"G-Good boy."
"Grrr...."
"I-I'm not food."
Looking up at the Forest Lord drooling coldly in front of me, I broke out in a cold sweat and opened my mouth.
"I came to help you all...."
Fortunately, the Forest Lord just stared down at me with cold eyes, showing no immediate sign of attacking.
In that case, I shouldn't hesitate to show that I had no intention of attacking either.
"Ta-da."
"Keng?"
"How's that? Looks tasty, right?"
With that thought, I slowly set down the backpack I was wearing and pulled out a sandwich, placing it in front of the baby monsters.
"Come on, way tastier than scrawny little me...."
Keeping an eye on the Forest Lord's movements, I cautiously backed away, and the baby monsters slowly gathered around the sandwich.
"Grrr!"
But the Forest Lord seemed to think I'd poisoned it or something, lowering her stance warily and growling a warning at the pups.
"Kiiing...."
Though they glanced at their mother for a moment, the babies couldn't resist their hunger and eventually lowered their heads to eat the sandwich.
"That's it, good babies...."
"Keng!"
"Hehe. Eating well."
Seeing the emaciated little ones devouring the sandwich so eagerly made me smile despite myself.
"..."
But the Forest Lord remained crouched, ready to pounce with whatever strength she had left if needed.
"See? I'm not here to harm you or your pups."
I took a careful step forward toward her and spoke in a low voice.
"So, if you eat me now, it'll only hurt you."
"..."
"Prison rations come once every three or four days, right? And even then, it's barely enough to fill everyone up."
Honestly, I wasn't sure if she fully understood me.
But the Forest Lord wasn't just any monster—she was a top-grade one. Top-grade monsters were practically spiritual beings, so she'd get at least some of it.
"It might be fine for you, but it's nowhere near enough for your growing pups."
Thankfully, she seemed to understand. She glanced at her pups and hesitated for a moment.
"If you think I'm wrong, go ahead and eat me."
"...Grrk."
"But you won't like what comes after. You know what I mean?"
I stepped right up to her, putting on my most intimidating face and shoving my head toward her fangs.
"..."
Fortunately, those fangs didn't sink into my neck.
After a moment of contemplation in her eyes, the Forest Lord closed her gaping maw and stared intently into mine.
'...Even if negotiations failed, those fangs wouldn't have touched my neck anyway.'
Of course, I hadn't entered the prison recklessly.
The collar around her neck wasn't ordinary. It was enchanted with magic that could command the wearer verbally.
But since it was typically black magic, only a black mage like Schwarz could control her. That's why I'd come with Schwarz.
"In exchange for accepting my kindness quietly, I'll give you a reward."
"...?"
"Like this, for example."
Anyway, the initial rapport seemed successful, so now it was time to explain why she should listen to me.
"...Gruk?"
As I cautiously extended my hand and placed it on her flank, the Forest Lord flinched and pulled back.
"How's that? Impressive, huh?"
But that was enough. I'd already used my Crimson Eyes to heal the crack in her ribs.
I hadn't fully tested it yet, but the unique ability from the Crimson Eyes was incredible.
Even freshly awakened, I could heal most wounds just by touching them.
"A top-grade monster like you should understand. You don't kill the golden goose that feeds you every day and heals your wounds."
Such a miraculous thing was surely unprecedented even for a top-grade monster. If she understood, she'd never refuse my offer.
"...Right?"
"..."
"Y-You won't eat me... right...?"
But her gaze was so chilling as she looked down at me that I nervously asked again in a trembling voice.
"Gruk."
Fortunately, after glaring at me for a bit, the Forest Lord quietly turned away and walked back to her corner with a much more relaxed gait.
"...Hehe."
She was still watching me warily, but for now, that was enough.
The duel where I'd need her power was next weekend. There was still time.
"Alright, I'll come again tomorrow."
Wiping the cold sweat from my forehead with my sleeve, I tossed another sandwich to the pups and headed toward the entrance where Schwarz waited, my tension-drained legs barely cooperating.
"Young Master."
"Yeah?"
"I sometimes feel like... how should I put it."
Schwarz, who had been waiting ahead, approached with a dark smile.
"I want to lock you up so you can't do anything reckless."
