Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 34

Chapter 34

"Your Excellency, this is my failure. I never imagined the young lady would break the barrier..."

The moment Hariella and Caelius vanished into the rift, Aisa quickly knelt on one knee before the Duke. The Duke was silent for a while, as if lost in thought.

"That beast Hari called Bibi."

"Yes."

"I knew it wasn't an ordinary animal... but to ignore even magic nullification."

"I'll investigate."

"Quietly, so word doesn't reach the Magic Tower. I think Hari was wearing Irein's bracelet—can we track it?"

"Yes. Lord Irein should be able to track them."

"Contact Irein. Tell him to track Hari and Kali's location. And finish the cleanup before they return. This matter is my oversight."

He had only thought of them as children. The Duke had seen no need to tell them about this blood-soaked "cleaning." But look at the result.

Caelius, who walked right into the dangerous intruders, and Hariella, who, despite sensing the villa's unrest, didn't go to the adults but chased after Caelius in her pajamas...

Who did they inherit this recklessness from? Being lively is fine, but she wished they'd stop making her heart drop like this.

"Your Excellency, all are assembled. Please proceed."

Head Butler Simon turned to the Duke. The Duke looked down at the owner of the hair Simon held. The terrified maid trembled violently under the Duke's icy gaze.

"This is?"

"A maid from the laundry room. It seems Viscount Zirtan was quite desperate—sending in someone who hadn't even been properly trained as a spy."

"Zirtan. One of those fools who fawn over Grand Duke Isaac for scraps."

"There are plenty more. The reclusive Algenprina suddenly has a young master—of course they're curious."

Simon's laughter was chillingly dry. Anne, who had been thrashing wildly to escape Simon's grip, only stopped screaming after her ankle was broken.

No, to be precise, she stopped because of a head that rolled in front of her the moment she entered the villa.

It was a very familiar face—one of the maids who had come to work at this villa under Viscount Zirtan's orders.

How long had she been pushing through the forest?

The sky, which had been bright as midday, began to darken, gradually turning a deep gold.

As she admired the beautiful sight, she spotted a massive shape in the distance.

Lying on the soft grass like a mat was a tiger—an enormous tiger.

I held the frightened Bibi tightly and dismounted from the snake, which had stopped moving. The tiger, who had been sleeping with its eyes closed, slowly opened them.

"Wow..."

Deep golden eyes, the same color as the sky, blinked slowly.

"It's been a long time since I've seen a human."

The tiger's voice seemed to transmit directly into my mind. Fortunately, it wasn't as painful or nauseating as when the guardian spoke.

"I heard your conversation with the guardian. You want to know about the goblin's club."

The tiger's white whiskers twitched. This giant tiger looked very, very old.

"Yes. They said you would know well about the goblin's club."

"He has existed for a very long time. There aren't many left who know him now. Will you show me the club?"

I reached out and summoned the club. The massive tiger slowly began to rise. With a few huge strides, it approached and brought its nose to the club.

As that enormous, mystical presence drew near, I held Bibi tightly and held my breath.

"A very nostalgic scent."

The tiger smiled, seeming pleased, as it looked at the club. It seemed this aged tiger wasn't just acquainted with goblins—they might have been quite close.

"So, what do you want to know?"

"Have you ever seen the goblin use magic with this club?"

"Hm? Of course. That's what it's for."

"I know you can store magic in these golden gems, but how! I just can't figure out how to store it! If you know anything, please help me."

A half-sobbing voice escaped me. The tiger, hearing my plea, seemed a bit taken aback and tilted its head. The tiger's subtle reaction made me increasingly anxious.

Let's think about it. What are the odds of knowing the detailed usage of an old friend's magic club?

"Hmm? Method? I think he just... used it."

No! Don't say that, tiger-nim!!

"Wait. Come a little closer."

At the tiger's request, I quickly lifted the club right in front of its eyes.

"I don't think it looked like this."

