PAHKE 13

Chapter 13

“Scary? Please don’t say that. I’ve actually been looking forward to meeting you, Lord Taro.”

“W-what?”

Taro looked flustered by my answer.

Well, of course. I already know his identity as the ‘Fairy of Wealth,’ so there’s no way I’d be scared.

Just look at what happened a moment ago. He suddenly offered a blessing to someone he doesn’t even know.

“Hey! Taro! Stop talking to my master and go home already!”

“W-what… Wi-Wit, you idiot! Y-you’re bewitched by a human and can’t think straight!”

At Wit’s yelling, Taro—who looked like a clock—jumped up.

But judging by the way he spoke, he seemed to dislike humans… no, hate them.

Then how did he even make a contract with one?

I was curious how he ended up contracting with Lucian, but I couldn’t just ask outright.

Maybe after we get a little closer.

“A-any human who sees our true form must pay a price! Gouge out their eyes or cut out their tongue! A-aren’t you afraid of the king?”

“My lady, I told you what’s inside that is dangerous.”

Adriel, who had been quietly watching us, spoke in a cold voice.

A chilling aura surrounded him, as if it might explode at any moment. His ominously glowing red eyes were no joke either.

“Just a moment, Sir Knight. Please wait.”

I had to calm Taro down before Adriel did something drastic.

“Don’t worry, Lord Taro. I have absolutely no intention of telling anyone I saw you.”

Taro, who had been bickering with Wit, snapped at me.

“Y-you think I’d trust a human?!”

“Lord Taro, maybe not others, but I—”

“I told you my master is my woman, so she’s fine! You stupid Taro!”

Thanks to Wit—who had zero sense of timing—I almost lost my chance to persuade him.

“Don’t touch my master! Instead… heh heh… I’ve got a good idea. Kill Adriel. Take Adriel. Hehe.”

That… did not sound like something a so-called “spirit of requests” should say.

He was practically a demon.

“Wit!”

I called him sharply to stop him, and Wit protested with an aggrieved face.

“Master, you only scold me! You don’t say anything to Taro!”

“That’s because… are you and Taro the same? Who am I closer to? It’s you, Wit.”

“Maaaster…”

In truth, I just wanted to get on Taro’s good side.

At my lie, Wit seemed deeply moved and clung to my cheek.

“Tsk, tsk. Wit, y-you’re pathetic.”

“Lord Taro.”

Taro, who had been clicking his tongue, fell silent.

“I’ll never tell anyone. I can swear on my life. So… could you let this go just this once?”

“My lady!”

“Master! Why are you risking your life?!”

Ignoring the looks from Adriel and Wit that clearly asked if I had lost my mind, I kept my gaze fixed on Taro.

“C-cough! Y-you dare to swear in front of us… H-human. You seem serious.”

I nodded firmly.

“B-but…”

“Yes?”

“Even so, I cannot! T-this is the king’s command! His Majesty ordered that any human who sees our true form must be eliminated!”

Taro was stubborn.

…Should I just tie him up and lock him away too?

The thought crossed my mind, but I shook my head.

Taro was different from Adriel.

And it didn’t seem like Wit could easily subdue someone like him.

While Taro raged on, I slowly stepped back.

At this rate, he might do something to me at any moment.

Of course, if it’s a “gold-making hand” kind of curse, I’d gladly accept it.

“If you touch my master, I’ll tear you apart.”

Wit bared his teeth like a feral dog and stood in front of me protectively.

“My lady, you must leave immediately.”

Adriel glared at Taro and tried to shield me behind him.

Watching him quietly, I reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

He turned toward me, and I stood on my toes, bringing my face closer.

I could feel his body stiffen.

“What are you—”

“Don’t move for a moment. I don’t have a handkerchief, so I’ll use this…”

I pulled up my sleeve and wiped the blood from his nose and cheek.

After sending Taro away, I’d take out disinfectant and treat his forehead properly.

