“…How, no, I understand for now.”
Carol was afraid of how the two would react after learning she was a beastman.
But that was a concern for after they survived.
Fortunately, thanks to the lantern, the basement interior was clearly visible.
“There’s a sewer hole over there.”
At Bianca’s words, Carol didn’t hesitate.
Thud.
The sound of clothes and ropes falling was heard.
“Teacher Carol?”
Bianca blinked, unable to grasp the situation. Someone who was human until just now was now a bird.
“What’s wrong with Teacher Carol?”
Benjamin asked anxiously, hearing Bianca’s confused voice.
Carol quickly flew and perched on Bianca’s shoulder. Bianca still looked dazed, as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Please explain it well to Benjamin.”
“Y-Yes.”
“As a human, I can’t reach, and in this state, I can’t put out the fire no matter how much I blow.”
Carol made a cold judgment. She thought about untying the ropes, but there wasn’t enough time.
“I’ll go call for help.”
With those final words, Carol slipped into the sewer hole.
“…Please hurry.”
Bianca’s clear words were heard from behind.
‘The smell is terrible.’
The sewer hole was too narrow to come out from inside. Carol endured the stench and moved forward quickly.
“Ugh.”
While walking, something sharp caught her foot. Carol jumped in surprise. It was a mousetrap. She avoided it safely, but if she hadn’t and it had caught her leg…
The mere thought brought tears to her eyes.
Still, Carol didn’t slow her pace.
Though she didn’t know the way, she was sure an exit would appear if she kept walking, so Carol walked diligently.
‘I hope I’m not too late.’
The two people waiting for her in the basement flashed before her eyes.
****
The Duke found the townhouse closest to the man’s house. Finding even the time to ride a carriage too precious, he rode a horse.
Neigh!
As if expressing the Duke’s feelings, the horse galloped fiercely, cutting through the wind. The sky was overcast as if rain would fall, and an ominous wind blew.
Bang! Bang!
At the rough knocking, the servants came running out. They all came out with rough expressions but hesitated at the Duke’s fierce aura.
“I’m from the Winternox Duchy. Is the master here?”
“The Duchy? Why from the Duchy…!”
The man was wealthy but without a title. The servants expressed their confusion, but now was not the time to consider their circumstances.
“Answer me first. If you answer falsely, the Duchy will personally hold you accountable, so it’s best to answer properly.”
Although he knew the answer as soon as he saw the servants’ initial confused expressions, the Duke asked once more.
The servants trembled at the Duke’s menacing tone.
He had hoped to find Carol in one go, but reality was not so accommodating.
“The master hasn’t been here for quite a while.”
At the servants’ answer, the Duke’s expression contorted mercilessly.
“Damn it.”
The Duke irritably ran his hand through his hair.
“Shall we go straight to the port?”
The only knight accompanying the Duke asked about their next move.
Where could she be?
Instead of answering immediately, the Duke paused.
It was highly likely to be an impulsive act. The timing couldn’t have been planned.
Along with regret that he shouldn’t have let her go then, anger welled up.
The anger towards himself was the greatest. She was someone he was even careful about holding hands with.
“Even if they’re women, if he moved two people alone, surely someone must have seen.”
When they first went to the man’s house, they probably didn’t search the inside properly. And now he was newly suspicious of the servant from the laundry room who secretly told them about blood stains.
“…No. Let’s go back to the original house.”
Since they knew the man’s face and the name of the ship he was boarding, he wouldn’t be needed.
The Duke quickly mounted his horse again.
The house on the hill was particularly windy. A streak of lightning struck from the ominously writhing clouds.
Boom.
Soon after, the sound of thunder was heard. A humid wind brushed against his face.
A servant outside was the first to spot the Duke approaching menacingly. A nobility that couldn’t be hidden even by his ominous aura was felt.
“I believe the master has no appointments today. Perhaps later…!”
Although he couldn’t tell which family the Duke was from since he didn’t arrive by carriage, the servant naturally greeted him respectfully.
“Step aside while I’m asking nicely.”
The knight drew his sword.
Shing-!
Feeling the real intent to cut him down, the servant had no choice but to step back.
“What on earth is the reason for this?”
The servant asked, following behind, but the Duke didn’t answer.
As it was the main mansion, the house was quite large.
“Keep searching inside.”
“Yes.”
After instructing the knight, the Duke went outside. He intended to examine the structure of the house. There might be things not visible from inside.
Plop. Heavy raindrops began to fall.
The rain, which had been falling in drops, suddenly poured down heavily.
Whoosh-!
The Duke, drenched in rain, wandered around the house and broke a window.
The servants inside screamed, but the Duke, paying no heed, spoke loudly,
“I’m looking for the women the owner of this house brought.”
Even if there were no accomplices, there would be bystanders. Among the many servants, at least one should know Carol’s whereabouts.
But no one dared to step forward.
“Not here either?”
The Duke muttered with a grim expression.
It was then.
“Chirp!”
A small bird soared high. Normally, small birds didn’t fly when it rained heavily. Even from a distance, the Duke instinctively knew. Every sense told him that this bird was Carol.
The Duke reached up.
“Teacher!”
Was it because of the rain that she couldn’t hear? The Duke called her name.
“Carol!”
The bird, as if understanding its name, swiftly descended and landed on the Duke’s palm.
In an instant, raindrops pooled in his palm.
“Your leg is injured.”
The Duke first checked her condition.
“…There are people in the basement.”
Instead of answering, Carol spoke urgently.
“I see.”
The Duke immediately went back inside at Carol’s words.
“They’re in the basement!”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
At the Duke’s shout, the knight who was near the stairs went ahead.
After that, everything happened quickly. The Duke moved with Carol inside his pocket. Her leg injury seemed worse than expected, as Carol briefly lost consciousness.
When she came to, the rain had already stopped.
“Your Grace.”
“You’ve regained consciousness.”
“Are the two of them safe?”
“Yes. There was almost a fire, but it was quickly extinguished.”
“And the culprit…?”
“People went to the port as well, so he should have been caught.”
“…It’s such a relief the fire didn’t spread immediately.”
She had been so worried about being too late, but hearing that both were safe almost brought tears to her eyes.
“They moved the straw right under the lantern with their mouths, which slowed down the spread of the fire.”
At the Duke’s additional explanation, Carol couldn’t help but smile through her tears of relief at their safe rescue. She could easily imagine how Bianca must have moved.
“That’s a relief.”
Thinking that everything was resolved now, she felt at ease.
And then, she suddenly remembered things she had forgotten.
Like the fact that she was calmly conversing with the Duke while in the form of a sparrow.
Clearly, as soon as she flew out of the sewer, the Duke recognized her first and called out to her.
‘I should ask the Duke how he recognized me…’
But she had no strength left to speak further.
“I’m just going to… sleep a little.”
“Teacher?”
“Please don’t… tell my siblings.”
“Alright.”
All strength left her body. She wanted to respond to the Duke’s call, but her beak wouldn’t open.
The Duke put his hand in his pocket and touched her beak.
Only after confirming her even breathing could the Duke feel relieved.
“So small.”
The bird that had saved him twice was this small.
It was the third time encountering Carol as a bird, but the first time seeing her directly.
Despite being so small, her heart was as brave as a lion’s.
“Sleep well.”
The Duke whispered in a gentle voice.
Then, the Duke raised his head with a coldly set face.
Although she was safely recovered, his anger was still unresolved.
He intended to make those who dared covet what belonged to the Duke regret it deeply.
YASS KILL HIM SLOWLY