Chapter 26
I asked, emotionless like an enlightened monk.
“Weren’t you supposed to be smart?”
“That’s why I came to save you!”
“I see. Got it. So your brain got better after you were born…”
The kid, enraged by my muttering, was—unbelievably—Kareem the Dark Fence… No, just an idiot.
He had snuck out last night to “rescue me,” only to end up getting himself thrown in jail.
I remembered our tearful reunion last night.
“Oh! You came to save me?”
“No, I got caught too.”
The Kareem I remembered from my twenties was a manly man—strong, sharp, and provocatively handsome.
But right now? Just a prideful seven-year-old brat who couldn’t live without his mom.
I was foolish to overlook that, but at least one thing comforted me—his mother would surely fix this somehow.
…Or so I thought, until another night passed and I realized that hope was pointless.
Kareem’s mother was a woman of iron will, as befitted her reputation, and she stuck to a strict, almost militant parenting style.
So now I had a whiny brat to deal with on top of everything else.
Damn it, trying to sneak out early just made my road ten thousand miles longer.
As I sighed deeply, the annoying seven-year-old raised his voice again over the meal he’d just been given.
“What is this, a rock? Or bread?”
“Ugh… you little lordling brat…”
“What? What did you say? Do you even know who I am, you filthy commoner?”
Oh, really? And do you know who I am?
Even if your father was once royalty, that bloodline’s long been cut off.
I may be a contract-bound “lady,” but I am still a noblewoman!
…Well, technically a slave now, but still.
As I silently cursed him, someone else thankfully put the boy back in his place.
“Hey, you. Quiet down.”
“What did you say? You pathetic guard, how dare you—”
“You’re just a rat that snuck in. Doesn’t matter who your parents are if they don’t even know you’re here. Heh.”
“……!”
Ah, silence. Now that’s better.
Kareem trembled all over, humiliated.
He could easily have gotten out if he’d just mentioned he was one of last night’s “special guests,”
but since he kept his mouth shut, it was clear he’d rather die than have his mother find out.
I comforted him as best I could, and we spent another night in that cell.
Day three.
By my calculations, they should’ve arrived by today at the latest…
I looked around the prison.
There were only a few older kids left, along with the boy in shackles who made the whole place feel darker.
Maybe there’d been more irregular “markets” lately, because prisoners were being taken away faster than expected.
I was growing anxious.
If I got moved before then, I wouldn’t see the Duke again until adulthood…
As I curled up, I suddenly heard the steady sound of peaceful breathing.
Snore…
The same Kareem who had been pestering me earlier to reveal the location of the Blue Relic was now sleeping soundly.
Kids can sleep anywhere, but that’s just irritating.
I almost pinched his nose shut—but stopped.
I’d heard a faint rustling nearby.
I’d tucked away the hard bread I couldn’t finish earlier, and apparently the smell had attracted a rat.
It tilted its head at me, then slowly approached—drawn, perhaps, by my pitiful druid talent.
Ha… Lord Juno was right, I should’ve awakened my soul sooner. What good is being adored by rats…
I tore off a little piece of bread and placed it on the floor.
“This is all I’ve got. Eat up.”
[Th… thank… you.]
“Huh?”
What? Did… did that rat just talk?
If I wasn’t losing my mind, that nodding motion wasn’t a hallucination.
According to Lord Juno, abilities get stronger with use… So maybe, after I sprouted that seed, I really did gain the power to talk to animals?
I was about to tear off another piece to test it, when suddenly the rats scattered.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor—guards were coming.
“Hey, you. Out.”
Kareem blinked blearily at the guard, still half asleep.
I quickly whispered,
“They’re calling you.”
“Huh? What? Me? Where am I going?”
“The guards said to come out.”
“Wha—? Hey! You’re just gonna let them take me? What if they sell me?”
“Bye-bye. Have a good trip.”
Go on, it’s not like you’ll go far.
I huddled into a corner as Kareem’s indignant face disappeared down the hall.
Truth be told, the guards hadn’t called for anyone specifically—he just mouthed off, so they took him.
Anyway, his mother would step in soon; no need to worry.
She’d probably just wanted to teach her reckless son a lesson.
Once the bars closed, only the shackled boy and I remained.
