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Translator: Barnnn
The sky was covered in gray clouds, and despite nearing noon, it showed no sign of brightening.
Silver crystals fell from the winter sky. One of the guards outside felt the coldness on his cheek and brushed it off.
Gazing outside from the guardhouse window, Guile frowned and muttered,
“Tch, it’s snowing again…”
Kugg Village lay silent and still.
At the very far end stood the Adams residence, home to renowned mages.
One was Polco, the head of the Adams household.
The other was a man named Poer, though his true name was Asley.
For certain reasons, he kept his name hidden, but there was nothing suspicious about it.
Asley served the Fulbright family, staying at the relatively safe Adams residence to teach and guard Bright, the eldest son of the Fulbrights.
Asley had a Familiar, or rather a companion, named Shiro, whose true name was Pochi.
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The room was bathed in a red glow from the fireplace, and the crackling logs filled the air with a comforting sound.
Curled up on a king-sized bed, a dog-wolf slept, her belly rising and falling with each breath.
Snow had already begun to pile up outside the window, where Asley’s voice could be heard.
“All right, that’s enough for this morning,” he announced.
Bright’s clear response and Ferris’s curt reply echoed through the window.
At the sound of the magic lesson’s end, Pochi’s ears perked up. Though not in a light sleep, Pochi had trained to wake at any moment.
While not tired, Pochi certainly desired sleep and, knowing her Master would return soon, buried her face in the sheets.
Rolling to the floor wrapped in the sheets, she wriggled like a caterpillar towards the water bucket.
Slowly, without haste and with no eyes watching, Pochi moved according to her baser desires.
She stopped in front of the water bucket, gazing at her reflection on the surface.
“Well well, someone looks happy,” she murmured, squinting.
But the real challenge began now.
It was winter, and though the fireplace provided warmth, the water was still cold.
Washing her face would be a struggle.
The happiness in Pochi’s reflection quickly turned to annoyance.
Se wriggled within the sheets and extended her proud right paw, dipping a claw into the water to make it ripple.
“This… this is… so cold!”
She lifted her paw to the ceiling, watching the water drip from her claw to her paw pad.
“Hyah–!”
Her whole body shivered as her eyes widened, staring at the still-rippling water.
Her gaze turned into a glare as she muttered,
“How insolent for mere water!”
Feeling a bit embarrassed at her own reflection, Pochi resolved herself with a shout, “All right!”
She unwrapped herself from the sheets, plunged both front paws into the bucket, and splashed the water onto her face.
“It’s so cold!!!!” she yelped but continued her determined washing.
In just twenty seconds, her vigorous face-washing had fully awakened her.
“Whew…” she exhaled sharply and wiped her face with a nearby towel.
Shivering again, she headed to the mirror beside the fireplace.
Sitting on the stool, she stared at her reflection.
“Hmm…” Pochi groaned for a while. “Why is my fur so messy after I brushed it so thoroughly yesterday?”
She snorted, dissatisfied with her fur.
Pochi took a brush from the vanity drawer and began brushing from her head to her shoulders and from her neck to her chest.
Grumbling at each stubborn tuft, she finally finished.
Tilting her head in front of the mirror, she raised and lowered her right paw.
Pochi’s critical eye scanned her reflection, but the face in the mirror appeared content.
After placing the brush back in the drawer, she retrieved a file.
Raising her right front paw, she extended a claw with a swift motion and began her daily filing routine.
With meticulous care, she moved the file from top to bottom, side to side, her eyes and face following the motion. She blew on the claw, ensuring no flaw escaped her notice.
Once she saw a smile of satisfaction in the mirror, Pochi’s ears perked up again.
“Huh, Master is back sooner than expected…” she muttered, never one to miss the sound of her Master’s footsteps.
Recognizing the limited time left, Pochi sped up her routine. She returned the file to its place and sprayed some tiger fruit perfume — given by Haruhana when they left Beilanea — onto her neck.
Though it had taken her a while to wake up fully, Pochi moved briskly and efficiently once she did. She rolled up the sheets, tossed them into the laundry basket, and used Asley’s Torrent Dragon Staff to boil water in the kettle.
Pochi dashed around the room with such speed that she completed most tasks before Asley even reached the room from downstairs.
“I’m back,” Asley announced naturally as he opened the door, directing his greeting towards Pochi.
Sitting neatly on a chair in front of the table, Pochi was deftly grooming her fur. Without missing a beat, she turned and replied,
“Welcome back, Master.”
