CHGD 12🎉

Chapter 12

A sensation of being wrapped in cloth and falling into the deep sea—comfortable yet horrific, warm yet cold—ran along my nerves and churned through my mind.

His breath crushed my brain like a spoon mashing pudding. It pierced my skin and burrowed into my blood vessels. My legs stiffened as if trapped in a falling dream, and my eyes, which had been gazing at the green grass, were stained with endless darkness.

The black sea behind me was slowly eroding my body.

Deprived of control, my body and reason were helplessly losing form.

“Ah…….”

“Deliana.”

“Wai, wait…….”

“Deliana.”

All my efforts to preserve my life crumbled futilely.

With just one embrace, a moment of carelessness, Deliana’s end drew near.

I was going to sink into the darkness like this.

Just as I closed my eyes, preparing for death—

“Idiot, grab it!”

A large branch flew into my vision.

As the branch, emanating an unidentified red energy, approached my head, my mind cleared as if splashed with cold water.

“Hurry!”

Reflexively, I reached for the branch. The restraint had loosened somewhat, and my arm rose easily.

The moment I grabbed the branch, the black energy that had been holding my entire body was pushed away.

Instinctively knowing this was a lifeline, I somehow moved my arm and clung to the branch.

“Ugh……!”

The branch, which had transformed into a large hand, grabbed my waist and pulled forcefully.

Unlike when I’d been held, my body slipped out easily.

Dragged along helplessly, I finally realized who had extended the branch.

“Roaz!”

It was Roaz, the boy with a face full of annoyance.

Looking closely, the roots of the branch were connected to his palm. The tree seemed to have grown from his body.

Exhausted, I staggered and lifted my head.

“You came to help me?”

At my words, he clicked his tongue and helped me up.

“Yeah! Do you know how hard it is to reveal my true form without being detected?”

“……Thank you.”

Honestly, I hadn’t expected Roaz to come back. Sensing my thoughts, Roaz snorted.

“You humans wouldn’t know, but we don’t break contracts. Anyway, hurry up and walk. We need to escape.”

“Ah, right.”

I looked back. The Count had already returned to human form. As I gazed at his face, sleeping unaware of the world, Roaz urged me.

“Let’s go. Even looking like that, he could wake up again at any moment.”

“……Was holding me just sleep-talking?”

“I don’t know. Ask him directly later.”

As if that would be possible.

I shook my head, brushing away the thought, and followed Roaz.

To rest my body, I needed to return to my bedroom.

“Hey, you.”

Roaz, walking ahead while holding my arm, muttered. And he looked at me with a gaze that was somehow unsettled, as if seeing something unfathomable.

“How long are you going to keep smiling?”

“……Pardon?”

“You, did you enjoy almost being eaten by that guy?”

……As if.

I raised my hand and touched the corner of my mouth. Contrary to my thoughts, the corners of my lips were slightly raised.

Flustered, not knowing why I was smiling or what this feeling was, Roaz sighed and said.

“……You’re not normal either.”

I couldn’t answer.

That day, I forgot to eat and just lay in bed.

The experience of being trapped in pitch-black darkness wouldn’t leave my mind. If I didn’t sleep, I felt I’d go mad from the surging frenzy.

Fortunately, the fear didn’t contaminate my dreams. I fell asleep as if escaping.

……And when I woke, it was already morning.

Opening my eyes in the quiet bedroom, I blankly stared at the ceiling.

‘I almost died.’

Yesterday, I’d felt like I’d ridden a dangerous amusement ride several times and was completely drained. But after sleeping, the fear had vanished, leaving a strange sense of refreshment.

And as my mood lifted, hunger set in.

‘……I should have breakfast.’

Patting my stomach, I got out of bed, finished washing, and stood before the wardrobe. And after opening it, my eyes widened at the unexpected sight.

Instead of clothes, there was a tree inside the wardrobe.

[What, is it morning?]

“Roaz?”

The voice from the tree was Roaz’s.

“Is that your true form, Roaz?”

I’d thought he wasn’t human, but I never expected a tree. At my flustered voice, Roaz snickered.

[As if. I’m much larger and greater. Not some bonsai level. This is just camouflage for recovery.]

“Recovery? Were you hurt?”

[Not hurt, I’m just resting my mind. Using my power to help you took quite a toll.]

He added that he’d transformed like this due to the aftereffects of revealing his power while maintaining stealth.

A talking tree was a novel experience. I examined the tree rooted in the wardrobe closely.

It looked ordinary, but upon closer inspection, there was a small jewel-like object embedded near the base. Instinctively, I realized that was Roaz’s heart.

“But won’t you be discovered like this? This wardrobe seems to get its clothes replaced daily from the dress room.”

All the furnishings in my bedroom were managed without my knowledge. I was curious when they came in, but since unrealistic things in this castle were too numerous to count, I decided to ignore it.

[It’s fine. If others see it, they’ll just see an ordinary wardrobe. ……More importantly, are you going to be okay? If I’m here, you won’t have an escort.]

“……Ah.”

In my fascination with Roaz, I’d forgotten the most important thing.

Roaz was my only ally in this castle, and if he couldn’t go out, that meant I was exposed to danger.

[Besides, Haster doesn’t know about the other being.]

“That’s right. The Count has concluded the culprit is Roaz.”

The Count would only be preparing for Roaz. He hadn’t noticed the existence of a third party known only to us.

As Roaz had often said, the third party might exploit that gap to target me.

But I couldn’t tell the Count about this either. That would be admitting I’d formed an alliance with Roaz.

In other words, even the places I usually frequented couldn’t guarantee complete safety.

‘And now I’m supposed to be alone—how boring.’

Even in this quiet castle, Roaz had been a decent source of entertainment. Even his sarcastic tone had become endearing.

[You’re thinking something rude right now, aren’t you?]

“No, I’m not.”

[……Be careful. You’re expressionless, but your thoughts are written all over your face.]

I unconsciously covered my mouth.

Just then, the tree wriggled as if sighing.

[So from now on, you’re on your own. I need to rest.]

“How irresponsible…… What if something like yesterday happens again?”

[I don’t know. If Haster doesn’t save you, why don’t you find your own escort?]

“……Myself?”

[Yeah, Haster will listen to you anyway.]

Just as I was about to ask how I was supposed to do that, a thought crossed my mind.

Finding an escort myself…… It didn’t seem impossible.

“Roaz, I have a question.”

I asked Roaz a few questions needed for my plan. After he answered that much was possible, he said in a disbelieving tone.

[You’re not planning to use that plan on those beings, are you?]

“I am.”

Roaz snorted in disbelief.

[Well, I’d call it bold for a joke. Foolish though.]

“……What did you say?”

At the unexpected mockery, my voice unintentionally rose.

I wasn’t bold enough to dismiss the monsters whose very true forms could shatter my mind.

Even if it was a joke to him, for me, it was a matter of survival.

[So you think that kind of joke will work? It might be amusing, but to actually fall for something like that……]

“But Roaz, you did.”

[That’s…….]

Roaz fell silent, at a loss for words.

It might be a mere game to them, but for me, every step was a gamble with my life.

And seeing that, he called me foolish?