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing. All done? Let's head up then."
Wait, what did I just hear?
"Young Master, hurry and grab my waist."
"...Okay."
"Seeing the prison gives me bad ideas."
I didn't quite get it, but Schwarz seemed to have a poor sense of humor.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
About a week after Kairen first visited the basement.
"Hey, kids!"
At the cheerful voice echoing through the basement as usual, the Forest Lord, who had been lying low to conserve energy, lifted her head with an irritated glare.
"Brought food today too!"
The annoying brat was entering the prison with the maid again, waving his hand.
"Keng keng!"
"Kyuruk!"
"Grooo!"
Despite her annoyance, her pups were already rushing to the brat, wagging their tails.
"Hehe, everyone looks full of energy now."
But the Forest Lord continued to glare warily at the pup named Kairen without taking any action.
After watching for a week, she'd realized he was completely harmless and even helpful for her pups' survival.
Even back in the Mist Forest when he was her prey, he'd been a weakling.
She'd assessed that the strange ability he'd shown brought her benefits without harm, so she'd been tolerating him to some extent.
"...Fluffy, how about you?"
One problem, though: Kairen wouldn't leave her alone.
Daring to call the Forest Lord, who had ruled the Mist Forest for centuries, by such a pathetic nickname?
It was absurd for her, once the ruler and terror of all monsters.
"Stop glaring like that."
"Grrk...."
"Ah, you're still kinda scary."
Having glared chillingly at Kairen for a moment, the Forest Lord resolved to discipline him today and took her stance.
"Grooo!!!"
"Eek, you scared me."
"...Gruk."
In the blink of an eye, she lunged at Kairen, circling him and breathing frost.
"W-Why are you doing this?"
- Kkiiigik....
"G-Good girl...?"
Kairen tried to stand firm at first, but as she scratched the floor with her sharp claws, he backed away in fear.
"Schwarz, Fluffy's acting weird...."
The moment he whined that.
"Get down."
A cold voice suddenly from behind Kairen.
"Gruk!"
As soon as Schwarz spoke, the binding in the collar forced her flat.
"...Come out quickly, Young Master."
"Ah, wait. Still have something to do...."
Though she ground her teeth glaring at Kairen, he glanced at her warily and stepped forward carefully.
"Here goes."
With extremely cautious hands, Kairen began stroking her back.
A warm energy instantly enveloped her, and the festering wound on her back healed in seconds, vanishing.
"Tch, no gratitude...."
Feeling it herself, the Forest Lord lowered her head quietly as Kairen grumbled with a hurt tone after finishing.
"...Hmph!"
As Kairen left the prison looking sulky, she realized her mistake and turned away awkwardly.
"Kiiing...."
"Kyururung...."
"Grooo?"
Her pups, plump from a week of Kairen's food, were hanging their tails and watching her nervously.
It made her heart sink.
As Kairen said, prison rations were too meager. Not enough even if she starved, for growing pups.
If the brat stopped coming because of today, what then?
She could endure, but she had to save her pups somehow....
"...Hey!"
But her worries were unfounded.
"Steak today! Snuck it from the kitchen!"
The next morning, Kairen appeared as usual, beaming innocently with dripping, nutritious meat.
"Here, catch? Fetch!"
The pups, who had waited breathlessly, were already bounding forward, tails spinning.
"Fluffy, want some?"
"..."
"Oh right, your neck wound hasn't fully healed yet."
Watching blankly, the Forest Lord averted her gaze as Kairen approached talking to her.
"It's tough for me to heal in one go. I'll do it last after the others."
What did this brat trust to keep talking to a monster like her?
As a centuries-old top-grade monster, she easily understood his words.
But did he know that? Or was he so pure he didn't realize it might all be for naught?
"Instead, today... I'll heal the wound on your forehead."
"..."
"No eating me, okay? Promise?"
But the biggest question was different.
"Grrrng...."
"Oh, good. Just like that...."
Why was this brat helping a monster who'd tried to eat him?
Over the week of treatments, she'd figured out how his ability worked.
It wasn't infinite. Healing others burned his own stamina and life force.
- Swoosh, swish....
Thus, she couldn't comprehend the innocent-faced kid before her.
