Chapter 68

This is the second post of the day.

I posted the first one around 7:00 AM, so please don't get them mixed up.

"Feeling satisfied, nya."

The night station in Isto was memorable for the temperature that made one's breath visible and the clear night sky.

After learning about the red fox from Oz, it had only been a short day, but Katima decided to return to the capital.

As planned, she borrowed Dil as her escort and parted ways with Ein a little earlier.

Katima's stay was only a few days, but she had spent a long time with Dil in town, buying and seeing various things after parting with Oz yesterday. Even in this short period, Katima was very satisfied with her journey.

By Katima and Dil's side, the sisters Bara and Mei were also waiting.

"Let's go, nya. Come on, follow me, nya!"

Katima, using her paw pads, tapped Bara's waist repeatedly. After returning to the inn yesterday, Ein and the others revealed their true identities. Bara was in a daze for a moment and it took her about 30 minutes to recover. Mei, her sister, seemed confused and was just sitting on Ein's lap, smiling.

"L-Lady Katima, I understand! I understand, so please don't hit me!"

It seemed to become more amusing to her, and the speed at which she hit Bara increased. It probably didn't hurt, but the annoyance of the sight increased in proportion to the speed.

"Then, Lord Ein, please allow us to return to the capital first."

"Actually, I feel a bit guilty about leaving Katima to you, but please be careful."

Dil smiled wryly. Normally, he would prioritize Ein, but it was natural that Katima also needed an escort. It was understandable that Chris, who was more skilled than himself, would stay to guard Prince Ein.

"Big brother, big brother! Can we meet again soon!?"

"Of course, we can. Just wait a little, and you'll get lots of delicious sweets."

"Really!?"

Feeling like he had a little sister, Ein couldn't help but spoil Mei, who was clinging to him. Ideally, he should stay with her since he brought her, but this time it couldn't be helped.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness... Hey, Mei! That's not good!"

"But big brother is big brother..."

"Gradually teaching her is fine. We're the ones who suddenly changed her environment, so there's no reason to complain."

Bara bowed her head vigorously in apology, though there was no formality. However, it was easy to understand her sense of guilt.

—The group was saying their goodbyes outside the station, but the departure time was gradually approaching.

"Well, then, Ein. It's time to go, nya... I'll make various preparations on my end, so you can rest easy, nya."

"I'm counting on you, Katima. Everyone, be careful!"

Katima's luggage had already been loaded onto the royal family's private train that morning, so they went to the train empty-handed. However, most of the space was taken up by the things Katima had bought.

"..."

Quietly waving, Katima, Dil, Bara, and Mei were seen off. As soon as they were out of sight, Ein took a deep breath, which instantly turned white.

"It's getting cold. Shall we return to the inn?"

Chris, who had also seen them off, suggested returning to the inn. Just standing here would make one's body cold.

"Shall we go then? ...But, will Bara and the others be okay?"

"She's tougher than you think. She survived in the slums, a harsh environment. I think she can handle being treated strictly by Lord Warren and the others."

"True..."

Ein had never experienced such a harsh life. Even when he was in Haim, he was treated poorly, but compared to commoners, he had a good life.

Therefore, he couldn't understand the life Bara and the others had in the slums. But thinking about the environment he saw the other day, it was natural that they grew up strong.

Upon arriving in the capital, they would first meet with Warren and the palace scholars. They would also show some of their abilities, particularly the healing magic she possessed, to be evaluated.

"Yesterday, we couldn't relax after returning to the inn. The materials we received from Professor Oz... Do you want to read them today?"

Chris, dressed more casually, had her long, beautiful blonde hair loose, flowing in the wind. Ein was gradually understanding her new side. He quickly realized that her attitude changed easily depending on her clothing.

In casual clothes, her expressions and gestures felt softer. But even in her knight's uniform, she often made "mistakes," which was probably just part of her personality.

The words she just spoke were accompanied by a gesture that was unusual for her.

"...Huh? What's wrong, Lord Ein?"

Tap, tap. She turned around, walking in a light rhythm. With her hands on her back, she turned her body in a C-shape to look at Ein from below, her face looking up at him with a direct gaze.

"N-no, it's nothing... Let's just go back to the inn and have dinner! Yeah, that's a good idea!"

Her appearance, figure, and the gesture she just made were so captivating that even a beautiful woman would run away with her tail between her legs.

But Ein couldn't admit that he was captivated. So, he decided to bluff his way through it.

"Eh? Wait, Lord Ein, please wait!"

Ein suddenly started walking quickly, and Chris, who was a few steps behind, hurried to catch up.

"There's no need to rush..."

Ein glanced at Chris's slightly dissatisfied face. He smiled mischievously to cover up, and Chris sighed.

"We got the materials on the red fox, so what should we do next?"

"Would you like to see the Wyvern transport service? Or perhaps the monster arena..."

"Monster arena!? What's that!?"

"It's a place where monsters being raised experimentally fight. Researchers and nobles who own them compete by showing off their monsters. Would you like to go?"

"Let's go! It sounds really fun!"

Considering his age from his previous life, he might not be acting his age... But thinking about the faded memories of his past life, it seemed meaningless. Since he was born in this world, trying to act like an adult often didn't work out.

He would cry openly and sometimes be spoiled by Olivia... Recently, Ein had thought about this, but he had decided that he had completely become "Ein."

"Hehe... Then, let's go when you have time after tomorrow."

