I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 27

Becoming a Squirrel to Save the Villain – Episode 27

‘What was my mother like in my past life…?’

I tried to recall my past life, but it was too vague, so I gave up.

I just had this feeling that it was a book I read in my past life, and I couldn’t remember anything else.

However, from right after the possession, I was almost brainwashed with thoughts like, ‘I’m human. I mustn’t forget that. I’m not a squirrel. I must become human.’

‘Well, this is my life now. What’s the big deal if I can’t remember my past life?’

Anyway, thanks to the almost brainwashed thought of ‘I’m human, so I have to become human,’ I thankfully became human.

Anyway, the important thing is that I really feel like Siena is my mother, even if she’s mentally unstable.

“Mother, rest well.”

I could have stayed by Siena’s side forever, but I whispered carefully and stood up.

Looking at the clock, a lot of time had already passed.

‘Is it time to fully accept Jaden’s vigilance?’ As soon as I left Siena’s room, the maid who had been quietly waiting approached me.

“Dinner has been prepared separately in the dining room. The Princess said not to disturb your time together. The Princess and the Count have already eaten separately.”

It was a natural measure since it was well past dinner time. Now that I think about it, I was a little hungry, so I immediately headed to the dining room.

“And the Count would like to see Lady Yurika.”

‘I knew it.’

I pondered while munching on the appetizer.

‘I want to meet him soon too.’

And just as the steak came out, I casually asked the maid.

“I hope you enjoyed your meal. The menu looks great, so the chef must have put a lot of thought into it.”

“Ah.”

The maid smiled kindly and replied.

“Yes, he put a lot of thought into it… but the Count doesn’t seem to have much of an appetite. He barely eats, so the chef has been worried lately.”

As expected…

I took a bite of the steak as if to show off and asked with an innocent face.

“Oh my, the steak is delicious, why? Doesn’t he eat this either?”

“Oh, he hates meat even more. I don’t think he ate much for dinner tonight either.”

“I see. But it’s really delicious.”

“I know, right? The chef was disappointed too. He put in extra effort today.”

Looking at the maid’s worried face, it seemed like the kitchen had been having a lot of concerns.

Well, there’s nothing more nerve-wracking than a guest barely eating.

“I see…”

I put on an innocent face and smiled.

“Hey, can I use the kitchen for a bit? I wouldn’t mind getting some help from the chef.”

After finishing dinner and returning to my room, not long after, Meriel and Jaden knocked on my door as the maid had predicted and came in.

“Yurika, welcome back! I really enjoyed reading your report!” Meriel said first with a bright smile.

“You’re really my sister! We almost let the wrong people get rich. I was just too focused on good intentions and increased the budget.”

“It’s nothing. The ones who embezzled are the bad guys.”

I replied lightly and examined Jaden’s face, who was sitting next to Meriel.

He seemed to want to say something, moving his lips several times, but then sighed and closed his mouth.

Meriel, unlike her usual self, rolled her eyes slightly and then poked Jaden in the side with a grin.

“If you have something to say, please say it, Uncle. Now that it’s come to this, why don’t you just talk about why you wanted to see Yurika?”

Jaden ran his hand through his hair, looking embarrassed. Then he sighed slightly and said calmly.

“First of all, Meriel, get out.”

“What? No way. Who knows what you’re going to say to Yurika.”

Meriel shrugged and retorted.

But I had already figured out Jaden to some extent. Judging from various circumstances, he didn’t seem like a really bad person.

People who care about children being cold or hungry are usually not bad people.

“Sister, I’m okay. I think he has something to say to me, and I want to have a sincere conversation too.”

“But… what if you can’t say anything and just get taken advantage of! Like me!”

Indeed, kind Meriel couldn’t strongly object even when someone treated her unfairly and just suffered in silence.

“Do you think this kid is as naive as you? If you’re here, she’ll be more hesitant to speak her mind because of your face, so get out.”

“But… but I wanted to see Yurika too!”

Meriel puffed up her cheeks, stared at my face, and then slowly stood up.

She seemed to have judged that there was no other way when she saw me nodding at Jaden’s words.

“Spend the whole day with me tomorrow, okay?”

Meriel hooked her little finger with mine and then stood up and left the room.

In the room with just the two of us, Jaden sighed and started talking.

“…You seem like a smart kid, so I’ll be frank.”

Meriel wasn’t one to hide my achievements. So she must have already told Jaden everything.

And it seemed that he was somewhat pleased with what I had done so far.

Even though he was trying to be wary, he couldn’t hide his somewhat softened voice.

“The Medest family is in a rather precarious situation right now. It’s not as good as it looks from the outside.”

I nodded solemnly. I knew that was true.

“Your brother-in-law, Duke Medest, has gone missing… and Meriel is leading the family without even inheriting the title.”

Jaden’s face was filled with worry.

Well, even if it were me, I would be very worried about this situation if I were the only adult Meriel could rely on.

“It’s a given that a child with no experience and no proper education can’t lead the family well, and Meriel’s position itself isn’t good either.”

I was a little impressed inside.

Instead of looking down on Meriel’s incompetence, he thought that she might be clumsy because she was still young, which made him feel like a very reasonable adult.

“After the war, I don’t know where Meriel will end up. I don’t know who will become the war hero.”

“Hmm…”

“Her fate will be entirely determined by an unknown person, whether it’s a woman or a man, a child or an old person. I’m sure you know what it means to have another ‘Medest’ in that situation.”

But even the reasonable Jaden couldn’t know the future.

Johan will become the war hero, and Johan has already met Meriel and shown a lukewarm reaction, so there’s a high possibility that he won’t be obsessed with her like in the original story.

If there’s a possibility of obsession, it might be with me, who was a divine beast?

Anyway, the worst future that Jaden imagines probably won’t come to pass.

“Besides, to be honest, you’re in danger too. If something happens to Meriel, you’ll have to bear the responsibilities given to the ‘Medest Princess’.”

Oh, this was an aspect I hadn’t considered at all.

If something happens to Meriel, do I have to become the war hero’s partner?

And is Jaden worried about that right now?

He’s a better person than I thought?

“Anyway, I wanted to let you know that even though others might call it luck that you became Medest’s adopted daughter, the reality is not like that.”

Jaden cleared his throat after reading some subtle emotion on my face.

“No one would have told you this. It’s not that Meriel lacks responsibility, but she’s a bit slow to grasp the situation…”

Jaden clicked his tongue as if worried.

He probably wanted to have this conversation, so he sent Meriel out.

“You seem like a pretty smart kid, so there might be better adoption options. You’re not going to live here for just a day or two, so you have to look to the distant future. Think about it carefully. I can look into a suitably stable vassal family for you.”

I pondered, alternating between his cold face and his not-so-cold words.

So, Jaden seemed like a pretty good person, even though he seemed prickly.

In the end, he was worried that I, who had no ties, would get caught up in the Medest family’s turmoil.

‘Maybe he’s right. According to the original story, the Medest family is completely ruined, and just as Meriel is swayed by Johan, I might be swayed by strange guys too.’

But I had no intention of letting the Medest family become like that.

And Johan might have grown up to be a good person.

Even if something goes wrong and I turn back into a squirrel, I can become human again at any time if I stay by Meriel’s side, who has unknown magical powers.

“Actually, there’s already a family I’ve asked…”

That’s when it happened.

“Princess, may I come in?”

Along with a knock, the maid’s voice was heard. Exactly on time as I had instructed in advance.