TDAA Ch 28

In other words, those who disliked him weren’t motivated enough to deliver food laced with poison.

So, he developed a habit of assuming that anything delivered to him was simply a gesture of goodwill from someone.

“No. I’m the only one supposed to bribe Master Siol.”

“Bribe…?”

“Yes, a bribe. This is a really delicious liquor.”

Siol groaned, looking troubled as he watched the assertive Luber. This was the reason Luber frequented Siol’s lab.

“Luber. I told you from the beginning… I’m still not sure if I can fix Ladie’s eyes.”

Luber nonchalantly nodded and lay sprawled on the floor, rolling around. The sight of a seemingly normal boy lying on the carpet and rolling around was initially strange, but Siol had gotten quite used to it and now overlooked it. He could now refrain from nagging even if Luber’s clothes or hair got dirty.

Siol looked down at the dust-covered superstar, then, unable to withstand the unspoken pressure, blurted out the unstated purpose of the visit: Ladie’s eyes. Luber had rushed at him several times, clinging to his trousers and pleading, but after Siol persuaded him that it was technically difficult for the time being, he’d started these subtle visits, sharing food and accumulating goodwill. As if reminding him not to forget his request.

“I know. But you’ll try, won’t you?”

“Well… I will, but…”

“That’s why I’m being nice to you. There’s a saying that work goes better when your heart is happy. Want to touch my belly?”

Luber boasted as if it were the path to happiness.

Siol shook his head and patted the belly of the big dog, whose pride in his own belly was sky-high. Luber grinned and rested his head near Siol’s boots. As if a dog wouldn’t care about dirt on its beautiful blonde fur or skin.

“Feeling better now?”

“Yeah. I think I’m feeling a bit better.”

“Hmm hmm. Of course.”

Siol playfully asked, looking at the proud Luber.

“Luber. How’s your swordsmanship practice going?”

“Don’t ruin the mood, Master Siol.”

“So, it’s not going well.”

“Ahh. Don’t ruin the mood…”

Siol chuckled, looking at Luber who rolled over to hide his belly and crouched.

Earlier, he had said he was the only one bribing him, but it was clear he was just insisting on it. Even if they skipped practice, if they brought Siol something, the other dogs would get a pass too.

Siol didn’t dislike Luber’s visits either. One way or another, since he was a superstar, he was undeniably the cutest.

“But who really brought that meat pie? We didn’t make it.”

“What do you mean?”

“We didn’t make any meat pies at our mansion yesterday or today. I swear on my honor!”

How much value could there be in the honor of a large dog who runs away from sword practice? Nevertheless, Siol nodded as if agreeing.

“I see.”

“So, it means it was brought from outside… but there’s probably no flour or meat to make this outside, is there?”

“Hmm…. Is it that impoverished out there?”

“We still have plenty of potatoes, but not much flour. We probably only get about half a handful per person a day.”

Then where was this luxuriously made meat pie made, and how did it end up in front of Siol’s lab? He pretended to think seriously, playing along with Luber, but in truth, Siol didn’t think too deeply about it.

If it wasn’t poisoned, who cared who made it? He just assumed that someone, like Luber asking about and flattering him to fix his master’s eyes, likely had a favor to ask of the alchemist and was showing goodwill.

As he reached for the remaining pie, Luber’s gaze followed his hand. He couldn’t take his eyes off the delicious smell, looking just like a little puppy. Siol teased him by moving the pie around before finally popping it into Luber’s mouth.

“Mmm…!”

Seeing Luber close his eyes as he chewed the juicy pie with an ecstatic look on his face made Siol laugh.

“Ouch!”

Luber suddenly screamed and rubbed the top of his head, looking up. Siol instinctively looked up too and saw a field mouse peeking out from a beam connecting the pillars near the ceiling.

“A mouse…! There’s a mouse, Master Siol!”

“Yeah. We live together.”

“But what hit me? A peanut…? But it really hurt…! It felt like a rock…?”

Luber picked up a small peanut that had fallen on the floor and complained indignantly. Sure enough, there was a small bump on his head.

“There’s a mouse in the room, Master Siol!”

“Leave it alone.”

At the relaxed tone, Luber bristled and stamped his foot.

“We have to catch it!”

“Just leave it. We’ve been living together for quite a while now, so I’ve grown fond of it.”

“Mice are…! Dirty!”

Luber, searching for the right words to get him on his side, yelled.

However, coming from Luber, who had just been rubbing his head on dirty boots and rolling around on the carpet, it wasn’t very convincing. Talking about the dirtiness of a mouse while looking so grubby himself held no weight.

Besides, it wasn’t a sewer rat like he sometimes saw on Earth, but a field mouse, so it was really cute.

“You’re just as dirty, so let’s leave it alone.”

“Ugh….”

When Siol stopped him, Luber looked down at his own appearance and quietly closed his mouth. His sullen expression showed that he knew what would happen if he complained further.

It was a wise move. Siol was about to suggest a bath for the dirty dog if he continued to insist on catching the mouse.

