IBTVGFTWML | Chapter 19

Thunk

“What is this? You’re famous, but you’re nothing special.”

The chimpanzee kept chuckling, poking my forehead repeatedly. Annoyed, I grabbed its finger and twisted it without hesitation.

“Argh!”

The chimpanzee screamed, clutching its finger in pain. Anger flashed clearly in its eyes, and it looked ready to attack me with magic at any moment.

I grabbed a shovel leaning against a nearby wall.

The chimpanzee muttered something under its breath and flicked its fingers into the air.

“…Huh?”

But nothing happened.

‘As if magic would work here.’

This is why the leader of the wolf territory is no joke. In the Louvre family estate, only those who share the bloodline of the Louvre family can use magic.

No matter how skilled other beastfolk are in magic, it is entirely useless here.

Perhaps the Tower Master would be an exception, but such matters were outside my curiosity.

In any case, very few beastfolk would dare use magic in the Louvre estate, and since the family kept the estate’s secret tightly guarded, not many even knew about it.

Of course, I knew because I’d read the original story.

“So, is it my turn now?”

Crrreak—

“Ahh!”

Dragging the shovel behind me, I stepped closer. The chimpanzee, panicking, began chanting another spell, but again, it failed. Startled, it stumbled backward, letting out a shriek as it fell.

“Is that how you behave when meeting someone for the first time?”

Thud!

“Before flaunting that you’re a carnivorous beastfolk and a magician—”

Thud!

“Learn some manners.”

With a smirk, I looked down at the chimpanzee, who was clutching its head in agony. “Oh, and maybe tone down the stupidity. It’s a major obstacle in your life.”

Most magicians aren’t physically strong, and this chimpanzee was no exception. That’s why it was getting thoroughly beaten by me.

There’s no winning against a beastfolk wielding a weapon and losing their temper.

Panting slightly, I slammed the shovel into the ground with a sharp clack and twirled it mockingly.

“Want some more? If you’re upset, feel free to run and tell the family head.”

The chimpanzee, fuming and humiliated, glared at me silently before getting up.

That’s when it happened.

From above, someone burst into laughter.

“So the rumors of the feral sheep were true.”

Looking up, I saw Billy sitting on the window ledge, watching us with a bright smile. His white shirt fluttered in the breeze, and his hair danced like something out of a painting.

“Head of the family!”

The chimpanzee’s expression immediately morphed into one of pure grievance as it cried out to Billy. The fool must have thought Billy, being a carnivorous beastfolk, would naturally side with it.

Such a typical carnivorous superiority complex.

“Hey, you chimpanzee. That was quite the show.”

Billy, his face still brimming with amusement, leapt gracefully from the second-floor window. Landing softly, he strolled over leisurely with one hand in his pocket.

Stopping in front of the chimpanzee, he raised a single finger.

“Aaaagh!”

In an instant, the chimpanzee was flung high into the air.

Billy turned to me with a bright grin, explaining as he saw my startled expression.

“Oh, I just turned the magic he was trying to use on you back on him.”

Ah.

I glanced up at the chimpanzee, now flailing helplessly in midair, my expression completely indifferent.

“What should I do with him?”

Twirling his finger to make the chimpanzee spin in the air, Billy looked at me for an answer.

“Hmm, make sure he never acts high and mighty again.”

Nodding, Billy drew another circle in the air. From the other side of the circle appeared a strikingly handsome man, clearly a wolf beastfolk.

“What’s this?”

The wolf didn’t even flinch at the sudden portal, casually asking what was going on.

“Granting a wish,” Billy replied.

As he snapped his fingers, the chimpanzee’s body dropped like a stone, stopping just inches from the ground.

Seeing this, the wolf beastfolk turned and smirked knowingly.

“Seems someone wants a taste of their own medicine.”

“As you wish,” the wolf replied.

Billy flicked his finger, sending the chimpanzee flying through the portal toward the wolf.

“Ma-Ma—”

The chimpanzee tried to shout something, but Billy swiftly closed the portal, cutting it off.

“How long are you planning to hold onto that shovel?”

Billy, now facing me, gestured toward the shovel still clutched in my hand.

Only then did I realize how tightly I’d been gripping it. Loosening my grip, I put the shovel back in its place.

