The Moonlight Princess In The Land of the Sun Day
Episode 21 The Guard

　Kokumaru, carrying a small bottle filled with centipedes with both feet, muttered that he was tired many times, but he jumped the distance to Helifalte, which would take three days on horseback, in just half a day. Powered by magic, he could see through the night sharper than owls, flew longer than migratory birds, and faster than eagles.

　However, even with such superior abilities, Kokumaru did not appreciate the curse. The old bastard only sees me as a tool, and I also consider it nothing more than a magical power supply. In other words, the relationship between spitting curses and Kokumaru is only bound by interests, not masters and servants.

　By the time Kokumaru arrives at the target's royal palace, it's just past noon, and his target, a little white girl named Selene, is easily found thanks to her outward beauty and strangeness. In the grass, the little girl diligently served food to the blond man.

　Looking at that delicious-looking meat dish, she accidentally wanted to enter, but her rationality as a magical beast held her back, and she stopped at a nearby tree until the white girl walked into her room. , watching the situation.

　After a while, the girl returned to her room, rolled around on the bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep. The window is left open, perhaps to let the wonderful scent of spring in. It's very comfortable. Kokumaru deftly held the bottle with his feet, used his beak to open the lid, and removed the cursed centipede.

"Rayo! can

　Kokumaru grabbed the giant centipede that appeared with its beak and threw it casually from the sky into Selene's room. The centipede crawled under Selene's bed, as the curse stalker said. Looking at the situation from start to finish, Kokumaru made sure that there was no problem, and flew with the bottle in his hand.

"Owatta, Asondeka"

　Kokumaru, who had finished his task, thought of returning home while playing around with the beautiful female crow because she had come all the way to the city. Even now that Kokumaru had become a demonic beast, he had not thought of using that power to reach higher heights or be useful to the world. His heart was filled with it enough to have a big face in the company of crows.

　"Well, what about the centipede that slipped into Selene's room?" Following the orders given, I crawled under the bed. His vitality was strengthened by the monstrous magic of Kodoku, but since he was originally an insect, he had almost no intelligence, and his instincts led to darkness.

　After eating and killing his ally, the insect, which had accumulated a lot of evil magic and nutrients within its body, slipped to the side of the target bed and just sat quietly in the shadows. Just by doing that, the life of Selene, who was sleeping soundly, would be ruined—or so it should be.

"You're who. I thought this was your room.

　The centipede clicked its jaws strangely at the familiar baritone voice that suddenly resounded under the bed. The centipede saw several small black-and-white creatures right under the target pillow. At the same time, he clicked his jaw again in a mocking manner. The creature was a small mouse, less than half its length.

'Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't know, but let me warn you. This is the bedroom of Selene Aquila, daughter of the princesses. And I am the guardian of the great daughter of my name Butler

　He wouldn't get along with insects, but Butler respectfully introduced himself. However, completely ignoring Butler's words, the centipede gradually closed the distance with Butler. Butler calmly braced himself and did not look frightened at all.

"Centipe, let me ask you one question. Why did you come to the princess's room? Will you request an audience with the princess ... Oops! can

　Butler tried to negotiate the meaning of the centipede, but the centipede suddenly pounced and tried to bite Butler's throat. Butler didn't seem to panic, he simply twisted his body lightly to avoid the sharp blow from his fangs.

　Seeing this short movement, the centipede wriggled uneasily for the first time. When I looked at the little mouse, I thought nothing more than a delicious-looking food was lying around, but the agility of this rat was incredible. When Butler took a step forward, the centipede retreated as if under pressure.

Fumu .... It's a very fast blow. How about a little "play" with me? can

　When Butler suddenly said that, he stood with his hind legs, stretched out his front legs, and took a standing position. It's like asking you to jump. Instead, she gracefully removed the red ribbon that was stuck to her chest.

"What's going on? Is my throat empty? And my throat is pure white. You will be able to see well even in the dark under your bed. Now, you have to come.

　Although he did not understand Butler's words, Centipede was deeply hurt by the fact that his opponent did not see him as an enemy. Then, just as the suicidal mouse wanted, he bit his helpless throat. After that, with fangs reinforced with magic power, the neck of this little rat broke!

Fuumu ...... Isn't this just about this level of strength?』

　Butler stood still with his hind legs after being bitten by a centipede. Is it sweet to eat? The centipede tried to leave again to prepare for the attack, but he realized something here. I can't get rid of my bitten tooth. Butler's neck muscles were tense, so his fangs couldn't get out.

"Centipe, there's one reason why I'm allowing you to attack. Even if I am a ruthless person, as long as I have the ability, if I retrain my character, there is a chance that I can become a servant who will become the sword and shield of the princess. However, if you can't inflict a single wound on me, there's no reason to keep you alive.

