I really couldn't even take it out. Kyle stood at the door, looking at me and Sen alternately.
"Just now, Shu, you…"
"…"
Sen looked around in a panic. "Cashews! I said cashew nuts. Cashew nuts are playing tricks and they're cute!"
Kyle's red eyes captured me again. I sat in Sen's palm with walnut ointment on my arms.
"When you become a hamster, I heard you say."
"…"
"Where's Shu?" Kyle asked again.
There was nothing to talk about. It was ambiguous to say that he had gone out in this mess, and I couldn't worry him that he would escape this situation by lying. Sen's gaze made him feel resigned. It seemed that he was asking me if I should be honest.
Okay. After all, since Sen found out, it would only be a matter of time before Kyle found out. It could have happened at any time…
I shook my head slowly at Sen.
―Gee. (That's it.)
I had to explain. As it was an important job, I didn't want to borrow someone else's mouth. Fortunately, Sen was quick-witted. She said to me carefully, "I'll rent you a room. Talk to Your Highness."
―…
"…Sorry."
Kyle raised his eyebrows, furrowed, and Sen apologized with a shy look. Without a doubt, this hamster is Shu, he proved.
"I'm going to take you."
Kyle strode up to me. For the first time, I thought his shadowed face was scary.
I grabbed Kyle by the back of the hand and came to his bedroom. No matter how suspicious it was, a person… No, where was the idea of carrying your pet demon like this? Whenever I was carrying gold or jade, I was treated like a transformation show.
―Picture. (Whew.)
I sighed and looked up at Kyle. It was not that they didn't believe it, but that they didn't want to believe it. You didn't want to suspect me of being a wizard. I understood, but I couldn't help but feel sad. I was going to be honest with him someday, but that wasn't the case now. It was the worst way to keep a secret. This was not a good time for Kyle. Now that you realized that the mage you met on the way was showing a strange trend in the direction of the Tower of Frost, you would have no choice but to react more sensitively. By now, he must have a lot of thoughts. I didn't think I had deceived myself, and I wondered why I approached him.
How should I explain this?
I felt like the summer vacation ended abruptly, and all I had left was homework. To be honest, I was a little depressed. I thought for a moment, then Kyle put me down on the bed and spoke with a confused face.
"…Not. It shouldn't be. That doesn't make sense, cashew nuts."
I couldn't give any answers. It wasn't because I looked like a hamster now, but if I had been a human, I wouldn't have been able to say anything if I had seen his face and voice in front of me. No, maybe I said no unintentionally.
"…I believe in you, Shu."
He sat down in front of me and said, his voice more serious and cautious than ever. "You didn't approach me with the intention of harming me. Blake and I have received your help many times."
Kyle's eyes warmed up suddenly. The smile on his face, like someone who has recalled a pleasant memory, made me feel a little relieved.
"Yes. So it would be in order to listen to your situation. There must have been a good reason for keeping it a secret."
―…
"So please don't disappear like this, but tell me."
He folded his hands in front of me, as if he was praying. I stared at him for a moment, and then I attached my small body to him. He said he wouldn't run away, and that he would explain everything to him now.
Time passed. I pointed my finger at the clock and shook my head, and he understood what he meant. Kyle understood that it would take time to become human again, so he summoned the Knights to investigate the outside world.
"Belial is protecting Sen. Hwangseong is still in a state of emergency overall. Unless you have to do it, it's best not to go outside. When I can't accompany you, move with the Knights of Blake."
―Taken. (Yes.)
"The sin was overturned by Baron Chestil, who was officiating."
There was no sympathy on Kyle's face when he told him that the Baron had been sent to the dungeon and had died suddenly vomiting blood. Instead, his eyes were colder than usual, and he seemed to believe that the mages were behind the mysterious death.
―Stew. (Can I not go out?)
Of course, he couldn't understand me, so I motioned to the doorman.
"It's okay. It's more about you now."
That said, but now that you've found clues about the wizards, you might want to find out for yourself. He chose to send the knights instead of me and stay by my side until morning. Kyle and I were at the same eye level as Kyle sat on the floor with his sword in his arms. Thanks to that, his gaze, overflowing with many emotions, fell on me. I even had a foolish illusion that time had stopped because of that, or that everything in this world had been erased and I was left behind.
