Bark for Me (2)
With Mirae in tow, I walked down the corridor and opened the door to my private room. As the electronic chime of the door lock releasing sounded and the door swung open, my lovely dressing room revealed itself along with the subtle scent of a diffuser.
"Wow..." A small gasp escaped from behind me.
Heh... Of course she'd react that way~
It was on a completely different level from the dreary public locker rooms lined with plain metal lockers that the other team members used. A wardrobe filling an entire wall, a vanity bathed in soft lighting, plus a plush sofa and a full-length mirror. It was a dressing room and resting place created solely for me.
"How is it? Not bad, right?"
"It's more than just usable, isn't it? This place is... like a hotel!"
My lips curled up slightly at the praise coming from the kid. As expected, she has an eye for these things~ Our little chick.
I slipped off my heels and placed them in the shoe cabinet, then pointed to an empty space in one corner of the room.
"You can use that empty wardrobe and chest of drawers over there for now."
"Huh? Th-that space?"
"Yeah. Originally it's just for me, but there's plenty of room, so we can share."
At my suggestion, Mirae stared at me with an expression of disbelief.
"Really? Is that okay? This is your private room, Senior..."
"It's my private room, so it's my call. Besides, even if you went to the 1st Team's waiting room, you wouldn't be able to use it anyway."
"What? Why not?"
When the kid tilted her head in confusion, I sat down on the sofa to take off my stockings and answered nonchalantly.
"The 1st Team is reserved for demi-humans. A pure 100% human like you would find it unbearable."
"Unbearable... Are the facilities bad?"
"No, the facilities are fine. The problem is that everything is customized for demi-humans."
I twirled my finger as if telling her to imagine it.
"Every chair has a hole for tails. Plus, some of them have sensitive noses, so they hate the smell of fabric softeners or cosmetics with fragrance."
"Ah..."
"And you know how they are. With those ears, their hearing and sense of smell are on par with dogs or cats. If a human like you who smells all sweet and fragrant walks in, you'll see them walking around pinching their noses and saying it stinks, or flattening their ears because it's too loud."
"Th-that would be awkward..."
"Right? Their senses are so sharp that it's exhausting for dull humans like us to live with them."
Only then did Mirae nod, seemingly convinced. Half of it was true, half was a lie. It was true that the 1st Team kids were a bit sensitive, but they didn't reject humans outright. If anything, a cute human girl like Mirae might have been welcomed with wagging tails. But there was no need to tell her that. Not if I wanted to keep this adorable little chick in my room for a long time.
"So stop complaining and just use this place. My room has perfect soundproofing and is built to human standards."
I shrugged off my stuffy jacket and peeled off the pantyhose that had been squeezing my legs, adding in a voice full of relief.
"It's more comfortable since we're both girls, right? And you get some eye candy too."
"Huh? Eye candy?"
"Never mind, just look around my wardrobe. There are lots of pretty things."
I quickly changed the subject and winked at her. Mirae clasped her hands together like a devout churchgoer and exclaimed with a moved expression.
"Thank you! I'll keep it really clean! You're an angel, Senior!"
I wonder if she'll still say that after experiencing my healing.
I picked up a comfortable tracksuit and headed into the changing area inside.
Sharing a room with a puppy-like junior... It's not bad at all.
Was this what it felt like to keep a pet? I had a feeling my commute to work was going to be a little more enjoyable from now on.
After changing into the tracksuit and coming out, our puppy girl was sitting obediently on the sofa like a dog that had been told to stay, curiously looking around the room with bright eyes. It was so cute that I wanted to watch her a little longer, but unfortunately I didn't have that luxury. There were still mountains of places to show this little chick and things to take care of.
"Alright~ Now that we've changed, shall we go meet the 1st Team people?"
"Yes! Sounds good!"
The kid sprang to her feet and answered brightly, as if she'd been waiting for this. Was she really that excited? Normally, wouldn't meeting colleagues for the first time make you nervous first?
"Uh... Are you really that happy? Not scared or nervous?"
"Nope! They're my colleagues! I can't wait to meet them!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the kid's sparkling-eyed reply.
"You... Are you a beastkin or something?"
"Huh? I'm human like you, Senior? No tail, no ears?"
The kid smacked her own butt with a wronged expression.
"Hahaha... No, you were so energetic I thought you were a dog beastkin. It was a compliment."
"Oh, really? Thank you!"
