At that single remark, stripped of all context, I pressed a hand to my forehead. I had reached the point where I was grateful for anyone who could carry on a normal conversation.
I was about to step forward to add an explanation, but Varen stretched out an arm and blocked .
“Ceryl, don’t get involved. This is sothing they need to resolve.”
“But...”
“If a force falls apart just because it lost its leader, then it’s worthless.”
His voice was cold and firm. He crossed his arms and looked straight ahead.
I studied his profile, then slowly nodded.
I understand what he ans.
Just before coming here, the dragons of Beljena had lost their king, Ordin. And yet they had not collapsed—they moved forward to resolve what remained.
Varen and I quietly stepped back and simply watched the rebels.
Theo’s hands trembled as the veins in his neck stood out.
“What... what do you an by that! Calling Lady Adeline a bug?!”
“Grrk... quiet down, you bespectacled brat.”
“What exactly happened?! Explain it properly!”
Theo shouted as he grabbed the Drunkard’s shoulder and shook him. But with a small flick of his hand, the old man sent the grown man flying.
Theo, thrown back, glared at him in fury. The commotion drew the scattered rebels together.
The Drunkard clasped his hands behind his back and slowly swept his gaze over the crowd.
“Soone explain yesterday to that glasses-wearer—hic. Stop making the old man do all the work.”
But once again, no one stepped forward. The Drunkard clicked his tongue.
“Pathetic lot. Weak and cowardly—hic—not a single one of you worth using...”
At the blatant criticism, a few people who had been hanging their heads suddenly looked up. One of them stepped forward, unable to hold back.
“What are we even supposed to say?! That Lady Adeline was actually—actually...!”
The Drunkard’s gaze shifted to the rare brave one. Though his eyelids drooped with drunkenness, a sharp light glead beneath.
“Actually what.”
“...That she wasn’t human?”
“You saw it yourself—hic—it was a bug.”
“A bug...! I saw it with my own eyes, but I still... I still can’t believe it!”
“If you saw it and still—hic—can’t believe...”
“I can’t believe it! That Lady Adeline deceived us all this ti!”
With that outburst, voices erupted from all sides. Like a dam breaking, the crowd was instantly swallowed in chaos.
“How could she deceive us like this? You knew too, didn’t you, Drunkard?!”
“What was that monster?! What have we been loyal to all this ti?!”
“If Lady Adeline is gone, why should we even stay here?!”
The Drunkard, who had been listening quietly, pointed at the last speaker.
“Right. Why are you here?”
“...What?”
“Why did you join the rebels?”
His gravelly voice echoed through the forest. The man, singled out, faltered without an answer.
The Drunkard swept his gaze across the gathered crowd.
“Why did you join? To serve Adeline? Or to curry favor with her?”
His speech, unusually clear despite the lingering scent of alcohol, continued.
“Think carefully. You didn’t gather here because of Adeline. She only told you this group existed. You chose this. Didn’t you?”
At his words, the shouting stopped.
Each of them fell into thought, recalling the mont they had first co to the rebels.
So had joined to overthrow King Laskar. Others couldn’t stand seeing magical creatures oppressed any longer.
As they rembered their beginnings, fists clenched. Their eyes, once shaken by confusion, grew steady—firm and resolute like they had been back then.
Even as the atmosphere shifted, the Drunkard opened his mouth to continue—
—but a familiar cry rang out from his chest.
“Hiyung! Hiyung, hiyung!!”
At so point, Rami had settled into his inner pocket. It burst out and climbed onto his shoulder, sniffing the air with its long, slender tail swaying.
At Rami’s appearance, the sharpness in the Drunkard’s eyes softened instantly. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a walnut.
“There, there. You little thing. You’re going to eat all my drinking snacks at this rate.”
“Hiyung! Hiyung! Hiyuuung!!”
“Alright, alright. Off you go—back to your girl.”
Having achieved its goal, Rami bobbed its head and slipped back into his pocket. From inside the tent he had set up, more cries echoed.
“Hiyuuung!!!”
“Myaa, myaah...”
“Woof! Woof woof!”
“Grrr...!”
Co to think of it, the creatures must’ve been shaken by yesterday too...
I was about to rush over in concern, but Varen frowned.
“They’re bragging that there’s plenty of food outside. Saying they can finally eat sothing good.”
Before he even finished speaking, small creatures poured out of the tent. Fully recovered under the rebels’ care, they sward the carriage Theo had brought.
I stared, stunned, at the unexpected coordinated assault.
Instead of repaying the kindness of being rescued and treated, they were about to wipe out the already ager supplies.
“Hiyung, hiyuuuuung!!”
Standing atop a pile of sausages, Rami roared like a dragon. It was absurd that it was acting as the leader of a band of little thieves—and yet, that’s my child, the thought crossed my mind.
The rebels, flustered, couldn’t bring themselves to stop them. They could only watch as their precious food was raided.
The small creatures used their tiny hands and mouths to take bits of food. Then, just as quickly as they had climbed up, they hopped down—not toward the tents, but toward the people.
“Woof! Grrr, woof!”
“Kiiing, kiiing...”
“Hiss... hiss...”
They held out the food they had taken.
The rebels, bewildered, crouched down and accepted what was offered.
The creatures rubbed their bodies against them or wove between their legs, wagging their tails—each one expressing affection to the human who had cared for them, now with their restored bodies.
At the unexpectedly touching sight, I covered my mouth. Tears [N O V E L I G H T] welled up in my eyes.
I almost misunderstood them...
Of course. Magical creatures repay kindness.
Unlike , deeply moved, Varen narrowed his eyes and spoke in disbelief.
“If they’re going to repay kindness, they should hunt themselves. Why distribute food humans brought?”
I shot him a look.
What did it matter where the food ca from? It was the gesture that mattered.
When I looked back, smiles had already spread across the rebels’ faces. So ate the tiny pieces of sausage, others stroked the creatures perched on their shoulders.
Dozens of people and hundreds of creatures mingled warmly.
I leaned my head lightly against Varen’s shoulder.
“It’s nice. I wish all humans and magical creatures could live like that.”
Varen tilted his head toward and asked seriously,
“Ceryl, is that what you want?”
“Yeah. Humans and magical creatures living together in peace.”
“I understand. I’ll make it happen.”
At the sudden statent, I looked at him—and burst into laughter at the unwavering determination in his blue eyes.
“Haha, what is this? You’re going to grant all my wishes now?”
“Just say the word. Whatever it is, I’ll make it happen.”
He answered as if he were sothing that granted wishes.
Smiling, I reached up and stroked his cheek.
“My wish is for you to be happy.”
“That’s already co true. As long as you’re by my side, I’m happy.”
“...Ugh. I’m not used to this.”
At the overly sweet words, I exaggeratedly shuddered.
Varen smiled—genuinely, happily—and leaned closer.
Despite my words, I naturally tilted my head.
Just as we were about to steal a kiss in the shade—
Grrrrr.
A thunderous sound rumbled from my stomach.
Sensitive to sound, Varen froze, then placed his hand on my lower abdon with a serious expression.
“Ceryl, are you alright? After last night... I might have been too rough—”
“I’m just hungry, you idiot.”
Flushing red in embarrassnt, I pushed him away.
Yesterday had been consud by Adeline’s incident, and today by her funeral. The mont I registered the two full days without food, hunger struck hard enough to ache.
Then, from sowhere nearby, Bell raised her voice loudly beside the Drunkard.
“Everyone, let’s eat first!”
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