BDSML~09

Chapter 09

Back in the guest reception room.

The moment the door closed behind them, the merchant guild couple let out the breath they had been holding.

“Haaah, huff… I thought I was going to suffocate and die!”

“So did I, dear! I was so nervous I thought my heart would jump out at any moment…!”

The two collapsed onto the sofa, their faces looking a good ten years older than when they had left the room, swaying weakly.

Only Sona, who had returned after eating to her heart’s content, looked bright and cheerful.

“Do you think this is really going to work, dear?”

“No, it’s too soon to relax. Until we quietly retrieve the smuggled goods without being discovered, it’s not over even if it’s over.”

“The items better still be there. We already traced the purchase routes for some of the expensive ingredients and luxury goods.”

“We hid them carefully and systematically, so there should be no problem. Still… my hands are shaking. Those barbaric, rough Northerners!”

“Exactly! Did you hear what that huge knight said earlier? He looked like he was about to punch someone!”

“Tch, I still don’t understand why Grandfather ever signed a contract with the North in the first place.”

“Next year, we should really end this terrible trade agreement! There’s no reason we should suffer this kind of treatment. Especially now that relations between the Imperial Family and the North aren’t what they used to be!”

“Indeed. I’m already looking for the right timing to cut ties, so don’t worry, my dear.”

“Good thinking!”

For a moment, silence fell.

The couple, who had been angrily fuming in perfect sync, suddenly came back to their senses and lowered their voices.

“…But still, doesn’t it feel strange that the Grand Duchess is letting this slide so easily?”

“You feel that too? Honestly, I do as well.”

“Still… the Imperial Family wouldn’t want unnecessary trouble. As long as we are an officially designated trading guild, they can’t just interrogate or harm us without evidence.”

“I suppose so?”

“Dad, Mom! Sona sleepy! I want to sleep!”

At the child’s complaint, the couple quickly wiped away their uneasy expressions.

“Let’s finalize the contract and leave at first light tomorrow.”

“Yes, dear.”

And so, even as they prepared to sleep, they could not let go of their lingering anxiety.

Night deepened.

Once I confirmed that everything around me had fallen silent, I slowly crawled out from inside Sona’s coat.

“Damn it… my legs are cramping like crazy.”

The loud snoring of the merchant couple filled the room.

I quietly moved toward the window.

The original shopping plan had completely gone to ruin… but more importantly, escaping without being caught and returning safely to Sion had become the priority.

Besides, what I had overheard earlier kept bothering me.

‘They said… they smuggled the supplies.’

My thoughts spun quickly.

“Alright. Time to exit.”

I pushed the window with all my strength.

“Hraaagh—!”

But I slipped on the frame and slammed my head straight into the glass.

THUNK…!

“Gghk…!”

A dull, heavy sound echoed.

A moment later, the merchant guild master, who had been snoring in bed, slowly sat up.

“Hm? Ferdi… Keus? You’re back already?”

He staggered toward the window with a sleepy face.

I quickly flattened myself behind the curtains.

After a moment—

Creeeeak.

He opened the window and looked outside.

“Ferdi Keus?”

“….”

“Chu-chu? Come to your father?”

“….”

“Hm… must’ve been my imagination…”

Still half-asleep, he left the window open and shuffled back to bed.

Taking advantage of the moment, I slipped out from behind the curtain.

Freedom was right there.

I leapt toward the window.

Or rather, I tried to.

But—

Grab.

“…???”

Something seized my body.

Looking down, I saw tiny, chubby fingers gripping me tightly.

‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.’

“Hehe! Sona caught it!”

I turned my head stiffly.

There she was—little Sona.

“Wow~! A sparkling pretty fairy!”

“….”

Sona clutched me tightly and ran somewhere in a hurry.

Where she stopped was the birdcage belonging to the merchant guild master’s messenger bird, Ferdi Keus.

Creeeak.

Clank.

“Hehe! From now on, it’s Sona’s! I’m going to keep it!”

“….”

“Let’s live together for a long, long time, pretty fairy!”

“….”

‘No. Absolutely not. Not happening.’

