hobbies.
Pet hotels, indeed.
Facilities like pet training schools, common in modern times for leisure, were not at all unusual to find in this world.
Perhaps because this world was the setting of a romance fantasy, but the areas of dating and travel were as well-developed as in my past life.
Thus, deciding to travel to the capital was easy, and our journey was nothing short of comfortable.
Now, at the pet hotel,
Though the daily fee of 100 gold was quite steep, the service was commendable enough for me to endure the painful expense and leave Gomtang in their care.
-Goooom!
"Did you have a good time?"
-Goooom!
Reunited with Gomtang, she seemed overjoyed. Her fur was fluffy and well-maintained, her formidable fangs cleaned, and even her sharp claws neatly trimmed. Seeing her lordly demeanor, I could almost laugh off the sting of the money spent.
But something seemed different.
Had she put on weight?
Gomtang looked more robust overall, not just wider. I wondered if she had met a favorable male here, but seeing the other boarding dogs cower and whine at the sight of her dismissed that thought.
"Look here."
Kyle, standing beside me with a serious expression, asked me. On his day off, he had come to greet us, but each time he saw Gomtang, he frowned.
Was it because she was too cute? I thought, but the doubt seeping from him corrected my delusion.
"Is that supposed to be a dog?"
"Yes."
"How is that a dog?"
Kyle voiced his skepticism as he watched Gomtang, who was gnawing on other dogs' heads like candy.
No normal dog plays like that, he commented. He asked if the creature I was raising was not coating emergency rations with saliva.
-Goom…
—Whimper… Whimper…
I shrugged casually, responding to Kyle's query.
"Don't they seem to get along well?"
"That's getting along?"
"Yes."
Kyle shook his head, clearly not understanding Gomtang's charm.
"I can't believe it."
"She may have larger paws and a bigger face than other dogs, but isn’t she cute? And Olivia likes her too."
I looked over at Olivia, who was petting Gomtang gently.
"Hmm?"
Hearing her name, Olivia perked up with a question mark above her head.
"Isn't Gomtang cute?"
"Yes."
Olivia nodded vigorously, reinforcing my view which seemed to lack credibility.
"Once she grows up, she’ll probably be delicious."
"…What?"
"Aren’t you raising her to eat?"
"I told you last time we don't eat her."
"I thought you were joking."
"I was serious."
Disinterested, Olivia glanced wistfully at Gomtang’s plump belly and then wheeled up beside me.
Kyle sighed deeply.
"I'm worried."
"It's alright."
"I'm more concerned about other people than you."
"That's alright too. Gomtang doesn't bite people."
Kyle looked at Olivia skeptically and murmured.
"I doubt that."
Suddenly, Gomtang was playfully biting Olivia's head. Kyle threw me a dubious glance as he watched the intense struggle between Olivia and Gomtang.
"Eeeek!!! Let go! I'm not food!"
-Gooom!!!
"You're splashing saliva! Ricardo! She’s trying to eat me! Spread chili sauce all over me!"
I gave Kyle an awkward smile and made an embarrassingly inadequate excuse.
"But she's a good kid."
"I'll have to take your word for it."
We shared an awkward laugh and bid farewell. With a brief wish to see each other healthy next time, we brought our trip to the capital to a close.
*
Inside the carriage on our way back to Hamel,
Olivia watched Gomtang waddle along with her rotund behind, bouncing with each gallop of the horses. Her expression was one of amazement as she exclaimed in wonder.
"Ricardo."
"Yes?"
"She looks like a bear."
"…Indeed."
Having not seen her for a while, I thought she had just grown larger, but…
My past assumption that I'd get used to her size over time was starting to fade.
Something…
-Gooom!
I couldn't shake the feeling that I had picked up something rather unusual.
Despite well-maintained grooming, the paws looked capable of mauling a person. The way she licked her lips at the sight of the galloping horses exhibited a seasoned appetite. Then there was that comment from the pet hotel staff.
-Gomtang's owner, I’m really sorry, but… what breed is Gomtang again?
-Why do you ask?
-We're thinking of not accepting this breed anymore. Gomtang seems like she belongs in the wild, not a pet hotel.
-Are you asking me to abandon her?
-No, no! I didn’t mean that… It's just… she seems more suited for the mountains.
I was a bit offended then, but now seeing her run like that, I began to understand the staff's haggard face. I should have given a tip on the way out. Shouldn't I?
Her inexhaustible energy even during walks…
Even to my besotted eyes, Gomtang seemed less like a dog and more bear-like. Considering she is still growing, she'll probably be three times her size soon. I thought it best to give up on keeping her indoors, just as the staff had suggested.
With a tremulous voice, I turned to Olivia, who was struggling to stay awake, and sheepishly asked.
"Miss Olivia. Don't you think Gomtang… is not a dog? Maybe blessed with luxurious blood…"
Olivia answered confidently, with a matter-of-fact expression.
"She's a bear."
"…You were right."
"…But she's cute, right? Isn't that okay?"
Olivia shook her head resolutely.
"She looks like a bear."
"But not cute?"
"Yes. She looks delicious."
Well, that's a relief.
Calling her delicious is a compliment too. With a wish for her long and healthy life, I sent a blessing to Gomtang.
"Grow up healthy. I won't starve you, so don't bite people."
Discussing Gomtang, an hour must have passed.
As the carriage climbed a slope, Olivia's head began to bounce around like a ball due to the vibration.
"Heck…! Gravity…!"
"Aaaack!! It’s rejecting me!"
"The world is spinning… Heck!"
Olivia's head moved with an extravagant motion, like a billiard ball on a pool table. Worried she might get carsick, I moved closer and offered my shoulder.
Leaning her head on my shoulder, Olivia looked up at me with a content smile.
"Ooh… It's soft."
"It's an expensive shoulder, please use it carefully."
"Yes. Since it's expensive, I should be the only one using it."
Olivia grinned mischievously and gave a proud smile.
That kind of smile is unfair.
I held my breath as I felt the faint breathing of Olivia on my neck, and my heart raced at the slight glimpse of her chest.
This is why I serve as a villainess's butler.
Pleased with the generous employee benefits, I smiled happily as we raced towards Hamel.
As dusk fell and darkness approached, the familiar sight of the manor came into view.
Not the haunted house it once was.
But our newly remodeled home.
Olivia, having just woken up, widened her eyes in astonishment at the sight of our newly adorned manor.
"Wow! Ricardo!"
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her gaze sparkling. Pointing to the now pink-colored manor, Olivia spoke with animated enthusiasm.
"It looks like beef!"
"What kind of analogy is that?"
"It's a compliment. It's lovely."
"Really? I put some effort into it this time, so I'm glad you think it's pretty."
Seeing Olivia's pleased face, I was relieved I hadn't just fixed the breached wall.
The manor wall, once punctured by the Fenx Unit 1, was now adorned with quaint patterns and covered in vines. What Olivia had once called a monstrosity, our manor, had transformed into something new.
"Are you pleased with it?"
"Yes. I love it!"
Relieved that Olivia was happy with it,
After stepping out of the carriage, I stretched and inhaled the familiar air of Hamel deeply.
The earthy scent of fertilizer wafted on the breeze.
The refreshing air of Hamel felt more intense.
Perhaps because it was the air of home, returning after a long absence felt different than the air in the capital.
"Yawn… Hard work indeed… Cough… Cough…"
Ah… it's cold.
Must be winter.
