I Was Reincarnated as the Villainous Knight Commander Who Betrays Everyone at the End, So I Plan to Leave the Fake Hero’s Party with the Exiled Girl Who’s Actually the True Hero! ~While Watching Over the Protagonist Up Close, I Somehow Ended Up Destroying the Whole Scenario~ - 3

Chapter 3: The Villainous Knight Commander Gains a Fluffy Companion

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『I, a Mere Errand Girl, Was Kicked Out of the Hero’s Party but I Was Actually the True Hero~ It’s Too Late to Ask Me Back Now~I’m Going to Enjoy a Fluffy, Slow Life!!』

As you could guess from the title, besides the protagonist Ciel, there was another main character in this story. Yes, the “fluffy” one. Left behind in the Red Dragon’s Forest and feeling lonely, it was then that the fluffy one appeared before Ciel.

That fluffy one emerged from the bushes.

“Grrrrrrrr…”

“A Greater Wolf!?”

A Greater Wolf. As the name suggested, it was a wolf-type monster standing as tall as an adult man. It inhabited the Red Dragon’s Forest and was a troublesome opponent because it hunted in packs.

However, this time was different. Other than the Greater Wolf that appeared from the bushes, there was no sign of other wolves.

“…Are you hurt?”

“So it seems.”

The Greater Wolf was injured. Its pure white fur, which should have been fluffy, was slashed with wounds that looked like they were caused by sharp claws, and some blood was dripping from the wound. And though it was hard to see because of the fur, it looked terribly thin and frail.

“…Wait a moment, okay?”

Saying that, Ciel pulled a small bottle out of the little backpack slung over her shoulder.

It was a potion.

“Greater Wolf-san, if you don’t mind, please drink this?”

“Grrrrrrrr…”

“It’s okay, it’s not poison. See? It’s safe.”

Opening the lid, Ciel stuck out her tongue and licked the contents of the bottle.

Oh no, how cute.

The Greater Wolf, apparently understanding that the potion wasn’t poisonous, picked up the bottle Ciel placed on the ground in its mouth and skillfully gulped down the contents. Then, the wounds on the Greater Wolf’s body began to heal gradually.

“Woof, woof!!”

“Eek? What is it!?”

The now fully recovered Greater Wolf suddenly leaped onto Ciel. If someone unaware of the situation saw this, they’d probably think, “Is it going to repay kindness with betrayal!?”

But I knew what that action meant. The Greater Wolf began licking Ciel’s face all over.

“Looks like he’s getting attached to you.”

“P-please help me, Lars-san!! He’s heavy!! I’m going to be crushed!!”

“You’ll be fine. You won’t die.”

This was the important first meeting scene of Ciel and the fluffy one. If I had a camera, I’d take pictures until the memory was full. After about ten minutes, Ciel was finally released, and she glared at me resentfully.

“If the same thing happens to you, Lars-san, I’ll never help you!!”

“Hahaha, that would be a problem.”

“Woof, woof. Pant, pant.”

The Greater Wolf snuggled up to Ciel. Any signs of its earlier wariness were gone, and it was completely like a tame dog who’d forgotten it was once a wild animal.

“…Why do you think he got so injured? He’s so friendly.”

“It’s probably his fur color.”

“Huh?”

I explained to Ciel the backstory of this fluffy one, which she couldn’t have known.

“Normal Greater Wolves are gray or almost black. I’ve never seen a pure white Greater Wolf.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“My guess is, the wolves in his pack didn’t accept him because of his different fur color. He was probably banished and attacked during that time.”

“…I see. So you were cast out too, huh?”

Ciel gently patted the fluffy one’s head. The fluffy one narrowed its eyes happily and sat down, leaning its back against Ciel.

“…Um, Lars-san.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Eh?”

“You were going to ask if you could bring that Greater Wolf with you, weren’t you? I don’t mind. If we register him as your familiar, it’ll be fine even when we enter town. And he can act as a guard dog when we eventually open your shop.”

“Th-thank you so much!!”

Ciel thanked me with a delighted look. This Greater Wolf was the only one Ciel, who’d become slightly distrustful of people after being banished from the Hero’s Party, could fully trust. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the original story’s Ciel was saved thanks to him.

“Nice to meet you. Your name will be, um, Mofumaru!!”

“….”

That name… Honestly, I’m not sure about it.

No, I was the one who came up with the name for the Greater Wolf in the first place. Ciel quickly turned to me.

“What do you think!?”

