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IBP 73
“Hmm, do I look a bit cool?”
Caligo gazed at his reflection in the mirror.
Was it because he had been training harder lately?
He felt like he had grown a bit taller, and his face seemed to have become quite handsome...
‘Actually, they said supernatural abilities and looks have nothing to do with each other.’
He scratched the back of his head and pouted.
‘My height is still a bit short, after all.’
Perhaps wondering why he kept staring into the mirror, the tiger spirit beast beside him rubbed its face against his leg.
Then, it wrote small letters on the floor.
[COM PLETE]
“Huh?”
[LY HAN SOME]
He still couldn't understand Amius's words perfectly, but he could get the general gist.
Caligo grinned at the mirror.
“Right. You're handsome too. Now, shall we go to Coco?”
In truth, even while practicing diligently, he had kept up with the basics of Coco's daily life.
‘I heard a mana crystal mine was discovered.’
He wondered how she could always be so lucky.
‘...Well, since she's always smiling, I guess it's only natural.’
He casually looked away and finally headed toward Coco.
To show off his shadow and have a conversation with her.
‘And I should brag about being a very cool gentleman who earned the qualification to participate in the hunting competition.’
...Then, would she see him as a very cool shadow caster?
* * *
After a delicious breakfast!
As I was returning to my mansion, Caligo and Amius suddenly appeared.
“Gasp, Caligo! Tiger! It feels like it's been so long since I've seen you both!”
“Do you remember what I told you before?”
“Yes! You said you were going to train!”
“Right, that's correct. I've been training. I needed a lot of practice with communion...”
[It was ve-ry hard]
“...Hup, Amius says it was very hard.”
[But it was good]
“But he says it was good!”
“...Yeah, it seems so.”
My eyes widened.
It seemed the two of them were truly achieving proper communion.
“So... once the social season is completely over, I'll have to go to the North. In the meantime, I wanted to get a bit closer to you.”
“Yeah, yeah! I want to be close with Caligo too!”
I forced a cheerful smile.
However, Caligo seemed to read my subtle expression.
“Why the face? Do you want me to listen to your worries?”
Caligo is quite perceptive...
But I shook my head.
My worries weren't something Caligo could solve.
Seeing how exceptionally close Caligo and Amius had become simply made me feel envious.
‘Sister still doesn't recognize me.’
Perhaps it was because the ‘trigger to reach true intimacy’ hadn't been provided yet?
But isn't that too vague of a condition?
‘When on earth does that trigger happen? And what even is the trigger!’
I let out a deep sigh.
Since I could raise the level of my supernatural ability as I grew closer to my sister, I could only infer that the trigger might be related to the light ability.
Then, Caligo whispered softly as if to comfort me.
“Oh, by the way, Coco.”
“Hmm?”
“I heard that His Majesty will be hosting a hunting competition called the <Kapple Carnival> soon. Have you heard?”
“Hup, a hunting competition? No. It's my first time hearing about it.”
“The <Kapple Carnival> is a mock competition where small magical beasts are released, and participants hunt them while competing with their supernatural abilities. If you win, His Majesty gives a grand prize.”
“Wow!”
“They said all ability users can participate regardless of age. However, there are restrictions on where children can go within the hunting grounds.”
“That's so, so amazing!”
...After saying that much, I narrowed my eyes.
Wait a minute.
“Eat something delicious in your room and get plenty of warm, deep rest.”
“Okaay.”
“Don't even think about following me wherever I go.”
“Yes... noo.”
Could this be...
* * *
“Sister! Are you going to the hunting competition?”
“How did you know? Who told you?”
“Caligo told me the hunting competition is being held!”
“...I'll have to scold him.”
“Can't I go watch too?”
Sister answered flatly.
“No. I don't know about other things, but a mock hunting competition is definitely dangerous.”
“But Caligo said all the other nobles are going. He said even children my age are allowed to watch as a field trip...”
“...That's talking about kids who have incredible abilities at that age.”
“Hup! My ability is super cool too!”
“Only you know that. Just you and me.”
“Hing.”
“...And it's probably better not to reveal that ability if possible.”
I nodded and looked at my sister.
