I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 20

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

20

Chapter 5. I’ve Decided on My Future Dream (2)

What I managed to obtain through struggle, even after becoming a precious child, was merely a tiny bit of salt.

‘That’s something, at least.’

For my tongue, accustomed to bland food, even a little salt was stimulating enough. The moment I put it in my mouth, my spine tingled and my whole body felt happy.

Salt is definitely happiness.

‘Even before, I preferred salty braised chicken over sweet snacks.’

It seemed my taste preferences hadn’t changed even after being reborn.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I dislike snacks. But I don’t know what kind of snacks exist in this world yet, so I can’t judge.

‘Since the architecture and clothing are Western-based, the snacks would probably be from that region too…?’

What might there be? Madeleines? Macarons? Brownies? There must be chocolate, right? Ugh, why am I so young…

They won’t even season my food, so there’s no way they’d let me eat sweet snacks. Since I obtained salt through struggle, I might have to struggle again to get sugar.

‘Let’s get stronger.’

Strong enough that even if I become a precious child again, I won’t feel self-loathing.

I’ll become more shameless.

Salt and sugar are achievements worth fighting for.

I quietly made up my mind.

‘I’m not embarrassed. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m really just a child.’

Even if it’s mortifyingly embarrassing, that’s only because I’m being too mature. It’s wrong for a child to not act childlike. Acting childish isn’t wrong, it’s nothing to be ashamed of…

Whine?

“Oh, sorry, Evelyn!”

I was spacing out, rationalizing myself as a wave of reality hit me.

If I don’t rationalize myself periodically, I’d need to punch through several blankets from embarrassment and it still wouldn’t be enough.

At my feet, a puppy the size of my foot was looking up at me with sparkling black eyes. He was sitting obediently with his bottom on the ground, but his tail was constantly wagging.

When I quickly apologized, he rubbed his nose against my ankle as if to say it was okay. His moist nose brushed against my skin. Crazy, crazy, this heart-attacking criminal…

I covered my face with my palm, afraid I might make a strange expression.

‘I’m so happy…’

Goodbye to the days of wearing squeaky shoes, holding Maria’s hand, and strolling through the garden.

After we finished lunch, Bailey gifted us a small ball and toys for tug-of-war games. Evelyn and I cheered, of course. For some reason, Maria and Ella clicked their tongues as if annoyed.

When I threw the ball, Evelyn would run over on his short legs and cleverly bring it back in his small mouth.

His tail wagged so vigorously it looked like his bottom might fly away.

Is this what they mean by a sight that makes you happy just watching…

“Lady Shana, would you like to try tug-of-war too?”

Ella, holding a basket full of toys, said.

“I want to! I want to! Yes!”

“Let’s see, what would be good.”

Maria, who was beside me, said.

“Give her something easy to grip. …Put down that whip-looking thing.”

“You put down that gauntlet-looking thing.”

What are you two trying to give me…

After bickering for a moment, the two quickly reached an agreement and gave me a tug toy made of thick tangled threads. It looked easy to grip and had a good length.

‘Though I know nothing about dog toys!’

All I’ve seen are dog training programs.

Evelyn’s eyes sparkled when he saw the tug toy. Are you that happy, my baby? I smiled and held the toy in front of Evelyn’s snout, and right after he excitedly bit it, huh?

“Aah, Lady Shana!”

“Catch her, Maria!”

I only felt my body tilting. Before my mind could think “Oh, what’s happening…” I had already fallen, and Maria threw herself down to cushion my fall.

“…Huh?”

“Not ‘huh,’ Lady Shana! That was dangerous!”

“Eh?”

“Evelyn! What if you pull with all your strength!”

But tug toys are supposed to be used that way.

Evelyn whimpered and looked around nervously. He had only lightly tugged on the toy, but I had tilted and nearly went flying, so it was understandable that he was surprised.

It actually felt like my body lifted slightly. It was too brief to be certain, though!

‘She’s so small… yet with just a gentle pull, she could swing someone like me around…?’

She’s small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.

This is crazy. I love it even more.

“Ev!”

“Since Lady Shana is the owner, please give her a stern warning!”

“Amazing!”

“…Pardon?”

I ran over pattering and hugged Evelyn’s dejected neck tightly.

“Totally awesome! So strong! Amazing!”

“…Lady Shana… I’m strong too.”

“Me too…”

Maria and Ella chimed in, not reading the mood. I pretended not to hear and ignored them, continuing to speak.

“Cute and strong! The best!”

Whine, whimper…

Evelyn’s black eyes glistened as she licked my cheek. Her drooping tail also started spinning like a propeller again, making buzzing sounds.

Ugh, so cute…

“Actually, we made a mistake too. We shouldn’t think of Evelyn as an ordinary puppy… She controls her strength so well that we forgot for a moment. We’re sorry.”

Ella said. Of course, it wasn’t Ella’s fault either.

