The Prisoner's Fate and a Sweet Reward
With my belly pleasantly stuffed full of roasted meat, I let out a small, satisfied burp and nestled comfortably into Kailian's fluffy embrace.
‘…This time, I’ll forgive her.’
I shot Kailian a quick glare, then rubbed my cheek against her chest like a satisfied cat.
While I was happily purring, Kailian had carried me to the prison.
Clank—
The heavy iron door grated open with an unpleasant sound, and the musty stench of blood mixed with damp mold filled my nose.
“Your Highness! You’re here!”
The soldiers guarding the entrance jerked in shock and lowered their heads.
Kailian accepted their salute with a casual wave and strode into the dark interior of the prison.
Inside, the barbarian chieftain with fiery red hair slumped against the wall, her thick shackles and heavy chains binding her from head to toe.
She was exactly as beaten senseless yesterday—motionless, eyes half-closed, as if she might never wake again.
‘Pretending to sleep.’
The moment the door creaked, the sharp scent of stress hormones shot through the air like a vibration.
I poked my head out from Kailian’s arms and gave a tiny, soft whimper toward her.
“Kyah.”
Hey, wake up. I’m here.
As that small sound echoed through the prison cell, the chieftain’s shoulder jerked violently, as if struck by lightning.
She slowly turned her head, met my eyes, then froze completely rigid, her breathing shallow and trembling all over.
‘Anyone watching would think she’s the victim.’
Her fear of me must be permanently carved into her bones.
Even though I was currently in my small form, her whole body shook with every breath.
I glanced once at her miserable state and looked up at Kailian.
“Blanc.”
Kailian’s cold eyes fixed on the chieftain as she spoke to me.
“Decide how you want her life to end. Do it yourself.”
“……Kyah?”
Decide? Me?
Kailian gently stroked my back with a soft voice, her tone cool. “That woman attacked you and your people. If you nod, I’ll do it right now.”
Her hand rested on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
“I’ll cut her head off immediately, and every prisoner with her will die too.”
Before Kailian’s words had even finished, the chieftain snapped her head up, eyes wide.
‘The real butler is terrifying when she’s angry.’
One nod from me and rivers of blood would spill.
I narrowed my eyes and stared hard at the trembling chieftain.
Whacking her with an axe and turning her people into bloody beasts was unforgivable.
She deserved to be torn apart and eaten for what she had done.
‘But massacring every last child and old person in her tribe just because they were innocent? That’s not something I want on my conscience.’
I wanted to remain a cute divine beast rolling in the sunlight, feasting on delicious meat, instead of becoming the mastermind behind a bloody slaughter.
I looked up at Kailian and shook my head left and right.
“Kyah.”
Full massacre? No. Don’t kill her yet.
The chieftain’s eyes widened in shock as she watched me from behind Kailian’s back.
The stunned expression on her face clearly showed she had never imagined I would forgive her and her entire tribe in one breath.
‘I’m not sparing you because you’re cute.’
“Haa……”
Kailian let out a deep, heavy sigh of resignation.
“You really… are too soft and kind. A divine beast, and you’re this merciful? What are you thinking?”
Kailian flicked my nose lightly and signaled the soldiers waiting behind her.
“Fine. I’ll follow your wishes. Guards, take Blanc outside for a moment. We need to speak alone with this woman.”
I followed the soldier out into the corridor beyond the prison.
But even the thick iron door was useless against my sharp hearing.
‘This is just like filming a spy movie.’
The two women’s conversation leaked through the door perfectly.
Kailian’s cool voice drifted inside the cell.
“…Since our Blanc himself has shown such mercy and spared you, I’ll stop killing you right now.”
Kailian’s footsteps stopped abruptly.
“But don’t misunderstand. Even if I could, I would still want to cut you and every single one of your tribe to pieces, leaving no survivors.”
Under that threat, the chieftain slowly raised her head and met Kailian’s eyes.
“If our tribe has suffered so much starvation and desperation….”
Kailian’s voice sharpened like a blade.
“Why didn’t you kneel and beg our empire for help? Why did you throw such a crazy tantrum?”
“…We’ve been fighting for decades, bleeding blood and sweat! How could we bend our pride and bow to you?”
“Of course we’ve fought for a long time! I know the grudge between us runs deep!”
Kailian cut her off with a harsh shout.
