I Talked to the Maids in the Guest Room

The two maids led the way, and so Leo and I arrived at the guest room.
The room was indeed quite large. I thought that over ten people could fit in there and remain quite comfortable.
And that light that hung down from the ceiling…was it a chandelier? I had never seen one before.
It must be very hard to light candles so high up…

“Well then, I will go and prepare some tea, so please wait for a while. …Oh, what should I bring for the great Leo…?”
“Ah, Leo…Water or milk, please.”
“Certainly.”
“It won’t take long!”
“Please don’t rush…”

The maids bowed and then left the room. I suppose it was my Japanese nature to say something like ‘please don’t rush’ during times like this.
I had seen Ms. Gelda smile a little just before the door closed.
Well, she had been very nervous at first, so if she was relaxed now, that was good.
As standing there seemed awkward, I walked up to the table in the middle of the room and sat down on one of the chairs.
Leo followed me and then lay down next to the chair.
It was nice to see that she was relaxed. If Leo wasn’t on her guard, that must mean that there was nothing dangerous here.
She had detected the orc, after all.
Well, I highly doubted someone like Ms. Claire would put her rescuers in harm’s way after inviting them to her house.
Still…
I was in an unfamiliar place. And the idea that this was another world made me feel just a little cautious.
…Though, I also still thought that this could all be a dream.

“Wou?”
“Maybe it’s not a dream. But I still find it difficult to believe that you’ve become this big, Leo.”
“Wuff-wuff.”
“Leo. Do you want to play?”
“Wuff!”

I petted Leo, who barked as if she wanted to play. And so I looked around the room.

“…I don’t think this is the best place for that.”
“…Wuff.”

Leo was big enough for several people to ride on her back.
While she was lying down and looking up at me now, I would be the one looking up at her if she stood up.
It was a good thing that this mansion was so large…
Or there wouldn’t have been enough space for Leo to get in at all.
That being said, even though it was big, it wasn’t big enough for Leo to run or play in.
…I suppose I could take her out to the garden later.
However…judging from what I had seen while walking from the gate to the entrance, it was a resplendent garden, so I’d have to be careful that she didn’t break anything.
I thought of such things while scratching Leo’s head. Then there was a knock on the door and then it opened.

“Excuse me. I’ve brought you the tea.”
“We did!”

Ms. Lyra bowed while carrying a tray with a white teacup on top.
Ms. Gelda looked a little nervous again.

“Enjoy.”
“Thank you.”

She walked up to me and placed the cup on the table.
Ms. Gelda was carrying a bowl of milk that was the size of a bucket.
She nervously placed it in front of Leo.
…Indeed. Leo did have the appearance of a frightening wolf.
So it was no wonder that she was afraid.

“Leo. Say thank you before drinking.”
“Wou! …Wuff-wuff.”

Leo barked once as if to reply to me, and then she turned to Ms. Gelda and barked again.
That was Leo’s way of saying thank you.
While Ms. Gelda flinched after being barked at, she quickly understood what Leo meant by it. And so she muttered, ‘enjoy.’
Leo then started to drink the milk hungrily, and so I took a sip of the tea as well.

“…Mmm. It’s very good.”
“Thank you.”
“Wuff!”
“…Thank you.”

Leo seemed to approve of the milk as well.
The tea was so delicious that I drank it all very quickly.
Leo had been drinking vigorously, but I suppose I had not been any different.
They say that dogs take after their owners. Perhaps it was true.
…I was a little embarrassed.

“Would you like another cup?”
“…Yes, please.”
“Certainly.”

She picked up the teapot and filled my cup once again.
The fragrance of the tea wafted around me.
I hadn’t really thought about it, but was this black tea?
I didn’t know much about tea, and had only drunk black tea from cans and bottles.
But this was much more refreshing in terms of taste and smell.
While I was enjoying my tea, I was also a little anxious about the way that Ms. Gelda seemed to be terrified of Leo.
While it couldn’t be helped for her to be scared at first, I was sure that she would change her mind if I talked to her.

“…Ms. Gelda, right?”
“Yes!”
“You really don’t need to be afraid. Leo won’t attack humans.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Takumi. Gelda, you mustn’t show your emotions like that in front of a guest!”
“…Yes.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I’m really not upset or anything like that. I do agree that Leo can be frightening to look at. I understand why women may be afraid.”
“And yet I think that your Leo is very adorable.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. Leo follows you so closely and seems to be very protective. He was also barking very quietly as if to avoid scaring Gelda. I think that it is rather cute for someone of that size to behave in such a way.”
“Hahah. That’s true. But Leo is a girl. And overall, she is cuter than she is scary.”
“…So she is a girl.”

Apparently, Ms. Lyra found Leo’s movements very cute.
Ms. Gelda was very surprised to hear that Leo was female.

“She is a cute girl, just like you, Ms. Gelda. So if possible, please don’t be afraid of her.”
“…I’m cute… ha…ha…I understand!”
“Hehe. You are quite the flatterer, Mr. Takumi.”
“No, I just said what was on my mind.”

Ms. Gelda was constantly nervous, just like someone who was new to a job. And yet she tried her best. I thought that was endearing.
Well, it wasn’t just her personality, though… Now that I thought about it, it wasn’t just Ms. Claire, but the maids had all been attractive… Even Sebastian, who was an older man, had been a handsome gentleman. As were the other butlers…
…It made me feel a little out of place, being the only one with such plain looks.

“Wou…wuff-wuff.”
“What is it Leo? Are you trying to comfort me?”
“Wou-wou!”

Leo must have noticed that I looked a little crestfallen, and so she pressed her face against mine consolingly.
Thanks, Leo.
But maybe don’t lick my face right after lapping up so much milk…
I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped my face with it.
Ms. Lyra and Ms. Gelda smiled as if this was a heartwarming moment, and I felt a little embarrassed.

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My Beloved Dog is the Strongest in Another World