“I’ll save you.”
“…Huh?”
“This. I won’t kill you.”
Eliya said, looking at the Moon Deer.
It was such an unbelievable statement that I asked like a child.
“Really?”
At my question, Eliya covered her mouth and let out a chuckle.
There was something relaxed about her laughter.
“Then, why would I lie to you?”
Well…
She was the kind of person who would kill, burn, and insult people at the drop of a hat…
The sky dusted with the ashes of humans.
Underneath it, Eliya, faintly smiling.
Maybe not yet, but surely that seed must still be within you.
But why?
Eliya, who understood ethics and morality in theory, trampled them with her heart.
Why was she saving the Moon Deer as if she were doing a good deed?
“You still don’t believe me, huh? Is there any reason to distrust me like that?”
“Oh, no. It’s just…”
To save.
A statement that didn’t seem to fit Eliya, yet somehow did.
Eliya had tricked her enemies with promises of mercy before killing them.
To her, saying she would save meant she would definitely kill.
“I heard it’s going to be used as ingredients for the birthday banquet…”
“That was the plan.”
Eliya approached slowly.
A gray dress.
The color resembling the ash that remained.
During the day, unable to catch the moonlight, it was merely silver, the color akin to the Moon Deer’s antlers.
Which way would it go?
“But it seems more effective to showcase a living one instead.”
“…Huh?”
“No matter how clever and special a creature is, what can it do if you kill it and cook it? Honestly, if I need meat, the quality of livestock raised for consumption and slaughtered properly is far superior.”
Eliya looked up at the Moon Deer.
The innocent eyes of the Moon Deer looked down at Eliya.
It was too dark for the moon to rise.
“On the other hand, this living form holds a value beyond that mere lump of flesh.”
That’s when I recalled Eliya’s different way of thinking.
Nobility.
Killing people like an executioner while valuing the essence of being a noble.
It bordered on obsessive fixation.
Justifications. Reputation. Showcasing. These kinds of things.
She calculated thoroughly in a noble way.
Presenting a dead Moon Deer as a dish.
Exhibiting a living Moon Deer as her possession.
Which would be more beneficial to her.
I was a fool to expect her inner thoughts for a moment.
Expectations should be placed where they belong.
“I heard there’s no record of them being tamed.”
“Yes. That’s likely.”
“Really? You answer as if you know about the history of communication between spirits and humans.”
“……..”
I’ll admit it.
I’m not that smart a person.
More emotional than rational.
More impulsive than planned.
Thus, it’s no wonder that suspicious words and actions pop out of my mouth unbidden.
‘Could it be that this Judas has some strange background?’
It’s not unreasonable for Eliya to be bright.
She’s one of the notable geniuses in the work.
Just now, she probably conducted a leading interrogation on purpose. Definitely.
“Then will this be the first? It seems half-tamed by you, maybe one can only tame one person at a time?”
Probably not.
One character can tame multiple creatures within the same account.
This Moon Deer is no different.
Translating to reality, it would be possible to have multiple owners.
However, I couldn’t talk about the game, and since I wasn’t certain, I withheld my answer.
I’m quite sure it would have a high probability of being possible, though.
“I don’t know.”
“Are you hiding it on purpose?”
“……..”
“Sometimes it’s surprisingly obvious while being entirely unexpected. You.”
No matter how intelligent and well-educated since childhood Eliya is…
Isn’t she still just a child?
She seems so similar to this Judas yet sharp, does she really have to be?
Am I really okay being seen through by a little one like this?
The mind is ruled by the body.
So, I’ll just believe it’s the influence of my youthful form.
“Follow me. Oh, Gawain.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Gawain, who had been by my side until now, replied.
“The winner is this kid.”
“Understood.”
The hunting competition ended abruptly.
The candidates watching from the sidelines looked blank.
They must have realized when they saw the Moon Deer I brought, but they probably didn’t expect Eliya to declare it so openly.
“Let’s go. I’ll give you the prize later.”
Regardless of the astonishment around me, Eliya ordered nonchalantly and led the way.
With no chance to refuse, I followed Eliya for now.
Jealous gazes poured onto my back all at once.
Having received Eliya’s acknowledgment and won the competition, a hefty prize would surely come my way.
It was something to envy.
However, I couldn’t feel happy about it.
I knew well that getting closer to Eliya would be anything but good for me in the long run.
*
I traveled separately in a carriage with Eliya.
The Moon Deer ran along behind us.
Thank goodness it was a vigorous animal.
The fact that it followed me meant it had been firmly engraved as my master.
‘Will Eliya manage to do this…?’
We arrived at Eliya’s Mansion.
It looked similar yet different from what I remembered.
Gray stone walls and a pointed iron gate.
Passing through that gate guarded by knights leads to a garden.
It was wide enough to serve as a training ground.
In winter, the garden looked desolate.
Water wasn’t even springing from the central fountain.
