Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: The Black Monster on Father's Shoulder
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Lianus's pupils shook violently at the word "cute," and he wriggled desperately, trying to escape from Noah's arms.
"Isn't he cute?"
Nihil asked again, as if confirming, while watching the squirming Lianus. Noah looked down at him and unconsciously tightened his arms, nodding. Blasphemous as it might be, those wide-open eyes staring up at him were undeniably adorable.
The 2nd Prince was so small and round—it was hard to believe he was the same age as the 1st Prince. Everyone behind his back mocked him as the Swamp Prince or that freakish odd-eyed kid, but his curly dark green hair was incredibly soft and fluffy, and his golden and green eyes were so clear and innocent that even staring right into them felt effortless. That straightforward gaze, untainted by any ulterior motive, was truly delightful.
Just looking at him seemed to lift one's spirits...
How could someone so small and cute have boldly charged at Aiden like that? Maybe he was brave and kind enough to fight for a friend—that might be why he befriended this fairy-like child.
'Mother told me to make a good impression on the 1st Prince...'
Noah smiled, but he preferred the cute and innocent 2nd Prince over the somehow intimidating 1st Prince.
But Noah was the only one who didn't find Lianus's gaze burdensome. Feeling a bit overwhelmed by Noah's unwavering stare, Lianus twisted his body to wriggle free from his embrace.
Nihil softly called out to the wriggling giant chick.
"Rian."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Take care of that kid."
"......"
Lianus froze at the request, then stared at Noah. Sensing there must be some story behind it, he hugged him tightly. His best friend could never ignore a troubled child.
The arms holding him were growing tighter, making it a little suffocating, but thinking of it as Poofu helped him endure.
"Nil, what about you?"
"I'm going to slay the monster. It's dangerous, so both of you stay under the blanket."
"Y-You know about that monster?!"
Startled by those words, Noah tried to jump up but couldn't overcome Lianus's weight and plopped back down. The yellow blanket fluttered lightly with him before settling again.
"C-Can you see it too?"
"I can."
Not yet, though.
Morris's mana was stable, so the monster Noah saw wasn't ordinary black magic or a curse.
Nihil checked for gaps in the blanket and tucked it more securely before continuing.
"Don't make eye contact with the monster—it might hurt you. Stay here. I'll take care of it."
"R-Really? Can you do it?"
"There's nothing I can't do. Right, Rian?"
"Yeah!"
Lianus nodded eagerly, oblivious to the details. His best friend truly could do anything!
Nihil found the kitten nodding without a clue adorable and patted his head over the blanket. Then he beckoned Morris closer.
King Sedes, huddled in the corner with him, approached out of curiosity and sat on the opposite sofa. Using a magic tool to hide in plain sight showed his determination not to be chased off again.
Nihil continued, noting even the shadow knights were concealed.
"Noah, can you describe the monster in detail?"
Noah explained meticulously, half hopeful, half fearful.
That pitch-black "thing" had been there from the start. It began as just a head but grew larger, with more eyes appearing—now there were tons of them.
"Does it make any noise?"
"N-Not really... I think it's because it doesn't have a mouth yet."
"A mouth?"
"Yeah. But now there's a long line drawn right in the middle of its body—it looks like it's going to become a mouth. Or maybe not... I don't really know. But I have a bad feeling it'll be a huge problem if it opens."
"I see. Better get rid of it quick."
Nihil replied casually as he checked Morris's pulse. Morris, bewildered by the situation, kept glancing between Nihil and the slightly twitching round blanket pile.
The yellow blanket pile spoke up next.
"Holy water doesn't work. I tried it."
"Holy water?"
"Yeah, I threw a glass bottle of it, but it didn't disappear."
Morris's eyes widened as he rubbed the scar on his forehead—the one from Noah's bottle. He hadn't known it was holy water then. He'd just thought the kid grabbed and threw whatever he hated.
Plus, this was the first he'd heard that he looked like a huge black monster with multiple eyes.
Oblivious that her father was listening from outside, Noah continued.
"Yeah. At first, I thought too little holy water was the issue, so I filled a big bucket and poured it—but that didn't work either."
"Did you try anything else?"
"Y-Yeah! We have a sword at home called 'Saker.' I tried that, but no use."
"...A sword?"
"Yeah."
"...You swung it...?"
"No. It was scary and heavy, so I dropped it from above."
"......"
Morris reflexively rubbed his left trapezius. The unhealed wound was still there. It wasn't deep, but given the location, a bit deeper or angled toward his neck could have been fatal.
The white-haired kid glanced at the wound and replied offhandedly.
"Noah, swords are dangerous, so next time ask an adult to do it."
"Okay."
Morris gaped in disbelief at the exchange. Ask an adult? That was no different from saying it'd cleanly slice his throat next time!
But the kids ignored him and kept questioning.
"Noah, can you tell me exactly where the monster is?"
"......?"