　And Butler loosened his strength, centipedes sensed danger, moved his countless legs, and tried to escape from under the bed at high speed, but he was unable to escape from Butler, he has four strong legs. He spun in front of the centipede at lightning speed.

"I don't know why you came in here, but this is the bedroom of a great princess. They entered without permission and suddenly attacked me, a follower. Even if you know you can't win, you'll escape in front of the enemy. With the above, I consider myself ineligible to meet Princess Selene! can

　Saying that, Butler bit the centipede head with a punch before the centipede could take evasive action. Butler's fangs were small, but once he became serious, he could even easily break the steel shield. After receiving such a blow, the centipede would not be able to stand even though it was somewhat strengthened or not.

　The centipede, which received a powerful blow from its front teeth, wriggled like a death roar, but then twitched and twitched, and never moved again.

"Servant, how are you?"

　After fighting off the intruder, Butler turned to find Selene's head upside down. Is it hard to move from the bed?

"I'm sorry for making a sound. Because I'm getting rid of the rioters. I'm sorry."

"Roseki? Ah, centipede..."

　Selene got up from the bed and, without hesitation, put her hand under the bed and grabbed the centipede with half-asleep eyes.

　Ever since she was alive, she had always loved animals and plants, and creatures like centipedes and spiders were Selene's allies when they preyed on troublesome enemies like cockroaches and flies.

For that reason, centipedes were one of Selene's friends who had few human friends.

　Because of this, the centipede is one of Selene's friends, because she has few human friends.

"I'm sorry..."

　However, by the time Selene reached out, it was too late, and the big centipede was dead, leaving Selene disappointed. Since I was reincarnated in a world where rats talk, maybe I can befriend this person.

　Come to think of it, I read past life manga about curses that use insects like centipedes. Ah, if this guy is still alive, I can give him magical powers and make him sneak into the prince's room. Selene closed her eyes sadly, thinking that such a beautiful centipede would be hard to come by.

"The princess is a good person .. but the death of the centipede is not in vain."

"e?"

“All who live will eventually return to earth. It then became the flesh and blood of living beings again. Now, please rest. The centipede will be handled by me.

"alright"

　Selene simply nodded at Butler's words and threw the centipede to the floor. Selene is a person who values animal and plant life, but more than that, she values beautiful girls and breasts, and even more than that, she is a person who values herself.

"Did the princess go to sleep... alright!? can

　After confirming that Selene had taken another nap, Butler slowly bit the centipede. The butler ate the carcass of the centipede with pleasure.

"Hmmm! This centipede has a supple outer skin, but the inside is softer than you might imagine! However it was not persistent and had many bodies! Oh, what a jewel is this! can

　Butler was originally a forest rat. I thought Selene wouldn't like it, so I tried not to eat the insects in front of her as much as possible, but in any case, when such a delicate centipede barged in, my fingers move no matter what. Of course, his ultimate goal is to get rid of the centipede that harms Selene, but Butler is thrilled with the party.

However, it feels a bit nostalgic ... Is that like my mother's taste? can

　I suppose. Poison is originally a curse power, but Butler's body has the magical power of Selene that has been flowing for several years. This would neutralize the magical power that had been impregnated for several days. Furthermore, since Selene's magical power was used as a catalyst, it was only natural that she was friendly.

　And so, Butler devoured that plump centipede. But where did this centipede come from? No matter how you look at it, it's hard to imagine that something like this would be born naturally. And this centipede went in through the window. No matter how you look at it, it's at an angle that makes you think someone dropped it from the sky.

“Maybe it was a gift from my late mother.”.

　Perhaps her mother, who ascended to heaven, was watching her as she helped Selene as a shadow every day. The mother sent me a centipede full of magic to take care of me. It was a childish idea, but too good to be called a coincidence. Butler called the centipede a gift from his mother and did not mention it further. I don't care about the details, centipedes are so delicious that I think so.

　Butler, who has enjoyed eating rare feasts in recent years, now remembers his late mother, energizing her, and working harder on her duties.

　　◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

"It's been two weeks and it's not bad at all!"

"Umm. It shouldn't be like this..."

　She scolds the reluctant Kokumaru and sends him to Herifalte several times to see how things are going, but she says that Selene is in good spirits and living as usual. It might be that Kokumaru's report is a lie, but that ridiculous garage never contradicts anything that concerns its own interests. In that case, the curse stalker trusts Kokumaru.

"There are two possible causes ..."

　The spitting curse took out his hand from his mouth and opened his mouth as if it was hard to say.

"First of all, the girl had prepared an existence that could resist the curse and eliminate it. However, this is not very realistic."

　Saying so, the curse stalker denied his own thoughts. Not many creatures can fight poison. The only thing they could fight against was a magical beast with considerable strength, but there were almost no humans on this continent who knew how to make magical beasts, either, and even if they gave up 10,000 steps and created a magical beast for some unintentional reason.