Maria spoke with an embarrassed expression.

“Even though beastkin are strong, babies as small as Evelyn usually aren’t this powerful. Evelyn, you’ll get even stronger as you grow. You’ll have to protect our little miss well, okay?”

“Little miss what…”

“Little miss refers to our Lady Shana.”

“I’m not little.”

“Yes, of course. You’re not little miss but young miss, right?”

If I argue here… I’m not an adult…

“I’m just Shana, okay? Babies are the ones who lie down…”

“Hasn’t it only been a few months since you could run around?”

“…No…”

I can’t… act mature…

“Until recently! You were a little one drinking Bailey’s milk! You only stopped wearing diapers not long—”

“Nooo!”

Right, I am a child. Children don’t need to act mature!

I clenched both fists tightly and ran at Maria, swinging them thud thud thud thud. In my mind I was swinging thud thud thud thud, but Maria was still grinning.

“Oh my, Lady Shana’s punches are quite fierce. You could become an excellent martial artist!”

“Don’t tease me!”

“I’m not teasing!”

Maria, really, she’s so annoying I could die.

I was hissing and hitting Maria’s legs tap tap tap tap (…I have to… admit it…) when Maria, who had been smiling contentedly, looked behind her.

“Oh my, Lady Shana. The knights have come.”

“What?”

I stopped my punishment of Maria and looked in the direction of her gaze.

If it’s a knight, it should be Lloyd, but she said knights?

Behind Maria stood Ian and Leon holding wooden swords. More precisely, only Leon was holding one. What’s with that wooden sword of yours.

“Lady Shana, come here!”

“What?”

Maria covered her mouth as if she was dying of laughter. Maria, your shoulders are shaking…

“Get away from Lady Shana right now, you bad…”

Maria, covering her mouth with her hand, looked at Leon who had shouted forcefully with a face full of laughter.

‘…She looks… kind of villainous?’

It’s a happy face, so why does she look so mean-spirited?

“You bad woman!”

Leon apparently couldn’t find another word to describe Maria, so he just added the very simple information of “woman.” He probably wanted to say something like “you bad kidnapper” or “you bad bandit” and so on.

But Maria’s face looked kind and cute, at least in appearance.

“Hello, knights.”

“Get away! Let Lady Shana go!”

“Oh my, what misunderstanding are you having? I’m not holding Lady Shana captive.”

I was the one clinging and hitting her.

Maria smiled brightly, deliberately adding “Oh my!” sounds as she teased Leon who had suddenly appeared and pointed his wooden sword at her.

Leon’s eyes widened in confusion, not understanding what had happened, and I… stepped away from Maria with an embarrassed face.

Ian let out a deep sigh from behind.

“Wh-what happened?”

“Leon.”

Leon, who had been standing there confused and at a loss, looked at me when I called his name.

I took a couple steps away from Maria and pointed at her.

“Victim.”

“…”

Then I pointed at myself.

“Perpetrator.”

“…”

Maria started to say “Oh my, but I wasn’t harmed at all!” when Ella flicked her forehead. Why are you teasing the child, she said.

“That’s why I told you to listen to me, Leon.”

“B-but anyone could see…”

Leon stammered with a reddened face.

Ian, as if he didn’t need to hear more, lightly hit Leon. Leon hung his head with a flushed face.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay, it was cute.”

Maria smiled brightly as she accepted the apology, and meanwhile Lloyd approached me.

“Lady Shana, have you been well?”

“Hello, Uncle.”

“I heard a new family member joined, so I came to say hello…”

I quietly looked at the twins. Say hello my foot. He brought them here to play with the twins.

His ulterior motive was obvious, but he still made excuses. Since it wasn’t easy to scold him with my clumsy tongue, I let my narrowed eyes speak instead. Lloyd laughed heartily and said.

“Of course, the twins also pestered me saying they wanted to see Lady Shana!”

“Ask the kids, they wouldn’t say that…”

“That’s right.”

Ian suddenly interjected.

“We really did want to see you.”

“…”

“We can’t lose to a puppy. We’re definitely going to become Lady Shana’s knights.”

No, I told you I have no intention of hiring anyone?

Leon pulled out a wooden sword and swung it as he added.

“I’ll show you how hard we’ve been working! Look, Father taught me!”

There was a cracking sound.

“Oh.”

Evelyn had bitten and broken the wooden sword Leon was swinging.

Leon, holding the broken wooden sword, stared at Evelyn with bewildered eyes. Evelyn spat out the tip of the wooden sword she had been holding and looked at Leon with reproachful eyes.

Maria said.

“You can’t swing a wooden sword in front of Lady Shana. It’s dangerous.”

“…”

“Good job, Evelyn.”

Evelyn obediently received Maria’s praising touch.

Shortly after, Leon’s loud crying echoed throughout the garden.

‘Children are… troublesome…’

I shouldn’t become a crying precious child.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————