Chapter 21

“Chirp chirp! Cheep cheep!”

As soon as the open space was revealed, I turned my body towards the people who had treated Karhan and Doel badly and chirped loudly. I raised my eyes fiercely and swiftly turned my head, glaring at the people seated around me. Startled by my fierce momentum, the people stood there dumbfounded, unable to utter a word.

Karhan, still kneeling, lifted his head and asked, “So, is the eye level to your liking now?”

Karhan spoke with a chilling smile. The corners of his mouth curled up, a rare sight. The minor lord, seemingly still unable to grasp the situation, blankly stared down at Karhan’s face before leaping up, regaining his senses that had temporarily left his body. With a flustered expression, the minor lord stammered before hastily continuing.

“Ka-Karhan, Your Excellency the Duke!”

At Lord Valdez’s words, the people around him were also startled and hurriedly moved about in a flurry. Lord Valdez, the minor lord, quickly knelt down and bowed his head. Upon seeing his action, the servants and knights nearby also glanced at each other before hastily bowing their heads to the ground.

“I apologize! I-I failed to recognize Your Excellency the Duke…!”

“That’s enough. I wonder how long I’ll have to stay tied up and kneeling like this.”

It’s certainly a unique experience, but it’s not particularly enjoyable. I spoke while smugly curling up one corner of my mouth. I also raised my head and smirked at Lord Valdez.

“Chirp.”

How infuriating!

I maintained the most irritating expression possible as I looked up at him. Lord Valdez trembled and ordered the knights beside Karhan and Doel to untie the ropes binding them. The knights hurriedly untied the ropes behind them and helped the two stand up. I couldn’t help but snicker at their extremely cautious demeanor, a stark contrast to when they had forced them to kneel. Only then did Karhan come to look down upon Lord Valdez.

Karhan’s wrists must have been sore from being tied, as he grasped one wrist with his other hand and rotated it in a full circle to relieve the stiffness in his bones. That action seemed quite threatening, causing sweat to drip profusely from the forehead of the lord standing in front of him. Why did you tie them up then? He took out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped away the flowing sweat, saying, “Our knights have committed a grave and unforgivable sin, so I will certainly! I will certainly administer an appropriate punishment!”

Upon hearing those words, Karhan made a “hmm” sound and stroked his chin. Then, as if pondering, he looked down at the lord and spoke.

“Yes. If a sin has been committed, an appropriate punishment should be administered. However, I heard a strange story on my way here… I wonder if you’re curious about it?”

“Chirp chirp!”

That’s right! You’ve already been caught red-handed! I cried out fiercely at the lord. Now that Karhan and Doel had heard the knights’ gossip on their way here, that lord had nowhere to retreat. Evil human trafficker! I stood on top of Karhan’s head, assuming the most arrogant pose possible as I looked down at the lord. Lord Valdez was still kneeling, and with me on top of Karhan’s head, I could see his sparse scalp.

“Chirp.”

Be grateful that my wings aren’t longer! Otherwise, I would have folded my arms to strike a perfect pose for you! I displayed a wicked smile. The lord glanced up at me, who was far above him, and then, as if frightened, lowered his gaze to look at Karhan again. Beads of sweat still clung to his forehead.

“Wh-what story did you hear…?”

“Well, for example, stories about vagrants being sacrificed, or perhaps discussions about prices?”

Karhan’s voice was chillingly laid out in the silent space. The lord’s face turned deathly pale, a color one might not have thought possible for a human face. Tick-tock, tick-tock, the sound of the second hand seemed particularly loud in the silence. The lord trembled his hands and hastily opened his mouth.

“No! No, Your Excellency the Duke! It’s true that we brought them here, but… for hygiene reasons and due to complaints, we simply escorted them outside the village. There was no other intention! The money… It was a bonus for the knights who work hard to maintain the village’s security, nothing else!”

The lord raised the corners of his mouth in an awkwardly noticeable manner and looked around at the knights. Isn’t that right? When he asked the knights in a trembling voice, they responded with a loud “Yes!” in a dazed manner.

When Karhan uttered a single word, “Is that so?” as if in doubt, the lord immediately latched onto those words and nodded his head vigorously. With his hands clasped meekly, fidgeting, he resembled a treacherous court official.

“Cheep cheep!”

Liar! Karhan, he’s lying! I flapped my wings to express my opinion. Upon seeing that, the lord raised his head to look at me. I felt pleasure at the sight of his trembling undereye and gritted teeth. If I were human, I would have grinned at him.

When I was human, I had to be mindful of people’s gazes in all my actions, but after becoming an animal, Karhan accepted and forgave all my behaviors, making me feel at ease. Perhaps it was because of that, or maybe there was another reason. My actions naturally came out as I wished, following my instincts. That’s why life as an animal was quite enjoyable, but it was regrettable that I couldn’t display a deep smirk in this situation.

