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IBP 147
Despite my firm resolve and requesting a private meeting with my sister, the words would not come easily.
As I hesitated, sighed, and then rubbed my face in frustration, my sister looked bewildered.
“My puppy. What is it?”
My sister... what if she cries when she hears this?
She'll be so heartbroken.
She'll be so upset.
She'll undoubtedly try to stop me...
“I heard a prophecy that I can live by your side for a long, long time.”
Upon hearing those words, my sister beamed.
“Did the turtle actually make a prophecy?”
“Yes! The turtle prophesied: ‘For the sake of noble blood! The sacrifice by the one with the foulest desires shall create the divine beast.’”
My sister thought for a moment, then bit her lip.
Since she is smarter than I am, she might realize what I meant faster.
However, the words that came out of her mouth were unexpected.
“That... Coco, you don't know what that means, do you?”
“Huh?”
“I really have no idea. So, um, shall we pretend we never heard the prophecy?”
An awkward smile flickered on her lips.
...Is she pretending not to know?
I quietly held onto her arm and whispered.
“I'm told that to save the divine beast, I must die at the hands of the Imperial Concubine. Only then can I return as a divine beast.”
“No. That's not what it means.”
“You know it does.”
Seeing her expression crumble was more terrible than I had anticipated.
But...
“Sister, I've already made up my mind.”
“....”
“So, sister...”
“No.”
My sister hugged me tightly and spoke firmly.
“I'd rather make a deal with a devil. I'll beg them to save our Coco.”
“....”
“So, our Coco must never die.”
She held me close, whispering as if reciting a spell.
“I can't let our Coco go.”
‘Sister, you dummy.’
...And so, I ended up spending twenty-four hours a day with her.
When sleeping, when reading books, when walking the hallways, and when eating.
She stuck close to my side, keeping me under strict surveillance.
To ensure that I could never use my healing power to save the divine beast.
However, I grew increasingly anxious.
I kept thinking about the dragon divine beast's groans of pain.
And...
“Our Coco, do you remember this painting? Do you remember when we took a nap together in those bushes?”
“...Mm-hmm.”
“It was so much fun, wasn't it?”
“Yes, it was.”
The time I spent vaguely agreeing while she talked about our memories grew longer.
Strangely, even though I wasn't using my healing power, my memories were slowly disappearing.
It was time to make a decision.
‘I can't stay like this.’
So, I decided.
To meet with Jjek-jjeki behind my sister's back.
* * *
“Coco, what you said is true. Imperial Concubine Hervezette is using the power of spirit beasts to plunge the divine beast into agony in order to force an imprinting.”
“....”
“Since the divine beast is a being that looks after and cares for spirit beasts, it seems unable to resist the Imperial Concubine. And so, it continues to suffer in pain...”
“...At this rate, it might actually be forced into an imprinting with the sick prince.”
“But there is a silver lining. She tried to imprint with the divine beast, but the first attempt failed. It seems her son's condition is quite poor.”
“...I see.”
“Still, to force the imprinting somehow, she seems to be pouring the power of other spirit beasts into her son... It seems she is trying to get you, Coco, by any means. Though, that would be impossible.”
I sank into thought, habitually petting Jjek-jjeki.
If the Imperial Concubine intends to kill me and use me as a sacrifice for her son.
‘I can just let myself be kidnapped, save the dragon divine beast at the lakeside, and become the divine beast.’
But...
There is just one thing I regret.
I have a strange premonition that today might be my last day with my sister.
I forced a smile as I looked at my sister, who had brought some snacks for me.
“It's nighttime, why isn't our Coco sleeping? Is it because you took a nap?”
“I'm going to.”
“My baby, shall sister sing you a lullaby? You're sleepy, right? When you were a puppy, you did nothing but sleep every day.”
Lying in bed, I closed my eyes tightly.
“Yes, sister. Please sing my favorite lullaby. I want to hear you sing.”
With my eyes shut, listening to her lyrics, I tried my best to fall asleep.