After roughly wiping away the blood, I glanced at my stained sleeve.

Clothes can be washed, after all.

I fixed my sleeve and looked up.

“……”

“…What is it?”

He was staring at me blankly, as if he had something to say.

But his red eyes only trembled slightly, and his lips parted without any sound.

What is this?

Puzzled, I brushed it off and examined him.

I hadn’t had time to think earlier, but how did he even move like that?

Until now, he hadn’t been able to resist Wit’s power at all.

Well, maybe the strongest character in the novel keeps getting stronger even while being kidnapped and imprisoned.

The thought was oddly convincing, and I let out a small laugh.

Misunderstanding it, Adriel’s cheeks turned red, and he stepped back.

“I’ll disinfect your wounds later.”

I turned my gaze to Wit and Taro, who were still arguing.

“You’re impossible to reason with!”

Boom!

The sudden noise startled me.

When I looked ahead, Taro—who had been in the shape of a clock—had transformed into a hawk-like bird.

“J-just you wait, humans! I’ll leave for now, b-but I’ll be back soon!”

“Really?”

Then I should find out what he likes before we meet again.

Hiding my thoughts, I asked, and Taro stared at me as if speechless.

His expression seemed to say, ‘Why does she look happy?’

“J-just wait until then, human!”

“Yes, yes. Let’s meet for a long, long time.”

“……”

“Master!”

At the same time Wit called out, Taro shot past me and flew out the open door.

“He left…”

I felt a bit empty. But still, he’s the Fairy of Wealth.

Maybe he dropped something?

With a bit of hope, I turned on the light, but the floor was perfectly clean.

I smacked my lips in disappointment.

Then—

“Ugh…”

Adriel grabbed his forehead, staggered, and collapsed forward.

Startled, I rushed over. His face was drenched in cold sweat, flushed as if in pain.

“Sir Knight! Sir Knight! Please wake up!”

What happened all of a sudden?

As I panicked, Wit explained.

“Hehe. He overused his power, Master.”

“What do you mean?”

“He pulled out more aura than his limit. That’s why he’s so weak now. Weak Adriel, stupid Adriel. Hehe.”

I see… but do you know, Wit?

Originally, both you and I were supposed to die at the hands of that “weak” guy.

Looking at the clueless Wit, I lowered my head.

Adriel’s exhausted face looked painfully pitiful.

“Haah…”

Looks like I won’t be sleeping tonight.

“Stop…”

“Sir Knight?”

While wiping his forehead with a wet cloth and disinfecting his wounds, I paused.

Did he wake up?

But Adriel only twisted his face in pain.

It seemed like he was having a nightmare.

After watching him for a moment, I pulled the blanket over him and tried to leave.

“Don’t go…”

But his hand grabbed my wrist.

Thankfully, Wit had gone out to persuade Taro.

If he saw this, he’d definitely make a fuss.

“……?”

I tried to pull away, but Adriel tightened his grip.

Is he awake or not?

“Don’t go…”

“……”

What kind of dream makes him beg like that?

As I hesitated, his next murmur made me sigh.

“Father… Mother…”

Holding back my sleepiness, I sat at the edge of the bed and looked down at him as he writhed.

Father, mother…

I think I know what he’s dreaming about.

If it’s a nightmare related to his family, there’s only one possibility.

The night his entire family was slaughtered by a demon.

Before the demon arrived, Adriel had fallen asleep in his secret hiding place.

Because of that, he survived.

But he had to listen—curled up helplessly—as his parents and sibling were killed.

Burdened with survivor’s guilt and a desire for revenge, he entered the temple.

Not long after, he had the misfortune of being caught by Rosemary and ended up imprisoned.

…

I looked down at him for a moment, then brushed the hair off his forehead.

“I won’t go.”

Normally, I would have ignored him and left.

But maybe… I feel this way because I understand his situation.

“I’ll stay here, so sleep peacefully.”

Because I know…

how painful it is to lose your family.