Chapter – 18
At the horrifying story, Dee covered her mouth with both hands. Roxand continued.
“—After that, searching for that bird was forbidden. You’re punished just for saying the words ‘red-winged bird’ out loud.”
“…W-wait. So the conclusion is that it’s forbidden?”
“That’s right.”
Realizing the conclusion was impossible, Dee drooped and asked,
“That saintess must’ve been insanely strong.”
“Are you kidding? She was ridiculously strong. That red-winged monster hasn’t been caught for 300 years. She completely tamed it—do you get how powerful her divine power must’ve been? Well, the one that was truly strong was that creature. Its strength made me look strong!”
“As expected. So you had a stronger true body elsewhere. I almost lost faith in this world.”
“Still, I’ve lived longer!”
Offended, Roxand stretched out both arms to scratch her, but they were too short. He just flailed uselessly and failed. Exhausted, he slumped.
“Anyway, there is a method, but you wouldn’t get that red wing even if you died and came back. It’s illegal.”
“Even if it weren’t illegal, I don’t think it’d work.”
Having heard everything she wanted, Dee put Roxand down on the bed. In theory, it was impossible—but that didn’t mean there was absolutely no way to fly. Dee’s clear eyes sparkled.
You never know. What if she happened to see a red-winged monster flying overhead while tagging along on a hunt? Just seeing one would fulfill her wish.
Roxand, annoyed, flopped back onto the bed.
“Foolish saintesses. They don’t know how dangerous it is outside the blankets and suffer for it. If they’re going to suffer, they should at least value their lives.”
Muttering, the fox wriggled back under the blanket and fell fast asleep.
As Dee clicked her tongue at the sight, the door opened and Kyle came in.
Seeing Dee fully packed, he asked suspiciously,
“Are you really confident you can handle monsters?”
“Don’t worry. Trust me.”
“You wouldn’t happen to be….”
Kyle trailed off. Dee whipped around.
“Be what?”
“…You’re not actually a monster, are you? Are you excited to go see your friends?”
“Kyle, actually… I—”
As Dee began, Kyle stiffened.
It was suspicious.
Someone who hadn’t schemed with Bernadoc suddenly appearing at the temple—wasn’t that strange? And a woman with light green eyes, unseen anywhere on this continent.
Even if she were a monster, it wouldn’t be surprising. Kyle unconsciously gripped his sword—when Dee suddenly turned and shouted,
“A forest fairy—AAAH!”
She pointed at Kyle’s hand on the sword and screamed.
“You were going to kill me just now, weren’t you?! I thought we’d gotten kind of close!”
“You still haven’t given up on that fairy nonsense?!”
As they argued, Roxand poked his head out from under the blanket.
“Too loud, Dee… make Clays be quiet….”
“Pretty bold of you to act like the owner in someone else’s room.”
As Dee snapped back, Kyle visibly flinched again. She glared.
“I’m not a monster, and I’m not crazy.”
“Y-yeah. Right.”
After tucking Roxand back in, Dee said,
“Let’s go.”
Why was someone who’d been so scared of ghosts suddenly this excited? Kyle thought he’d worried for nothing and followed her out.
* * *
Outside, Dee’s eyes widened.
Jean Clays—the one she’d met in Gotins—was there.
“Oh? A thief!”
“Oh? A con artist!”
Their cheerful greetings made Kyle grimace. Grabbing Dee’s arm before she ran over, he asked,
“How do you know each other?”
“Oh, we escaped prison together.”
“…Of course you did.”
A con artist and a thief meeting in prison—nothing fit better.
Ignoring Kyle’s headache, the two were thrilled to see each other.
“What’s up, Jean? Going back to prison?”
“No. Since Kyle’s going monster hunting, I’m staying here for a few days.”
“Oh… so he really is your brother.”
Dee looked at Kyle, saw his terrifying expression, shuddered, and patted Jean’s shoulder.
“You’ve had it rough. Having that as a brother.”
“R-right?! I say I’ve suffered, but my men—no, teammates—keep saying what hardship could a prince possibly have!”
“You are kind of easy to push around.”
As they chatted warmly, Kyle shoved Jean’s back.
“Go work. And don’t get friendly with the saintess.”
“Why? I finally met someone I click with.”
“If a thief and a con artist get close, I’m the one who suffers.”
“You’ve gotten colder.”
As the brothers bickered, Dee blinked rapidly, then raised her hand.
“Your Highness, question.”
“What.”
“Isn’t there a carriage?”
“We’re hunting monsters. Why would there be a carriage? This isn’t a tournament—it’s real combat.”
“I—I can’t ride horses.”
“What? You can’t ride or shoot, and you want to hunt monsters?”
Kyle frowned like what am I supposed to do with you. Dee looked around and pointed at a supply wagon.
“I’ll just… ride with the food….”
Kyle clicked his tongue—clearly annoyed. Pouting, Dee curled up in a corner of the wagon, hugging her knees. Seeing this, Jean nudged Kyle.
