Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Everybody Loves the Tail
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A heavy silence settled over the room. Getting distracted by the tail and dropping his guard had been his own fatal mistake.
As the grip on the tail loosened, it slithered downward, curling up once more between his legs.
Sir Evan stared fixedly at it before asking cautiously.
"...What are you doing?"
Nihil hurried to make an excuse in response to the weighty question.
"The magic won't wear off..."
"...So...?"
"I was going to cut it off..."
"Are you insane...?"
Sir Evan's pupils trembled faintly, as if he were genuinely questioning Nihil's sanity.
"Ah, no—there's no way to dispel the magic?"
"It's not permanent, so it'll fade on its own after a while. Probably a week to a fortnight... or so."
"Th-then why try to cut it off instead of just leaving it be!"
"...It bugs me how it moves on its own."
"You, you... you crazy bastard!"
Sir Evan bellowed and swiftly snatched the dagger away. Then he launched into a tirade.
"What's that any different from chopping off your own finger! Are you seriously deranged? Leave the tail alone! It's a hundred times—no, a thousand times cuter than you!"
"...If you like it that much, want me to cut it off for you?"
"Aargh, damn it...!"
Sir Evan clawed at his own hair in a fit of rage before grabbing a blanket and wrapping Nihil up tight in it like a burrito.
"You—just behave yourself. If you spout nonsense about cutting off the tail in front of His Highness, I won't let it slide."
With that, Sir Evan scooped up the now roll-cake-shaped lynx and headed to the next room. Even a guy like that wouldn't say something like that in front of the kids.
"Nil!"
The baby kitten greeted him with a bright smile, arms outstretched. Sir Evan watched fondly as our adorable baby kitten exuded peak cuteness even without ears or tail, then handed over the blanket-wrapped lynx.
"Your Highness, he says he failed to get rid of the ears and tail. They should vanish on their own in a week to a fortnight."
"I see! More than that, Nil—everyone swore to keep it secret, so no need to worry too much!"
"...Yeah."
Nihil mumbled weakly from inside his blanket cocoon, prompting Lianus to hug it tight.
"Nil, don't be too bummed. Hmm... it suits you really well."
"......"
"For real. Super cute."
"Ehehehe, right you are! Young master, it suits you perfectly!"
Frederick, who had been lurking in the shadows the whole time, finally stepped out and burst into laughter as if reveling in his freedom.
Nihil tried to play it cool, but the tail poking out from the blanket thumped the floor, voicing his irritation for him. That just annoyed him more, so he grabbed it tight—sparking another round of laughter.
"...Rian, he's making fun of me."
"You—you get back in there! I'm returning you!"
"Returning me? What if I run to the Magic Tower and poke you!"
"What?! Y-you promised to keep my secret!"
"Ehhh~ Let me pet that fluffy tail once, and I might keep my promise nice and tight~?"
Frederick started teasing the baby kitten. Lianus pouted about how one mouth couldn't say two things, but he wasn't giving up Nihil's tail—he carefully tucked it back into the blanket.
In the process, he sneakily stroked the fluffy texture since he liked it so much, but Nihil pretended not to notice.
"Sniff, Nil—if the Magic Tower comes to grab you, let's run away together."
"Pardon? The prince can't just run away from home."
"Hmph! I'll say it's your fault I ran off!"
"Eh, th-that won't do...?"
"Nil, come here."
Lianus ignored the stammering Frederick, pulled Nihil onto the bed, sat him down, and wrapped the blanket meticulously.
Then he started feeding him meat.
"Nil, eat up!"
Nod, nod.
Nihil eagerly took the meat. Being snug in the blanket, just opening his mouth for it to slide in automatically—this setup was pure bliss.
"Don't you have hands or feet! Eat it yourself!"
Sir Evan, watching from the side, snapped in a huff. Our precious baby kitten waiting on some disobedient lynx? Unacceptable. The other kids were even lined up, poking meat onto their forks for their turns.
Meanwhile, cat Bella grabbed a piece in her mouth to offer it, thought better of it, and just ate it herself.
"Marquis! Even you—why join in!"
Even the marquis was slyly getting in on the feeding procession.
"Haha, I wanna try feeding him too."
The marquis grinned dopily and sidled up, whispering slyly.
"See that tail?"
"...Something wrong with it?"
Sir Evan followed the marquis's chin flick to the white tail peeking from the blanket.
"Lots of animals show their feelings with their tails. Watch."
"......"
Those words made Sir Evan observe it unconsciously.
And there it was—the tail swishing every time meat hit the mouth!
'Damn it... crazy...!'
He shouldn't have looked!
Cursing inwardly, he still picked up a fork without thinking and speared the last chunk of meat.
Standing there like a brainless fool in line, his turn arrived—he froze, realizing.
'Me, succumbing to a mere lynx tail!'
Not even sure if the lynx would accept his meat anyway, he wavered on putting the fork down—when tapping sounds started.
"......?"
Turning, the lynx stared up blankly. No expression, but the annoyance was obvious.
Tap, tap-tap, tap, tap!
The tail was whipping the bed mercilessly.
Sir Evan figured one tail might be worth raising and offered the meat. Thankfully, the lynx ate it obediently. The tail settled right away, tip just flicking happily.
