“How did Jeinote die?”
“…Very slowly.”
“Was the end painful?”
“Yes. He was quite in pain.”
After hesitating for a moment, Effolin continued.
“So much so that he even asked me to end it for him.”
“Jeinote said that?”
The Jeinote that Taeyon knew wasn’t a beastkin who would say such weak things. How much pain must that always strong and cheerful man have been in to say such things?
“So, did you?”
“No. Regrettably, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Because I wanted him to live longer even if he suffered.”
The three arrived at the grave arranged in the backyard. Near the grave was a bed of wildflowers, and in front of the grave was a carefully made white bouquet.
Perhaps when they’d visited the backyard yesterday, she had come to this place too.
Taeyon quietly paid his respects in front of the grave, and Kaniel did the same. Though he was someone he didn’t know, he prayed that he’d gone to a good place.
“Now that you’ve paid your respects…”
A sharp sword touched Effolin’s neck. A thin line was drawn on her neck and blood trickled down.
Kaniel was so startled he didn’t know what to do and just blinked his eyes.
“Why are you suddenly doing this, Young Master?”
“As I thought, you knew who I was, Effolin.”
“I knew from the beginning. If it hadn’t been the Young Master in that cave, I would have just let that child kill you.”
“I should be grateful for my status.”
Taeyon, who tilted his head and raised one corner of his mouth, continued.
“More than that, won’t you tell me the truth? What did you do to Jeinote?”
“I told you he died.”
“Don’t lie. All I smell from inside that dirt is the smell of a rotting beast. Not a beastkin.”
“…Damn dog nose…”
Effolin revealed her temper and spat out curses through her teeth.
“My answer doesn’t change. Jeinote is dead.”
It was a firm tone, as if convincing herself. Her eyes were also intense and unyielding. As if she wasn’t afraid at all even though a sword was thrust at her neck.
Then, the cat demonic beast, which had only been surveying the surroundings with round pupils as if watching the situation, jumped out of Effolin’s arms and rushed at Taeyon.
“No! Come here!”
Despite Effolin’s startled cry, it showed no signs of backing down. Rather, the cat demonic beast enlarged its body and swung its large front paw like a tiger.
CLANG! The cat demonic beast’s claws and Taeyon’s sword clashed. It was such an intense exchange that sparks flew.
“I said come here!”
“Didn’t you say taming demonic beasts was your ability?”
“…Come here! Please…”
Even at the voice close to pleading, the cat demonic beast only made a sound full of hostility—grrrowl—and didn’t back down at all.
However, there was no way Taeyon would struggle against a demonic beast without high intelligence. Taeyon took advantage of when the cat demonic beast rushed at him to grab its scruff from behind.
KYAUUUUU!! Along with a cry full of dissatisfaction, its struggling became violent.
Now was the opportunity. Demonic beasts were beings that had to die anyway. Since there was no longer any reason to listen to Effolin’s words, it might be better to kill it now.
Taeyon brought his sword toward the cat demonic beast.
“No, absolutely not!”
Effolin, who rushed at him as if rolling, grabbed and clung to Taeyon’s pants.
“I said no, please, not that child…!”
“Since the claim about taming it is a lie, I can’t let the demonic beast live.”
“Kill me instead!”
Even at her gesture of baring her chest as if telling him to stab, Taeyon wasn’t shaken at all. He only lifted the cat demonic beast higher and brought the sword closer.
It was the moment he was about to thrust the sword in.
“It’s Jenya!”
“What?”
“That child is Jenya!”
Effolin’s hands gripping Taeyon’s legs were trembling. Relief faintly filled the eyes that had been full of urgency and fear.
Jenya. That was the nickname Effolin used to call Jeinote during her knight days. And it was also a name she hadn’t uttered even once in front of Taeyon for several days, fearing she’d make a mistake.
At a development he’d never even imagined, Taeyon couldn’t speak for a moment. No matter how much he tried to understand, it was impossible.
“That’s nonsense…”
“It’s true. When I said his condition had gotten bad, I meant that Jenya was gradually transforming into a demonic beast. In the end, it became irreversible like this.”
