Chapter 20 : The coffee is not… tasty!

Finally, it’s time to start the meeting.

Although, it’s just a strategy discussion, really.

“Ugh, ugh…”

“Can I help? You look like you’re struggling a lot.”

“I’m fine. I’ve done this a lot before… ahh…”

Bada groans while carrying a stack of papers. They are probably related to the request.

Even though she just came out of a bath, she’s still sweating, so the papers must be really heavy.

…Well, it’s strange if they aren’t heavy. They’re nearly touching the ceiling.

How did those papers even get stacked that high? And how did she pass through the door?

“Ugh.”

By the way, do we really need so many papers for such a light request?

I’m not sure.

I silently swallowed my growing questions while watching Bada place the papers on the desk.

“Ugh, oh my…”

Bada taps her back with a sound like an old woman.

She must be okay, right? I think I heard a popping sound from her back.

“…All of these are documents?”

Oh my.

The commander and Nunu were looking up at the mountain of documents with disbelief.

Please tell me we don’t have to go through all of this, right?

That would be too dreadful.

“Why are you all looking at me like that? The only document you need to read is this one.”

From amidst the towering pile, Bada pulled out a single sheet of paper and handed it to us.

The stack wobbled, but luckily didn’t fall over.

“No, then what about all those documents…”

“Oh, those? They’re our commander’s food expenses for the month. The commander told me to leave them here with you.”

Bada’s explanation made the commander gasp in shock.

Wait, food expenses for the month? Why are there so many documents for that?

Maybe it’s because there are a lot of people.

This command post is bigger than I thought.

No wonder there’s a royal bathhouse and even a laundry room…

“…?”

Huh.

The commander suddenly locked eyes with me and nodded.

His expression was almost smug, like he was teasing me, saying, “Maru, your pudding probably costs about this much.”

Of course, that wasn’t exactly what he meant, but what other reason could there be for him looking at me after seeing all the papers?

He’s probably worried about food expenses.

What a mischievous old man.

I slowly walked over to the commander and stared at him.

Don’t you have anything to say to me?

“Ahem.”

Look at him.

Even though he knew I was there, the commander pretended to clear his throat and turned his head away.

I pinched him hard in the side.

“Ugh, Maru, why are you doing this?”

“Don’t you know why?”

The commander looked totally innocent, as if he had nothing to feel guilty about, with a distressed expression.

“I was just a little worried about the food expenses.”

“That’s the problem. Why are you nodding your head while looking at me? I don’t eat that much, you know?”

His face suddenly turned to one of disbelief, as if he were shocked.

Is that really such a shocking thing?

It’s the truth.

“Yeah, yeah.”

It really doesn’t look like he believes me.

What have I eaten anyway?

Half a chicken, a burger, some chicken nuggets, and maybe about 200 puddings…

Compared to my small frame, I did eat a lot, but I’m not some huge glutton!

And besides, who kept feeding me saying, “You’re growing, so you need to eat well!”

I was just like a baby bird, being fed! It’s not fair!

It’s not fair!

“I’m a light eater, okay?!”

“Yeah, if you think so, then that’s how it is.”

He clearly doesn’t believe me at all.

Ugh.

Growl.

Just as I was thinking about how to punish this old man, my empty stomach sent me a clear signal.

I’m hungry.

“Hmm.”

…I haven’t eaten anything today, so of course, that’s why. I just wish he would stop looking at me like that.

If he keeps doing that, even the commander won’t help me.

Hmm… I’ll impose a punishment of no head pats for the rest of the day.

Wait a minute. Forget that.

No head pats is a serious matter.

Looks like Maru is really hungry. There’s a little bit of sandwich left. Does anyone want it?”

Bada, probably having heard my stomach growl, asks if anyone wants a sandwich.

I was actually planning to ask Bada if there’s any food, but I forgot.

Well, it’s okay. My stomach asked for me.

“Oh, that’s great for us. Please, do!”

“Bring it over!”

Nunu, looking hungry, answered in a small voice.

…By the way, how much must Bada dislike him if he’s sitting as far away from her as possible?

I think I need to talk to him later. Ask him if he can get along with Bada.

But I’d better do it right after the sandwich, or I might forget again.

