Chapter 50 : Tap Tap

I was sitting on the commander’s knee right now, looking at the computer screen.

I didn’t sit because I wanted to.

His knee was hard, and I’d much rather sit on Nunu Unni’s soft knee.

I just… he kept begging, saying something about filling up the “maru element” or whatever, so I sat there as if to say, “I’ll let it slide just this once.”

“Commander, you’re going to catch a cold…”

Heh, even after a long time, it still feels soft.

Ignoring my words, he grinned and started messing with my cheek, and it looked just like the typical silly local guy.

I’m already worried because my cheek is starting to sag like mozzarella cheese from being touched too much.

I’m afraid it’ll become soft like dough and droop even more.

“Wait, there are more mails this time?”

“Yeah… What?”

As the commander kept pinching my cheek, I couldn’t speak properly.

Feeling a bit irritated, I thought about biting my finger, but I decided against it.

It looks unappetizing.

Anyway, I remember the last time there were only two requests, but this time, there are three.

It’s increasing.

“Let’s see. One is a ‘logistics support request.’ …No, this came again?”

“Ugh.”

“Ugh.”

As soon as I saw the words “logistics support request,” everyone except me furrowed their brows simultaneously.

I also furrowed my brows like the others. My face, which was usually round, became a little sharper when I frowned.

‘That one… I really don’t want to do it.’

I don’t like doing physical work.

It’s tiring and makes me sweat.

Loading and unloading are even worse.

“I’ll just mark this as spam. Now, next…”

“Next?”

“…Next, ah, there’s a subjugation request from the E zone. Should we read it?”

“Commander, aren’t you going to read that email?”

“Email? What email?”

The commander quickly scrolled down, skipping the second email, and looked at me with a clueless expression.

What’s this? Was there something I wasn’t supposed to see?

But the “Health Check-up” subject that I briefly glanced at didn’t seem like something I’d be forbidden from seeing.

Ah. Could it be that?

“Commander.”

“Yeah?”

When I saw the commander’s awkward smile, a single white hair shimmering above his head caught my eye.

Poor commander.

I guess that email might have been something the commander personally requested… or something like that.

I suspect he was worried about his growing white hairs and wanted to get a check-up.

‘That makes sense.’

Once I thought about it, everything clicked into place.

The strange attitude earlier, and why he scrolled quickly without even letting me see the subject of the email.

He probably didn’t want to worry me with something like that.

“Cheer up.”

“Uh, yeah? Uh… thanks.”

With those few words of encouragement, I gently patted the commander’s chin.

An ant climbed up my hand, and together, we patted him.

No matter what, he’s our commander. He shouldn’t be sick.

…It’s not like I’m doing this because he’s my precious pudding supplier. I’m really just worried about him. I think I’d feel lonely without the commander.

“Anyway, are you going to read it now?”

“Yes.”

The content of the email was pretty standard.

It was about how the monsters in his area kept increasing, and they were facing staffing issues, so they asked for help.

There was a lot of text like that.

Along with the request, there was a lot of information about the local area and the monsters, so it took quite a while to read.

I nearly nodded off a few times, but thanks to Bada waking me up with her tail, I was able to finish reading it.

“The date is tomorrow. Time’s tight.”

“Yeah…”

“Maru, how about it? Can you go? Is your cold all better?”

I nodded.

Actually, it wasn’t even exactly a cold… it was more like light body aches.

I had a cough and felt chilly, so I guess it was a cold after all.

A weak little cold.

So, should we take this request? It’s the only one available anyway.

I nodded much more enthusiastically.

If it’s not that, we’ll have to do loading and unloading, and I absolutely, definitely don’t want that. I’d get crushed under all the packages and end up squashed.

Sounds good!!

“Yes.”

The other girls behind me seemed to have the same thought, as they answered in loud voices.

Seems like everyone dislikes loading and unloading.

Even if they offer a lot of money, the hospital fees will be even higher.

That’s the end of that.

Mmm? Huh? What was that? Suddenly, what’s that sound?!

Apparently, my voice was louder than I thought, and Bada, who had been hugging her tail and napping on the couch, jumped in surprise and fell off the sofa.

Being a cat hybrid, she managed to land safely by maintaining her balance mid-air, but she had a confused expression from the sudden noise.

…By the way, when did Bada fall asleep? She was so energetic when she woke me up earlier.

