“Yeah, back at the command center where I was, all the kids did this exercise. That just shows how effective it is!”
“Then, if I do it too, will I grow tall like you, Commander…?”
“Of course! Just make sure to drink milk every day, sleep early, and wake up early, and you’ll grow in no time.”
Really?
You’re not lying, right?
“This big sister also ate well, slept well, and did this sturdy exercise diligently, and that’s how she grew so much.”
As I looked up at her with a doubtful gaze, Nunu noticed my expression and answered.
…Rather than getting taller, it seems like other parts have grown more.
Ahem.
Anyway, since Nunu herself said it was effective, I guess I can believe it.
“Alright. So, how do you do this sturdy exercise?”
“I’ll show you. First, stretch your hands straight up above your head.”
Raise my hands above my head?
Is she telling me to do a victory pose or something?
Uh, victory pose!
“Good. Well done.”
I did it because she told me to, but…
What exactly is the meaning of this move—whoa, ahhh?!
Wait, Nunu! Uh, um.
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
Nunu grabbed both of my arms and lifted me up.
I was dangling just slightly off the ground.
At this rate, I might end up swinging in midair.
“Fufu, no need to be so tense. This is how the exercise is done.”
R-Really?
“Now, in that position, stretch your back as if you’re stretching after waking up.”
It felt a little embarrassing, but if it helped me grow taller, I had no choice.
So I stretched my back as far as I could.
“Huuuuh…!”
A refreshing sensation spread from my spine through my entire body.
It felt as refreshing as getting a massage.
“Good job. Now, just repeat that every day.”
…That’s simpler than I expected.
So that’s it? I thought there would be more to it.
I raised my arms to head height and stretched again to practice what I had just learned.
“Hieeek!”
Oh, the more I do it, the more it feels like my body is stretching up and down.
Is it already working?
No, this won’t do.
I quickly stood up and walked over to the Commander.
“Huh? Maru, what’s up all of a sudden?”
“Please give me a pen.”
The Commander tilted their head in confusion, then grabbed a ballpoint pen from next to the computer and handed it to me.
Holding the pen, I walked over to the command room’s wall and leaned my head against it.
“Ah, I see. You want to record your height, right?”
“That’s right!”
Noticing my intention, Nunu quickly ran over and marked my height.
[ – Maru, Day 1 Height.]
“Alright, perfect.”
The reason I wanted to record my height was simple.
Now that I had learned the ultimate sturdy exercise, my height would grow rapidly day by day.
This was a chance to check my progress every day and see how much I had grown.
“Looks like our Maru really wants to grow taller. Even keeping records like this.”
“Yeah, at this rate, Maru might end up being way taller than me someday.”
The Commander seemed to feel a sense of crisis.
But it was too late.
Now that I had started the sturdy exercise, my height would keep growing and growing until the Commander looked like a tiny little kid compared to me.
And when that happens… hmm… I’ll pat their head a lot and pinch their cheeks too.
“Alright then… shall we all do the sturdy exercise together? Commander, you too!”
“H-Huh? Me too? Well, I guess I don’t have anything else to do right now…”
As I returned to the sofa and resumed the sturdy exercise, the Commander and Nunu also stood up and joined me.
Looks like they still had regrets about their height. Poor adults.
But it’s no use.
Their growth plates are already closed, so the sturdy exercise won’t do anything for them.
This is why being a kid is the best.
“Okay then, everyone…!”
Stretch!
And so, the intense sturdy exercise session came to an end.
“Huff, huff… This is harder than I thought. Am I getting old…?”
“…Commander, aren’t you still in your twenties?”
The Commander, exhausted, lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for air.
Even with my small body, I was still fine, yet this full-grown adult was acting so dramatic.
“Commander, that just means you’re out of shape.”
“Maru, that’s too harsh…”
The Commander gave me a betrayed look.
But whatever. I was just stating the truth.
Speaking of which…
Nunu, could you let me go now?
“Just a little longer, just a little bit more, okay?”
How many times has she said “just a little bit more” now?
Right now, I was trapped in Nunu’s embrace.
She called it “animal therapy”…
But seriously, she’s the one with animal traits, so how does this count as animal therapy?