And atop the higher hill, that lonely gray mansion looked down upon me.
‘It seemed to have been more splendid originally.’
Considering it’s currently the past, is this ‘original’?
Anyway, the Eliya’s mansion I saw in the future was rather extravagant.
Overall, it was the same gray hue.
However, rare jewels and statues, as well as demon spoils were displayed all over the garden.
Even in winter, those burdensome decorations persisted.
In the flowering season, they brought in rare flowers and trees that were hard to come by and planted them carelessly.
Because of that, it was a mansion that was splendid yet disharmonious. That was where Eliya stayed.
‘Now it just feels empty and desolate.’
On one side of the mansion’s grounds stood a barn.
“The current barn is the largest among the barn facilities here.”
The butler, Miguel, guided me.
He looked flustered.
I suppose he didn’t expect me to bring a living Moon Deer.
“Okay, so it’ll spend time here.”
Eliya didn’t feel the need to step inside the barn.
Being a noble, it was only natural.
The barn keeper kept bowing as he exited.
He tried to take the Moon Deer, but there was a problem.
The Moon Deer wouldn’t follow.
“Come on, listen, you little rascal…”
He was sweating profusely while glancing covertly at Eliya.
Eliya looked at the Moon Deer with a curious expression before turning to me.
As if she thought I might have the answer.
That was an accurate intuition.
“…Is it perhaps because it doesn’t think this place is safe?”
Unable to withstand the pressure of her gaze, I cautiously suggested.
Eliya smiled brightly and asked.
“Then what should we do?”
“We need to let it know this place is safe… I’ll go inside with you first.”
“Hmm. No, let’s go together.”
“Huh?!”
I was taken aback.
Not just me, but the barn keeper and Miguel too.
“This is my house; there’s no way you can stay by my side indefinitely. If I want to tame it, I need to show it directly that it is safe.”
That was logical.
I was taken aback as well.
Those two were shocked by the fact that Eliya, a high noble, would step into the barn herself.
I was shocked because Eliya was saying something so correct.
The barn keeper opened the large barn door and led us inside.
My knees trembled as they did.
Eliya didn’t seem to have any particular reluctance.
She entered the barn as if she were taking a walk.
With a very high ceiling and expansive space.
It resembled a large warehouse.
It hadn’t been used for a long time, as there was no smell of livestock.
Only the faint scent of soil and dried grass lingered.
The Moon Deer entered quietly as I stepped in.
“You’ll be staying here from now on.”
I gently stroked the Moon Deer’s neck and spoke.
It was an intelligent creature that could understand if trained.
It might not fully grasp the exact meaning, but it would understand the intent I was trying to convey.
The Moon Deer slowly shook its head.
As if to say it didn’t like it.
“Hmm.”
Eliya, with her arms crossed, asked.
“What did you do?”
“Huh?”
“The method to tame it. If I want it to serve me, shouldn’t I do the same thing?”
“That’s not wrong, but… you need to use this mushroom.”
I took out a mushroom I had kept in my pocket.
The Moon Deer sniffed curiously.
Eliya nodded.
“So it’s taming with food. Just like with humans.”
… I couldn’t follow her train of thought at all.
“It’s half-true, but this isn’t an ordinary mushroom; it’s a poisonous one.”
“A poisonous mushroom?!”
Miguel shot a sharp glare at me.
It was understandable since I was holding something dangerous near Eliya.
“It’s not a critically toxic mushroom. It’s a yellow umbrella mushroom that temporarily induces a state of anesthesia.”
“Is it okay if I take a look?”
Miguel asked.
I handed him a mushroom resting on his gloved hand.
His eyes cautiously examined it over his glasses.
“…I’ll need to call for a physician to confirm.”
He seemed knowledgeable at first, but he really didn’t know.
The barn keeper ran off to find a physician.
“Are you going to feed that mushroom to it?”
Eliya asked.
“Yes. I need to feed it by hand. That’s what I did, but I’m worried that even just touching this poisonous mushroom might cause issues, so I can’t recklessly recommend it to you, Miss.”
“Hmm. I see.”
The physician arrived quickly.
With round glasses, braided black hair, and a long white gown.
She radiated the aura of a doctor or scholar without a doubt.
After observing it a few times, she recognized the mushroom.
“This is indeed a poisonous mushroom called the yellow umbrella mushroom. It hasn’t been established that this deer likes it, though…”
She peered over her glasses with a look at me.
I had nothing particular to say in return and simply patted the Moon Deer.
“So, can I touch it?”
“It’s been reported that symptoms show only upon contact, yet since it hasn’t been subjected to precise experiments, I would need three days to investigate the results. Please ensure the mushroom doesn’t come in direct contact with your hands, Miss.”
“Okay. It’s better to be cautious. I don’t want to get sick.”
Eliya, staring intently at the Moon Deer, nodded.
Her bright red eyes had seemingly made up her mind about something.