“…I think it’s a good name.”

Mofumaru. The pure white Greater Wolf with fluffy fur, Mofumaru. Our new companion.

“Whine, whine.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Mofumaru? Ah, are you hungry?”

“Woof!!”

“Hehe, me too! Lars-san, what about you—”

Embarrassingly, my stomach growled right at that moment.

Grrrrrrr.

“…Sorry, I’m hungry too.”

“Fufu, then I’ll make something!! Though, first we have to find something edible.”

“Woof!!”

“Eh? Wait, Mofumaru!? Where are you going!?”

Just then, Mofumaru barked and dashed off into the forest. After a while, Mofumaru returned with two or three horned rabbits in his mouth.

“Wow, unicorn rabbits!! Did you catch these, Mofumaru?”

“Woof!!”

“Thank you!! I can make a delicious soup with these!!”

Ciel started moving briskly, preparing for the meal. In the original story, she’d just skin the unicorn rabbits, remove the smell with herbs, and roast them whole…

But I was here now. Since Dorothea had taken all the cooking utensils like the pot, I had to use my shield as a makeshift pot. Good thing my shield was a big round one.

Ciel skillfully butchered the unicorn rabbits with the knife I had, removed the innards and bones, and threw the meat into the “pot.” Then, she chopped some herbs she’d picked somewhere, and boiled everything together for a while.

She skimmed the scum off, let it simmer a bit, and it was done.

“Unicorn rabbit soup is ready!!”

“Oh…”

“Woof!!”

Using large leaves from nearby as makeshift plates, she served the soup and handed it to us.

“Let’s eat.”

“Woof.”

“Enjoy!!”

I cooled the piping hot soup by blowing on it and sipped it slowly. It was hot. But delicious.

Unicorn rabbit was supposed to have a pretty strong gamey taste. But thanks to the herbs Ciel added, it barely bothered me at all. The rabbit meat was tender and melted on my tongue, juicy with rich fat.

“This is delicious. And the faint saltiness soaks into my tired body. Did you crush the unicorn rabbit’s horn for this?”

“Yes! The unicorn rabbit’s horn stores salt, so I tried using it as a salt substitute!!”

I didn’t know that since my past self hadn’t fleshed out the setting that far. Though Lars’ knowledge let me recognize it.

Even so, this unicorn rabbit soup was so good it could take the world by storm. The broth was perfectly salty, the meat’s fat had melted in, and although it was rich, the aftertaste was surprisingly clean. Really, it was unbelievably good.

“I always thought your cooking was tasty, but tasting it again like this, it’s amazing. At this rate, you could open a restaurant alongside the potion shop.”

“Y-you’re exaggerating!!”

“No, it’s the truth.”

“U-ugh…”

Mofumaru and I went for seconds on the soup, and soon our stomachs were full. That was when I noticed Ciel staring intently at me.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

“If there’s something bothering you, please feel free to ask.”

When I said that, Ciel hesitated greatly before speaking.

“…I’ve thought this for a while, but Lars-san, you eat so skillfully even with your helmet on.”

“Hmm. Well, it does take some effort. But I’m used to it by now.”

“What does your face look like, Lars-san?”

“…Are you curious?”

“Yes, I am.”

Of course she was. I was too. Lars never revealed his face even once throughout the original story.

Huh? Shouldn’t I know since I reincarnated as him? Surprisingly enough, I didn’t. As a kid, I admired my father, the former Knight Captain, and loved wearing a helmet so much that I never took it off, not even when bathing.

What, how gross? Not really. This world had magic. There was a purification spell that washed away all dirt and odors perfectly. Lars wasn’t good at magic, but he learned it just so he could always keep his helmet on.

Using it felt just as refreshing as taking a bath. It was the best. Not that I had come up with that part of the setting… Probably some mysterious force filled in the gaps of what I hadn’t thought through.

What a convenient world, indeed.

“Anyway, we’ll leave the forest at dawn. I’ll keep watch over the fire. Ciel, Mofumaru, you should rest.”

“Eh!? But… Aren’t you going to show me your face…?”

“I did say you could ask me anything, but I didn’t say I’d grant every request.”

“Lars-san, you tease!!”

Well, what if I turned out to be ugly under the helmet? That’d be awkward.

I’ll check my appearance when I’m alone later.

Though she protested, Ciel soon fell asleep leaning against Mofumaru’s fluffy body.

“…So peaceful…”

I watched the crackling campfire, waiting for morning to come.

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