Chapter 3
A fluffy white whipped cream cake.
Atop it, an enormous strawberry as a garnish.
Asil, who loved strawberries second only to their mother in this world, slowly opened their mouth.
“Bbi ya bbi…”
Despite their resolve not to let their guard down, their body moved toward the cake.
Not minding the white whipped cream getting on their black front paws, Asil plucked out the strawberry.
Its vibrant red color and the way it filled both front paws made it look incredibly appetizing.
Taking a big bite, a sweet-tart flavor spread through her mouth, fireworks exploding in her mind.
“Bbi ya bbi!!!!” (Delicious!!!!)
There were strawberries in the Beastman Forest, but none were as juicy as this. To think such strawberries existed in the world!
Tears welled up in Asil’s large, bell-like eyes.
As if afraid someone might snatch it away, Asil hurriedly stuffed the strawberry into their mouth in one go.
Their small, round black face puffed out on both sides like a squirrel storing acorns.
“Delicious?”
“Bbi.”
Asil tried to say it was delicious, but with her mouth full of strawberry, she couldn’t speak.
Flustered, Asil nodded vigorously and took another strawberry from the cake.
Stuffing it into their mouth again, waves of emotion crashed in their eyes.
It was so delicious that their short, stubby tail spun like a windmill.
That day, Asil ate delicious strawberries until her stomach was ready to burst.
Edenver watched Asil gloomily.
* * *
Strawberries were delicious, but going home was something that had to be done.
In the dark midnight, with crickets chirping,
Asil, who had been pretending to sleep while tightly hugging a rabbit on a soft cushion, quietly opened HER eyes.
With fern-like front paws, Asil gently shook the baby rabbit, who was fast asleep, to wake them.
“Bbi ya, bbi ya!” (Rabbit, rabbit!)
“Kyu—”
“Bbi!” (Shh!)
Startled, Asil covered the baby rabbit’s mouth.
“Bbi ya bbi!” (We have to escape from here!)
Careful not to make rustling noises, Asil cautiously slipped out from the cushion.
With everyone asleep, now was the perfect chance to escape.
Though grateful to the man who gave them delicious strawberries…
The thought of him trying to eat the baby rabbit made Asil unable to let her guard down. She might end up in the same situation someday.
“Bbi! Bbi ya!” (Follow Asil quietly!)
Asil began to tiptoe across the vast room.
Behind her, the half-asleep baby rabbit followed, eyes half-closed from drowsiness.
But then.
“Bbi?”
Something from behind caught their attention.
What was that? Startled, Asil whipped around.
And there, to their astonishment, was a mountain of strawberries piled high on a white plate.
It was a midnight snack prepared by Edenber, who hadn’t given up on Asil’s ferocity, in case they went on a rampage.
No wonder there was a sweet fragrance!
“Bbi ya aaa!”
Letting out a cheer of happiness, Asil quickly covered her own mouth.
Glancing at the door in case someone came, and seeing no one, Asil approached the strawberries and picked one up with trembling paws.
The strawberry gave off a delicious aroma.
“Bbi i…”
Asil couldn’t help but salivate.
Untying the scarf she was wearing, Asil wrapped up two strawberries—one for herself and one for the rabbit—like a peddler carrying a bundle.
She wanted to bring some for her mother too, but her small body could only handle two.
Turning around, she saw the rabbit, tired of waiting, had fallen asleep.
“Bbi ya bbi ya bbi ya!” (Wake up! You can’t sleep here!)
“Kyu…”
Despite the heavy strawberries, Asil took care of her friend.
Using the cushion as cover in case a human suddenly entered, she cautiously crossed the wide room.
How much time had passed?
Finally, the door leading to the hallway came into view.
‘Now I can go outside.’
Earlier, Asil had checked and found that a barrier preventing proper magic use was set up in this room.
‘As soon as I get out, I’ll use teleportation magic to go to the Beastman Forest.’
