Chapter 9 — Dangerous Play and an Important Talk

 

“Mashiro, what shall we play?”

“Does my master have something in mind?”

Until dinner was ready, it was free time. Hmm… what should I do? Back in my old world, I often went to the park. There were sandboxes, jungle gyms, seesaws, swings… swings!

I suddenly had an idea and told Mashiro. And then—

“Kyahaha!”

“Oh? What’s that happy voice—wait, what are you doing?! Noah! Why didn’t you stop them?”

“Of course I tried. But really, do you think I can stop Mashiro?”

The captain shouted in alarm. But I was having so much fun. I had invented a new game—something only Mashiro could do with me.

“Alright! Again! Here we go!”

“Waaah, so high!”

My special game was the Super Swing. This morning, Mashiro had carried me by my collar, letting me dangle. That gave me the idea.

First, I grabbed Mashiro’s tail. Then Mashiro flicked it upward, and I let go. I flew into the air, and before I fell, Mashiro caught me gently in his jaws. I dangled, swinging back and forth until the motion stopped. That was the end of the ride.

See? A Super Swing!

“Isn’t it amazing? It’s so fun!”

But instead of praising me, the captain scolded me.

“That’s not fun—it’s dangerous! How could you think of such a game?”

“It’s not dangerous! Mashiro never drops me!”

I puffed out my chest proudly. We’d done it many times already, and Mashiro never failed. Mashiro snorted in agreement.

“If I couldn’t manage this, I’d never have survived the Forest of Death. For me, this is nothing.”

“Even so, if you dropped him, he could be badly hurt. Mashiro, how could you let your master do something so risky? Yuuki, this game is forbidden. No more.”

“Boo…”

I puffed my cheeks in protest. Mashiro would never drop me! But the captain picked me up firmly, ending the game.

Then he turned serious. “Mashiro, you lived in the Forest of Death? Is that why you became a high-ranked beast?”

Mashiro shrugged. “Something like that. Don’t worry about the details.”

The captain nodded. “Fair enough. Better not to dwell on it.”

The Forest of Death… it sounded terrifying. I hoped I’d never have to go there. I wanted a forest full of fluffy beasts instead.

The captain set me down beside the vice-captain, then called the others into the tent. They had something important to discuss. I sulked a little, still upset about my game being banned.

The vice-captain noticed and showed me something fascinating. He took out three magic stones—water, fire, and light. When he held them together, they glowed, swirling around each other until they formed a shining orb. None of the elements mixed, yet they danced together beautifully. My sulkiness vanished instantly.

After a while, the four men emerged from the tent. The vice-captain patted my head. “Yuuki, the captain has something to tell you.”

“Hm?”

The captain sat down, placing me on his lap. His voice was calm, serious.

“Yuuki, listen carefully. This is important. I’m telling you because it’s you. Understand?”

I nodded silently, nervous.

“You know we’re protecting you now.”

“Yes.”

“As protectors, we’ll take you safely to the town. That’s our duty. But once we arrive… Yuuki, you have no human family, do you?”

“I have Mashiro!”

“No, Yuuki. I mean human family. Mashiro is a beast.”

I glanced at Mashiro, who sat quietly, listening.

“Children without family are placed in the church. It’s a place where children live together until they find new families. When we reach town, officials will take you there.”

My heart sank. I thought the knights would become my family. I loved them already. Was this goodbye?

“When we reach town… we’ll say goodbye? We can’t stay together?”

“Yes. That’s how it must be.”

I clung to him desperately.

“No! I don’t want to say goodbye! I want to stay with you! Waaah!”

I cried bitterly. This wasn’t the happy world God had promised me.

“Yuuki, listen—”

“No! Waaah!”

“Yuuki! My words aren’t finished! Listen!”

His stern voice startled me into silence, hiccuping through tears.

“This is the most important part.”

He looked into my eyes.

“Yuuki… will you become my family?”

“…Family?”

“Yes. Be my child. If you do, we won’t be separated. We’ll always be together.”

I turned to Mashiro, who nodded. The captain had said it—family. My heart leapt.

“Together… always?”

“Yes. I’ll never leave you alone. I’ll always be by your side. So, will you be my family?”

“Yes! I’ll be your family! Waaah!”

I hugged him tightly, crying with joy. My new family. My precious family.

Overwhelmed by relief and happiness, I cried until exhaustion claimed me. The captain held me close the whole time. In his warm arms, I drifted into sleep, safe and loved.

“He’s asleep.”

“Congratulations, Captain. Yuuki agreed to be family.”

“Yes… thank you. Thank you, Yuuki, for becoming my family.”