I Got Possessed, But the Monster Beast Is Adorable - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#29

Contracts with the Demon Clan are strictly forbidden under imperial law.

No matter if one was a child of a ducal family, it was a grave crime that could lead to execution, so the Imperial Faction’s opposition was fierce. That alone was already troublesome enough, but several members of the Noble Faction were showing suspicious movements to elevate Lucian to emperor in order to keep Michael in check.

‘This one and that one, all being bothersome.’

Michael’s eyes, lost in thought, sank into an abyss.

Michael cherished Lucian, who had followed him like a blood brother.

However, since Lucian, who couldn’t even control his own body, was a great obstacle to the empire’s citizens’ safety, he had planned to first restrain him with magic-binding shackles and give him sufficient opportunity to clear his name.

But if he disappeared like this…

The Duke’s Family couldn’t escape responsibility either.

‘Tsk, the Imperial Faction nobles must already be sharpening their knives against the Duke’s Family.’

Great power, noble learning, virtuous character.

During the previous emperor’s reign, there had been a failed attempt to elevate Duke Penrister, who possessed all of these qualities, to emperor, so the Imperial Faction’s restraint of the Duke’s Family had intensified.

Michael, barely emerging from his thoughts, let out a light sigh and commanded Alex.

“Tell the knights of Bellnoir to capture Lucian by any means necessary.”

“Yes! I shall obey your command, Crown Prince.”

Alex bowed his head in silent salute, then moved to carry out his lord’s orders.

“I should go to Bellnoir myself.”

Michael, gazing at the spot where Alex had left while muttering, soon took heavy steps forward.

* * *

“Kyuuung… Zoe- I’m so tired…”

When we arrived at the village, it was already the middle of the night.

No matter how strong Ruby’s stamina was, covering a distance that would take about 3 days by carriage in one go was apparently quite an ordeal, as Ruby collapsed flat on the ground.

“Oh my, our Ruby worked so hard. Ruan, could you take out some snacks and feed them to Ruby?”

I made the request while looking at Ruby, who was yawning widely with drowsy eyes and an open mouth.

“Understood.”

“Kyu!! I want Zoe to give it to me! I won’t eat anything that human gives me!”

“Open your mouth right now.”

When Ruan took out snacks from his satchel and brought them to Ruby’s mouth, Ruby kept her mouth tightly shut and vehemently refused.

“Didn’t you say you were hungry? Hurry up and open your mouth.”

Ruan frowned and once again pushed the snacks toward Ruby’s mouth.

“I don’t want to, kyu!! Get that away from me!”

“If you won’t open your mouth, I’ll force it in.”

“I said I don’t want to, you dummy! Kyu!”

Ruby swung her front paw at Ruan’s face. Ruan, who got hit by Ruby’s uppercut while trying to give her snacks, muttered lowly.

“It seems perfectly taming a magical beast is impossible. We should eliminate it before it evolves further.”

Ugh, I’m already tired to death, so why are they acting like this?

Watching the two bickering, I let out a sigh.

“Ruby, if you don’t eat now, you’ll have to starve until morning. Is that okay? Just this once, eat what Ruan gives you. Please? I’m asking you.”

“Kyuuu… Tsk, just this once.”

When I spoke in a pleading tone as if coaxing a child, Ruby’s mouth finally opened slightly.

“As expected, there’s not a single cute thing about you.”

Despite saying that, Ruan diligently fed Ruby the snacks.

“Ruan, thank you. Because of my condition…”

“I’m fine. More importantly, Zoe must be tired too, so we should head to the inn quickly.”

“Yes. Yaaawn… I’m really at my limit.”

It was definitely an arduous journey. Because of my small body, I was swayed back and forth by the wind and nearly flew away several times, which Ruan had to save me from.

Hah, I want to hurry and wash with warm water and lie down…

“Zoe, shall I carry you?”

Perhaps my exhaustion was visible despite trying to hide it, as Ruan asked me.

“I’m fine. I can go by myself… Hiing!”

“This way will be faster.”

Ruan scooped me up into his arms just as I was about to take a step.

“Wh-what? Put me down. I can still walk!”

Damn it, this really makes me feel like a foal!