Were humans normally kind enough to risk their lives healing someone who'd tried to kill them?
"Good kid...."
Lost in thought, as Kairen healed her forehead and petted her head, she unwittingly lowered it for easier access.
"Kyu?"
At that moment, the pups' cries from behind Kairen.
"Got it, got it. You guys too...."
Watching Kairen turn to the pups, the Forest Lord had a thought she'd never had before.
"...Gruk."
Maybe this one was different from the Belverk heirs she'd seen so far.
"...Hey, how much time until Young Master's duel?"
"You asking 'cause you don't know? Only three days left."
Until she overheard the maids patrolling the basement that night.
"Can he really win against that old spinster knight commander...."
"Probably not. Too strong for our cute little Young Master."
"But I think he's found a way somehow...."
"What? Really?"
Listening quietly to the maids gossiping about the annoying brat as usual, the Forest Lord's expression turned icy.
"...Lately, Young Master's been coming down here a lot."
"Huh? You don't mean...."
"Shh, even underground, better not chatter."
She realized why Kairen had been so good to her and the pups.
"..."
Humans really can't be trusted.
With that thought, she closed her eyes and made a vow.
"...Gruk."
In three days, no matter what Kairen did, she'd sink her fangs into his neck.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Three days later, the night before the duel.
"Fluffy, hey!"
"..."
"Hey, you pups too!"
Today, Kairen entered the prison at night instead of morning, greeting the Forest Lord and pups cheerfully as always.
"Today might be my last time here...."
"Keng?"
"Kyuruk?"
"Honestly, not even sure if I'll survive past today."
He tossed sandwiches to the ground with ominous words, holding a familiar magic scroll in his other hand.
"..."
It was the familiar beast contract scroll that talentless Belverk heirs had tried shoving at her over the years.
Glared at coldly, she lowered into a stance, eyes murderous toward Kairen.
If he tried using it on the pups, she'd lunge without hesitation and end him.
Conveniently, the maid who always came with him wasn't there today—perfect chance.
"...So today, I'll heal your neck wound."
But Kairen passed the pups nose-deep in sandwiches and approached her with clear eyes.
"In exchange, one condition."
Threatening the pups?
No matter what, she had no intention of listening.
He just wanted a proxy to throw into danger in his place.
Past Belverk heirs had at least risked their lives.
She wouldn't lend even a scrap of power to this coward, even starving to death.
"...Even fully healed, no eating me."
But as she prepared to lunge silently, what happened next stopped her cold.
- Goooo....
Kairen carefully hugged her neck with both arms, eyes turning red as he activated his power.
"Gruk...?"
Stunned by the unexpected, she looked down at cold liquid dripping on her paws.
- Drip, drip....
Blood as red as his eyes fell slowly onto her paws.
"...Ngh."
Lifting her head, she saw blood streaming from Kairen's nose, eyes widening.
Lilien's neck wound was indeed mortal.
Enveloping it fully, Kairen was naturally overloading.
But she'd never imagined he'd push to nosebleeds.
No, healing a near-death monster before even using the scroll? Wasn't there a limit to stupidity?
"Haa, haa...."
As she froze in thought, Kairen released her neck, panting heavily and stepping back.
"As expected, a wound this bad is tough...."
Confirming her full recovery, he quietly pulled something from his pocket and pressed it.
- Click....
Her collar fell limply to the ground.
"You're free now. Your pups too."
"..."
"But no hunting just anyone anymore. Only wild animals or bad monsters."
He tossed the prison key at her paws, said that, and turned to leave.
"...Oh, right."
The Forest Lord, who had stared blankly until then, snapped alert as Kairen stopped.
"If, well.... um."
He gently placed the contract scroll before her.
"If you wanna be friends, just paw print here."
Turning back, he finished with his usual bright voice and walked away.
"...You get the gist, right?"
But his voice trembled slightly on that last bit.
- Creeeak....
As Kairen fully exited, silence fell over the basement.
Standing dazed in shock, the Forest Lord glanced down at the scroll.
"..."
At the bottom, Kairen's crooked handwriting spelled her familiar nickname, drawing her gaze.
"...Gruk."
Forest Lord or Fluffy.
The most difficult choice of her life.
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