Ch.173
“What is this?”
The box she received unexpectedly was as light as a feather. Asil tilted her head and opened the box.
Inside, a single palm-sized notebook was laid out.
The cover looked old and worn, but the inside was completely new.
Aether explained its purpose.
“The first Duke Skya loved treasure hunting, so they hid various rare magical artifacts here and there. This is a magic-infused exchange notebook. With this, you will be able to communicate with the person you want.”
In other words, it meant that with just this, she could stay in contact with Edenber even after returning to the forest.
Asil’s mouth hung open.
She had been feeling gloomy after asking her dad to leave his communication device with Edenber, only to be told it wouldn’t work without beastman mana.
With this, she could keep in touch even after returning to the forest!
Aether glanced toward Edenber.
“I prepared it thinking you would want to contact the Duke of Monlepe, but if you don’t need it, I will exchange it for something else.”
“No, I like this!”
Asil quickly hugged the notebook dearly. This was truly the best and most necessary gift.
“Thank you, Turtle Lady! I’ll use it really, really well!”
“Right.”
With that succinct reply, Aether finished her greeting.
The next turn was Selena.
As soon as it was her turn, Selena looked around cautiously and hurriedly whispered.
“You know, Lady Asil. It’s not that I intentionally hid the fact that I’m a possessed person……. So, regarding that, if you could just show some leniency once……”
“What is a possessed person?”
Asil blinked innocently and asked the question.
Selena froze at the unexpected reaction.
She doesn’t know the word ‘possessed person’? Was she not a possessed person?
‘Could it be acting? No, she looks like she truly doesn’t know.’
After a moment, having made her judgment, Selena clapped her hands together.
“Aha, Lady Asil, you are a regressor!”
“What is a regressor?”
However, at Asil’s following question, she froze again as if nailed to the spot.
If she’s not a possessed person or a regressor, then……?
“Are you perhaps a reincarnated person……?”
“What is a reincarnated person?”
The time for the ship to depart was drawing near, but she had been saying strange things for a while now.
Asil pouted her cheeks crossly.
And because of Asil’s attitude, Selena’s thoughts truly came to a halt.
If she’s not a possessed person, a regressor, or a reincarnated person, then what on earth is she?
Was she just a normally born beastman? But then, how could she have escaped the fate of death?
Could she be lying?
No, her expression is too…… but if she were a possessed person, regressor, or reincarnator, she could put on that much of a facade…… Ah, my head hurts. Aaaaah…….
Selena, who had postponed all her schedules to come here and apologize for falling out of Asil’s favor, fell into a panic.
Eokaste naturally pushed such a Selena aside and stepped in.
“The Saintess’s condition is always poor, isn’t it?”
“Princess!”
Asil grinned at the welcome face.
Eokaste narrowed her eyes and gave Asil a light flick on the forehead.
“Ouch!”
“Do you remember what I said seven years ago?”
“What did you say?”
“That if you were revealed to be a spy for Count Erzébet, you would be severely punished.”
She raised one hand and gave a signal.
Then, her guard knights who had been standing at a distance lined up in a row behind her.
Everyone grew tense at the suddenly changed atmosphere.
Todori and Bembemi, who were hidden in Asil’s pocket, poked their heads out, while Arcian and Briana, who had stepped away to allow for easy farewells, approached with stiff faces.
It was when Asil’s family had gathered in one place.
Suddenly, Eokaste knelt on one knee.
The guard knights behind her did the same.
“……!”
The beastmen, surprised by the unexpected situation, hesitated.
Eokaste spoke in a tone more polite than anyone could have imagined.
“I pay my respects to the heroes who saved the Empire.”
Then she slowly stood up, turned halfway, and spoke in her usual manner.
“Normally, you would have been severely punished for the crime of infiltrating the Empire, but considering the contributions you have made, I am ending it at this, so return quickly.”
Then, without giving them a chance to reply, she immediately left.
Asil and the beastmen, left dumbfounded, blinked their eyes.
Asil stared blankly at the receding Eokaste.
Then, remembering she hadn’t said a proper goodbye, she hurriedly raised both hands and waved them.
“I’ll come to see you when I return—!”
It was too far to see clearly, but she thought she saw Eokaste smile faintly.
Right then.
Boo-ooooo—
The ship blew out pure white steam. It meant it was time to depart.
‘Oh, I haven’t said goodbye to Edenber yet!’
Asil ran quickly and grabbed Edenber’s hand, shouting short and loud.
“I’ll write letters with the thing Turtle Lady gave me!”
“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”
Edenber, smiling slightly, gave the hand he was holding a firm squeeze and then let go.
Snowa, who was watching the scene with disapproval, shouted.
“Come quickly!”
“Okay!”
Asil followed her family and ran toward the boarding area.
And just as she crossed the bridge connected to the ship and was about to board.
She locked eyes with Ikart, who was watching from a distance.
Asil waved one hand grandly.
‘Father, I’m going!’
Ikart tilted his head.
In that way, the little dragon’s adventure ended.
* * *
「Hi, Edenber! Is it right to write like this?
I arrived safely in the forest. It’s so, so refreshing to release my humanization after a long time!
