IAYA 25

chapter 25

Once I had decided to save the monster, there was no room left for hesitation.

I knew better than anyone that I could be in danger, but I didn’t let myself think too deeply about it.

There wasn’t time to sit and reflect carefully now—if I kept dwelling on the risks, I wouldn’t be able to take even a single step forward.

What do I do? How do I rescue the monster inside?

There was little time to think.

If the flames grew stronger, I wouldn’t even be able to get in, and there was no guarantee that the monster trapped inside was still alive.

Maybe if I just free it, the monster can break through the flames with its own strength?

Its body far surpassed that of a human—not only in stamina, but in toughness of skin and natural adaptability.

If it weren’t chained, it would never just sit and die in the fire.

If my guess was correct, then all I needed to do was get inside and release it, and the chances of survival would rise drastically.

…Alright.

Of course, freeing the monster wouldn’t be easy. But it wasn’t impossible either.

Fortunately, I’d already prepared a lot for secretly communicating with the monster until now. If I used that, this might not be hopeless.

Resolute, I ran back to the apothecary room and pulled out a black robe I’d hidden away.

I had made this robe recently to cover the monster—it wasn’t human-sized but far larger, almost like a blanket.

I seized it and quickly soaked it in water until it dripped. Only then did I carry it and sprint back toward the burning laboratory.

My legs still trembled with fear, but after a deep breath, I pressed the drenched robe over my head.

Crackle, crackle!

I heard my own footsteps pounding toward the burning lab, but somehow, everything felt like a dream.

Normally, I was timid—I had no idea where this courage came from.

All I could think about now was saving the monster. That was it.

Boom!

I rammed my shoulder into the scorched door and rushed inside.

The key, I need to find the key.

I had watched carefully where the assistants usually kept it.

I hurried to the desk of the last assistant on duty and pounded at his locked drawer with whatever I could grab.

Bang, bang, bang!

I struck with such force that my hands went numb, but the locked drawer refused to budge.

What do I do?

At that moment, a screeching sound—metal scraping horribly—made me turn my head.

A flaming cabinet was tipping in my direction.

Move! Now!

I quickly threw myself aside, just as the cabinet crashed down where I’d been standing.

The thought that I’d nearly been crushed made me swallow hard.

And then I noticed something—the fallen cabinet had smashed open the very drawer I couldn’t break.

No time to waste.

Flames were spreading toward it, but I beat them back with the big robe, and soon I found the key to the iron door.

The glint of the silver key in my hand almost made me cry in relief.

Now, free the monster.

Without pause, I sprinted to the iron door where the monster was confined and thrust the key into the lock.

Creak…!

As the heavy iron door swung open, I was met with a sight I could never have imagined.

“What is this…!”

The room inside was huge, like an open chamber. Piles of chemicals and papers were stacked around, and at the center…

Chained in place with iron links as thick as a grown man’s wrist… was—

A cat.

A tiny, adorable white cat, sitting primly among the chains that looked fit to restrain a terrifying beast.

Its glossy fur shone, its appearance refined and elegant. It was so cute I almost wanted to pinch it.

“A… cat?”

Where was the monster I’d come to rescue?

As I frantically searched for the creature I had spoken with, the cat’s expression lit up—and it spoke.

『…Y-Your Majesty?』

I turned to stare in disbelief, but the cat beamed brightly.

『You came to save me? I knew it, Your Majesty!』

“Y-You’re the monster?”

『I’m not a monster—I’m an almighty being! But never mind that, now’s not the time to chat.』

The cat’s deep navy eyes flicked around the burning room, its voice dropping.

『If we hesitate any longer, we’ll be buried alive. Let’s get out.』

“O-Okay.”

I didn’t understand what was going on, but I could recognize the voice—the monster I had spoken with was this cat.

I wanted to ask why the monster looked like a cute animal instead of something grotesque, but now wasn’t the time.

“Wait, let me unlock those chains…”

『What are you saying?』

“Huh?”

『These chains aren’t normal. If they could be cut, I’d already have escaped. Even finding the key in this fire would be impossible.』

He was right.

I’d only found the key to the iron door. I had no idea how to remove these special chains.

Even if someone told me how, finding the key amid the flames would be nearly impossible.

“But I can’t just leave you—”

『Eh? Who said anything about leaving me here?』

“What do you mean?”