“……”
“Just as you said, Young Master, I don’t have the ability to tame demonic beasts. But, only Jenya… only Jenya follows me.”
Because they were lovers.
Or because Jeinote had refused a life of living as a demonic beast so much that he begged to the very end to be killed rather than become one.
Effolin couldn’t know which truth it was. The only certainty was that she had to protect Jenya. Effolin tremblingly stood up and embraced the cat demonic beast’s neck.
“Jenya, please come back…”
At that tearful plea, the demonic beast as large as a tiger meowed delicately, then returned to the form of a small cat demonic beast.
Then it licked Effolin’s cheek with its tongue. The cat demonic beast’s expression as it didn’t stop licking looked pleased. Because Effolin had called the name she hadn’t called for several days.
An ordinary demonic beast would never act like that or make such an expression.
Taeyon lowered his sword, feeling indescribable about the sense of dissonance regarding the existence called demonic beasts that he was feeling once again.
Effolin truly believed that winged cat demonic beast was Jeinote. But a beastkin transforming into a demonic beast—did that make sense?
With a blank face, Taeyon looked back and forth between Effolin and the cat demonic beast.
“Young Master, we’re living without harming others. I only wish for Jenya not to die. So please don’t kill Jenya.”
Becoming a knight meant surpassing the ordinary not only in force but also in mental strength. That’s why knights rarely went mad.
Effolin was also a knight, so it was the same for her. Above all, the existence of the cat demonic beast staying by Effolin’s side without being controlled by an ability raised a new possibility.
“Effolin, are you saying you saw with your own eyes Jeinote transforming into a demonic beast?”
“Yes, I saw it. Jenya slowly, bit by bit, became a demonic beast. He was sane until the very end. It hasn’t been long since he completely became a cat like this.”
If that statement was true, this was a matter beyond his hands.
“…This isn’t something I can decide.”
“Then…?”
“I’m on my way back to Oblyad Castle now. I need to inform the Castle Lord of this fact.”
“Young Master! If that happens, Jenya will…”
Effolin, who had lived as a knight at Oblyad Castle, knew the Castle Lord well too. He was famous for being stubborn regarding demonic beasts. So even if the demonic beast was actually a beastkin, even if he was a knight who had been under his command, he wouldn’t care and would try to kill him.
“Ah, no… No. No, Young Master. If you do that, Jenya will die…”
Effolin shed tears and shook her head. With a face pale with fear, she tried to push the cat demonic beast deeper into her arms protectively.
“Kaniel.”
“…Y-yes?”
Kaniel, who had been exhausted just trying to understand the situation, answered a beat late. Taeyon spoke while gripping his shoulder as if embracing it.
“Kaniel was a Monster Tamer in his homeland. When we get to Oblyad Castle, he’s scheduled to enter the research lab. He’ll research monsters and demonic beasts there.”
“Research… demonic beasts?”
Effolin’s confused gaze turned toward Kaniel.
“Ah. Yes, that’s right. I’ll research them. Having a demonic beast then would be a great help.”
“But if it’s research, then Jenya will…”
“Don’t worry. I like demonic beasts. I’ll never hurt them. More than anything, this child, no, this person…? Jeinote seems closer to the demonic beasts of the Floating Island.”
Actually, he was a bit more willful than the demonic beasts of the Floating Island. Still, this was closer to the demonic beasts of the Floating Island than those of the surface. Since cats were originally somewhat willful, this level could probably be attributed to species characteristics.
“Effolin, if what you say is true, it means any beastkin can become a demonic beast. We need to research why beastkin transform into demonic beasts, and whether there’s a way to turn transformed demonic beasts back into beastkin.”
“…A way to turn demonic beasts back into beastkin…?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t saying that such a method existed now. However, Effolin felt hope just from the fact that they would research a way to turn demonic beasts back into beastkin.
“So wait here. Understand?”
“Yes, yes. Yes.”
Effolin nodded frantically and hugged Jenya tightly. Jenya, whose chest was being squeezed tight, made a pitiful meowing sound but didn’t struggle or extend his claws.
