Chapter 38
The devotees, having firmly grasped the addictiveness of the Hook Song, began creating their own lyrics to the melody.
Thump, pat, pabam—!
Soon after, a familiar, catchy tune wormed its way into their ears.
After that, things picked up speed, and we managed to complete the song in less than half a day.
“Let’s include ‘Lady Arte’ in the song, but just enough so it doesn’t feel forced.”
“Ah! Then how about this? For the first verse…”
“Then for this part, let’s make the dance moves bigger and more exciting…”
They even started choreographing a dance on their own!
‘I guess my input isn’t needed anymore.’
I watched them fondly for a while before slowly getting up to leave.
As much as I wanted to stay until it was finished, it was already getting late into the night.
‘My head is starting to hurt a bit, too.’
Leaving behind the Sect Leader who was passionately working on the dance with the devotees, I quietly bid only Priest Hazel farewell and left the sect.
Outside was quiet, but I noticed a faint fluttering on a moonlit branch. Upon closer look, it was one of those black butterflies I’d been seeing frequently around here lately.
I found myself staring blankly at it for a moment before snapping back to reality and getting into the carriage.
Back at the mansion, I had a simple meal in my room. I had originally planned to eat with the family, but…
‘They’d probably notice I’m not feeling well like ghosts.’
They must have already figured it out somewhat since I was eating alone, but I didn’t want to make it so obvious that I was in pain.
“Ugh…”
Staggering over to the bed, I collapsed onto it with a thud.
I let my body fall due to the lack of strength, but the plush softness that caught me only made the pain worse, sending aches throughout my limbs.
“Hmm, I guess I’ve been pushing myself lately.”
To be fair, it was much more manageable than that time I ran out of the coffin.
So, it must be…
“Because Tete isn’t here…”
Sighing softly as my spirits sank, I buried my face in the bed.
For the past month, I had been keeping my distance from Tete.
Even if I happened to see him, I avoided contact, observing from afar.
The reason was simple: Tete was clearly a divine beast capable of healing me.
Of course, having someone who could alleviate the terrible pain was a good thing.
It was something I had always wished for.
However, that being was Tete.
I couldn’t help but feel a heavy heart.
‘The feeling of using a child I brought in with pure intentions as a mere tool.’
I thought we had built a close bond, but it seems that was just my arrogance.
‘Lady Arte probably isn’t like that, but she might have forced Tete to stay by my side.’
I know it’s an extreme thought. Yet, I couldn’t easily shake off that assumption.
That’s why. That’s why I kept Tete at a distance from me.
***
“Tete, you can finally live comfortably now.”
“Meow, meow!”
“Everything is fine now.”
It bothered me that Tete cried as if protesting against me, but there was nothing I could do.
“Even his crying is just my assumption. It’s not like Tete can actually speak…”
Ah, I don’t know anymore.
Filled with complicated and negative thoughts, my body seemed to ache even more.
As I was consciously trying to empty my mind and burrowing sluggishly under the covers…
“…What would change if I could speak?”
A strange voice echoed in the bedroom, which had been empty just moments before. A shadow also fell over the bed where I was deeply buried.
*Thump.* My body froze on its own.
“I tried… because I thought maybe it would make a difference.”
The voice came again. Strangely unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar.
An infinitely low voice that didn’t sound cold; rather, its overly relaxed tone felt oddly comforting for a moment.
‘Ah.’
I remembered.
The man’s voice was—
***
“…So don’t cry.”
—exactly the same as the voice that appeared in my dream a month ago and comforted me.
***
Ciela’s body, which had stiffened due to the strange intruder, began to slowly relax, filled with questions.
Fiete calmly looked down at Ciela, who still had her head buried in the bed.
Silence fell, but it wasn’t boring. Rather, he was curious about what that little head was thinking so hard about.
Then, a *wiggle*.
Ciela slightly turned her body toward him. He could even hear her gulping, showing how tense she was.
A faint smile touched Fiete’s lips. He was curious to see how much bigger those usually large amethyst eyes would be now.
At that moment.