Then, my sister stroked the area around my eyes and whispered.
“Coco, are you crying? Is sister singing the lullaby too sadly?”
I sniffled and shook my head.
“No, Coco is definitely not crying! It's just because I think it's such a beautiful song.”
* * *
That night, as I fell asleep to my sister's lullaby.
The puppy god appeared in my dream.
In the dream, I had turned back into a pure white puppy, and the puppy god was scolding me loudly.
“You foolish thing. You should have just lived out your five-year lifespan and come back.”
“....”
“How on earth did you find out the only way to live a long life? Honestly, puppies love humans far too much...”
No puppy feels good while being scolded.
Before I knew it, my white tail slumped against the floor.
Then, the puppy god combed through my fur with the side of his hand and said.
“You little rascal, I'm not scolding you.”
“Whine...”
“If you truly wish to walk that path, I shall grant you divine protection so that you will not feel pain.”
“....”
“I can do at least this much for a good puppy.”
As soon as he finished speaking, stars poured brilliantly over my body.
I felt wonderful as I jumped and played to touch the stars!
Just as I was happily wagging my tail.
A swarm of puppies rushed toward me to welcome my return to the dog star for the first time in a while.
A wonderful dream full of happiness.
I whispered softly to the puppy god.
“Um, I have one request.”
“Speak, good puppy.”
...And after reciting my request and hearing the puppy god's answer, I opened my eyes.
The room was silent, as if time had stopped.
I carefully slipped out of my sister's arms and slung my bag, which was on the floor, over my shoulder.
The bag, filled with memories I had built with my sister, family, and friends, was so thick that it was difficult to carry.
And inside it was a small letter.
Recalling the contents of the letter, I placed it by my sister's bedside.
‘I worked hard on this letter, so you must read it.’
Looking at my sleeping sister, I whispered softly.
“Goodbye, sister...”
My sister seemed too deep in sleep to notice I was leaving.
‘That's a relief.’
Because if she woke up, she would try to stop me by any means. That's why I asked the puppy god.
“Please make my sister fall into a deep sleep so that I can leave for the lakeside safely.”
“Is that so?”
“...Yes. And the kidnappers too. Please grant them protection so they can kidnap me safely.”
“That is a peculiar wish indeed.”
If my sister stops me, my heart grows weak.
Before sneaking outside, I woke the mouse sleeping on the floor.
“Mouse.”
“H-huh?”
“Hurry and go do what I asked you to do.”
“Right, I got it. You little brat.”
The mouse nodded.
It seemed there were a few tears in its eyes...
‘You can do it. Because you're a smart mouse.’
After sending the mouse away, I scanned my surroundings.
Then, just as I finally managed to leave my sister's mansion, I felt someone cover my mouth.
“Mmph!”
...It's the kidnapper I've been waiting for!
‘Yes, I knew they'd come for me like this!’
I intentionally pretended to struggle.
So...
‘Good, everything is going according to plan!’
Like a scheming puppy, my eyes sparkled.
* * *
When I regained consciousness, I was at the lakeside where the dragon divine beast was said to be sleeping.
Tied up tightly and thrown carelessly on the ground, I looked up.
Above the unstable surface of the lake, something appeared and disappeared.
‘That's the dragon divine beast's head...’
There was a large wound on the dragon's head.
I could see translucent blue blood bubbling out. And...
“Just... kill... me...”
...I could even see it wailing in endless agony.
The voice echoing in my ears sounded so strained.
“Imprinting... no... only... ruin... for everyone...”
Because the stuttering, mumbling voice felt so sad, I made a firm resolve once more.
‘I have to save it quickly. Save it quickly so it can ascend.’
While my gaze was fixed on the dragon circling the lake, an elegant voice reached my ears.
“Ah, should I introduce myself? Pleased to meet you, Lady Coco Ardos. I finally get to see that precious face.”
We finally met.
The person who entered my field of vision was none other than...
The woman with a beautiful yet cold smile, Imperial Concubine Hervezette.
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