Attack! The Great Hog Invasion
It was around when I was returning to my quarters after training ended.
Eeeeek!
M-Ms. Claire! A herd of wild boars appeared out of nowhere...!
Wild boars... you say?
That was straight out of left field. A herd of wild boars? In the middle of NOA?
But as absurd as it sounded, an actual herd of wild boars were charging at us.
As the boars ran wild, Candle Square turned into total pandemonium in an instant.
They are...
...Hogs?
Wh-what do we do?
P-Please wait a moment. This is also new to me.
According to the guidebook... the recommended course of action... In case of guests... In case of an enemy attack... But they're not exactly enemies per se...
Oh, here it is. Article three of Unauthorized Entry of Animals says...
The response depends on whether said animal is accompanied by an owner... Then we move on to article five...
Mmm. I see.
Ms. Bell, could you please investigate whether there were any suspicious individuals near Candle Square? For now, start by checking if there were any witnesses.
*Sigh* Fine.
As for Scarlet... Please close the doors so the boars don't leave the premises.
Understood!
Until we figure out what is going on, I will manage these... visitors.
Let's set up a temporary pen in the backyard for now.
As for you, Captain...
Should I set up a fence?
That would be much appreciated.
There are tools and materials in the storage shed. Feel free to use whatever you need.
Without hesitation, Claire rushed in and calmed down the wild boars one by one.
Amazingly, the rampaging wild boars quickly calmed when Claire coaxed them into submission.
The Candle Square maids and I moved in unison under Claire's command, and before long, the situation was brought under control.
Ah, Captain. You were still here.
I was just about to go back.
I'm sorry to have asked for your help when you should be resting. My sincere apologies.
Still, thanks to your help, we were able to take care of things much more easily.
Thank you.
Anything I can do to help.
You display a commendable mindset, Captain.
What's that in your hand?
Oh, it's a fuel container.
I've been feeding them fuel.
Whoever let them loose, or wherever they came from, it's not their fault.
They must be quite hungry from all that running around.
They're happy to be fed.
...Fuel?
...Oh.
A-he-hem! The truth is, they are no ordinary boars.
They're categorized as bike hogs.
Bike hogs?
Yes. Bike hogs, unlike normal boars, can run with a person on their backs.
They're much stronger and faster than regular boars, and with a strong enough bond, they can even understand human speech to some degree.
Of course, they'll fiercely resist if someone they haven't accepted attempt to ride them.
You sure know a lot, Claire.
Ngh...!!!
...I've done some research.
A Candle Square maid must be able to handle any situation with composure, after all.
It is best to have a broad range of knowledge at your disposal.
Hmm...
Anyway, the question is, how did a herd of wild bike hogs end up in Candle Square?
And for them to be so riled up... It's hard to see anything but malicious intent behind it.
I'm sure it will soon come to light.
One of the bike hogs squeezed through a gap in the fence and stuck its head into the feed—I mean the fuel container.
Hmm. This one has quite the appetite.
Perhaps we might as well give it a name?
Hmm... What's a nice, normal name for a bike hog...
How about...
Bernius the Ever-Hungry... That should be a fitting name.
From now on, your name is Bernius. Do you like it?
Normal...?
Hmm? Is that not a nice, normal name?
Let's see, it would be unfair to name just one...
That spotted one over there will be... Black Angel Darkross.
You are swift... so you will be Shooting Star Gargarcia.
And as for you... Yes. Erhardt of Lightning Flash will do.
Claire nodded in satisfaction as she wrote down the names in her notebook.
I felt my mind slip into a daze as Claire continued to churn out outlandish names.