She took that as a compliment... This kid was really something else.
Should I call her a saint-type healer character you'd see in fantasy games or comics?
Bright, kind, energetic, and with a cute face smiling while saying "I'll heal you~", it felt like the pain and fatigue of wounds would melt away like candy. Of course... the healer in the rescue team is Charon, who smacks people on the head to drag them back to the land of the living.
Anyway, I wonder what kind of faces the 1st Team kids will make? They'll probably perk up their ears and wag their tails happily at the sight of a fresh new medic recruit, but once they realize the team leader standing behind her is Big Mama?
Their tails would probably tuck right between their legs, or their fur would stand on end in terror.
"Hehehe..."
Just imagining it put a slightly wicked smile on my lips, and Mirae, who was beside me, smiled brightly back without understanding why.
"Alright~ The 1st Team's area is downstairs, so why don't you take the lead this time, Mirae?"
"Yes! It would be an honor! I don't know the way, but I'm confident!"
"Good, good. If you just follow behind me, you won't memorize the route, so I'll guide you from the back."
"Yes~ Understood."
Truthfully, I was putting her in front as a meat shield... no, as the vanguard, so I could surprise the 1st Team members. Or rather, so I could see their dumbstruck faces. Our innocent little chick walked ahead energetically, swinging her arms, completely unaware of my dark intentions.
We're passing through my private room... no, I should rename it the human female members' lounge now.
Anyway, after leaving that sanctuary, we got on the elevator.
"It's the 4th floor."
"Yep!"
Mirae pressed the button cheerfully, and the elevator glided smoothly downward.
Ding.
With a clear arrival chime, the doors slid open to both sides. The moment I stepped into the 1st Team's area, the sight that unfolded before my eyes was truly a miniature version of a fantasy world.
"This is it... This is the one."
As expected from a place where various races gathered, the people walking through the corridor each had their own unique accessories on their heads. Fluffy fox ears bouncing as an employee hurried by with a stack of documents. Soft, twitching cat ears on an employee yawning and stretching in front of the vending machine. Even the ears of the employee sitting with legs crossed on the lobby sofa sparkled in a translucent fin shape, as if an mermaid had briefly taken human form.
"Is this place... paradise?"
The words of admiration slipped out unconsciously. Beastkin with fluffy fur that looked like you'd fall asleep the moment you hugged them were nice, but these demi-humans with only ears and tails attached were even better, like they'd jumped straight out of a comic book.
Hehe~ Work environment~ 200 out of 100 points~
I smiled contentedly and asked Mirae, who was walking ahead.
"Mirae, you said you were used to demi-humans, right?"
"Yes! I grew up in a neighborhood with lots of demi-humans~ All my friends were beastkin too!"
"Really? Then you'll adapt to the atmosphere here quickly~"
"Hehe~ I hope so. Everyone looks so nice!"
Mirae walked confidently down the corridor with a big smile. In her eyes, this world was a flower garden right now, and I, walking behind her, was the kindest and most capable senior in the world.
But then.
"Huh...?"
"Th-that person..."
The demi-human employees passing through the corridor had been looking at the unfamiliar new recruit with curious eyes, but the moment they spotted me walking gracefully behind her, their expressions changed from curiosity to shock. Fox ears flattened, cat tails puffed up as if about to explode, and mermaid ears began to tremble. The employees who recognized me broke out in cold sweats and slowly, no, hurriedly stepped aside toward the wall, parting like the Red Sea.
"Ah, hello! You can go ahead..."
Mirae greeted them brightly, not understanding why they were making way, but their gazes were fixed on me with the eyes of herbivorous animals paralyzed with fear.
Oh my, why are you all ruining the mood?
My cute junior had just praised them for looking nice, but if they made such terrified faces, what did that make me look like? Without letting Mirae notice, I made eye contact with each employee pressed against the wall and smiled very kindly.
Smile.
Maybe my desperate wish got through. The terrified employees hurriedly pulled up the corners of their mouths and forced smiles.
"H-ha... Welcome..."
"G-good... morning..."
Only then did I nod in satisfaction.
That's right~ We're the Mobile Rescue Team, like one big harmonious family~
"Senior! These people are so polite! They're all standing against the wall to greet us!"
"I know~ They're all such kind people. Hehe~"
I enjoyed the chilly stares from behind me and followed behind Mirae while humming a tune.