She faced Asley with a nonchalant look, hiding any signs of her earlier sleepiness, and waited for a reaction, subtly flaunting her well-groomed fur.
Asley gave her a sideways glance.
“You just woke up, didn’t you?”
Pochi’s fur stood on end as she hurriedly retorted,
“Th-that’s not true! You can’t get such a perfectly groomed coat in such a short time, sir!”
Asley narrowed his eyes and gave Pochi a sharp look, causing Pochi’s gaze to dart away. Then, Asley’s eyes dropped slightly, and he smirked.
“Yeah, I know… your belly fur is a mess.”
Pochi glanced at the pointed-out area and quickly covered her face with her paws, embarrassed.
“Master, you pervert!”
“What the hell!? How does any of this make me a pervert!?”
“It’s… it’s because you came back too early! You should consider my schedule a bit more!” Pochi grumbled as she began brushing her belly fur.
“Hell if I care! You probably slept until the last minute anyway!”
Pochi, having been caught out, searched for a comeback against Asley, but all he could muster was his usual retort.
“YOU FOOL!”
Asley, in turn, searched for something more to say to Pochi but could only come up with his usual response.
“DAMN FURBALL!”
Their usual bickering came to an end with the rumble of Pochi’s stomach.
Sometimes it stopped when a meal was announced instead.
Since coming to the Adams household, Asley and his Familiar had prepared their own meals, so they never received meal notifications.
However, today was an exception.
There was a knock on the door.
They didn’t notice the knock itself at first, but they sensed the presence outside the door through the fluctuations in arcane energy.
Stopping their argument, they exchanged a glance and held their breath.
Visitors to Asley’s room usually meant trouble or annoyance.
“Master, you should answer it,” Pochi whispered.
“No, you should answer, Shiro,” Asley countered.
“The room belongs to you, Master,” Pochi insisted with a pointed glare.
Reluctantly, Asley made a face and moved towards the door. As he opened it, his expression transformed into a practiced smile.
“What can I do for you, Lady Ferris?”
Behind him, Pochi mimicked his master’s movements, forming a similar smile.
The visitor was indeed Lady Ferris, the mischievous tomboy princess, daughter of Polco Adams, and a frequent source of headaches for the two.
Lady Ferris, who had been glaring at Asley with an imperious air, quickly shifted her gaze to Pochi.
“It’s not you I need. It’s the Familiar behind you,” she declared, pointing at Pochi.
Asley let out a relieved sigh.
“Well, take her away, then,” he said, gesturing invitingly.
Pochi shot Asley a sideways glare, but Asley pretended not to notice.
“Come with me,” Ferris said, turning around.
Asley and Pochi exchanged looks once more.
“J-just me…?” Pochi asked hesitantly.
“Of course.”
Pochi sighed deeply and followed Ferris, casting a sidelong glare at Asley.
As she left the room, she turned back and saw Asley’s lips moving through the crack in the door:
“G-o-o-d l-u-c-k!”
Pochi sighed again at her master’s casual encouragement and trailed behind Ferris with heavy steps.
They reached their destination…
“This is…?”
“Just go in,” Ferris insisted.
Pochi looked up at the main wing of the Adams house.
Normally, she could only enter with Asley’s proxy permission, granted by Polco, but this time she was alone.
Reluctant to simply let herself in, Pochi stepped back and shook her head.
“You have my permission. Enter,” Ferris said with unusual seriousness.
Pochi tilted her head, intrigued by Ferris’s uncharacteristic behavior. [This must be important…] she thought, following her silently.
They climbed to the second floor, where sunlight streamed into a room.
Ferris stopped, and Pochi guessed this must be her room. She checked to ensure they were alone before opening the door slowly and quietly.
“Come in,” she whispered.
Pochi stepped inside softly, mirroring her tone. The door closed with a gentle click, and Pochi glanced around.
“Wow… This is amazing,” she murmured, taking in the room’s decor of white and pale pink, warmed by the sunlight.
A silk-canopied bed completed the image of a perfect lady’s room.
Pochi wandered towards the window, bathing in the sunlight, and looked around again.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Praising it won’t get you anything,” Ferris said, still pouting.
Pochi tilted her head, remembering why she was there.
“So, what do you need from me?” she asked.
Ferris, surprised by the abrupt question, blushed and widened her eyes.
Pochi, puzzled, tilted her head the other way before realizing the reason for her embarrassment.
