I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain [EN]: Chapter 33

“Everything will be alright, Sister. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Yurika. I keep relying on you like this, what should I do?”

“What do you mean? You’ve done so much for me.”

I gave Meriel a slight smile and patted her shoulder.

In fact, the end of the war was a pretty big deal for me, though others might not know it.

‘Now, social activities will begin in earnest.’

Even though the front lines didn’t extend to the capital, it was still a wartime situation.

Naturally, the capital’s social scene was bound to shrink.

Most high-ranking noble families had already sent their heads, heirs, or one of their direct family members to the war.

So, unless it was a hopeless family like the Hyrard Dukedom, the atmosphere couldn’t be good.

Of course, lavish banquets or large-scale tea parties were rarely held.

Even if there were gatherings, they were small, just quietly going back and forth to deliver news.

Like when Medeste and her daughter were invited to the Hyrard Dukedom for dinner before.

In such an environment, there was no way I, as an adopted daughter, could actively do anything.

But now the war is over, and even a victory. Various official gatherings will start to take place.

‘Then it might be easier for me to find out more.’ I have never forgotten the suspiciousness of the temple.

I don’t know why, but when I think of the temple, I instinctively feel repulsed, and the times they tried to kill me keep coming back to me.

What if they found out I had become human… wouldn’t they try to kill me again?

But while the capital was rigid and everyone was cautious, I couldn’t find out anything even if I tried.

The temple was also developing a ‘tranquility drug’ and remained secluded, not receiving any outsiders. They even stopped distributing divine beasts.

‘But now the temple has no choice but to stop its seclusion. After all, the temple’s contribution to ending the war is as great as Johan Hyrard’s.’

Conversely, it meant that I was also exposed to the danger of the temple, but I couldn’t avoid it anyway.

I left Meriel’s room and headed to the underground corridor.

I had asked Meriel about Medeste’s ancestor being a beast-person a long time ago.

“Ah, you mean if I can turn into an animal? Wow, that would be great!”

Meriel laughed at my question and answered playfully.

“It’s true that there’s a legend that Medeste’s ancestor was a beast-person, but I’ve never heard of being able to turn into an animal. Isn’t it just a myth that every family has?”

“Then neither you nor the Duke could turn into animals?”

“I don’t think they even know how to transform.”

It was a rather sharp point.

Come to think of it, I used to be a squirrel, but I didn’t know how to turn back into one.

“Anyway, I know my body best. Sadly, I don’t have such abilities. Hmm… it would be nice if I could turn into a bird. To fly around, I mean.”

Meriel, who didn’t even know she had a lot of magic, was saying that she knew her body best.

In the end, I couldn’t get any information from Meriel.

I asked Meriel to search the family library, but all it said was, ‘Medeste’s ancestor is known to be a beast-person. Especially with many fierce beasts, they have been recognized as a leading military family since ancient times.’ There was nothing more described than that sentence.

Still, I stared at Oscar Medeste’s portrait and the tiger painting next to it for a long time, lost in thought.

The southern war, which had dragged on for several years, ended quickly thanks to Johan Hyrard’s efforts.

As soon as the temple developed the tranquility potion, Johan, who could freely use magic, unleashed his immense power.

Therefore, his procession returning to the capital was very triumphant.

“Did you see that? Did you see that amazing magic?”

The soldiers were excited as if they had used the magic themselves, repeating the same words over and over.

“Everyone was annihilated with a bang. That’s why the 9 kingdoms of Oriad immediately shouted for unconditional surrender.”

“How amazing was it that the enemy forces raised the white flag with just one magic spell.”

“No one could escape from the wind falling from the sky.”

“Hoo-ooh…”

One of the village children who was listening to the story asked with sparkling eyes.

“Then the vast southern forest was completely devastated?”

“Huh?”

“Did no one really survive, and was it completely ruined? Did all the animals in the forest die?”

“That’s…”

The soldiers looked at each other and answered awkwardly.

“… Well, they spared all the squirrels.”

