Chapter 76

I looked at the small baby snake in front of me with a serious face.

-Can you go with Tous at night?

I tried hard not to let my lips twitch.

Currently, I had returned to my room from the dining hall and was alone in the bedroom assigned to me.

‘Dad went back to his room, and there’s no sign of Belus coming out of his room, either.’

So, I could finally have a conversation without worrying.

But to be cautious, I asked first.

“Yeah, I can go with you. But can I ask you one thing?”

-Yeah!

“Can we only talk like this? Is it hard for me to talk in your head like you do?”

-You can do it, Calypso. You can hear my voice, right?

I nodded and tried it out.

-Is this how you do it? Can you hear me?

When I shouted it in my head, trying to send it to Tous, Tous perked up and shook his head.

-That’s right, Calypso, you’re smart!

-Yeah, I’m smart.

In a previous chapter, I had gone underwater to retrieve something and met a half-siren.

Since talking underwater is difficult, I had tried this method before.

It seemed to be a way of using the power of water, and it worked with Tous as well.

‘Still, I can do almost everything except for spitting out water...’

I still can’t create water, which is the most basic use of water power.

It feels like I can do calculus but still can’t do simple addition or subtraction.

-Okay, let’s get back to the story. What do you need help with, and why do you want to be taken to the Duke?

When I heard Tous’s story in the dining hall, I was so happy and excited.

Indeed, this little Tous is definitely a bundle of luck for me!

...Finally, I can see the Dragon Duke!

I was curious about the situation, so I asked quickly.

-What’s wrong with the Dragon Duke?

What could have made this baby snake wander alone in the forest and not return to its master even after coming to the Dragon’s castle?

But Tous, who was about to answer, suddenly lifted his head.

His gaze was directed toward the large window.

-The Duke called Tous!

Hiss, hiss! Despite claiming he’s not a snake, his cry sounded exactly like one.

Soon, large tears began to fall from his innocent eyes.

-I miss the Duke, I miss him.

-Yeah, yeah. Don’t cry. Tell me, okay? I’ll help you.

Tous came closer to me and curled up in my hand.

-Tous needs a strong siren. To go to the Duke, I need strong power.

-Why?

-The siren watching over the Duke is too strong. Too cunning.

I blinked.

The Dragon Duke is being watched? Why?

‘Is there a reason for that?’

-I thought Calypso was weak. But you’re not. You’re strong.

-...Did you think I was weak when we first met?

-Yeah!

-What a cheeky guy. After I saved you!

I grabbed Tous’s neck and shook him a little.

You, I even used a mass to find the lake and bring you back, and you thought I was weak?

‘I couldn’t say anything because I thought I was weak! It’s so unfair!’

I may look like this, but I’m the one who pacified a class at the age of three. Oh?

And when we first met, I had a slight injury on my leg.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t it heal in one or two days? Maybe my recovery improved because my water power got stronger.’

But that wasn’t the most important thing, so I let go of Tous’s neck.

-But Tous was wrong. Calypso is strong. You can sneak in!

-...

-Can you go with me at night? Can you take Tous there?

-Why is the Dragon Duke being watched? And why were you in the forest even though you like the Duke so much? Why hasn’t the Duke looked for you even though you’ve returned? And why don’t you ask the people in this castle for help?

-The Duke is lonely. But he doesn’t know he’s lonely.

The answer didn’t match the question at all.

-Tous can’t say more here.

I could feel Tous’s determination as he nestled in my arms.

-Okay, I understand.

I nodded.

It seemed pointless to ask more questions, so I decided to see for myself.

-Can we leave tonight?

They say a stubborn ox can be tamed with a single blow, so I wanted to handle everything quickly.

When I recalled what the red fox siren said in the dining hall,

‘Indeed, the situation Tous is talking about is very different from what those guys know.’

Moreover, even though Dad established discipline on the first day, the servants here, who are biased against aquatic animal sirens, wouldn’t tell me the truth if I asked.

So, I had to go there myself.

Without waiting for Tous’s answer, I made the decision.

-Let’s go tonight.

-Calypso!

Tous, who had been looking gloomy a moment ago, now had a bright expression.

His eyes were sparkling.

-You’re helping me quickly? Tous likes you.

Come to think of it, his scales were blue, but his eyes were a beautiful golden color, like a chunk of gold.

‘The Dragon Duke had golden eyes, too, right?’

I only saw him when he was raging mad, but I remembered it clearly.

He had blue hair and golden eyes, just like his siren.

-Calypso, I like you. Thank you.

I just smiled.

If he knew my true intentions, he wouldn’t be so purely grateful.

But I don’t intend to harm the Dragon Duke.

-Okay, let’s leave at night. You know the way, right?

-Yeah! I know!

Great, let’s leave tonight then.

As soon as the decision was made, I got up from my seat.

Then I put Tous down in the room.

-Calypso, where are you going?

“I’m going to see Dad. Do you want to stay here for a while?”

I have something important to talk about.

When I said this, Tous tilted his head and curled up where I had been sitting.

-Come back soon.

Is this how it feels to keep a pet?

Looking at Tous wagging his tail, I felt a strange sensation.

...I like snakes.

Tous insisted he wasn’t a snake but a water dragon, but he looked like a small snake with horns.

Maybe if I had known Tous longer, I would have been reluctant to let him go.

I left the room, passed through the large living room, and reached a door not far away.

But before I could knock, a voice came from inside.

“The door isn’t locked.”

Oh, you sensed me.

I opened the door and went in.