Though their mother had said, “As soon as I break the barrier around the Beastman Forest, I’ll come find you, so don’t worry,”
sitting still and waiting for someone to come didn’t suit Asil’s independent nature.
Determined to return home on their own, Asil made up their mind.
However.
“Bbi yat!”
she faced a huge problem.
she was too short to reach the doorknob.
“Bbi ya aaa!”
Since they hadn’t learned how to fly yet, all they could do was jump with all their might.
Their small body repeatedly sprang into the air.
But no matter how much she jumped, she couldn’t reach the doorknob and only got further away as her strength waned.
“Bbi hya. Bbi hya. Bbi hya…”
Panting and sitting on the cushion, Asil felt dejected. Was their dream of escape over?
No. There was their dozing rabbit friend beside them.
‘If we work together, we can open the door.’
Eyes sparkling, Asil shook the rabbit friend vigorously.
“Bbi ya, bbi ya!” (Rabbit, rabbit!)
“Kyu…”
“Bbi yat bbi, bbi ya. Bbi ya aat!” (Asil will lift you. Go turn the doorknob!)
Shouting energetically, Asil lifted the rabbit’s bottom.
But the rabbit friend was still fast asleep.
“Bbi ya aa!” (Rabbit!)
“…”
Unaware of Asil’s urgency, the rabbit didn’t wake up.
In truth, even if it did, it wouldn’t have mattered—combining the height of a tiny dragon and a baby rabbit wouldn’t make much difference.
“Bbi…”
Saddened, Asil set the rabbit down.
If only my arms were a little longer… she imagined a dragon beastman with long arms opening the door with ease.
‘I’ll definitely become that kind of dragon beastman.’
Feeling upset and sniffing, a rumble came from her stomach. The midnight exercise had made her hungry.
In the end, Asil untied the scarf she was carrying like a bundle and nibbled on one of the strawberries.
While eating, the strawberry was so delicious that it made them even sadder.
Just then.
Whispers came from beyond the door.
“Even the Duke, how could such a tiny monster have any useful abilities?”
“If we take in such a weak creature as a divine beast, it will greatly damage the prestige of the Munlepe family. What was he thinking, accepting it?”
“He’s young, so he must lack judgment.”
“Let’s kill it first and make it look like an accident.”
Unable to hear the conversation clearly due to the thick iron door, Asil’s eyes lit up.
There was someone outside, so she could ask them to open the door.
“Bbi kkeum. Bbi kkeum.”
Setting down the half-eaten strawberry, Asil cleared her throat.
Then, she knocked as hard as they could so the humans outside could hear.
“Bbi ya-!” (Open the door-!)
But then.
BANG!!!
The door, designed to withstand even a massive explosion to counter a divine beast’s strength, flew off its hinges.
Asil, who had inadvertently destroyed the door, blinked in surprise. Huh?
“…Bbi?”
Where did the door go?
Asil tilted their head in confusion.
They blinked down at their fern-like front paws.
Then, belatedly, she noticed the group of humans frozen outside.
Shocked by the unimaginable strength, they couldn’t move rashly.
Meanwhile, one of them was groaning, pinned under the fallen door.
Seeing the collapsed human, Asil’s pink eyes widened.
‘The human is hurt.’
She had learned that human bodies were weaker than beastmen’s! Rushing over in a panic, Asil lifted the door.
“Bbi ya bbi bbi ya?” (Human, are you okay?)
As a polite dragon, Asil didn’t forget to ask about their well-being.
Only then did the humans snap out of it and exchange glances.
‘What do we do? Isn’t that an orichalcum door?’
‘It is, but… maybe it’s defective?’
‘Either it’s defective, or the door was broken. There’s no way that tiny thing could have destroyed it.’
The one who said this was a vassal who had earlier urged Edenber to reconsider the summoning.
With misguided loyalty, he often brought up Edenber’s young age, trying to lecture the young duke.
And now, he had caused trouble.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
‘Take care of it before the Duke arrives.’
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By Anna 💓