Afterward, rumors spread through the estate about me: the ferocious sheep who even beat a magician with a shovel.

 

***

 

Under the crisp autumn sky.

Enjoying tea time leisurely in the garden with Ed, I glanced at the affection bar and grinned.

 

[Affection Level: 26%]

 

Oh, how hopeless I had felt during my previous conversation with Ed because of those random choices that kept popping up. Every time I tried to speak gently, a curt response would come out instead, making it hard for me.

I had pressed the choices with tears in my eyes, fully expecting the affection level to drop, but to my surprise, it had risen to a solid 26%.

Seeing it increase by 3% was a shock, given that it usually only went up or down by 1-2% at a time.

Could it be that the line, “Don’t expect any favors,” raised the affection level? Probably not. Maybe it was something I had said earlier that caught Ed’s interest?

I was dying to figure out the clear criteria for raising his affection level. If I knew, I was confident I could skyrocket it in no time.

For now, I resolved to be the best adult I could be for Ed and watched him fondly. Lately, he’d been smiling a lot more.

Ed was eating a cake made with strawberries brought in from the sheep territory, his face radiating happiness.

“Lady Remi, today’s finally the day!”

Ed exclaimed brightly, his face full of excitement.

‘Is a private tutor really something to be this excited about?’

I was about to respond with a warm smile, but once again, I was interrupted.

 

[1. What’s so great about attending class?

2. Finally, it’s time to fill that empty head of yours with something.
3. Well, the private tutor will now determine if you’re dumb or actually have potential.]

 

Ed sat across from me, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, his legs swinging with excitement. The tea in our cups swayed back and forth as his trembling legs met my now much calmer ones.

I stirred my tea with a spoon unnecessarily and picked the least offensive option, number 1.

“What’s so great about attending class?”

My tone was sarcastic. It was enough to hurt someone’s feelings, but Ed had grown used to me by now and brushed it off with ease, nodding enthusiastically.

“I used to envy kids who could read books,”

He told me that back when he wandered the streets doing all sorts of odd jobs, his only joy was secretly listening to children who could read out loud.

Hearing this made my eyes sting, and they welled up with tears.

‘I never knew Ed was illiterate.’

There hadn’t been any moments in the Morton family where Ed needed to read, and since I wasn’t much of a book person either, it had never crossed my mind.

Without knowing, I had pushed the poor boy to read books. It must have been quite distressing for him.

‘But he’s still young. He can learn now.’

Ed was a smart kid, and he’d pick it up quickly. Just look at how thrilled he was about starting lessons—he was bound to take them seriously.

I pressed my slightly warm eyes with my cold hands and tilted my head back to look up at the sky.

“Wah!”

And I nearly fell backward.

Billy’s face was suddenly right in front of mine. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest.

He caught my chair with one hand, pushing it back upright, then touched his cheek with a puzzled expression.

“Do I have a scary face?”

I couldn’t answer and just sipped my tea instead.

 

***

 

Soon, Ed’s private tutor arrived at the estate.

The tutor, a wolf beastfolk named Karen Sharp, stood at the door of the lecture room where the lessons would take place. Her hair was neatly tied back, and she wore a simple, unadorned dress.

“Phew.”

She had heard that the child she was about to teach knew almost nothing compared to other noble children.

The difficult road ahead was vividly clear, but Karen was a skilled and proud tutor highly sought after by noble families in the wolf territory.

With professionalism suppressing her worries, she stepped into the lecture room.

“Hello, young master. I’m Karen Sharp, and I’ll be in charge of your lessons from now on.”

“Hello!”

It was a promising start.

Most children hated lessons, but this boy’s eyes were burning with a passion for learning.

Before starting the lessons, Karen asked the question she always posed to her students.

“Master Ed, do you have a dream or something you want to become in the future?”

Ed rested his chin on his fists, deep in thought. Finally, he raised his head.

Karen eagerly awaited what this enthusiastic child might say.

“Um… a sheep?”

“…Pardon?”

“I want to become a sheep!”

Had she misheard?

Confused, Karen stared at Ed, who was smiling brightly as if nothing was wrong.

The innocent grin, complete with a tooth just starting to grow in, only deepened her bewilderment.

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