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Chapter 13: Can I Touch Your Tail?

“All right, all right… this is a misunderstanding; as long as you let me go, I’ll tell you where a huge treasure is.” After Leonard came to, he kept trying to buy Reiner off.

“Where? Tell me the location first.”

“You have to release me first, otherwise how can I be sure you won’t…”

Reiner said to Martina, “Our friend is a little talkative; help him take another nap.”

With a dull thud, Leonard passed out again.

Reiner carried him to the blacksmith’s shop inside the city.

Although it was only early evening, they had already closed up and were getting ready to rest.

Reiner knocked hard on the door.

After a long wait, the old blacksmith finally opened the door.

He held up a candlestick to Reiner’s face, looking somewhat impatient, “It’s you? What is it?”

“I’ve caught Leonard for you, and he’s alive.”

The old blacksmith’s body jerked violently.

He grabbed Leonard’s hair, pulled the candlestick close to inspect him, then punched him while spewing obscenities.

He hurried back into the forge, lit every candle in the shop, and tied Leonard to a wooden chair.

“That sword, shouldn’t you honor the reward now?”

“Of course, I keep my word; wait a bit, I’m busy right now.”

Reiner watched him pull out a huge pile of tools.

There were sickles as well as tongs.

Leonard probably wouldn’t survive the night.

After a while, the old blacksmith finally dragged a wooden chest out of the storeroom, “What you wanted is in here.”

Reiner opened it for a look, saw the goods were fine, and left after having Martina take the sword.

Whatever happened next had nothing to do with him.

Passing a brightly lit tavern and catching the smell of smoked meat, Reiner suddenly remembered he still had to buy meat for Nora’s nutrition.

Reiner went inside, bought a fully dressed chicken, and planned to reward Nora with it.

Had it not been for the 3 custom leather armors that had emptied his purse, he would certainly have bought 1 or 2 pounds of smoked pork for Nora to eat alongside it.

By the time he got back to the village, the sky was completely dark.

The two beast-eared girls were covered in blood, so Reiner told them to bathe first and only eat after washing.

Meanwhile he roasted the chicken in front of the fireplace.

While it was roasting, Nora suddenly sat down beside him, her hair still dripping.

Her eyes locked on the chicken sizzling in the fire, and drool ran down the corner of her mouth.

(It smells so good… I haven’t had meat in so long.)

Reiner pinched her cheek, “Wipe your drool; I bought this especially for you, and it will be ready soon.”

“Thank you, Master.” Her eyes still locked on the roasting chicken.

Martina had also finished her bath.

She grabbed the wooden basin, dumped the dirty water outside, then came over for a look, “Meat?”

“Yes. Do you eat meat?”

Martina shook her head, “I prefer grains and vegetables.”

It seemed that for now the only treat he could give her was white bread.

“Let me see the wound on your leg.”

Martina stretched out her leg.

Her wound had almost healed, although the scab had not yet fallen off.

“Then you’re fine; go to the kitchen and get 2 slices of black bread, the jam’s in the cupboard, spread it yourself.”

“Okay.” Martina ran off happily, leaving only Nora and Reiner sitting by the fire roasting.

After a while, the chicken was done.

Reiner took it out of the hearth and set it on the table.

Although Nora was ravenous, she never reached out; she just sat quietly watching.

“Wait a bit before eating; it’s still too hot.” Reiner looked toward the kitchen, saw Martina hadn’t come out yet, and gently rubbed Nora’s cat ears.

Seeing her ears were still damp, Reiner took a towel from the cupboard and began drying them.

“After a bath you must dry the water inside your ears, otherwise you might get sick, understand?”

Nora lowered her head and answered softly, “Mm, I’ve got it.”

(When I was little, only Mom and Dad dried my ears; Master is so good to me, it feels… so warm, but why?)

She stared at the chicken in front of her, lost in thought, and only snapped out of it when Reiner set a bowl before her.

Reiner tore off 2 drumsticks and placed them in her bowl, “Eat, stop overthinking.”

Nora nodded and shoved the chicken into her mouth, wolfing it down.

It was obvious she had been famished.

“Slow down so you don’t choke; I bought 2 chickens, it’s enough.”

Soon only the carcass remained on the table.

Reiner had also gone without meat for a long time, so this meal tasted especially good.

He secretly resolved that once he had money, even if he couldn’t have fish and meat every meal, he would at least return to the worry-free standard of living he had enjoyed before transmigrating.

While he was envisioning the future, Nora suddenly stood up, “Master, take a rest, I’ll clean up.”

“Thanks for that.” Reiner picked his teeth, sat at the table for a bit, then fetched a bucket of water from the pond and started bathing.

After bathing he lay on the bed, and drowsiness soon swept over him.

Martina had long since fallen asleep in front of the hearth, hugging her greatsword.

Just as Reiner was about to pull up the covers and sleep, a thought drifted into his mind.

(Master probably isn’t asleep yet, time to let him rub my ears.)

At the same time, Nora lowered her voice and called in his ear, “Master…”

Reiner opened his eyes and saw her crouching by the bed, looking at him eagerly.

“What’s wrong?” Reiner asked, lying on his side though he knew the answer.

“Rub my ears.”

Reiner patted the edge of the bed, and Nora sat up naturally.

Next he began kneading and stroking her ears.

As he stroked, Nora suddenly let out a pained whimper.

(My ears are so itchy! I really still don’t like people touching them…)

After hearing her thoughts, Reiner slowed his movements.

(This is okay; keep it like this.)

(When your ears are rubbed long enough it actually feels fine.)

(Oh right, I should thank him now.)

Nora suddenly spoke, “Thank you, Master, for taking care of me, truly thank you.”

“Think nothing of it; cats are meant to eat meat, I’ll buy you plenty more from now on.”

(Why is he so nice to me? Why, really?)

(Could it be he wants my body…)

“Master, can I ask you a question without you getting angry?”

“Go ahead.”

Nora suddenly fell silent.

She seemed to be working up her courage.

(I actually had such a thought; it’s a disgrace to Master’s kindness, Nora, you’re so shameless!)

She cursed herself fiercely in her heart, using almost every nasty word she knew.

What an adorable contrast.

Reiner watched her cat tail swaying left and right and suddenly had another idea.

He asked with a straight face, “Nora, may I touch your tail?”

“Eh?”

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