Luber sat back down on the floor, pouting, still looking bothered by the ceiling, but Siol ignored him and poured some wine into a glass. Luber grinned and popped a fried snack from the basket into Siol’s mouth.

“Delicious, isn’t it?”

“It is. You brought this delicious treat to me instead of eating it all by yourself? Thank you, Luber.”

Siol exaggerated his praise toward the dog who wriggled, wanting to be complimented. Luber wagged his tail excitedly, closing his eyes and opening his mouth, asking to be fed. Just then, another peanut fell from the ceiling. Luber, hit in the forehead again, looked up at Siol with a mournful face.

“Master Siol! Your mouse is bullying me.”

“Hmm…. Our field mouse must have dropped it by accident. Maybe its hands are weak from hunger.”

“…Master Siol…. Really…!”

Shocked by Siol’s blatant favoritism towards the field mouse, Luber choked back his words and whimpered, then turned his back. Just turning his back made him look incredibly forlorn and wronged. Siol, holding back laughter, watched his back, then burst out laughing when he saw the dejected tail slowly thumping on the floor.

“…….”

Siol laughed heartily, petting Luber’s head, who seemed genuinely upset and glared at him. He continued petting him, ignoring the narrowed, glaring eyes, all the way to the back of his head. Gradually, Luber’s eyes began to soften. Watching Luber quickly return to happily enjoying the petting, Siol recalled his time in the land of the beastmen.

Life in this territory was different from the beastmen’s land in every way. Human society revolved around rules. Land, commerce, etiquette, all of it was built upon existing rules, constantly adding or subtracting new ones, gradually perfecting society. On the other hand, beastmen society had minimal rules, and beyond that, the law of the wild governed everything.

Taking knighthood as an example, in the beastmen’s land, instead of forcing training upon newcomers, they were invited to participate in a playful manner, and if they disliked it, they weren’t forced to continue. However, if their skills didn’t meet the standards, they were ruthlessly expelled from the knighthood. Truly wild. Within that, knights gritted their teeth and trained themselves to survive. Driven by the desire to become stronger. Free and simultaneously cruel.

In the land of humans, dog beastmen trained according to rules and raised their successors according to rules. Even a dog like Luber, who disliked training, was persistently trained until he eventually became a knight. That was the way of the human land. Forced, yet also kind in its persistence.

He didn’t think either way was right or wrong. Each had its own methods.

But that difference created a strange disconnect between them.

Shortly after being dragged to the beastmen’s land, Siol met a little wolf named Edot who was terrified of becoming a ‘dog’ if he didn’t eat enough there. Beastmen, especially wolf beastmen, used ‘dog’ as a derogatory term.

Dog beastmen took up swords for humans, fought for humans, and protected this land for humans. It seemed strange to other beastmen. Abnormal and bizarre behavior. Traitors who, despite being beastmen, betrayed their own kind and lived for humans.

But after coming to this land, Siol came to understand both sides.

Dogs loved humans very much. And humans also loved dogs very much. Humans cherished, cared for, and loved dogs, and dogs accepted humans without discrimination as part of their pack, protecting them and living together.

“My back too.”

Luber, after shaking his fur, made a dignified request. Siol smiled and obliged, stroking where he wanted.

It seemed like this life was happy and enjoyable for the dogs, so there was nothing to blame.

Perhaps the beastmen’s custom of using “dog” as a derogatory term would disappear if humans and beastmen could learn to trust each other.

Siol believed that if Ladie became queen, she could create such a world. He believed that if Ladie and the Blue Dragon, representing humans and beastmen respectively, met, the violence, distrust, and anger that had stained the continent would subside.

“My butt too!”

“Alright, alright.”

Suddenly, Luber, shifted into his dog form, jumped onto Siol’s lap, making another demand. Busy petting the large puppy, whose body overflowed even his large lap, Siol missed the sight of Luber giving a haughty look at the field mouse peeking out from the beam above.

Knock, knock.

While they were at it, a somber knock echoed. Luber, who had been enjoying being petted, bristled, startled, and quickly hid behind the armchair. He looked up at Siol, shaking his head and pleading, but with an almost resigned expression, as if he knew Siol wouldn’t grant his request.

“Come in.”

Unlike Luber, the polite man who waited for a response before quietly opening the door was a very large dog of a different breed than Luber, with an imposing face. Luber wasn’t small, but compared to this man with incomparable muscles and shoulders, and an impassive expression, he seemed less threatening even when still.

Fortunately, however, he was well aware of the impact of his appearance, so he always maintained a deliberately slow and courteous demeanor.

The man, walking in with soldier-like movements, came before Siol and bowed his head.

“Greetings, Master Siol.”

“Hello, Eriad.”

“You’ve… thankfully eaten.”

Eriad glanced at the basket filled with food and continued.

“Even though it’s just an excuse to avoid training, I’m glad it’s helpful to Master Siol.”

“Yes, he’s taking very good care of me….”

