Chapter 53 [All I need is me](3)
But just in case, Dante decides to read other books about lightning.
Choose about 5 to 6 books with a thunderbolt in the title, open only the introduction, and compare them in a row.
For some reason, whenever he took out the book, he felt a stinging glance from Nagi, but he dismissed it as a whim and started reading quickly.
‘Rain tigers are ferocious and arrogant by birth, and especially hate humans──’
‘Never forgives those who touch them, chasing them to the ends of the continent and tearing them apart with their sharp fangs──’
‘I enjoy eating fresh prey in a living state, and after paralyzing the prey with lightning, I have a habit of eating it as it is without stopping breathing──’
‘Unlike ordinary tigers, female thunderbolts are larger than males, so when mating, the female bites the male’s neck to prove her strength──’
‘Sometimes you can see an individual that is friendly to humans or other creatures, but it is an advanced strategy to reduce the prey’s vigilance and make it easy to eat without effort—-‘
….High strategy?
Stand tall.
Dante stopped moving.
…Now, wait, wait.
I think there was an important sentence that shouldn’t be overlooked just now…?
Putting it on the floor wasn’t enough, so Dante picked up the Asari book and once again read the introduction to the last volume.
Among them, only important keywords quickly.
‘Friendly entities’
‘Reduce the vigilance of prey’
‘For easy prey’
‘Advanced strategy’
Dante’s mouth fell open.
“……. Huh?”
A stupid sound leaking out of my mouth without my knowledge.
After a while he realized that his eyesight wasn’t wrong, and let out a silent clamor.
Uhhhhh!!!??
The weak-tempered demon boy’s pupils began to shake rapidly.
◇
Dante hid his trembling hands under his cloak.
Chi, stay calm, stay calm for now.
You can’t entirely believe what’s written here is true!
Because any book needs a critical perspective!?
However, even with these words, Dante could unconsciously feel that the balance in his heart regarding the contents of the book was gradually leaning toward the ‘truth’.
That’s also true, because if you look at Nagi’s history so far, you can see that he was very friendly to me, even if it was the first meeting.
Not for any reason.
Just because I wrapped a handkerchief around it, the thunderbolt rode me directly on my back and took me to the Nibelest Empire, accompanied me out of danger, and told me to wait, so I really waited until the sun rose,
After coming back to the Lesta Empire, he kept following me around, and even when I went to see a familiar horse contest, he told me that the trophy was pretty, so he went ahead and picked it up himself.
Isn’t it too much to call it just an ordinary favor?
So once I directly asked him why he was doing it that way, and the answer that came back was somehow vague and unclear.
‘…..I also…Don’t know…’
‘It’s just… From the first time I saw it…’
‘I thought I wanted to be by your side.’
At that time, the situation was so urgent that I passed it on without thinking, but if the contents of that book are true, it becomes a serious situation.
Looking back at her, it’s been a while since I’ve met her, and I easily judged that she was someone she could trust, and her wariness towards her was completely relaxed.
Since when did I trust others so much?
To the subject who has lived his life confidently that there is no favor without a price.
If all of this was intentional, if it was part of a plan to resolve my doubts, I would say it was a perfectly perfect strategy.
Also, her unique relaxed and languid look and tone played a part in disarming her.
Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with being suspicious, so let’s be careful from now on.
It’s the worst assumption, but you never know when it will change and try to eat me.
Let’s not forget.
She is a beast, and I am a prey.
I know I can die with just one kick from her.
…..Of course, the best case is that the contents of this book are lies…
“Hmm…”
It was then.
Took.
“[Are you…Are you okay…?]”
“…Huh?! Uh, uh uh…”
It was none other than warmth that brought Dante, who was in deep thought, back to reality.
Nagi, who had transformed into a cat before he knew it, was pressing his cheek with his front paws.
“[I called…But he didn’t answer… His complexion…He was pale…]”
“Oh, did you? I’m sorry… I was thinking about something else for a while.”
Naturally, don’t tremble, naturally.
Dante smiled bitterly and unconsciously reached out to Nagi before stopping.
“[……?]”
Thinking that what was hiding behind her cute exterior was a beast that paralyzed her prey and enjoyed eating it alive, that’s why I was afraid of her for no reason.
No, no prejudice.
“[…..Don’t… Touch…?]”
