BTTD 17

Chapter 17

Judging by how my voice had already softened, I really was an easy beast.

“Do I need a reason to come see my own puppy?”

Valentin looked genuinely unable to understand, and I raised both hands in surrender.

When I nodded as if to say, Do whatever you want, he gently scratched the back of my neck.

I can’t resist this.

I naturally closed my eyes and focused on the sensation of his fingers.

“Nathan, aren’t you curious about the brave hunting hounds?”

My eyes snapped open at the unexpected topic.

“Re will close her eyes here. But since she was a loyal hound of Berenice, we plan to bury her at the ducal estate.”

The dogs that had been torn apart fighting Caleb received treatment as soon as they arrived at the administration office. Maiden couldn’t even attend the meeting because she was busy tending to them.

…Re is going to die.

It had only been a short time, but hearing that a life I had communicated with had faded made my mood sink.

As if to comfort me, Valentin slowly stroked the space between my neck and shoulder.

“Fortunately, the other dogs poisoned by toxins can be treated with healing magic and antidotes. They won’t fully recover, but they’ll be able to live out the rest of their lives without issue.”

I remembered the hunting dogs bravely fighting monsters in the forest.

They could be treated. Only then did I relax and let myself lean into Valentin’s touch. The warmth of human skin seeping through mine eased my gloom a little.

“One more thing.”

Worried it might be bad news, I quickly scanned his expression.

Instead, Valentin rubbed my cheek and pulled out a small tube of ointment and a bandage.

Before I knew what was happening, he grabbed my right hand. Following his gaze, I saw a cut, as if from something sharp.

When did I get hurt?

Only after seeing it did I feel the sting. It wasn’t deep and was already healing, so I scratched my head awkwardly.

“Is treatment really necessary?”

Embarrassed, I tried to pull my hand back, but Valentin held it firmly and applied the ointment himself.

When my tail had been grabbed before, it had sent indescribable sensations flooding through me. This time, a warm, subtle feeling rose from my palm instead.

It’s just treatment—why is it like this?

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. Then I looked down at Valentin, who seemed to radiate a holy aura like a wingless angel.

His lowered eyelashes, focused on my wound, fluttered like butterfly wings. I couldn’t help but stare.

Squish.

While I was admiring his face, firm yet gentle fingers pressed against the soft pad of my palm.

Huh?

Kneading, pressing, squishing.

Valentin’s long, straight fingers were now busy fiddling with the padded “jelly” of my bandaged palm.

His lips, sealed in a straight line in concentration, made him look serious… and oddly cute.

This man really has beautiful hands.

Long and straight like a pianist’s, neatly trimmed nails, blue veins rising faintly when he applied pressure—I swallowed without realizing it.

As if bewitched, I pressed my palm against his to compare sizes. A pleasant chuckle brushed my ear.

“Are you trying to flirt with me right now?”

Startled, I tried to pull my hand away, but Valentin intertwined our fingers instead.

Flirt? Since I’m a dog, would that make it dog-flirting?

It was strange how accustomed I’d become to the “Nathan Rafelia puppy theory.”

“Flirt? Watch your words…!”

“Embarrassed now that you’re saying it out loud?”

There was mischief in his voice, and I felt myself getting cornered.

I wanted to come up with a clever answer that would flatten his smug nose, but he gave me no chance. Instead, he brought our joined hands closer to himself.

“Letting your body move first—very beast-like. I like it.”

That terrifying mouth of his!

His fingers subtly poked and squished my palm again, scattering my thoughts. Did I put honey on my hand or something? Why was he so obsessed?

But that was nothing.

Valentin, gazing lazily at our clasped hands, lowered his head—

and buried his face in my palm.

“Are you crazy?!”

Afraid I might scratch his noble face, I couldn’t even push him away and just trembled instead.

Every time he let out a soft laugh, I could clearly feel the curve and warmth of his lips.

Not just his lips—his sharp, straight nose, the smooth texture of his flawless skin—all of it was vivid.

The more I tried to pull my hand away, the deeper he pressed his face into my palm.

“Something about the smell… it’s addictive.”

That snapped my melting mind back to attention.

Smell? Smell?!

Was he talking about that dog scent? Whatever it was, I couldn’t stay like this.

Just as I steeled myself to shove him away, Valentin quickly lifted his face.

Quick to catch on, huh.

He stared at my hand with lingering regret before finally letting me go, wearing an unnecessarily stern expression.

“Nathan, don’t wag your tail at just anyone.”