Eriad’s gaze towards the back of the armchair was so chilling that Siol mumbled involuntarily. Eriad continued in a low voice, unclear to whom he was speaking.

“If he hadn’t done even that much, I would have broken his legs, so he’s really quite cunning….”

“Yes….”

Eriad, after bluntly criticizing Luber to his face, now looked at him pointedly. Annoyance was evident in his gaze as he watched Luber desperately burying his head behind the armchair.

This tall man was one of the squad leaders leading the large dog group among Ladie’s dogs. His squad consisted of those who engaged in fierce battles based on their strong physiques. The large puppy hiding behind Siol had recently enlisted in his unit. Since then, Eriad had become Luber’s training instructor and had started training him personally, but it seemed he was having a hard time with the lazy Luber, who used his popularity to avoid training.

“…Let’s go, Luber.”

“I worked hard during morning training! Can’t I play a little in the afternoon! Why do we have to train all day long?!”

“Don’t talk like you’ve trained all day when you haven’t even once, you idiot.”

At the blatant mockery, Luber seemed to flare up and shouted.

“I won’t! I don’t want to train!”

“Go play if you want to be a pet. Idiot.”

“Can I be a pet?”

Luber, who had been trembling, asked with sparkling eyes, and Eriad growled and roared.

“…This son of a bitch!”

Siol thought it was a bit too much to curse at a kid like that, but thinking about it, it wasn’t wrong. He started to intervene, but stopped awkwardly.

“I don’t want to! I just want to live being pampered, why do I have to train all the time? Really!”

“Then go live outside!”

“I… don’t want to!”

“Then train!”

Siol, having witnessed several arguments between the dog beastmen, knew how this fight would end.

In peaceful times, Luber’s argument might have worked, but now they were on the verge of war. At a time when anyone capable of fighting had to learn combat and hone themselves for victory, Luber’s claim of wanting to be a pet wouldn’t fly. At the yell telling him to leave the mansion if he really wanted to be a pet, Luber always shut his mouth.

It was probably not so much that he didn’t want to leave the affluent mansion, but rather that he didn’t want to leave the group that adored him. If only Luber had been born in a time when just being cute was enough, he would have lived happily. As Siol looked at him with pity, Luber, catching his eye, whined as if waiting, and tried to hug him. But before he could, Eriad grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

Held by Eriad’s large hand, Luber looked like a puppy.

“Whimper…. Sniffle…. Master Siol….”

“Shut up before I make it so you can’t wag your tail again.”

“…Sob….”

Luber, silenced, sniffled and was hoisted onto Eriad’s shoulder. He seemed to finally give up, entrusting his whole body to Eriad.

From this perspective, it seemed like Eriad was being forceful with Luber, but as long as Luber didn’t run away, Eriad treated him quite well. It was rare for a beastman of squad leader status to personally train a newcomer.

Siol smiled awkwardly as he saw the two off.

“My apologies, Master Siol. I’m always sorry that my subordinate bothers you.”

“No, it’s alright. Luber always takes care of my meals too….”

“As I said before, if this idiot hadn’t done even that, I really would have broken his legs.”

“Ahaha….”

“And… I don’t want to burden you, but….”

Eriad hesitated for a moment, choosing his words, then met Siol’s gaze directly.

“If there’s anything you need for my master’s eyes, please… please tell me.”

It seemed Ladie’s dogs were deeply concerned about her wearing an eyepatch.

When Ladie was sent to Siol’s lab long ago, she was dying. Siol, seeing the young girl arrive in a carriage, having lost an arm, a leg, and an eye, did his best to care for her so her wounds wouldn’t fester. He was an alchemist, and refining medicinal alcohol from wine wasn’t difficult. And as long as the wounds didn’t fester, the body would heal.

Once the wounds healed, the next problem was Ladie’s physical condition, which made it difficult for her to even go to the bathroom alone. The young girl, despondent, kept repeating her request for a weapon to hunt monsters. It was probably the king’s order. Siol made Ladie, who had given up on walking, a prosthetic leg and arm. But he couldn’t restore her eye.

Siol also wanted to make Ladie an eye. There’s a significant difference in functionality between having one eye and two. For one, depth perception becomes an issue, so she would inevitably fall behind others in activities requiring precision.

However, there was an insurmountable gap between the technology to simply reproduce “movement,” like with prosthetics, and the technology to connect “vision” to the brain, like with an eye. Without a suitable eye donor, it might be forever impossible for Ladie to open both eyes. Of course, Siol intended to try his best, but medicine involving the brain wasn’t his forte.

“As I’ve said before, even estimating the possibility will take a lot of time.”

“…Right. Yes. I didn’t mean to pressure you, I apologize.”

“Still…”

Siol continued to the dejected man turning away.

“If you need anything, please let me know. It’s not at that stage yet, though.”

“Yes! If you say anything, we’ll find a way to get it for you.”

“I’ll even bribe you!”

The sniffling Luber interjected, and Eriad slapped his hip, sighed, and then bowed to Siol before leaving. Siol found Luber quite cute, but he understood Eriad’s frustration.

