64: In a Sea of Black Fluff
My workload had increased dramatically.
In addition to my usual duties of reviewing regular reports, I was now dedicating my personal time to this new task.
It was a rather demanding work environment.
I sat behind a Barghest, burying my fingers in its thick, glossy black fur, gently combing through the tangles.
I nuzzled its soft fur, the ticklish sensation bringing a smile to my face.
This is truly a black company.
Liz, who was ostensibly monitoring the Barghests, spoke.
“Master, how is it… progressing?”
“Extremely smoothly!”
“…Right. That’s good to hear.”
My face, diligently and sincerely serving the nation, fell into shadow as Rebecca’s voice drifted over.
“…I’ve read the reports… but may I ask what you’re doing?”
—I sat up, interrupting my important task of lying on the grass with a Barghest’s belly as my pillow, petting the wriggling pile of black dogs. The sea of black fluff stirred, the Barghests disentangling themselves and regrouping around me.
“I’m working! Hey, no licking while we’re talking.”
One of them licked my cheek. While I definitely felt the lick, the saliva seemed to vanish instantly, leaving behind a strange, refreshing sensation.
[Illustration (By Mitemin)]
While enjoyable, it was distracting, so I hugged the Barghest tightly, restraining it. It seemed to enjoy the attention, nuzzling its head against my shoulder, leaning into my embrace.
“…This is a Black Hound Barghest?”
“To me, it is.”
I carefully avoided its ears as I petted its head. After a thorough petting session, I released it, and another eagerly took its place.
I held out my hand, palm up, to the next Barghest, and it offered its paw. I grasped its paw, gently massaging its pads.
“Is this your method for taming Black Hound Barghests?”
“Honestly, I don’t know if it’s a repeatable ‘method.’ But even if it wasn’t, this is what I’d do.”
As I spoke, two more Barghests nudged against me, and I wrapped my arms around their necks.
“That’s… a lot of work.”
“Indeed. It seems like a rather enjoyable job…” Rebecca turned to leave.
“—Rebecca, come here.”
“…What?”
“‘These’ are the guardians of this mansion, my loyal beasts.”
“Ah, yes…” Rebecca nodded, seemingly intimidated by my sudden shift to the authoritative tone of the Lord of Disease.
“I believe it is essential for you to establish a friendly relationship with them.”
“Master, your talent for making up excuses is truly remarkable.”
Liz, unaffected by my serious tone, gave me a skeptical look.
“You’re making me blush.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Words change their meaning depending on the receiver.”
“I think you’re twisting the original meaning a bit too much.”
She had a point, so I ignored her. Instead of arguing, I beckoned her.
“Liz, come here, too.”
“…Very well. Come on, Rebecca.” Liz gestured for Rebecca to join us.
“Huh? What?” Liz, her eyes lifeless, explained the reality to a bewildered Rebecca.
“I don’t know what kind of work you did in the Undead Army… but here… this is also… a legitimate job…”
“Wha—hey! —Are you sure this is safe?!”
Rebecca, being smaller than me, was quickly swallowed by the sea of black fluff as the Barghests swarmed her.
Ignoring her panicked cries, I calmly analyzed the situation, concluding that her all-black outfit probably made her blend in with the Barghests’ fur.
The writhing mass of black fluff reminded me of Japanese honeybees using their ‘heat-balling’ tactic against hornets.
“Don’t worry, I’ll guarantee your safety with my life. But you guys, be gentle. Actually, a few of you come over here.”
Rebecca seemed to be quite popular with the newcomers.
I felt a pang of jealousy, but when I called them, more than half came over to me.
Delighted, I showered them with affection.
Liz had also become quite adept at handling them.
It had been a while since she’d hesitantly touched them, remembering her encounter with a pack of Barghests—creatures so feared that they were said to be harbingers of death.
Now, she knelt gracefully on the lawn, scratching two of them under their chins. A truly heartwarming sight.
“D-don’t lick… and don’t bite! Don’t you dare bite!”
Rebecca would get used to them eventually. Though right now, she was being swarmed, nearly swallowed by their large mouths, her small hands being licked by their tongues.
While I’d guaranteed her safety with my life, and I did believe they were safe, it still looked like they were… taste-testing her, which was a little concerning.
Two Barghests were with Liz, three with Rebecca, and six with me, all of us enjoying the petting session.
If their numbers increased to twenty, or more… this could get busy.
One of them gently tugged on my hood, and I leaned back, resting against its neck. I reached out and grabbed the others as they approached, hugging them, sinking into the sea of black fluff.
“…Their method of bonding with Master is… unusual.”
“You think so, too? I’m not the only one who thinks it’s strange.”
I was the Lord of Disease. A supreme commander, utterly devoted to the nation.
I could confidently say I’d worked tirelessly for the nation today.
—It had been a very enjoyable job, playing with over ten large dogs alongside two cute girls.
