Compared to the scorching Korean summer, Blake's summer was decidedly mild. On the contrary, the snow that had accumulated during the winter had completely melted, leaving behind a warm, late-spring-like aura.
I poked my head out of Kyle's pocket and hummed leisurely as I watched the summer sun stream through the window. My tiny footsteps made a soft squeaking sound, and Kyle gently stroked my head with his index finger. He did the same when I raised my head and nudged it with my nose.
"Yes. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll allow you to continue." [♪(´▽｀)]
Ignoring the system's excited chirps, I looked at the miracle value displayed before me. A whopping sixty percent. Considering how rapidly I had depleted it during the recent political battle, this was a remarkable improvement.
It was none other than Belial who had helped me recover my miracle value when I was suffering significant losses.
[Belial Serena Meinhardt: Approximately one day before the expected time of death.]
Belial was not dead. According to Sen's letter, there had been several dangerous moments, but now his wounds had healed, and his breathing had stabilized significantly. However, he still hadn't regained consciousness, lying on the bed as if in a deep sleep.
Nonetheless, Belial's very survival was recognized as a miracle in itself, and my miracle value, which had contributed to his survival to some extent, was steadily rising.
Of course, Belial's condition was a secret known only to a select few within Sen's household, including myself, Sen, and Kyle. To the Meinhardt Empire, he was believed to be dead.
It was good that he was able to avoid Lorenz's watchful eye, but the problem was that Sen had to secretly take care of Belial all by herself. Kyle was sending people to help, but I knew that wouldn't be enough. Above all, Sen's heart, holding onto him, must have been withering like a plant whose roots had been severed, enduring a living hell. Yet, she still hadn't given up on Belial. Sen's unwavering devotion sometimes taught me about the profound nature of love.
"Alright, we're done."
When we arrived at the study, Kyle gently placed me on his desk. A ridiculously opulent hamster sofa occupied one corner. It was adorned with sapphires and silver, meticulously stitched by skilled craftsmanship.
'It's always so ostentatiously gorgeous.'
When I first saw it, I thought it was some kind of throne. Of course, it wasn't bad to be pampered. I slumped down on the couch, making eye contact with Kyle and glancing at the food.
―Take. (Eat.)
Kyle smiled softly. He then started eating the seafood stew, which had grown a little cold.
Six hours a day. That was the time I could live as a human being. A period that felt both ample and fleeting. Those six hours didn't make me a great talent, but at least it gave me enough time to ensure my partner didn't go hungry.
Even now, I wished I could spoon-feed him, as he kept taking sips, glancing at the report beside him, then taking another spoonful and immediately returning his gaze to the papers.
'My hands are still so weak...'
In the past three months, there had been one more invasion of demonic beasts. I still hadn't been able to contribute effectively. I was just busy transporting the wounded and carrying supplies. I practiced archery without skipping a day, hoping to help somehow, but it wasn't enough for me yet. Because the person I wanted to stand next to was Kyle Blake. The Lord of the North, and the owner of this estate. The strongest pillar of the North... my fated companion.
When I looked at the way I'd sewn shirts, pants, and underwear that I could use when I was transforming, I realized I was still a hamster fanatic at heart.
"Hmm."
A low groan rang out. I closed my eyes, lost in thought, and then opened one eye to look at him. Kyle had forgotten to eat again and was looking through a mountain of papers. Whether it was administration or public safety, he oversaw everything. Because of his tendency to personally scrutinize every detail, the mountain of documents seemed to increase, not decrease.
'Well, they are all difficult problems.'
Although Blake's estate was rich in talent, gems, and minerals, it wasn't a good environment for farming, so he had to pay close attention to trade. Until now, they had managed to survive with small-scale transactions, but given Lorenz's reign of terror, they now needed to expand their trade on a territorial scale.
It was no wonder. Kyle's mind was probably a mess right now. He had forgotten to eat and was staring intensely at the paperwork.
Of course, I didn't just watch him.
―Take. (Eat when you eat, you fool!)
How can you prioritize thoughts over food? Huh?
I quickly got down from the sofa and nudged the edge of the plate to express my dissatisfaction. Kyle was ready to bury his nose in the paperwork again.
"Yes, I understand. Just this one more thing."
―Chirp! (Do you really expect me to believe that?)
"Really. Believe me."
What? He understands? What's going on? It's said that even a dog at a village school will recite poetry after three years, and it seems the Grand Duke of the Northern Province can also understand a hamster in three months...
―Squeak! (That's pretty impressive.)
"Yes, I like it too."
I still didn't understand. How could he understand me?
―Chirp! (Stop talking and eat!)
