Weekend Homecoming
Ever since word spread that the young lady would be arriving soon, the mansion buzzed with excitement.
Who could blame them?
The staff here had watched her grow up from a little girl—they were her loyal retainers through and through. No wonder everyone was thrilled at the prospect of her return.
As for me...
I'd just come from the treatment room and was now sprawled out in the garden, soaking up the sun like a plant in photosynthesis mode.
With the young lady due this weekend, I planned to take it easy for a few days. Plus, they'd promised to repair my tattered buff coat here at the mansion, so I had to stick around anyway.
Keng...
The only difference from usual? There was a fluffy white bundle perched on my stomach.
It refused to get off no matter what, so I'd given up trying. The maids told me Whitey played just fine on its own whenever I left for training or whatever. But the second I was around, it got all clingy and desperate to stick to me.
"Oh my~ Getting along so well with your little sibling."
Anyway.
Lying there like that drew the maids over in droves—unlike before. Turns out, Whitey's popularity was off the charts.
"Not sibling... Never mind."
But hearing everyone call it my "little sibling" had me throwing in the towel on that front too.
Fine, sibling it is.
Made me wonder what my biological brothers were up to these days. The ones who'd beaten me in that brutal breadwinner contest and avoided getting sold off.
Whatever they were doing—farming or whatever—they were probably scraping by just fine.
"Aww, so cute..."
"When did its eyes open?"
"Bet its teeth are coming in now too."
While I mulled that over, the maids had already swarmed Whitey, chattering away.
"Not long ago."
Whitey had finally opened its eyes just recently. Now it could tell front from back pretty well, at least. Though it still insisted on climbing all over me.
Speaking of which, it was about time to get up.
I had some quick business to handle, so I grabbed Whitey by the scruff and set it down on the ground.
Keeng...
"Oh my goodness."
"So adorable..."
I brushed off my stomach amid the maids' fussing. The little guy kept crawling back up, dirtying my clothes.
"Watch Whitey for me, will you?"
"Huh? Where are you going?"
"Just out for a bit."
Time to swing by the mercenary guild. I'd come down from the mountains alone last time, so I needed to touch base with Jeban.
"You know the young lady's coming this weekend, right?"
"Don't worry. I'll be back quick."
Still a few days left, after all. No plans for a long trip anyway.
And so.
"Before you go! Let us brush you up a bit."
"...Brush?"
"Uh, um? Oh, I mean, we'll fix your hair."
After letting the maids give me a quick primp, I headed out of the mansion.
"Phew..."
With Whitey left behind, I strolled the streets feeling light as air.
Come to think of it, I might need to take Whitey for walks later. Wolves were canines too—probably needed them to blow off steam like dogs.
Wonder if walking a wolf through the streets was okay... But in the north, pet wolves were trendy anyway, so no issue. Besides, Whitey looked just like a puppy until it grew more.
Anyway.
I soon pushed open the door to the mercenary guild.
The place was packed as ever with mercenaries, same as always. I ignored the stares that swarmed me on entry and made for the tavern area.
I'd timed it for when Jeban was likely around. Hope he was here—if not, I'd have to leave word with the staff.
"Haa..."
Deep in the tavern, there he was: Jeban, sighing heavily amid his subordinates.
Lucky break. Saved me another trip.
"Why the endless sighing?"
I approached and said as much.
"Who—oh, uh."
He turned, startled, and shot to his feet. The surrounding mercenaries were bandaged up too—the last fight must've been brutal.
Made sense. That many giant wolves? Bound to leave wounds big and small.
"A-are you all right?"
"Me? Fine as ever."
I'd taken a beating myself back then. But treatment was done, bandages off—I looked perfectly hale now.
"Th-that's a relief."
"Not disappointed?"
"N-no, not at all!"
He recoiled in horror at my teasing. Looked like he really hadn't hoped otherwise.
"Our boss was awfully worried about you, Cain."
"Hm? Yeah, I bet."
Of course. He needed me alive to finish teaching him Fleet. From his desperate standpoint, he'd probably prayed I survived.