Still, it’s a relief that she didn’t stroke me while hugging me or stretch my cheeks.
If she had, I would have caused a commotion.
With no excuse to escape, I just sat still and played with Nunu’s fingers.
Her hands were soft, making it fun to play with.
-Ding!
As I spent time sitting on Nunu’s lap, a peculiar notification sound came from the computer.
At that moment, the commander, who had been lying down, suddenly jumped up and sat in front of the computer, staring intently at the screen.
What? Were they just pretending to be sick? Or maybe that notification was something important.
“Hah, I see. Maru and Nunu, ugh, both of you, come here.”
It seemed like it was the latter.
Nunu and I wriggled our way to the commander’s side.
“Oh my, this is…”
Nunu looked at the computer screen with a surprised expression.
But seriously, what is it that’s so shocking?
I’m too short to see the screen.
Why are you guys reacting by yourselves?
Show me too!
“Ah, Maru probably can’t see it, huh?”
Noticing me bouncing up and down below, Nunu lifted me so I could see the screen better.
The only problem was that they grabbed me under my armpits and lifted me, making me…end up in that classic “rooooong” pose.
“Huh, Maru? What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
Sigh.
I’m too tired to even comment on this anymore.
I just shook my head instead of answering.
“Alright, we got two emails. Let’s check them together.”
Turning my head, I checked the computer screen.
The first email was titled [Military Supply Support Request].
The second one was [Supply Route Securing Request].
Military supply support… That sounds like one of those resource-gathering missions in gacha games.
And the second one is probably related to the main quest.
But securing a supply route?
In a world where deliveries are sent via teleportation, why do we even need a supply route?
…Is it because this game is trash?
Seriously, there’s already a lore inconsistency?
They sure made the setting convenient.
Sigh.
“Ugh, military supply support? I’d rather just stay here and hug Maru instead.”
The moment Nunu saw the words “military supply support request,” she made a disgusted face and flat-out refused to go.
Does she know something about it?
Well, she was part of the command staff before, so it’s only natural she would know.
“If Nunu hates it that much, just what kind of mission is it?”
“Ah, since you’re new, Commander, you probably don’t know. Military supply support is…”
Nunu then started explaining.
Thinking it was a simple request, they went, only to find muscular men sweating while carrying cargo.
Nunu ended up hauling loads like a slave.
She had to move cargo several times her own height, and there was so much of it that no matter how much she moved, it never seemed to end.
Lunchtime was only 10 minutes, and all she got was a tiny salted rice ball and a small bottle of water, leaving her starving.
…That’s just straight-up an unlucky warehouse job.
“That sounds… horrible. That’s the kind of request it was?”
“Right? You have no idea how exhausting it was. Making people work under the scorching sun in the middle of summer without even a fan!”
Nunu trembled as she recalled the experience, clearly traumatized.
“It must have been suuuuuper ha-ha-ha-hard.”
Because of that, my body, which Nunu was holding, shook as well.
My voice wobbled with every word, making it sound like I was talking into a fan.
It was kind of fun.
“As expected, Maru is the only one who understands me. I love you, Maru!”
“Hiieeeh?!”
Suddenly, Nunu rubbed her cheek against mine.
Gah, that startled me.
That soft sensation against my cheek completely caught me off guard.
…I think I made a weird, embarrassing sound just now.
It’s best to just forget about it.
I’m a tough guy, no way I’d make such a pathetic sound.
Right?
Yeah, that’s right.
“Alright, let’s put the military supply request on hold and check the supply route mission first.”
“I agree.”
“Yes!”
I hate warehouse work too.
Do they expect me to do hard labor with this small body?
I’d definitely collapse from exhaustion.
And all that weight pressing down on me would probably stunt my growth too.
“Let’s see…
A small number of monsters have been spotted near the E-Zone Command Center.
This area is crucial as it handles multiple supply routes for the command center, but due to the appearance of high-grade monsters, there is currently a shortage of manpower.
Commander of C-Zone, please locate and, if possible, eliminate the monsters.
Location: E-Zone Command Center, Entrance A.
Departure: Tomorrow morning. –
So this is the first mission, huh.
I just need to handle it like the tutorial, right?
Until the day I return home…
Let’s do this!