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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Finding the Skeleton (2)
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"Duke Bluemont is coming here, and at this time?"
"Yes, he said he wants to have a deep conversation about the future with his future son-in-law."
"Good heavens."
Daisy, her eyes narrowed, twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she replied, and the sudden news left me deep in thought.
'Why, all of a sudden?'
Derren was a character who, by rights, shouldn't have appeared until next year.
Of course, I had encountered him before, and we'd even made a contract.
The terms of the contract were about maintaining secrecy, not discussing the future.
'Could he have met Mort, that bastard?'
Considering the question I had thrown at Derren and his reaction, it was a reasonable guess.
I had asked Derren:
– "If the contract binding the Bluemont family could be nullified, would you, Sir Derren, be willing to become Mort's enemy?"
Derren's face hardened as he heard my question, and he replied:
– "If Mort, that fellow, is truly completely corrupted, and if the contract can truly be nullified."
We had parted ways after that conversation.
Yet, the very person involved is coming to Adenia next week. And specifically to meet me.
'Indeed, it wouldn't make sense otherwise.'
Though he had shown a mischievous side in front of me.
In the original story, Derren was a character who exercised extreme caution in every action.
Such a Derren wouldn't possibly think of me as his son-in-law and come to discuss marriage.
"Sir Camel."
Just then, Daisy's voice reached my ears.
As I looked up, I saw Daisy, wearing a remarkably serious expression, as if she wanted to lend credibility to my suspicions.
"There's something I absolutely must tell you."
"What is it?"
"I don't know how long you've been eyeing me, Sir Camel, but there's one thing I absolutely have to say."
"Say it… Huh?"
Wait, I think I just heard something strange.
"I'm not an easy woman."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"I don't know how you charmed my father, Sir Camel, but winning my heart won't be easy."
"I think you're misunderstanding something. The Duke was just joking…"
"Yes, my father told me. That lecherous fellow, Camel, wants to play with me like a toy."
Derren, what on earth did that man blabber to make Daisy spout such nonsense?
As I was left speechless by the absurdity of it all, Daisy continued, her expression more serious than anyone else's in the world.
"Let me be blunt."
Blunt about what?
"I can tolerate some playful acts with other women, especially those with red hair, like a playful kiss."
My thoughts momentarily froze at her words.
It seems she witnessed the moment Rose kissed me.
"But if you truly desire my heart, Sir Camel, I must be your first."
"Your first?"
"If you do not remain chaste, Sir Camel, then no matter how much you try to persuade my father or force yourself upon me, I will never give you my heart."
Daisy declared this with a resolute expression, and I, dumbfounded, had to answer while clutching my throbbing head.
"Daisy, just catch your breath for a moment and listen to me, will you?"
"Go on, try."
"First…"
Everything you're thinking is a delusion.
As I calmly and painstakingly explained the simple truth to Daisy.
"Hic-hiccup!"
Daisy's face turned beet-red, and after hiccuping for the first time in a long while, she vanished from the spot at lightning speed.
****
After parting ways with Daisy, who had been lost in her delusions, the next place I headed was Dean's office.
"A skeleton that talks, but without any demonic energy, you say…"
When I asked about the talking skeleton, Dean's voice trailed off as he pondered, then, before long, he gave an unexpected answer.
"It's not theoretically impossible. Though it's practically close to impossible."
"Could you elaborate?"
"Here, look."
When I tilted my head and asked again, Dean began to jot something down on a piece of paper on his desk, and continued speaking.
"Let's say there's a soul bound by a contract here."
"A contract?"
"For example, a soul that can never find peace if it fails to fulfill its contract."
"Even if contracting for death is possible, isn't contracting for a soul impossible?"
"That's why I said it's close to impossible. To get the Balance to sanction it, an enormous price is required, one that ordinary humans can never pay."
Having said that, Dean began to write other words next to the word 'soul.'
"But what if there was an inhuman being capable of paying that price?"
"Then a contract could be formed."
"Right. But what if the one who made such a contract with that being was a living person, and that person failed to fulfill the contract for a very long time?"
"Ah…"
"Exactly. They could become a being like the skeleton you described."
Understanding Dean's words, I nodded vigorously, then gave him a thumbs-up.
"Ahem."
Perhaps my reaction greatly pleased him.