"Pardon? Is this a fake?!!"

"Fake?"

"Ah, no. Is it a counterfeit?"

"No. It's not that. This is indeed the goblin's. However, I'm certain—these eyes weren't this color."

"Eyes?"

Eyes? Like, with eyelids?

I stood on tiptoe and glanced at the gems. I'd always called them golden gems, but to be honest, they were a bit faded.

"These open their eyes when you use magic. Hideously."

"Ehhh?"

I searched my memory, but I didn't recall reading anything like that in the setting collection.

Eyes. So it was a club with eyes?! How hideous—no, how magnificent are you trying to become!

"Has it been too long? Place it on the ground."

Tiger-nim, why are you talking about it like it has an expiration date?

I followed the tiger's instructions, gently placed the club on the ground, and stepped back a few paces. As I watched to see what it would do, the tiger opened its mouth wide and bit down on the club.

"Hmm."

And then it began to apply pressure with its jaw.

Huh?

"Tiger-nim?!!"

"Hrrrm."

I trusted that the club wouldn't break. I knew from experience that no matter what I did to it, it wouldn't get a single scratch.

But, but... it's a mystical beast, isn't it? A spiritual creature? These mystical beasts are on a completely different level!

"It-it's not going to break, is it?"

"Hmm."

Don't make sounds like you're savoring delicious food!

Suddenly, the tiger began to twist and squirm. Still applying pressure with its jaw, it even started groaning.

As the tiger groaned and writhed, Bibi also started groaning along.

Bibi, you haven't done anything—why are you groaning?

Just then, I heard a sound I shouldn't have heard.

Crack—

"Aaah!! Tiger-nim!!!"

My club!!

Even though it was ugly! Even though it was about to become even more hideous with eyes! It's my only means of protecting myself!!

When the tiger opened its mouth, thin, darkish pieces fell to the ground along with the club.

"Phew, I didn't expect it to be this hard. If I were just a bit younger, I would have broken it in one go."

"Ehh??"

I quickly picked up the club and examined it—the dull yellow gems had transformed into brilliantly shining gold.

What are these lines? They look like... closed eyes.

"Impurities had built up over time. Now you should be able to just store magic in them."

"W-wait. How did you break it? I tried everything and it never even got a scratch."

"You probably never concentrated your force specifically on breaking the gems."

That was true. I'd been more worried about the club itself cracking or getting scorched.

I quietly looked down at the club, which seemed reborn. The body was still crude and its color still murky, but the three shimmering golden gems embedded in it made my heart swell.

Who should I ask for magic? First, Kali! Kali, and Sier! I want Sier's unique magic too—I'll ask him. Hehe.

"By the way."

"Yes?"

"Don't you have the hat?"

"Hat?"

"It's something I played with a lot when I was very young."

A hat... Given the context, it probably wasn't just an ordinary hat. They must be talking about the goblin's hat. There's a goblin's hat in addition to the goblin's club?

"I don't have anything like a hat that was passed down. Unfortunately."

I was genuinely disappointed. I think the goblin's hat was supposed to make the wearer invisible.

"Hm? The hat isn't a hat."

"Pardon?"

"It might have started as a hat, but at some point, he carried around a piece of cloth."

"Cloth?"

"Whenever it fluttered in the air, it sparkled like a lake holding sunlight. Sometimes white, sometimes transparent, sometimes like a rainbow had settled on it... And its scent was like warm sunlight—I loved burying my face in it and taking naps."

A cloth goblin hat.

Wait a minute. The cloth the tiger described sounded very familiar. That luxurious cloth that shimmered subtly whenever it fluttered in the light...

Hoping against hope, I pulled out the cloth Regina and Leo had given me.

"Tiger-nim. Is this, by any chance..."

"Hm? What's this? Why is it only half? Where's the other half? The goblin's hat sparkled far more beautifully than this."

What? This is the goblin's hat?!

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