‘I think you’re a valuable talent!’

I thought he might be especially generous towards me, and I was right! Well, it’s natural since he personally scouted me.

I covered my twitching mouth with both hands on my cheeks. Alright, I’ll use this momentum to firmly establish myself within Aspeiran.

My motivation to work hard surged. First, I introduced the Sammemmeos to Aspeiran one by one.

“In order, these are Cutie, Tiny, and Awesome. Cutie is lively, Tiny is calm, and Awesome is curious. I’m sure all three will grow into excellent exploration partners.”

“Are they wearing harnesses? They look a bit different from what I’ve seen before.”

Aspeiran’s gaze was fixed on the dog harnesses, answering off-topic.

This was exactly the part I wanted to brag about. I explained excitedly.

“I changed the shape to make it comfortable for the children to wear. To make it sturdy and stable.”

When I checked, the harnesses used for sled dogs in Roakin seemed like they might hurt, made only of thin leather straps.

So I tried making something similar to the harness of my dog Bingsu from my previous life. Much more stable and comfortable than Roakin’s harnesses.

Aspeiran examined the Sammemmeos’ harnesses with an interested look and asked.

“Did you make these yourself?”

“I designed them, but the craftsmen in the artisan district helped with the production. They were all really kind.”

“…Kind? Those grumpy old men?”

Aspeiran said skeptically. I couldn’t understand at all and refuted.

“Grumpy? Not at all. They not only gladly accepted the request but also told me to come anytime if I needed help. They even showed me around their workshop personally.”

“They showed you around the workshop…?”

Aspeiran’s expression became even more peculiar. We exchanged glances full of questions.

As a small confusion swept between us, Cutie grabbed my clothes and whined. Having come out, it seemed frustrated just standing there blankly without going for a walk.

We finally entered the walking path.

I adjusted the leash and explained to Aspeiran.

“I always walk them here. About four times a day.”

“They walk well. They don’t even shy away from me.”

Ah, come to think of it, Aspeiran had only seen Sammemmeos that were hostile to humans or ones that only stuck to me until now.

I proudly straightened my shoulders.

“At first, they would stop and be wary when they saw other people, but as we kept walking and encountering people, they realized that those people wouldn’t harm them, so they don’t do that anymore. It’s amazing how fast they learn.”

But Aspeiran, upon hearing this proud story of our children, frowned and raised one eyebrow instead of praising the Sammemmeos.

“There shouldn’t be many using this walking path. Who are you encountering?”

“Well, the knights often use this path…”

Maybe because there’s a knights’ training ground near the research institute, I encountered at least two or three every time I went for a walk.

All the knights were full of manners, not approaching the Sammemmeos recklessly when we met, maintaining an appropriate distance while showering them with kind smiles and compliments.

The significant reduction in the Sammemmeos’ aversion to humans could be attributed entirely to the knights’ thoughtful kindness.

But despite my long and detailed explanation, the deep furrows between Aspeiran’s brows showed no sign of smoothing out. He muttered quietly.

“These guys have nothing better to do…”

‘Oh no.’

Could it be that he’s upset thinking the knights are just leisurely walking around instead of working?

I can’t let those kind people be scolded. Let’s change the subject, change the subject.

Luckily, there was a good topic right in front of me. I deliberately raised my voice and said.

“By the way, the kids have such a great appetite~ I’m worried that Roakin’s treasury might go bankrupt due to the food expenses for the moonlight wolf pups. Hahaha.”

It was quite a witty joke in my opinion, but Aspeiran replied seriously in a voice that sent chills down my spine.

“How absurd. Does Roakin’s treasury look that flimsy to you?”

…Scary.

I waved my hands frantically and rambled, not even knowing exactly what I was saying.

“Of, of course not! The fattest in the world! The sturdiest! Roakin’s treasury, the world’s best! Ah, Roakin. My homeland. My proud country.”

And just like that, my ‘homeland’ became Roakin.

If I were to start singing ‘Dokdo is Our Land’ right now, I’d become a terrible piece of trash who carelessly handed over the Republic of Korea’s precious territory to another country.

I slumped my shoulders. I had gone to all this trouble to get closer to As, but the atmosphere between us was just suffocatingly awkward.

It was then.

“…? What’s that?”

I squinted and stared ahead. A small gray lump was wriggling in the distance.

Kindly, Aspeiran provided the answer.

“It’s a white-crested squirrel.”

“A white-crested squirrel?”

As we got a bit closer, the full appearance of the gray lump came into view.

Indeed, as Aspeiran had said, the gray squirrel had a white cock’s comb-like thing on its head.

What an extremely literal name. I clapped my hands and giggled.

“It really looks exactly like its name. How cute…”

At that moment, the white-crested squirrel turned tail and ran away.

At this point, I had overlooked three facts.

First, that the Sammemmeos would be just as interested in the squirrel as I was.

Second, that the sight of the fleeing squirrel would further stimulate the Sammemmeos.

Third, that I was currently holding all the Sammemmeos’ leashes by myself.

