CH 22

Ashley, with Hank and Jeanne, was going back to the stables carrying the things.

‘I hope this will wake Mister Black Wolf up.’ 

She pleaded while they strode through the backyard. Then, Jeanne said, “Oh, Miss Ashley. You have something on you.” she crouched down and picked at the hem of Ashley’s skirt. It was white hair. It must be from the white rabbit that Count Reiter had entrusted to her until this morning. 

She had already changed out of the dress that she wore that time, but one must’ve gotten stuck on her.

“Oh, that’s―” She almost said it with a smile, but she stopped.

‘Come to think of it, Lord Clyde told me not to tell Jeanne about the white rabbit.’

He mentioned that he might not be able to return the rabbit back. But, since the white rabbit already left, what should she do? As she wondered whether to tell her or not, Jeanne’s expression changed as she stared at the white hair pinched in between her fingers. 

“This…isn’t this rabbit hair!?”

‘You can tell!?’

It’s astonishing that she was able to tell by just a single strand of fur.

Jeanne came at her, her eyes were wide open, “Why!? Why was there rabbit fur on Miss Ashley’s dress!?”

“Well… Actually, Lord Clyde’s friend entrusted him to take care of his rabbit the night before―”

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“You took care of it?”

“…Yes.”

Jeanne’s face contorted into dismay, “Why!? Why didn’t you tell me!? Oh, rabbit! The white rabbit was this close―!” she clutched her head into her hands. It was a little scary.

She didn’t know that Jeanne’s love for rabbits was this strong. Although Ashley was pleased to know that, she felt troubled by Jeanne’s unusual behavior.

“Ah, uhm. I’m sorry. If this ever happens again, I’ll make sure to let you know.”

“Please do. By all means, whatever it takes.”

“I’m really sorry…I had to return it to its owner this morning, and I was told by Lord Clyde that you might not let it return when you’re informed about it.”

“That’s right.”

“What?” Ashley was dumbfounded as Jeanne said that with a straight face.

Then, Jeanne continued without batting an eye, “I won’t give it back. It will be my rabbit. Because it is a sweet adorable rabbit.”

Ashley was confused. What should she do? She didn’t understand the words she meant after, but she could tell that Jeanne was very serious.

‘Maybe Lord Clyde was right.’

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If something like that happens again, it would be imperatively better not to tell Jeanne. As she thought that, she saw Jeanne tucking the strand of white rabbit hair lovingly in her robe pocket.

She helped Hank, who was carrying the heavy mirror and opened the green door at the back of the stables. At that moment, 

“It can’t be…” She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The black wolf is awake. It was thin but it was still standing firmly on the ground on all fours looking at her with its jet-black eyes. Ashley, Jeanne, and Hank remained standing on the spot. They were so shocked that they couldn’t speak as they looked at each other.

“Master Clyde!?”

“What happened?”

The magicians, who came back into their senses, rushed to Clyde, who was sitting behind the black wolf with his head in his hands. They have never seen him like that before. Just when they were about to panic on what had happened, they heard the black wolf’s voice in their head.

“It’s nothing.” The sound of its voice filled their heads.

“Whoa. What the heck?”

“I can hear your voice!”

Hank and Jeanne exclaimed with astonished faces. The black wolf continued with a glum look on its face, “The result was different from what was expected, that’s why he looks dejected.”

‘What was he thinking―is it about helping Mister Black Wolf?’ Ashley, who was used to this way of speaking in her previous life, nervously asked in her mind. This is how they speak with higher demons. They speak from their minds as they speak into their heads.

―that’s how it was supposed to be.

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As Ashley was intently staring at the black wolf, it tilted its head at her, “Did you just say something to me?”

‘What?’

“What’s wrong? I can’t hear you unless you say it out loud.”

‘Huh―?’

It seems that Ashley was misunderstood. She felt embarrassed. She couldn’t believe that she did that right away to the black wolf she admired. If the ground had been dirt instead of stone, she would’ve dug a hole to hide in.

The black wolf looked around them and said, “In other words, there is no way for me to get to the demon king’s soul.”

“What?”

――Hank and Jeanne, who heard what the black wolf said, turned their heads at Clyde.

“It can’t be…”

“We’ve come this far…”

They looked as if they were going to cry while knocking their hands on the floor with frustration and helplessness. They have spent four years doing this. It would’ve been too painful to think about what Clyde felt.

However, what’s on Ashley’s mind was different.

‘Huh? It must be that place for sure―’

“Enough. You’ve done enough. Especially for me, a demon.”

“No! If the end was futile, then all that we have done till now was for nothing…!”

“That’s right! At first I was reluctant to wake you up because Master Clyde asked me to. However, I have taken care of you for four years, it is inevitable to get attached!”

‘It must be over there, right? Along the cliffs of the island―’

“I am indebted to you. I owe it to you that I was able to survive this long. Especially Clyde over there.”

“This is not impossible…”

“Yes, I thought we would definitely be able to help you…”

Clyde didn’t even say a word. The black wolf smiled as if it had reached great triumph, “Although I was asleep, I was actually conscious however partly. I could hear voices, see dimly directly through my mind. My life will soon end, but I already had enough.”

“Uhm, Mister Black Wolf――” 

As she spoke, everyone focused their eyes on Ashley. Hank and Jeanne, who looked like they were about to cry, the black wolf, who is about to give up, and Clyde, who looked devastated by his powerlessness. 

Ashley gulped. If she tells them, she may probably be prosecuted. Her previous life will surely be revealed, but she doesn’t want to see the black wolf, Hank, Jeanne, or Clyde like this. She doesn’t want their expressions to be like that. 

She licked her lips to moisten them and said, “Um, perhaps it may be an island?”

“―an island?”

“That’s right. A small island at the east end. It’s now called the Furt Island.”

“Furt Island…”

“Wouldn’t it be along the cliffs there? A small hollow place on the west side of the island.”