Chapter 78 Red Tiger's Instant Fall Into Paranoia
"Damn it, why do I have to deliver something like this..."
Lygar, the representative of the Red Tiger clan, was walking through the forest, muttering complaints.
The reason was the large package in his hands.
He had been asked to deliver a care package from the crew of a ship docked at the port, specifically requesting that it be put in a magic cooling case.
He would have refused if Thea's name hadn't been mentioned as the recipient, and Lygar muttered to himself.
"Tch, I can't accept this..."
Thanks to Jamielee's suggestion, Seius decided on a course of action to express gratitude to Ortria.
However, he was still unsure whether it was right to follow that decision.
He had heard that Thea had grown very──perhaps excessively──attached to Ortria's daughter, which gave rise to another doubt in his mind.
──Could it be that Thea underwent some form of brainwashing during her human experiments?
Or perhaps they took advantage of Thea's emotional scars to lead her toward making statements that were convenient for them?
Lygar was aware that he was thinking too much.
That's why he hadn't talked about this with anyone yet.
"I'll see for myself if the people of Ortria are truly trustworthy..."
At that moment, he remembered that the care package he currently held was also sent by the people of Ortria addressed to Thea.
Since it wasn't just meant for Thea but also included items for Yumie and others, Lygar opened the case, which was tightly packed with fish fillets.
"I guess I'll just have to taste it for poison"
Thinking so, he took a bite of the fillet.
"...it's delicious"
The fish sauce used to make it is salty enough to bring out the flavor of the fish, making it even more appetizing.
Not only was it not poisonous, it was delicious.
"...there's one more?"
He finds a different fillet than the one marinated in fish sauce, and just to be sure, he takes a bite.
Pickled in vinegar, it is fisherman's food made with the intention of preserving it for a long time.
The sourness is stimulating and not something you normally get to taste, but it has a different kind of deliciousness.
It's so good that he can't help but reach out for another bite.
"Huh!? What am I doing!?"
Realizing that he was almost shoveling food into his mouth thinking it was a taste test, Lygar was taken aback.
What am I doing being fed!!
I mean, is there anyone who would just gobble up someone else's gift!!
Even while shouting internally, a young man in his prime is, after all, a creature that is constantly hungry.
Even after closing the lid of the case, his eyes keep flicking towards it.
...If he asked, would they let him have a bit more to eat?
"Hmm? What's that..."
Having been on the verge of falling for Yumie, Lygar quickly changed his expression when he arrived near the hospital of the Emerald Cat clan after passing through the forest.
──He witnessed Thea being pinned down by Yumie behind the hospital.
"You bastard!! What are you doing!!"
The Red Tiger clan is a full-fledged fighting beastman clan, just like the Blue Wolf clan.
Lygar, demonstrating his physical abilities to the fullest, threw the case aside and kicked off the ground to rescue Thea.
With a speed that left the swirling gust behind, he reached out towards Yumie, who was looming over Thea──
"Ouch, sorry, Thea, I tripped. Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine. Don't worry about it... rather, let's get a bit closer..."
──In a flurry of sweetness that made his mouth feel syrupy, he hurriedly turned away at the sight of the girls getting all lovey-dovey.
Lygar jumped over the heads of Yumie and the others, crashed headfirst into the ground, and rolled away like a ball.
"Wha-aat?! What is it?!"
Yumie quickly stood up, and immediately hid Thea behind her back as if to protect her, while pointing her palms towards the rising dust.
Did she think that with her disabled body she could fight back using magic?
No, judging from the look of panic on her face, she didn't seem to have thought much about what she was doing.
If she reflexively tried to protect Thea rather than herself, that's an admirable act of courage.
...Lygar thought about this as he rolled around in a pitiful state, trying to avoid reality.
"I'm sorry for startling you. Well, I kind of ran a bit too fast... and couldn't stop."
"I-I see. Um, please be careful, alright? There are patients and children around here, so it's dangerous."
"...I'm really sorry."
In this situation, where he's supposed to be judging with his own eyes, he's getting lectured by the very person he's supposed to evaluate.
Moreover, he's receiving a piercing glare from Thea next to me, as if to say, "I was in a good spot, and then you went and messed it up."
Feeling so pathetic, Lygar wanted to cry.
But since it was his own fault, he had no choice but to accept it.
"Well, no one got hurt, so as long as you reflect on it properly, that's fine. Are you injured? Is there anywhere that hurts?"
"N-No, I'm fine. See?"
Not only is he being lectured, but Lygar, who is also being worried about injuries, hurriedly stood up to show that he's fine.
Seeing the well-defined muscles, the innocent Yumie exclaimed, "Oh~" with sparkling eyes, causing Lygar's expression to soften.
(Wait, why is this so normal for her! I came to expose this kid's true nature!)
"Yumie~! Thea~!"
"What are you doing~?"
While reaffirming his own purpose, a group of young children who seemed to be patients at the hospital approached.
They were slowly walking with Monica, likely because of their weak bodies, but upon seeing Lygar, their eyes widened.
"Ah, Mr. Lygar!"
"Wow, it's real!"
Despite this, Lygar is well known as the representative of the Red Tiger clan and the leader of a group of beastmen warriors.
In a way, they are like heroes who protect the country for children.
The children were excited and squealing at the sight of such a hero.
"Sir Lygar, I see. Is there something urgent you need?"
"No... a sailor from your country asked me to deliver something to you..."
"...you don't seem to have anything?"
"Well, that's, well..."
When he saw Yumie and Thea hugging each other, he mistook Thea for being attacked, so he threw it somewhere and ran off.
There's no way I can casually talk about something like that, so Lygar hesitates.
Though the kids probably weren't trying to help Lygar, they eagerly interrupted, unable to wait for the end of their conversation.
"Mr. Lygar, come play with us!"
"We're going for a walk in the garden together!"
"And you know, Yumie and the others promised to show us magic!"
"Magic...?"
The beastmen can't use magic, so he can understand why the kids are curious to see it.
However, magic isn't just convenient; it can also be a dangerous weapon.
A Maid who seems to be a guardian is watching nearby, but as an adult, she still feel anxious about letting them go.
Moreover, if it's magic being demonstrated by Ortria's daughter, who is currently looking at him with suspicion, he has even more reservations.
"Alright, I have some time, so I suppose I could stay a little longer."
"Really?"
"Yay!"
Seeing the innocent joy of the children, Lygar once again thinks.
He must be an adult who can properly protect these kids.
And then he noticed that Yumie, who was nearby, was looking at the children with a similar gaze.
"Hehe, everyone, just because you're happy, don't be a nuisance, okay?"
"""Yes!"""
It must have only been one night since she arrived here.
Despite this, he became more and more confused when he saw that Yumie had become very close with the children.
──I guess I was just overthinking it.
(No, no, it's too early to draw any conclusions. No matter what, it's abnormal to continue to capture people's hearts this quickly, so I'm sure the secret of that power will be revealed!!)
Lygar exclaimed in his mind, not realizing that he had already developed a strong liking for Yumie.
And then, with a start, he remembered something he had almost forgotten.
"Before you play, can you wait for a little while? There's a package for you right there..."
"...Why did you leave it right there?"
Lygar couldn't respond to Yumie's incredibly valid question... he just fell silent and quietly looked away.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)