Chapter 28 – Welcome Ceremony

Welcome Ceremony

——

“There won’t be any more strange occurrences in the village from now on, Chief.”

After emerging from the forest, Cherny and I went down to the village to meet the chief and roughly explain how things had progressed.
Upon hearing that strange things would no longer happen, the chief’s expression noticeably brightened.
“Is, is that true? I don’t know how to thank you for always helping us…”
“Don’t worry about it.”

“…I will definitely repay this kindness someday.”
The chief repeatedly bowed his head, expressing his gratitude to me.
“If it’s not rude to ask, may I inquire who the lady next to you is?”
His gaze naturally turned to Cherny standing beside me.
Since she wasn’t there before I sent the chief back to the village, he seems to have become curious.

“Me…me? I am….”
“I found someone who was lost in the forest. I brought her along while I was at it.”
I stopped Cherny from answering the chief’s question and made up a vague explanation.
“I, I see. That’s fortunate. To have met the Magician…”
“Isn’t it, Cherny?”
“Ye…yes!”

See? Even Cherny says it’s fortunate.
After leaving the chief’s house.
“He…hehe. Now we’re going to the Magician’s house, right…?”
“That’s right. You seem so happy you can’t stop smiling?”
“Th…that’s right……”

Cherny forcing a smile. Why is this so amusing?
“That’s right. From now on, don’t call me Magician, call me Ariel. We’ll be living in the same house… it’s too stiff otherwise.”
“Yes… I’ll call you Ariel-nim……”
You can drop the ‘nim’ too. It seems she’s more comfortable using honorifics.

Time passed, and Cherny and I arrived at the house.

“Ariel! You’re late… huh? Who’s next to you…?”
Having heard our footsteps, Saya opened the front door to greet us before I could even enter.
“He…hello! I’m Cherny, who will be working as this house’s watchdog and housekeeper starting today!”
‘…You could have left out the watchdog part.’

Saya’s expression hardened a bit after hearing Cherny’s self-introduction. Then she sniffed the air and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards her.
“Shaa! Ariel…. Who is that person…? She smells ominous.”
“Do I smell…?”
Saya was wary of Cherny, along with the “Shaa” cry I hadn’t heard in a while. By ominous smell… can she smell the scent of a demon race?

Dragons are known for their keen senses, so it’s entirely possible.
“Saya. This is Cherny, who will be working as our housekeeper starting today. She’s not dangerous, so don’t worry.”
“What’s a… housekeeper?”
Saya was still glaring at Cherny without letting her guard down.
Cherny seemed at a loss, her eyes darting around.

How should I explain what a housekeeper is…
“Well… simply put, she’s someone who will take care of you and Puel when I’m not around.”
“I only need Ariel….”
Saya suddenly launching a surprise attack. What should I do? I really want to hug her tight.
“Sister. Who is this person next to you..?”
Soon after, Puel also pointed at Cherny and asked me who she was.

‘Was it a mistake to bring Cherny right away…’
Seeing the children’s less than positive reactions, I started to regret bringing Cherny home immediately.
I should have at least discussed it with the children first.
“It’s too late to kill her now…”
“Eek!!!!!!”

Oops. What I was thinking accidentally slipped out. Cherny, who heard it, started looking at me desperately with a frightened expression.
“You… you said you’d spare me…. Liar…”
Bang.
‘…Huh?’
With a “bang” sound effect like something out of a comic, Cherny disappeared from sight.

“Ariel! Puppy! She turned into a puppy!”
“…Sister. That person just now. She transformed into a puppy.”
“Not a puppy… a wolf….”
…She didn’t disappear, but transformed into something that looked like a wolf.
‘Did she transform into a wolf? I’ve heard there are such races among demon races…’

Among demon races, there are often those with the ability to transform into animals.
Like Cherny in front of me who can transform into a wolf, or demons who can transform into animals like lions or bears.
‘Rather than a wolf, it looks more like a dog.’
To be precise, a slightly large dog.

Unlike Cherny who says she’s a wolf, the more I look at her, the more she looks like a dog.
Cherny with fluffy fur, looking like a large Pomeranian.
To describe her appearance in one word, she’s extremely cute.

I slowly,
very slowly approached Cherny.
“Cherny. You know…”
“Yes…? Um, A-Ariel-nim…? Your eyes look scary…?”

I can’t resist.
“Huu… huu…”
“No, not there…! Hnnng…”
In the end, I couldn’t hold back and rushed to Cherny, starting to furiously pet her fluffy fur.
“Me too! I want to touch!”
“…Me too.”

Saya and Puel had joined in before I knew it.
“Hnng… it tickles…. Th-that spot…”
After that, I messed up her fur together with Saya and Puel.

——–

“That was mean…”
“Sorry.”
Cherny had returned to her usual form. From what I heard, her base form is usually human, but when she gets very nervous or surprised, she sometimes transforms into a wolf.

Thanks to that, Saya and Puel’s wariness seemed to have lessened, so it might have been a good thing.

“Now… I won’t be able to get married…”
‘Was I too rough?’
Cherny mumbling to herself with tears in her eyes looks a bit pitiful.
But she looked so soft and fluffy.

