BIHNM 07

Chapter 7

Beginning Work (Part 2)

“Kyuu!”

When Lord Margus arrived, Polka stopped stamping her feet.
Her round eyes sparkled even more brightly—whether from joy or just the sunlight, it made her look utterly adorable.

“Polka. Algelita is going to take a look at your mouth. Don’t bite her.”

When have I ever done anything so barbaric?
That was exactly what Polka’s tilted head seemed to say. Looking at her like this, no one would ever imagine she could be violent—unless her master, Lord Margus himself, said so.

When Polka obediently opened her mouth at his command, I saw that there was indeed a small wound inside.
It must have been caused by a splinter from chewing on wood.

Though she was covered in tough skin, thick muscle, and soft fur, the inside of her mouth was defenseless.

“I see. She must have been up to mischief last night… If we apply ointment, it should heal naturally.”

For mouth injuries, we normally apply an ointment and then use a special device to keep the wyvern from opening its mouth too wide until the next feeding time.
Most of them hate it.

In fact, if Lord Margus weren’t holding the reins so firmly, Polka would have already leapt backward.
She let out a sharp “Gii~!” of protest, struggling to escape from the very man she trusted so much.

“You’ve only yourself to blame for that biting habit. Consider this a chance to fix it.”

Then he turned to me.
“Bring me the ointment.”

Even with the wyvern thrashing about, his posture didn’t waver an inch. His balance was perfect.

“…Please wait a moment. I… I have an idea.”

The injury was light. It would probably heal on its own in a day or two.
If I could at least ease the discomfort and improve Polka’s mood, that would be enough.

What are you planning?

Lord Margus’s eyes seemed to ask, though he didn’t voice the question. Instead, he gave a small nod, silently allowing me to try.

I put on thick leather gloves just in case and focused my magic.

A faint, fluffy glow—like a puff of dandelion fluff—spread from my hands.
That was all the magic I could muster.

But then—

Polka’s restlessness faded. She stopped slapping her tail and feet against the ground and became calm.

“That’s better, isn’t it?”

Lord Margus loosened the reins, and Polka quietly moved away toward her feeding trough.

It seemed to have worked. Relief washed over me.

“Thank you. She looks completely content now.”

“No… it was nothing.”

At least I had managed to be of some use.
Not a bad start for my first day as a caretaker.

“By the way… I’d heard you don’t have any healing power.”

His casual question made my face flush with embarrassment.

To be constantly reminded that others saw me as unqualified—a failure—was painful.

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to criticize,” Lord Margus added quickly when I fell silent.

“Actually… I do have a little,” I admitted.

It wasn’t that I had no magic at all.
But all I could do was dull pain or ease discomfort—nothing like visibly healing wounds.

“You’ve been hiding it?”

“When I was a child, I could hardly use it at all. It wasn’t until I came to the wyvern village that I began managing even a little.”
As I struggled to soothe sick wyverns, little by little, I learned how to use what little magic I had.

“It’s not enough to truly solve anything, though…”

“Kyuu!”

Polka’s cute chirp interrupted us.
She was begging for more food. I added some to her trough, but it seemed that wasn’t what she wanted.

“Wait just a moment, okay? I’ll go to the storeroom and find something you can eat.”

Wyverns are omnivorous. There should be something suitable.

“Shouldn’t you take care of your own meal first?” Lord Margus said mildly.

At that, I suddenly realized how hungry I was.

Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t eaten properly since yesterday.
Nerves had kept me from touching dinner, and this morning I’d only managed a piece of bread before rushing out.

“Ah, y-yes… you’re right…”

“Gyuu!”

Polka urged me impatiently to hurry.

“…I’ll eat later. Polka’s waiting.”

“Pfft… ha ha…”

Lord Margus suddenly laughed.

Did I say something strange?
I could never tell what nobles found amusing.

“I was just thinking—it’s funny how you’d put Polka before yourself.”

That’s rich, coming from you, Lord Margus…

I almost said it out loud but held my tongue.