『Why take the hard way when there’s an easier one?』

“What are you talking about…?”

The cat’s navy eyes glowed darker. With a grave expression, he said:

『Amplify me.』

“What? Amplify?”

『Yes. If you, the Queen, amplify me, I can snap these chains like threads.』

“How do I do that?”

『You really don’t know?』

His incredulous tone only frustrated me more.

Then—

Rumble!

The building shook violently. No one could say how much longer the flaming structure would hold.

The cat’s face turned serious.

『Fine. I’ll explain simply—there’s no time.』

“Okay, quickly—”

『Give me your blood.』

“…What?”

『Hurry! Unless you want to die here, give me your blood!』

My thoughts froze.

Why blood? But the urgency in his tone told me he wouldn’t ask for no reason.

If what he said was true, my blood was the key to amplifying him.

I glanced around quickly. Among the piles of papers, I spotted a used pair of scissors.

Nothing to lose anyway.

Swish—

Without hesitation, I pressed the blade to my palm and cut.

Perhaps too forcefully—blood flowed freely, dripping down my hand.

But I didn’t care.

I rushed to the chained cat and held out my bleeding palm.

The moment he saw my blood, his eyes changed. He darted out a tiny tongue and began to lap it up.

It tickled more than I expected, but I couldn’t focus on that—because something unbelievable was happening.

『Hahaha! This power! It’s been so long since I’ve felt this!』

The cat’s body swelled.

Muscles twisted and expanded, his frame growing massive in an instant.

The cute little cat vanished, replaced by the largest, most fearsome monster I’d ever seen.

“Ah…”

I could only watch in shock.

He’d been right. Whether it was truly my blood or not, the chains now fell away uselessly.

Clang! Clang!

The shattered chains scattered across the floor, revealing his monstrous form fully.

『This is the Queen’s power! How sweet your blood tastes…』

His long tongue flicked as if savoring the flavor.

Gone was the adorable cat. Only a terrifying monster remained.

“How…”

But I couldn’t finish—

Step, step.

Footsteps approached, and a husky, familiar voice rang out.

“Didn’t I warn you, milady? Not to come to the lab today.”

“D-Duke?”

I turned, stunned, to see Theansis.

He walked calmly through the flames, not a speck of soot on his clothes.

“What are you doing in such a dangerous place? And that blood…”

His violet eyes locked on my bleeding palm. For a moment, I thought I saw them flash red.

His face hardened, cold and furious.

“That monster did this to you?”

At his words, I glanced instinctively at the beast. After all, aside from me, only the monster was here.

“That’s not—”

“Grrrrr…”

The beast growled menacingly at Theansis. To me, his words were still clear.

『Stand aside, Queen. I owe that man a debt.』

“A… debt?”

『It’s his fault I was captured in Tarhan Forest. His damned family—the Accruzes.』

“You mean… you’re trapped here because of the Duke?”

『Yes. Normally, he’d be no match for me. But now, with the power you’ve amplified, I’ll take my revenge.』

I turned to Theansis in disbelief.

Though he couldn’t hear the beast’s words, my reaction told him enough.

“It’s true. I captured him and handed him to the alchemy professor. And now I’ve come to reclaim him.”

“Why…?”

“Because of the pact.”

“The pact?”

“Humans never set foot in Tarhan Forest, and monsters never leave it. That’s our oath. Any monster who breaks it—like this one, or the others captured by the Academy—faces punishment.”

“Oh…”

“If the oath is broken, death is permitted. That’s why humans who enter the forest never return, and why I don’t release monsters that come out. It’s our rule.”

I was speechless.

If that was true, then the monsters I’d met were criminals—lawbreakers.

While I stood frozen, the beast, unable to contain itself, lunged at Theansis.

『Nonsense! That oath has no reason to exist anymore!』

Theansis sidestepped the massive paw with ease, drawing his sword in one smooth motion.

“For harming the lady, I’ll deliver judgment.”

『Big words! Die!』

Clash!

Claws met steel, the force scattering the flames around them.

In a blink, the two exchanged dozens of blows, turning the chamber into ruins.

“Stop! Please, both of you, stop!”

I cried out, but neither heard me.

Desperate, I stepped into the fray and shouted with all my might:

“Stop it, both of you!”

Whoosh!

As if by a miracle, both claw and sword froze.

Before I knew it, I was standing between Theansis and the monster.