Chapter 11
No matter how many times she rubbed her eyes, it was still there.
‘What on earth…? A status window just popped up!’
There was a simple reason Ebi instinctively called it a status window.
It looked exactly like the ones from the games she used to play in her previous life.
But why now?
As she tried to make sense of it, Olga’s explanation suddenly came to mind.
“However, beastkin with relatively weak divine might tend to receive more practical blessings.”
“Those types of blessings often manifest in forms that feel familiar or natural to the recipient.”
Then could it be…
‘My blessing manifested?’
In the form of a familiar status window?
“Piiik! (Oh my gosh!)”
Ebi jumped up before she could stop herself.
Everyone’s eyes immediately turned toward her.
Unaware, she took a deep breath to calm her racing heart.
‘I finally have a blessing too!’
She could barely contain her urge to fly around in joy.
‘C-Calm down. I need to confirm it first—to make sure it really is a blessing.’
If it turned out to be a misunderstanding, she’d be devastated.
Taking another deep breath, Ebi looked up again—to see the status window hovering over the tea box.
‘How do I check it again? Just… focus my gaze?’
The moment she stared intently at the tea box, the same window reappeared.
But that wasn’t all.
When she glanced absentmindedly at the merchant, another window appeared above his head.
[Stock Value: Common]
Gasp.
‘W–wait. People can be “stock targets” too?’
…She loved it!
Excited, Ebi turned to glance at the duke’s retainers.
Amazingly, they too had status windows above their heads—each labeled [Common].
‘Then what about the duke himself?’
[Target: Crovan Noctis]
[Stock Value: ?????]
[Insufficient Affection Level to Appraise Target.]
[Current Affection: 20/100]
[Blessing Rank Too Low to Evaluate Target’s Value.]
[Blessing Rank: F]
‘F! An F-rank…?’
She was momentarily disappointed—but then a grin spread across her face.
This confirmed it beyond any doubt.
She did have a blessing!
‘I really am a beastkin after all! A proper one!’
Ebi puffed out her chest proudly.
A self-satisfied little snort escaped her.
‘Though… I have no idea how to raise this “affection” thing yet.’
From what she’d seen with the merchant and the servants, it seemed that “common” targets didn’t require affection points.
Meaning—the duke’s value wasn’t common. Her blessing was simply too weak to identify it.
‘I’ll figure that out later.’
For now, she needed to focus on what was right in front of her.
Ebi looked back at the tea the merchant was holding.
[Target: Colton’s Confident Black Tea <???>]
[Stock Value: Lowest Grade]
Why were there question marks after the name?
“The Colton brand is highly regarded among the nobility,” one of the servants said.
“If we collaborate with such a famous name for this charity event, we’re sure to attract much attention.”
The merchant’s face lit up with a smile at their words.
“Thank you for recognizing us. This event is a great opportunity for us to promote our new product as well. I sincerely hope this becomes the foundation of a lasting partnership with House Noctis.”
His polished tone made the servants beam approvingly.
The merchant continued,
“For that reason, this new product is special. It’s a blend I personally designed—no one else knows the formula yet.”
A personally mixed tea?
‘A new product… a charity tea event… Wait!’
In her past life, the Noctis family had hosted a charity tea event just like this.
They had served an expensive, newly released blend from a well-known brand—earning much praise from noble society.
But only a short while later, the praise turned into scandal.
For weeks, even the newspapers and the household maids had been gossiping nonstop.
‘Why did that happen again…?’
As Ebi tried to recall, the merchant began pouring the bright amber liquid into cups and setting them before the duke and his retainers.
“Please, have a taste. You’ll find the depth of flavor quite unlike any other.”
As the duke lifted his cup, Ebi noticed the merchant’s smirking face—too self-assured, too polite.
That smug expression of someone flaunting expertise while pretending humility.
‘Wait a second… I’ve seen that face before!’
Then it struck her like lightning.
‘That’s the exact same look that con artist had—the one who sold me that illegally modified game console as a genuine one!’
Which could only mean—
‘That tea is a scam!’
Rage boiled in her chest.
The second-worst experience in her life was starving.
The absolute worst? Eating spoiled food after starving.
‘Giving someone spoiled tea is just as bad! That’s unforgivable!’
Ebi leapt forward and grabbed the duke’s finger, the one holding the teacup.
“Chyu, chyuut!”
“What is it?”
The duke frowned in irritation.
“Chyu chu-chut! (Don’t drink it!)”
“You’re in the way. Move.”
He tried to brush her aside.
No! That’s garbage!
“Chyuut!”
