39 Underling Forever (1/2)

'Ancestor?'

'Did I hear this mouse correctly?'

Mina looked at the mouse who had a determined look on its face while standing on two paws.

'Tarou did say ancestor right?'

An unsolicited thought immediately popped up in Mina's mind. She could imagine standing behind Tarou with a feather fan. While imagining a scene where she is the fan-bearer on the right side of the king, she couldn't help but include Barca in the feature. The gentle human would probably be feeding the gluttonous creature with excellent grains. Knowing Tarou, he would be sitting on his mouse throne while patting the human.

Mina looked at Tarou again while shaking her head as if she's chasing the thought away.

Whether Tarou is 400 years old or not, he would be her ancestor. After all, she is from the future. Looking at Tarou with a distrusting look, Mina tried to sound as unconvinced as possible while confronting him.

”Why would you think you're an ancient creature?”

Tarou hesitated before squeaking.

”It's the elder.”

Mina gave the grey mouse a sideways look as if prompting him to explain further.

”A mouse they called elder visited me today. He... he said my memories do not make sense. According to him, they were from 10 summers ago.”

For a mouse who only cares about food, it felt unusual to listen to Tarou admit that he did not make sense. It took Mina some time to digest what Tarou said. Ten summers ago... this means ten years. She couldn't help but give Tarou a sideways look.

'This mouse was trying to take her for a ride.'

”Ten years. Your memories were from ten years ago,” she repeated. Tarou nodded quickly and Mina couldn't help but clear her throat while eyeing Tarou. ”And these mice friends of yours are teaching you how to dupe me?”

Realizing he was caught, Tarou instantly appeared more docile as if he was playing coy. ”Ten summers, that's how long 400 years are if you're a mouse.” Needing to redeem himself, Tarou explained what happened and how he arrived at his conclusion to divert the topic.

”You make friends so quickly!” Mina couldn't help but exclaim. While she was playing with curtains and thread, this little mouse has been making new friends. The only friend she made was an old, suspicious man who could understand wriggling worms! Then there's the maid who almost fainted although that girl is not exactly her friend.

”I am NOT friends with them,” Tarou replied with disgust. ”They are not very likable.”

Mina realized that she held her breath while waiting for Tarou's reply. She was surprised at how relieved she felt when Tarou denied being close to his new mice friends. She felt like she could forgive this fluffy thing from making her believe his 400-year white lie.

'What was I thinking!'

'Why would I be jealous of mice? That's beneath me!' she reminded herself.

'Tarou is an underling Mina, an underling. It's not like he's your best friend.'