At the Northern Fort

Chapter 13

I was named.

The female knight Tina named me.

My name here is 'Mil'. It's Mil from Milk, but coincidentally it was the same as my real name Milfiria.

Since I'm not able to talk yet, I couldn't introduce myself, so I was happy that I was called by the name Mother gave me, even if was a coincidence.

I was glad that I wasn't getting called 'Shiro' because I'm white, or 'Chibi' because I'm small, or something simplistic like that.

Well, Mil from Milk is pretty simple too.

But still, getting called Chibi but growing big is a bit awkward, you know?

*imouto*

Anyhow, I safely escaped from the crowded dining hall and was following the one-eyed knight through the hallways with quick footsteps.

When I encountered someone on the narrow aisle, I hid myself as much as possible behind the one-eyed knight's legs. Meeting strangers is nerve-wracking.

I wasn't like this in my previous life, but I am afraid of strangers in this life. Maybe it's because I only saw Mother since I was born.

The one-eyed knight was saluted by everyone passing by. Maybe he has a high position. Also, he was called 'Vice-Captain'.

Come to think of it, I still don't know his name.

We returned to his room. The one-eyed knight took his shirt off, and was preparing for work.

Will he take me along? Or am I to stay here?

While thinking that, I silently observed the one-eyed knights actions. It's not going to be fun staying here, so if possible I want to accompany him.

"I'll come back once, at noon."

I looked at him with expectant eyes, but it was in vain. The one-eyed knight said that, looking down here while preparing for work.

House-sitting, huh…

My ears and my tail visibly drooped.

"I'm going out patrolling this morning with my subordinates. You can't ride a horse."

The one-eyed knight smiled slightly.

I can ride a horse. If you life me up, I'll balance myself. Also, I'm quite friendly with the horses at the stables.

However, I do realise that I might bother him if I'm there. I'll behave well.

I gave up and headed to my bed, the basket with a blanket.

Then, the one-eyed knight hastily came over here.

"I'll be back by noon."

He said that and patted my head.

I heard that already.

After that, he patted me for about five more minutes, then headed to work with slightly sad looking eyes.

"I'll be back by noon."

I know, I know. It's the third time I'm hearing it.

I'll be a good kid until noon.

*imouto*

The moment the one-eyed knight left the room, I climbed into bed. What a lovely body not related in any way to insomnia.

However, I did sleep well yesterday, so I couldn't sleep until noon.

I woke up about an hour later — though this is just a guess since there weren't any clocks — and rolled around on the blanket or chewed on the basket handles. However…

I'm bored.

I'm bored to death!

If I at least had a toy. In the one-eyed knight's room, there wasn't anything like a toy.

I climbed out of bed and stared out the window. However, I could only see the sky. It's because the window is placed quite high.

In the morning, it was clear, but now thick clouds covered the sky and pouring snow down. Big and wide ones.

Flutter, flap flap, flutter.

When I stared at the snow, my tail started wagging on its own. I could find a pattern to the wagging. Watching snow fall makes me excited. Though I don't feel that when rain falls making a *saa* sound.

I joyfully looked out the window for a bit, but ultimately got tired of doing that so next I looked around the room.

I wanted to play around so I climbed onto the one-eyed knight's big bed. It's soft and fluffy so it's fun. However, the bed was full of the one-eyed knight's smell, and that was a bit embarrassing so I hurriedly came down. What am I doing.

The next target is the table by the window. I could see documents, a feather pen and an ink bottle on top of the table. There were also some old, thick books.

Come to think of it, I wonder if I can read the letters of this country?

I got interested, so I first tried to climb the chair. Since I don't yet have the jumping power to climb directly onto the table.

I first put my paws on the chair and hopped many times, trying to get up.

But it wasn't going very well. My hind legs, do your best!

Let's get up now! I jumped with all my strength. At the same time, I supported my weight with my forelegs.

