Published: September 4, 2025
This is not from Satou’s perspective.
This is the second update today.
Note: Typo corrected on 8/12.
The things I love the most are Master and meat.
“Oh? Does Pochi dislike me?”
That’s not true. I like Arisa too.
“Does Pochi dislike Tama?”
“Is that so? So I rank lower than meat, huh?”
Tama and Liza want me to wait.
“I see~ Pochi-chan likes meat more than everyone else. What a shame~ Especially since I’ve finally learned how to cook delicious steak.”
“I hereby express my regret.”
“That’s mean.”
Ah, Lulu, that’s not right either. Nana and Mia also want me to wait.
But meat is delicious. It’s so tasty and makes me happy.
“Then Pochi doesn’t need us anymore. Goodbye, Pochi.”
That’s not true. Please wait.
◇
“Don’t go~ please!”
“Whoa, you startled me. What’s wrong, Pochi? Did you have a weird dream?”
Looking around, I see Tama sleeping on Master’s lap.
Is this our camping spot?
I fell asleep during the night watch.
“Everyone is being mean to me.”
“That’s just a dream. Everyone loves you, Pochi, so it’s okay.”
Master gently pulls me close and strokes my head and back. It feels so good. It feels so good that I almost fall asleep right then and there.
Snap! I strike a pose and snap myself awake. I can’t just leave Master to do the night watch alone; that would be shameful for a slave. I saw Tama sleeping on Master’s lap, but I’m sure Tama is just pretending to sleep. Yes, that must be it.
“Now I’m not sleepy anymore.”
“If you’re sleepy, it’s okay to sleep, you know?”
“I’m fine.”
But the “Asipara Meat Roll” I ate as a late night snack was just too delicious. I’m full and happy—
Ah!? Danger! I almost dozed off.
Arisa also said it—fullness and sleepiness are the strongest enemies.
At times like this, reading is the answer.
“Master, please read me a book.”
“Hm? The book Arisa bought at the used bookstore? Didn’t you learn how to read, Pochi?”
That’s different. What’s important is that Master reads it to me.
“Then shall we read it together?”
“Yes, please!”
■――――――――
Long, long ago, a very long time ago.
Seven gods came from the gods’ world along with the World Tree.
The gods planted the World Tree in the earth and gave many people wisdom and language.
And the people lived happily ever after. The end.
――――――――■
“That’s not right. That’s not the story.”
Master is being careless. I must protest firmly.
No matter how much I tap Master, he just laughs and doesn’t act like it hurts.
Master is mean today.
“I give up, Kou-san~ I’ll read it properly, so forgive me.”
“Being mean is not allowed. The next chance is the last chance.”
“Understood. I’ll read it properly.”
■――――――――
People lived peacefully and prospered abundantly at the foot of eight World Trees.
But at some point, there were nine gods in the world.
The eighth god was the dragon god.
He had been there even before the seven gods came with the World Tree.
The dragon god was a heavy sleeper and slept until the world had completely changed.
When the dragon god woke up, he was very surprised, but since he was a magnanimous god who didn’t fuss over small things, he happily accepted the seven gods and lived peacefully with them.
But the ninth god was different.
――――――――■
“Master, why is it ‘pillar’ (hashira) instead of ‘person’?”
“Hmm? I don’t know? That’s just the counting unit I remember. Birds are counted in ‘wings,’ and mice are counted in ‘heads,’ right? The counting word changes depending on what you’re counting.”
As expected of Master. I don’t really understand, but I feel like I do.
“Thanks. Please continue reading.”
I pressed the book on Master, and he said “Ouch” and laughed. Seeing Master smile makes me happy.
■――――――――
The ninth god was a demon god who came traveling from another world.
The demon god was very selfish and couldn’t tolerate not being the best, so he often quarreled with the other gods.