That’s strange… Nagi tilted his head once and rubbed his soft cheek against Dante’s hand, who stopped in the air.
“[Gureung…Gureureung…]”
Nagi rubs his face, not caring that his cheeks and beard are being squeezed.
It was so fierce that I couldn’t guess what it was thinking, and to put it a little worse, it was a stupid expression, but I could tell that it was in a good mood.
“[What are you afraid of…I’m not sure…]”
“[Whatever it is…I’ll be by your side…]”
“[So… Don’t make that face…]”
“…..!”
A tingling sensation, as if hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
At Nagi’s words repeating her own words, Dante carefully covered her mouth with her hand, feeling that her mind had cleared up.
──What did I do?
You know you have to believe not only in what you can see, but also in what you can’t see, yet you’re tempted by just a few sentences and are trying to give up your belief in me.
I’ve never seen her eat a live animal before.
No, what if there is? That doesn’t mean that Nagi has harmed me.
From noble mtl dot com
From the standpoint of the weak, Jirye is scared.
I almost got into a big misunderstanding.
“…I’m sorry, Nagiya.”
Dante bowed his head.
“[What…Is…?]”
“I thought the reason you’ve done me a favor all this time…Maybe it’s not a build-up…To lower my vigilance and prey on me…”
“[…….Ehh…?]”
“That’s why I tried to touch you and stopped earlier. I was worried that you might change and attack me.”
“[….Why…From…?]”
Dante spread a book in front of Nagi.
“…..That’s why it’s written here.”
Then, Nagi, who had been quietly reading the book, continued with a puzzled expression.
“[…That…Actually…Wrong…No…]”
“Forgive me for being prejudiced and possessed by this biased information…Wait, what?”
What?
“[Incorrect…It’s not information…This…]”
“……Really?!”
─This is your guilt.
What the f*ck, give me back my guilt.
◇
“So, Nagi, are you really trying to eat me…!!?”
“[It can’t be… Stupid…]”
Shaking his head, Nagi said, tucking his front and hind legs under his stomach, taking the so-called bread pose that cats often see.
The chubby and shiny yellow fur was literally the perfect loaf of bread itself.
…..So cute.
“[I told you…If you have any questions…Just ask me…]”
“No matter how much you do, how can you ask something like this right in the face…I’m not such a rare demon. Nagiya.”
Wagged his tail gently, Nagi replied in a languid tone.
“[Anyway…You’re wondering why I’m showing favor…To you…?]”
“Yes.”
She hesitated for a moment, then gently lowered her eyes.
“[……Because it was the first time…]”
As if throwing up, Nagi said.
“[I got help from others…]”
If it’s helpful, is it because you wrapped her handkerchief?
“But anyone can do that much—”
“[Everybody, because there was nobody…To me.]”
What does it mean that no one was there?
What kind of circumstances do you have?
Muttering in a bitter tone, she stared into Dante’s golden eyes.
“[And… The eyes.]”
“…..Snow?”
“[Looking into my eyes… They weren’t afraid…]”
──Only you.
Only you.
A disorganized story whose central content is unknown.
Dante, who was silent for a while, continued her words with a smile on her face.
“…..Something, it seems you have a special situation, right?”
“[Aren’t you… Asking…?]”
“I’m curious, but I’m not the type to carelessly ask about other people’s circumstances. How many people in this world live without any circumstances?”
I myself live by stir-frying with dragons.
Raising her shoulders deftly, Dante dusted her off and stood up.
“If you want to talk later, do it. Even if I can’t help you, I’ll do anything to comfort you.”
As a return for your favor.
Saying that, Dante moved her steps.
It was time for the black dragon to get bored.
“I’m leaving. Nagiya. Thank you for hanging out?”
“[…Yes…]”
I’m sorry I did something today. Next time I should bring you at least a piece of meat as an apology.
◇
─So somehow it was Dante who came safely (?) To the center table where Olivia was.
“Lord, please…! Please help me just this once…!”
“No, go back. I have no intention of changing. I didn’t raise you to be so weak.”
“Oh really, just once…! If you release the polymorph just once, it’s just the end of the situation…!?”
What filled his vision was the sight of an unknown black-haired woman kneeling at Olivia’s feet, praying fervently, with her face full of tears.
What kind of situation is this?