216 Backstory of a Baron who loves cats [in the case of Baron Gasket]

Baron Gasket likes cats.

He likes cats that he admits to himself, and there are five cats in the mansion. I put a portrait of a cat in the lid of a rocket that I always wear and a pocket watch that I like to wear, and I look forward to seeing it between work.

No one is bad for loving cats. That is the motto of Baron Gasquet.

"That's right, but please don't break it." Because you have a criminal record. "

Gilbert took back the box containing the magic tool that Gasket had given him.

It's a magic tool for photography that is often used in investigations. Everything is a family affair, but for Gasuke, it's another human resource. I just think that high nobility is somehow tough.

Gilbert Folster is a natural enemy for Gasket, the head of the Magic Tool Tower.

Because without the bracelet that I always wear, the magic tools around me will break due to the strength of my magic power.

They usually wear bracelets outside of the Mansion's private rooms, but the bracelet was broken during a previous mission, and the lending magic tool was broken.

In fact, the magic tool was created by the budget that Gasket, who had just become the director at the time, desperately asked the finance department to raise.

"... I'll be careful"

Gilbert said without moving his face.

I'm begging you.

Gasket said that and shook her head.

Gilbert left early, saying that the conversation was over. Looking at his back, Gasket sighed smallly.

Gilbert Folster is a natural enemy of the cat lover Gasket.

Because he lied that he liked cats.

When Gilbert began to have a cat and heard that he was doting on it, Gasket quickly told Gilbert about the cat. Gasuke did not miss that the man who did not move his expression always loosened his cheeks slightly.

"──You really care about the big family cat, don't you?" Yes, do you have a portrait or something? ”

It is Gasket's creed to call a cat a family member. It is often said that he is a strange person, but I don't think that the idea of a human who has abandoned his title and property for freedom in the first place will be understood by ordinary nobles.

"Portrait?"

"Here, this is it."

Gasket quickly took the silver pocket watch out of his pocket. When the lid is opened, there is a small picture embedded in it, painted with a delicate pen. I summoned a painter who had a reputation for being good at drawing cats.

There are many large paintings of oil paintings in the house, but this painting is the one that Gasket sees most. In the first place, I was often stuck in the Magic Tool Tower, so I had no choice.

Nevertheless, this painting is really good. Although it is a pen painting, it is well colored and looks like a photograph of the real thing.

"... you're adorable, aren't you?"

“This way, you can see your beloved family at all times. I leave it to the servant to take care of me during the day, but when I get home from work, he will hurry to the front door to greet me... those round, moist eyes! What a wonderful creature a cat is.”

“──Yeah, I think I know.”

Gasket rejoiced.

Until now, Gilbert and I only talked about work, but what a good person. Perhaps I can invite you to a cat-loving noble gathering hosted by Gasket.

"Definitely! I think it would be nice for Lord Faulster to paint a portrait of a loving cat." Let me introduce you to my recommended painter. The painter really likes cats and instead of painting anything other than cats, he's very good at capturing their personality! ”

"No, no... I don't even know when I'll be able to take a cohesive vacation, so that's fine. Well then, I still have work to do.”

I felt guilty for calling a busy person to leave in a hurry. But since I showed you the cute cats in the gasket, I'm sure you'll be a little relieved.

Gasket, who thought so, was shocked by the evening party a few months later. The adorable girl Gilbert was with was Gilbert's “Love Cat.”

She was still a girl with good manners, even though she was initially unfamiliar with socializing. There seemed to be some struggle, but I looked happy when I left.

Gilbert, who was escorted next to him, had a softer expression than he had ever seen in the Royal Castle.

Sure... I would compare a lover to a small animal.──

Returning home from the evening party, Gasket was smoking the cat that greeted her shortly before she changed her clothes.

She is one of the five long-haired children. The white long hair makes you feel like a royal princess, but I'm glad because I don't dislike gaskets even when they're on my legs.

If there is a hole, I want to fill it. I showed you my portrait because I liked cats, but it wasn't. If you paint a girl, it will be difficult for a painter like Gasket.

They must have thought you were a strange man.

"Hey, Master, you always tell me not to be buried in a cat in a party dress!" It's hard to get rid of that hair, isn't it? "

The only maid at Gasket's house whispers. Gasket employs a couple of servants who live in the house and have a look at the house with the cat. It was enough for a gasket that was not that big and I didn't often go home.

This friendliness is pleasant.

"Forgive me today... I'm ashamed of my mistakes"

Gilbert is the deputy captain of the 2nd Platoon and one of the close associates of Prince Matthias. I hear that there is a strong relationship with the task force, and it is despised that it is necessary to hide the nature of the work and the lover.

"But you never lied to me about being a cat..."

Other animals could have responded more calmly to the gasket.

More than a cat. It was a cat.

"Tomorrow, what kind of face do we have to talk about...!"

Gasket held his head.

