The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 12

“I’ll let it live.”

“…Yes?”

“This. I won’t kill it.”

Eliza said, looking at the moon deer.

It was such an unbelievable statement that I couldn’t help but ask like a child,

“Really?”

To that question, Eliza covered her mouth and burst into laughter, saying,

“Pfft,”

It was a relaxed laughter for some reason.

“Then, why would I lie to you?”

“Well…”

She killed people, set fires, and insulted them at the slightest provocation……

The ashes of man-made beings scattered in the sky.

Eliza, faintly smiling underneath.

It might not be the case yet, but surely that seed remains within you.

Why on earth.

Eliza, who understands ethics and morals theoretically but tramples on them with her heart.

Why would she save the moon deer as if she were kind-hearted.

“You still seem skeptical. Do you have any reason to doubt me so?”

“Oh, no. It’s just that…”

I’ll let you live.

It’s a phrase that doesn’t suit Eliza at all, yet it does.

Eliza deceived her opponents every time by promising to spare them and then killed them.

To her, saying she would save them was the same as saying she would kill them.

“I heard that the prey brought by the winner will be used for the lady’s birthday banquet….”

“That’s how it was originally.”

Eliza approaches slowly.

A gray dress.

The color resembling the remaining ashes.

Since it was daytime and couldn’t be lit by the moonlight, it was just a silver color like the horns of the moon deer.

Which side is it.

“But. I think it’s more effective to showcase them alive.”

“…Yes?”

“No matter how clever and special they are, if you kill them for cooking, they’re just meat, right? Honestly, if you need meat, the meat of livestock raised and slaughtered according to standards for consumption is far superior.”

Eliza looked up at the moon deer.

The innocent eyes of the moon deer also looked down at Eliza.

It was just black because it was not the time for the moon to rise.

“On the other hand, this living appearance has a value that cannot be compared to that mere flesh.”

Only then did I recall Eliza’s another way of thinking,

Nobility.

While going around killing people like a capital punishment executioner, she emphasized nobility.

It was close to obsessive.

Justification. Reputation. Display. Such things.

She had calculated thoroughly in a noble manner.

Presenting the dead moon deer as a dish.

Displaying the living moon deer as her possession.

Which one is more beneficial to her.

I was stupid to have expected her to have a moment of kindness.

I should have expected something like this.

“There’s absolutely no record of taming.”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Really? You answer as if you know something about the history of communication between animals and humans.”

“……….”

I admit it.

I’m not that smart of a person.

I’m more emotional than rational.

I’m more impulsive than planned.

So, it’s inevitable that strange remarks come out of my mouth without thinking.

‘Could it be that this Judas has some strange background?’

Eliza is not suspicious without reason.

She’s a genius in her work.

She just did a deliberate leading question. Definitely.

“Then is this your first time? It seems like you’ve tamed many more to some extent, is it possible to tame an animal by more than one person at a time?”

It probably isn’t possible.

It was possible for multiple characters within the same account to tame one creature simultaneously.

The same goes for this moon deer.

In reality, it’s possible to have multiple owners.

But I couldn’t talk about the game, and I wasn’t sure, so I avoided answering.

I’m pretty sure it’s highly probable.

“I don’t know.”

“Are you deliberately hiding it?”

“…….”

“Sometimes you’re surprisingly obvious despite being completely unexpected. You.”

Even though Eliza is smart and has been highly educated since childhood………

Isn’t she still a kid?

She looks similar to this Judas, but can she be this sharp?

Is it okay for my level, which is seen through by kids, to be fine like this?

The mind is subject to the control of the body.

So, let’s believe that it’s the influence of the weakened body.

“Come on. Oh, and Gawain.”

“Yes, miss.”

Gawain, who had been by my side all along, answered.

“The winner is him.”

“I understand.”

The hunting competition ended anticlimactically.

The candidates who had been watching from the sidelines were collectively astonished.

They might have known when they saw the moon deer I brought, but they probably didn’t expect Eliza to declare it openly.

“Let’s go. I’ll give you the prize later.”

Whether surprised or not, Eliza casually gave orders and led the way.

Since I couldn’t refuse, I followed Eliza first.

Envious gazes poured down on us all at once.

Judas received recognition, and he won the competition, so a large sum of prize money is expected to come in.

It’s enough to be envious of.

However, I couldn’t feel at ease.

Because I knew very well that getting closer to Eliza in the long term would never be a good thing.

***

Eliza and I rode in separate carriages as we moved.

The moon deer ran and followed us.

It’s truly fortunate that they have such good stamina.

For them to follow me means they have firmly recognized me as their master.

“Can Eliza really do this…?”

We arrived at Eliza’s mansion.

It looks similar to what I remember, yet different.

Gray stone walls and a pointed iron gate.

Passing through the gate guarded by a knight leads to a garden.