Back on Earth, during peaceful times, there was a saying that someone else’s dog was always the cutest.

Seeing Luber, he understood what that meant.

Siol watched as the large man carried the smaller, but still large, boy on his shoulder and disappeared. He only let out a hidden sigh after the two disappeared down the stairs at the end of the hallway.

Tell him if he needed anything?

In fact, he needed countless things. But Siol understood well that the situation in the territory, and his own position, weren’t good enough to ask for anything. Beastmen weren’t very good at keeping secrets. If he asked for something, he could clearly picture them bustling around trying to get it, exclaiming, “Master Siol said he needs this, this, and this!” Then a rumor would spread throughout the territory about the death alchemist exploiting the good dogs, and it would only be a matter of time before the rumor turned into uncontrollable loathing.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the dogs… no, thinking about it carefully, it was right not to trust them.

Siol shrugged awkwardly and began to clean up the leftover food. He was pushing the baskets that held the meat pie and fried snacks to the side of the table and picking up the crumbs Luber had dropped on the floor when…

Noisy sounds started coming from beyond the small window, barely a handspan wide. The sound of dozens of hooves hitting the ground echoed as they approached the mansion.

“Ladie!”

Siol, filled with joy, grabbed his coat and was about to run out, but he stopped at the door.

This was Lord Merrick’s castle, and the person who would most welcome Ladie, who had returned from persuading other territories, was Lord Merrick. And he disliked Siol. He was staying in the basement to avoid Lord Merrick’s eyes, and he couldn’t just run out to where he would be just because Ladie had returned.

Siol dejectedly took off his coat, hung it back on the hanger, and sighed deeply, looking at the scattered metal pieces on his workbench.

He should just work.

In a territory at war, the most ‘effective way to demonstrate one’s worth’ was weapons.

Siol tapped the brooch he had placed on the corner of his desk with his fingertip. It was the brooch he had made to walk lightly on snow. It didn’t take long to make, and it was made with minimal offerings and had been quite useful, but unfortunately, mass production was impossible.

Because, as was often the case with items that were easy to make and highly effective, they tended to consume a tremendous amount of the user’s magical power.

“If I commercialize this, the name ‘Death Alchemist’ will definitely become more famous….”

A terrifying alchemical tool that, if misused, could drain the user’s magical power until they became a mummy.

The reason Siol could use such a brooch without a problem was his innate ability to absorb surrounding magical power and use it as his own. Perhaps this ability was also related to being loved by the world.

“When I adjusted it to absorb less of the user’s magical power, the performance wasn’t very good….”

He had already made several tools with adjusted magical power absorption for some of Ladie’s beastman knights, but the effects weren’t satisfactory. Since he had made each tool by hand, after one-on-one consultations, considering their combat styles, weapon forms, and so on, their satisfaction was at its highest. But even so, they were all inferior products that didn’t meet Siol’s standards.

Siol felt that the reason he wasn’t satisfied with the tools he created was because of his extravagant lifestyle so far.

He was now realizing just how luxurious his life had been with the Blue Dragon. The Blue Dragon had given him boxes full of magic stones, telling him to use them as he pleased. He’d also said he’d give him more when he ran out. He’d never lacked paper, ink, pens, or candles.

Thinking about it now, he’d used magic stones in all sorts of tools, almost to the point of waste. When drawing blueprints or drafts, he’d casually scribbled on paper without a second thought. If he made a mistake and had to discard a sheet, Burdril would quickly and preciously collect it. Sometimes, he’d even sneakily steal papers without mistakes, leaving behind mountains of new paper, ink, and luxurious quill pens in return. After experiencing that a few times, that enormous amount of paper started to feel normal….

He hadn’t realized it back then, but in this world, paper, pens, ink, and candles were all precious resources. Because there were almost no mechanical facilities, each sheet had to be made by hand.

Eorzen had generously provided him with expensive resources and various materials. After living so lavishly for a while, he wasn’t satisfied with this life where every single lump of iron ore was precious. He wanted to create something more amazing with more valuable resources. He could do more amazing things, but it was impossible due to the lack of materials….

“No, no. I can’t think like this.”

Siol shook his head and rubbed his forehead. Living comfortably under the Blue Dragon had definitely spoiled him.

“I knew things wouldn’t be abundant here.”

Knock, knock.

Siol, startled as if his thoughts had been exposed, pushed his chair back and stood up.

“Who is it?”

“Master Siol.”

As soon as he heard the voice, Siol ran to the door. The visitor, about to speak his name, opened his eyes wide in surprise as the door opened, then smiled brightly.

“How have you been?”

“Ladie! Come in quickly. What brings you here?”

“I was worried if you had eaten.”

Ladie showed him a basket covered with cloth. It smelled of meaty sandwiches with spicy sauce and roasted potatoes. Smelling the fragrant butter, he stepped aside, and Ladie entered his room, which also served as his lab, looking around. Her expression held a hint of disapproval.

“What are you looking at like that?”