"What are other possibilities?"

"The girl's mental strength is amazing."

"... What do you mean?"

"First, curses are strongly associated with spiritual things. The real curse is to raise the weak part of the human being and erode it with magical power."

"So?"

"In other words, if you have a noble mind that can resist such dirty things, curses can become ineffective. Do you know anything?"

"by the way……"

　You dig up memories. When Selene came to Valver, I had heard from other officers that Selene had magical powers and that she was adopted by Herifalte because of her amazing talent.

"Hoo... rare talent huh? What kind of talent is that?"

"I don't know."

　You shake his head. All the servants said that Selene had a rare talent and was given to Herifalte by Aquila. This was the letter exchanged between Aquila and the Prince of Milan, and it seems that the entire royal palace of Herifalte had been declared so. However, no one knew exactly what talent he had.

"Maybe... Uhm, I'm sure it is."

"What's wrong?"

　At this point, Ente realized that she had made a huge misunderstanding. I thought the prince saved the little girl because Selene has magical powers, but isn't that weird?

　Although they were small in number, some commoners had magical powers. Then it shouldn't be Selene. I can understand that she has a rare beauty, but Milan shouldn't be the type of person to fall in love with her just because of her outer beauty.

"That talent .. is something I cannot say in public!"

　Yeah, isn't Selene's true talent something that can't be expressed in numbers or shapes? In other words, it must have been something like an incredible mental strength, a glimpse of the charisma that led the people, and a noble that cast out evil. That's why it's not described as a specific phrase like "having a talent for magic" or "having a deep knowledge of painting". Isn't it natural to think so?

　At this point, Ente had no choice but to realize that the greatest enemy in the past had actually appeared. You also have magical powers, and you can discover skills through training. However, the faint nature of one's innate "noble spirit" would never be able to be obtained by anyone other than that person.

"What are you going to do! If the curse doesn't work, there's nothing you can do! Is there no other way!?"

“Even if you say so.

"You are useless! What a spitting curse, you liar!"

　You hurl all sorts of insults at the curseman, but the curseman remained calm. Instead, his face gradually became smirking. Even Ente, who had poured out her emotions in anger, gradually began to feel creepy. Finally, the curse stalker looked up at the sky and laughed out loud.

"Hey, hee hee... haaahhhhhhhhhh!!"

"Ap, what's up!?"

　You speculated that he might go crazy because his curse did not work, but he was not wrong. The curse stalker's eyes lit up, his stooped back straightened, and he was more alive than ever.

"No, no! There's nothing more fun than this! I never thought I would use 'it' to spit this curse!"

"that's……?"

　When Ente became suspicious, the curseman opened his mouth verbally as if he wanted to speak.

"This is the 'forbidden art' passed down in my clan. Because it is too dangerous, it has not been used for hundreds of years. No, no, you can live long!」

　I don't want to be happy to throw a curse. As of now, he only had a boneless opponent, and thought that he would never have the chance to use such great magic again. Being able to train him in my own generation is a supreme honor as a curse master.

"It's really effective, isn't it? Isn't it shameful to be called poisonous?"

"It would be a problem when compared to something like a trick. The quality of the curse itself is different. kana"

"Half year!?

"Well, there's a lot of preparation. First, collect the blood of sinners ..."

"I don't want to hear it."

　After all, this was an unsatisfactory method. You close his ears and interrupt the conversation.

"I'm only interested in one thing. This is called the forbidden technique, so whether I can get rid of Selene or not."

“There are records of using this technique in the past to destroy a country several times.

“…………”

　You are silent, not one person. This is a technique that can destroy an entire country. Spitting curses failed this time, but he was a human with a terrible obsession to curse people to death. It's hard to believe that you're lying.

"I understand. However, it won't happen twice, you know?"

"Don't worry about that. I can't cast such powerful magic twice in this old body. Spitting this curse is the first and last great job of my life."

　The curse-spitter said it in a very good mood, and showed Ente the amount as a reserve fund. Instantly, Ente's face twitched.

"Wait, isn't this too outrageous?"

“Yeah, that's an exorbitant thing, so it's only natural that the price is exorbitant.

　In the end, Ente received a request to spit at the curse.

　If Selene is allowed to grow further, it will become a real danger as she grows up.

　In this case, even if it requires some risk, it should be removed.

　Despite Ente's frustration, she reconsidered that spending time thinking about how the beautiful girl would die in suffering and suffering was also a pleasure. Besides, she's still a little girl. If it's about half a year, even the prince won't let you have a pair of nights. We still have time.

"This time I'm the loser. But who will win in the end? I look forward to six months from now."

　Like that, Ente thought of Selene's fallen figure and felt happy.