“……”
Apparently the boy was a “special-grade” prisoner, since no one seemed in a hurry to move him.
But even that changed soon.
The guards returned, a whole group of them, unlocking the shackles on the wall one by one.
Three armed men carried the boy away along with his restraints.
He didn’t seem dangerous… Why all the caution?
I’d only shared one night near him, but he’d done nothing—didn’t touch me, didn’t move.
When I woke up, I hadn’t even felt cold—so he must’ve stayed close all night, quietly.
And yet, they handled him like some kind of wild beast.
I almost called out a goodbye—but then heard a door opening nearby, and stopped mid-motion.
They weren’t selling him. They were locking him in one of the special cells next door.
Once the clinking of chains stopped, one of the guards passed me on his way out and said,
“Don’t worry. You’ll be sent somewhere nice before sunset. Heh.”
“……!”
Oh no.
Today was the day.
If they didn’t come before sunset, something had gone wrong!
Did something happen to the Duke?
Did Lady Diana interfere somehow?
Or did I miscalculate the timing?
I racked my brain frantically—until a voice I’d been avoiding echoed inside me.
What if he gave up… because I’m just a contract noble?
No. That couldn’t be true.
But once that thought surfaced, it spiraled uncontrollably.
I hated waiting.
Anything was better than doing nothing.
I pounded my fist against the wall.
If I had to, I’d at least talk to the boy next door.
“Hey, Shackles Boy!”
Tap tap.
“Can you hear me? I’m getting out soon!”
“……”
“Maybe it’s too far… I just—really need someone to talk to…”
I’d just started sinking into that gloom when—
clink.
A small stone rolled from the other side.
Maybe by accident, maybe not—but I was so happy I jumped at the chance.
“You heard me! You did! I just heard the sound! Right? Hey, can I ask you for a favor?”
“……”
Still no reply, but I had a feeling he was listening.
“Listen! My name’s Airi! If my dad comes looking for me, tell him I’m here, okay? He’s got long silver hair and he’s really handsome. You’ll know it’s him right away. Promise?”
Oddly, the moment I said it, my anxiety eased.
Even though the only response was the guards’ mocking laughter.
“Tch. Was that really worth laughing at…”
Then—something tapped against my head.
I reached up and found a small, hard bit of stone.
Probably a chip fallen from the ceiling.
I stared upward, worried the whole thing might collapse—
Then felt something brush my foot.
Squeak squeak.
The rats again.
“Oh, it’s you guys. I don’t have any more bread, sorry. Wait, are you the one who talked before?”
They nodded rapidly, holding up their tiny paws and hopping about in excitement.
What are they doing—dancing? I’m really not in the mood for that…
But as I watched, a faint whisper echoed in my head again.
[Shiny… same shiny fur…]
Then they ran their little hands over their heads, mimicking long hair.
“……”
…Shiny fur? Silver hair? Long hair?
The Duke. It’s the Duke!
He was here, upstairs!
I immediately pressed my ear to the ceiling.
There was a thud, then muffled voices arguing, and then silence.
Wait—are they leaving? No! I’m right here!
“I’m here! Dad! Airi’s here!”
The cell must’ve been soundproof—my shouting changed nothing.
But I couldn’t just sit still.
I beat the wall with my fists until my hands throbbed.
Bang bang.
“I’m here! Dad! Don’t save anyone else—save me first! I can help you the most! Please! Hee… heeeuuuugh!”
“Hey! Can’t you be quiet in there?”
Clang!
A guard’s thrown cup struck the bars, the sharp sound slicing through the air.
If I shouted again, the next thing thrown would be at me.
I clamped my mouth shut, staring through tear-blurred eyes at the cold wall.
The unfairness of it all crushed me.
Why did you even come back? Why does it have to end like this? Why, why!
Then—through my tears—I noticed something green wedged in the wall.
Moss…?
And suddenly, Juno’s words echoed in my head.
[Amplification is a power that spreads a soul’s energy throughout the vessel. Don’t use it carelessly. In your condition, you can’t hold it for more than two minutes. You’ll only be able to control plants—so it’s basically useless.]
But two minutes…
That was more than enough to make what I had in mind come true.
I clenched my fists tightly and chanted the spell.
“Amplify—Challenging!”
