Chapter 913 – A Trustworthy Being

000

Finally, when the time came just before the grand circus performance began, the group completed backstage preparations according to the set performance schedule.

Meanwhile, the performance using magical beasts was to be carried out all at once, so Cleon had to wait with the trainers at a little distance from the others.

Although I did not want to watch from the audience or nearby the other members of the group who appeared in front of people dressed differently than usual.

Remembering that he had not come to play, but to fulfill her request, Cleon gathered his strength.

‘Is this also an effect that entered Sasha’s body?’

Suddenly, as he was feeling uncomfortable with the idea that he wanted to play somewhere, a trainer came up to Cleon’s side.

＂The young lady is the human that Dandelion mentioned.＂

＂… But?＂

When Cleon raised his head, there stood a fairy with the face of a tiger and walking on two legs like a human.

Similar to Dandelion, he was wearing a long coat and gave off a neat, formal-looking look. It was clear that he was someone who had secured a certain level of status, at least within this circus troupe.

It’s the same with Dandelion and the fairy in front of him.

The beast-like fairies that had the faces of wild beasts but walked on two feet had such threatening faces that I was worried that they might be mistaken for demonic beasts.

＂”I am Tohen, the Demon Beast’s lieutenant and in charge of the performance using the Demon Beast in the circus performance.”

＂Tohen… I am Cleon.＂

When Cleon answered like that, the fairy who introduced herself as Tohen slowly turned her gaze to look at the fox demon beast next to Cleon.

From earlier, she had just been leaning on Cleon’s leg and waiting for their turn.

“The magical beast you decided to use for today’s performance… The ‘necklace’ is still here.”

＂Necklace?＂

When Cleon asked that question, Tohen gently opened his coat and showed necklaces of various sizes stored inside.

From shapes with spikes, like those often used on the necks of hunting dogs, to ones with cute ribbons.

The fact that he had props hidden inside his coat, like a magician, did not go well with his grim look, but Tohen said it didn’t matter.

＂All demon beasts going to the performance must wear this necklace.＂

“… Is that decoration really necessary?”

Cleon looks around while saying that.

Certainly, the demon beasts that the other trainers had, regardless of whether they were big or small, each wore a necklace of some sort around their necks.

I don’t think I was wearing it when I was in the cage…

“This is not just decoration. It is definitely a magic tool.”

＂Magic tools…? Those necklaces?”

The magical power felt was not that strong.

Since it was made by fairies, I thought it was natural that it would be magical, so I didn’t point it out.

“Okay. This is something that Chopper developed for the performance. While wearing this necklace, it suppresses their aggression and wildness.”

“I heard that the demon beasts used in the performance are all demon beasts that you have trained.”

When Tohen spoke of the story she had heard from the staff who walked among the demonic beasts with her earlier, she shook her head.

＂Even if some demon beasts are trained and obeyed, their wildness and beast nature remain within them. It is a fundamental instinct that can never be castrated in living creatures. Big lights, lots of people. And loud noises. When exposed to such an environment, demon beasts may be stimulated by it, become anxious, and at the same time suppressed instincts may explode. If that happens… The audience might be harmed before we can do anything about it. Don’t you think so?”

At Tohen’s words, Cleon fell silent for a moment.

This is because there was nothing wrong with what he said that needed to be pointed out.

Because we were aware of the dangers of using magic beasts, we prepared safety measures against it.

In a way, it was a natural story.

The only concern was that the necklace might have some negative side effects on the demon beast.

This is because suppressing something is, on the contrary, an act that can cause something else to leak out or put a burden on the vessel.

＂Rest assured. This is not something that will bother your demons.”

However, Tohen shook his head as if he had read Cleon’s thoughts.

＂… How did you know?＂

“What the young lady was thinking was evident on her face. What. “You’re still too young to have a poker face.”

＂…＂

I almost forget that this body is Sasha’s.

Certainly, Sasha is not good at hiding her emotions with her facial expressions.

“What. As a human, you may think of demonic beasts as nothing more than animals.”

“… No, if it’s a demonic beast, I’ve dealt with it before. But. This guy is just a little different from other demon beasts.”

At Tohen’s words, Sasha shook her head and looked down at her fox.

“… Because you have to wear it around your neck. Would you like to choose it yourself?”

