episode_0078

Together with Kali, we arrived at the Ale Mansion, the largest mansion in the upper Espilia.

The size of the mansion was so large that it could be compared to a soccer field, and the sophisticated and elegant mansion itself seemed to symbolize nobility.

‘…I’ve been feeling this for a while, but this is home?’

The fence that blocks intruders is so high that no matter how many people stand vertically, they can’t get over it, and there’s even a magical barrier placed on top of it.

The guards guarding the mansion stand at their respective positions without any blind spots and watch their surroundings.

Even if it were a noble house, would there be any reason for such thorough security?

“Carly. Right here?”

“….Yes.”

Carly answered dejectedly, looking at the floor. Was it because he remembered the day when his younger sister was taken away, or was it because he felt uncomfortable just because he was in the upper class, who rejected him and only gave him negative looks?

For some reason, Kali seemed so fragile. And my anger towards Ronan Ale, who created this inevitable situation, wells up.

Then, you shouldn’t mess up your work because you can’t control your emotions. In situations like this, you need to be calm and cool-headed.

I led Carly to the tightly closed front door of the Ale mansion.

“Stop. Please identify yourself.”

“If you do not reveal your identity, you will not be able to enter.”

The guards, who had been staring at me, blocked me when I reached the front gate.

Their mood was extremely cold, and they looked at me with cold eyes, as if they would stab me with that sharp spear at once if I ignored their warnings.

“It’s called Venice. I have something to see the owner of this mansion.”

“….Please wait a moment.”

“Yes. Okay.”

One of the two guards turns around for a moment, takes something out of his pocket and mutters. It felt similar to the means of communication that bodyguards have.

“Excuse me. Venice Raoul, is this correct?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

At the entrance to my mansion, the words ‘Raoul Street’ were written on the large door. Since I knew that was my family name, I answered yes when asked by the guard.

“Please wait a moment.”

After telling the guard who treated me a little more politely that I understood, I started waiting on the spot.

Rattling…

Carly’s body, standing behind me, began to tremble. Was it because of the past in which he could not do anything, or was it because of his anger towards Ronan Ale?

I held onto Carly’s hand and looked into her eyes.

‘are you okay.’

“…….”

Nod.

When I spoke to Carly, her eyes turned round and she nodded. The tremors gradually subside.

Carly’s calluses and rough hands seemed to represent the miserable situation in which she had no choice but to live.

It felt like the sadness of Kali, who had no choice but to become strong, had just melted away. I held Carly’s hand tighter.

I hope that my warmth can be conveyed even just a little, and that she can feel at least a little bit at ease.

After a while. Someone was walking out of the mansion in the distance. From the way he walked, he was arrogant, and anyone could tell that that person was Ronan Ale.

Eventually, the man faced me across the front door. A handsome man with well-groomed blue hair and well-maintained appearance.

“He called me… Nice to meet you. Is this Ronan Ale?”

“….Yes. Nice to meet you. It’s called Venice.”

“Pfft….”

A man with an overall sense of nobility, but with an inexplicable feeling of reluctance. As soon as she looked at that face, Kali’s breathing became heavy.

I gave her hand another squeeze, and thankfully Carly began to calm down.

“What happened…. Ho-oh. There’s someone you didn’t even think of?”

As soon as he faced Carly standing behind me, Ronan Ale started laughing as if he was intrigued. It must have been Mi-hyung’s face, but it was unpleasant, as if I was seeing the fake smile of the devil.

I shook off the growing reluctance and spoke directly with Ronan Ale, looking him in the eye.

“This is my friend, Carly.”

“….You’re friends with Suin? Haha… this is true. It’s fun, it’s fun.”

“My friend’s younger sister-”

“No, no. I kind of understand what you’re trying to say. ‘Give back the little sister you took away.’ Right?”

Ronan interrupted me and laughed, immediately grasping the situation. I don’t think he’s an ordinary human. I think this is my first time seeing a person with this much insight.

“Ha… Yeah. How much gold was offered at that time?”

“50 gold. Right? I will give it to you.”

“Are you really… willing to pay that kind of money just for that prisoner? Did you know that there are countless cases of betrayal by prisoners? Someday, the beast standing next to you, you-”

“Be careful what you say. Carly is my dear friend. And I trust my friend.”

“……!”

I hear Carly’s startled gasp. At the same time, Ronan’s eyes turned round and he began to hold his stomach and burst into laughter.

“Kuh…Kuh…Khahaha…! Ah… have fun. Yes, I understand. Hey, bring that prisoner.”

“…Yes? But…”

“Stop talking. That’s what our funny nobleman wants.”

“…Okay.”

Ronan spoke to the person who appeared to be a butler standing behind him, and the butler hurried into the mansion.

Then, in the hands of the butler who ran out quickly, a small, petite woman was held in his hands. Her appearance was so similar that anyone could say she was Kali’s sister.

The only difference was that he had long hair and that he was a cute child with more innocent eyes.

“….Kalea!!”

“Uh…Sister?”

