TDPMVI 8

Chapter : 08

“…A, a puppy?”
“Kyiung.”
Lisa muttered in a daze, and the creature responded with a small sound.
It looked like a tiny puppy, about calf-high.
The puppy, covered entirely in white fur with red eyes, stretched its body and walked toward us, softly stepping as if pressing on little squeaky floorboards.

“G-Go away, shh!”
Lisa clutched me tighter, wary.

It stopped precisely two steps away from us.

“Kki… kkicheng!”
With a small sneeze, the puppy spat something out.
A small, shining red stone. My eyes lit up.

Finally, it appeared!

“The heart of a magical beast!”
I shouted as I picked up the heart, and Lisa’s eyes went wide.

“H-Heart? What do you mean… Wait, you’re saying that’s a magical beast?”
Lisa panicked and tried to lift me up, but I ignored her and stroked the beast’s head.

“It’s fine. They don’t attack if they’re full.”

As expected, the puppy closed its eyes and accepted my touch obediently.
This snowflake-like puppy—or rather, magical beast—was a guardian of the Stukkia Duke’s estate.
Its gentle nature meant it wouldn’t attack first, but if anyone intruded on its territory, it would mercilessly devour them.
And after a satisfying meal, it would spit out something—the heart of the magical beast.

The heart contained pure magical energy and could be sold for a very high price.
In other regions, these creatures had been hunted to extinction by poachers, but in Stukkia, some still remained.

Even in my previous life, this beast caused the loss of more than half of Agnito’s forces.
Back then, rumors circulated that a single magical beast guarded the Stukkia estate.
But the commander of Agnito’s knights scoffed:

“Pfft, it’s a dying house. What’s there to fear?”

They forced the doors open.

“Ugh, ugh! Wh-what is this! S-save me!”

The so-called “gatekeeper” devoured them on the spot.
Agnito lost half their forces without even trying.
I had thought it was terrifying…

“Kyaaung.”
The puppy—or rather, magical beast—wagged its tail in response.
It was so cute, ears drooping, accepting my touch.
It didn’t look like the shadowy devourer of men at all.

Thanks to it, I could now handle someone unpleasant—or repay a favor.
“Thank you,” I whispered softly, turning to Lisa.
“Here, take this.”

I held out the magical beast’s heart.

“Huh? Why… me?”
“You can sell it to mages for a very high price.”
“…What?”
“Don’t ever sell it for less than 500 gold. Anything less would be robbery. Tell them it’s just pocket money if they complain.”

“Wait a moment, miss… what are you saying…”
“Take this and go back home, Lisa.”

Lisa froze.

“You came all the way to Agnito to earn money for your sick siblings. Selling this will solve your problems.”
“How do you know about that…”
“The duke will think we died in the north anyway, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

From the beginning, the Duke of Agnito probably intended to kill us along with the man.
That’s why he hired a criminal rather than someone from the estate—thinking we’d all die anyway.

So even if we sold the beast’s heart, no one would pursue us.

“Wait… wait. I don’t understand. Miss… you’re not seriously—”
“…Saying you want me to leave you here alone?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded. Lisa’s face turned pale with shock.

“I can’t let you do that. Go with me instead.”
“That’s not possible, Lisa.”

The Eastern clergy knew of my existence.
Even if Lisa sold the beast’s heart to cover living expenses, she’d still need the temple’s support for her sick family.
If my existence were discovered, Lisa would bear all the responsibility.

Knowing the evil nature of Duke Agnito, he might even frame Lisa as a kidnapper.

But Stukkia was different.
No one searched this land.
Anything abandoned here was allowed.
Even if a child like me was alone, it wouldn’t be strange if Lisa accidentally found the magical beast’s heart.

I had to stay here.
I was more familiar than anyone with graves and the afterlife.
It’s not like I have nothing to rely on.

“I’m fine, so go, Lisa. Hurry!”
I pushed her gently but firmly. Surely, she would leave now.
Was this the “virtue” my grandmother spoke of in my previous life? It felt strangely fulfilling…

“…I can’t. I can’t leave you here.”
“Huh?”
But Lisa’s determination was stronger than I expected. She grabbed my arm and began to pull me along.

“Uh? Uhh?”
I’m really fine! Honestly, I wanted her to leave me alone!

“Lisa’s not leaving me. I wanted to stay here!”
“…Then, then at least take half of the money from selling the heart. Until then, stay with me, okay?”

Lisa tugged at my arm stubbornly, trying to buy time to persuade me.
She clearly couldn’t leave me behind.

I shook my head and held her hand with my gloved one.

“I already received the money, Lisa.”

Her hands were red and chapped from constantly giving me her gloves.
Not just the gloves.
The scarf she knitted herself.
The hat with animal ears.
The blanket she gave me in the carriage.
The hair she lovingly touched, hoping I’d look nicer…

My body was filled with Lisa’s kindness.

Of course, at first, I wanted to stay with her. I didn’t want to leave her either.
If I protested, she would have stayed.
But how could I say that while thinking of Lisa’s happiness with her family?

Her happiness was not here—it was with her family.
I, who had always craved family love, understood that better than anyone.

I held Lisa’s hand tightly again and said,

“You are the only one who treated me kindly. That’s more precious than anything.”
Looking into her eyes to make sure I’d never forget, I spoke sincerely:

“…Thank you, Lisa. Thank you for being kind to someone everyone hates.”

My eyes burned with tears.
But I mustn’t cry!

I tightened my gaze and gently pushed at her waist.

“So go, Lisa! Quickly!”

No matter how hard I pushed, she didn’t budge.

“…You knew from the start, didn’t you? That we were heading to Stukkia, not the temple.”

Hah. Sharp question.

I didn’t answer, and Lisa continued:

“I thought it was strange from the start. When you hit Lord Bert, and even when Princess Esther met you and cried…”

I didn’t know she knew about Esther, but Lisa seemed well-informed.

“…Am I a burden to you by being here?”

I couldn’t answer. Lisa wasn’t a burden, but I couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t be in danger because of me.
I couldn’t stay with her either. Lisa had to live.

“…You’re not a burden.”
“You mean I could become one, right?”

Lisa muttered quietly, calmly accepting her situation, not bitterly.

“I wish I could stay with you, but…”
“….”
“Understood. If that’s your wish, I’ll obey.”

She looked down at my feet as she said this.

“…As long as this beast is friendly toward you, nothing serious should happen.”

By now, the magical beast had rubbed its face against my calf.
Lisa hugged me tightly and handed me something: a paper with her hometown address.

“If anything happens, contact me here. I’ll come immediately.”
“Okay! Got it!”

I answered firmly. Even so, Lisa hesitated, glanced back several times, and then, resolved, grasped the reins.