I nudged his plate with surprising force, and Kyle laughed, beginning to scoop some of the stew. It would taste less than when it was warm, but he ate it well. Finally, he seemed to come to the brilliant conclusion that he had to eat all the food first to avoid my nagging.
Occasionally, there was the sound of his spoon scraping against the bowl, the brush of his fingertips against the table, and the sound of swallowing in the silence, but it was an unceremonious dining for a quick meal.
"Thank you for eating well, Shu."
I looked at the bowl that had been emptied neatly without leaving a single drop and clapped my tiny hands. What's this 'clean plate club' business these days? Yes, he finished it all. Didn't leave any food behind. Feeding him was truly rewarding.
Kyle called someone to remove the dishes, and then devoted himself to the paperwork in earnest. I considered whether or not to watch him, and then decided to lie down on the sofa a little longer. I was a little tired from being active all this time, and I knew he'd let me know if there was something important anyway.
[( ︾▽︾)]
I must have been enjoying the feeling of exhaustion for a while.
'Huh? Why is it quiet?'
It was quiet. There was no sound of turning pages, no scratch of a quill on paper, no dragging of a chair or tapping the table with fingertips. The sudden, profound silence made me open my eyes, unable to resist its unsettling presence.
'What the hell?'
Kyle stood still, as if frozen in a painting. He was staring at a piece of paper with his arms folded, as if he had decided to memorize every single letter.
I jumped off the couch and looked at the paperwork. No, I tried to see it. The fact that the documents were too big for my size and the contents were illegible from my perspective was a problem.
―Sigh.
I sighed heavily, then jumped onto Kyle. I scrambled for a long moment, climbing up his body, and finally settled on his shoulder, until I could see the contents of the papers.
"A few days ago, the workers who went to explore the new mine in the north are in poor condition. Eight out of ten people have developed symptoms, and three of them are in critical condition. Nine people are gathered in the south barracks to be examined by doctors, and one of them is refusing medical treatment and is isolating himself. It seems he will not open the door until His Highness the Grand Duke gives the order."
Speaking of which, I recalled hearing that a new path had been dug in the largest mine, and some workers were caught in a burst of blue light. When they returned a few days ago, I remembered that there were also wounded members of the Blake Knights who had been escorting them.
I took a serious look at the medical details at the bottom of the paper, and then read the following passage.
"This is believed to be a symptom similar to 'Frost Poisoning' among forbidden magic. There is a possibility of magic poisoning, so please consider this and provide aid to the injured. You need the support of Blake's own mages, not a general doctor."
Magic poisoning.
It was too early for me to understand the full implications of the term. I'd been here for less than a year. However, I knew that it was not ordinary at all. At the very least, the words "Frost Poisoning" carried a meaning that would evoke Kyle's deep, chilling anger.
"...Hoo."
After a short sigh, Kyle pulled out another report. It was related to the exploration of the northern mines. I watched as he carefully examined the information and symptoms of the knights who had been escorting them, as well as documents related to the reconnaissance that preceded the expedition.
"The shadow I saw back then was not a demonic beast... It might have been them."
He frowned, as if the mere thought pained him. His hands, scarred with countless battles, traced the dense lines of text...
Frost.
My gaze lingered on the word. Then Kyle clenched his fists. As if just looking at the word made him feel nauseous.
'There is bound to be a strong hostility towards mages.'
Millions of people had died because of the mutants sent by rogue mages. To remember them, a cemetery was built on the outskirts of Blake's estate, and the area around it was filled with a gloomy and sad atmosphere all year round. I knew because I'd been there before. Blake's people didn't forget their grudges. Kyle thought this had something to do with the mages of the Northern Expanse, who had been quiet all spring.
'It's a reasonable inference...'
My agitation wouldn't change anything. I guessed I needed more information. At the very least, he should meet the patients exhibiting these symptoms of magic poisoning.
I thought.
―Squeak! (Calm down.)
I placed myself on his shoulder and slid all the way along his arm. My body slid down the sleek shirt as if I were on a slide. I stood on the back of Kyle's hand and moved my feet lightly. My intention was to stomp on him... but since he was such a big man, I probably looked like an insignificant squirrel.
But it didn't matter what the power was. All he needed to do was come to his senses and recognize my existence.
"Shu."
"Yes, your little master. Here I am."
Instead of answering, I stared at him. I couldn't understand his human language anyway, so there was no need to rush. I just looked up and waited for him to calm down.
Soon, his expression, which had been cold and hardened, softened slightly, and a faint smile appeared.
"Yes. I calmed down."
Three months. It wasn't perfect, but it was still enough time for him to understand a hamster's words, at least once in a while.