“Hmm…. As expected, I can’t provide you with the same environment as my uncle, even with my abilities.”

“Were you comparing it to that lab?”

Siol asked awkwardly, and Ladie nodded seriously.

“It’s truly dreadful.”

“Uh…. It’s, it’s not that bad….”

“No, it’s dreadful. Who do you think managed the inventory of your equipment and materials in the lab?”

The person who managed everything from food to various materials and necessary supplies in the lab was, of course, Ladie, the head maid.

She shrugged and sat down in the chair by the fireplace, gesturing for Siol to sit in the armchair as well. Then she slid the basket on the table towards him. Siol, accepting the basket in a daze, removed the cloth and took out a sandwich, sharing it with Ladie.

“Still… it’s not too bad. No, actually, the materials aren’t plentiful, but… isn’t this about average?”

“Average?”

“Other alchemists all live in similar poverty, don’t they? The reason I lived comfortably in the lab was entirely because I was making weapons of war….”

“Hmm…. If you really want the truth.”

Ladie paused, drawing Siol’s lost and flustered gaze to herself.

“Actually, other alchemists live in even greater poverty.”

“Even more?”

“Well, ordinary alchemists can’t make things that allow you to walk on water, lighten the weight of bags, erase a person’s presence, or instantly put someone to sleep like Master Siol can.”

“Uh…. Uh?”

Ladie continued, addressing the dumbfounded Siol, who was speechless from the unexpected praise.

“Master Siol, I’m well aware that I haven’t provided you with an environment where you can fully utilize your talents. It was my job at the lab to request the necessary supplies from the king, so I couldn’t help but know. I feel apologetic about it.”

“What? No….”

“But if you wait just a little longer, I’ll definitely, definitely create a proper environment for you, Master Siol.”

Looking into her sincere eyes, Siol felt ashamed of himself for complaining about the lack of materials and reminiscing about the abundance he had with the Blue Dragon. He had expected a difficult life after leaving the Blue Dragon in the Tower of Survival, yet he couldn’t understand what felt so lacking now.

“…Alchemists don’t always need expensive materials, Ladie. Of course, you can make more impressive things with expensive materials and magic stones, but if you can’t do anything without them, you can’t be considered a proper alchemist. I’m a proper alchemist. So don’t worry too much.”

“I’m grateful that you think so.”

Ladie replied with a gentle smile.

Siol thought that perhaps what he lacked wasn’t materials or magic stones, but the feeling of being needed, of being useful. Hearing Ladie say that it wasn’t him but the environment that was lacking, his anxiety subsided as if it were a lie.

Siol spoke impulsively.

“Of course, impressive war weapons will be difficult. Hmm…. I’m not sure what you’ll think…. But I’m thinking of making something that will be helpful to the people living in this territory.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Really? You really think so?”

“Of course. I didn’t bring you here just to use you for war, Master Siol.”

Siol was taken aback by her words. He had been shouldering the burden of having to create weapons against the king in these poor conditions. He had assumed Ladie wanted weapons when she asked him if he wanted revenge and offered him her hand.

“Of course, if you want to make weapons, you can. What I want to say is….”

Ladie paused to choose her words.

“Master Siol, you’ve already done so much for me. Eight years ago, when I arrived at the lab, I was practically dying. Master Siol, you made me arms and legs. And you kept me by your side.”

“That was just….”

“A foolish girl who had lost her limbs wouldn’t be a threat, so he probably just kept me alive just in case. That must have been my uncle’s intention. I was also deceived by my uncle, believing that I had simply been attacked by a monster, and I despaired, raged… I wasn’t in my right mind.”

When Ladie first arrived at the lab, she was in a pitiful state. Not only was she missing an arm and a leg, but her entire body was covered in wounds, and her eyes glowed fiercely.

The girl who had been panting with anger and vengeance was now calmly talking about that time. Siol felt a lump in his throat.

“A lot has happened in eight years. Master Siol, you don’t seem to know, but I actually tried to assassinate you.”

“…What?!”

“Ahaha! You really didn’t know.”

“No, assassinate, you tried to assassinate me?”

Siol, who had just been feeling joy at the girl’s growth, was taken aback and asked in confusion.

“Master Siol, I was young back then. You should forgive me for expressing my unreasonable anger.”

“O…kay. But… you only tried to?”

“No. I half-carried it out. I drugged you with sleeping pills and tried to strangle you… but seeing you groaning while unconscious, everything felt foolish. You, trapped in the lab, unknowingly making weapons of war… and me, unable to take revenge on my uncle, taking my anger out on you….”

That day, Ladie learned not to turn away from the truth.

Holding a fragile life in her hands, she replayed countless thoughts, countless despairs and pains. The moment she acknowledged that the person in front of her was simply escaping reality, lost in depression and ignoring the situation, she could finally face her true enemy.

Perhaps Ladie was reborn that day.

“After that, I stopped taking my anger out on you, but honestly, I didn’t have any hope of getting revenge on my uncle.”