'...Maybe I should keep this one.'
Sir Evan reaffirmed: the tail was a hundred—no, thousand times cuter than the lynx itself. Lost in thoughts of detaching just the tail to raise it solo, the tail got yanked back into the blanket by its owner.
The marquis poked Sir Evan's side, visibly disappointed.
"You, staring like that. Now it's gone."
"......"
'Not the lynx—but its tail enchants me...'
Sir Evan seethed at the blow to his pride, yet already missed the tail.
Whether curse or blessing, it reappeared soon enough. Showing herbs from the Allie Merchant Group made the tail perk straight up, lifting the blanket and quivering. Excitement plain as day—yet blank-faced owner was hilarious.
"Anyway, let's just raise the tail."
"...What nonsense is that."
Nihil swept back Lianus's hair as the prince dozed clutching the tail—then frowned at the bizarre remark.
"His Highness loves it."
"What, want me to play with yours too."
"...No need."
As Sir Evan clung to his sanity, Nihil glanced sideways at the man standing statue-still—Noah's guard knight.
"More importantly..."
"......?"
"Hand it over."
"Pardon?"
"Hand. It. Over."
The knight—who'd stood silent, just guarding—tilted his head like he had no clue.
"...Hand over what, exactly."
"The communication orb."
"......"
"Think I wouldn't know."
"No idea what you mean."
The man feigned ignorance, but Nihil dropped it. Instead, he gently stroked Noah's head as she slept beside Lianus.
But that tender touch trailed past her head... forehead... cheek... jawline... to her neck. Finally, the man cracked.
"...Here."
Nihil took the crystal orb—a bit bigger than his fist—and flashed a faint smile at it. "Merchant Lord."
—......
"You're aware this side's been broadcasting one-way."
—......
"Told you not to dig behind—and now you dig up front, bold as brass."
—......
"Let's talk. Connect both ways."
—......
As his words ended, a figure flickered into the once-blank orb. A voice followed at once.
—...Sorry.
"You know you're sorry, huh. I'll take this orb as your apology."
—......
"What, bitter about it?"
—...No. Go ahead and keep it.
Nihil effortlessly claimed the communication orb—one of which the main palace had only a single example—and smiled contentedly.
"So, impressions from your upfront scouting?"
—......
"Hm? Cat got your tongue?"
Morris couldn't speak freely under the gentle yet oddly pressuring tone. His eyes drifted to the tail unbidden—but unlike its beaming owner, the tail nestled in the prince's arms didn't so much as twitch.
"Merchant Lord."
—...Something.
"You... pulling strings from the back too?"
That question lifted the tense corner of Morris's mouth ever so slightly.
—I've got more hidden depths.
"Hit me up when you've got time. Fancy a face-to-face. Today... tied up with other stuff."
Nihil said that with a sidelong glance at the marquis.
"Outside. Eyes everywhere'd be a hassle."
—Got it.
The curt reply came, and the orb went dark. Nihil tossed it casually into a bed corner and called out.
"Teacher."
"Y-yes, my friend!"
"C'mere."
Nihil swapped his tail—still clutched by Lianus—for the bear doll Poofu, then extended a hand to the marquis.
The marquis dove in eagerly, nuzzling at ears and tail. Nihil lightly smacked his forehead, then shut his eyes.
Eyes closed, he attuned his senses—and felt the spirits' presence. Noting the marquis's state had improved a touch since last, Nihil cracked his eyes open.
"How's it looking, my friend? Cherishing that spirit... stone you gave me."
The marquis beamed expectantly, turquoise eyes aglow. Nihil straightened the man's slightly askew glasses—crooked from all the face-rubbing—then eyed Kara, asleep cradling cat Bella.
"...Big progress, but... next to that kid? Laughably... talentless."
If he'd had any gift, he'd have awakened as a contractor ages ago. His mother would've layered spells on him steadily.
But the marquis lit up more at his baby sibling's talent than his own lack thereof.
"Our Kara's got the gift?"
"Yeah. Teacher—that kid could contract right now. But..."
"But...?"
"It's no trifling power, so I can't meddle lightly. You cozying up to the 1st Prince would be trouble."
"Ah, then—formal declaration backing the 2nd Prince? Sponsor role? Marquis oughta count for something."
Nihil awkwardly rubbed his mouth at the marquis's breezy pledge to support the 2nd Prince.
"...Doesn't feel like an easy call..."
"Not tough at all. Just played neutral on the surface to dodge clashing with the ducal house."
The marquis shrugged like it was nothing, then scratched his head awkwardly as something occurred.
"Cayen and Karum'll chew me out though..."
"...Little brothers?"
"Haha... but lately they say it's nice I'm not barricaded in the lab. Well, 'cause you told me to step out. So—when's the contract with our Kara?"
"Dunno. When she's contract-ready and I take a shine to her, boom."
"You need prep too, huh, friend!"
"...? Prep for what?"
"So our Kara hasn't won you over yet?"
"......?"
Nihil arched a brow, sensing the talk veering off-track.
"Teacher—you're mixing things up. I'm not the contractor."
"Huh? You—the spirit... that one? Not you? Since when?"
What the hell was this now.