―Tzuhaaam.
"There's still time before the sun rises, so keep your eyes closed."
So, without hesitation. Unable to overcome the fatigue, a firm hand approached and supported his dozing head. I could hear my heart pounding under my warm skin, so I went to sleep soundly.
As soon as it was six o'clock, I used 'import'. Kyle leaned loosely and looked at me, and then jumped to his feet as my little body was engulfed in light.
"…"
I'm sorry, but I couldn't just 'recall' it on the spot. Even though Kyle had saved her from being naked thanks to the clothes she knitted for her, she still didn't have the confidence to show up with just a strawberry-patterned sweater on her back. I took refuge behind the partition I had seen beforehand and hesitantly spoke to Kyle.
"Hey. I'm sorry, but could you lend me some clothes…"
But instead of answering, his arm suddenly stretched out. He grabbed my wrist and jerked it away. It happened in an instant. As I leaned forward, he comfortably supported my waist and embraced my body.
"…Shu."
As soon as the cashews disappeared, they were surprised that I had appeared, and how I dressed… He seemed surprised again.
"…I want some clothes."
He looked at me blankly and came to his senses belatedly.
"Then, the pervert who appeared at the top of the castanets…"
"I don't have anything to wear! Are you a pervert again? I'm going crazy!"
I exclaimed, and Kyle's eyebrows twitched. And, within a while.
"Fuhoot."
"…"
Laugh? Are you laughing now?
"Ha, haha. Ahaha."
"…Funny? Do you laugh at this? Do you think you'll laugh at your hamster in a sweater?"
When I was upset, Kyle began to laugh out loud in earnest.
"Haha, put, ahaha, sorry, sorry. But that's it… Haha, that's really…"
"Wow, you even laugh at people like this."
"Ahaha."
Still, I've never seen him laugh so loudly. His face, which had been soaked in sorrow the whole time, became brighter, and he became even more bruised.
"A ridiculous situation has happened right in front of you."
I reached out and gently caressed the diagonal wound on his forehead. I didn't apply medicine properly, so I could barely sit on the scab, and it was probably caused by a small knife.
"What's so serious that you just let the wound go? What if it gets worse?"
I tried to persuade him not to ruin his handsome face, but he stopped. I let out a deep sigh, and Kyle's lips curled slightly to see if he had held back his laughter.
"I told you last time, but I'm not a wizard. It's true that he's on His Highness's side. It's just a bit complicated to explain… I was unlucky and became a demon."
"…"
Suddenly, Kyle reached out and squeezed my cheeks. Then he stared at it. My face was full of red eyes. He didn't say anything. He just looked at me with a relentless and clear gaze, and looked at me again, and again. I felt like I couldn't look any further than this.
"Yes."
After a long silence, he replied. It was a low, warm voice.
"I believe in you."
"…"
"That you are my ally, that we are bound together by a community of destiny, that you have miraculously come to me, all."
I replied, caressing Kyle's wound with a careful hand. "I was going to tell you. However, it was so absurd that I didn't know if His Highness would believe me. It would be more accurate to say that I don't have the confidence to convince them. I thought it would be suspicious. Even though I know I can't fool them forever… I don't know how to explain it."
"Sen knew."
"It's only been a few days since I got caught. I got caught at a tea party. It's a bit long, so to speak."
"Tell me everything. I can hear it."
"I'm not good at talking, so I can speak gibberish."
"It doesn't matter."
Kyle hesitated, then bowed his head slightly. Kong, with a small ringing sound, his forehead touched mine.
"It doesn't matter, really."
It was Kyle's sincerity that he had taken the hard part.
"It doesn't matter what you were or where you came from."
"…"
"Just stay by your side. Don't disappear."
So I had no choice but to answer his heart as if I was possessed.
"Where would I be if I am not by Your Highness's side?"
"…"
"He's your companion."
Kyle laughed out loud. He seemed genuinely happy, and I felt that little happiness fly like a butterfly and sink into my heart.