“Pfft, she’s totally like a cat.”

“Suddenly? She’s a cat, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah. I forgot the modifier. Our scaredy-cat fool, Bada?”

“What, what did you say?!”

While I was lost in thought, staring at the sea, the commander was already teasing Bada.

She was wearing an incredibly silly and childish hat, you know… the one called a “kid’s propeller hat.”

You know the kind.

A ridiculous hat with bright yellow, red, blue, and green colors all mixed together, topped off with a tiny spinning propeller.

That dumb hat was sitting right on the commander’s head.

And he had this smug expression on his face, like he was about to shout something ridiculous like “cuckoo-ringing-bong!”

“Sigh.

This old man teases me and Bada whenever she gets the chance. So childish.

What’s her deal, anyway?!”

“Annoying, right? But you can’t do anything about it, can you? “

Bada’s face turned bright red, steaming as if heat was rising from the top of her head.

Because of the commander’s constant teasing, she looked like she was about to explode at any moment.

This won’t do.

This insolent old man needs a good smack.

Oh? His face got even redder. He looks just like a cowardly tomato cat… Ack!!

“Be quiet!”

Grabbing the toy hammer Nunu had given me, I whacked the commander on the head.

“Bop!” A cute sound echoed.

I was a little startled by how loud it was, but I couldn’t stop here.

Take this! And this!

I kept up my relentless attack.

“Agh! Ow! Maru, why all of a sudden—?!”

“You’re seriously asking me that?”

Take this!

—Bop!

Just because he was annoying, I smacked him one more time.

“Waaah!”

“That’s for making me wear those squeaky shoes! And this one is, uh… just take it!”

And so, the sudden punishment continued until Bada calmed down and whispered that it was enough.

The commander, with his thick but graying hair, was now standing in front of the mirror, fixing his hair.

…It didn’t even hurt that much, so why is he acting like this? How painful could a toy hammer even be?

I even controlled my strength, so there shouldn’t be any marks.

Anyway. The mission starts tomorrow… I should hurry up and finish today’s tasks.

“Let’s see… I wrote the list down here somewhere.”

One of the best things about having a phone is the memo app.

With this, I don’t forget things and can keep track of everything perfectly.

I kicked my legs, which still didn’t reach the ground, and opened the memo app.

And there it was—TO-DO LIST—written in bold letters at the top.

Beneath it, tiny, neatly written notes filled the screen.

It was my very own “Proper Daily Life List.”

Let’s see…

[First: Wake up early in the morning. (You have to sleep early to wake up early!)]

[Second: Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (Chew your food properly!)]

I tapped the first two items on the list with my finger—tap, tap.

These were basic tasks I had already completed.

A checkmark appeared, followed by a “Great job!” stamp.

Oh, this is kinda fun. It’s like a game.

[Third: Eat one pudding a day. (Very important) ★★★]

…Wait.

No way.

I was in shock as I read the third item.

I hadn’t eaten pudding today.

The moment I realized this horrifying truth, I shot up from my seat.

Of course, I had to ask the commander for pudding immediately!

“Commander! I need pudding—”

“Oh wow, look at the time. Maru, want to go out for some pudding?”

…Huh?

“What?”

“Just what I said. I heard a new handmade pudding shop opened nearby. I thought you’d like it, so I looked it up. Oh, and—”

The commander bringing up pudding first?

And a handmade pudding shop at that?!

Is this a dream?

Oww…

Well, if it hurts, it must be real.

“Haha, you must be really happy if you’re pinching your own cheeks. But before pudding, you need to get a health check-up. That okay?”

“Huh? Of course!”

I nodded enthusiastically.

“Alright then. Everyone, get ready to head out. Bada, time to get up!”

“Yeah, yeah~”

I mean, I wouldn’t have anything to do while the commander got his check-up anyway.

Might as well just play some mobile games.

…Or so I thought.

“Number 33, Maru. Number 33, Maru. Please enter the examination room.”

“H-Huh? Wait! What about the commander?!”

Despite my panicked question, the commander just smiled and remained seated.

So the health check-up… wasn’t for the commander, but for me?!

“Oh, and don’t cry when you get your shot, okay?”

Wait, I have to get a shot too?!

…Is this a dream?

Oww…

Nope, if it hurts, it’s real.