Lilien Nox Belverk.
The third daughter of the Belverk Ducal House, known as the most ostracized among the family's three monsters due to her unique personality—a discarded child.
But very few people knew her true nature.
"Wh-who are you...?"
"...Hmm."
"G-get away...!"
Especially, only two people in the world knew about the day she, who truly had no Belverk blood, was adopted by Astridje.
"Not even bowing your head to an enemy—truly impressive."
"Sh-shut up... It's none of your business, right?"
For Lilien, who was just about to turn thirteen, it was her oldest and an unforgettable memory from her life.
It was the day she, trembling, held an old knife and confronted Duke Astridje.
"But the most important thing is the reason you pointed the blade."
"I said get lost!"
"You don't seem to be on the side of this orphanage's trash. So, what could the reason be?"
Though the memory was faint, Lilien clearly remembered it.
The day the orphanage where she lived before receiving the 'Belverk' name was burned down for crimes like corruption and abuse. She had confronted the one who destroyed it, pointing a knife with shaking hands.
And behind her, even smaller and more fragile children than herself were trembling in fear, unable to even think of running away.
"I see. So you pointed the blade to protect children weaker than yourself."
"Eek!?"
Of course, she also remembered the words Astridje spoke softly while ignoring the knife and stroking her head as she approached.
"...You're a kind child."
For Lilien, who heard such praise for the first time in her life, it was an unforgettable memory.
"..."
But after coming to Belverk and going through various events, Lilien, who had closed her eyes to reminisce on that dusty, faded memory, slowly opened them.
"...Ha."
And soon, a sigh-like laugh escaped her lips.
"Haha..."
What entered her vision was none other than Kairen's room.
After hearing the maid's report, she had apparently lost her mind and unknowingly walked back here.
"Ha..."
Lilien let out a self-deprecating laugh at her own foolish action, but her expression soon darkened again.
"..."
The runaway note that Schwarz had kindly held up with both hands was now fallen at her feet.
"Fucking idiot."
Lilien picked up the note limply and muttered in a sharp voice.
"...Why the hell did you walk into hell on your own two feet?"
She didn't deny that the new rival who appeared when her position was already precarious was a thorn in her side, or that she wished he would just disappear from her sight.
But Lilien had wanted him to leave this place of his own accord, at least.
For a weak-looking, kind kid like him, the Monster Ducal House was too hellish to endure.
"I warned you clearly. So..."
No, actually, that wasn't true. For Kairen, this place might not be hell.
Having survived her infancy in an orphanage that wouldn't even treat her like trash, she knew well. Sometimes, a hell with freedom was better than a prison without it.
She didn't know exactly how the Opstein Marquisate had treated Kairen until now. Until a few days ago, she had assumed it was just a normal, warm noble family unlike Belverk.
But she knew well that a line like 'I don't want to be hated again' wasn't something a child that age would say easily.
"So..."
To be honest now, she had been jealous of Kairen.
Her mother, who grew colder and more heartless day by day; the maids who always avoided her; even the retainers obsessed only with the vice-duke and corruption—all were paying attention to this newbie who hadn't been here long.
In that situation, it was obvious what feelings the notoriously ostracized Lilien would have toward Kairen.
"..."
Lilien read the note with its crooked handwriting once more, then crumpled it in her fist and bowed her head.
"I never thought you'd really want something stupid like friends."
Tears began flowing down her cheeks, soaking into the crumpled note and slowly wetting the paper.
This time, it wasn't the defensive tears she often shed when angry or things didn't go her way.
"...But I didn't know."
The tears blurring even the doodle at the bottom of the note exposed the weakness she had sworn to hide since coming to the mansion.
"...I'd forgotten long ago how to accept someone's true feelings."
Lilien revealed her fragile heart, disguised by rough curses and a thuggish personality, after so long.
And just as she collapsed to the floor, her body shaking silently...
"There's still a chance."
"...Hic, sniff. Wh-what?"
Startled by the sudden voice from behind, Lilien jumped up, hastily wiped her tears with her sleeve, and turned around.
"It's true there were traces of Young Master Kairen and the Forest Lord near the cave. But that's why there's still time."
"..."
"There were no bloodstains or signs of a hunt. Young Master Kairen probably escaped somehow."
Lilien's personal maid, who had quietly left earlier, was now offering her opinion from behind.
"But now it's really just a matter of time. No matter how fast the young master's feet are, the Forest Lord knows the terrain. Evening is probably the limit."
"Then..."
"For reference, I don't recommend contacting the Duke. It would only reveal the young lady's sin, and the distance is too far. Even rushing, she'd arrive at dawn at best."
As her usually taciturn personal maid kept speaking, Lilien, momentarily stunned, clenched her fists and stood straight.
"...What do I need to do?"
"Just one simple order."
The proposal from her personal maid.