The garden is so spacious it could be used as a training ground.

Since it’s winter, the garden looks desolate.

Even the central fountain isn’t spouting water.

And on a slightly higher hill.

A lonely, ash-colored mansion looked down at me.

“It seems like it was more magnificent before.”

Since this is the present, is this what it was ‘originally’ like?

Anyway, the Eliza’s mansion I saw in the future was quite magnificent.

Overall, it’s still ash-colored.

However, expensive and rare jewels, statues, and demonic artifacts were exhibited throughout the garden.

Even in winter, the burdensome decorations remained.

During the season when plants bloom, rare flowers and trees that are hard to come by were planted everywhere.

As a result, it was a magnificent but discordant mansion. Where Eliza lives.

“It feels empty and lonely now.”

On one side of the mansion’s grounds, there was a stable.

“Currently, this shelter in the stable is the largest.”

The butler, Miguel, guided me.

I looked confused.

I never expected to bring a living moon deer here.

“Well, then, I guess we’ll stay here.”

Eliza didn’t bother to enter the stable.

It’s natural for a noble.

The stable keeper came out bowing repeatedly.

He tried to take the moon deer, but a problem arose.

The moon deer didn’t follow.

“Oh, come on, listen to me, you…”

He wiped sweat as he glanced at Eliza nervously.

Eliza looked at the moon deer with a puzzled expression, then turned to me.

As if I knew the answer.

It’s a very accurate intuition.

“…Maybe it doesn’t think this place is safe?”

Unable to withstand the pressure of her gaze, I cautiously suggested.

Eliza smiled knowingly and asked.

“Then, what should we do?”

“Since we need to show that this place is safe… I’ll at least go in first.”

“Well, no, let’s go together.”

“What?!”

I was startled.

Not only me, but also the stable keeper and Miguel.

“This is my home, I can’t have you stay here forever. I need to show the moon deer that it’s safe if I want to tame it.”

She’s right.

I was surprised too.

They were surprised that the high noble Eliza would personally set foot in the stable.

I was surprised because Eliza spoke so justly.

The stable keeper opened the large door of the stable and led us inside.

It felt pitiful to hear his knees crackling.

Eliza showed no sign of hesitation.

She walked into the stable as if taking a stroll.

The ceiling was very high, and the space was wide.

It was a place that reminded me of a large warehouse.

It didn’t smell of livestock, as if it hadn’t been used for a long time.

Only the faint smell of soil and dry grass lingered.

The moon deer quietly followed me in.

“You will have to stay here from now on.”

I said as I gently stroked the moon deer’s neck.

They are intelligent creatures who can understand when taught.

I don’t know the exact meaning, but they must have understood what I meant to convey.

The moon deer slowly shook its head sideways.

As if to say no.

“Hmm.”

With her arms crossed, Eliza asked,

“How did you do it?”

“What?”

“The method of taming. If this one is to serve me, then I just have to do the same, right?”

“That’s not wrong, but… First, you can use these mushrooms.”

I took out the pouch I had in my pocket.

The moon deer sniffed and sniffed at it.

Eliza nodded.

“Taming with food. It’s just like with humans.”

…I just can’t follow the flow of the conversation.

“It’s half correct, but this is not an ordinary mushroom. It’s a poisonous mushroom.”

“A poisonous mushroom?!”

Miguel gave me a sharp look.

It’s understandable since I’m holding a dangerous item near Eliza.

“It’s not a deadly poison. It’s called the yellow umbrella mushroom, and it causes temporary anesthesia.”

“Can I check it for a moment?”

Miguel asked.

I placed one mushroom on his gloved hand.

His eyes behind the glasses carefully examined the mushroom.

“…We should call a physician to confirm.”

He pretended to know, but he actually didn’t.

The stable keeper went to fetch the physician.

“Do you feed them this mushroom?”

Eliza asked.

“Yes. You have to feed it to them directly by hand. I did it that way, but I’m worried that even touching this poisonous mushroom could be problematic… So, I can’t recommend it to you without hesitation.”

“I see.”

The physician arrived shortly.

Round glasses, braided black hair, and a long white gown.

She exuded an air of a doctor or scholar.

After observing for a while, she recognized the mushroom.

“The yellow umbrella mushroom is indeed a poisonous mushroom. It’s not known that the Moon Deer likes it, though…”

She raised her glasses and looked at me.

I didn’t have any words to return, so I just petted the Moon Deer.

“So, can I touch it?”

“There haven’t been any reports of symptoms appearing just from contact. However, since it hasn’t undergone precise testing… it’ll take me about three days to investigate and come up with results. Just in case, please be careful not to let the mushroom directly touch your hands.”

“Yeah, it’s probably best to be careful. I don’t like being sick.”

Eliza, who had been staring fixedly at the Moon Deer, nodded her head.

