IBTBD 16

Chapter 16

The sun had risen, but my mood was still gloomy.

‘Hey, hey, don’t just fly off, come here for a second, will you?’

It had already been hours.

Even though I screeched kyaek-kyaek toward the window, nothing came of it.

I grew tired of my own antics and plopped down on the spot.

Maybe the creatures of Black Dragon Castle are arrogant regardless of species.

Otherwise, there’s no way sparrows, pigeons, and the like would just ignore me and fly away without a glance.

Especially that last white-tailed eagle…!

Not only did it make eye contact with me, but it even smacked its beak as if savoring the thought.

Yet the next moment, it bolted in terror as if it had seen something unspeakable.

‘Anyway, anything with wings is hopelessly self-centered!’

My underling, Jjorongi, was the same.

If something went the slightest bit wrong, he’d jab at me with his beak.

Clicking my tongue, I looked at the window smeared with paw prints and let out a sigh deep enough to sink the ground.

“Chuchu…”

The reason was simple—I hadn’t been able to send word to Mount Brown Bear for several days now.

My subordinates were surely combing the entire mountain in worry.

I couldn’t send a letter in squirrel form, so I had planned to use a carrier pigeon.

But these damned birds—not one of them let me catch them.

‘Could it be they didn’t hear me through the window?’

I shook my head firmly.

I couldn’t explain it precisely, but our communication wasn’t sound-based.

It was more like telepathic signals.

So my conclusion was only one:

‘This is definitely…’

Those guys’ fault.

I glared sharply over my shoulder.

“Why is it doing that?”

“Not sure. According to Ria, it’s been at it since morning.”

It was Kœnig and Gerard, sitting on the sofa watching me.

They’d found my window-tapping suspicious, and instead of returning to the office, they planted themselves here.

Now they were even analyzing my behavior.

“Perhaps it’s hunting practice? I’ve heard cats imitate prey sounds while hunting.”

“Do squirrels hunt like that too?” Kœnig asked curiously.

“Well, the Thief is no ordinary squirrel.”

“That’s true.”

“I don’t know why you sound so proud, my lord… Ah, look! Even now it’s glaring at me like I’m a snake in autumn.”

Gerard squinted dramatically and mimed hiding.

‘Should I just bite that cursed snake’s tail?’

I thought about it for a moment but shook my head weakly.

I didn’t have the energy.

Resigned, I hopped down from the window to the table where snacks awaited.

The fruits looked mouthwatering, but the company was less than pleasant.

“Splendid. Very fitting for the only furry creature in Kreuz.”

“Clap, clap, clap! Such a brave hunter. In that spirit, should we serve bird meat tomorrow?”

“Excellent idea.”

Kœnig and Gerard rose to applaud.

Seriously, why are they still here?

“Chuchut!”

Didn’t you say you had a mountain of work?!

Go! Leave me alone!

I’d overheard that with Kœnig’s absences and the Baron Viscounty case piled on top, even sleepless nights for several days wouldn’t be enough.

So hurry and get to work!

When I tapped the papers on the table chop-chop, Gerard’s eyebrow twitched violently.

“Are you scolding us? Strictly speaking, this is all because of you, Thief!”

“Chu, chuut…?”

What?!

What kind of nonsense was this?

Startled, I jumped back as Gerard leapt to his feet.

Buttoning his jacket, adjusting himself like a lawyer about to argue in court, he declared:

“Because of you, my lord drops by his bedroom whenever he has a free moment! Thanks to that, his work is not only delayed, it’s practically impossible!”

He spoke each word with the force of deep-breathing exercises—clearly he’d been bottling this up.

“Look even now! He said he’d return right after lunch, but it’s already been two hours!”

His slit eyes flared toward Kœnig.

The moment they met those golden irises, though, he quickly retreated back into place.

“I only judged it faster to move documents than to move my lord.”

And he wasn’t lying.

After lunch, Gerard had said, “It’s time to return.”

But Kœnig ignored him, so Gerard ordered servants to bring the paperwork here.

So how was this my fault?

If anyone was to blame, it was the leisurely Kœnig.

See? Even now he was stealthily reaching for my tail.

“Chuut!”

I spun around to hide it, and one of his brows arched upward.

Even his lips curled with a sly smirk—his face looked dangerously suspicious.

Why did this feel so ominous?

The fur on my crown prickled with a bad premonition.

“There’s truth in what he says,” Kœnig finally spoke.

‘Wh-what truth?’

“I can’t focus on work because you keep distracting me.”

…What was that supposed to mean?

I blinked dumbly, and his handsome face leaned so close our noses nearly touched.

Too dangerously good-looking.

Without meaning to, I gasped.

My cheeks burned hot.

But then—

“It’s unreasonable for the entire castle to work while you laze around.”

Kœnig pressed a finger against my head.

So basically, he was jealous that I did nothing but eat and play, which was why he kept coming to the bedroom?

“Chuut…”

I scrambled for an excuse but found none.

Honestly, I had slept in this morning until the sun lit half the bed.

And then I ate the nuts Ria brought.

“…Ahem, that’s exactly what I was saying.”

Gerard, looking just as sour, jumped in immediately.

The man had no backbone whatsoever.

And of course, the sycophant of Black Dragon Castle didn’t stop there—he even suggested a “solution.”

“Therefore, why not have the Thief accompany you to work from now on?”

“…Gerard.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You never fail to surprise me at least once a year.”

In other words, he loved the idea.

“Ha-ha! I’ll be sure to meet your expectations again next year.”

“Chuuuuu―!!”

No! I like living the unemployed life!

But not a single beastman cared for my opinion.

The very first day I became the continent’s only squirrel to go to work.

In the Duke’s office, the only sound was a thoughtful “Hmmm.”

It was because of Gerard’s suggestion that a new name was needed—they couldn’t keep calling me “Thief” forever.

For once he was useful, but the results were disastrous.

“Since you always say ‘Chu,’ how about calling you ‘Chu’?”

He kept listing names so silly that even my half-sister Rania’s hamster wouldn’t have been saddled with them.

‘Ugh, awful.’

Unable to bear it, I slashed an X in the air with my paws.

I had a pretty name, Muriel, given by my father—not that I liked or respected him.

“Chuuu, chuuu―”

I tried desperately to convey my name, but all that came out was that cursed “Chu.”

“See? Even the Thief seems to like the name ‘Chu.’”

‘No, you stupid snake-brain!’

Frustrated, I socked Gerard’s hand with my tiny fist.

Then I shot Kœnig a pleading look—say something, please.

“He says no.”

Oh, heavens—he understood me.

Before I could even be surprised, Kœnig gave Gerard a cold glare.

“Just because you spout nonsense doesn’t mean people will start calling you Nonsense.”

“That’s harsh, my lord. Nonsense, really…” Gerard whimpered.

But Kœnig didn’t spare him a glance.

Instead, he leaned back and gazed at me intently.

With his raised chin and half-lowered golden eyes, he radiated arrogance.

Not that he meant to—

But to someone only a handspan tall like me, that’s how it felt.

‘Why’s he looking so serious, anyway?’

His piercing stare made me roll my eyes nervously—

“Cherry. Cherry suits you.”

Kœnig finally spoke.

His gaze rested on me.

As if asking, Don’t you like it too?

Ch-cherry…?

“Chuuuuut―!”

I hate it!!