Chapter 63
In his childhood, Ralph’s father would ruffle his son’s hair as he scattered affection and friendliness in all directions, saying:
There are many good people in the world, many who are enjoyable to be with, and many who will cherish Ralph. Spending time with them would surely make Ralph’s life happy and rich.
As Ralph nodded vigorously, living exactly as his father had said, his father would laugh heartily and add:
But someday in life, you’ll meet someone so special that they’ll stand out even among all that abundant goodwill.
Someone who makes you think, “I must become part of the same group as this person and spend my whole life with them.”
Then, unlike when you can’t meet other people and you feel a little upset but forget about it as you eat, play, and meet new people, when you can’t meet this person, it’s as if one part of you becomes completely empty, and you can do nothing but wait helplessly.
‘If you meet such a person, you must never let them go.’
Ludwig’s voice was rarely so serious when he said this.
But Ralph honestly didn’t understand that story well.
Ralph already had many people he liked enough to fill his heart, and parting with them was already a sad affair.
But an emotion so different that it could be clearly distinguished from this?
Even now as an adult, Ralph couldn’t understand what kind of emotion Ludwig had been talking about.
‘I already like the people I’ve met recently in Reinke tremendously.’
He really liked the Reinke people with their large builds and sincere personalities, and the dwarves with their amazing craftsmanship and hearty laughs. They were all wonderful people.
Ralph genuinely enjoyed the time he spent with them, and the thought of parting with them when his work in Reinke ended already made him feel upset.
For some reason, everyone had been looking at Ralph with a pitying expression these past few days, but… anyway, Ralph was glad because he knew it was out of affection.
So Ralph couldn’t easily imagine what kind of emotion could be so clearly distinguished from this already overflowing feeling.
Of course… among the many “good people,” there was someone who stood out as exceptionally better.
Ralph thought of the man who always had a tired look on his face, but whose eyes would always soften when he faced people.
A person whose seemingly sensitive face when expressionless would completely transform into a gentle and soft impression the moment his slightly drooping eyes curved.
Ruan Daen. Dietrich’s assistant.
Ralph really liked Ruan Daen.
Ruan Daen was a kind person. Ralph had thought so from their first impression, but the more he got to know him, the more it proved true.
After learning that Ralph was a dog werecreature, Ruan began to consider him much more attentively.
Every time Ralph discovered subtle but clear considerations for him as a dog werecreature, he would raise his head abruptly to look at Ruan. Then the pale-faced man with a somewhat tired appearance would look at him with a puzzled expression, as if he had forgotten what he had done, wondering if something was wrong.
As concern began to show on the face of the man blinking his eyes that seemed to be covered with a layer of fatigue, examining if there was a problem. Eventually, unable to contain his excitement, Ralph would dash over, and Ruan would smile as if troubled.
Reading the affection in that smile, and the kindness that couldn’t push him away despite the troubled expression, Ralph’s mind would be filled with thoughts of how good it felt.
It was like the feeling of ‘I like it!’ bubbling up like soap bubbles, filling from his chest to the top of his head, colliding with each other and popping.
Ralph often felt this way when he was with Ruan.
Like when he realized that Ruan was actually carefully observing the people around him even when he seemed lost in thought with an indifferent face, or when Ralph entrusted his head to Ruan’s gentle petting as if he were a paper doll. Or when Ruan would smile back at him when Ralph raised the corners of his mouth and opened it slightly while being awkwardly petted.
In such moments, Ralph would feel so happy that he thought he could sprint up the high Reinke mountain range in one go.
Ruan was that good of a person.
But even so, when asked if the emotion he felt when he was with Ruan was clearly distinguishable from the emotions he felt with other good people, Ralph could only tilt his head in confusion.
Of course, there was a difference in degree… but wasn’t it just that he liked everyone, and he especially liked Ruan more?
Anyway. Although he still didn’t understand that special emotion Ludwig had talked about, it was true that Ralph liked Ruan very much.
That’s why Ralph was in a very good mood now that Ruan had requested a private meeting.
With a feeling as if his tail was wagging vigorously even though he hadn’t taken it out, Ralph unfolded the note Ruan had given him earlier.
[Could I see you in the library at eight in the evening? If possible, I’d appreciate it if you could come without letting others know.
―Ruan Daen.]
‘He wants me to come without letting others know, if possible.’
Ralph recalled the moment he received this note.
The moment when, as they were passing by each other, Ruan suddenly came closer and a strange note was placed in his hand.
To receive a note in such a suspicious way and to have such content written on it.
This was really…
‘My heart is pounding.’
Ruan had a talent for stimulating a dog’s curiosity.
Labrador Retrievers are basically hunting dogs.
Just as he was starting to feel restless from days of only working and resting without proper stimulation, except for running outside, Ruan had prepared such an event.
Ralph moved towards the library with an excited heart.
As he was crossing the corridor with light steps.
Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching from his direction.
At that moment, what flashed through Ralph’s mind was the phrase written on the note.
[If possible, I’d appreciate it if you could come without letting others know.]
Ralph swiftly hid his body at the point where the corridor bent.
Then he heard familiar voices from beyond the wall.
“No, really, every time I see it, my heart aches…”
It was the administrative officers he had become acquainted with over the past few days.
Although he was glad for the unexpected encounter, it was a situation where he couldn’t show his face. Instead of jumping out to greet them, Ralph pressed his body against the wall and waited for them to pass.
While Ralph was becoming one with the wall, the conversation between the two administrative officers continued.
“Really, even if you look at it while doing a somersault, affection is dripping from every part of his body. He likes him so much… sigh.”
They seemed to be talking about someone around them who was obviously in unrequited love.
‘Who could it be? Was there such a person?’
Just as he perked up his ears at this unfamiliar news.
“But what can we do? Ruan is… dating His Grace!”
Ralph froze on the spot.
Ruan Daen…
Is dating…
Dietrich?
“That’s right. We all know how much Ruan likes His Grace, but we can’t even cheer for it… everyone who sees it feels heartbroken… sigh.”
“His Grace, cold as he is, is lenient towards Ruan, isn’t he? They’re dating so well, but to think someone would fall in unrequited love with Ruan…”
The conversation continued about someone who was in unrequited love with Ruan, but Ralph couldn’t hear any of it.
Because.
‘Why… am I shocked?’
He was surprised at himself for being shocked by the fact of Ruan and Dietrich’s relationship.
Ralph thought carefully.
Dietrich was Ralph’s friend.
Ralph knew that although he was aloof, he was actually a good cat.
And Ruan Daen.
Ruan was the best person among those he had met recently.
Ralph really liked him.
So the story he just heard was, if anything, good news about good people getting together and dating.
Doesn’t adding good to good usually make something even better?
But why.
‘My heart… feels strange?’
Ralph placed his hand on his chest, which seemed to be stinging and churning, and tilted his head.
Why was it so shocking that the two were in a relationship, and why was his heart feeling so strangely turbulent?
What kind of feeling was this?
As he pondered deeply, Ralph suddenly realized that the two people who had been talking had already passed where he was and gone far away.
‘Oh no. The appointment time.’
Realizing that he had spent quite a bit of time in the corner of the corridor, Ralph started moving towards the library again. Still puzzled by the strange sensation that wouldn’t leave his chest.
Arriving at the library in hurried steps.
“Ah. Guild Master, you’ve arrived?”
The moment he witnessed the clear kindness appearing on the face of the man who had looked tired upon discovering him, Ralph.
‘But what can we do? Ruan is… dating His Grace!’
Once again, he had to face a strangely intense churning feeling.