Her round, red eyes seemed to have decided something.

“Come stay here for three days.”

“…What?”

“If you stay by its side, maybe we can build some familiarity.”

…That makes sense, right?

“So, for the time being, no, for a few days, just stay here.”

“…What?”

The same response as before popped out.

I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“There are many rooms.”

That’s true.

As far as I know, the only person who uses this large mansion is Eliza alone.

The rest are all staff.

Soldiers, knights, maids, servants, stewards.

And others like the head cook or the stable keeper.

“Give him a room.”

While I was still trying to come to my senses, Eliza ordered Miguel.

“Yes? But…”

Miguel looked hesitant and glanced at me, as if in trouble.

This mansion is where the direct descendants of the prestigious Bevel family live.

It’s not even acceptable for someone like me to set foot here.

I understand Miguel’s hesitance.

And I support it.

Eliza didn’t say anything.

She just stared blankly at Miguel, as if to say, ‘Do I have to say it twice?’

“…I will arrange it. Miss.”

Even I, silently cheering him on, felt deflated like Miguel.

“I’ll arrange for a carriage and driver to take you to and from the training grounds twice a day, morning and evening. Is there anything else you need?”

Yes.

Please send me away.

“No, there isn’t…”

The words came out differently from what I felt.

Miguel stepped aside for a moment.

“Um…”

The stable keeper spoke cautiously.

“If you need a means of communication, how about giving her water?”

“Water?”

“Yes… I heard this deer has been running around. In that case, it must be thirsty. Ah, but if it’s a wild animal, it might have parasites…”

“The moon deer is a special animal, I heard they don’t have parasites on their bodies.”

They said it was because of the power of the moon flowing through their bodies.

Since I’ve been close to it since yesterday and I’m fine, it must be true.

“That’s right. Bring it here.”

The stable keeper hurried over and brought a bucket of water.

“……..”

Eliza looked expressionlessly at the bucket.

It was a bucket used by livestock.

It must have been the cleanest one they could find, but it still had dirt here and there.

It must look very filthy to Eliza.

As expected.

“…Are you really going to use this.?”

“Uh-! I-I’m sorry! But, this is the cleanest…”

“……….”

So this is what it means to scold with your eyes.

She didn’t even furrow her brow.

But contempt was clearly evident in her eyes.

“I’ll do it.”

Feeling like I was suffocating under his gaze, I stepped forward.

“Wouldn’t it be effective to pet it while giving it water?”

“…Fine. Do that.”

Eliza said with a sigh.

As if reluctantly.

It must be quite annoying.

I took the bucket and went to the moon deer.

Having accepted that this was where it would live, the moon deer was freely roaming the stable.

“Right, right.”

As if its throat was dry, the moon deer immediately buried its head in the bucket.

It remained calm even when I petted its head and neck.

The stable keeper soon brought a stand for Eliza.

Eliza hesitated, standing next to the wooden stand by the moon deer.

“…What should I do?”

Her awkward plea was so unfamiliarly childish to me.

There was a childlike aspect to her after all.

I felt like laughing, so I coughed a few times before answering.

“Just, naturally pet its fur. Oh, and be careful not to touch the moon deer’s antlers, they’re a sensitive area.”

“…Okay.”

Eliza’s small hand cautiously touched the moon deer’s back.

She petted it slowly.

It felt strange.

Eliza, who was petting the animal gently and cautiously.

“It’s… soft.”

“What? What did you say?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Did I mishear her?

Fortunately, the moon deer didn’t reject Eliza’s touch.

It remained docile even after finishing drinking the water.

Eliza silently continued to pet the moon deer’s back.

Her movements were steady, her expression firm.

More like working than communicating.

“…How long do I do this?”

“There’s no set time, so you can stop whenever you want.”

“Hmm….”

While maintaining her composure, her hand didn’t stop moving.

It might seem like she have already tamed it if she had gone this far, or at least that’s what one might think.

But, she’s repeating the same motion in the same place too much, isn’t she?

“Rather than just petting one spot, it’s better to gently touch other spots too…”

Eliza glanced down at me briefly, then reached her arm out further.

She looked cute, like a child, trying so hard.

But because the subject was Eliza, it felt eerie, like watching something strange.

But wait, did I just think Eliza was cute?

I must be out of my mind.

Because of her outstretched hand, her sleeve was pulled back.

A white, slender wrist was faintly revealed.

There, there was a red, swollen mark.

“What’s that? Come to think of it, didn’t she have a similar mark on her wrist when we first met….”

I belatedly realized the identity of that mark.

It was a bruise.

The kind you get from someone hitting you.

For a moment, I stared blankly as Eliza earnestly petted the moon deer.

Her face was as stiff as that of a shy child.

Her touch was awkward.

And there was a bruise on her wrist.

Only after coming to my senses did I realize that the maid, Lia, was watching me.