Episode 19
It shimmered brilliantly as if embroidered with starlight, the colors within swirling captivatingly. Mesmerized, I stared at the luminous light, which resembled the graceful movements of fish.
“Beep.”
‘It’s so beautiful.’
“This is called a mana stone. It came from the monster you defeated.”
‘A mana stone from the monster I defeated? So it wasn’t a jewel.’
“I had another mana stone to deliver to the Magic Tower, which I left inside the carriage, but it seems to have disappeared along with the carriage.”
“Beep.”
‘You probably won’t find that. It disappeared as soon as I touched it.’
I was relieved that the accident had happened. If it was something that needed to be delivered to the Magic Tower, it must have been incredibly valuable. It was better for it to be lost along with the carriage I almost died in.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I looked at the mana stone.
Ever since I became a bird, I had a particular fondness for jewels. I often admired the way colorful jewels sparkled in the sunlight. But the mana stone in front of me seemed even more beautiful than other jewels.
I reached out my wing towards the mana stone Cesar offered. But as soon as my wing touched it, the mana stone disappeared as if absorbed.
“Chirp.”
‘Oh no. It disappeared again.’
I suddenly understood how a raccoon felt watching a cotton candy melt away in water.
I cautiously glanced at Cesar, trying to gauge his reaction.
‘He wasn’t planning to have me deliver this to the Magic Tower instead, was he?’
But Cesar seemed lost in thought.
“The mana stone disappeared. I did read about a monster that absorbs mana stones like that in an old book I borrowed from the Magic Tower… and that power, too.”
“Chirp?”
“Are you a type of monster?”
“Beep?”
‘Even if you ask me that, I don’t know.’
But wait a minute. If I was a type of monster, as Cesar said, that meant I was the same type as that ferocious wolf-type monster. A monster… a bird monster… Could a bird monster transform into a human?
As I was deep in thought, wiggling my toes, Cesar stroked my head.
“…Whether you’re the monster from the old book or something else special, to me, you’re just Lily, my bird.”
“Beep…?”
‘I wasn’t a bird to begin with…?’
But despite my reaction, Cesar continued speaking his mind.
“Besides, there are people who raise monsters. If anyone says it’s not allowed, I’ll change the Empire’s laws to make it possible.”
“Beep!”
‘Changing the Empire’s laws isn’t that simple. I’m not okay! Why is the scale of this so big?!’
“That’s just what I mean.”
“Beep…”
‘So you’re not actually going to do it? That’s a relief. I was surprised, thinking you were serious.’
As I took uneven breaths, he stroked me and whispered,
“…Lily, it’s okay if you don’t know anything. Your place is by my side. Just keep being my bird.”
At his words, my heart pounded as if I had been caught hiding something.
I needed to know what I was to figure out how to become human again. If I was a type of monster, and that monster could turn into a human, I planned to leave the Dukedom immediately.
I looked at Cesar before me.
Cesar had become strange lately. But he was still someone who didn’t like even an insignificant bird leaving his side. How would someone like that react when he found out Sylvia was leaving him?
When that time came, a small bird like me would surely be beneath his notice.
The words Cesar had spoken once echoed in my ears.
‘Waiting for someone alone, being left alone, the darkness with no one to protect me — I hate it all so much.’
I had planned to escape when the time was right, but his words were stuck in my throat like a thorn.
If things followed the original story, he would die tragically. While facing the eyes of his beloved filled with contempt. It was a losing game from the start.
But until I figured out my true nature and became human again, for the sake of survival, for the sake of my lonely owner… I could try to do what I could.
I suppressed my pounding heart and smiled brightly.
“Beep.”
I chirped softly, hiding the fact that I desperately wanted to find out where the old book he borrowed from the Magic Tower was.
Several days had passed since the monster attack. Fortunately, the knights didn’t mention the incident where I had obliterated everything.
Of course, when I went to the training grounds, they would occasionally stare at me curiously. I pecked at their hands, annoyed by their gazes, which felt like they were looking at a monkey in a zoo.
Fortunately, Lenny seemed to understand how I felt and made the knights who were particularly obvious run extra laps, so they quieted down.
The Spring Festival was fast approaching.
I heard that the villages surrounding the Dukedom were also bustling with excitement, preparing for the festival.
I sat idly in my cage, looking at the empty bedroom. Cesar was out again today. I heard he went to meet Sylvia.
When he asked if I wanted to go with him, I vigorously shook my head. Because today, while Cesar was away, I planned to sneak into his office.
