177 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
“Tsk, tsk. This is a big problem, a big problem.”
A gray wolf had settled in the mountain. Given the pack nature of wolves, it wouldn't be just one.
More than that, gray wolves were known to be strong enough to fight Monsters on equal terms, unlike regular wolves.
Because last winter was particularly cold, it seemed they had settled in a place where many people came and went in search of prey.
As Rumus took a step forward, all the villagers paid attention to him.
“As you all have heard, there's a gray wolf in the mountain. Gray wolves move around, so they'll leave here soon. So, until then, be careful about going up the mountain. Especially children should be prohibited from entering the mountain for a while.”
“Yes.”
“Um, shouldn't we inform Duke's Castle and get help…?”
“You short-sighted fool!”
Rumus immediately rebuked the man who spoke.
Even now, Duke's Castle was displeased with the village for renting out the cabin that Jorno was supposed to use as a shelter.
An order had also been issued to keep people away from the cabin.
But they couldn't ask for help with such a small incident.
As someone who had looked after Jorno several times, it was better not to get involved with Duke's Castle as much as possible.
Rumus scanned the villagers with stern eyes and continued.
“Are you going to run to Duke's Castle every time a wild boar appears, or a bear appears? You know that the knights of Duke's Castle are busy dealing with Monsters.”
The villagers nodded at his words.
In other villages, they didn't ask Duke's Castle for help because of wild animals.
“In the future, we must create a temporary Autonomous Corps to respond immediately in case of another accident.”
“Yes.”
The villagers, who answered weakly, each thought of their young children and looked pitifully at Sam's parents, who were crying.
\ \ *
Under the golden moonlight, someone wearing a black robe rode a white horse quickly through the forest path.
When the white horse stopped in front of a familiar cabin, the person in the robe jumped down.
“Good job, pretty girl.”
As the owner gently stroked the white horse's head, the horse neighed pleasantly.
The person in the robe opened a large bag hanging next to the saddle. The savory and delicious smell of roasted meat spread subtly in the air.
At that moment, the cabin door burst open.
Fluffy white fur shining in the moonlight. Large eyes shining silver. A physique much larger than a person.
“Rabbit.”
Marin, taking off the deeply pressed robe hood, called BaniBani happily.
BaniBani sniffed and immediately ran to Marin with a thud.
At that dangerous momentum, the hidden Shadow Egg tried to jump out and block Marin, but two people moved faster than that.
“Marin.”
“My lady.”
It was Gerald and Elmis.
At that, Marin's eyes widened.
“Lord Gerald, did you follow me again? Elmis, I told you that you didn't have to come today. Everyone saw it. How kind Rabbit is.”
The Shadow Egg looked at the three people standing together and hid in the dark Shadows faster than it had appeared.
“Again?”
Gerald's eyebrows rose in dissatisfaction.
Elmis glanced at BaniBani warily, then bowed and quietly disappeared from the two.
“I also have the right to spend personal time with Rabbit.”
“Let's just say I came because I wanted to see BaniBani too.”
Gerald crossed his arms and said confidently.
Marin looked up at him with a dumbfounded look. It was also a talent to be able to lie so brazenly.
BaniBani, who had already approached, passed by the two and buried his nose in the bag.
BaniBani, who had come to love roasted meat, prioritized meat over his owner.
Marin, seeing BaniBani burying his face in the bag and eating the meat greedily, sighed deeply.
“Rabbit. No one is going to take it away. Eat slowly.”
As if he understood her words, BaniBani's ears perked up. BaniBani's silver eyes, which had raised his head, flashed sharply and guarded all directions.
It seemed he only understood the part about someone taking it away.
As Marin tried to take the bag off the saddle, Gerald reached out to the bag first.
“I'll do it.”
At that, BaniBani instantly tore the bag strap with sharp teeth and quickly stepped back with the bag in his arms. BaniBani's gaze towards Gerald shone fiercely.
The moment the person who would take the meat was determined.
Gerald's hand, which had missed the bag in an instant, stopped in mid-air.
“I didn't need to do it.”
Gerald, who had suddenly become a competitor with BaniBani over the meat bag, glared at BaniBani with cold eyes.
BaniBani, who had secured the bag, watched Gerald and ran further away with a thud.
Marin, who was suddenly caught in the middle of their war of nerves, pulled Gerald's arm.
“Lord Gerald, please understand. Rabbit likes roasted meat so much.”
Marin comforted him, but she took her Companion Rabbit's side.
Only then did Gerald's gaze return to Marin.
“Marin, I know you cherish that BaniBani, but you can't keep him here.”
“Yes……”
Marin nodded and looked back.
BaniBani, who had shaken out the bag and taken out the meat, was seen happily tearing the meat apart and eating it.
After Gerald woke up from the poison, BaniBani followed him while he was coming to Duke's Castle.
As if he knew he shouldn't follow, he didn't come close, but stayed far away.
So Marin couldn't bring herself to tell BaniBani to go back.
Instead, she headed to the cabin where she used to live.
And she asked Gerald to allow BaniBani to stay here for a while. So that he could leave whenever he wanted since it was near the mountain.
That's how BaniBani settled in the cabin while being watched by the Shadow Egg.
BaniBani's food was provided by the Shadows.
Marin visited BaniBani every few days. Every time she came, she gave BaniBani his favorite roasted meat and read him books.
BaniBani used to prick up his ears and listen when he was a Rabbit, and he liked it the same now as before.
So, was that why he recognized her when she read him a book in the desert?
“There are houses nearby.”
“……Yes. I know.”
Marin nodded with a bitter face.
The cabin was far from the village, but it was also a distance that could be traveled.
He was a lovely Companion Rabbit to her, but a scary Monster to others. BaniBani, who had already become a Monster, could no longer mingle with people.
She knew that she had to send him back to where he originally lived, but when BaniBani stared straight at her, she couldn't bring herself to say go back.
Even now, her heart aches every time she leaves him alone in the cabin, so how should she tell him to go back?
“I know what you're worried about. But Monsters also have their own groups. Like animals.”
Gerald persuaded in a subdued voice.
“Yes……”
Knowing that Gerald's words were all right, Marin's head fell lower and lower.
“I'll send him when you want, but I hope it's not too late. The Shadows are guarding him, so nothing big will happen.”
Looking at Gerald trying to comfort her, Marin raised the corners of her mouth weakly.
“Thank you.”
Gerald smiled in response, then suddenly raised the corners of his lips crookedly.
Following his gaze and turning around, BaniBani, who had finished eating, was looking at Gerald with his arms crossed and a dissatisfied look.
Is it the second round of the staring contest?
Marin took out the book she had put in the saddle while looking at Gerald's expression.
“Rabbit, your sister will read you a book. Let's go to the cabin.”
“But why have you been calling yourself sister since before?”
Gerald's displeased voice followed from behind.
“Our Rabbit is female.”
For a moment, Gerald scanned BaniBani's body with a shocked face. He had naturally thought he was male.
BaniBani snorted and ran into the cabin with a thud.
Marin glanced at Gerald, who was still unable to recover from the shock.
“Aren't you coming together?”
“Female, you say……”
Marin, tilting her head at Gerald, who was still unable to recover from the shock, headed to the cabin first.
“Kay, did you know BaniBani was female?”
Kay's voice was heard in the air.
“I didn't know either.”
“That's a relief. So it wasn't just me who was mistaken.”
As Marin's beautiful voice flowed from inside the cabin, Gerald calmed down and quickly went inside.
