Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Uncle Dante
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*Snatch.*
"...Chirp?"
I felt my body stop mid-air, not far from the ground, and my eyes snapped open.
Aser, who had just been watching from the tree, had caught me.
He was incredibly fast.
My body went limp with relief. At the same time, a surge of emotion welled up inside me.
"Chirp! Chirp-chirp!"
I pecked at Aser's hand with my beak, but he only stroked his chin.
"Hm. I thought that would work. A failure, I see."
"Chiiirp? Chiiirrrp?"
"Yes. A failure. Shall we try one more time?"
*You want to do this again? Now?*
This time, Aser pointed to a different tree.
"I believe you'll succeed from a slightly higher tree."
"Chirp!"
*No, wait. Now that I think about it, I think I have a fear of heights.*
Aser scoffed.
"Since when does a bird have a fear of heights? Can you even call that a bird?"
"..."
Aser was merciless.
I couldn't let him drag me away like this. I shook my legs and flapped my wings frantically, but it was no use.
Aser insisted on climbing to an even higher tree.
"I expect you to succeed this time. Focus on your balance. If you can manage to succeed even halfway, we'll stop."
"...Chirp?"
"Yes. Really."
There was no sincerity in his tone.
He was lying through his teeth now.
He had no intention of stopping.
Feeling resigned, I trudged to the edge and looked down.
I never dreamed that living as a bird would be this hard. To think everyone learned to fly by overcoming such adversity.
Aser must have sensed my quickly fading motivation, because he spoke up.
"Succeed this time, and you'll be able to fly freely. Aren't you excited?"
"Chirp, chirp."
*He's right. I am excited about that.* I chirped my meek agreement.
If I can just do this, I'll be able to fly freely.
I decided to muster my strength one more time. Aser lifted me up as he did before.
"Alright, I'm going to let go. I'll count, so get ready."
"Chirp."
"One, two..."
I steadied my breathing, preparing myself as Aser counted.
*On three, I'll take off magnificently!*
But three never came. He let go on two.
"Chiiirrrrp?!"
"You won't always have time to prepare for flight. You must be able to fly in unexpected rain or snow."
"Chirp!"
*I can learn that stuff later!*
"Spread your wings. Don't cower in fear."
Aser explained as he dove straight down beside me.
His wings were spread wide, and he seemed to be riding the wind just as he'd described.
*So I just have to do that?*
Trembling, I stretched my wings out wide.
"You're doing well. Just relax your body a little."
"Chirp!"
"Entrust yourself to the wind."
I did as he said, relaxing my body and slowly flapping my wings.
*Aser will save me if I get into trouble, anyway.*
I squeezed my eyes shut and flapped a few times. A moment later, I snapped them open in astonishment.
"...Chirp?"
I was precarious—it felt like the slightest bit of force would throw me off balance—but I was definitely flying.
I gasped, unable to believe it myself.
"Don't stop flapping. Keep moving."
"...Chirp!"
"Don't look down. Look ahead. And fly higher. If you're too low, you'll be an easy target for predators."
"Chirp!"
"You're doing well."
Aser praised me with a faint smile. I chirped happily, humming to myself.
*How am I going to brag about this? I hope Mesis is watching.*
The moment I thought that, my body tilted and I began to fall.
"Chirp?!"
"Oh, dear."
As if he'd expected it, Aser caught me with one of his large wings.
Enveloped by his wing, I slid gently onto his hand as it slowly transformed back into an arm.
"Your mind wandered so quickly. A young bird must prioritize safe flying."
"Chirp..."
"Shall we call it a day? You did succeed in flying, after all."
"Chirp!"
I nodded vigorously. I didn't think I could handle any more practice.
Aser cradled me in his hand and left the forest.
As we walked along the path leading to the garden, I saw the mansion's main gate slowly swing open.
"Chirp?"
*Are we having another visitor today?*
I tilted my head, and as I looked toward the gate, Aser's gaze followed mine.
Watching to see who was entering, I forgot all about my exhaustion and shot to my feet.
"Do you know who that is?"
Aser asked, seeing my strong reaction.
I nodded. Of course I did. How could I not?
His massive build, his bronze skin so rare in the south, his red hair.
I knew exactly who he was.
"Chirp, chirp-chirp!"
*It's Uncle Dante!*
I launched myself into the air. Aser cried out and reached for me, but I was faster.
Dante must have spotted me, because he flinched and stopped in his tracks.
"Ah, Aileen?!"
"Chirp-chirp!"
*Uncle!*
Overjoyed, I flew straight toward Dante and nestled into his arms.
Dante, frozen awkwardly and unsure what to do, carefully held out his palm.
As if I'd been waiting for it, I hopped right on.
Dante's amber eyes curved into pleasant crescents.
"It's been a while, Aileen."
* * *
"Uncle! Did you come to see me?"
"Yes. I heard you missed me, so I came running."
Dante nodded at my enthusiastic welcome. I beamed. He really did come to see me.
After changing in my room and dashing out, I was now riding on Dante's shoulders.
A shoulder ride.
"You've grown so much since I last saw you, Aileen."
"I have! I'm already this big."
I spread my hands wide to show him. Dante glanced at my hands, chuckled, and started walking slowly.
I held onto Dante's hands to keep my balance.
People passing by smiled warmly and gave us brief nods.
"Looks like you were learning to fly."
"Yup! Today was my first lesson, and I even managed to fly."
"Kaide will be pleased."
"Right? I'm going to go brag to him."
"He'll be jealous I got to see it first."
Dante chuckled, clearly already delighted at the thought of teasing Kaide.
As befitting a friend of Kaide's, he walked with a familiarity that suggested he'd visited the estate often.
He headed straight for the office without me needing to give him any directions.
He even...
*Bang.*
"You don't knock?"
"Since when do we knock?"
He just barged in, not even bothering to knock on Kaide's door. The nerve.
"This is just cruel. You have a guest, and you don't even come out to greet me."
"You find your way here just fine on your own."
"So heartless."
Dante grumbled. Kaide looked at me, perched on Dante's shoulders, with a dumbfounded expression.
"What are you two doing?"
"A shoulder ride. You've never given her one, have you?"
"..."
"Aileen is having a blast."
"Yeah! Dad, this is so much fun!"
It was just sitting on his shoulders, but it was fun. But where was Baon?
He was here just a moment ago, but now he was gone.
"I told him to wait outside."
"Why?"
Aren't they usually always together? Baon was always with Kaide, no matter what he was doing.
Wasn't Dante visiting because of my intermediate growth? Baon would know that, so why send him out?
"Alright, time to come down, Aileen."
Dante bent down so I could get off safely. I obediently hopped to the floor. Kaide didn't answer my question and walked over to the sofa.
*Creak.*
The sofa groaned and sank as if it would collapse when Dante sat down.
"Honestly. I keep telling you to get a new sofa. It's like this every time I visit."
"Why should I replace it just for you?"
"...See what your father is like, Aileen?"
Dante leaned toward me, his tone conspiratorial. Kaide's eyebrow shot up.
I'll never understand how these two became friends.
I just shook my head.
Dante took something wrapped in cloth from his coat and placed it on the table.
"First off, I brought the thing you needed. But why do you need this?"