Morris raised a puzzled expression. If the monster his son described was him, why ask for his own position?
"The monster is..."
Noah hesitated, reluctant to say it outright. Morris felt troubled seeing his son hold back.
"The monster is... on Father's shoulder."
"......?!"
Shocked by the unexpected answer, Morris reflexively tried to stand, but Nihil forced him back down. The yellow chick continued.
"No, actually, I'm not sure. It got so big that now... I can't even see Father's face. I tried checking several times, but... I got scared and ran away."
"I see."
"...Has Father... been eaten by the monster?"
Morris felt his breath catch at the trembling voice. It wasn't because the boy hated him. Until now, he'd only resented his son for treating him like a monster without knowing why.
Noah kept talking from under the yellow blanket, determined to share everything he could.
"When it was small, it was on his left arm, then it grew and climbed up."
Nihil ran his hand over Morris's left hand. Not even a common ring. Perhaps it had attached so long ago that the corruption had fully taken hold.
Nihil closed his eyes briefly, then opened them. His black pupils shifted to a eerie purple hue. He saw something black rippling around Morris, but that was it.
"...Hard to see."
Rubbing his eyes under the cloth didn't sharpen the black shape.
"Hard to see? What do you mean?"
The chick asked. Nihil lightly replied, "Monster," prompting the chick to wriggle in alarm.
"Ah, Father is here? Wh-When did he arrive?"
Noah realized his slip—he'd just screamed seeing the monster moments ago. He'd completely forgotten because of the white kid.
"He's sleeping. Don't worry."
"...R-Really?"
"Yeah."
Suddenly turned into a "sleeping" person, Morris reflexively lay back on the sofa to pretend, then remembered the king on the opposite sofa and quickly sat up.
"Wh-What if he wakes up suddenly?"
"It's fine. The monster won't attack you. Royal guard knights are super strong. Right, Rian?"
"Yeah! Sir Evan is really strong!"
Lianus nodded vigorously, making one side of the blanket twitch. Evan unconsciously reached to pet the wriggling yellow chick but pulled back and stood protectively over the blanket pile.
Nihil reverted his eye color and removed the cloth. Morris, facing him, gawked at Nihil's bare face in shock but mercifully stayed silent.
Pondering how to proceed, Nihil rummaged in his sleeve. He found the razor blade he'd barely smuggled past Evan's confiscation.
As he pulled out the small razor, Evan gaped in disbelief before swiftly snatching it.
Evan mouthed silently, his lips moving.
'When did you hide this one?!'
Nihil held out his hand without responding, demanding it back. But Evan stuffed it into his own sleeve, refusing utterly.
"......"
Nihil glared sullenly at Evan, rolled up his forearm sleeve dramatically, and raised his nails threateningly.
As if saying he'd gouge his arm with these blunt nails if the razor wasn't returned, he tensed his fingertips. Evan, eyes blazing, pulled it out again.
'If you need blood, use mine.'
Evan offered his forearm. Nihil eyed the scar-covered arm and Evan's resolute face, nodded in understanding, and took the razor.
Then he sliced his own palm.
"You little...!"
Fooled, Evan cursed involuntarily before clapping a hand over his mouth in shock at his own voice.
"Sir Evan! What happened?"
The blanket twitched.
"N-Nothing, Your Highness. Stay right there."
Evan excused himself hastily and glared at Nihil. He itched to smack that disobedient white head.
Nihil smirked at the fuming Evan, then smeared the pooling blood from his palm over his eyelids. Evan frowned—what the hell?—but Nihil simply closed his eyes and opened them.
"......!"
Evan shuddered and stepped back upon meeting the purple gaze. It was eerily calm, yet spine-chilling, as if it could suck out one's soul.
Nihil turned to Morris. Morris recoiled in surprise, but Nihil stared intently at the "black thing" enveloping him.
"Bigger than I thought."
It covered Morris's upper body entirely and reached the ceiling. Shapeless like half-molded clay, a long line scarred its center as Noah described, and hundreds of eyes of varying sizes rolled independently, staring every which way.
One eye among them remained still.
'That's the core.'
Nihil reached out, but it was too high.
"Puppy."
"...What."
"Give me a lift."
"......Suddenly?"
"Can't reach."
Morris leaned forward first, but it wasn't enough.
Evan glanced at the hidden King Sedes before hesitantly approaching and hoisting Nihil onto his shoulders.
"...Which way?"
"A bit more left... No, too far."
"Ugh, don't pull my hair—tell me with words. You're gonna make me go bald."
"I'll take responsibility and make you a wig."
"I don't need white hair!"
"Shh, shh—good puppies stay quiet, right?"
"Damn lynx bastard."
Evan ground his teeth. Nihil patted his head and reached for the corruption's core.
"Got it...!"
At that moment, the long line in the body's center began splitting open top and bottom.
This is bad...!
"Cover your ears!"