“Yes, yes.”

Like that’s something I can control.

I hid my hand behind my back and answered half-heartedly. Valentin chuckled lightly, stood up, and dragged George—who had been sprawled off to the side—out of the room.

At that rate, I was worried whether George’s body would remain intact.

Still, he is his knight. He’ll take care of him.

Now that the intruder was gone, I could finally rest.

But only for a moment.

Suddenly, I jumped up. I felt an overwhelming need to wash my hands.

The moment I entered the bathroom, I scrubbed them vigorously with lemon-scented soap. The bubbles foamed up softly—like Valentin’s skin…

“Argh!!”

I screamed loud enough to shake the bathroom, rubbing my hands even harder every time I remembered his smooth skin.

* * *

For a week, we patrolled the forest to check whether any monsters had descended near the village.

Caleb appeared from time to time, but having fought him once before, dealing with him wasn’t too difficult. Fortunately, there weren’t as many groups as before.

Thanks to that, Valentin never had to draw his sword.

“You handle Caleb quite easily now.”

I spoke to George, who was riding beside me. He bit his lip and nodded.

I now knew his stoic expression was rooted in shyness, so I no longer misunderstood it as hatred.

If he’s always sticking by my side, doesn’t that mean he wants to talk?

Coming to that reasonable conclusion, I glanced at the bump on George’s forehead.

It still protruded proudly. It would probably take quite a while to disappear.

The day after he drunkenly confessed and cried in my room, he’d appeared with that massive lump.

That must be from when Valentin threw him…

Remembering how George had teared up, mortified by his own behavior, I couldn’t help but smile.

Only after hearing “It’s fine” ten times did he calm down. Since then, he’d openly stayed close to me.

“Lately, I feel as though the Duke has been watching me. Is it because I embarrassed myself in front of Caleb?”

“…No. It’s probably because Sir George has been showing dazzling achievements. You’ve taken down Caleb alone before.”

“R-Really?”

To George, who worshipped Valentin, my words were like a lifeline pulling him from self-doubt.

Of course, I knew Valentin’s gaze wasn’t that of a lord simply observing his knight.

But I couldn’t tell him the truth, could I?

‘Actually, the reason Valentin watches you is because he’s worried I might gobble you up.’

…But was he really worried about that?

If so, Valentin wasn’t exactly normal either.

I had occasionally fantasized about seducing the entire knight order if Valentin didn’t work out—but I knew reality.

Brotherhood was one thing. But who could love a beast?

He worries in unexpected ways.

Ignoring the green gaze that always followed us when George and I were together, I kept boosting George’s morale.

That definitely wasn’t on purpose.

* * *

“They must not lose because they’re monsters too.”

“They say they wiped out every monster this week.”

The road back to the ducal estate from Shamanttra was bustling just like the first day I visited. But there was one difference—

It felt like dazzling lights were suddenly shining down on me.

Maybe my bewildered expression scared them, because they all shut their mouths at once—but the shouts of thanks from behind never stopped.

“They say you were always warmly welcomed after subjugations, but this time it’s especially intense. Perhaps it’s because of Sir Nathan’s charisma?”

Neumann leaned down from his horse to accept flowers from a child.

“Oh, it’s not that much.”

Sure, after the first day I got the hang of things and swung my fists diligently—but the entire knight order had worked hard to subdue Caleb and the other monsters.

Neumann didn’t seem convinced.

“I thought it was practically a massacre of monsters… But to you, it was nothing.”

Clapping as he called me the ultimate weapon, Neumann made me flustered—then Torso gave me a thumbs-up.

Behind his confident grin showing white teeth was playful mischief beyond his years.

Could it be Sir Torso?

The only one who could spread rumors about the patrols—unknown to civilians—was Torso, who resided in Shamanttra and led the defense unit.

Seeing his expression and gestures, I was certain he’d spread positive rumors about me.

Is he looking out for me because we’re in the same knight order?

Even in the form of a beast, I felt touched by the generous treatment.

With a faint smile, I cautiously raised my hand—and followed Torso’s lead, giving a thumbs-up.

Though it was slightly short to be called a proper thumb.

Torso and Neumann both inhaled sharply at the sight.

…Was that too much?

I quickly lowered my hand as if nothing had happened.

“It seems Sir Nathan has quite a cute side.”

Neumann’s crooked smile made it hard to read his intention.

Still, the goodwill in their gazes made me feel lighter. I didn’t even feel tired riding all day.

Completely unaware of what was about to happen next.