I was certainly careless today. And that carelessness led to disaster.

As the squirrel fled, the Sammemmeos lunged forward.

No matter how strong I am, there was no way I could overcome the combined strength of three puppies suddenly darting forward while I was off guard.

Thus, I was naturally flung forward and ended up face-planting on the ground.

“Shuria!”

Aspeiran helped me up. The Sammemmeos also hurriedly came back to me, whining.

I couldn’t even say I was fine, just staring blankly into space with blurry eyes.

‘…I’ve fallen twice in front of As now.’

Somewhere, I could hear the sound of my desired image of a dependable retainer flying far, far away.

“I let my guard down.”

“…”

“Of course, I should have been focusing on the puppies while walking. I got distracted for a moment by the interestingly shaped squirrel.”

“…”

“But I did learn a lesson from this. I’m planning to modify the leash position in case a situation like today where it’s difficult to control the kids happens again.”

“…”

“I’ll make a loop in front of my chest and connect the leashes there. That way, I can somewhat prevent the kids’ sudden dashes.”

“…”

“Yes. So, since I really messed up, my lord.”

I closed my mouth after chattering away and shed a small tear. Then I wailed loudly.

“Can’t you please consider my human rights?!!”

My name is Shuria. 22 years old. A possessor.

Right now, I was floating above my favorite person’s head like a balloon sold at an amusement park.

Moreover, I was fixed in a straight lying position, like at attention. It felt like I had become a mummy-shaped balloon.

The culprit who had put me in this state finally turned around at my sorrowful wail that shook the air. Aspeiran said indifferently.

“What human rights are you asking me to consider?”

“Right now, right now everyone passing by is staring only at me! I have shame and face too, you know!”

Squawking and complaining, I quickly added, worried that Aspeiran might get upset.

“Of course, the fact that you personally deigned to move this lowly one is an honor beyond words, my lord. It’s the greatest honor of my life, I’m truly moved.”

Aspeiran tilted his head to the side. Then he lowered me, who had been floating above his head, to about his waist level.

Aspeiran’s face, looking down at me, clearly showed that he didn’t understand my embarrassment at all.

He asked.

“You don’t like people staring?”

“Not right now, no.”

If you experienced those shocked gazes from people even once, you’d understand how I feel.

As I grumbled softly, Aspeiran folded his arms as if there was no other choice.

“Then, should I chase away all the people?”

“No, that would be too much of an inconvenience… Ugh, can’t you just move me in a normal way?”

“I told you this is the best method. Since we don’t know exactly where or how you’re hurt. Didn’t you agree it was good?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

I couldn’t continue speaking and just chewed on the inside of my cheek.

After my entire body was violently thrown to the ground, Aspeiran said we should go for an examination right away in case I was seriously injured.

I agreed and tried to get up, but Aspeiran stopped me. Then he suggested moving me in the safest way possible in case something was broken and moving carelessly might make it worse.

I accepted his kindness without much thought. But I didn’t know that the ‘safest way’ would be a mummy balloon. If I had known, I would have flat-out refused and laid on the ground.

I flailed like a freshly caught fish to get Aspeiran’s attention and pleaded.

“Then, can’t you use teleportation magic like before?”

We hadn’t been in this state from the beginning. Just a while ago, we had teleported from the walking path to near Kronen Palace in one go.

But as soon as Kronen Palace came into view, Aspeiran lifted me into the air and started walking. I have no idea why he suddenly chose this troublesome method.

Aspeiran glanced at me and changed my posture. This time, it was a pose of comfortably sitting leaning against something. It’s a bit less embarrassing than lying down.

As I giggled in satisfaction, Aspeiran answered my previous question.

“Within a 50m radius of Kronen Palace, no one except the current monarch can use teleportation magic. Even the monarch can only move themselves alone.”

“I guess there’s some kind of barrier?”

“Something similar. The founder of the Roakin family, Nix Roakin, engraved a formula in Kronen Palace that automatically disrupts teleportation magic for the safety of the family members.”

Aspeiran’s gaze turned towards the direction of the walls surrounding Veloi Castle in the distance.

“Not only that, but it’s also impossible to enter Veloi Castle from the outside using spatial teleportation magic.”

“If it’s a magic formula engraved by the founder, this castle must have a very long history.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s amazing that such an old magic formula is still intact. Has no one been able to break the formula until now?”

“That’s right. Nix Roakin was a transcendent being.”

“A transcendent being?”

As we conversed, we had already arrived in front of Rumel’s examination room inside Kronen Palace.

It’s been two weeks since I last met Rumel. The last time was when I came to apologize about the cloak I ruined after getting hired as a monster caretaker.

Before opening the door, Aspeiran briefly answered my question.

“It literally means someone who has transcended human abilities and become closer to an absolute existence. It’s like a legendary story. Hey, Rumel!”

Aspeiran suddenly opened the examination room door and shouted.

Rumel, who had been sitting at his desk scribbling something with mountains of books piled around him, jumped up with a start, his shoulders twitching.