Beast Noblewoman, Human-Making (6)
So, under the pretext of education, our group of four set off on a camping trip. Me, Master, Roni, and Ellen. We planned to circle the outskirts of Kerpen City, handling our meals and lodging outdoors for a three-day, two-night excursion.
Excited by the idea of a fun outing, Ellen was buzzing with energy.
"Ehehe! Camping! Fun camping!"
She was even humming a little tune, her steps light and bouncy. Caught up in the mood, Master looked thrilled too, swinging my hand back and forth as she held it tight.
Seeing that, Roni spoke up with obvious envy.
"Tia...! Can't you hold my hand too? My right one's empty."
"No."
A flat refusal. Huhu... Roni, you punk. Fat chance, no way in hell!! How many times has she shot you down in your life? Rejected by Master, she put on a shocked face and fake-cried.
"Wahhh... That's so mean."
"It's not."
Master in her haughty little-sister mode showed no mercy. As we bantered and chatted nonsense, we'd arrived at the outskirts before we knew it. Even if it was "nearby," we were outside the city walls now. Time to get serious.
Roni's eyes sharpened, and Master let go of my hand to start scanning our surroundings. Confused by the sudden shift, Ellen tilted her head.
"Bell, what's wrong? My legs hurt... Can you carry me?"
"No, miss. I told you beforehand."
We'd only walked paved roads for about two hours. Already, Ellen was whining. But it was within expectations. We pressed on as planned.
Seeing our attitude, Ellen got offended, her spoiled nature kicking in full force.
"No way!! I'm not going!! Let's rest! Let's rest, I said!!"
The rest of us ignored her completely and kept moving.
"H-Hey...! Heyyy! You're leaving me behind? I'm gonna cry!"
Yeah, cry all you want. Treating Ellen like she wasn't there, we headed to the campsite. Once we'd put some distance between us, we switched to observation mode.
[Waaahhh!! Bell!! I hate you...! Dodo... you jerk...! Waaahhh!]
She was screaming her lungs out, throwing a full tantrum at the forest edge. Roni asked worriedly,
"H-Hey, Dodo. You think she'll be okay?"
"We're not really leaving her. Let's wait and see."
About ten minutes of wailing later? Ellen shot to her feet and started looking for us, following the traces we'd deliberately left. I'd asked Master ahead of time to help prevent her from getting lost.
Eventually, she arrived at the campsite looking all grubby and disheveled.
"..."
"Tia, can you grab her?"
"Sure, big brother."
"Roni, set up the tent."
"Hmph... Leave it to me."
We started establishing our base, excluding Ellen entirely. Sure enough, her eyes were full of complaints. She glared at me like daggers, but it wasn't scary—just pathetic.
She sidled up casually and muttered,
"...I'm hungry."
The spoiled lady sniffled, reiterating her demand. In the ignoring atmosphere, Roni suddenly dropped a bombshell.
"Huhu... Dodo, the tent pole's up! It's standing tall!!"
"You little sh—... punk...!"
Old habits die hard—Roni was back to her pervy jokes.
"Huh... really?"
Ellen looked confused, not getting it. Master, meanwhile, shot her a look of pure disdain. Only then did Roni catch on.
"Ah... Tia? It was a joke... Did you get it?"
"Drop dead."
"Gah...!"
Roni flopped face-first onto the ground in despair. She'd assumed Master wouldn't understand... but our master wasn't a kid. I burst out laughing at the sight. Roni's reaction was gold, and even Master cracked a subtle smile.
Sulky Ellen, seeing us laughing and chatting, looked like she wanted in. She'd already swallowed her pride for her demands, but hadn't gotten what she wanted yet. Too proud to ask outright...
"I'm hungry!"
She joined the conversation by whining again. No dice.
"Here."
I tossed a dagger at her feet.
"What's this for...?"
I rummaged through our packs and pulled out a rabbit.
"Dinner tonight. Caught it on the way."
"And...?"
"Means you're on cooking duty, Miss Ellen."
"Me? No way!!"
"Well... then we all starve."
None of us minded—relatively speaking. Me and Roni were pros at going hungry... uh... Master, I'd have to sneak her some food if it came to that. As I gazed at her thoughtfully, she smiled with her eyes and asked,
"What is it, big brother?"
"Nothing! Just looking."
"Hehe."
She clung to my arm, and I felt like I owned the world. My sweet little-sister Master, affectionate only to me! Roni glared jealously, green with envy.
"What're you looking at, punk."
"...Cheater."
I knew Roni was a good guy, but no way was I letting some outsider near Master. Over my dead body!
Ellen was seriously pissed, her face screaming why make me do this while you slack off? She alternated stares between the rabbit and dagger, then snapped at me.
"I'm not doing it! I can't!!"