“……”
“…!”
Ciela suddenly turned her body to face Fiete. As he expected, her eyes were wide open.
Her cheek, pressed into the bed, had faint sheet marks, and her hair was tousled, sticking to her nape and around her eyes.
“A dream…?”
The words she uttered toward the one who had decided to reveal himself felt too futile.
Fiete delayed his answer for a moment and reached his hand toward her.
*Flinch.* Ciela jerked her body back. For a moment, her pupils filled with wariness. Her expression hardened, exuding a cold aura.
But why? Perhaps because of the sheet marks imprinted on her face, or her messy hair.
Far from looking scary, she appeared endlessly comical. He even found her somewhat cute.
Fiete stopped his hand in mid-air as if *she* were the cat.
“……?”
Soon, the bridge of Ciela’s nose wrinkled in puzzlement. In the brief moment the wariness in her eyes faded slightly…
*Whoosh!*
Fiete revealed a bright divine power. His hand was now gently resting on Ciela’s hair.
“It’s not a dream.”
Even if she had dismissed everything until now as a dream, from this moment on, it was not.
After much contemplation, Fiete had decided to reveal himself to Ciela.
Originally, he had intended to hide the fact that he could transform into a human, and even his identity as a divine beast.
If his true identity were discovered, he thought he would abandon both Arte’s request and the old debt and quietly disappear.
To him, ‘Ciela Eisens’ was merely a fleeting encounter in his long life.
It was too grand to even call it a fate. So, it would be easy to leave.
Yes, that’s what he thought.
***
“…It can’t *not* be a dream, can it?”
Had he somehow grown fond of that foolish face? Or was it because her personality—caring for others without a thought for her own safety—caught his eye?
Before he knew it, Fiete found himself concerned even about the mere month they had been apart.
Flying around the sect all day as a butterfly had become routine.
Watching her smile even more brightly to hide her worsening complexion stirred an inexplicable emotion that suddenly struck his heart.
Was it displeasure? It felt off, not quite that. It was a feeling he couldn’t understand, despite his long life.
And yet, Ciela poured fuel on the fire right before his eyes.
Despite suffering in pain all night, she would startle and shy away when he approached.
Yet, her face showed more worry for him than her immediate pain.
How long had it been since he last felt the affectionate gaze she used to give him and the warmth of her hand gently stroking his head? It felt like a distant mirage.
*’Haah.’*
It was truly strange.
Yes, it was still that indefinable, unpleasant feeling.
Somehow, he forgot his thoughts of leaving and instinctively hovered around her.
He even entertained the absurd imagination that he might be the one abandoned.
*’Ah, how laughable.’*
Since when was being abandoned by a mere human something to fear so much?
It was he, Fiete, who had considered abandoning her first.
It seemed that spending a few months with her as a cat had already influenced him.
*’It seems it will be difficult to disappear quietly now.’*
Swallowing a self-deprecating smile, he slowly stroked her hair as usual.
It was a sort of declaration of surrender.
Whatever the reason, whatever the emotion, he decided to put it all aside and focus only on the ‘facts.’
Even if he were to leave someday, it seemed fine to stay together until he was certain the debt was fully repaid.
At least life wouldn’t be boring with Ciela Eisens around.
Only then did his previously unpleasant feelings finally ease.
***
Meanwhile, Ciela was staring at the man who had suddenly appeared and was stroking her hair with a confused expression.
*’Not a dream? If it’s not a dream, what is this divine power? That face…?’*
Just as she thought she might be seeing things, the divine power pouring into her forcefully brought her back to her senses.
This divine power was unmistakably Arte’s. For instance, the pain that had been throbbing throughout her body instantly improved.
Even her vision became clearer, allowing her to see the man’s face distinctly.
Just as she had seen in her dream about a month ago, the man still possessed breathtakingly handsome features.
Black hair, red eyes, and on his head—*poing*—
“Uh…?”
For a moment, a powerful image struck her mind, leaving her dumbfounded.
That’s right. This man definitely, a month ago…
“He had… cat ears…?”
