Rachel looked up at me with a terrified face.
I spoke in a soothing tone with a slightly flustered look on my face.
"No. He's not a strange person. Look. He really looks like you, doesn't he? That fire earlier, too..."
"Fire..."
Rachel made a sad face.
Ack, from now on, 'fire' is a forbidden word!
I quickly shut my mouth. Rachel shook her head as if she didn't want to hear any more and burrowed into my arms.
Then, peeking out with only her eyes, she looked at Zion.
"You're right, sister. That guy is so suspicious!"
As if reading the silent look, Zion chimed in, following Rachel's lead.
Little brother, what are we going to do if even you do that?
I looked at him sitting in front of me with a bewildered expression. Noelier was looking at Rachel in my arms with a troubled look.
I felt uneasy. No matter how much he tried to kill me, it was to protect his younger sibling. If Zion had been captured by the dragon, I, too...
I would have prepared a frozen 'watermelon instead of an apple and smashed his head in.'
So I could understand his feelings to some extent. After all, I was still alive, and I hadn't been caught being a wolf.
...Not yet.
"Guys, you shouldn't say things like that carelessly."
I spoke in a deliberately stern voice. However, the seeds of hatred in the children seemed to have taken deep root.
"I saw it. Brother, no, that person bullied my sister. He is definitely a bad person."
"That's right! That older brother bullied my sister! That person is mean!"
"His solar plexus is also too big, so it's scary."
"That's right! And he's too big!"
"Your eyes are also very red."
"Right! The eyes are too... uh. It's the same for Ruby, though...?"
The conversation between the two children, which had been going on like ping-pong, ended with Rachel giving Zion a sidelong glance.
Zion clamped his mouth shut like a puppy on command.
"Ha..."
I let out a sigh mixed with lament.
"...I don't know what to do. My younger sibling is so wary of me."
"Uh, her memory will return someday. Don't worry too much."
"But..."
Noelier slowly trailed off as he reached out his hand toward Rachel.
Then Rachel curled up even more like a sensitive cat.
"No. I'm going to live with my sister."
What, what?
Rachel didn't seem to have even the slightest intention of leaving me.
I didn't expect this. To think you'd live together. Who are you trying to drive crazy with?
"..."
"..."
The dragon siblings' gazes met. The two, who had been silent, just stared at each other for a long time.
"...I guess there's nothing I can do."
Noelier looked at me as he said that.
The murderous intent that had surged in the red eyes had subsided.
That's a relief. I felt a little relieved. Rachel seemed to like me very much, so her guard seemed to have dropped a bit.
Yes, that is a very good turn of events. All that remained was for him to take Rachel back to the South.
'What can I do even if Rachel throws a tantrum? She's his younger sister, so he has to take her with him no matter what.'
Even if I had saved Rachel, we couldn't live happily together in this cramped house, especially in the North.
Now. Stop it. Let me return to my peaceful daily life.
I carefully pulled Rachel away from my arms.
Rachel's flustered gaze fell upon me. She clung tightly to me as if refusing to let go and shook her head.
"If, if we go, I want to go with sister! Take her along too."
Rachel grabbed my arm with a somewhat desperate look on her face.
"My little rat, what are you talking about? How could I possibly go to the South? What kind of mess do you expect me to get into?" It was truly nonsense.
Rachel, I'm really sorry, but I think it's time to really break free from the Little Red Riding Hood flag. You were such a lovely and cute child. I will never forget you.
It was just as I was about to utter my farewell.
He, with an incomparably beautiful face, asked in an incomparably serious voice.
"Could I stay with you for the time being?"
"... Yes?"
"At least until my younger sibling lets her guard down against me."
It won't be long.
I just gaped at what he added.
What?
Who needs it, where, and where?
I opened my mouth wide with a look of disbelief.
"You're not taking her along...?"
The same was true for Rachel, who was in my arms.
Rachel looked quite shocked.
If you're like that, imagine how I feel.
As I just gaped, unable to say a word, he added with a serious face.
"I don't mean to plan on settling down permanently. I just hope I can show my face often."
"No, wait a minute..."
"Please."
Noelier spoke pleadingly and brought his face close to mine.
I was speechless when I met that breathtakingly handsome face.
It's cheating to beg with that face.
'Of all things, even the appearance is my type...!'
However, I steeled myself. I wasn't weak enough to fall for this man's attack on appearance so easily. I didn't know when my true identity might be revealed.
I'm refusing a whole roasted-out ending.
'Yeah, I'm not weak! I'm not weak!'
I was about to firmly refuse, but he looked at me with a pitiful expression.
"I know this is a brazen request, given the many mistakes I have made."
The moment I saw the reddened corners of his eyes, the words I was about to blurt out vanished and refused to come out.
I stammered as I opened my mouth.
"Ah. Even so, this is a bit much. I almost got into trouble!"
Of course, I will provide generous compensation for this.
"...Compensation?"
"Yes."
“...Is it worth the money?”
“Of course.”
This person knows how to make suggestions.
At the mention of a reward, the worries that had been filling my head completely vanished.
'Fine, I just have to keep from being found out I'm a wolf!'
Even now, with the dragon and even its leader right in front of me, I was still alive and undetected.
Although Zion was a bit concerning, seeing as Rachel hadn't said anything so far, it seemed like she was hiding it well.
Yes. Let's stay by Rachel's side just until she lets her guard down. As someone with a younger sibling like him, it would hurt my heart to turn away.
Moreover, they had already encountered the dragon. There was nowhere left to retreat.
They say life is a one-shot deal. Since things have come to this, I’m going to stake my life on striking it rich. I feigned a troubled voice and spoke.
"...How much can you give me?"
And so, I changed my plan as easily as flipping a switch. Because of money, the source of all my worries.
***
"I can't believe it was this easy..."
Rachel looked back and forth between us with a bewildered expression. Feeling a slight sense of betrayal, I averted my gaze, pretending not to notice.
But Rachel, I have my own position, too.
How could I heartlessly send away a child whose tears well up just at the slightest reach of her brother? I couldn't be that cruel.
It is absolutely not because of money. I am not that much of a snob. Really, I am not.
"I should have tried this sooner..."
Just then, I heard a voice muttering something from inside my arms.
Rachel was muttering with a serious expression, as if she had never been on the verge of tears.
"Still, this isn't right."
“Rachel?”
"The goal was to take them along, you know. If you give them money, it would actually..."
Rachel, lost in thought, seemed unable to hear my voice.
That makes sense. She can't remember anything, and with her brother even breathing fire, she must be so scared.
I stroked Rachel's head as if to comfort her. Then, I suddenly felt a gaze and looked up.
"..."
Noelier was staring intently at me.
"...Is there something on my face?"
He, who had been making a strange face, smiled at my question as if nothing had happened.
"No. It's because I've never seen Rachel with anyone else."
"Ah."
"It looked good, so I couldn't help myself."
Noelier smiled shyly as he said that. The corners of his eyes curved gently.
“I am truly grateful..."
"Yes?"
“Oh. It’s nothing.”
My inner thoughts burst out on their own. I hurriedly shook my head.
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