I felt a prick from my conscience, which I thought had worn away, feeling like a bad uncle saying “It’s your fault for dressing so provocatively”.
Oh, you were still there, conscience.
“Cherny! Cute!”
“Thank you…”

Even Saya, who was wary of Cherny, seems to have lowered her guard to some extent. The same goes for Puel.
I was worried about what I’d do if they kept being wary, but thank goodness.
If the children had continued to be uncomfortable with Cherny, even if I didn’t kill her, I would have had to reconsider bringing her into the house.

“Um… I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. Your name was Cherny, right? Have you eaten yet?”
“Oh, not yet…”

Puel, perhaps feeling a bit sorry for messing up Cherny’s fur, spoke to her in a kind voice.
‘Wait a minute.’
An ominous thought flashed through my mind.
If this conversation continues in this direction….

“That’s perfect timing! I thought Ariel sister would be late today, so I made some stew. Let’s eat together!”
“Are you perhaps an angel…?”
As expected.

The dreaded situation has occurred.
“Ariel was late. So Puel made lunch.”
Saya looking at me with slightly reproachful eyes.
‘If I had known this would happen, I should have taught Puel how to cook sooner….’

I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time. I suddenly felt a dislike for my past self.
‘No. Let’s trust Puel.’
I headed to the kitchen with the children, carrying a firm resolution.

The menu this time was also stew. Puel said she had refined the recipe a bit more….
“Enjoy your meal, Ariel sister.”

The stew still smells delicious. But having tasted Puel’s stew before, I couldn’t let my guard down.
‘What’s Saya doing..?’
Before taking a bite, I quietly looked at Saya.
Ah. Dead eyes.

“It’s delicious…”
Saya, with lifeless eyes, is mechanically moving the spoon to her mouth.
In contrast, there’s one person drooling.
“It… it smells delicious…”
Seeing her just holding the spoon while watching me, she’s probably waiting for me to eat first before taking a spoonful. Should I say she’s well-mannered?

“Ariel sister. Are you not feeling well…?”
“Ah… No. It looks so delicious. It’s a shame to eat it.”
Puel asked me in a worried voice, probably finding it strange that I hadn’t taken a single bite yet.
“Oh, sister…”

To show Puel, I immediately scooped up a big spoonful of stew and put it in my mouth.
‘Huh? This time it’s okay…’
…It’s not okay. How can these ingredients produce this taste? Can stew have a fishy taste?

Moreover, it’s extremely salty. Fishy and salty. It feels like swimming in the sea.
Opening a new horizon in the culinary world. Puel. Scary child.
“I’ll eat well…!”

Cherny started eating after I took a spoonful.
As soon as the stew entered her mouth, Cherny’s expression froze.
“Um… Your name was Cherny, right…? How does it taste?”
“The… taste…?”

Cherny’s pupils swaying back and forth, having lost their sense of direction.
‘Please… please…’
Saya and I giving silent pressure to Cherny.
“It’s… it’s delicious!!! It’s so delicious! I want to eat more!”
“Really? I’m glad. There’s plenty here, so eat as much as you want.”
“Ha…haha…”

Cherny with an expression like she’s lost the world.
…It was a welcome ceremony for the new family member. Probably.

——-

“Why…”
The words “Why did you stab me” didn’t form and scattered in the air.
The cold eyes I’d never seen before from the friend I trusted more than anyone, the sensation of a cool blade piercing flesh. Time slowing down. The friend’s eerie smile.

Even as the burning pain flowed through my veins to my entire body, my mind was filled only with questions.
Why. Did you betray me for mere money?
I didn’t need money. I just didn’t want to disappoint people’s expectations. You know that best, don’t you?

The pain in my stabbed abdomen hurt, but
until the moment of death, what hurt the most was the fact that I was betrayed by the friend I trusted the most.
.
.
.
“Huff.. gasp…”
“Sister. Are you okay?”

When I opened my eyes, what I saw was Puel’s worried gaze.
“Kuu…”
Next to me, I could see Saya sleeping soundly.
‘It was a dream…..’
The interior dimly lit by moonlight.

Cherny is sleeping on the floor. Why is she sleeping on the floor?
After feeling my abdomen where I was stabbed to confirm there was no wound, I finally realized I had a terrible nightmare.
Perhaps the trauma in my subconscious was stimulated by the arrival of Cherny, a new family member.

A memory that consistently torments me. This sticky trauma suddenly appears and pushes me into an abyss.

“Sister. Should I bring you some water? You’re sweating a lot….”
“No. I’m fine.”
Puel still worried about me.
I made a somewhat odd request to Puel.

“Puel. You know. Can you… hug me for a moment?”
The sensation of my body gradually losing warmth after being stabbed still lingers.
And the cold death.
It’s always like this when I recall that incident.
The bone-chilling loneliness and anxiety dig deep into my body like thorns, and I can only curl up.

“…Of course. Did you have a scary dream?”
“Yes….”
Despite what might seem like a sudden childish whim, Puel gently embraced me without minding.

“Shaa…? I want to hug Ariel too!”

Saya, who had woken up at some point, also hugged me from behind as if she couldn’t lose out.

“Thank you, kids.”
Thanks to them, the loneliness and anxiety of feeling left alone gradually melted away in the warmth of the two,
and that night, I was able to fall into a peaceful sleep.