YDPBT Chapter 24

I looked at him with a serious expression. Seeing us, he pointed at me with trembling fingers. I didn’t know what he wanted to say, but I didn’t like the finger pointing at me.

“Cheep…”

I was discouraged that while I was doing my best to stay alert, the other person was acting like that. I loosened the force in my fully spread wings and puffed-up chest. I stood obediently and watched him, still laughing.

Doel’s vigilance seemed to have loosened a bit as well, as his tense and stiff shoulders subtly sank. If it was a tactic to dampen our morale, it was quite successful.

After laughing like that for a while, he brushed off his knees and stood up from his spot. He must have gotten over his big laugh, as he chuckled softly. He had laughed so joyfully that his eyes were moist.

Raising his hand, he wiped away the teardrops that had gathered in his eyes with his index finger and looked at us. Covering his mouth with the hand he had used to wipe his tears, he seemed to be trying hard to hold back his laughter.

“Cheep!”

Feeling as if I had become a laughingstock for no reason, I cried out fiercely. He seemed to find the situation amusing, and with a smile on his lips, he said to us, “Are you trying to become clowns or something?”

I can’t focus because it’s so funny. Ah, that was entertaining after a long time. As he spoke, he brushed back his hair that had fallen forward with his hand. In the meantime, he seemed to have calmed down considerably, and unlike his disheveled appearance from earlier, he narrowed his eyes beautifully and spoke to us with a kind expression.

“Can you give me that?”

Then he extended one hand towards us and stood still.

“Chirp?”

Give you what? I blinked my eyes and looked at him. Ah, could it be…?

“Cheep…”

I sighed. There was no other choice. Stealing is bad. Unable to hide my dejected expression, I turned around. Then, I released the tension in my raised tail, allowing the bracelet with embedded jewels that had been barely hanging on to slide off smoothly.

The bracelet fell to the ground with a clatter. I looked at the bracelet lying haphazardly on the floor with regretful eyes. It was a simple yet pretty bracelet with densely studded gems that I thought would suit Karhan quite well, so I had secretly taken it while leaving the warehouse.

“Chirp?”

Is it okay now?

Thinking that there would be no problem now that I had returned it, I tapped Doel’s shoulder, signaling him to quickly go back. However, Doel remained still, his feet not leaving the ground and his gaze fixed. Why isn’t he going? I alternated my gaze between Doel and the man. The man in front of us was still looking at Doel with a smile on his face, while Doel glared at him with a slightly furrowed brow.

Only then did I realize the situation. What the man had asked for wasn’t the jewel I had stolen.

I glanced back and forth between the two, then flapped my wings and descended from Doel’s shoulder. I have to take it back. I picked up the jewel with my beak and climbed back onto his shoulder. Even then, the two were still in a standoff, and the man in front of us, who had glanced at me, opened his mouth.

“That ledger, Lord Valdez asked me to keep it safe.”

He wiggled the hand he had extended, asking for it. The ledger? Ah. He’s asking for the book Doel had just found. How can we give it back when Doel barely found it? I frowned fiercely and flapped my wings.

“Cheep cheep!”

We can’t! We won’t give it to you!

As I barked fiercely, the man raised his eyebrows as if he felt sorry. Then, erasing the smile drawn on his lips, he muttered, “You don’t want to? You’ll have no choice but to give it…”

No choice but to give it? I tilted my head quizzically. What does that mean? The man still didn’t withdraw his outstretched hand. As if Doel would hand over the book at any moment. How can we just give it to him after finding it? Just looking at Doel’s expression, waiting for an opportunity without a word, it was an absurd request.

I thought that man was really strange. I certainly thought so, but the moment he opened his mouth, the situation changed.

「Si du-i-kwo…」

It was a voice mixed with a peculiar sound. It was definitely the same voice I had heard from him just before, but it felt different somehow.

A feeling of unfamiliarity that I seemed to have felt somewhere before…

I understood that it was different, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was different. As there was no change despite his meaningful demeanor, I quietly looked at the man. However, Doel seemed to have noticed something different. He suddenly released the tension in his body and stood obediently with his arms hanging down. Then he slowly took one step at a time towards the man.

“Cheep?”

Doel?

Sensing something strange, I called out to Doel. Doel, who should have smiled at me, walked forward step by step without any expression on his face.

“Chirp!”

Doel!

Despite calling out again, Doel seemed to be deeply entranced by something and gradually approached the platinum-haired man. I became anxious, fearing that he would hand over the book if he took a few more steps. I alternated my gaze between the man in front of us, who was still smiling at ease, and Doel, whose eyes had become dull. It was undoubtedly that guy’s scheme. Thinking that this couldn’t go on, I climbed onto Doel’s head and pecked his crown with my beak.

“Cheep cheep!”

Snap out of it!

I tried my best to peck him with my beak, but Doel’s mind didn’t return. Now, if he took just a few more steps, their hands would touch. Having no other choice, I stood in front of Doel with my small body. Then I barked loudly.

