Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Nick Fren's Visit
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After facing off against Billy in that strangely charged atmosphere at the training grounds, I bolted upstairs and barricaded myself in my room.
"I think that's enough phobia-overcoming training for today. So now I'm going to rest."
I grabbed Mimo, who hadn't said a word, and rattled off excuses like a guilty kid before collapsing face-first onto the bed.
"Wow, what a tough day."
I muttered at the ceiling, then closed my eyes to calm my mind and body.
When I opened them again, quite some time had passed. I must have dozed off for a bit.
It felt like just yesterday I'd scoured the library for books to set an example for Ed, yet here I was, lazing through the day.
Embarrassed, I shot up, opened the door, and stepped into the hallway.
But the vibe in the corridor was a little off from usual.
Normally, there weren't many maids on the second-floor hallway, but they were all clustered in one spot, whispering like they'd planned it.
'What's going on?'
Just then, one maid carefully climbed the stairs carrying a tray with a teapot, two teacups, and some simple snacks.
The other maids parted like the Red Sea to let her through. She knocked on the door to Billy's study.
'Looks like we have a guest.'
I wasn't particularly interested in Billy's visitor. Wondering if it might be some scary carnivore beastkin and debating whether to hole up in my room or face it head-on...
Then I clearly overheard what the maids were saying.
"Can you believe it? Nick Fren is the Magic Tower Lord! I still can't wrap my head around it."
"He used to visit the estate all the time, but he's been so scarce lately. I was really missing him."
"Nick the young master, lord of that terrifying Magic Tower."
"Maybe the Tower will change now? There was that slave purge recently, right?"
Conversations like that kept buzzing nonstop.
From the maids' chatter alone, I knew Nick had come to the estate. Nick was someone I had a bone to pick with anyway, and he was one of those carnivore beastkin I could talk casually to without issue. No reason to avoid him.
That said, I couldn't just barge into Billy's study if they were in the middle of something important, so I decided to wait.
I was playing with Mimo and reading a book in my room to pass the time when the door suddenly burst open. Voices of two men drifted down the hallway.
'They're done!'
I flung open my door and hurried into the corridor. After spending a whole day as a sheep, I had a ton of questions for Nick.
Like, was there any chance of suddenly turning back into a sheep later? Or was there really no magic to turn me human again after transforming?
Nick had made that item himself, and as Magic Tower Lord, he could probably nullify its magic. It bugged me that he'd just left it as is.
"Magic Tower Lord!"
My instinctual fear of carnivore beastkin clashed with my burning questions, making my movements all awkward.
I shuffled toward Billy's study in a weird gait, unsure if I wanted to back away or charge forward.
"Oh, Lady Morton. You've finally turned human again."
It had been days since the transformation, and here he was with this belated comment. I almost got mad, but it was so typically Nick that my irritation fizzled out.
"About that item... I have some questions."
Yes! Anger can override instinct!
Emboldened by nailing my words clearly, I stepped forward, looked him straight in the eye, and said,
"You made the item yourself, as Magic Tower Lord. Was there really no way to neutralize it?"
Nick smirked at my question, then got serious and explained.
"I could reverse it, but I've never researched it, so there might be side effects."
His earnest tone made me tilt my head, wondering if he was for real.
'Isn't that the kind of magic a Magic Tower Lord should handle easily?'
Side effects? From someone who wasn't just any beastkin, but the Tower Lord himself—and not even particularly complex magic? Risking that?
"You could have been stuck as a sheep forever, unable to turn human."
"Really?"
"Magic Tower Lords don't lie."
Sure sounds like a lie.
I shot him a suspicious glare, but he brushed it off lightly, turned his back to me, and resumed his conversation with Billy.
Being dismissed so quickly, then treated like I wasn't even there? It left me speechless.
'Is he serious?'
A Tower Lord wouldn't make that kind of mistake, right? But the way he said it, maybe it really was trickier magic than I thought.
Those two thoughts battled fiercely in my head.
"Oh, right—I had a question for you too."
Nick turned back to me then, guiding me into Billy's study as he spoke. I ended up inside before I knew it, and Jack wagged his tail in greeting.
Nick watched the scene with a puzzled look, then eyed me like some exotic specimen.
"Truly unpredictable."
He muttered with a chuckle, then offered me a seat on the sofa. As I sat across from Nick, Billy settled beside me.
"What did you want to ask?"
Maybe because it was about his friend, but Billy's tone was bluntly casual—different from the gentle way he spoke to me or the stiff commands to the servants. It felt refreshing.
Nick cut straight to the chase.
"When you first sent that letter to the Magic Tower, you used the magic circles in each territory, right?"
"......Yes."
A bad feeling made my reply come a beat late.
I'd known about it from the original story and used it, but how many beastkin on the continent even knew about those magic circles made by the first Tower Lord?
Back then, I'd just grabbed whatever useful info I could in a pinch, but looking back now, it did seem pretty suspicious.
"How did you know about that?"
As expected, Nick asked exactly what I didn't want to hear. My mind raced for the best answer.
As I fidgeted with my fingers, struggling for words, Nick added,
"I really wanted to ask when you visited the Tower. But right as I was about to, you turned into a sheep."
"Yeah, thanks to that item someone made."
He must have been pretty annoyed about my full day as a sheep. Bold enough to say it right to the Tower Lord's face, even.
But I didn't clap a hand over my mouth in shock or regret it.
It wasn't some slip—it was exactly what I'd timed perfectly to say.
'Dealing with the Tower Lord is weirdly comfortable.'
From the first meeting, he'd felt oddly easygoing, like a friend you could get chummy with fast and banter freely.
Definitely different from how I felt around Billy.
Other beastkin would freak out at my behavior, but separate from my phobia of carnivores, I just trusted Nick wouldn't harm me.
Hearing me grumble and blame him, Nick suddenly burst out laughing.
I stared at him, baffled about what was so funny. Then, mixed with his laughter, I heard the door open.
"Ed?"
I turned to see Ed standing frozen in the doorway, looking utterly shocked. His gaze was locked straight on Nick.
"What's wrong?"
Billy rose from the sofa and approached him. Ed didn't answer, just spun around and bolted to his room.
I couldn't guess what had gotten into him.
Billy didn't chase after, just came back in and sat beside me again.
"So, how did you know?"
Thanks to Ed, I'd bought some time, but now I really had to answer something.
Billy and Nick's piercing stares bored into me without letting up.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine. I fidgeted with my fingers, desperately scrambling for an excuse.
'Say I read it in a book? What if they ask which one?'
It really was from a book. I'd considered other excuses, but lying and getting caught seemed worse than just being honest.
I lifted my bowed head and met Nick's eyes squarely.
"I read it in a book."
"A book?"
"Mind if I ask which book?"
Exactly the reaction I'd expected. Nick looked flustered at my claim, while Billy calmly asked for details.
I swallowed dryly and neatly folded my hands on my lap. My palms were instantly clammy.
"Uh... I, I don't really remember..."
I rolled my eyes like I was genuinely trying to recall and furrowed my brow. No way could I admit it was from a romance novel called Please Don't Eat Me, Mr. Wolf in front of these two wolves.
Then Nick put on the most serious face I'd ever seen from him.
"If there's a book with that info, the Magic Tower needs to know about it. Excuse me for a moment."
I didn't need to ask what he meant by "excuse me." Just like when the Choice System hijacked me, words beyond my control tumbled out of my mouth.