I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 18

Became a Squirrel Saving the Villain – Episode 18

Became a Squirrel Saving the Villain Episode 18

“I don’t think any more transplants are a good idea. We don’t know what might happen,” Libena said firmly.

“I’d rather research tranquilizing drugs from now on. If we succeed in developing them, it would be better to sell them in bulk. Now that we know these variables, there’s no need to take risks.”

“…You’re going to stop researching Divine Power?”

“Yes.”

High Priest Patr felt dizzy as he thought about the profits he had been making by selling Divine Power for huge sums.

He was reluctant to end the history of Divine Power, which had lasted nearly a thousand years, in his generation.

The temple had been able to accumulate so much wealth thanks to the sale of Divine Power.

But there was no other way.

Libena wasn’t one to warn of danger in vague terms, and if Libena, the core research personnel, said she was going to step away from Divine Power, there was virtually no way to stop her.

“Theoretically, it’s already complete, so production itself won’t take long,” Libena said quickly, as if to appease High Priest Patr. “That’s a relief.”

He smiled bitterly and patted Libena on the shoulder.

“The war is getting too long… It would be a problem if the ability to tranquilize disappeared from this world. Because other than the wizards, there’s no one else who can solve this mess.”

“It will be completed within three years at the latest. If we finish the clinical trials, it will be five years at most. Rather than that…” Libena said in a still anxious voice.

“I’m a little uneasy… Because the temple didn’t handle it directly.”

She pushed up her glasses as if she was worried.

“The fact that he was bitten to death by hunting dogs on the exact day we went to collect it is a little…”

“Libena, being suspicious of every situation is a very good quality as a scientist, but you don’t have to make yourself too tired,” High Priest Patr soothed her with a benevolent smile.

“I think Ella used a clever trick because she didn’t want to leave any loose ends. Anyway, they must feel uneasy about it too.”

Libena nodded slowly as if she couldn’t help it. High Priest Patr continued casually.

“And I told you. Usually, Divine Beasts don’t have a strong will to become human. So you don’t have to worry too much.”

‘This is the space I’ve been dreaming of.’

I thought as I rolled around in my room that Meriel had prepared for me.

‘I knew she was kind, but I didn’t know she’d be this much of a pushover. What about the Medest Duchy?’

Meriel was already fixated on the word ‘abuse’ and had decided never to send me to the Hyrard Duchy.

She even made me my own room, and it was amazing.

All kinds of treadmills, a pleasant sawdust box, a wooden model, piles of acorns and chestnuts, and several fluffy cushions…

‘It’s on a different level from living in Tezen’s room.’

If life is like this, I could live as a squirrel forever…

I quickly slapped my cheek before I was consumed by lazy thoughts.

I’m human, human. Get a grip. I have to become human somehow.

The temple emphasized that ‘Divine Beasts do not have a strong will to become human.’

***

And Meriel said that she had read about it in a book about Divine Beasts that she had found.

But strangely, from the moment I was possessed, I really wanted to become human.

If the temple wasn’t lying, it was very strange.

‘If I have a secret, it must be related to the temple. The fact that they tried to kill me for no reason, and I have to track down the connection with the temple somehow.’

According to the original story, I would have died when the temple came to look for Tezen’s squirrel.

I would have disappeared without a trace.

‘Even if I succeed in becoming human, I always have to be wary of the temple. Because the temple might find me and kill me.’

Yoann said he would take care of it somehow and told me not to worry, but honestly, I just wanted him to take care of himself.

‘Anyway, this is a family that will gradually fall apart.’

I recalled the information from the original story and fiddled with an acorn.

‘Meriel doesn’t make good use of the Duchy’s enormous wealth and prestige… She’s kind and pretty, but she has no political power or talent for scheming.’

The Duchess, Sienna, is weak and constantly ailing and dies not long after the war ends.

Even her uncle, Count Jayden, who had been helping her diligently, is poisoned around the same time.

Meriel, who had been used here and there even before that, gradually lost her family as she lost all the adults who had been helping her…

‘Eventually, she’ll be helplessly swayed by Yoann, who returns from the battlefield.’

So she can’t easily connect with the Crown Prince, with whom she has shared her heart since childhood, and even a villainess appears to interfere with her love.

‘Tsk, tsk, if there had been even one talent like me, Medest wouldn’t have fallen so far.’

While I was rolling around in my room, Meriel burst in.

“Kkamang!”

But looking at Meriel’s face, I couldn’t help but think that incompetence wasn’t a sin.

She was just that breathtakingly beautiful.

Of course, her incompetence was consistent, and she didn’t even have the talent for naming things.

“I’m here… You know, today was a bit tough.”

Meriel picked me up, leaned back on the sofa, and pouted.

“Eredes says they can’t pay taxes this time either. Everyone is having a hard time during the war, so I can’t refuse…”

Ugh, this pushover.

She hasn’t even been able to collect taxes from the Duchy for years while continuing to deploy troops to protect them.

I sighed once and headed for the fireplace.

I pretended to chop wood once.

“Kyung.”

I pretended to wipe away sweat from the heat once. “Kung.”

Finally, I made an X with my arms to mean it wasn’t necessary.

Meriel stared at me for a moment and said.

“Eredes is a hot region, so they don’t need firewood and must have plenty of wood, so you’re saying they should pay taxes with firewood?”

She understands amazingly well. I nodded proudly.

It was a different level of communication than with Yoann.

Yoann hardly understood, but Meriel understood perfectly.

“Kyung.”

Meriel widened her eyes and came to me, hugging me tightly.

“Oh my gosh, Kkamang. Why are you so smart?”

“Kyuoong.”

Meriel, you’re just too kind, but you’re not the worst at being incompetent.

At least you understand what I’m trying to say.

That’s good enough.

“Would you listen if I had other concerns?”

Just tell me.

“Kyung.”

Medest will fall if you do as you think.

Well, there’s no need for the Medest Duchy to prosper, but I wanted to repay the favor in my own way.

“Kyuoong.”

While Meriel was lost in thought, I placed my paw on Meriel’s forehead and accepted her well-organized mana [magical energy].

In fact, the reason I came to the Medest Duchy was because of Meriel’s mana.

Since I could no longer absorb Yoann’s mana, I had to find another mana owner.

During the last meal, I realized that Meriel had an enormous amount of mana surging within her that didn’t need to be calmed.

So I came to Meriel to absorb mana stably for 50 days.

“Kyugoong.”

Avoiding the temple’s eyes, and Meriel herself doesn’t even know that her mana is being calmed, and she’s giving me mana.

Besides, Meriel didn’t even put the Medest seal on me.

‘That means I can go out and live freely after I become human.’

Meriel is kind, so she might even prepare clothes and a place to live for me.

“So, this is a social matter… Miss Orina made things quite difficult for me this time. What happened was…”

That’s how I came to listen to Meriel’s concerns. Most of them were things I could provide solutions for.
The reason why I can’t provide all the solutions is… because Meriel is too kind to say bad things.

‘She’s the type who can’t say no… Ugh, frustrating.’

But because she’s so kind, she’s so good to me, so I shouldn’t complain.

6. * * *

Anyway, life in the Medest Duchy was very good.

My room was comfortable, but after a few days, I started to roam freely around the spacious and antique Medest mansion.

‘Freedom is good after all.’

I scurried around, climbed trees, played with birds, and scurried up buildings.

And one day, out of curiosity, I climbed the ivy vines and…

‘Huh? That person is…’

I reached the window of a large room and stuck to the glass for a moment to look inside.

I saw an old woman sitting in bed, sighing.

‘It’s the Duchess of Medest.’