"Okay, then we starve. All of us."
"I'm starving to death! You guys... I'm not letting you off! Except Bell..."
Again, favoring only Roni. So unfair. I was the camp leader here. Pissing me off wouldn't help her. I wanted her to feel that firsthand... maybe it was too soon?
For these three days, I was her teacher, and Roni smiled but wouldn't take her side. A solid ten-minute staring contest ensued... until Ellen's stomach growled loudly.
"...!"
She stomped her feet, still glaring. I decided to poke a little more.
"Did you crap yourself or something?"
"I didn't! This stupid thing...!"
Provocation successful. She snatched the discarded rabbit and dagger and stormed off to the campsite edge.
Good. First step down. But she froze halfway, trembling with the dagger in hand. Frustrating... but I couldn't belittle her courage. Pretending not to watch, Roni and I lounged back to rest.
"Ugh... takes me back. How long's it been since we camped?"
"Hmph..."
Idle chit-chat flowed. Time ticked by. I was talking with Roni and Master, but my eyes were on Ellen.
"Blegh... urk..."
She was dry-heaving. Holding the rabbit with two fingers, she jabbed at it wildly with the knife. Blood leaked out.
"Urghhh..."
Her stomach turned; she pulled the blade back. Bit by bit... the rabbit turned into Swiss cheese. Progress. She stabbed the belly, sliced long. Guts spilled out like a welcome party.
"Ewww!"
Ellen freaked out dramatically. ...It had taken a full hour to get this far. On the verge of tears,
"Hic... I hate it...! I don't wanna!"
She finally broke down sobbing, snot and tears streaming. It must've been alien and tough for her, given her big talk. Another stomach growl echoed. Realizing no one would spoon-feed her, she gripped the knife again.
She glanced our way, swallowing sobs—pitifully cute. But her momentum was gone; her resolve had bottomed out. Even Roni looked sympathetic. Couldn't help, though. Interfering now would reset everything.
Sigh... As I wrestled with it,
"My mom said it's easier to skin holding the knife backward."
"Uh... y-yeah?"
"And the guts go like this... Wanna grab here?"
Master had sidled up innocently, offering tips. Stunned, the spoiled girl couldn't bring herself to make the smaller Master do it. Master stepped back as if it were natural, guiding her posture without hands-on help. Perfect intervention.
Things smoothed out from there. Tia Master is the best!
Sunset came as we finished the campfire. Just then, the rabbit appeared—skinned, tendons and guts clumsily removed.
I told her, eyes puffy from crying,
"Grill it. Yourself."
"Me...?"
"Of course, you're on cooking duty."
Ellen skewered and started roasting it. Master whispered tips in her ear.
"Ah! Y-Yeah, got it...!"
She rotated the spit, adjusting height each time. Finally, one roasted rabbit—quartered into savory portions. I tore off a piece. Crispy outside, cooked through inside. Rabbit meat... Biting into it, my eyes met Roni's. Orphanage special treat.
"Huhu..."
"Pfft."
Same thought—we chuckled. Ellen teared up immediately upon eating.
"It's... sooo good..."
Seeing her, my heart twinged. The beastly Ellen was growing in real time, tasting achievement for the first time.
We showered praise as planned.
"Whoa... whoever prepped this... it's killer."
"Truly delicious rabbit, big brother."
"Huhu... Yeah, impressive, huh?"
Ellen perked up at the words.
"Of course...! Who made it! I worked so hard..."
Sudden silence.
"I... worked hard..."
Lots to think about, probably. This ordeal taught her she could do it herself—and the results were worth more than imagined. A truth unreachable in her everything-handed world.
Ellen shut her mouth mid-sentence. Then she glared right through me.
Maternal Love [B]
Target's protective instincts and favorability increase.
Long time no see for a skill pop-up. Guess she was grateful. But she whipped her head away, eyes back on Roni.
"Bell... I'll do even better tomorrow! Not hungry?"
"Nah, I eat light usually. You okay, miss?"
"Yeah! I'm full too."
Totally different tone from when she looked at me. Jealousy poured her way. I asked Master,
"Tia, want more?"
"Big brother?"
Short nickname. She looked up fiercely—eat plenty, her eyes said, like it was for her sake. It softened quickly. How is she always so steadfast? I snuggled closer, warming up against the night chill. As I munched the rest, her face relaxed. Mission accomplished. The cozy vibe lingered as the fire died down.
Me and Roni took night watch, prepping beds, when Master stiffened abruptly. It made me uneasy.
"Tia?"
Her voice, colder than the night breeze—unusual.
"Big brother."
"Yeah."
Silence filled only with crackling flames. Staring into the pitch-black trees, she whispered,
"In the darkness... there are many breathing sounds."