ESMLT 45

Chapter 45

After finishing that pleasant sightseeing, I went into the pantry and brought out bacon, eggs, grain bread, and vegetables.

I placed the ingredients on the cutting board, braced both hands on the sink, and looked around.

After we all did a thorough cleaning together, we each took on assigned tasks by mutual agreement.

Danha was burning firewood, then sitting on a log carving people’s names onto their personal belongings with a small knife.

The Crown Prince and Jaeger had gone out to gather mushrooms and were sorting them in the living room.

Sien was organizing the bedrooms and doing laundry. Zenta, the Viscount, and I were in charge of lunch and kitchen cleanup.

The most relaxed ones here are this little kid and the rabbit.

I dragged a dining chair across from the kitchen and turned around to look at Yand, who was watching us, and the rabbit sleeping in his arms.

When I took out the onion and lettuce for sandwiches, his eyes sparkled.

“Zenta hyung! You’re good at cooking too! Show noona ta-ta-ta-ta!”

Ta-ta-ta-ta?

When I tilted my head, Yand mimed chopping with his hand.

Ah.

It was cute and childlike to name things with sound effects.

“Yand, you have to be quiet when hyung is working.”

Even though it should’ve been adorable for a younger brother to brag about him, Zenta responded coolly while organizing plates. He glanced at Yand sternly.

“And it’s dangerous, so turn around.”

“Pee—.”

Yand sat properly but stuck out his lower lip and hugged the rabbit tightly.

His round little head practically had ‘I’m sulking.’ written on it.

While peeling and washing the onion, I studied Zenta.

He doesn’t seem embarrassed… Did he act cold even to his brother because he’s wary of me?

Let’s see what type he is.

I placed the onion on the cutting board and turned toward him.

“Can I call you Zenta?”

By status and age, I was technically his superior, but I didn’t want to drop honorifics abruptly without respect.

Zenta looked slightly surprised, then gave a faint smile.

“You can speak comfortably.”

“Then I won’t hold back.”

I stepped away from the cutting board and gestured.

“Come over and slice the onion thinly for me? I’m a bit weak with spicy things.”

After hesitating, Zenta wiped his hands on his shirt and came over.

He stood in front of the cutting board, paused, then picked up the knife. He cut the onion in half and began slicing it…

Huh? He’s really bad at this?

Instead of crisp chopping sounds, there were uneven, clumsy thuds.

Seeing my surprised expression, his face flushed slightly. He put down the knife and stepped back.

“I’m sorry. My little brother said something unnecessary…”

“It’s fine. If you’re done with the plates, could you help the Tower Master with the laundry?”

“I will.”

He must’ve finished, because after putting the last plate in the cabinet, I tossed him the apron hanging over the island counter.

“Oh, and take this too.”

Whoosh—

He turned and caught the flying apron lightly. After giving a small bow, he exited through the back door. I then resumed slicing the onion.

Whether Yand was firmly sulking at his brother or had grown used to the unfamiliar place and people, he showed no signs of anxiety despite being left alone.

Maybe it’s because I lied and told him we’re just court nobles and their children.

The Viscount kept calling the Crown Prince “Your Highness,” and we almost got caught, but I lied and said we were playing roles. Then Yand insisted he would be the prince—Danha’s flustered face had been hilarious.

Smiling faintly at the memory, I suddenly felt someone staring at me.

“Noona, what’s the rabbit’s name?”

Yand looked at me with sparkling eyes.

I carefully observed the rabbit twisting in his arms, as if just waking up.

Come to think of it, it doesn’t have a name.

Since when had I naturally been together with that monster rabbit?

It hadn’t been long, yet it felt distant—proof that I’d grown attached.

I gave a self-deprecating smile.

This is why animals—and people—are troublesome.

You get attached too easily.

What’s ridiculous is that I’m already wondering how to bring this monster back to the capital, whether privately owning a monster is legal or illegal.

