Chapter 912 – I Decided on You!

000

While the other party members went to change their costumes, Cleon went to the place where the cages where the demonic beasts were kept were displayed.

Aside from the demon beasts I saw on the way to the castle, various demon beasts were locked in cages and looking this way.

Among the dogs, there were beasts that showed obedient eyes, while there were also demonic beasts that showed their teeth and howled lowly, with a spirit that had not yet surrendered.

Somewhere, this lineup feels like an exhibition of strange animals.

However, thinking about its identity, Cleon could feel a slight chill down his spine.

‘The demon beasts here are all fairies who were executed by the nobles…’

The most important – immutable law for them, determined by the fairies’ common sense, which is different from human standards.

Fairies must engage in the role given to them, and faithfully performing that role is the meaning of their existence.

And, including the magical beasts belonging to the circus, the magical beasts of Fairy Village were originally fairies, but were deprived of their names and appearances and became corrupted.

When I think about the precedent of Buvre… I also remember.

They forgot that they were fairies and became mere animals, living according to their instincts.

Knowing this, none of the party members except Cleon agreed with Careclaw’s words that it was okay to perform acrobatics using magical beasts.

However, Cleon could not do that.

“Now, if you want any of the demon beasts here, you can use them in the performance, lady.”

Cleon glances up at the staff talking while standing next to him.

＂Do you… Know what kind of demon beasts here are?＂

＂…? Ah. Of course. They are beings who once turned their backs on their reason for existence. But… Thanks to the mercy of the nobles, I was given a reason to live like this once again.”

To Cleon’s question, the fairy answered.

To them, the nobles who gave the sinner a new chance seemed merciful.

That, too, was far from Cleon’s sensibilities – no, it was far from human standards, so it caused a sense of discomfort.

In the end, having your name, memories, and appearance taken away was like becoming something different from your original self and facing death.

＂Could they ever return to being fairies?＂

＂No. The role once taken away from a fallen being has already been given to another being. If there is no role to return to, it means that they have no way to return.”

＂Yeah… I guess so.＂

As Cleon said that, he looked at the whip tied to Step’s waist.

If they were beings who had the opportunity to be forgiven for their sins and return to their original form, they would not wield a whip to discipline their own people, even considering that possibility.

The twisted structure of this world was gathered in this narrow caged place where the animals were lined up.

“Why are you doing that? Wasn’t there a devil that worried you?”

As Cleon stood pondering such things, the fairy asked Cleon a question.

He won’t even understand some of the emotions Cleon is feeling.

No – maybe the recognition that this is wrong is because Cleon has human emotions.

A world where fairies are forced to ‘remain pure’.

They were not forgiven for gaining the knowledge or sensibility to recognize that something was twisted.

It is a world that is established with such a structure.

Don’t see, don’t hear, don’t know, hide the truth, don’t say it.

The truth is in the dark, and only those with vested interests can say it.

Was that a society created by the coronation of the Fairy King? Or was it something that Cleon did not know whether it had been like that 300 years ago when Lecia visited this world.

However, the fairy scent in the story she told would not have been this twisted and unpleasant world.

It is not impossible that she spoke with some filtering out of consideration for herself as a child, so as not to destroy her innocence…

＂Wow!＂

“Tch, this guy hasn’t been trained yet, so choose a different beast to use!”

Step pulled out the whip from his belt and swung it at the beast inside the cage, like a wild animal stretching out its front legs to escape the cage.

As the sharp sound of cutting through the air rang out, the whip stretched out like a poisonous snake, tearing the beast’s skin and blood spurting out.

The demon beast was screaming and running away to the corner of the cage.

… At least, it wouldn’t have been this cruel world like the back of a fairy tale.

Cleon didn’t even have the energy to stop the whip-wielding steps, and he started moving his eyes and steps to find the cage he had identified earlier.

The gazes of the magic beasts that moved their heads following Cleon were filled with curiosity toward Cleon, a desire to take him out, and anger at the object being compared to himself, who was just moving freely in front of his eyes.

After walking a few steps, being careful not to make eye contact with those people.

Cleon is discovering once again.

The reason she said she would perform with a demon beast was the one fox she saw just before entering the castle that bothered her.

She was a beautiful fox cub with white fur and a mysterious look with red tips.

She (I don’t know why, but Cleon thought she was a female), unlike the other magical beasts around her, curled up her small body quietly and was asleep like before.

Truly, an appearance like a sleeping princess in the forest.

Cleon wasn’t interested in ‘her special taste’ that Care Claw had mentioned, but when he looked at her, a part of her heart was pounding and reacting.

“Hmm, are you worried about that guy?”

At some point, Cleon turned to him and nodded at the words of the staff who had subdued the magical beast.

“Ah… What is her name?”

“There is no name. Not yet.”

“Not yet?”

When Cleon asks Step once again, Step also speaks while looking at the fox with his arms crossed.

“This guy was just caught today. I don’t know what kind of fairy he originally was, and I don’t know what kind of magical beast this is. Except that he looks like a fox and is calm…”

＂… Today…＂

Cleon was muttering as if something was bothering him.