"Order me to search the heart of the Mist Forest. I'm the only one who can head straight there without time constraints."
"..."
"I couldn't during the last search because there was no order. But if you command it, I'm prepared to stake my life."
Lilien stared at her personal maid, who always stayed silent except for necessities and seemed different today, then asked in a low voice.
"...Why are you going that far?"
"Well, I don't know either."
A somewhat deflating response came back.
"It's just... seeing the young lady in tears feels unfamiliar."
Lilien blinked at those words, then smiled coldly and walked toward her.
"...Ha, alright. Thanks to you, I've got a good idea."
Her eyes still brimmed with tears, but her aura was markedly different now.
"Thanks for snapping me out of it."
"...Yes."
"I order you."
As she spoke, her personal maid closed her eyes, bracing herself.
"From now on, attack me with your life on the line."
"Pardon?"
"I won't counter at all, so go all out."
But at the completely unexpected order, she opened her eyes wide and stared at her master.
"You know my Unique Ability and its activation condition, right?"
"...Young Lady!"
"Honestly, I've wanted to try that weird power of yours for a while."
Realizing the meaning of the order, the maid tried to back away urgently, but the heir's absolute restraint already bound her legs.
"So, lend it to me just this once."
The next moment, black smoke began pouring from the personal maid's body, engulfing her master in an instant.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hah, hah..."
It had been about 24 hours since unluckily encountering the Forest Lord at the supposedly safe entrance of the Mist Forest.
"...This is bad."
I had been shaking off surrounding monsters with Mom's perfume and trying to evade the Forest Lord's pursuit, but I could feel I was reaching my limit.
"No more places to go..."
I had tried to flee toward the exit, but somehow the Forest Lord had herded me not to the exit, but to the center—to the edge of a cliff atop a hill.
- Grrr...
The Forest Lord prowling before me, breathing blue mist, seemed wary of Mom's perfume scent still lingering on me.
But I'd almost used up the perfume, and the wind up here was strong. It was only a matter of time before the scent blew away.
"Ah, ugh..."
Moreover, during the escape, I'd taken a few hits and was somewhat injured.
Nothing fatal. Just scratched by claws a few times and bitten on the arm once?
Blood was flowing a bit, but compared to the experiments at the marquisate, this was nothing.
Of course, it didn't mean I could dodge freely without issue.
'...See, deceiving people brings punishment.'
This is why people should live kindly. Even if Third Sister started it, I half-deceived her too. So, this heavenly retribution was fitting.
"...Chirp chirp."
But that was that, and I had no intention of abandoning Peep after coming this far.
Honestly, tearing the return scroll covering Peep right now would save my life.
- Peck peck...
Knowing that, Peep had been pecking my chest with the scroll in its beak.
But that's why I couldn't give up. Peep's actions, giving up everything for me, overlapped with my past self.
"Urgh..."
So, as a last resort, I flattened myself on the ground and covered Peep with my body.
- Goooo...
At the same time, I began preparing a technique I'd practiced with Schwarz over the past few days.
I hadn't awakened my Unique Ability yet, but the Crimson Eyes' drastic physical enhancement and super senses made it feasible.
- Gruk...?
And since it saw me as mere prey, success odds were higher.
A predator wouldn't expect prey to resolve to fight with its life on the line.
"...Ugh."
But as I lay covering Peep, pain stabbed my eyes, and chills wracked my body.
'Could it be blood loss...'
Thinking back, I'd bled quite a bit escaping here. Distracted protecting Peep, who'd become a target like me, I hadn't noticed.
"...Ugh."
Lying prone like this, my body grew cold, strength fading. I might just fall asleep like this...
"Tweet!"
Peep, dazedly staring at me from my arms, pecked my ear to wake me.
Its eyes seemed to ask why I was going this far for it—a positive change from its earlier cold glare and head-turn.
"It's okay. I'll protect you."
Gaining a bit of strength, I gritted my teeth, muttered that, and raised one leg.
"...I know well how lonely and painful it feels."
But that was my limit. Vitality drained too fast; I couldn't move anymore.
- Groooar!
Even as the Forest Lord, crouched right before me, lunged.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Just before the Forest Lord's sharp fangs sank into his neck, Kairen clutched the bird tightly, squeezed his eyes shut, and bowed his head.
"...Huh?"
But as time passed, no fangs pierced his neck.
- Kiiing!
Instead, someone's fist blocked Kairen's front, smashing into the Forest Lord's face and sending it tumbling forward.
"Hey, kid. Lift your head."
Kairen, dumbfounded, looked up at the figure emanating black smoke and gaped in shock, eyes wide like a rabbit's.
"Belverks don't bow to anyone."
The one who wiped blood from her forehead with her sleeve and turned to speak was none other than his third sister, Lilien.
"...It's common sense, so memorize it, idiot."
Her voice carried the usual irritation, but tears welled in her eyes, matching the small smile on her lips.