The blue-eyed little companion was silently looking up at its owner. That was all. Yet, a strange warmth spread through Kyle's chest, and he laughed involuntarily at the familiar and pleasant sensation.
'Since when did I start to rely on this little guy?'
It had been more than one season. His fated companion, who spent most of the day confined to this small body, was truly willing to do anything for him. Watching the charming gesture of stepping on the back of his hand made Kyle feel a little relaxed from the tension and anger that had gripped him.
"It's okay now."
Kyle whispered sweetly. Then he gently offered a cashew nut with his other hand, kissed the hamster's fluffy forehead, and smiled softly.
"You're a good one."
He felt the tiny feet pat his hand. As if that wasn't enough, the hamster even tapped his cheek with its front paws. It was probably staring at him with a nervous expression.
―...Squeak.
'I'm sure that wasn't a nice word,' the hamster thought. Knowingly, Kyle stroked him with his fingertips and said in a voice full of affection.
"Yes, I like it a lot, too."
'You'll never understand, my little companion,' the hamster thought. 'Sometimes, my owner misunderstands my words and uses it as an excuse to shower me with affection.'
'Let go, man. Stop it!'
It's really strange. Sometimes he seems to understand me like a ghost, but sometimes I can't tell if he's truly dense or surprisingly perceptive.
I patted him in the face about three times, and Kyle seemed to notice that I was bothered. He lowered me down on the table and gave me a look dripping with affection.
'…I think he watches me because he likes me.'
Well, he's a little annoying, but he's not a violent guy.
I moved my short legs diligently as I approached the other side of the pile of papers, where there was a stack of letters. I rummaged through the letters, grabbed a familiar one between them with both hands, and pulled it with a grunt.
"Dear Archduke Blake, from Sen Land."
When he found a familiar name, Kyle's expression brightened. He pulled the hamster sofa close to me, placed me down, opened the letter, and read it together.
Sen had sent two letters.
"Recently, an unknown stranger has been coming in and out of the village. Judging from the use of the capital's dialect, it must have been sent by Lorenz."
The first part of the story was a little heavy. Kyle and I exchanged glances briefly, and then read the letter again.
"Also, I heard from the grave robber. On the night he went to the next village to sell potatoes, he was spotted trying to dig up His Highness Belial's grave. The knight sent by His Highness was guarding the area, so he couldn't damage the tomb, but it was probably a matter of time."
'This is also something that Lorenz did,' I thought. This was like saying that Lorenz's period of restraint was almost over.
Kyle's expression became a little serious. As he read Sen's handwriting, he muttered to himself.
"We need to send some more people."
I nodded instead of answering. The heavy story continued a little further after that. However, Sen's stories were not all about unfortunate or difficult topics.
The second letter contained Sen's recent situation. Sen, who had placed a dried flower in the letter, said that she was taking care of Belial and doing well. The neighbors were kind, and she had been practicing embroidery lately.
Kyle smiled softly at Sen's story. Ever since Belial had fallen, Sen had been in a state of imminent waiting, but she didn't seem unhappy. She was that kind of person. Even at the lowliest bottom, she burns with determination for life and lives without losing a glimmer of joy and hope. Blake's people were like that. It was also one of the hundreds of reasons why Kyle loved this land and its people.
"Come to think of it, the flow of the original has changed quite a bit since that hunt..."
As if responding to my thoughts, several system windows popped up.
[The original fate of Kyle Jane Meinhardt, Archduke of the North: Death.]
The sentence that I was most desperate to erase was distorted, and a new story was written that was different from the original and reflected the current situation.
[The death of Belial Serena Meinhardt, Third Prince, has been made known to the world.]
[Lorenz Serena Meinhardt became emperor. He was no longer a weak man, but Lorenz had not yet fully consolidated his power, for while people might obey power, they would not surrender their sincerity.]
[Sen Lande hugs the dying Belial and ?? I went to the]
Most of the
[In the end, Lorenz decided to get the Heart of Winter, which overturns death and gives eternal life.]
It wasn't so shocking. In the original story, Belial's sister, Serena, tried to get her hands on the Heart of Winter to save Belial, but this time Lorenz was trying to get it for some reason. Lorenz, who didn't love anyone and didn't trust anyone deep down, would only use it for himself. It was dangerous to be given power to such a person.
"The period of restraint is coming to an end."
Kyle seemed to have the same thoughts as me, and said in a serious voice.
