C 50
Erno Etham carefully took me from Callan's hands.
"Actually... I grow quickly."
Callan Etham pouted his cheeks and muttered unfairly.
"But once you grow, I'll grow too."
I didn't dare say that, so I smiled brightly. I don't know if they can see me smile since I'm a lizard.
"Anyway, we've been thinking about this for a while, haven't we?"
"What have you been thinking?"
When I tilted my head instead of answering, Silian stepped forward.
Then he opened a book in front of me. It seemed to be a book about Suins.
"I researched, and it seems that lizards like to live in subtropical climates. Of course, there are unique individuals that live in the desert, or live in the water... but we don't know exactly what entity Eirin is."
Well, that definitely made sense.
Now that I think about it, they said Suins needed a suitable environment.
That's why Suins are said to not usually leave the place they were born until they become adults.
The place where Suins are born and raised is said to be the most suitable ecosystem for their growth.
I nodded.
As I nodded, Silian Etham turned the page.
"So, we're going to demolish part of the remaining Etham family property and turn it into a comfortable place for you to live? Oh, we got permission from the patriarch."
The Duke Miriel allowed it?
How much time has passed since I fainted? It didn't feel like I had been asleep for a long time...
"Then, would you like to see an illustrated book and choose what kind of environment you like?"
A detailed description of the lizard's habitat was written on the page he opened.
"Do you have a favorite climate?"
I like warm weather, but I don't like it to be too hot.
However, most lizard habitats shown are on the warmer side.
"I'm not good at swimming..."
I looked closely at the book, even stuck my face in it, but there was nothing I particularly liked.
"It seems stuffy everywhere."
While shaking my head, Silian's expression showed disappointment.
"Not...? Subtropics here are the most popular among lizards."
I shook my head.
Humidity and heat are the worst. Korean summers were the worst. I hate the feeling of being trapped all over my body.
"Then, this desert...?"
No, no.
It's too hot there. I'm sure I won't even be able to breathe and I'll die.
"A place with water like this...?"
It was a place with swamps and lakes.
I vigorously shook my head again. No matter how I think about it, that's not a place to live.
"It's strange, I heard that most lizards live this way..."
And my back itches a lot.
"That's strange."
It seems my body has grown a bit more than last time.
My back was itching, so I twisted my body and moved my palms. Erno Etham smiled and gently stroked my forehead.
"Now that I think about it, your head doesn't hurt anymore, does it?"
I touched my head with a front paw and pointed at Erno Etham. He ran his hand over his forehead once and frowned.
Like a person who has finally realized something strange, he fell silent for a long time before slowly looking at me.
Knock, knock.
At that moment.
There was a sharp knock.
"Young Master Erno, the young lady's pet... We've prepared the animal."
I felt hesitation at the servant's words.
"Oh, as expected, it hasn't been long since I fainted."
Fortunately.
It hasn't been a week like last time.
"A pet? What is it?"
"Father, what animal did you buy for Eirin...?"
When the door opened at the right moment and Lucilion came in, Callan and Sillian, who were expressing their doubts, fell silent as if they had witnessed something incredible.
The two boys looked at Lucilion, their expressions becoming increasingly confused, and then at Erno Etham.
"Father...?"
"They say it's the latest trend."
"What...?"
"It seems you didn't even know because you were also at home."
Erno Etham looked at his two sons, instantly turning them into rubbish.
"..."
"..."
The two boys looked at Erno Etham with bewilderment.
"Miss."
When Lucilion found me in Erno Etham's hand, he slowly closed his eyes and approached me.
At that moment, Callan Etham blocked his way.
—Father, what kind of fox-like bastard, that I don't know where you got, are you entrusting to Eirin?!
—Well, he's also a man.
—If you neuter him, he'll stop.
Lucilion, who was always smiling, shrugged his shoulders and took a step back.
—Wouldn't it be better to have a same-sex pet?
—That wouldn't be bad.
—His aura is pure and quite gentle, so I brought him but...
They can't be serious.
You psychopaths...
—Kwu-wook!