“Cheep! Chirp chirp!”

I’ll protect you!

Flapping my wings, I locked eyes with the unidentified man in front of Doel. At that moment, Doel, who had been slowly walking, stopped in his tracks. His body trembled as if he would step forward at any moment, but at least it seemed he wouldn’t advance further. Blocking his way seemed to have an effect. It was a relief, at least.

I stared at the man with a confident expression. He widened his eyes and made an “oh” sound, surprised that Doel had stopped walking. His joyful attitude made me uneasy. As expected, my premonition was spot on. This time, he calmly opened his mouth while looking at me.

「Erga zita.」

That feeling comes again. I don’t know what it is, but it feels like something is poking at my nerves. It seemed he had done something similar to what he had just done to Doel, but to me as well. However, I couldn’t feel any change. Oh… It doesn’t work on me? Feeling invincible, I blocked his way even more imposingly.

“Chirp!”

I cried out loudly, as if to show off. He raised his hand, stroked his chin, and observed my majestic appearance. Give up now! The moment I raised my head, his red eyes seemed to shine sharply. The man narrowed his eyes and said, “You’re interesting.”

Then, after standing still for a while, he moved from his spot. He took one step, then two steps closer, and stood right in front of me.

“Cheep… chirp.”

Why, why are you doing this?

Why are you suddenly coming so close? I flapped my wings and slowly stepped back. As I kept backing away, my body bumped into Doel’s face behind me. There was nowhere else to retreat. Perched on Doel’s nose, I glanced sideways at the man. Because he had come uncomfortably close, I felt a little pressured.

Why are you approaching me so menacingly? My body instinctively shrinks. But I gathered my courage and glared at him, and the man brought his face right in front of mine without averting his eyes that met mine. Scared by his piercing red eyes, I turned my back and clung tightly to Doel’s face.

“Chirp…”

I’m scared.

As I closed my eyes tightly, hid my face, and trembled, he reached out his hand to me. His ruthless hand grabbed my stiff body.

“Cheep!”

My small body, caught in one hand, shook like a poplar tree swaying in the wind. I opened my tightly closed eyes and looked up at him. He was holding me lightly in one hand, examining me from various angles. Under his scrutinizing gaze, I felt like a bird placed on a lab table.

Not knowing what to do, I rolled my eyes and glanced at him again, and the man opened his mouth.

“How interesting. Why don’t you have the mana that should be present if you were born in this world?”

At those words, I widened my eyes. I didn’t understand what it meant to not have mana, but my heart raced at the words “born in this world.” He smiled meaningfully and said, “Your heart is pounding wildly. It’s a thrilling sound, as if something might be exposed.”

He closed his eyes as if savoring the sound of my heartbeat. Perhaps because he was holding me tightly, he could feel my heartbeat in his hand, or maybe he had keen ears like Karhan. He moved his index finger, tapping it in sync with the rhythm of my beating heart.

Amidst the tension, my heart rate gradually increased, and the speed of his tapping fingers also quickened. Feeling as if he was freely rummaging through everything inside me, I thought I had to escape from his grasp somehow.

“Chirp! Chirp!”

I squirmed and moved with all my might. However, I was too small and weak to break free from a human hand. My struggle must have been like an ant moving from his perspective. Although I’m much bigger than an ant… Still, I didn’t give up and twisted my body while chirping loudly. With a glimmer of hope, I turned my head to look at Doel standing behind me, but his eyes were still hazy and dull.

As I continued my futile struggle, he didn’t let go of me. Even when I pecked his hand with my small beak, he maintained his composure as if it didn’t even sting. I looked infinitely small, reflected in his flickering red eyes.

“It’s interesting how empty you are. Can I try putting some of my mana into you? I don’t know what will happen, but it seems like it would be fun.”

“Cheep…?”

What is he talking about?

I couldn’t control my shaking pupils. What is he going to put inside me? What happens if he puts it in? I gently shook my head, indicating my refusal. Seeing me stiff and expressing rejection, he smiled with his eyes narrowed and said, “Are you ready?”

“Chirp!”

No!

I shook my head from side to side even faster and more vigorously. However, as if he couldn’t hear my words, he replied, “I’ll start then.” He looked down at me, his red eyes flickering. No! Don’t! Even as I shouted, I had a premonition that he wouldn’t stop. As he opened his mouth to speak, something similar to before… No, something with a stronger sense of unfamiliarity touched every part of my skin.

It felt ominous.

「Erga kashtya arkha…」

The moment his words began, a gentle breeze blew, and as soon as they ended, everything became still as if all the winds in the world had been gathered and compressed into one place. It was as if the space I was in had been cut off from the world, and no sound could be heard.

Feeling strange, I turned my head to look around, and everything seemed fine. Doel, who was behind me, had no expression on his face, but he was standing normally.

What’s going on? What is happening? I tried to make a chirping sound with my mouth as usual, but my voice didn’t reach my ears. Only the sound of my heart beating loudly echoed in my ears.