Seeing my thumbs-up, Dean cleared his throat, wearing a triumphant expression, while I immediately looked away and fell into thought for a moment.
'If that's truly the case…'
This was no ordinary matter.
I don't know exactly how long it takes for a human body to rot away and leave only bones.
But I certainly know that it takes a very long time.
That means the skeleton has existed for a very, very long time.
'And such a being stole only the orb, leaving everything else untouched…'
It seems to be an established fact that the skeleton knew exactly what the orb was when it took it.
"Since you said a valuable memento was stolen, it's only right for me as a professor to help. I haven't heard any news yet, but if I do, I'll let you know immediately."
"Thank you, Professor Dean,"
"By the way, I have a question for you."
"Anything."
Perhaps it was because I had learned new facts thanks to Dean.
I responded to Dean's call, feeling that my tone was more polite and kind than usual.
"Has anything unusual happened recently? For example, a stranger suddenly targeting your head?"
A ton, actually.
That answer rose to my throat, but I managed to suppress it with difficulty and shook my head, giving a different reply.
"No, nothing."
"Alright. That's good then. By the way, how's X doing these days?"
"Ah, you mean Tweetie. She's doing so well it's a problem."
I instinctively recalled Tweetie's image, squawking about mating and 'boobies,' and shook my head, replying.
"Then how about asking your friend for help this time?"
"Tweetie?"
"Yes. I read in a book that a Blue Bird's tracking abilities are superior to any familiar."
"Oh, really?"
"There's a saying, isn't there? 'Birds hear whispers in the day, and bluebirds witness affairs.'"
I tilted my head, hearing Dean's words. Was there really such a proverb?
"Just kidding."
Ah.
****
There was a magnificent being soaring swiftly through the vast, blue sky.
"Chirp chirp!"
That being was a Blue Bird, a mythical creature believed to be extinct, and its name was Tweetie.
"Chirp!"
The little blue bird, who considered herself a magnificent being, was in an exceedingly good mood.
Because Camel, who she had always felt a little sad never played with her much, had, for once, proposed a game to her.
Tweetie quite liked the 'Find the Skeleton' game Camel had suggested.
In truth, this game felt far too easy for Tweetie, who could fly.
All she had to do was fly around, find the talking skeleton, and just tell him its location, and she would win.
And that wasn't all. Camel had even promised Tweetie that if she won the game, he would grant her one wish.
Curious Tweetie had already decided on her wish long ago.
It was just that Camel, being a male, had been embarrassed and refused to show it. Sage, being a female, had allowed it without any fuss.
"Chirp chirp!"
Tweetie was fine with that, though.
After all, she was sure to be the winner of this game, and Camel would have no choice but to grant her wish.
"Chirp?"
Tweetie, who had been imagining Camel and Sage's naked bodies entwined, suddenly stopped flapping her wings and tilted her head.
"Chirp!"
She gracefully descended towards a shabby log cabin hidden deep within the forest.
"Chirp?"
An open window appeared in Tweetie's line of sight, and brave Tweetie flew through it without hesitation.
"Chirp…"
Since it was a suspicious house, she naturally thought there would be a talking skeleton, but instead…
Tweetie was disappointed to see the empty interior of the house.
But then.
"Chirp?!"
Tweetie, seeing something, started flapping her wings in surprise.
And for good reason. What appeared in Tweetie's sight was a splendid, large exercise wheel adorned with sparkling jewels, and scattered nearby, pieces of jerky.
Realizing that the scattered jerky even contained cheese, Tweetie didn't hesitate to pick up a piece with her beak.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
The exquisite taste that flowed through her beak made Tweetie tremble uncontrollably.
And that wasn't all. Perhaps because she had been moving around in her true form for the first time in a long while, her legs felt restless.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
– Clack clack.
Unable to resist the restlessness, Tweetie didn't hesitate to climb onto the exercise wheel and start moving her legs.
An exquisite taste in her beak,
A satisfying sensation in her legs.
Tweetie thought, 'They say there's a place called Utopia. Was this it?'
"This bird too…"
Suddenly, a voice reached Tweetie's ears as she continued.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
– Clack clack.
Tweetie, feeling good, simply continued to spin the exercise wheel, oblivious.
"Now it's mine."
– Click.
The skeleton, Mallick, who had appeared out of nowhere, smiled contentedly and closed the door of the large birdcage.