I think I read somewhere that some nobles raise monster rabbits for display…

Thump!

The rabbit wriggled out of Yand’s arms and jumped onto the sink.

It puckered its lips at me—it wanted food.

Watching its pink-furred lips twitch, I said,

“How about calling you Rapo?”

“Rapo? I like it!”

Yand scooted his chair closer and petted Rapo.

“Noona says your name is Rapo.”

As if happy to have a name, Rapo blushed and stood upright, stretching its neck.

“Rapo-oooo!”

Then it actually howled its own name like a wolf.

It was clearly showing off. It even glanced at Yand and the male leads in the living room.

“Rapo-!”

When Yand clapped, it puffed up and howled once more.

I was dumbfounded and tossed it some lettuce to make it stop.

“Eat this.”

Whoosh!

Rapo leapt and caught the lettuce midair, chewing.

As I watched, something suddenly occurred to me.

Familiarity is frightening—I almost overlooked it.

How does Rapo recognize its own name and speak?

The monster encyclopedia never said rabbit monsters were this intelligent. And what kind of oral structure does it even have?

Ah, there’s another question.

Rapo doesn’t attack humans indiscriminately. When we first met, it had been especially hostile toward me, growling.

I thought it was because I seemed weak…

But it hadn’t attacked the additional survivors, Zenta and Yand, which confused me.

Does it dislike women? Or does something about me provoke its hostility?

“Ngng…”

This time it eyed the bacon greedily. I picked it up.

“Rapo.”

Its ears perked up.

I brought my face close and whispered,

“What exactly are you?”

Rapo is definitely a unique monster rabbit.

Late at night.

Before going to bed, I sat in front of the wire fence to check the security measures. Someone approached from behind.

Footsteps crushing weeds drew close.

Whoosh—

A dagger touched beneath my chin.

Lowering my eyes, I stared at the blade glinting in the moonlight.

More precisely, at the dagger’s owner reflected messily in it.

“…Hand over the warp scroll.”

The voice was mixed with rough breathing.

“The warp scroll?”

At my voice, the blade pressed closer to my throat.

When I suddenly stood up, the dagger trembled. The person grabbed it with both hands. I turned around.

Facing me was Viscount Lafran, glaring.

A beat later, my neck stung where the blade had grazed it. I touched it—there was a slight smear of blood.

Holding up my bloodied hand awkwardly, I stared at him expressionlessly.

Is this man stupid? Did he think I’d just say ‘Yes, of course’ if he threatened me with a dagger? I survived the zombie zone—that alone proves my combat and survival ability. Though judging by how he underestimates me for being a woman, I suppose that’s as far as his brain works.

Perhaps thinking I was stunned, Lafran sneered.

“What? Surprised that I know about the warp scroll? I heard everything—your whispering in the backyard!”

No, I knew you were listening.

I’d even emphasized the last part loudly on purpose.

I’d figured the only way to uncover Lafran’s secret was through personal contact.

But a man like him would only grow more cautious if approached directly. It was better to toss bait and wait. I had intentionally leaked information.

Since I had already considered letting him escape first, exposing the information was acceptable.

I wondered when he’d approach me. I didn’t expect something this crude.

He didn’t seem brave enough to truly threaten me. I thought at most he’d try to curry favor.

Still, isn’t he afraid of consequences, drawing a blade on me like this—

My eyes widened.

Don’t tell me…

“Hand it over! I’ll escape with them and call for rescue!”

As expected.

After the first day, his disgust toward me had lessened but his resentment had grown. He must think I’m controlling the male leads with the warp scroll.

He probably planned to steal it, return as a hero, and avoid legal responsibility—hence why he dared threaten me.

But that’s strange. If he overheard our conversation, he would’ve heard the male leads agreeing with me.

The answer came quickly.

Ah. He must think they’re only going along with me to escape.

Regardless of whether this stems from misunderstanding or not, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s being insolent toward me—and the male leads.