Chapter 51: The Bearer of the Sacred Stick I
The sun was just beginning to rise over the city rooftops when Kael left the academy with a backpack slung over his shoulder.
After everything that had happened with the Church of Order, the teachers had recommended he rest for a few days.
He wanted to do that too.
But there was a small problem.
He had no money.
He sighed as he checked the guild parchment for the hundredth time.
E-rank mission.
Eliminate a small goblin colony that had started bothering some merchants.
Decent pay.
Low danger.
Perfect.
"At least this time no secret organization should show up..."
A blue screen appeared before him.
[Current balance: Insufficient.]
Kael sighed again.
"Thanks for reminding me."
Ever since Sir Dogerino had appeared, everything was more expensive.
Food for him.
Food for the Fat King.
And food for himself.
The only one who seemed happy with the situation was precisely the newest member of the group.
Sir Dogerino walked elegantly down the street.
His small red cape fluttered with each step.
He carried the stick between his teeth with such a refined bearing that he looked more like a knight from some noble house than a simple dog.
Passersby couldn’t help but stop to look at him.
"What an elegant dog!"
"Is he a noble’s pet?"
"So well-behaved..."
Sir Dogerino wagged his tail proudly every time someone greeted him.
On top of Kael’s head, completely lying down, the Little Fat King dozed with absolute tranquility.
One paw dangled in front of Kael’s eyes.
Another rested on his forehead.
It looked like an extremely heavy crown.
Kael looked up.
"You know...?"
The cat barely opened one eye.
"Meow..."
"He’s walking."
He pointed at Sir Dogerino.
"Maybe you could try it too."
Silence.
"Meow."
"That wasn’t a yes either."
Without waiting for a response, Kael grabbed the Fat King with both hands and carefully lowered him to the ground.
"You’re walking today."
The cat remained motionless for several seconds.
He looked at the ground.
Then at Kael.
Then he shot a look full of contempt toward Sir Dogerino.
"Meow..."
He began to walk.
Very slowly.
With an expression so indignant that anyone would think they had just taken an entire kingdom from him.
Sir Dogerino turned his head when he heard the small steps.
He looked at the cat.
His ears perked up.
His eyes began to shine.
He wagged his tail enthusiastically.
"Woof!"
Without thinking twice, he trotted over to the Fat King.
Kael smiled.
"Great.
Maybe they’ll get along—"
He didn’t finish the sentence.
Sir Dogerino carefully placed the stick in front of the cat.
He waited.
With his tongue out.
Wagging his tail.
As if saying:
"Want to play?"
The Fat King looked at the stick.
Then at the dog.
Then back at the stick.
His expression clearly said:
"What a weird commoner."
He slowly raised a paw.
And with the most disinterested gesture possible...
He pushed the stick.
It rolled just a few centimeters.
Sir Dogerino shot off.
"WOOF!!"
He ran at full speed.
Caught it.
Returned proudly.
And placed it back in front of the cat.
Kael blinked.
"..."
The Fat King looked at it again.
Gave it another small push.
Sir Dogerino ran again.
Returned even happier.
"Woof."
Again.
The cat threw the stick a little farther.
Sir Dogerino went after it.
Returned panting with happiness.
Kael crossed his arms.
"Well...
I guess that counts as friendship."
The Fat King thought exactly the opposite.
"What an insistent creature."
The stick appeared in front of him again.
This time the cat lost a little patience.
He slapped it.
WHAP!
The stick flew several meters.
Sir Dogerino’s eyes went wide.
"WOOF!!"
He ran off like lightning.
Disappeared into some bushes.
Five seconds later he returned triumphantly with the stick between his teeth.
He placed it exactly where it had been before.
His tail wouldn’t stop moving.
The Fat King stared at him.
Sir Dogerino panted happily.
No matter how many times they threw the stick,
he would always go after it.
The cat narrowed his eyes.
For the first time since this absurd interaction had begun...
He seemed to be thinking seriously.
Kael noticed that expression.
"What are you plotting?"
"Meow."
Sir Dogerino placed the stick in front of him again.
Waiting.
With absolute confidence.
Then the Fat King smiled.
Very slightly.
An almost imperceptible smile.
Kael felt a chill.
"I don’t like that face..."
The cat slowly raised a paw.
This time he didn’t hit the stick softly.
He gave it such a precise slap that it shot much farther than before.
The projectile disappeared among the trees along the path.
Sir Dogerino’s mouth dropped open in excitement.
"WOOF!!"
He ran after it without a moment’s hesitation.
Just at that moment...
The Fat King gave a small leap.
He landed elegantly on the dog’s back.
Settled in.
Wrapped his tail around his body.
And closed his eyes again.
Sir Dogerino found the stick.
Picked it up.
And started the journey back completely happy.
He didn’t even seem to have noticed that he was now carrying a passenger on his back.
On the contrary.
He wagged his tail with even more enthusiasm.
As if thinking:
"Now we play together!"
The Fat King opened just one eye.
He looked at Kael.
And a mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Meow..."
Kael stood completely still.
He looked at the dog.
Looked at the cat.
Looked back at the dog.
Sir Dogerino walked proudly with the stick between his teeth...
While transporting the Fat King as if he were the king of an entire realm.
Kael slowly brought a hand to his face.
"..."
"That damn lazy thing...
Always...
Always finds a way..."
Kael watched the scene for several seconds.
Then looked back at the dog.
Then at the cat.
And again at the dog.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"No...
I’m not going to ask how you did it."
The Fat King closed his eyes with absolute tranquility.
As if that had always been the plan.
Sir Dogerino trotted happily along the path, completely convinced that this new way of playing was fantastic.
Every few meters he would drop the stick in front of Kael.
Wait a few seconds.
Kael would throw it.
The dog would run excitedly.
And the Fat King would enjoy the ride without moving a single paw.
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