She blocked the cup with her whole body—and in the scuffle, the teacup spilled.
Splash!
The tea soaked the duke’s hand.
The retainers gasped audibly.
“Your Grace, are you all right? You insolent squirrel!”
“Let me remove it at once!”
“Chyu-chyu!”
No, listen to me!
She couldn’t stamp letters like before—she’d be thrown out before finishing a word.
So she frantically pointed at the merchant instead—crossing her arms in an X and hopping rapidly in protest.
But no one understood.
“Now, now, behave! You’ll spill something again!”
“You dare interrupt His Grace? Come here this instant!”
In frustration, Ebi tugged at her whiskers—just enough to feel the pain.
‘Ugh! Fine. I’ll just have to show them!’
She dashed toward the tea box and rammed into it with all her strength.
The box toppled over, spilling tea leaves across the table.
“Wh-What’s it doing!”
As everyone gasped, Ebi scooped a few wet leaves into her cheek pouches and bolted toward the teapot on the tray.
The pot still contained cold, unheated water.
‘That merchant thinks no one can expose him—since he’s the one who made this tea himself.’
Too bad for him. I know better!
She popped open the lid and tried to spit the leaves inside—
“Why, you little—what do you think you’re doing!”
The merchant, panicking, snatched her midair with lightning speed.
His rough hand clamped around her tiny neck.
“Piiit…!”
Ebi’s eyes went wide.
For a moment, the merchant’s face overlapped with that of Count Rusten.
And so did his actions.
A shrill cry tore through the conference room—
“Piiik! Piiiiiik!”
Thrashing wildly, Ebi bit the merchant’s hand as hard as she could.
“Argh!”
Then she darted away like her tail was on fire.
Clatter—bang—crash!
Ink bottles, teacups, and trays went flying.
“Ugh, my clothes!”
“Good heavens!”
Ebi scurried up a tall column and curled into a trembling ball.
“Pii… pii… pii…”
Her breath came in rapid gasps. Slowly, her thoughts cleared.
‘…Ah. I’m doomed.’
This had happened once before—
When she’d tried to sneak a snack from Count Rusten and got caught.
Panicked, she’d run around the room, overturning everything.
When he finally caught her, his expression had been terrifying.
“You worthless rat! If you’re useless, at least be quiet!”
He had lifted her high—then hurled her toward the wall.
Ebi shivered violently at the memory.
‘Okay… okay… I’ll just apologize.’
Maybe she could still fix this.
She couldn’t afford to be hated again.
“Pii… piiii…”
Ebi pressed her trembling hands together and bowed repeatedly to the duke and the retainers.
Bow. Bow. Bow.
I’m sorry. Really, really sorry.
She didn’t stop, bowing over and over again.
The retainers, who had been ready to scold her, froze—then exchanged confused looks.
“At this rate… it’ll snap its neck…”
“Squirrel, that’s enough now.”
But Ebi didn’t stop.
She bowed even deeper, terrified of the duke’s golden eyes fixed on her.
Then—
The merchant, desperate to deflect suspicion, raised his voice.
“How dare that creature cause such a disturbance before His Grace!”
He pointed furiously at her.
“Your Grace, we must punish that beast immediately! So it can never—”
“Disturbance?”
The quiet, low voice of the duke cut through the air.
He gave a short, humorless laugh.
Then—
BANG!
The massive conference table flipped over with a thunderous crash.
The duke had kicked it.
The table split cleanly in half, scattering everything onto the floor.
Everyone froze.
The duke crossed his long legs casually.
“This,” he said, “is what I’d call a disturbance.”
His golden eyes, dark pupils glinting within, pinned the merchant like a blade.
“Now, why don’t you try making a mess?”
“I–I would never, Your Grace, I—”
Cold sweat dripped down the merchant’s face as the duke’s predatory aura pressed down on him like a mountain.
Even the retainers instinctively bowed their heads, trembling.
No one cared about the squirrel’s earlier outburst anymore.
Ebi, watching from above, stared in disbelief.
Was… was the duke taking her side?
The Black Wolf Duke? Why?
The duke stood, drawing his sword.
Shhhnk.
Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed across the silent room.
Step. Step. Step.
When he reached the merchant, he brought his sword down—
Thud!
“Hiieek!”
The merchant screamed—
But the blade had pierced only the tea box.
“Look,” the duke said.
“……?”
The retainers hesitantly lifted their gaze.
“What in the—!”
The tea leaves, soaked by the spilled cold water, had turned a revolting color—splotchy and mold-like, nothing like tea should look.