“Even so! No matter how much we hate each other, facing a strange man who gave us strange water and jumping straight into war is far worse… than kneeling flat before our empire and swallowing our pride, right?!”
“……”
“That is the role of a leader. If you want to protect the people behind you, you would even lick the enemy’s foot. That is our role, you and I.”
The chieftain had no answer.
She had realized with bone-deep regret that her petty pride and foolish mistake had not only failed to save her tribe but had pushed them into the jaws of death.
She bit her lip until it bled, then dropped her head like a condemned criminal.
“Haa……”
With Kailian’s deep sigh still hanging in the air, the heavy footsteps began walking back toward the iron door.
Creak—
The massive iron door opened, and Kailian stepped out with a stern expression.
“Kyah!”
Butler, it’s over?
I stretched out my front paw. Kailian walked over without a word, scooped me up in her arms, and hugged me tightly against her chest.
“Just like I said, I won’t kill them right away, Blanc. We won’t massacre the tribe either.”
Kailian buried her face in my neck and whispered softly.
“But… the debt for the choice that caused our people to spill blood will never disappear. That price will be paid in full.”
“Kyah.”
I understand. Then the butler will handle the rest. I don’t care.
After hearing the conversation, I felt a little relieved.
Kailian really wouldn’t slaughter them all.
Well, and if they ever showed their fangs at us again… I would bite them all to death myself.
Feeling the heavy weight of responsibility on her shoulders, I gave a quiet nod.
Then, to show my affection, I stuck my tongue out and gave Kailian’s cheek a gentle little lick.
Smack.
That small show of affection finally coaxed a soft smile onto Kailian’s frozen lips.
We left the temporary prison and walked side by side through the bustling streets of the southern territory, where restoration work was already underway.
“Long live the divine beast!!”
“Your Highness! We’re truly grateful you saved us!”
As the residents and soldiers hurried past, they spotted me and immediately cleared a path on both sides, as if they had agreed to do so.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, bent their backs at ninety degrees, and bowed deeply.
‘Hmm… not bad at all.’
My battlefield fame had already spread throughout the entire territory.
‘…It’s good that they all look so happy.’
Still cradled in Kailian’s arms, I lifted my chin arrogantly, swished my tail, and gave the people a friendly little wave with my paw.
The louder the cheers grew, the bigger my chest swelled.
“W-wait…!”
From the crowd splitting on both sides, a small peasant boy covered in soot and grime stepped forward timidly, wearing patched clothes.
“Be careful, little one! How dare you come right up to the divine beast!”
The startled royal guards crossed their spears to block him, but Kailian raised a hand to stop them gently.
The boy stopped right in front of me, clasped his dirty little hands together behind his back, and bowed with perfect courtesy.
“Divine beast… thank you. Thank you so much.”
“……Kyah?”
Hey kid, why are you thanking me all of a sudden?
Even though he sniffled, the boy looked straight at me with clear, sparkling eyes and spoke bravely.
“The divine beast shot a pretty light yesterday and fixed my dad’s wound and ended the war for us!”
A bright smile bloomed across the boy’s face.
“Because of the divine beast, my dad didn’t get hurt at all and safely came home! Thank you so much for ending the war and sending my dad back to us!”
The moment his voice reached my ears, a spark of something warm and ticklish fluttered in the corner of my heart.
‘Ah, really. This is embarrassing.’
I wagged my tail, jumped down from Kailian’s arms to the ground, and trotted right up to the boy.
Tap-tap.
I lowered my head and gave him a friendly nod in return.
“Kyah, kyah!”
Good to hear your dad is safe.
The boy’s face lit up as if he had won the lottery, and he bounced on his toes.
Then he rummaged through his pants pocket.
“This… it’s the last candy in the world! I’ll give it to the divine beast as thanks for saving my dad!”
From his tiny hand, he offered a small, shabby lollipop wrapped in flimsy paper.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have eaten it at the palace, but here I had no choice.
“Kyah!”
I’ll eat it!
I stuck out my pink tongue, gently took the candy from his palm, and popped it into my mouth.
Crunsh, crunch.
The cheap, sugary sweetness spread through my mouth.
“Kyah!”
Mmm, delicious.
I chewed the candy happily and gave the boy a short, content purr.
As I munched on the treat he had given me, the boy beamed with pure joy, his clear laughter ringing out like bells.