"I'm going to be busy tomorrow."
―Taken. (Yes.)
With a careful hand, he folded the letter and stored it in a small box. Then, after thinking about going through the papers and letters a little more, he shook his head and lifted me up.
"Let's take a break today. Let's go to the bedroom."
―Stew. (Yes, well.)
"What time can I come tomorrow?"
He and I had decided on a few signals to minimize the discomfort. Currently, I could 'transform' for six hours, which was one quarter of a day. Kyle wanted to dedicate that short amount of time to me, so I usually told him the next day's 'transformation time' before going to sleep.
―Squeak.
For reference, 'a morning squeak' meant six a.m. to noon, 'an afternoon squeak' meant noon to six p.m., 'an evening squeak' meant evening to midnight, and 'a night squeak' meant midnight to morning.
"Yes. Then I'll wake you up at noon. Let's have lunch together."
Instead of answering, I let out a deep sigh. 'This is too inconvenient,' I thought. 'I hope I can understand him even when I'm a hamster. If it's hard to speak, shouldn't I write it down?'
'Can you add a new item to the Love Corner?'
[(￣▽￣)7]
'It's been a while since there was a new product, and it hasn't been there. Do some work at this time,' I bickered with the system.
While I was bickering with the system, Kyle took me to the bedroom. Before he knew it, there was a hamster bed by his bedside. He carefully put me down, covered me with a blanket, and waited for me to close my eyes with a friendly look.
'Wait a minute. Do you know? The system worked harder than I thought...'
[Love Love Corner~❤]
'Look, I've got everything ready, but I've been quiet all this time.'
I pulled the blanket away with my feet and stood up.
[Miniature magnetic stationery set! (For hamsters) | ❤ ×500]
It was an exorbitant price, but it wasn't a problem at all.
[Current Holdings | ❤ ×999]
'I've asked ten times to raise the holding limit to four digits, but it still hasn't been implemented,' I grumbled internally. Of course, Kyle seemed happy just to see me these days, so it was easy to collect them.
'Yes, I just need to be able to live.'
I sighed heavily and bought a 'miniature magnetic stationery set'. Then, a bag containing a small ballpoint pen, notebook, and highlighter fell in front of me.
'That's why it's for hamsters!'
―Taken.... (It's so small....)
'It's small! Too small, even if it's small! I'll accept it, even if it's miniature!'
I nudged my bag impatiently. Of course, my tiny paws were no match for the bag. I jumped up and down to get rid of the tingling sensation in my toes.
"What is this?"
Kyle, who was lying at an angle and looking at me, raised his upper body slightly. Then, when he lifted my bag with his thumb and forefinger, my notebook and pen fell from the bag that wasn't closed.
I clicked my tongue in exasperation and settled into his palm. Then I picked up my pen with a determined expression. If there was one thing I was glad about possessing here, it was that I could communicate with him anyway. If I wrote it down, the system seemed to translate it naturally.
I felt Kyle's gaze and began to write crookedly.
"Kyle"
While writing the last letter, I dropped my pen and stopped scribbling.
'This is more difficult than I thought.'
I had a slight typo, so I started writing with my face practically pressed against the page so that I could almost be sucked into my notebook. Crooked writing began to appear in my notebook.
"Stupid fool."
I held out my notebook triumphantly.
―Taken! (Read it!)
It looked so small to me, so he probably couldn't see it. As expected, Kyle looked at his notebook for a long time. This time, it wasn't me, but he felt like he was going to be sucked into the notebook.
'I'll give you a magnifying glass,' I thought.
"...."
I wondered how long it had been, but he suddenly turned to me.
'Why?'
'Do you think it had a great love confession written on it? The dream is also wild,' I mused.
"Shu."
He put on an expressionless face and lifted me up with both hands. I was tense and crossed my tiny paws in an 'X' shape. No violence! Please treat your beloved companion with care!
His face drew closer and closer...
A soft kiss landed on my side.
[(―3―)!]
"...."
Kyle smiled at me and said,
"Yes, I like it too."
'…Did you understand correctly? I don't think you understood? Translated... Right?'
―Taken! (Hey! Stop kissing!)
"Yes, yes. I know everything in your heart."
―Squish! (You don't know anything!)
"I always like you the best."
―Hmph! (Aw!)
'Stupid! Stupid! You don't even understand!' I thought as I was showered with kisses. '…Yes, I just need you to be happy.'