“For three days, you’re coming here.”
“…Huh?”
“If I stay next to you while you’re here, I can build some intimacy, can’t I?”
…That makes sense?
“So you’ll be staying here for a while. No, for several days.”
“…Huh?”
I reacted the same way as before.
I couldn’t think of any response other than this one.
“There are plenty of rooms.”
That would be the case.
As far as I knew, this large mansion was used solely by Eliya.
The rest were all servants.
Soldiers, knights, maids, female attendants, butlers, and others like the head chef and barn keeper.
“I need to give it a room.”
Before I could process my thoughts, Eliya commanded Miguel.
“Y-Yes? But…”
Miguel looked troubled, wrinkling his brow as he glanced at me.
This was the mansion of a high noble, the direct descendant of the Bevel family.
Someone like me shouldn’t even be allowed to step into it.
I understood Miguel’s reluctance, and I supported him.
Eliya didn’t say much.
She simply stared blankly at Miguel, as if she wondered why she had to say it twice.
“…As you wish, Miss.”
Just as I was rooting for him internally, I felt just as drained as Miguel.
“Arrange for a carriage and driver to go back and forth between the training ground every morning and evening. Is there anything else you need?”
Yes.
Please send me away.
Please let me go.
“I have nothing else…”
The words came out contrary to my inner thoughts.
Miguel briefly stepped out.
“Um…”
The barn keeper cautiously suggested.
“If you need a reason to bond, how about giving it water?”
“Water?”
“Yes… I heard that this deer ran here. So it must be thirsty. Ah, but if it’s a wild animal, there might be parasites…”
“I’ve heard that the Moon Deer is special and has no parasites in its body.”
According to the setting, it was due to the power of the moon coursing through its body.
Since I had been close to it since yesterday and was fine, must be true.
“That’s correct. Bring it.”
The barn keeper hurried off and soon returned with a bucket of water.
“……”
Eliya stared blankly at the bucket.
It was a bucket used for livestock.
They must have gotten the cleanest one, but there were still stains here and there.
Eliya would view it as unclean.
As expected.
“…You want me to touch this?”
“Ugh! I-I’m so sorry! But this is the cleanest…”
“……”
This is what they mean by looking at someone with contempt.
She didn’t even frown.
But her eyes dripped with disdain.
“I’ll do it.”
I stepped in as I felt like I was suffocating from her gaze.
“While giving it water, just pet it next to me would be sufficient, wouldn’t it?”
“…Sure, do that.”
Eliya sighed, as if she were reluctantly agreeing.
She could rightly have that attitude.
It was only natural that she had only seen people who bow at a single glance, yet now she had to put in effort to befriend someone.
I took the bucket and approached the Moon Deer.
Having come to terms with where it would be staying, the Moon Deer was wandering around the barn freely.
“Good, good.”
Perhaps thirsty, the Moon Deer immediately plunged its head into the bucket.
It remained calm as I stroked its neck and head.
The barn keeper quickly brought a platform for Eliya.
Standing on the wooden platform beside the Moon Deer, Eliya hesitated.
“…What should I do?”
That awkwardness felt strange to me.
So there was something like a child in her after all.
I felt a laugh coming up, cleared my throat a few times, and replied.
“Just pet its fur naturally. Ah, be careful not to touch the Moon Deer’s antlers since that’s a special area.”
“…Okay.”
Eliya’s small hand gently touched the Moon Deer’s back.
She petted slowly.
It felt strange.
Eliya, who was gentle and careful in stroking the animal.
“…It’s soft.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
Did I mishear it?
Fortunately, the Moon Deer didn’t reject Eliya’s touch.
After finishing its water, it stayed stationary in place.
Eliya quietly continued to stroke the Moon Deer’s back.
A monotonous motion with a firm expression.
It felt more like work rather than interaction.
“…How long do we do this?”
“There’s no set time, so you can stop if you’d like to.”
“Hmm…”
She knit her brows, yet her hand didn’t stop.
She might think that after all this, it should have already been tamed by now.
But she was repetitively stroking the same spot too much, wasn’t she?
“Don’t just pet one spot, try petting other areas too…”
Eliya glanced at me, then extended her arms further.
The effort she put in was oddly cute for a little child.
However, it felt almost bizarre since the target was Eliya.
But did I really think Eliya was cute right now?
I must be losing my mind.
Because of her stretched-out arm, her sleeves pulled back.
Revealing a delicate white wrist.
There, was a red bruise.
‘What is that? Now that I think about it, it seemed like she had a similar mark on her wrist when I first met her…’
I belatedly realized the identity of that mark.
It was a bruise.
Caused by someone hitting her.
For a moment, I stared blankly at Eliya, diligently stroking the Moon Deer.
A face stiff as a shy child.
An awkward touch.
And bruises on her wrist.
Only when I regained my senses did I realize that the maid, Ria, had been observing me.
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