Volume 1 Chapter 35 The Villainous Guildmaster, Pushing the Limits of Evil III
That afternoon, I went to the Town Mayor's place with Yui and returned to the Guild.
We had the carriage stopped at the back of the Guild hall, and just as we were about to enter—
"Huh? What are you all doing?"
Several Guild Members were squatting down, surrounding something.
"Ah, Guildmaster!"
"What are you lot doing at the back door?"
"Well, we found this little one."
At the direction the Guild Members were pointing, there was a dirty little cat, shivering in a corner.
"Wow! What a cute kitty!"
Yui's eyes sparkled as she picked up the cat.
It was a black cat, but its four paws were white, like it was wearing socks.
"I'd love to take it home, but I'm staying at an inn..."
"I'm alone, and I can't take care of it..."
The Guild Members were glancing at me, here and there.
"What, those eyes?"
"Well, it looks hungry, it's pitiful."
"It's cold and shivering, it's pitiful."
Yui nodded as if she had made up her mind.
"I—I'LL TAKE THIS ONE!"
I took the kitten from Yui.
"Don't be ridiculous. You live in an Orphanage, don't you? Do you have the means to keep a cat?"
"Ugh... that..."
"I'll take care of this one. Yui, I'll leave the aftercare to you."
"Ah... Sir Act..."
Yui's shoulders slumped.
Meanwhile, the Guild Members patted her head.
"It's okay, it's okay."
"Don't worry, Yui-Yui."
"What do you...?"
* * *
The next day.
As I was working in my Room, Yui kept glancing at me from the corner of her eye.
"What is it, glancing at me all morning?"
"Well... um... I was wondering what happened to the black cat from yesterday."
"Oh, that cat? I took care of it properly."
"To—took care of...? D—did you... kill...?"
"First, I gave it a hot bath."
"Eh?"
"Next, I force-fed it milk."
"Eh, um... you mean you gave it a bath and even fed it?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just silenced him because he was making a fuss about being hungry."
Yui's expression brightened for some reason.
Then, yesterday's Guild Members came into the room.
"GUILDMASTER! CAN WE SEE THE CAT PLEASE!"
"Here we go again. Did you all do your jobs properly?"
"WE DID IT PERFECTLY!"
The Guild Members approached my desk.
"Yui-Yui wants to see it too, right?"
"Eh? What are you...?"
There's a box at my feet.
Wrapped in a blanket and a crystal (magic item) for warmth, a cat was sleeping soundly, purring softly.
"Yesterday's cat!"
Yui crouched down and stroked the kitten's head.
"But, you said you disposed of it, Sir Act?"
"I decided to keep it."
"REALLY!? THANK YOU, SIR ACT!"
"Don't misunderstand. If I had left that cat out there, it would have lowered the morale of you all and the Guild Members."
Besides, I can afford to keep a cat.
"I guess even when it comes to that, you can't stand to see a weak creature abandoned."
"As expected of our Guildmaster, kind to both humans and animals."
The Guild Members stroked the cat's head while saying so.
"Say, Yui-Yui, have you ever been to the Guildmaster's house?"
"? I haven't."
"Then you should come visit sometime. It's amazing."
I let out a sigh and waved my hand dismissively.
"GET BACK TO WORK. Taking care of the cat is my responsibility."
"HEEEEY!"
The Guild Members left the room.
I checked the time on my clock and took some hot milk from a magic bottle.
I soaked a piece of cotton in the milk and brought it closer to the kitten's mouth.
"Is that food?"
"Yeah. A cat this big would die of dehydration if it wasn't fed milk regularly."
"You know what you know."
Smiling, Yui looked at me.
"What?"
"No, I think I'm used to it."
"Well."
"Can I go to Sir Act's mansion today?"
"Do whatever you want."
* * *
After finishing my work that day, I went back to the mansion with Yui.
At a villa in the garden—
"Wow! So much fluff!"
A horde of dogs and cats came running toward us.
Both dogs and cats rubbed against me or licked me with their tongues.
"Oh, Master, welcome back."
"What are you doing, Frederica? Aren't you off duty today?"
"I was playing with these kids."
I went to prepare food for the animals.
They followed me, DODODODO.
"Lady Frederica, those woof-woofs?"
"Master protects and keeps animals that have been abused or abandoned."
"I see... So that's why you're so used to them."
"By the way, the animals that have grown up wonderfully under Master's care are given to new foster parents. They're quite popular, and we even get inquiries from overseas wanting Master's animals."
I checked the condition of the animals with Appraisal Eye and gave them the appropriate amount of food.
"Sir Act is such a kind and wonderful person!"
"Yes, I think he's the most compassionate and wonderful man in this world."
After feeding them, I headed to where the girls were.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm not doing this as charity."
"What do you mean?"
"Master also runs a coffee shop using the protected animals. Haven't you heard of it? A cat cafe."
"! I know! I know! It's super popular with young people these days, isn't it? You can drink tea with cats... W—wait, are you saying Sir Act runs it!?"
"That's right. Starting with cat cafes with branches nationwide, he's developing various businesses that also involve animal adoption."
Frederica said with her chest puffed up, as if it were her own achievement.
"A—AMAZING... Sir Act, not only is he the Adventurers Guild's Guildmaster, but he's also a top-class manager!"
Animal handling is just one of the various businesses, but it's a job that brings in a good return.
There are currently no competitors, and a wide range of people, from young people to the elderly, use it.
Making money using animals is quite profitable.
"Um, will this kitten also be given to someone?"
"Absolutely."
"...Yes, you're right. It's better if it goes to a good person who will cherish it."
Yui stroked the kitten's head, looking forlorn.
"Yui, do you want to keep the cat?"
"YES! But... I'm living at the Orphanage right now..."
"In a few years, you'll be a working adult and leave the Orphanage. Until then, I can take care of it here."
"! R—REALLY!?"
"Yes. However, you must come here to take care of this cat after work, no matter what. Can you do that?"
"I CAN! YES! KITTY KITTY!"
Yui happily hugged the black cat.
"THANK YOU, SIR ACT!"
"Was that alright? Master liked that child very much."
"......"
"Oh my, Master? Aren't you going to say, 'Don't get the wrong idea. I don't like it' like always? OUCH!"
"Don't say unnecessary things. I'll make a stray dog out of you too."
"That won't do. You were the one who took me in, so you have to take care of me until the end."
Frederica said with a smile.
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