“Thinking about it now, the lab was completely isolated. I thought the king’s knights were there to protect me, but they were actually there to watch you and me. To prevent us from escaping. Right?”

“That’s right. They weren’t there to protect the lab from external threats, but to confine us.”

“I had no idea….”

It was astonishing to think how clueless he had been.

“But you created the opportunity. Master Siol, you helped me escape from the dragon. Do you remember?”

“How could I… forget?”

“The pouch you gave me that day contained so much. Thanks to that, I survived and was able to ask Lord Merrick for help. It’s all thanks to you that I’m able to seek revenge, to usurp the throne.”

Ladie’s dark blue eyes looked directly at Siol.

The girl who had cried out so desperately when they first met had grown up and was now standing firmly on her own two feet, extending a helping hand to him. And unbelievably, it was also the result of some seed Siol himself had sown, now sprouted.

Siol was deeply moved by the fact that he had played a part in this girl’s growth, yet at the same time, he was ashamed of his own stagnation.

“So, do what you want to do, Master Siol. The reason you can’t utilize your abilities now is because I haven’t provided you with the proper environment. You don’t have to feel pressured by what you can’t do because of the inadequate environment. You’ve already given me enough.”

The warm words, directed straight at him, filled his heart with a surge of emotions.

Something different from feelings of being touched or happy pushed aside the guilt and loneliness that had filled Siol’s heart, taking their place and lightening his shoulders.

“Lord Merrick will realize that soon, too. Right now, he seems to be out of his mind with anger… but the time will come when his head cools down and he sees reality. So please don’t hate him. Lord Merrick was a friend of my father. A childhood friend who was always with him, long before I was even born. So it might take some time, but….”

“It’s okay, Ladie.”

Siol smiled gently. Not everyone had Ladie’s broad generosity. If Lord Merrick and the late king were close friends, he might be even less likely to forgive Siol. However, Siol decided not to worry about him anymore.

“It’s really okay now. I’ll just do what I have to do.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Ladie’s face brightened.

She was a woman who would become queen. This conversation made Siol realize that she truly had royal blood and was worthy of ascending to the throne. Who else could hold the life and death of their perceived enemy in their hands and yet put aside their anger to calmly assess their crime’s transgression?

“By the way… was it Luber?”

“…Yes?”

“About me being depressed. Was it Luber who told you?”

“…Was it that obvious?”

Ladie, her previous confident demeanor gone, looked a little shy.

“It’s true that I came after hearing from Luber, but everything I said was sincere. You know that, right?”

“Yes, thank you for coming.”

His heart lightened, and Siol finally realized he had been too hasty. He had been so anxious to produce results quickly and prove his worth that he had blamed himself, complained about the lack of materials, and then criticized himself for feeling dissatisfied.

Perhaps his mind hadn’t fully escaped Earth yet. Back then, consumed by the fear of being abandoned among those who would starve if they didn’t prove their worth, Siol had worked his hardest. Every single day, desperately.

Now, even though his body was in a different world, he still hadn’t completely shaken off that mindset.

“Then I’ll be going. Master Siol, I’ll say it again… don’t push yourself too hard. Make what you want to make. Whatever you want to do will help me. You’re an amazing alchemist, and we’re walking the same path.”

“…Yes.”

As Ladie left, refusing to be seen off, Siol stared blankly at the closed door and then sank into the armchair.

Unfortunately, the first thing that came to mind when he heard that they were walking the same path was the Blue Dragon.

“The Blue Dragon….”

He had done so much for him.

Not only materially, but he had also taken care of his emotional needs. Because he had embraced him and told him it was okay, because he had told him to become his alchemist, Siol had been able to stand up again.

Yes, he wanted to become the Blue Dragon’s alchemist. So much so that as young Sizool, by his side, he would beg to be accepted as his alchemist when he grew up. Even now, having left the Blue Dragon’s side, that earnest desire remained.

“After killing the king, after Ladie becomes queen, after killing Nathaniel….”

Siol said to himself, staring at the fire in the fireplace.

“Let’s return to Lord Eorzen.”

Having said it, the feeling became even clearer. He wanted to return to the Blue Dragon right away.

But even thinking about it again, leaving the Blue Dragon’s side had been the right decision. Siol wasn’t the kind of person who could be happy staying by the Blue Dragon’s side, leaving behind all the things he had started. That’s why he left, and that’s why he suffered. But once he cleared his name as the Death Alchemist, after killing the king and eliminating Nathaniel, wouldn’t he then be able to stand before the Blue Dragon without shame?

The Blue Dragon was kind, so he would surely accept him back without a word. Perhaps by then, the Blue Dragon’s partner would be with him. Would his unrequited love finally come to an end when that day came? Would this feeling stop when he faced the Blue Dragon’s partner? Even if he couldn’t walk beside the Blue Dragon, he at least wanted to follow in his footsteps.

As his thoughts trailed off, silence slowly flowed through Siol’s lab as he drifted off to sleep. Only the occasional crackling of the firewood and the popping of embers pierced the quiet. Siol’s body, gradually engulfed by the expanding darkness, was barely illuminated by the faint firelight.