“I’ve seen it before—she’s seriously sulking right now. She got mad when my men didn’t include her in the conversation.”
Kyle called out to Shinta, who stood off to the side.
“Shinta, drag this guy off and put him to work.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Shinta grabbed him, Jean hurriedly said,
“Wait! I just want to give Dee a gift. She might be our teammate someday.”
He hopped onto the wagon briefly, chuckling. Dee—who had somehow already cheered up—was holding two ears of corn and talking to herself.
Waving one corn cob, she said,
“Hello! Please take care of me on this trip.”
Then she waved the other.
“Oh my, don’t mention it. Make yourself at home.”
Hay was already tangled in her hair. Jean found her adorable and sat down on the straw.
“Dee.”
She hugged the corn.
“Ah! Thief!”
“Thanks for saving my men last time.”
He opened her hand and placed a small duck doll in her palm.
“A gift.”
“Oh, it’s super cute! Did you steal it?”
“No. I wouldn’t give stolen goods as a present.”
Laughing, Jean climbed down.
“In Bitencia, ducks symbolize good fortune.”
“Thank you.”
“Yeah. Come back alive.”
He waved and headed to the office. As Dee happily admired the duck, fear slowly crept onto her face.
Come back alive.
Only then did it hit her—she was going to hunt an unknown monster.
“Was I… too brave? What if there aren’t any monsters as weak as those ghosts…?”
Can I… survive this?
Dee realized straw was much more comfortable than a carriage. Lying down, it was warm and soft.
She ate the cookies the chef had tearfully packed for her. During a break, she saw Amilla riding well and shared a cookie—Amilla devoured it happily.
Arriving comfortably at the borderlands, Dee tilted her head.
“It’s just… a normal village?”
She grabbed Kyle’s sleeve and pointed at a passerby.
“That person? Is that a monster?”
“No.”
“T-then that house? Is that a monster?”
“No.”
“Ah! That dog! That has to be—!”
“It’s just a village dog.”
At Kyle’s blunt replies, Dee’s eyes widened.
“Then where are the monsters? I thought I came somewhere super dangerous?”
“It is dangerous.”
“Then why do so many people live here?”
“The closer you get to monster territory, the cheaper the land. And it’s fertile. Many people here are drowning in debt.”
“A-and when monsters appear?”
“They sometimes snatch people—especially children. They accept that risk because of their debts.”
“….”
“That’s why many households keep dogs.”
So the monsters take the dogs instead of the children.
Kyle didn’t say it, but Dee understood.
He continued,
“Priests lend money at high interest to the poor. People borrow, trusting in faith.”
“….”
“Some people here probably borrowed from Bernadoc.”
The village looked peaceful. Terrified, Dee ran to Amilla.
“Ah… I feel safer next to Amilla….”
Kyle’s expression twisted. I’m clearly stronger—why does she relax next to Amilla?
Leading the soldiers into the forest, he ordered,
“Capture one monster alive. Any suitable one.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Kyle wasn’t popular with the public, but his soldiers respected him. Dee carefully observed their coordinated tracking.
Then Amilla said,
“Your Highness. You should retreat.”
“We can handle this.”
“There are many.”
“How many?”
“One large one. Three small ones.”
They work well together…
Dee’s heart fluttered as she watched Amilla, who was also nervously watching Kyle.
Suddenly enlightened, Dee’s eyes sparkled.
What if Amilla doesn’t like Kyle romantically—but respects him as a commander? She’s totally a soldier type!
Satisfied, Dee removed her shoes.
“What are you doing?” Amilla asked.
“I’d just get in the way, so I’m running.”
“How cowardly.”
Kyle added,
“Let her. The monsters will think she’s a child and grab Diana first.”
His joke made Dee bristle—but survival beat pride. She stretched to run.
Before she could move, her body froze.
A monster with bright yellow eyes stood before her.
Its green shell resembled a crocodile’s hide. Six eyes.
Calmly, Dee spoke.
“Kyle.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve always wondered—if that exists, why don’t you believe in ghosts or Roxand?”
The beast growled. Kyle nocked an arrow.
“This is this. That’s that.”
“I thought you were smarter than average. You’re not. You’re the dumbest.”
“Get back.”
She pressed right behind him, peeking out.
He frowned.
“Not right behind me. Further.”
“I’m scared! What if something appears behind me?!”
“How am I supposed to shoot like this?!”
Scolded, Dee retreated. Kyle began the hunt without looking back. Watching them clash constantly, Bernadoc smiled.
Even if she dies, the king won’t blink.
“I’ll escape on my own, whatever.”
Grumbling, Dee turned and ran, clutching her shoes—until no soldiers or people were in sight.
After a long while, she came running back.
“Hey! The small ones! The small ones are here!”
Three red-eyed feral dogs chased her, barking wildly. Their black fur and even their teeth were crimson.
One big one is already bad enough—and she brought the small ones too?! What am I supposed to do?!