While I was mocking him to the fullest extent, Doel, who was standing beside Karhan, exclaimed in an exaggeratedly theatrical manner.

“Your Excellency the Duke has endured such treatment to come here! Yet you still keep him standing like this! This won’t do. If you give the order, I will behead them and ensure that such an incident never occurs again by informing the world.”

“Chirp!”

That’s right! Well done, Doel! Feeling that the matter was being smoothly resolved, I wiggled my bottom from side to side on top of Karhan’s head. Upon hearing Doel’s words, the lord bowed his head to the ground again and pleaded.

“Oh my! I-I’m sorry! Please spare my life! I will serve you diligently! Please, please forgive me!”

He kept his head pressed against the floor, desperately begging with his hands and feet. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. He doesn’t want to die himself, yet he engages in human trafficking of the weak? He was truly a wicked person.

“Cheep!”

I shook my head vigorously from side to side. It was a gesture indicating that he shouldn’t be forgiven. For someone of his status as a minor lord to exploit the powerless for business, he was indeed a despicable human being. Karhan reached out to me, who was actively expressing my opinion on top of his head. He gently grasped me, lightly enclosing me in his hand, and spoke.

“Are you absolutely certain that there isn’t a shred of falsehood in what you’ve said?”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

“Hmm… It’s difficult for me to take your words at face value. I’ll have to stay here for a few days to verify.”

“Pardon? Ah, no, um… How many days are you planning to stay…?”

“Well. I don’t think I’ll be staying long.”

When Karhan mentioned staying at this residence, the lord looked as if his world had crumbled. However, when Karhan immediately specified the duration, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted. Why is this person’s expression so obvious? If even I could notice it to this extent, it was evident that Karhan had also fully realized it. I wondered how this person had managed to carry out such a massive operation and keep anyone from reporting it.

“Cheep cheep.”

I will uncover your secrets!

He seemed to sense the fear in my sharp gaze. Still sweating profusely, the lord rose from his seat, bowed his head deeply, and said he would guide us to the best room in this residence. After keeping his head bowed for a long time, unable to make eye contact, Karhan smiled at the lord with a seemingly kind face and spoke.

“Regarding what happened earlier… Considering your efforts, I shall give it some thought.”

Faced with Karhan’s good-natured smile, the lord finally displayed a relieved expression and promptly stepped forward to guide us to the room. The room we were escorted to was a lavish one, with all the furniture adorned with gold and jewels. Although such extravagance wasn’t Karhan’s preference, the lord’s claim of guiding us to the best room seemed to be true.

As soon as the lord brought us to the room, he bowed deeply, saying he would bring us some tea, and left. Once the door closed and only the three of us remained, Doel and Karhan looked at each other.

“We’ve successfully infiltrated this far.”

Doel spoke with a smile on his lips. Karhan also had a slight smile on his face. What had they discussed? I was in a deep sleep when they were making plans, so I had no idea how they intended to proceed with the matter. However, trusting the original duo, I entrusted everything to his actions.

As I rested obediently on Karhan’s hand, my stomach rumbled like a clock.

“Chirp… chirp.”

Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten a single meal today.

Realizing that I hadn’t eaten any food throughout the day, I plopped down. Then, with a sad expression, I lay down on Karhan’s hand. So many hectic events had occurred today that I hadn’t even noticed my hunger. Only after arriving in the spacious room did the tension seem to dissipate, and my stomach started growling. I spoke in a feeble voice, mumbling.

“Cheep…”

Do you… have anything to eat…?

Seeing me lying down weakly, Doel chuckled. Karhan gently stroked my upturned belly, and I, drained of energy, softly closed my eyes. Don’t just touch me; give me food. As I waited patiently, Karhan quietly spoke, not disappointing my expectations.

“Come to think of it, you haven’t been able to eat anything all day because we were so busy. I shall have them bring you some delicious food.”

“Chirp!”

Hurrah!

Delighted by those words, I opened my small bean-sized eyes wide. In fact, even though I was hungry, I thought I would have to go hungry for the day as it was quite late to prepare a meal. However, without hesitation, Karhan nodded to Doel, instructing the attendant standing outside the room to prepare a meal. The lord, who had mentioned bringing tea, was nowhere to be seen, showing no signs of returning.

Until the meal arrived, Karhan continued discussing work matters with Doel. After quietly listening to their conversation, I realized that the matter would be resolved smoothly anyway, so there was no need to worry too deeply about it. I flapped my wings and headed towards the plush bed.

As I landed on the bedding, the soft and fluffy covers sank deeply. Feeling pleased by the sensation of being surrounded by soft fabric on all sides, I rolled around on the bed.

But this time, I absolutely won’t fall asleep!