ch41-ch60 · 047-ch46

Chapter 46: The Surprisingly Handy Plushie

"Ai!"

The next morning, as I'm about to head to school, Papa—wearing an apron—calls out to stop me.

"What's up, Papa? I already packed my bento, you know."

"Do you always think I'm calling you about food?"

Well, I mean... not always.

And besides, if I forget anything else, I can manage somehow.

"It's not about something you forgot... but take this with you."

Papa holds out a fabric drawstring backpack with cute puppy embroidery. Apparently, his generation calls these "nap sacks."

"Did we always have something like this?"

"I stayed up all night making it!"

Poking its face out from the opening of the drawstring bag is the familiar fluffy Melkid.

"Huh, you can actually sew with those paws? How does that even work?"

"Heh heh heh, that is top secret. However, if you simply must know, for you, young miss, I would make a special exception..."

"Ah, I'm good, thanks."

Melkid droops, looking dejected at being rejected.

I feel a little bad for him, so maybe I'll ask when I have free time.

But why is Papa bringing Melkid to school?

"That is of course, to serve as your bodyguard..."

"Melkid can detect when people from Ceylo are approaching. He's basically an alarm."

"Hauu!"

Treated like an alarm system, Melkid hangs his head in disappointment again.

I mean, come on—you yourself said you have zero combat ability in that form. The nerve to call yourself a bodyguard.

"...Papa, do you think people from Ceylo have already arrived too?"

"Well, just to be safe. Besides, Melkid knows a lot about the knights from over there, so having him close by should be helpful."

Papa acts cheerful, but something about him feels different from usual. I can tell he's really, really worried about me.

...Well, I mean, I was kidnapped once already. Having extra luggage is a pain, but I should probably just do what he says this time.

"Melkid, at school, you absolutely cannot move or talk! You understand?"

"Understood!"

"...Also, before PE when we're changing, I'm putting you out in the hallway!"

"U-Understood!"

...Why do you look so frustrated, scrunching up your brow like that? You really never learn, do you?

　　―　◆　―

"...And that's the situation. Melkid is in here."

"Ooh~, Meru-meru can embroider~? That's amaaazing."

Sumi looks impressed and pokes the embroidered puppy on the nap sack hanging from my desk. That's what you're focusing on?

Also, person inside the bag, please stop twitching happily.

"As expected, Ai-Papa is on alert too."

Kiri nods with a satisfied expression, pleased that her prediction was correct.

"He said it was just to be safe... but I think Papa believes they've already come from over there."

"Then then, does that mean I get to see Ai-Papa transform this time too~?"

Sumi-san, is it really okay to be that excited?

Personally, I don't really want Papa to fight if he can help it.

"I get why you're worried, Ai, but last time he transformed, he won easily, so shouldn't it be fine this time too?"

"Hmm, but Melkid was just a low-ranking guy, so maybe not."

If stronger knights come, even the transformed Black Knight might be in danger.

Ah, and person in the bag, don't move even if you have complaints.

"Oh, should I tell Yamanai-kun too? To be careful, I mean."

"Ehh, do we really have to~?"

Sumi doesn't seem very enthusiastic about it, but Yamanai-kun is also involved... or rather, he was a victim too, and as someone connected to us, he might be targeted again.

Just ignoring him and leaving him in the dark feels kinda... you know.

"What do you think, Kiri?"

"I think we should at least tell him. If he gets clumsily captured and becomes a hostage or something, he'd just be a burden to Ai-Papa."

Whoa, Kiri's pretty ruthless too.

But since both of them agreed on the warning, I'll pass the message along.