However, it will be difficult to get an answer to that question from this man.

As we saw earlier, we cannot demand diverse knowledge from them.

So, putting her doubts aside for now, Cleon tried to talk her into taking him to her performance.

However.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to take this guy to the concert. He was brought in today without any training. Instead of listening to your commands, they will come to their senses and try to attack you when they wake up.”

＂…＂

A demonic beast that has not been trained is no different from a wild beast.

It’s the same even for cubs.

No matter how beautiful, calm, or cute the beast looks on the outside, it is still a magical beast.

The power they possess may be the type of weapon that can tear a person to death with its claws, even if it is an ordinary small animal.

I also knew Cleon well, as he had a history of encountering demonic beasts several times as an adventurer.

However, even after hearing Step’s words, he did not hesitate and slowly and carefully extended his hand towards the fox demon beast sleeping in the cage.

＂Wait a minute… As you please-＂

＂Shh…＂

When the staff tried to stop Cleon, Cleon brought the index finger of his remaining hand close to his mouth.

At Cleon’s actions, Step unconsciously stopped his body and blocked his voice.

Then, the sleeping fox’s ears pricked up.

He seemed to react sensitively to even the slightest sound or presence, and had sensed Cleon’s approach.

And as he carefully opens one eye, he sees Cleon’s face approaching him.

To be exact – it was Sasha’s face.

Well, Sasha’s cute top might make a better impression on beasts than Cleon’s basically expressionless and threatening face.

Then she awoke from her sleep with a slight movement, lifted her face as she was, and placed her face in Cleon’s hand.

He responded by lightly licking or biting the finger, as if to check whether Cleon had the will to harm him or not.

A little pain runs through my fingers, but there are no injuries.

＂…＂

＂Huh…＂

Seeing Cleon’s actions and the demon beast’s reaction, the step fairy reacts with admiration.

After a while, Cleon took his hand away from the fox demon beast.

Then, the fox licked Cleon’s finger again, as if apologizing for biting it.

＂Key.＂

＂Uh… Well, yeah.＂

Step, who was momentarily taken aback by Cleon’s words, suddenly came to his senses, took out the key from his waist, and opened the door to the cage where the fox demon was trapped.

Then, the demon beast slowly walks out with free steps and gently wags its tail while Cleon stands calmly.

＂Lady… Are you the type of person who can at least talk to animals?＂

“No. That’s not true, but… This guy looks like someone I know.”

Cleon makes eye contact with the fox while saying that.

The animal called ‘fox’ is a beast that has many meanings even in Eastern countries.

The same goes for demons – many shamans in the temple also wore masks with a fox motif.

This white fox, I didn’t know it when she closed her eyes.

When he stood up straight and looked into these eyes, he had the same eyes as ‘Nagi’.

＇As expected＇

Cleon was feeling that kind of premonition somewhere.

When she came here, from the moment I first encountered her, the identity of her strangeness and her vague familiarity was perhaps-

It may have been because she felt something similar to her Nagi.

＂Hmm. What. Since it’s a little girl’s situation, it’s not my place to say anything, but being quiet and being able to perform are two completely different things. If you don’t teach acrobatics, animals will just run around as they please.”

＂Kang!＂

When the step fairy looked at the fox demon beast and said something dismissive, the fox probably thought that he was ignoring her from his attitude, even if he couldn’t understand it exactly.

After letting out a sharp laugh, it jumped into the air, spun around, and created a wisp of turquoise flame around itself.

＂This is-＂

When Cleon sees the will-o’-the-wisp, he is reminded of the flame that Tokoyo had seen before, but did Step feel a sense of danger from that?

＂What is this guy! Is he planning on giving it a try!?”

And he reacted sharply.

He naturally puts his hand to the whip on his waist.

However, Cleon quickly stops him.

＂Wait a minute.＂

＂If you keep doing this, you will be punished!＂

“That won’t happen, so just watch quietly.”

Cleon opened his eyes wide and spoke to the staff, and the staff crouched down as if overcome by Cleon’s spirit and relaxed his grip on the whip.

Cleon quietly looks at the fox demon beast.

The fox demon beast didn’t even pay attention to Cleon and the staff, and moved its tail as if it were a hand, spinning the wisps in front of it.

Then, the fire spread thinly, forming a ring in the air, and the fox jumped up lightly and jumped between the burning rings.

＂Oh…＂

Seeing that, the staff let out exclamations of exclamation without even realizing it.

The magic beast jumping through the ring of flame was also a basic performance of the magic beast in the circus troupe.

However, even though it was basic, the first step was quite difficult.

Like other beasts, demon beasts also fear fire by instinct.

Jumping over a space made of fire is only possible if the fear of being hit by the trainer if you disobey orders becomes stronger than the fear of fire.

It was also the first step toward obedience to the trainer.

“This guy might become big…”

Step seems to have changed his mind, letting go of his whip and nodding his head.

In his mind, it seemed like he was thinking of a schedule on how to train the fox demon beast in the future.