＂Kang!＂

And when she raised her voice and had to raise her neck considerably due to Tohen’s height, Tohen shrugged his shoulders and then bent his knees to adjust the height of his coat to the fox demon’s height. Br〉

Cleon looked a little surprised by Tohen’s unexpectedly kind behavior.

“Why do you look so surprised?”

And Tohen asks Cleon while looking at him.

＂No… Because it was unexpected. Other trainers seemed to only view the beasts as objects to be feared or subdued.”

Tohen closed his mouth for a moment at Cleon’s words, then spoke quietly while looking at the fox.

“Demon beasts are inherently dangerous beings, so it is true that we must be cautious. But… These demon beasts are also fairies who were originally our kind. It is true that they committed sins… But some of them have unavoidable circumstances.”

And, when the fox chose the one with the smallest ribbon among the necklaces hanging inside Tohen’s coat, he took it off the coat and handed it to Cleon.

“We cannot turn our eyes away from that truth and treat them as mere beasts to be dealt with and obeyed. That’s it. Well, even if they aren’t originally fairies, isn’t it tiring to be making faces at the circus with your colleagues who are supposed to entertain the audience?”

Tohen said that, patted the fox’s head once, and then stood up.

Cleon naturally looked at the necklace and the tohen he was given, then spoke to him.

＂You… Are a good guy.＂

“Hmph, thanks to this face, I don’t hear those words very often.”

He responds to Cleon’s compliment with a light joke, and pats Cleon on the shoulder.

I could see that there was encouragement to do well.

And Cleon could only stare for a moment at Tohen’s back as he walked towards the other demon beasts and members.

Then-

＂Kang…＂

Perhaps because she liked the design of the necklace she had chosen, the fox clung to Cleon’s leg with her paws.

“Okay. “I’ll put it in now.”

Considering that animals don’t like wearing collars because they feel stuffy, the fox’s behavior was a bit strange.

Cleon could tell from her brief interactions with Tohen that she felt safe with him.

In fact, Cleon himself felt that she was more trustworthy than any other fairy he had ever met in Fairy Incense.

＂Like this… Like this… ＂

Cleon adjusts the width of her necklace to fit the fox’s neck.

And, the necklace fit the fox’s neck without any problems, and a cute pink ribbon was attached to her neck.

＂Kang!＂

The fox touched the ribbon around her neck a few times with its paws and then circled around Cleon.

She also seemed happy to dress up.

＂Haa… If you are really Nagi, I wonder whether you will have this memory or not when you return to your original form… ＂

Cleon could only mutter and shake her head, as if she was a little worried about what would happen next.

“Hey! Next is our turn!”

At that time, Tohen’s voice was heard from far away.

At the same time, a group of people were seen returning from a performance in the tent.

Everyone was sweating profusely, clearly showing that they were having a hard time doing something they were not used to.

“How was the audience’s reaction?”

When Cleon asked that question, Kuon, who seemed somewhat sane, answered.

Is it because she has Amelia’s body or because of her stamina?

＂Hmm… Should I just say this… I cheered when Lila created a huge fairy with illusion magic, but other than that… ＂

Cuon answered Cleon’s question as if he didn’t know.

By her standards, does that mean the audience’s response was not that good?

＂Ah~! It’s hard!”

Lyla, who had really taken action, immediately stumbled over and sat down on her chair.

＂Gwae, is it okay? If I just go to the circus like this and don’t meet the queen…”

When Sasha spoke as if she was worried, Cleon shook her head at her group.

“Are you okay. I’ll try something. Right? “

And when she said that to the fox who became her partner, the fox let out a ‘Kang!’ Sound again.

＂Then, I will come back.＂

After Cleon left those words to her group, she followed the trainers as they walked towards the tent.

When you pass through the entrance of the tent where the light enters –

＂Waaaaa!!!＂

As loud cheers rang out, the auditorium with numerous spectators sitting around came into view.

Dizzyingly colorful lights and loud music.

Already, some of the demonic beasts are overwhelmed by it and are shrinking.

However, Cleon and the fox were different.

“… Let’s go. We can’t let this hardship go to waste.”

With that lightly encouraging himself, Cleon advanced to the center of the performance hall with the other trainers.