Chapter 136
Perhaps because they were hiding a fake Divine Beast, the security at the Marquis of Skya’s mansion was extremely tight. Not only was it difficult to sneak in, but even attempting to enter disguised as guests—as they had done when rescuing Lilibet and Bjorn—was impossible because the Marquis’s house had declared they would not receive any outsiders for the time being.
“Currently, the only ones allowed to enter and exit the Skya residence are a few pre-arranged priests and some poachers.”
Jet, who had returned from closely observing the Marquis of Skya’s mansion as much as possible, relayed the situation.
“I succeeded in entering the mansion disguised as a poacher, but I was unable to reach the basement where the Basian is presumed to be kept.”
“Kkuruk……”
Baembaem, who was listening to the explanation alongside them, burst into tears. While Todori wiped the tears away with a handkerchief, telling the snake not to cry, Jet blinked with an expression that seemed to ask, ‘Is a rabbit really comforting a snake right now?’
Then, recalling his duty, he added a further explanation.
“It appeared they were intentionally pitting it against other animals in fights to heighten the Basian’s cruelty.”
“Kkuruk!”
Baembaem wailed. Todori embraced and soothed Baembaem, unconcerned that his own fur was getting wet. Jet stared at Baembaem and Todori once more with eyes of disbelief before concluding his report.
“If my guess is correct, the ‘newly appeared’ Divine Beast of Skya will be that Basian.”
“Kkururuk!”
“Don’t cry, Baembaem. Let’s go find your mommy now.”
It would be one thing if they didn’t know where she was, but since they knew, there was no reason they couldn’t rescue her.
Asil gently stroked Baembaem’s head.
At that, Jet cried out in utter consternation.
“By any chance, was that snake the offspring of the Basian?!”
“Yes, he’s still a baby.”
“E-even if it is a baby, a Ba-Basian is—! They have lethal poison in their fangs, so even a slight graze should be fatal—!”
At this, the eyes of Todori, who had been soothing Baembaem, narrowed. This fellow, he had been lunging forward trying to bite somehow during their duel; so that was why! A miffed Todori slapped Baembaem on the back.
Kkuruk!
While Baembaem shrank back after being hit without warning, Jet pointed wildly at Todori with a face drained of all color.
“A ra-ra-ra-rabbit hitting a Basian!”
“You two shouldn’t fight.”
“Kkyu!”
Feeling wronged, Todori protested with his front and back paws that the other guy had started it first. Baembaem also defended Todori, saying the big brother did nothing wrong.
Seeing this, Jet’s face looked as if his soul had departed. Just what was Lady Erzébet’s identity that she was raising such mysterious animals as pets?
Then, realizing it was not the time to be spaced out like this, he told Asil the extent of what he could do.
“It is possible to disguise myself as a poacher, but it seems impossible for me to guide the Young Lady to the basement.”
Only the head of Skya, Karon, held the key to the basement. Because the security was so tight, it was impossible to reach the basement while avoiding his eyes.
“I am sorry. My abilities are lacking.”
“No. Human—no, Jet did a great job.”
Asil held out a basket of strawberries she had prepared in advance as a gesture of thanks. For Asil, who loved strawberries, it was the highest praise. If it hadn’t been for him, the location of Baembaem’s mother and the identity of Skya’s fake Divine Beast would still be a mystery.
Though it was a small gift, it came as a great moved gesture to Jet, who had always been used only as a tool in the Sunrise ducal house. He even knelt and received it politely with both hands.
“I will have my subordinates infiltrate Skya. It will take some time, but I will find a way to access the basement somehow.”
“No, you don’t have to do that!”
There was no need to take the long way when there was an easy and fast method.
“You said the animals brought by poachers can enter the basement, right?”
“Yes. But a person—”
“That’s enough.”
Because she could solve everything with just that. Asil shrugged her shoulders with a face bursting with pride.
The plan Asil devised to rescue Baembaem’s mother was simple. Since animals were allowed in the basement, she would disguise herself as an unlucky lizard caught by a poacher and go in.
At that, Baembaem hopped here and there and flew about frantically.
“Kkuruk! Kkuk kkuruk!”