The upper half of my body made it up, but the lower half was still hanging midair. I rapidly fluttered my legs midair to climb up with the momentum.

If I become careless, I'll fall right away.

Uooh, to your best, my forelegs! Lift up the lower half!

When I somehow managed to climb up the chair, I felt a sense of accomplishment. My forelegs trembled.

Thankfully, climbing onto the table from the chair was easier since the height difference wasn't that much.

The scenery from the top of the table was somewhat fresh. Looking from a high ground made me excited.

Now then… I thought and headed to the books. I tried to read the letters on the covers, but I couldn't. It's as if someone took the latin alphabet and made it more complicated. I don't remember seeing this in my previous life either.

So I need to study properly. What was that… I was wondering if I can read it with the spirit's power — going -paa- — or something, but it's impossible, I see.

Indeed, it wasn't as though I understood the spoken language either. I practiced from listening to Mother, or so should I say. However, I do think that my learning ability was better than human babies. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a spirit or if it's because I have knowledge from my previous life.

I opened the book on top skilfully with my nose. The smell of paper wet with ink spread.

I traced the letters with my eyes. Yup, I don't know!

When I grow older, I'll learn from Mother.

I gave up on reading and turned around on the small table. To go back down on the chair, and onto the floor.

However, when I turned around, my front foot collided with something small and hard. The thing kicked by me was a bottle of ink that wasn't closed properly.

Needless to say, ink is liquid. It's not very viscous either. So the moment I knocked it over, the ink started spreading over the table. I couldn't stop it.

Also, ink is black. There's nothing blacker that it.

I merely stared at the black thing spill over important documents.

I heard that people actually become calm in emergencies.

While watching the black ink seep into the white paper and the wooden table, I only calmly watched and thought, "Ah, what should I do…" My brain wasn't admitting the fact that ink was spilled.

After the ink arrived near the books, my brain finally started working. I pushed the books with my nose to put it far away from the menace of ink.

However, I pushed too much and they fell off the table.

-basabasabasa- With impressive sounds, the books fell on the floor. My brain stopped working again.

It's okay, it's okay.

I consoled myself and cautiously peeked down below from the table. There, I saw the the horrible corpses of the books that were forced to perform death leaps. Ah…

For now, I came down as well. I can't do anything about the ink that was already spilled on the table. It can't be saved.

However, reorganising the scattered books would be possible for me, with my front feet that have paws.

With the tip of my nose, with my mouth and front feet, I organised the books on the floor. I also properly closed the books that flipped open when they fell on the floor.

While working I noticed something.

The books were soiled with ink.

Strange. I did drop them from the table, but I thought I saved them from the black menace.

But I soon found out the ugly cause of this tragedy.

Could my front paws… be dyed black with ink…

Stupidly enough, it seems that I failed to realise that my feet were soaked in ink.

I swallowed hard. My heart beat fast.

It's okay, it's okay.

Even as I trembled nervously, I looked around the room.

The floor, the chair, wherever I walked, black paw prints dirtied the room.

On the table, the ink was dripping down from the table on the floor, making its mark.

This is… Well…

Calm down, calm down.

I have to make up for it, let's run my little brain on full power.

It doesn't seem like something so convenient like tissues exist in this world. There isn't even a rag in the room. Even if there was one, I won't be able to handle it well with my hands, and I won't be able to wipe away all the ink.

It will merely continue to spread.

"…"

Cold sweat formed on my paws.

W-W-W-What should I do!!

At this rate, the one-eyed knight will become angry. I have to clean this up before he comes back!

I anxiously walked back and forth on the spot.

However, I saw that the floor was getting dirtier from that, so I hurriedly stopped moving. It's better to not move rashly. My legs are currently cursed by ink. Let's not spread the damage.

Ink spilling from the table, documents dyed in black, traces of black pawprints on the chair, the floor and the scattered books…

From this devastating scene, I just wanted to cover my eyes.