CH 139

Words : 1043 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

We Took Milina Back With Us “Well, let’s depart then.” “Indeed.” “Yes!” “Goodbye, Milina!” “Everyone…” Just as we were about to leave the orphanage, the children came out to see her off. Behind them stood Ms. Anna. There was a mixture of pride and sadness in her face as she saw Milina leave. “…Headmistress. Everyone. Goodbye!” Milina closed her eyes once as if to ward off tears. And then she bid them farewell and walked away from the orphanage with us. “Wuff…” “Good Leo…you are so kind…” After we had walked for a while, Leo pushed gently against Milina as if concerned. While it was a little awkward with her carrying her belongings, she leaned against Leo and was enveloped in her fur. “Milina…” “I’m fine…” “Wuff?” “Thank you, good Leo. I feel better now!” After feeling the soft silver fur, Milina raised her head and answered cheerfully to Leo. I could tell now that she had the resolve to not regret her decision. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” The butler arrived with the carriage, and so we loaded it with Milina’s luggage. Once it was all in, the only thing left to do was return home. “Milina.” “Yes, what is it, master?” She seemed to hesitate to ride in the carriage with us, and so I called her. “I think you should ride with Leo.” “With Leo? I can do that!?” “Aye. Right, Leo?” “Wuff!” Milina was very surprised by this. Leo then nodded as if to say that she could take it from here. And then she moved in front of Milina and lay low so that it would be easier to climb onto her back. “Are you certain?” “It’s fine. She won’t shake you off. See?” “Wuff. Wuff.” “Kyau!” I encouraged her, as she seemed to be hesitating over whether she should ride on Leo’s back. And so she did. Leo looked happy to be able to carry someone, and she wagged her tail and barked. Even Sherry, who had been riding on Leo this whole time, barked as if welcoming Milina. “She’s so soft… Also…uh, Sherry, was it?” “Kyau!” Sherry replied happily and then jumped onto Milina. Once I saw that she was holding Sherry securely, I got into the carriage. “You are very kind, Mr. Takumi.” “Do you think so? I only said that because Leo looked like she wanted to carry someone.” “…Or because you saw that Milina was looking lonely?” “…Well, leaving the people and place that raised you…it would make one lonely.” “So you are a kind person.” Apparently, Ms. Lyra knew my intention. It was a little embarrassing, especially since we were sitting so close to each other… While Milina said that she was fine, it would still be sad to leave the place you had been living in for so long. At least when I came to this world, I had Leo with me. But I remember when I first started living alone as a student. It had been difficult to leave the uncle who had raised me. “We will depart now.” Said the butler, and the carriage moved forward. Leo started to run alongside it. Around the time that we left the town, I could see Milina through the carriage window as she looked back towards Ractos. …She really was sad to be leaving. “Thank you, good Leo.” “Wuff.” “How was the ride, Milina?” “It was wonderful. Due to the soft fur, it was a lot more comfortable than a rocking carriage.” As Leo’s fur acted as a cushion, it was fine even when she moved. Indeed, you felt a lot of the shaking when in a carriage… I wonder if they don’t have suspensions? “Let’s bring your things in then.” “Thank you.” “Ah, let me help you. It’s mine after all!” “You must take it easy today, Milina. While you will be treated as a servant from tomorrow, you are a guest for today.” “…Very well.” As Ms. Lyra unloaded her things from the carriage, several other servants came out of the mansion and helped carry them inside. So Milina was a guest today… Well, I suppose it was fine for one day. “Now, let’s go inside!” “Yes! Though…I do feel nervous about going into such a fine house…” “There’s no need to be so nervous. Everyone here is very kind.” I said to Milina, who was standing still by the entrance. And then we stepped inside. “Welcome back, Mr. Takumi. Welcome, Lady Milina.” “Ah!” “Ahaha. Don’t be frightened. They always greet you when you come here.” When we entered the mansion, several of the servants greeted us all at once. Milina looked a little tense by this sudden occurrence. She was nervous enough as it was, and this hadn’t helped things at all. Also, I suppose they were calling her ‘lady’ because she was a guest for now. “Milina, it’s been a while. But I’m glad that you’re finally here!” “So you came at last… I feel old already…” “You’re going to be Mr. Takumi’s apprentice? How very bold of you, Milina.” “Everyone…” A few of the servants seemed to recognize her as they started to talk to Milina. Apparently, they knew each other from back at the orphanage. I see… Ms. Claire did say that she tried to hire from there when possible… And Milina won’t be as lonely if she has acquaintances here. “Welcome back, Mr. Takumi.” “Ms. Claire. And Sebastian. We’re back.” “Ah, Lady Claire. Thank you for having me.” Ms. Claire and Sebastian came down the stairs and greeted us. Milina became tense again and greeted Ms. Claire awkwardly. “Welcome to the Liebert house, Milina. I’m pleased to have you.” “Yes. Thank you.” Ms. Claire smiled cheerfully as she welcomed Milina. After that, the servants took her away to show her the room where she would be sleeping in. Ms. Lyra and Ms. Gelda were among them. Now that I think about it, they were also from the orphanage…

CH 139

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