“This is Suin, right? Then… give me the price.”

“50 gold… That’s right.”

“No. I will only accept 30 gold. Because you made me laugh… How long has it been since I laughed like this?”

What on earth are they thinking? I thought he would definitely try another trick, but on the contrary, he obediently brought in Carly’s younger sister and even responded that he would receive less money than he had originally received.

“Kalea… Kalea…!”

“Sister….”

The front door that had blocked their blood-related relationship was opened, and the sisters finally shed tears while hugging each other.

It was a truly touching moment, but I just looked at Ronan with a feeling of discomfort. Ronan also looked at me like that.

“Wow… That’s a really nice scene to see. Isn’t that right?”

“……..”

Are you crazy? He was the one who blocked the relationship between them, and he said such things?

I quietly glared at Ronan, but Ronan laughed as if it was ridiculous and turned around and walked away.

“It’s been a while since I saw an interesting sight. Well, I hope I can see you again next time. Mr. ‘Venice Raoul’.”

Just like that, Ronan naturally disappeared into the mansion, as if he had no regrets.

“Ugh… Ugh… I feel sorry for you…”

“Sister…”

Although it was futile, it was a simple matter. On the contrary, I felt uncomfortable…

“…Phew.”

Well, good things are good things. I quietly waited for the sisters as they tearfully reunited.

***

“Ha… It’s fun, it’s fun.”

Before Ronan Ale entered the mansion, he looked at the reunited beast sisters and a nobleman.

His mouth was saying something interesting, but his expression was cold and expressionless.

“……..”

And all the servants, butlers, and maids in the mansion who looked at his expression turned their heads.

As if he didn’t see anything. Just quietly resign.

***

After the tearful reunion, Carly hesitantly stood in front of me, holding her sister’s hand tightly.

Carly is unable to make eye contact as she twirls her hair with one hand. I waited quietly for Carly to gain courage.

“That… over there…”

“Yes.”

“Go….Thank you. Really…”

“Thank you….”

Sister Suin says thank you to me. Looking at it this way, I feel that the two are really similar.

Did you say your younger sister’s name was Calea? I smiled involuntarily at that cute and innocent look.

“Kuh…Kuh.”

‘Oh, please.’

“Hee…hee…!”

“It’s okay. Calea. That person… you can really trust him. Do you trust me?”

“Ugh…Ugh..”

Kalea was scared and hid behind Kalea, but Kalea smiled and gave Kalea away, so the misunderstanding about me quickly disappeared.

“Thank goodness. Because we can meet again.”

“It’s all thanks to you. Really… thank you, master. I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life..”

“I just did what I had to do. Don’t take it to heart too much.”

“….Ha. You… you’re so crazy. That’s a really weird guy…! Come here, master!”

Carly ran towards me so quickly that I couldn’t even react and hugged me tightly.

For her, it seemed like she was hugging her weakly, but for me, who was weak, it was different.

“Ugh…gagging…!”

Save me… Save me…!

I couldn’t breathe. If you continue like this… you will die…!

“Uh…huh?! I… I’m sorry!”

Carly jumped away from me in surprise. I coughed, struggling to catch my breath again.

“Cough, cough… I almost died.”

“Mi… I’m sorry… Master…”

Carly looked at the ground, dejected, like a severely scolded pet.

He showed his cute side, like an animal that knew it had done something wrong, and without even realizing it, my playful side was activated.

“Really? Are you really sorry?”

“Uh..yeah..”

“Then, call me master once.”

In fact, it was true that I was a little offended by Carly who usually called me ‘master’ instead of being the owner, but I didn’t pay much attention to it, but I tried to talk about it in a playful way.

I did this because I thought it would be good to let off some steam as Carly may have felt responsible for my actions.

Of course Carly knows it’s a joke. I’ll probably just make a joke like I always do…

“….Yes. Thank you… owner… ”

“….Huh?”

“Owner… Thank you…”

….what? Did I hear wrong? I couldn’t believe my ears, and I began to think about the dizzying situation I was in, to the point where I even felt fear.

Tilt.

“Owner….?”

At that time, Kalea, who was looking at Kali, whose face was as red as if it were going to burst, began to tilt her head.

“Master…! Thank you…!”

And then he shouted in a voice so loud that I wondered how he could come out of that small body. A sound so loud that you would believe that all the residents of upper Espilia heard it.

Oh, no.

I looked around, feeling anxious.

No…? I hope no one hears…

-….what? That person…

-You are the owner…?

-Ugh… disgusting.

-Did you make that little boy call you master?

“Ah.”

When the upper-class citizens passing by heard Calea’s shout, they looked at me in surprise, and then saw her whispering with disgusted expressions.

I felt dizzy.

“Master! Master!”

“…Owner…!”

Kali and Calea continued to shout as if they didn’t know what I was thinking.

Thanks to this, I learned what it felt like to want to crawl into a rat hole, and quickly grabbed Carly and Calea’s hands and ran to my house.

I couldn’t help but hold back tears as the stares and whispers of people who saw my behavior grew louder.