A small shadow falling from the ceiling grew larger as it landed on the floor. He rose silently and went before Siol’s armchair, bending down and sitting again, reaching out to the deeply sleeping Siol’s cheek. He carefully cupped Siol’s cheek and stroked it with his thumb.

He glanced at the fireplace, and the fire surged, burning fiercely again. In the lab, now filled with warmth, he quietly gazed at Siol’s face, then took his hand and pulled it up.

“I’m waiting, Siol.”

The Blue Dragon’s kiss landed on the sleeping Siol’s palm.

“Even now.”

⋆୨🔮୧⋆

Siol, who had fallen asleep in the armchair again, slowly woke to a gnawing sound in his ears. A low growling sound, the scratching of wood, and a whimpering sound followed.

The sounds were subdued, low.

Siol, buried in the cozy blanket, blinked and turned his head slightly towards the source of the sound.

There was Luber, scratching at the pillar, trying to climb up to the field mouse peeking out from the ceiling beam. A large dog, standing on two legs, baring his teeth and growling menacingly. Standing on two legs, the golden large dog was taller than Siol.

“…What are you doing, Luber.”

“Ah. Master Siol! You’re awake?”

Luber jumped and leaped onto Siol’s lap.

“Oof…!”

Siol, suddenly crushed under the large dog, gasped for breath and tried to push Luber off, but the large dog clung to him, acting spoiled. If Luber’s lower body, frantically rubbing against him, hadn’t slipped off the bed, Siol might have been suffocated.

Siol, finally able to breathe, patted Luber’s head, who was clinging to his waist, and scolded him.

“Why are you here bothering our field mouse so early in the morning?”

“When I came, he was sleeping on Master Siol’s lap! Mice shouldn’t do that!”

“He sometimes sleeps with me in my bed.”

“No way! We’re the only ones who can be that close to humans.”

What kind of logic was that? Siol stared at him in disbelief, and Luber tilted his large head cutely.

It wasn’t surprising that Luber was under such a ridiculous delusion. Being so cute and pampered by everyone, it was natural for him to become arrogant and foolish. But considering that, the other dogs were all polite and well aware of their responsibilities, how did that happen? Could a dog who rolled around so thoughtlessly suddenly become mature and adult after aging a bit? Siol couldn’t imagine Luber changing into someone like Eriad.

“Ouch!”

Luber groaned, holding the top of his head with both paws. Siol saw a small fragment hit Luber’s head and bounce off, landing on the rug on the floor. A peanut.

Looking up, he saw the field mouse peeking down with a rather mischievous expression.

A mischievous expression? A mischievous expression? Had he been living with it for so long that he could now read a mouse’s expression?

“Uh…. It seems our field mouse doesn’t like you.”

“Hmph. He’s definitely jealous of me.”

Unlike last time, Luber didn’t make a fuss.

“It’s okay. Master Siol likes me more. Right?”

He was waiting for the affirmative words he was sure would come. Looking into those sparkling eyes, Siol chuckled and nodded. He couldn’t deny that this big puppy was cute.

“But what are you doing here so early in the morning? Isn’t it past your morning training time? Luber, you’ll get scolded by Eriad again at this rate.”

“It’s okay! Because I came on an official mission!”

Luber said, wriggling his body.

“An official… mission?”

“Yes, my master told me to stay by Master Siol’s side for a while. To attend to you and protect you from harm.”

“Hmm…. I don’t need anyone to protect me.”

“You do too. Master Siol, you’re too unguarded. I’m needed.”

Luber, on his first official mission since becoming a knight, solemnly emphasized his necessity.

Siol combed Luber’s messy fur with his fingers, thinking that no matter how he thought about it, it seemed like he would be the one attending to Luber, not the other way around. Cleaning his dirty fur, bathing him, drying him, feeding him….

Well, maybe with Luber around, his days would be a little more lively than when he was alone.

Ladie’s expectations in sending Luber were probably just for emotional support. She couldn’t have expected this cute, big dog to actually act as a bodyguard, could she? Siol didn’t think it was something to refuse, so he just replied, “I see.”

“So, you’ll protect me if someone bullies me?”

“Of course! I’ll punch them!”

“Oh dear. Then who will bring me my meals? Luber, you can’t leave because you have to stay by my side.”

“Ah!”

Siol chuckled, looking at Luber, whose expression clearly said, “What do I do?!”

“I’m just kidding. I’ll figure something out for meals. We can go out to eat together. Right?”

“Or how about asking the Squad Leader to bring it?”

“It’s obvious you just want to boss Eriad around, Luber.”

“No, I don’t!”

Luber vehemently denied it, putting both hands on his cheeks. A strong denial was a perfect example of the old saying, a strong denial is an affirmation.

“Anyway, it works out well. I was actually thinking of going outside. Shall we go out for breakfast together?”

“Hmm. They only distribute baked potatoes outside, are you okay with that?”

“I like potatoes.”

“Then let’s go!”