As I mustered up strength from my belly and cried as loudly as I could, everyone's eyes focused on me at once.
—Did my daughter just cry?
I nodded.
Erno Etham opened his eyes wide, then smiled and gently stroked my head.
—Were you looking at lizard ecology?
—Yes... But how did you know it was Eirin?
Lucilion's eyes widened like saucers at Callan Etham's question.
—Where is there a pet that doesn't recognize its owner?
—Don't talk nonsense.
Lucilion smiled and scratched his cheek several times.
—Because my teacher picked me up the other day.
—Eirin picked you up?
—Yes, after that, I lost my teacher at the underground auction... While living on the streets again, I happened to meet my teacher's father.
Was that really a coincidence?
I suppressed my urge to ask again.
There were no signs of surprise when I looked at Erno Etham.
I'm sure he knew and brought him here.
"...Because the High Priest might have foreseen the future."
There was a high probability that he had used it. Of course, it's my fault for not contacting him first.
"... If coincidences continue several times, they say it's intentional."
"It was fate."
Lucilion smiled like a fox and replied. Erno Etham also had a somewhat uneasy expression.
"It seems like I shouldn't have brought him here."
Lucilion took a step closer to me.
"And you won't need an illustrated book of lizards like that."
The moment Lucilion reached out carefully, Erno Etham moved me away.
".."
Lucilion's expression darkened with regret.
"We won't need it?"
"My teacher probably isn't an ordinary lizard."
"... Not a lizard?"
Lucilion leaned in and made eye contact with me.
"Isn't that right?"
I opened my eyes wide and shook my head in confusion.
I'm a lizard in anyone's eyes.
A long, flat body with a long tail, and even palm-sized...
"Oh?"
At that moment, I was small enough to fit in Richard's hands.
But now I was the size of Erno Etham's palm.
"Have I grown in this time?"
Lucilion shook his head and seemed to be thinking about something when he saw me freeze like a stone statue, then he smiled.
"Ah, that's it."
Lucilion nodded.
"If Eirin isn't a lizard, are you saying she's a different entity?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
Silian Etham drew his sword and placed it under Lucilion's chin.
"It seems like we're trying to play word games with you, bastard?"
No, even though...
"Why the hell is he still hovering around me?"
"I was just telling the truth. After that, I guess you'll have to figure it out for yourselves. I... can't say more than this for now."
Lucilion pressed his lips with his index finger and said softly.
"Is it a restriction?"
As much as God loved him more, he could know many things that others didn't, but Lucilion had very few words to say.
If he gives predictions of the future, all the arranged fate would be ruined, so there must be a special restriction.
"I remember there's a price..."
Although I can't remember what that price was.
"Anyway, I hope for your kind cooperation. Teacher."
Erno Etham snorted, walked past Lucilion, and left the room.
"Oh, I don't know the details, but if my prediction is correct, you'll probably be very hungry after this growth season."
"...Growth?"
"... Yes, didn't you know? You might get sick frequently due to growing pains."
Erno Etham took me in his arms and slowly headed to my room.
"There are so many things I want to ask you."
"..."
I looked at him without understanding, slowly curled up, wrapped my tail around my body, and closed my eyes.
"Thanks to my daughter, I don't have a headache."
"..."
"It's clear that you're gifted with some special ability."
His voice was somehow very low. Hearing it made me relax.
"But I... don't know if that's a good thing."
"I'm tired."
I wanted to reply something to him, but somehow, I kept falling asleep.
Soon, my vision darkened.
Erno Etham, who was looking at the sleeping girl, slowly stopped.
"I need to find information about the bastard they threw out. They didn't kill him, so he should be alive."
"Yes, young duke."
Out of nowhere, one of the "Terem" appeared.
"Find him and investigate the reason he had a daughter, the process, and even the woman he was dealing with."
"Yes, understood."
Erno Etham stroked the girl's head.
"There's something strange on her back."
What sprouted from the scales looked like small shoots.
"... No, it can't be."
He looked at it for a long time, then frowned and shook his head.
Still, a sense of unease ran down his spine.