I stared at her with a dead expression, seriously wondering what I was supposed to say to make this kid let me go.

Just then, a voice came from inside the bedroom.

“Sona, you little rascal! We’re leaving early tomorrow, so go to sleep!”

“Yes!”

Sona glanced at me once more, then disappeared back inside.

And just like that, I was left alone inside the cage.

“…Unbelievable. I’ve seen some things, but this is a new level.”

I shook my head.

Then I moved toward the cage door. I pushed it just in case—but it didn’t budge at all.

‘…No choice.’

If it came to this, I’d have to brute-force it with my fandom skills. The window was still open; if I broke the cage and bolted, no one would catch me.

“Alright. Let’s do this.”

I raised my hand and aimed at the cage door.

“<Nothing can block my—>”

At that moment—

Sssshk.

Something moved in the darkness.

“…?”

I squinted—and met a pair of yellow eyes.

A centipede as large as my entire body.

Shrrrk… shrrrk…

“……!!!???”

I reflexively unleashed my skill at the creature crawling toward me.

“KYAAAH!! <NOTHING-CAN-BLOCK-MY-FANDOM>!!!!!!!”

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Pink heart-shaped projectiles burst from my hands.

After several misses, one heart struck the centipede directly in the face.

SMACK!!

“Kueeek!”

The centipede let out a final scream and died instantly.

“Huff… huff… huff…”

I gasped for breath.

“W-What the hell! Where did that thing even come from?!”

It looked like it had escaped from the bird feed container nearby.

“Jeez… that scared the crap out of me.”

I steadied my breathing.

Then, once I calmed down, I aimed again at the cage door.

Or rather—I tried to.

But my body felt strangely drained.

‘…? What the…?’

I forced my remaining strength into the skill.

“…<Nothing can block my fandom>!”

But nothing happened.

A bad feeling crept in.

Ding—

EVENT GUIDE:

Due to your earlier spam of meaningless, reckless skill usage, your fandom energy has been completely depleted! Please recharge your fandom energy before using skills again! ^0^/

“……What.”

I stared blankly.

“Fandom energy? Since when was that a thing?! You should’ve told me earlier!!”

I shouted in frustration.

Then I slumped to the ground, completely drained.

In the most absurd way possible, I had become truly trapped in this miserable birdcage.

“…I’m doomed.”

I muttered weakly.

I stayed awake the entire night.

By the time dawn broke and the sound of birds chirping filled the air—

That annoying face appeared again in front of me.

“Hehe, Sona’s!”

Sona hugged the cage tightly, squirming with joy.

Then she placed the coat she had worn yesterday over the cage.

“It’s cold, so Sona will keep you warm!”

“….”

Just then, the merchant guild lady, busy packing, shouted.

“Sona! What are you doing there? Did you pack your dolls and storybooks?”

“Mm-mm.”

“If you don’t bring them now, you’ll cry later when you can’t find them!”

“Don’t need them.”

Sona rubbed her cheek against the cage happily.

“Sona only needs this!”

“What is she even talking about?”

The lady stormed over irritably.

“Look at this child… why is she hugging a smelly birdcage?”

“Mom! There’s a fairy inside!”

“What?”

“I caught a fairy yesterday and put it in there! I’m going to keep it!”

“…Haah.”

The woman let out a deep, exhausted sigh.

At that moment, the merchant guild master called out urgently from inside.

“Dear! Everything’s ready! Let’s depart!”

“…! Alright!”

The lady hurriedly resumed packing. Sona kept cuddling my cage and humming happily.

“…What do I do.”

Panic crept in.

I needed to find a way out—fast.

If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up as nothing more than a plaything for this kid.

‘No way. I haven’t even dressed Sion properly yet. I can’t end things like this!’

I had to return to Sion no matter what.

But—

“Thank you once again for the warm hospitality of the North, Grand Duchess. We will take our leave now.”

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

Before I could do anything, the merchant guild’s carriage sped out of the ducal estate like the wind.

Trapped inside the cage, I watched the manor grow smaller and smaller through the window of the moving carriage.

“…Are you kidding me.”