...However, it was also true that Ein was a well-behaved child who didn't cause much trouble. Thinking about this, it was rare to see him so excited. Olivia would have wanted to see such a side of Ein... Thinking about this, Chris felt a slight sense of superiority.

*

His laboratory was filled with a cheerful tune. In the past few days, he had been in a good mood due to all the enjoyable and interesting things he encountered.

"Indeed, life is long. To encounter something so enjoyable and intriguing..."

He was twirling a pen with his fingers, a habit he had when something fun or a sense of achievement occurred.

"Am I a traitor? Or... No, this is quite difficult. But isn't it the same in human society? People fight each other, just as they have in the past and still do. This is a natural and inevitable fact. Therefore, humans betray each other... This is undeniable."

For example, a crime. Even a small crime causes clear harm to the victim. What he had been doing recently was also causing clear harm to his kin.

"There is no significant difference among those with knowledge. It's just a matter of whether they are an enemy, an ally, or neutral. However, from the perspective of the attacked, even those who are neutral are like enemies. After all, they don't help. The more I think about it, the more interesting it becomes. But standing on this ambiguous line is, without a doubt, the most interesting."

The ambiguous line he spoke of was his perception of neutrality.

But is neutrality really pacifism? The answer is not yes, but no. Neutrality is not pacifism, he believed.

"Just not siding with either side, that's neutrality... Then, what about a third party? This is not neutrality. An observer... Perhaps a third party should be called an observer, like a god-like being!"

He often started thinking suddenly. The content often changed, and he often concluded and raised new questions in his monologues.

Honestly, his thoughts when he was alone were probably incomprehensible to others.

"...Right. In times like this, one should rely on the spiritual... and intangible. Love... Love is what one should rely on!"

Thump.

He slammed his hand on the table.

Then, he walked dramatically to a case on the wall. As he approached, his face flushed and his heart rate increased.

"I'll bring it out now! Come... come this way!"

He opened the door and took out the box containing his "love." He carefully carried it to the sofa in the center of the room and placed it on the table.

"It still smells good. And I can't contain my excitement when I open it... Come, show yourself to me."

He spoke of relying on love, but it was just an excuse. He thought about it just to meet "love."

But to him, this farce was the most important. It was one of the key factors in his personality.

"Ah... ha... Today, you are beautiful. A beautiful light."

He gently and slowly caressed what he took out. It was precious and dear to him, like a lover.

He felt blood rushing to his lower body, but the heat was comfortable to him.

He pressed his nose to "it" and took deep breaths, savoring the scent.

"I'm excited... This is, yes. Just like when I killed the female fox next to you and bathed in your blood afterward! I am so happy!"

Recent encounters had been a continuous thrill for him, comparable to something he had experienced in the past.

"Ha... ha... Phew, I've calmed down."

After admiring it for a while, he finally felt satisfied.

His flushed face, increased heart rate, and the large amount of blood in his lower body gradually returned to normal, and his excitement subsided.

"Is this the good fortune you have given me...? My beloved father."

"Oz" whispered quietly.

After whispering, he kissed the father's magic stone a few times and returned it to the case.

It was regrettable, but it had to be treated carefully... He convinced himself of this.

"I will eventually give the dirty magic stone of that female fox to His Highness the Crown Prince. ...It's a good opportunity to get rid of the dirty magic stone of a woman. I'm sure he will be pleased!"

He hated women, not just of his own kind but of other races as well.

He had stored it separately out of a sense of duty, but it was a good opportunity to get rid of it. He decided in his heart to do so.

"But to give the dirty magic stone of a female fox to the beautiful Crown Prince Ein...? No, rather, I want to give him my magic stone! Why? Why are you still tormenting me, female fox...!"

No matter how much jealousy he felt, it was lost in the night of Isto, unknown to anyone.

*

The weather was clear, and this place was bustling with people. Ein was drawing attention.

"...Then, bring that woman over. I'll tolerate it."

The man said this. The place was the monster arena... where Ein was looking forward to, but a bit of trouble had occurred.

"Do you mean the woman next to me?"

"That's what I'm saying. Can't you understand such a simple thing?"

In other words, bring over Chris. Of course, he had no intention of agreeing or offering a compromise.

"Why do I have to do that? I don't understand."

"...I've told you many times! Because of you... my Wyvern won't move. I don't know what you did, but it's only natural that you compensate, you fool!"

Ah, how did it come to this...

This happened a little while ago. As soon as Ein appeared at the monster arena and approached those displaying their monsters outside, something happened.

A noble's Wyvern suddenly cowered and wouldn't move. It wouldn't listen to its owner and was no longer usable, so frightened it was.

"(Hey, Chris. What happened...?)"

"(Probably... Lord Ein is particularly terrifying to dragon species. Wyverns, being lower dragons, are even more so.)"

"(...Why?)"

He was curious about what he had done, so he asked Chris in a low voice.

"(He's a sea dragon. Monsters are sensitive to auras, so he might have sensed the sea dragon aura from Lord Ein after inhaling it.)"

"(So, it's my responsibility, then.)"

The Wyvern was probably terrified by the remaining sea dragon aura. Chris thought this, and it wasn't entirely wrong.

After all, the sea dragon twins in the capital sensed the aura and thought of Ein as a parent.

Therefore, it was natural for a Wyvern to be afraid of a powerful presence like a sea dragon.

"...Well, what should we do?"

"What are you whispering about! You... it's disrespectful!"

The fat noble spoke, but Ein was just thinking, "Hmm."

He was surprised that the noble would so easily demand a woman.

Thank you for your continued support.

I look forward to your continued interest.