“Could it be about Bright— Mmmph!?” Pochi began, but Ferris swiftly covered her mouth.
“I haven’t said anything yet! If you speak carelessly, I’ll charge you with trespassing in my room. Understand?” she threatened.
Pochi repeatedly shook her head.
“Then only answer my questions. Got it?”
Pochi nodded again, intimidated by her quiet pressure.
“Good.”
Ferris displayed a mask-like smile, which made Pochi uneasy. She mimicked her smile awkwardly.
Ferris, seating herself again, muttered as if recalling something,
“Lately, Bright has been so distant.”
[Always has been.]
“He only talks to me during magic lessons.”
[That’s natural.]
“Am I not being assertive enough?”
[Or maybe too assertive?]
“……Say something.” Lady Ferris snapped, her sharp gaze fixed on Pochi.
Pochi straightened up and answered,
“Yes, ma’am!”
“So, what do you think I should do?” she asked, her tone demanding.
Pochi knew that no matter what she suggested, Lady Ferris was unlikely to listen. She squinted at her skeptically.
“Will you really listen to what I say?”
Lady Ferris, meeting Pochi’s narrowed eyes, quickly averted her gaze.
“W-well, you won’t know unless you tell me,” she stammered.
Scratching her cheek in consternation, Pochi watched Ferris’s profile.
Realizing she was desperate enough to seek advice from Asley, a servant from another household, and his Familiar, Pochi sighed internally.
[There’s no helping it, is there?]
Pochi walked over to the window and stood up.
“Just wait a moment,” she said.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Opening the window, Pochi jumped out and headed to their shared room.
“Huh…? Hey! What are you doing, Shiro!?” Asley exclaimed as Pochi covered his face.
After a brief tussle, Pochi snatched something from Asley…
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Ferris raised an eyebrow as Pochi returned, puffing out her chest.
“What is that?” she asked.
Pochi, now sporting Asley’s glasses perched on her nose, adjusted them with a confident flick, mimicking her Master.
“Leave it to the great Professor Shiro!” she declared, tapping a pointer against her paw and snorting with determination.
“And what’s different now?” Ferris asked, unimpressed.
“It’s all about the attitude,” Pochi replied.
Ferris, frowning and scratching her cheek, seemed both surprised and exasperated by the change.
“From now on, you will address me as ‘Professor’,” Pochi announced.
“…Why?”
“Any problem with that?” Pochi challenged, her stern look making Ferris flinch.
“F-fine, Professor,” she conceded, folding her arms and turning away.
Pochi, now smiling genuinely, thought to herself,
[Now then, looks like it’s going to be quite busy from now on…]
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
After that, Pochi began waking up early, spending more and more time with Lady Ferris after her magic lessons.
Asley’s glasses frequently disappeared, but he never questioned Pochi about it.
About a month later, Asley remarked to Pochi,
“It seems like Master Bright and Lady Ferris have become quite close, don’t you think, Shiro?”
Pochi’s ears perked up as she glanced at Asley, who was smirking.
“Well… who knows why that is…”
“Oh yeah?”
Asley laughed through his nose as he eyed Pochi. Then–
“I don’t know anything about it! Maybe Lady Ferris’ feminine charms finally blossomed!”
Pochi turned away, pretending to be indifferent, which made Asley chuckle.
In that gesture, Asley saw a reflection of the tomboy princess.
“You’ve done quite well, haven’t you?”
At these words, Pochi, trying to hide her embarrassment, leaped at Asley.
“Whoa! Hey!”
As usual, Pochi snatched Asley’s glasses and put them on, puffing out her chest.
“Hahaha! Leave it to Professor Pochi!”
Asley gently stroked the cheek Pochi had lightly scratched and smiled warmly.
“…You forgot your fake name, you know.”
Realizing her mistake, Pochi clutched her cheeks and sighed in distress. Asley, who had always been observant, knew that Pochi had been spending time with Lady Ferris.
With Pochi still sighing in distress behind him, Asley gave his own determined cheek another reassuring pat.
He proceeded to open the door and headed down the stairs for his afternoon magic lessons. As he descended, he murmured,
“Feminine charms, huh…”
Remembering Pochi was a female, Asley chuckled again.
Bright, waiting downstairs, tilted his head at Asley’s demeanor.
“What’s the matter, Sir Instructor Poer?”
Catching himself grinning, Asley quickly regained his composure. “Oh, it’s nothing,” he mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed.
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