Chapter 33
Chapter 33
“Puppy!”
Every time she called like that, my fur would bristle. Before I could even run, I’d get caught, wrestled to the ground, and choked until I could barely breathe. I tried to plead for my life, but all that came out were ‘Rrrf!’ or ‘Hrrng’” sounds. I couldn’t use language in my beast form.
If I could control magic, I might’ve used telepathy. But since I hadn’t had even a drop of blood from my source parent, even that was impossible.
“Eheh!”
I hadn’t been able to stop her from going through that suspiciously magical-smelling door. That was all because Bellatrix was stronger than me. The place we ended up in was unfamiliar, yet somehow felt familiar.
‘The western forest?’
It was a landscape I recognized. Even while grimacing, I tried to keep myself alert. Unlike my tense self, Bellatrix eagerly confirmed no one was around and then suddenly flopped down on the ground. I circled her, worried she might be sick, but she seemed perfectly fine.
She really was a human child who knew how to tug at your concern in the strangest ways. When had I even started caring like this for a human? I couldn’t quite remember.
‘Whatever the case, I guess I just can’t leave her alone.’
I let out a sigh internally just as Bellatrix, lost in thought, looked up.
“Derion.”
Her sudden action left me stunned again, and my breath caught. Even the wind stilled.
“Derion.”
Her voice was so soft you could barely hear it unless you focused, yet the name echoed clearly, like a bell in my head.
“From now on, you’re Derion.”
It was an eerily clear voice, sounding almost magical. Bellatrix… do you even understand what it means to give a name to a beast? To a Hirpus, especially one like me, a mutated anomaly, what does a name mean?
Thump. Thump.
My heart pounded erratically as my vision flashes white, then red. The world blurred, then became sharper than ever before. I could hear the world again, even the quick, small beat of her heart.
“Eheh! You like it? Derion!”
In that moment, as the world filled with glittering color, I saw her smiling at me, those blue eyes shining brighter than anything in the world. The Hirpus species has only one mate in a lifetime. It is fate. When that bond is formed, it’s marked and irrevocable.
By giving me a name, I became her familiar. But I, Hirpus, also knew I had been marked.
To me, who had been waiting quietly to die… this was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
***
I gave him the name I had secretly decided on for a while. Derion stiffened, not even blinking. His long, vertical pupils dilated and shrank repeatedly before he finally blinked slowly.
A glint of light flashed in his red eyes, and then his body shivered.
“Huh?”
At the same time, I felt something whoosh out of my body, a momentary feeling.
“Phew…”
It would’ve been terrible to faint after coming all this way for no good reason. After arriving through the portal, the first thing I’d thought of was naming him and I had. I’d wanted to explore first, but the moment felt too perfect to pass up.
‘I am proud of myself!’
I had brainstormed so many names in secret, and in the end, the one that stuck was Derion. My chest swelled with pride. I had done two things today that would make Lucifer and Regnator absolutely faint: sneaking out and naming a beast.
It felt like playing a naughty prank, my feet even tingled with mischief. Had I always been this rebellious?
‘Wait, no, I’m not even a kid…’
Maybe I was starting to become one, syncing with the age of this body.
“Derion, come.”
I waved at Derion, who was looking at me with a strange expression, and decided to properly explore the forest. Even under the bright moonlight, the forest was dark but it didn’t feel scary.
Maybe it was because I was used to darker places. Compared to Lucifer’s pitch-black chambers, this was practically daylight. I shrugged and started walking, wiggling my heavy bottom with determination down an unknown path.
My curiosity rose and with it, my cheeks did too.
Still, a small part of me felt a twinge of worry.
‘W-will I get scolded…?’
Just thinking about Lucifer’s wrath made my brows furrow. Him getting angry was… terrifying, even to imagine.
‘Maybe I should find a gift before going back…?’
Not because I feel guilty or anything, really. It’s just that he worked so hard on the party, and if he realized I disappeared, he’d be shocked and I wanted to soothe that.
“That’s right!”
Yes. Let’s not misinterpret the heart. Today is my birthday, after all. A day where anything should be forgivable. If not… then let’s make that a rule starting now.
Lost in a string of thoughts, even my expression twisted strangely. Derion, walking beside me, let out what sounded like a sigh of dismay.
Was that really a sigh? And ever since I named him, he’d been giving me strange looks.
‘Is he judging me…? Impossible, right?’
He’s just a baby beast. But still, every time our eyes met, my chest tightened, as if I’d done something wrong.
‘No, no, I’m overthinking.’
I tried to ignore it and walked faster. Without being able to talk, I was just full of thoughts. I tried to empty my head. Eventually, we reached a small spring that shouldn’t have been there.
“Wow…”
My mouth parted in awe. The moonlight reflected off the water, making it sparkle. It was so clear I could see straight to the bottom. It shimmered like crimson under moonlight. During the day, it might look like golden sunshine.
“Tch.”
I thought I’d found a jewel or something. But no, it was just a pretty spring. I reached out to maybe pick up a stone.
“Grrra!”
Before I could touch the water, Derion headbutted my hand away and growled, baring his teeth. This time, it felt serious as if he’d bite me if I didn’t listen.
‘Why’s he so fierce today?’
I gave him a name! Did he not want to be my familiar? Should I have asked first? Feeling awkward, I slowly drew back my hand.
“Okay, okay…”
I glanced at him and curled my fingers in retreat. Maybe it was sensitivity, or maybe he was rejecting the bond. Unsure about it, I still chose to listen to him this time.
With a flop, I sat near the spring.
“Ugh…”
I tapped my stretched-out legs and sighed.
I walked for a few minutes, but since naming Derion, my body had become unusually tired. My strength had all but left me.
‘Is the party over by now?’
The sky had darkened, and a crimson moon now hung in it. Looking up at that moon, I remembered Lucifer and Regnator’s birthday banquet. If it hadn’t been for that unexpected guest, I’d probably be in Lucifer’s arms, stuffed with cake by now.
The adventure was fun but now that I was tired, all I wanted was to go home.
That’s when I heard a stranger’s voice.
“Well, well… What a catch I’ve found.”
Growl!
At once, Derion leapt in front of me, shielding me.
“I regret that we parted without a proper goodbye. But I never expected you to walk right into my trap.”
“…”
“For someone so weak, you’re shockingly fearless.”
Between his narrowed lids, glowing red eyes gleamed with laughter. His rising lips were unmistakably mocking, it soured my mood instantly.
‘Why is he here? What trap?’
I had used the portal near Lucifer’s chambers. I thought it would take me somewhere safe. And yet here was a stranger; someone clearly not invited to the party.
I slowly stood. Derion remained on alert, his energy entirely different from when he’d growled at me earlier.
Even when I’d first met Morus, he hadn’t been this defensive.
“Heh… I expected Regnator to come storming in, not this.”
“…”
“Isn’t it fascinating? I tend to be quite lucky, but I never thought today of all days would bring me such fortune.”
His cryptic words made me uneasy. He kept laughing, switching between mocking chuckles and dark amusement. That laugh… it was the kind villains have in shadowy corners.
“And now, what brings the princess of the Demon Realm to such a lowly place?”
“…”
“Oh, can’t speak yet? This is why lowly humans should never be adopted… The current Demon King’s taste is truly twisted.”
I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but one thing was clear: this dang guy was insulting my dad.
==
(TN: The fact that she was proud of naming Hirpus was another thing but to think that the portal door was safe is also another topic… I fear for her fearlessness. Prayers to the Demon King.)