Well, that won’t happen.

“Then. I’ll go to the concert with this guy.”

“Ah. Let’s do it. If he’s that calm, at least he won’t have a big accident during the performance.”

Step nodded, speaking as if Cleon could do as he pleased, and Cleon bent his knees and stroked the head of the fox sitting next to him.

＂… I’m not sure if you’re Nagi, but…＂

If it is true that her Nagi has changed, Cleon must return her to her original form.

In order to do that, it would be better to keep it yourself rather than being locked in another cage and being whipped by the trainer.

Although he was not confident about performing, he had to at least make sure of that.

“There isn’t much time until the performance, so you’d better hurry if you want to get it all together.”

＂I understand.＂

Cleon nodded his head, got up and went back to join the rest of the party who had just finished changing their clothes.

001

When Cleon returned to the preparation area for the staff with the fox, the fairies’ eyes were focused on one place.

＂…＂

Of course, it was natural that it was women who had changed into circus costumes.

＂Something… Is strange. Because I don’t usually wear such flowy clothes…”

It was Sasha who blushed and said that.

She, in the body of Lila, was dressed as a female magician.

A skirt that reaches above the knees with flowing frills, and a white shirt that exposes the navel.

A red vest and a black cloak split in two went down her back, and a tail with an arrowhead like a devil’s was hanging down her waist.

Her hair, which normally falls in twin tails, was tied into side tails, showing a different healthy charm than usual.

Of course, Sasha herself felt quite awkward as it was not her first time wearing this type of outfit.

＂It suits you well, Laila~… Not Sasha!＂

And Kuon, who was moving with Amelia’s body, was also clapping his hands while looking at Sasha.

If the costume prepared by the fairies for Lila was similar to that of a magical girl, the one Kuon wore on Amelia’s body was, on the contrary, a boyish costume.

A black tuxedo costume.

She gave off the air of a boy butler, and her long white blonde hair was braided into three braids and slicked behind her back.

With the white gloves on her hands and the leather shoes on her feet, she gave off a somewhat androgynous yet elegant boyish vibe.

“Ah, Amelia’s cross-dressing… I think it’s cool!”

“Is that so? … It’s a refreshing feeling to be able to see yourself wearing clothes that are different from what she usually wears from someone else’s perspective.”

Amelia had also changed her clothes, but she was wearing a neat tuxedo, as if she was her counterpart.

However, the white color is the exact opposite of the clothes Cleon usually wears.

The impression didn’t change that much, but it felt a little different from the usual gloomy Cleon.

Moreover, her hair was neatly slicked back, giving her a good-looking appearance.

Cleon, who came back, checked his outfit and felt something was unfamiliar, so he had no choice but to clear his throat and spare his words of praise.

＂But… Kuon- No, Laila?

Meanwhile, when Lila points out that she cannot be seen in Kuon’s body, the other two people who went with her to her dressing room look into each other’s eyes.

And the real Kuon was her blushing.

＂That is…＂

“I don’t have any clothes that fit right now… So I’m rushing to adjust my size…”

Kuon tries to explain while stuttering, and Sasha tells everything.

＂Sasha!＂

＂Hi! Sorry!”

When Kuon’s voice rang out, Sasha hid behind Amelia to avoid being hit by her mistake.

“It’s done!”

Then, she heard the voice of a girl she had heard before.

Trot, a girl fairy walking out of the dressing room with a slightly tired expression, wiped the sweat from her forehead and introduced to everyone the woman standing behind her with a proud expression.

＂Ku, Kuon… You’ve been living like this all along…”

Lila walks out with her voice shaking somewhere.

Kuon was standing there.

Wearing clothes that were much more revealing than the usual clergy attire.

Kuon was standing there, wearing a white rabbit costume that matched Kuon’s white skin well.

The outfit itself is extremely simple.

A high-leg top with a green ribbon that exists only at the neck and a high-leg top that barely maintains its height to the point where you wonder how it’s sticking to the overflowing chest.

While showing a strong stance on national affairs, he was somehow covering all the parts that needed to be covered.

And, from the thighs to the feet, mesh stockings that cut into the skin.

Threads intersecting in a check pattern were wrapping around her plump flesh.

However, perhaps the reason for being so exposed is that they are worried that the type of performance will change.

Her body was covered with a thick white coat-like cloak as if covering it from above.

＂What is that coat, Trot?＂

When the boy asks a question between Habe and Trot, Trot sighs.

“I feel like if I don’t wear this, I’ll end up looking like an adult… I swear, out of all the women I’ve ever dressed up for, I have the sexiest body.”

＂Such!＂

Kuon raised her voice, her face almost as red as an apple. Oh, on your side.

“… Can you perform wearing that?”

“I don’t have to move much and can just swing a cane… So it’s okay…”

With her heels shaking in her high shoes, Lila answered Cleon’s question.

No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t look good… But only if it’s okay…

As Cleon thought so, he made eye contact with the fox looking up at him.

“Good. What kind of queen is this that makes her so difficult to meet? She said let’s go see that face.”