“Yes?”

“After the magic exploded, Johan-nim [Johan-sama, a respectful title] personally looked after the squirrels that survived and were running away. We don’t know why.”

“Why though?”

“I told you, I don’t know. Oh, and oak trees and chestnut trees where acorns grow were fine.”

The soldiers couldn’t give any answers to the confused village child.

Because no one knew why he did such a strange thing.

Even if they subtly asked him the reason, Johan didn’t really answer.

So everyone was gossiping behind his back that Johan was either a huge animal lover, or he blindly believed in the superstition circulating among the soldiers that ‘Duke Medeste turned into a beast.’

Of course, no one could ask Johan the reason again.

“Actually, um… maybe it’s because he was locked up when he was young… he’s a bit… has a dark personality.”

Johan didn’t give his side to anyone and only said the bare minimum.

The cold purple eyes were so eerie that it made you tremble just by looking at them.

Even though he was a wizard, he used a sword as well as any swordsman, and he had a good physique.

Therefore, no one repeatedly asked, ‘Ah, why did you only save the beasts? And why did you take care of the squirrels so personally?’

It was when the soldiers were exchanging glances and shrugging their shoulders.

The main character of the story, Johan Hyrard, was riding a black horse at the front when he received a letter.

“Johan-nim, a letter has arrived from the Medeste Dukedom.”

“Medeste?”

“It was sent by Meriel Medeste, the head of the family.”

Johan’s brow furrowed as he unfolded the letter indifferently. He looked very displeased.

The adjutant glanced at him and asked after a long time.

“No reply… are you not going to reply?”

“No.”

Johan answered coldly.

“But even a simple reply is etiquette…”

“I don’t want to write unnecessary words and get caught up in them.”

Marriage, what nonsense…

Johan also knew about the weight of this union. A marriage that the Emperor had directly ordered 7 years ago.

Of course, Johan had no intention of paying attention to the Emperor. There was only one person in this world he had to be mindful of.

His head was only filled with finding a way to invalidate this marriage as quickly as possible.

“Yes… well…”

The adjutant gave up trying to persuade Johan.

Perhaps Johan would soon be rumored to be a jerk in the capital, but he knew that when he made that expression, he would never bend his will.

‘Still, it’s a shame. He’s a pretty decent person compared to other people’s prejudices. People in the capital don’t know Johan well, so they’ll all think he’s a jerk…’

The adjutant knew that Johan wasn’t really a bad person, even though the atmosphere he exuded was so oppressive and gloomy.

He rarely smiled brightly, didn’t try to please others, and didn’t talk about himself, but he was quite reasonable and knew how to be considerate of others.

However, people remembered the tremendous magic that Johan had shown at once, and they were afraid of Johan as much as the magic was tremendous.

By not making any effort to soften his impression, coupled with his bleak upbringing, everyone was under the illusion that ‘Johan Hyrard is a terrifying person.’

“We’ll be in the capital soon, Johan-nim. We should arrive in about 3 days. Where shall we take you?”

The adjutant’s question was considerate of him.

He thought he might not want to go to the Hyrard Dukedom.

But Johan answered firmly.

“The Medeste Dukedom. As soon as we arrive in the capital, we’ll go there.”

The adjutant’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.

And he urgently said, fearing that Johan might not know the etiquette.

“Yes? But going without a letter of visit is a great rudeness…”

“I have to show up unexpectedly and break off the engagement when they’re flustered. It’s even better if I look like a rogue when the other party can’t think of a proper countermeasure.”

He raised his eyebrows and interrupted the adjutant. Like someone who had been strategizing about this situation for a long time.

“Seeing that they’ve already sent this kind of letter, it seems that the Medeste daughter wants to marry a war hero…”

Johan, who had completely missed the point, added coldly.

“I’ll go and settle things immediately so that they can’t say anything else in the future.”

Thus, 3 days later, Johan did not stop by the Hyrard Dukedom and stormed into the Medeste Dukedom with a terrifying expression.