It meant he wanted to be taken along as well. To top it off, Todori raised one front paw high into the air, signaling not to forget him.
“Kkyu!”
“What? No. It might be dangerous!”
Though they had gone together when rescuing Bjorn and Lilibet, that was to distract Karon; they hadn’t gone together to a dangerous place. Asil looked uncharacteristically stern.
However, Todori showed no sign of backing down.
“Kkyuut!”
Todori hung onto Asil’s sleeve, dangling there while arguing that if it was dangerous, she should take him even more, and how could she think of leaving him behind. Eventually, Asil decided to take both friends.
But there was still one more obstacle remaining. Upon Asil saying she wanted to send animals to Skya, Jet replied:
“If that is the case, at least five animals are required. That is because Skya only accepts requests to meet when that condition is met.”
Five.
Even adding herself, Todori, and
Baembaem, there were only three. But he said five! She had to fill the head count somehow, but she couldn’t drag innocent animal friends into this matter.
If so, there was only one way left.
“I need two beastmen to help me!”
During a pleasant dinner with her family, Asil raised her hand high.
At this, Briana, who had been looking for an opportunity while under a ban on tea times with Asil, raised her hand first.
“Mommy will help you!”
“The daddy who is good at magic is right here!”
Arcian followed up with his own appeal, and Snowa, who was a beat late because he was chewing meat, hurriedly swallowed and shouted.
“Are you going to increase the number of males again?!”
“No!”
“What is it! Just say the word, Asil. Mommy can help with everything! Shall I make you another dress?”
“No.”
“If it’s a matter requiring magic, Daddy is the right fit. What kind of magic do you need? Fire? Ice?”
“No, I don’t need magic.”
“Then perhaps……. Do you need a hand for your duel with the Duke of Monlepe? If so, Oppa will go out in your place.”
“What? You’re having a duel with the Duke of Monlepe?”
“A duel? Our Asil?! Asil, Mommy will knock him down for you!”
“Daddy can knock him down in one second!”
The dining room became noisy in an instant. She had only said one word asking for help, but she couldn’t speak because of the continuous arguing.
‘I’m saying give me a chance to speak too!’
Asil puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. Then, the family members, seeing Asil’s expression belatedly, hurriedly fell silent.
“Asil, go ahead and tell us.”
“What kind of help do you need?”
“I want you to be locked in an iron cage with me in your true forms.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Briana snapped the fork she had just picked up. Arcian broke the neck of his wine glass, and Snowa dropped the meat he was eating. And beside them, Todori and Baembaem, who were eating grass and meat together peacefully, gaped.
It wasn’t that the words were wrong, but the state of the sentence choice was……?
Among them, Briana, who was the first to regain her senses, asked in a chilling tone.
“Is it perhaps because of the Duke of Monlepe?”
“No, Edenber has nothing to do with this. This is to save Baembaem’s mommy!”
Asil slowly explained that Baembaem, who came from the Beastmen’s Forest, was looking for his mother.
At this, Arcian, who finally nodded with a face of understanding, looked at Snowa.
“It would be best for Snowa to stay, and only Briana and I to go.”
“I don’t want to, I’m going too. If Todori and Baembaem go, I must go too!”
“Fine, Snowa isn’t just a kid anymore, so let him do as he wants. Arcian, you can guard this house.”
“What?! No, it’s better for you to guard it than me. Poachers usually prefer animals that look dangerous, but you don’t look dangerous at all, do you?”
“What?! Does a lizard like you overflow with dignity then?! Just because you’re uselessly big and always go around reducing your size!”
Sizzle. Sparks flew between the two beastmen.
In the end, they made a bet with Rock-Paper-Scissors over who would follow Asil. And they tied for a whopping twenty rounds. They were truly a married couple with the same thoughts.
Asil, tired of waiting for a winner, proposed a compromise.
“Mommy and Daddy go together. Then it works, right!”
“……Aha?”
Come to think of it, he said more than five, he didn’t say exactly five must come. She was a truly smart Black Dragon, no matter whose daughter she was.
Thus, Asil’s family went to the Marquis of Skya’s mansion in their true forms.
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