2 - Baby Yong's Housekeeping
Why humans were Ashil's husband and father, I do not know.
But Mom is never wrong, so she must be right this time too.
It was then.
"Surrender, monster! You are surrounded."
The boy at the very front, who had been warily pointing his sword, took a step forward.
The humans behind him also took a step forward.
Husband and father or not, it's too scary right now.
I'm going to be tied up with ropes and roasted over a bonfire.
"Piyaaah...."
Ashil, feeling sad, shed tears as big as marbles.
The humans who had drawn their swords were rather embarrassed by this.
"D-Do we attack?"
"...Wait a moment."
"It's too pitiful...."
They expected a grotesque monster to be summoned, but instead, a cute little thing that you could gobble up in one bite popped out and was shedding tears.
Instead of morale rising, it was falling.
It was then that something touched the baby dragon's trembling forepaw.
It was the pure white scarf around its neck.
The baby Beastkins at Beast Kindergarten always wore white scarves around their necks.
"If you meet humans, wave your white handkerchief to show that you have no intention of attacking."
This was because of the kindergarten teacher's teaching in preparation for an emergency.
Ashil hurriedly untied the scarf with its fern-like forepaws and waved it frantically.
"Piya! Pic, Piyaaaa-!" (Surrender! Sniff, Ashil surrendeeeers-!)
Because its arms and legs were short, it looked like it was dancing, but there was nothing it could do.
The humans flinched and became tense.
"That damn monster, is it a dance that invokes curses!"
"Be careful!"
"Don't let your guard down. Something big is coming soon!"
But nothing happened.
After a few minutes of everyone feeling awkward, and just as Ashil's arms and legs, which had been waving the scarf with all its might, began to cramp.
One of the humans, who had been stiff, cautiously opened his mouth.
"It looks like it's waving a white flag... Doesn't that mean it's surrendering?"
"Now that I see it, it has eggshells on its head. It's also small, so it seems to be a baby."
"Could it be that it understands us?"
Everyone's eyes focused on one place.
Edenber, who received the attention, pondered and then spoke to the imperial wizard next to him.
"Can you cast Translation Magic on that monster?"
They had only tried to suppress it with force, and now they realized that they could communicate with it like a real Divine Beast.
"I can."
The wizard bowed his head and began to chant.
Meanwhile, Edenber opened his mouth to the baby dragon, who was crying because its arms and legs hurt too much.
"Hey, I understand what you mean, so stop crying."
He took out a handkerchief and placed it on the blade of his sword, then extended it to the distance where Ashil's forepaws could reach.
"Pic...? Piya pi, pic."
Ashil, in the midst of the chaos, thanked him and received the handkerchief.
It wiped away the waterfall of tears and blew its nose.
The human's handkerchief smelled nice.
As it smelled the scent, a ray of hope sprouted like a seedling.
'Maybe my husband isn't trying to eat Ashil.'
Ashil, with swollen eyes, looked around cautiously and mumbled with its small mouth.
"Piya...?" (Husband...?)
Just in time, the wizard's Translation Magic was completed, and Edenber, who accurately understood the translated words, paused.
"What?"
"Piya...." (Husband....)
Ashil waved its arms, holding the scarf in one hand and the tear-soaked handkerchief in the other.
"Piyaaaa. Piyaaaat...?" (Ashil tastes bad. So, can you not eat Ashil...?)
Edenber completely froze.
* * *
Fortunately, the baby dragon was not eaten.
It was only decided to go to the Divine Creature's Room according to Edenber's order.
"Excuse me, Duke."
Just before moving the room, one of the retainers, who had been displeased with Ashil, intervened.
"It seems too small to be your Divine Beast, Duke. How about asking the imperial family for permission to re-summon it?"
"Do you know how much we paid the imperial family for this summoning? Do you know how precarious the family's finances will be if we re-summon it?"
"...But."
"It's not too late to decide after we check what abilities it has."
So Ashil went to the Divine Creature's Room.
The Divine Creature's Room in the main building was a very large space.
It was meant for a large Divine Beast, but Ashil, who did not know this, flinched.
'Oh no. Are they going to roast me here?'
"Piyaaaa."
Ashil, wailing sadly, looked up at Edenber.
It shook the scarf with its trembling arms, desperately appealing that a baby dragon like it would not taste good, so please spare it.
Then Edenber lifted Ashil up and placed it on the desk.
And he called out to the baby dragon, who had closed its eyes tightly, expecting all sorts of seasonings to be poured on its head, in a low voice.
"Hey."
"......Pi?"
"You should call me master, not husband. If you don't like that, you can call me by my name."
He drew a line with a cold tone that did not suit his age.
"Edenber, that's my name."
Ashil watched him carefully.
Humans are barbaric enough to roast a young Beastkin in one bite, but... telling me his name means he won't eat me right away, right?
So it cautiously said its name as well.
"Piya pit." (Ashil is Ashil.)
"Okay, Ashil. What can you do?"
"Pi?"
"Can you cast a powerful spell that can destroy this duchy at once, or do you have tremendous strength?"
Hmm... I've accidentally broken a lot of houses, but I've never broken a castle.
Ashil pondered for a moment and shook its head.
"Or do you have the power of healing?"
Shake, shake.
"...Do you have the power to see the future?"
Shake, shake.
The color drained from Edenber's face at the continuous head shaking.
He hesitated for a moment and stammered.
"Then what can you do?"
"Piiya pii." (Ashil is good at climbing trees.)
"......"
"Piya." (I'm also good at swimming.)
He covered his face in despair.
Oh, something must be wrong. Ashil quickly added two words.
"Piiya. Pit piiya." (I'm also good at singing. I don't taste good, so don't eat me, husband.)
"I'm not your husband... Fine, do as you please."
Since the summoning has already failed, what else can go wrong here? Edenber gave up on correcting the title.
Knock knock knock.
Just then, a knock was heard.
"Duke, I have brought the meal as you ordered."
He had prepared the meal in case the monster became ferocious when hungry.
Now, what does it matter if it becomes ferocious?
Soon, a splendid feast was spread out in front of Ashil.
It was a sight that would make anyone's eyes widen, but Ashil's gaze was not on the food.
'What is that?'
Next to the deliciously cooked food, a live baby rabbit was wriggling.
Edenber, who had not yet given up on Ashil's ferocity, asked.
"Is it too small? Should I have them bring a bigger rabbit?"
"......!"
Like an intelligent Beastkin, Ashil immediately understood what he meant and opened its mouth.
Oh my goodness, humans are dangerous creatures after all. I must never let my guard down!
"Piyaaaat!"
No matter how scary humans are, protecting helpless animals is a basic quality that a Beastkin must have.
Ashil quickly ran and hid the rabbit behind its back, backing away to a place where Edenber's hand could not reach.
Edenber, misunderstanding the action, calmly said.
"I'm not going to take it away and eat it."
"Piyaaaaa!" (Rabbit friends are not for eating!)
"Then what do you eat?"
"Piyapi! Piyaaaa." (Ashil eats strawberries.)
"Strawberries......"
The main food of a terrible monster is strawberries.
He became even more depressed and pushed the plate behind him forward.
Then Ashil's eyes, which had been prim, widened.
"Pi?"