More than half a year later, Gasket heard that Gilbert had broken another communication tool. And this time, in an improved version of what I broke last time, I used an expensive magic stone, and in order to make it as compact as possible, Gasket desperately studied the circuit and finally built it.

In the first place, the magic tools made by Gasuke are the result of research, and at the same time, they are like precious children. I still thought that it would be broken many times.

"I'm so sorry."

Gilbert hands Gasket the broken magic tool.

Gasket was surprised to see it.

“What would it be like?!”

The magic tool was shattered into pieces. The circuits that had been engraved were scorched and cut, and there was no longer any trace of them.

Unlike the previous magic tool, it was broken in a way so different that I could see it at a glance.

... we've engaged the dragon species.

"I know." Thank you very much for your hard work. ”

I am listening to the story.

Whatever it was, a group of dragons rarely swarmed, and the Magic Knight took care of it. It was announced that there were no miraculous deaths.

But the other Magic Knights didn't break like this. Only one of them came home broken. Then there is no reason why it was broken.

Thank you very much.

"But is that the only thing that breaks so much?" This is... um, it's too... "

Honestly, it's a miraculous way to break a human holding this magic tool. It can be seen that it is not just the "broken bracelet" as it was last time, but because it is a gasket that is proud to be the leader in magic tool research.

Gasuke turned to the high nobility with a gentle look after understanding that the opponent was a high nobleman. This expensive magic tool was broken, but it wasn't accumulated as a secretary.

Gilbert lowered his eyebrows in distress and opened his mouth.

"Um... a kitten."

Gulbert's words cast doubt on Gasket's ears.

Cat?

I was attacked by the Magic Knights to protect my late-running kittens.

Gilbert said with an awkward expression. It is unusual for this man to have such a human face. The Knight Commander must have narrowed it down. Matthias would have scolded Gilbert if he had done that.

Is it a real cat?

Yes.

Is that a fluffy animal?

"... yes"

For Gasque, however, what Gilbert said was commendable.

"──I see, I see!" So, what happened to the kitten? ”

“We decided to protect it at home. My wife takes care of me a lot, too."

Gilbert's expression slackened. The slightly raised corner of the mouth must have come from an emotion that loves cats.

"Then I can't help it!" No, I think I did a good job. If that's the cause, I can't help it, yeah. "

“Thank you, and I'll be sure not to do anything similar in the future.”

Gilbert, who was still young, said with a face that knew it was true. Is it because of the nature of the gasket that the figure looks like a depressed cat with its tail dropped?

"No! Please help the cat if the same thing happens again." If that breaks the magic tool, I'll fix it. "

Thank you very much.

Soon after, Gilbert was called away by the servants of the Imperial Castle.

All that was left was a magic tool that had become a ruinous figure. However, Gasket was in a perfectly good mood for her first disappointment.

That Gilbert finally woke up to his cat's adoration.

Another month later, Gasket and Gilbert stumbled upon each other in the corridor of the Royal Castle.

Sometimes we weren't in a hurry, so we decided to say hello from Gasket and stand up. Gasket hasn't given up inviting Gilbert to a meeting of cat-loving aristocrats.

But Gilbert brought up the story of the cat before Gasket spoke.

Speaking of which, Lord Gasket liked cats.

Yeah!

Immediately, Gilbert smiled bitterly and took his pocket watch out of his jacket pocket. Well-polished, it reflects the light and glows.

There was a small portrait in the palm of his hand.

──This is the cat you cared about before.

The portrait depicted an adorable girl with light brown hair and dark green eyes. Is it because I am not used to being drawn and smiling a little embarrassed? There is no doubt that it was the girl that Gasket saw at that evening party. It must be Gilbert's wife.

In his arms is a kitten of the same shade. A painter who painted gasketed cats would be better if only cats, but they were still much more cute and soft than the paintings of the painters around them.

This is── so cute.

Gasket fixes her loose cheek as if she were at home by accident.

"Thank you. So, that's it. If you don't mind, Sir Gasket, I'd like to discuss magic tools."

"What is it?"

"I created magic that only collects cat hair, but they begged me to turn it into a magic tool." I will explain the theory, so please help me.── "

Gasket grabbed Gilbert's hand. Whether the opponent was a high-ranking aristocrat or if he touched it, his heart would be read, it didn't matter.

That is no reason not to squeeze this hand now.

After all, it's a savior for all cat lovers.

"Definitely! Even now!! Let me ask you a question!”

"──... do you mind if I work after hours?"

Some time after that, Gasket entered the study with unprecedented seriousness. A few weeks later, Gilbert was happy to receive the finished magic tool.

The servants of the Gasket House were more pleased with the Gasket House than any magic tool it had ever made.

With the spread of magic equipment, the number of nobles with cats will increase, and the number of participants will increase rapidly at the gathering of cat-loving nobles hosted by Gasket.

Gilbert Folster is the best man for cat-loving gaskets.

That's why you can love your five beloved cats until just before you go to work.