Although I had taken the form of a foal, I was still human through and through. Wanting to preserve human dignity, I tried to escape from his embrace, but Ruan held me even more firmly.

“You might fall, so stay still.”

Ugh.

I felt like my human dignity had greatly declined, but it would still be faster than going with these short legs, so I decided to just quietly let Ruan carry me.

“Honestly, I’m not that fragile of a foal, you know?”

I grumbled at Ruan for no reason, then looked at the collapsed Ruby and said.

“Ruby, let’s hurry and go sleep.”

“Mmm… Okay…”

Poof!

Ruby answered weakly and stood up, then suddenly transformed into a puppy.

“R-Ruby! Why did you become a puppy again!”

Don’t tell me she devolved because it was too difficult…?

I don’t mind, but Ruby was incredibly happy after evolving…

I looked at Ruby in her puppy form with worried eyes.

“Being in this form uses less magic… Kyuu… I’m okay, Zoe-“

Fortunately, since she could still talk, it didn’t seem like she had devolved.

It appeared she had changed to her puppy form, which required less magic, due to accumulated fatigue.

“Ruan, Ruby seems very tired and changed to her baby form. Um, perhaps…”

“I understand.”

I thought they would bicker again, but Ruan immediately understood my intention and picked up Ruby with one hand.

The exhausted Ruby also didn’t refuse this time and accepted Ruan’s touch.

So with me on Ruan’s left side, Ruby on his right, plus the large satchel.

Looking at Ruan, who had become the perfect guardian, I felt a little sorry.

“I’m sorry… You must be tired too, Ruan.”

“It’s fine. Shall we go?”

Ruan walked with a truly nonchalant expression.

‘I’ll reduce the damage compensation to double.’

Of course, I only thought this to myself without saying it out loud.

* * *

“Ruan, why don’t you just come up on the bed?”

“The floor is more comfortable for me.”

Ruan answered like that, spread a blanket on the floor, and lay down.

When the innkeeper said there was only one room left available, Ruan had offered to look for another place, but it was already late, and to other people’s eyes, Ruby and I would just look like Ruan’s pets, so it would be strange to get separate rooms. That’s why I suggested we just stay here.

I carefully petted the head of Ruby, who had fallen fast asleep, then looked at Ruan again and spoke.

“I really wouldn’t mind sharing a bed with Ruan…”

“It’s a single bed, isn’t it? I’m fine, so sleep comfortably.”

“Still… sleeping on the floor will hurt your back… Are you really okay?”

“I’ve even camped outdoors. This is excellent.”

I shook my head while looking at the stubborn Confucian gentleman Ruan.

Ruan was being considerate in his own way, but since I’m currently in foal form anyway, is there really a need to maintain propriety…?

Looking at my small body that fit perfectly on the fluffy pillow, I let out a short sigh and spoke again.

“Um, Ruan. Can I ask you just one thing?”

“Hmm, let me hear it first.”

Ruan, who had paused for a moment at my question, answered.

So he’ll decide whether to answer after hearing it first? How petty.

“Fine. Um, how old are you, Ruan?”

Until now, I hadn’t bothered asking about it since Ruan seemed to want to hide his identity, but we’d grown much closer while living together, so I thought it would be okay to ask this much.

“I’m eighteen.”

“E-eighteen?”

I asked back with my eyes wide open.

Of course, he did look young in appearance, but somehow Ruan had this old-fashioned… mature atmosphere about him, so my expectation that he’d be much older was spectacularly off the mark.

Crazy, eighteen…

There was a whole eight-year difference between me, who had been twenty-six in the original world.

Ruan, you little punk. With the ink barely dry on your ID, acting like that toward your elder sister…

I trembled as I recalled Ruan’s behavior in the basement and dungeon.

“Yes, what about you, Zoe?”

Unlike me, Ruan asked in a plain tone.

“I’m eight years younger than Ruan… Oh, no, one year younger.”

“Hmm? Really?”

“Why? Did you think I’d be older than Ruan?”

“It’s not that, but…”

He seemed quite flustered that I was younger than he’d thought.

Well, of course. I’m not an innocent seventeen-year-old, but a twenty-six-year-old who’s been through everything.

I deliberately ignored my pricking conscience.

And you’re just as surprising to me, you know?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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