“And as for drinks, three cups of coffee will be enough… oh.”

As I nodded in agreement, Bada suddenly scanned me from head to toe.

What’s she doing now?

Then she grinned and spoke.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got orange juice for Maru!”

Wait, what did that cat just say?

“Then two cups of coffee and one orange juice, is that the right order? Okay!”

“Hold on! I can drink coffee too, you know?!”

Does she think I’m some little kid who can’t drink coffee?

“Well, I may look like this on the outside, but deep inside, there’s a tough guy who really wants coffee.”

Orange juice? No thanks!

“Heh, really?”

“Since I’m an adult, coffee is no problem!”

I placed my hands on my hips and puffed out my chest.

“…Pfft, then I’ll bring you three cups of coffee~”

Hmph, you should have done that from the start.

Just watch, I’ll drink it all in one go without even adding sugar.

“…”

“So, where exactly did adult Maru go?”

“Shut up…”

That’s strange.

Really strange.

Since when was coffee this disgusting, bitter, and rough-tasting?

This can’t be right. There’s no way this is coffee. Did they put something else in it?!

Sorry, but that’s just a regular Americano. Look over there — other people are drinking it just fine.

At Bada’s words, I turned to look at Nunu and Commander. Both of them were calmly sipping their coffee while reading documents.

…Seriously.

Then why is mine tasting so different?!

“Do I really look like the kind of cat that would do that? I’m hurt…”

…Oh, never mind. Sorry.

Then what is it?

There’s no way I’ve suddenly become someone with a baby palate who can’t even handle coffee.

Maybe it’s the lack of sugar? Oh, right. What I usually drink is an “Ashotchu” — iced tea with a shot of espresso.

Iced tea has sugar in it, so maybe it’s the lack of sugar that’s the problem.

As expected, I’m smart.

“Maru, how much sugar are you putting in? If you keep going, it’ll turn into sugar water.”

“Not yet. I put more sugar in iced tea than this.”

“…I don’t think that’s the kind of iced tea I’m thinking of. Maru, you realize you’re adding your twentieth sugar cube, right?”

Huh. Have I really added that many?

Looking closely, I could see undissolved sugar floating around like debris.

At least it won’t taste bitter anymore.

“Blegh.”

It tastes awful…

Pfft, I knew it. Want me to bring you some orange juice?

“Of, of…”

“You think you can finish it?”

I shook my head wildly at Bada’s suggestion, absolutely refusing the idea of orange juice. Then I looked down at my coffee cup.

Just thinking about the taste made the bitterness fill my mouth again.

And even though I already took a sip, the cup was still full. Am I supposed to drink all that?

That’s a bit…

“Juice… please.”

“Hmm? I can’t hear you~”

“OO…”

…They’re definitely teasing me.

What a cheeky cat.

“Fine, I’ll get you an orange juice for our little baby Maru~”

“Ugh…!”

I clenched my fists in boiling frustration, but there was nothing I could do.

I was the one who confidently ordered coffee and gave up after just one sip.

This is strange. I used to drink it just fine.

Seriously…

Slurp, slurp.

“Is it good?”

“…Yeah.”

For the record, the orange juice was incredibly delicious.

My pride is shattered.

“Anyway, the job we’re taking on is to exterminate this antlion, right?”

The commander, sipping coffee from the corner, handed us a document.

It had a large drawing of an antlion, with information densely written beside it.

My eyes hurt…

An antlion, huh. So that’s why the ants were running all the way to where we were.

“Looks like it. I was wondering why they were running so far — turns out they were trying to escape from the antlion’s territory.”

So even monsters like fire ants and antlions fight each other, huh.

But how did those two natural enemies appear at the same time? That’s one heck of a coincidence.

“…Huh? It says here that I’m supposed to join this mission? Then who’s going to guard the house?”

Bada tilted her head while calmly reading the document.

I followed her gaze to the bottom right corner of the paper, where it said in small print: [Bada, please read.]

“Bada, what’s written here at the bottom?”

“Huh? Let me see.”

[Bada, please read.]

— If you’re wondering who will guard the house, don’t worry. It’s more concerning if you stay behind.

— If you successfully complete the mission, you’ll get a treat.

Bada’s eyes sparkled after reading the last line.