“Then, you're not going either, right?”
“...”
“If it's dangerous, it's only right that you don't go either.”
Faced with my logical argument, sister avoided my gaze.
“Now, Coco. Say 'ah.' Eat more sweet potatoes.”
“Ah...”
“Eat up. I steamed all the sweet potatoes you like.”
Sister continuously fed me something.
To the point where my mind became hazy.
“Hu, hup. I'm so full that I'm sleepy...”
“Really? Then drink this tea too. It's warm. It'll help you sleep well.”
This is strange.
While nodding off with a bulging tummy, I was tucked snugly into the bed by sister's hands.
For some reason, instinctively, I felt like I shouldn't sleep...!
“Zzzzz, zzzzz...”
And so, I fell into a long slumber.
* * *
“E-eeek... Sister, where did you go!”
Lunchtime the next day.
I ran toward sister much faster and more urgently than I did when I was a puppy.
But...!
“Pardon? Lady Chloe? She's participating in the hunting competition. She stepped out for a moment to practice for the mock hunt.”
“Hup, that...!”
I should have expected this from the moment my sister kept stuffing food into my mouth!
Come to think of it, sister did the same to me back when I was a puppy.
‘Feeding me tons of delicious food until I'm full, and giving me tons of warm tea until I'm full!’
When she patted my tummy while I was nodding off, I would fall asleep in an instant.
‘That's my sister's trick! I fell for it because it had been so long!’
I let out a heavy sigh and tried to turn back toward my annex.
But it was right then.
In my rush, I hadn't noticed that a line of giant carriages had arrived in front of sister's annex.
“Hup, what is that?”
“Ah. Gifts arrive at Lady Chloe's mansion every morning.”
Now that sister has shown her face in social gatherings, it seems people are trying to flatter her.
“However, Lady Chloe stated that she would not accept gifts and ordered them all to be sent back.”
“Hup, I see. If it were me, I would have taken them all!”
“Ah, but there is one gift Lady Chloe did accept.”
...Just one? What was it?
The maids exchanged glances.
“Yes, would the little one like to see it too?”
When I approached with a pounding heart alongside the maids...
My jaw dropped.
“W-w-w-what is this puppy?”
The puppy clinging to sister's side, wagging its tail wildly, had snow-white fur.
And that tiny, warm puppy was sitting on the bed where I often sat!
I staggered back, shocked, with my mouth wide open.
‘I have to get that sly puppy off sister's bed!’
I dashed down the annex hallway and found the maid sisters.
“Listen, what's that bad puppy in sister's room?”
“Oh, little one! We aren't exactly sure either. We heard it was a gift Lady Chloe received, but some say it wasn't. There's talk that she's just fostering it temporarily... It arrived with a gift package, but Lady Chloe didn't say anything specifically after receiving it.”
“W-what.”
“We only found the puppy in Lady Chloe's room when we arrived this morning.”
“Then that means... it might stay here for a long time?”
“That could be the case. It's so cute, I hope it stays for a long time!”
“...”
“Earlier this morning, Lady Chloe told us to move the puppy, so I touched it. Ah... it's so soft and warm. And it's surprisingly heavy, and it understands human speech well? It seemed very intelligent.”
My shoulders slumped.
Even then, the maids gathered around me were chatting incessantly.
“Oh, I heard that dog is a high-pedigree puppy born on Mortiz Island.”
“What's Mortiz Island?”
“They say it's an island that's a paradise for dogs. It's very popular among dog lovers.”
“Now that I look at it, it really is pretty, wow! The coat is great too.”
“I heard it even has a pedigree certificate; I'm curious about it.”
After hearing that it even had a pedigree certificate, the strength left my body.
‘I...’
I don't have anything like a pedigree certificate.
‘I'm just a wild puppy sister picked up from the street...’
Thinking back, when people pointed fingers at my sister, I think they mentioned me.
There were people who said things like, ‘Why does she carry around a stupid wild dog? There are so many high-pedigree dogs.’
I gripped the hem of the maids' clothes tightly and spoke.
“But you know.”
“Yes?”
“A-aren't wild puppies... a little bit cute too?”
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