Luber, who had been clinging to Siol, went down to the floor, tapped his front paws, and transformed into his human form. As a boy with messy, straw-colored hair, he looked even smaller than in his dog form.

Come to think of it, what mechanism determined a beastman’s appearance when they shifted between human and animal forms? It couldn’t be that they transformed into whatever appearance they desired, could it?

Siol thought of the Blue Dragon, with his seemingly cold appearance. Aside from his beauty, he didn’t think that cold image was the appearance the Blue Dragon desired for himself. If he could choose his own appearance, wouldn’t he have a warmer, kinder face?

Thinking that far, Siol suddenly missed the beautiful man so much that he bit his lip. He felt like he might cry.

To distract himself, he abruptly got up and strode towards the wardrobe. He took out a thick shirt and trousers for going out and had just taken off his current shirt when…

“Ouch! Ow…! Hey, why are you doing this?!”

Luber yelled, flailing. Siol leaned over to see past the wardrobe door, and there was Luber, again fighting with the field mouse on the beam. He didn’t know when the field mouse had stolen and hidden so many peanuts and walnuts up there, but it was tormenting Luber by constantly throwing things at his head.

It seemed the field mouse considered Luber an intruder.

Luber blocked the peanuts with both hands, then stomped his foot and jumped. Were dog beastmen that good at jumping? Well, beastmen generally had much better physical abilities than humans, so it wasn’t strange.

Seeing Luber grab the beam with both hands and pull himself up as if doing chin-ups, Siol hurriedly stopped him.

“Luber, don’t bully my mouse.”

“Master… Master Siol…! He’s the one bullying me, how can…!”

“Still, he’s small.”

Luber looked back at Siol with a shocked expression, then plopped down on the floor. A small peanut fell on his head. Luber didn’t move, just stared at Siol. With eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears.

Siol groaned. He seemed to have gone too far, teasing the big puppy.

“I… I….”

“No, no. I’m sorry, Luber. Come here, Luber. No, it was my fault. Okay?”

Luber, swaying slightly, stood before Siol with his lips tightly pressed together. Siol opened his arms wide. Luber naturally leaned into his embrace.

“Of course, that field mouse was wrong. But he’s so small. So let’s forgive him, Luber. Okay?”

“…I don’t want to.”

“Let’s forgive him, good and cute Luber. Okay?”

“…I’m only forgiving him because you’re saying so, Master Siol.”

Luber glared at Siol, then answered primly, finally seeming appeased. Luber’s simplicity was part of his charm.

As Siol smiled in relief and turned towards the door, Luber tilted his head.

“Wait, Master Siol. Where are you going dressed like that?”

“Huh? We’re going out for breakfast, remember?”

“And?”

“Uh…. Are my clothes that bad?”

Siol asked hesitantly.

He always wore whatever was given to him, so he knew nothing about fashion. In the lab, he wore whatever Ladie chose for him, and in Eorzen’s castle, he wore whatever Ryufen gave him. Here, he had received a few winter clothes, but since there weren’t many, he just picked something that looked warm. He hadn’t considered that his attire might not be up to par in the eyes of Luber, the mansion’s superstar.

“It’s not a matter of whether they’re pretty or not.”

Luber snapped, rarely using a genuinely annoyed tone. He pulled out a thick shawl, a muffler, and a more generously sized coat from the wardrobe and handed them to Siol.

“Put these on too. Quickly.”

“What? You want me to wear a coat over a coat? And a shawl and a muffler on top of that?”

“Of course, Master Siol. Master Siol has a weak constitution.”

“What? No, I’m average.”

However, despite Siol’s strong denial, Luber looked him up and down with a skeptical eye and scoffed. Siol, who hadn’t expected to be treated as frail even in the human land, retorted indignantly.

“No, this is average, why!”

“Average…. How is that average?”

“And I’m a beastman too! I’m stronger than an average human!”

“How is that a beastman’s body? You look weaker than the head chef.”

Siol closed his mouth, thinking it was unfair to be compared to the head chef.

This territory had been preparing for war since the current king ascended to the throne. Lord Merrick constantly suspected the king, but he couldn’t wage war against the last remaining member of the royal bloodline. He quietly bowed his head and scoured the entire country, searching for an illegitimate child of the late king, or the king before him, or even the king before that.

Meanwhile, all the servants working under the lord received basic military training. The head chef was recognized as exceptionally talented among them. Seeing his perfect inverted triangle physique, it was hard to understand why he was still working as a chef in the mansion.

Unfortunately, Luber’s “average,” having lived in the mansion since birth, was based on such people.

Siol felt incredibly wronged, but he didn’t have the energy to remove the scarf and shawl Luber was wrapping around him, so he just accepted it. He soon looked like he was completely bundled up in blankets.

“Now we can go out. Shall we go? Master Siol.”

Siol glared discontentedly at Luber, who was giving him permission to leave, then sighed deeply and left the lab. Luber followed behind him with a satisfied expression.

The field mouse, having watched the entire scene with its black eyes, then disappeared.