Considering his previous mention of monsters, I thought there might be a related book somewhere in his office or study.
The maids carried the necessary keys, so I just had to follow the friendly maids around until I found the book. They didn’t seem wary of a small bird.
I stretched and put my plan into action. As usual, I wandered around the mansion and then, as if by chance, approached the maid entering Cesar’s office and acted friendly.
She smiled and asked,
“Lily. Why are you following me today? Do you like me?”
“Beep!”
“Really? That makes me happy. That Lily likes me.”
“Chirp.”
‘Sorry. I lied a little today.’
Whether she knew my intentions or not, she couldn’t hide her amusement as she watched me following her. My slightly remaining conscience pricked me a little.
Having successfully entered the office with the maid, I quietly examined the bookshelves.
“Lily, you shouldn’t go near there. If you damage any of the books, the Duke will be angry. Stay here quietly with me, okay?”
“Chirp.”
‘Okay. Then I’ll just touch them quietly!’
I replied cheerfully and smiled innocently. Just then, as if on cue, someone called her.
“…Serin! They need help on the third floor!”
“Alright! Lily, let’s go. Huh? Where did she go?”
I heard her calling me, but I hid behind the bookshelf, pretending to be gone. My small body made it easy to hide.
Her gaze then shifted to the open window. White curtains fluttered in the breeze.
“Ah, did she go out the window?”
“Serin! Hurry up!”
“Alright! It’ll be fine, right?”
Soon, I heard hurried footsteps and the door clicking shut.
When the surroundings became completely silent, I cautiously peeked out. There was no one there.
‘Good. I’m completely alone. Then let’s look around.’
“Beep.”
‘Hmm, this doesn’t seem right.’
I flapped my wings diligently, examining the books on the shelves.
I had succeeded in sneaking into Cesar’s office, but there didn’t seem to be anything important. And the book titles were all boring.
<The Principles of Magic>, <History of the Empire>, <Ancient History>
I imagined the books filled with hundreds of pages of tiny, densely packed letters.
“Chirp…”
‘Full of nothing but boring and tedious books. Where is that old book Cesar mentioned?’
Then, my gaze landed on something.
<501 Ways to Catch a Runaway Bird>
I flinched, feeling a prick of guilt.
‘He’s such a possessive villain. I guess he collects books like that, too.’
Shuddering, I resumed my search for the old book. But it was nowhere to be found. It seemed like a wasted effort. Disappointed, I considered sneaking into the Dukedom’s archives.
Having naturally decided on my next destination, I was about to open the window the maid had closed and slip out. Just then, my gaze fell on a locked drawer in Cesar’s desk.
“Bee…p?”
‘Should I check that one last time before I go?’
I approached the drawer from the windowsill. It seemed to be locked, as it wouldn’t open no matter how much I nudged it.
‘I guess this needs a key, too.’
Suddenly, a video I had seen a long time ago flashed through my mind.
I looked at my reflection in a nearby glass surface. I saw my sharp claws and beak, like needles.
‘Hmm. This might be worth a try.’
As I stealthily raised a claw, my slightly remaining conscience stirred.
‘Is it really right to sneak into your owner’s office and try to open a locked drawer, Lily?’
My inner voice seemed to be trying to protect the last shreds of my conscience. Besides, there was no way Cesar wouldn’t notice if I picked the lock.
I had already caused enough trouble, and if I got caught trying to open his drawer…
“Beeeep.”
Just the thought sent shivers down my spine. But if I couldn’t find the old book, I wouldn’t get any clues about my true nature or the small hope of becoming human again.
I looked at my reflection with dejected eyes. I was undoubtedly a bird. Harmless and cute, but the complete opposite of my true self.
Even if this was inside a novel, and even if Cesar was changing, I didn’t want to remain a bird forever. Other people could roughly understand what I meant, but it wasn’t the same as conversing in human language.
The name ‘Lily,’ being called a cute bird, none of it was the real me.
“Chirp…”
‘But I should stop. This isn’t right.’
Just as I was about to regretfully step away, I heard someone entering the office from behind.
“Beep?”
‘Is that Cesar?’
Startled like a criminal caught in the act, I quickly turned around.
But behind me stood a person I had never seen before. I saw long, blue hair, the color of the sea, and clear, water-like eyes. I was certain I had never seen this person before.
In other words, this person was undoubtedly a thief who had broken into Cesar’s office.