"I'll wrap up that Fleet lesson next mission."
"Next mission meaning..."
"Grab one after this weekend."
Injuries healed, Whitey with eyes open—I was ready for work again. Time to stockpile materials, pocket some coin on the side.
Fighting in the buff coat last time convinced me: hoard cash, upgrade gear. High-altitude monsters made for solid training too.
Training at the mansion without Deron or Caiden? Zero progress.
The guard captain was an Aura user, sure, but his style was tricky. And as head of security, he had no interest in sparring me anyway.
"Next mission... Understood."
"And nothing as insane as last time."
"Th-that wasn't my intention either..."
What kind of rating was that? Would've wiped out most mercenary bands.
Whatever.
"Alright, I'm off."
Business done, I turned to leave. But—
"Uh, wait a sec..."
Jeban stopped me.
"What?"
"W-well, truth is, some of my men got hurt this time."
"Yeah? Badly?"
"Yes... A few are still laid up in treatment."
Now that he mentioned it, their numbers were down. The giant wolf clash must've hit harder than I'd thought.
"Hmm."
Shrinking manpower was a problem.
Gold-rank adventurers weren't exactly common. Part of why I could boss Jeban around was his position as their leader.
"Here—use this for medical bills."
I pulled a handful of silver coins from my pouch and handed them over. I'd scored plenty at Gareth's Smithy last time; this was a worthwhile investment.
"Oh, no, I didn't mean it like that..."
"Then what?"
He pocketed them politely anyway.
...Mercenaries gonna mercenary. Never missed a chance at coin.
"W-we're planning to recruit some newbies."
"Filling the gaps?"
"Yes. We'd been meaning to expand anyway—now we'll plug holes till the wounded recover."
"Got it. But you don't need to report that to me."
Did he think I was the real boss? None of my business.
Though a bigger crew would make my life easier.
"Thought you'd want to know..."
"Fine, noted."
I was holding Fleet over his head to run the band, but I had no urge to micromanage. What could I do better than Jeban himself?
"Handle that stuff on your own from now on. I'm really going."
"Y-yes... Safe travels."
Business wrapped, no other errands—I headed straight back to the mansion that day.
A few days later.
Weekend rolled around before I knew it.
"Puppy!!"
The young lady—finally back after so long—came dashing over in her magic school uniform, ponytail whipping behind her.
"Young lady, it's been a while."
"I missed you!"
She barreled straight into me. Bigger now, but I caught her effortlessly.
"You been good?"
She reached up and petted my head nonstop, so I obligingly lowered it.
"How's school?"
"Eh, no big issues!"
...Her tone said otherwise.
I checked her expression. Bullying? Nah, unlikely.
Who'd dare mess with the Boyd heiress? If anything, she was probably the one overwhelmed by stares.
"Puppy looks the same as ever!"
After kneading my head and face to her heart's content, she turned to the doghouse.
"This place looks great too... Huh?"
Then she spotted the smaller kennel attached beside it.
"What's this? New room?"
"Well..."
Showtime.
Time to introduce her to Whitey.
"Um... See."
"The young lady has a new family member."
While I fumbled for words, Rowell stepped in smoothly and headed for the kennel.
"New family?"
"Yes. Puppy here brought it home on his own."
And then...
Keeng...
He lifted out Whitey, who was sleeping soundly inside.
"Wh-what?!"
The young lady gawked, whipping her eyes to me.
"You... had puppies?!"
...Puppies. That wording hit hard.
Did she really see me as a dog?
"...No."
"Kidding! Just messing with you."
She grinned mischievously, confirming it was a joke.
"So you picked it up?"
"Yeah, that's right."
She pondered that, eyes rolling as if weighing options.
Then...
"So it's the little sibling?"
She nailed the mansion staff's exact conclusion. Spot on.
...Scary. How'd she zero in on "sibling" like that?
The young lady's thought process was something else.
"Yes... the little sibling."
"Gotta take good care of it, Puppy!"
And just like that.
With the young lady's return, the mansion brimmed with life once more.