Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Wobbling Fang
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Just yesterday, Ed had been in high spirits.
He'd toured the Luna Festival with Lami and Billy, watching the fireworks together in a moment of pure joy.
Sure, some crazy zebra had barged in at the end and caused a scene, but he'd been subdued quickly enough. And in the process, Lami had protected him, which had touched Ed deeply.
But now, that touching memory was overshadowed by a deeper hurt. Because of it, he couldn't quite manage his expressions around Lami.
"Why the long face first thing in the morning? Cheer up and dig into some meat already."
The moment Lami entered the room and set the tray on the table, she scolded him in a displeased tone. Unable to shake his sullen look, he mumbled in a low voice.
"I had a nightmare..."
He'd gone to bed smiling, eyes drifting shut with contentment. But the dream had shattered that happiness with pure brutality, as if determined to crush it.
'That was a really scary dream.'
What Ed had dreamed was that mad zebra from the festival attacking Lami again.
But Billy, who should have caught the guy, was nowhere to be found. Ed had tried to use magic himself, but for some reason, his mana felt completely drained—he couldn't cast a thing.
Helpless, he'd watched Lami get dragged away. He'd wanted to draw a sword, but there was no scabbard at his waist. He had nothing, no way to protect her.
Ed squeezed his eyes shut, recalling his useless dream-self. Then a worried hand brushed his cheek.
"Was it that scary? You look pale."
When he opened his eyes, Lami was gazing at him warmly, as if she'd never scolded him at all.
"It was really scary. I never want to dream it again."
Looking up at Lami, who gripped his hand tightly, Ed whined like a child.
'I've never even imagined a situation like that.'
He'd always been certain Billy would protect Lami if danger arose. But what if something like yesterday happened and Billy wasn't there?
Watching Lami cut his steak into perfect bite-sized pieces, Ed vowed firmly.
If that ever happened, he'd protect her somehow. With a resolute glint in his eyes, he stared at Lami before shifting his gaze to the steak.
"That look's pretty battle-ready. Planning to fight the meat even though it's already dead?"
Ed startled, already imagining a duel with the zebra. He yanked his eyes from the steak, and Lami gave him an odd look.
The smirk from her joke slowly faded. Her brows furrowed in a V, lips pressing tight as if blaming herself.
Ed had no idea it was because of the Choice System forcing unwanted words out of her.
Perplexed by her sudden change, he noticed her gaze fixed unwaveringly on his mouth.
"Oh! That missing fang of yours has fully grown back!"
Realizing where she was looking, Ed exclaimed proudly. The fang he'd lost back at the Morton estate had finally grown in completely.
Living with just one fang missing had been so inconvenient. Now that it was fixed, he was over the moon.
"Yeah, it's true. Your fang's finally grown in. Congrats."
Lami's congratulations lifted his mood even higher.
"That bit about the monster embedding the fang was a lie, right? I knew it."
Ed puffed up like he'd uncovered a great secret. Back then, the shock of losing the fang had briefly fooled him into believing her, but he'd quickly realized it was nonsense.
Seeing him chest out, hands on hips, Lami recalled that day and looked embarrassed. Then one corner of her mouth quirked up, and she chuckled.
"You fell for that ridiculous lie?"
"See! You said it so convincingly, I almost bought it."
Ed thrilled at her sarcastic reply, clenching his fist in triumph. He was proud of himself for not falling completely for Lami's fib.
Beaming, he accepted the steak from Lami, chewing thoroughly and giving a thumbs-up. The meat, coated in sweet sauce, melted tenderly in his mouth.
His cheeks bulged as he stuffed in more meat and chomped away.
Suddenly, a sharp tingle hit, followed by something hard and wobbly.
'Is there something in the meat?'
Ed frowned in confusion, prodding the movement with his tongue. It jiggled annoyingly each time.
"What's wrong? Doesn't taste good?"
Lami stopped cutting and tilted her head at his furrowed brow.
Ed opened his mouth and pinched the hard, wobbling thing with his fingers. It was on the opposite side from his newly grown fang.
Just as he was about to pull it out, memories from that day at the Morton estate flashed like lightning.
The time he'd been alone in his room and lost a tooth. According to that memory, this was definitely a fang on the verge of falling out.
He'd lived so uncomfortably without one fang. And now, the moment one fully grew in, the other side was loosening?
'No way!'
But despite his thoughts, his tongue kept poking the bothersome tooth. Sensing something off, Lami leaned in close to peer into his mouth.
"What's in your mouth? Let me see."
"No! There's nothing!"
Ed desperately leaned back to escape her. But it was no use against Lami.
"The fang on the other side's wobbling, huh?"
Spotting it, Lami's lips quivered like she was holding back laughter, then she said firmly.
"If you don't pull it when it's loose, you'll end up with two fangs on one side. That'd look pretty ridiculous."
Frozen at her words, Ed imagined himself with two fangs on one side only.
'They say the Rub Family head has two fangs on one side!'
'He didn't pull it as a kid and toughed it out, apparently.'
'What? I didn't know—he's such a coward!'
Whispers seemed to echo in his ears.
'It's not because I'm scared—it's uncomfortable!'
Screaming at his imaginary critics brought no reply, of course. Lami checked how loose it was and suggested pulling it if it got worse.
He'd vowed this morning to gain the strength to protect her when she visited. He'd been thrilled when she brought breakfast.
But that opposite fang, ready to fall out right after the other settled in, was infuriatingly hateful.
It felt like growing fangs took priority over building strength.
Ed clamped his mouth shut, swallowing his frustration.
While Lami and Ed were deep in fang talk, the atmosphere in the Rub mansion's basement was worlds apart from the second floor—utterly grim.
"He's dead."
Billy crouched before the underground prison bars, muttering. He stared piercingly at the Horse Family retainer who'd died before him, skin turned purple.
"Suicide?"
"No, this is a spell someone else set. Probably triggered to kill him if he spilled any secrets."
Answering Devon's frowning question, Billy stood. He stepped closer to the bars and reached out to open the gate.
The door creaked open ominously. Billy strode inside.
"What was the last question you asked him before he died?"
Billy kicked the sprawled corpse over with his foot. The bloated purple face had disgusted him into the careless act.
"Who was pulling the strings."
"Yeah. There were too many suspicious things to ignore."
Billy nudged the body with his toe, smirking crookedly as he continued.
"Using such a shallow trick. Whoever's behind this, their intent's way too obvious."
He didn't know who was responsible, but he had zero intention of playing their game. Hand in his pocket, Billy exited the cell and ordered.
"Take that body separately for investigation. And dig into the Horse Family."
Chopping off the frost statue had accidentally revealed the magic circle. He just wanted to find and punish the culprit who'd made everything so messy.
'Who knew the magic circle was there.'
Only the Magic Tower Lord knew its location. Even as a friend, Billy couldn't intrude on the lord's private domain.
He'd normally handled it more calmly. But seeing the man lunge at Lami, he'd drawn his sword without thinking.
Billy left the basement, sorting his thoughts. First, he'd pass Lami's plan to Nick. Then figure out how to prevent repeats.
"The Horse Family remnants won't stop here. We should stay vigilant."
"I've already sent wolves to track them."
Even with Devon's quick reply, Billy couldn't relax. Sure, Lami was a ferocious sheep who beat gorillas with brooms, but facing a determined mage head-on was no joke.
Thoughts in order, Billy headed straight for the Magic Tower. He had mountains to discuss with Nick.