I’m writing this in my true form, okay? So the letters are a bit crooked. Hehe.」
「The notebook arrived safely. It dropped right in front of me from the air.
I’m glad you arrived safely in the forest. The handwriting isn’t crooked at all.」
「Really? That’s a relief.
You know, my mom said she was going to get married more once she returned to the forest?
But she decided not to.
Is that why? The Black Dragon Dad has been in a great mood lately. He said I might get a younger sibling soon!
But this notebook is smaller and has fewer pages than I thought. If I write too much, I might not be able to when I want to contact you later.
So I’ll save and save it, and only use it when there’s something I really want to contact you about. Okay?」
「Yes, I understand.」
* * *
「It’s already been over a year since I returned to the forest, right?
I’m telling you because there’s really, really surprising news!
I have a younger sibling! Two of them, actually!
They said they’re twins!
Mom laid two tiny eggs, and looking at the color, they seem to be Black Dragon siblings.
I looked it up in a book and it said they hatch faster if you keep them warm, so after school finishes, I wrap them in a swaddle and carry them on my back.
I hope they’re born quickly. Heehee.
The Black Dragon Dad was incredibly happy, but he almost broke the eggs because he liked them too much, so he got kicked out of the castle.
Oh, Todori met a pretty rabbit and goes out to play every day lately.
Bembemi is getting along well with the Basilisks who settled in the forest.
How about Edenber? Is everyone doing well?」
「Yes, everyone is doing well without any illness.」
「What, why is your answer so short!」
「If I write a lot, there won’t be any space left for you to use.」
* * *
「Todori got married today!
He swore in front of everyone that he would live with a pretty bride rabbit and have many rabbit-like children.
But if rabbits have children, aren’t they just rabbits? Not rabbit-like children.」
「That’s good, tell him congratulations for me.
And Marquess Lilibet Skya asked me to deliver this.
I don’t know what it means, but she said Young Lord Erzébet would know if he saw it……
wjgml dhQksms dlqjsdp dudwoemfaks emfdjrkf tn dlTeksms dkzkepal xmrtnqksdp emfdjrkTdjdy. wkftodrlrh tjdwjreh whgdktj dlsrlrk djacjd aksgekqslek. wprk qhrldps ansfpvp rhdwkrslaqhek ej aksgdms rjt rkxdkdy! dktlfdlrk dl ahtmqdmf qhkTdjdi gksmsep, zmgmr. dktlfdlgksxp Rhr wkf djvlfgo wntpdy!(My brother entered a special class at the academy that only gifted children can enter this time. He’s handsome and has good grades, so he’s incredibly popular. In my opinion, he seems more popular than the Duke of Monlepe! Asil should have seen this, sob. Please make sure to appeal well to Asil!)」
「My brother says I shouldn’t play with humans who are less popular than Briden brother, who entered the academy this time.
I said it’s okay because Edenber is more popular than Briden brother, but he said no.
But how did my brother know that Briden brother entered the academy? Even though they don’t contact each other.」
「……I wonder.
There was another coded message Marquess Skya asked me to deliver, but after translating it, I left it out because it didn’t seem to be much.
I’ll tell you later.」
* * *
「You’re doing well, right? I’m doing well.
I’m bored because my siblings haven’t hatched yet. It’s already been over 2 years since the eggs appeared. The eggs have grown a lot, too.
When I asked Mom and Dad, they said it would take 3 more years to hatch.
I want to see my siblings quickly.」
「……I want to see you quickly, too.」
「My siblings?」
「No, you.」
* * *
「What do I do? Only 1 year has passed, but the first sibling broke the egg and came out!
It wasn’t supposed to come out yet, so I hurriedly stuck it back with grass and leaves, but it keeps kicking and breaking them. It must be a real troublemaker.
I’m going to help Mom and Dad!」
「Yes, hang in there. You’ll do great.」
* * *
「The sibling was born well! It’s a younger sister!
Her name is ‘Ari.’ Isn’t it pretty?」
「Yes, it’s pretty. Although Asil is prettier.」
* * *
「It’s been 2 years since I last wrote. I don’t think I wrote much, but there are only a few pages left in the notebook.
You haven’t forgotten me, right? If you forget, I’m going to grumble so much when we meet again!
The second sibling hatched today!
The time to come out had long passed but it didn’t come out, so I personally broke the eggshell. Then it suddenly spat a breath, and I almost got into big trouble.
His name is Arin. He’s a younger brother!
How are you doing, Edenber?」
「Of course I haven’t forgotten. I’ve been doing well, and I was waiting for when your contact would come.
You aren’t hurt anywhere, right? That’s a relief.
Congratulations on your sibling being born.」
Asil stared blankly at Edenber’s handwriting with narrowed brows.
As it was the first contact in several years, it felt a pity to end it like this.
She wanted to tell him everything, big and small—what kind of classes she took at school, what happened with her newborn siblings, how many babies Todori had, and so on.
But to write all of that, the remaining pages of the notebook were too few.
It was an amount that felt like it would end with just one more round trip.
So Asil put the notebook in a treasure chest with a lock, in preparation for when something really, really important happened.
And even when her siblings asked what this was and to show them, she never showed them.
In that way, it was the 8th year since Asil and Edenber had parted.
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