Edited: Shiro


    The first thing after reuniting with Neah is to negotiate with the guard .


    Negotiating wasn’t difficult, as I just told them that she’s my familiar, and proving that she means no harm, we were able to get through without any suspicion .


    For some reason, the moment I entered the barrier while putting Neah on my shoulder, Eva was there maintaining the flowerbed .


    Eiri-san isn’t seen anywhere as well, but it’s convenient he isn’t here .


    Seeing that she hasn’t noticed us yet, I kept my voice as low as possible and talked to Neah .


    “Neah, I’ll explain the situation later, but can you look at her and tell me anything abnormal from her?”


    “Huh? Why must I do that?”


    “It’s important . So please . ”


    “…I understand . ”


    Neah nodded .


    If she’s familiar with magic, she might know something about it . We nodded at each other, then walked up to Eva, who is humming and playing with the flowerbed .


    Eva who noticed my footsteps, looked back and leaned with a smile like a blooming flower, then looked at Neah who was standing on my shoulder .


    “Welcome back Usato-san . That is? …You can’t do that Usato-san? You mustn’t simply pick up animals . Please return it to its original place . ”


    I was told off like a mother who gently admonished a child who had picked up a cat .


    This is completely different from what I have imagined


    “Ahaha, how good would that be if I could just return it . ”


    “?!”


    Neah turned to me with stern eyes, as if looking at me saying “What did you just say?!” .


    Oi, you’re the one who forcibly followed us in the first place .


    … . . Well jokes aside, let’s explain who Neah is .


    “This isn’t some owl I just picked up, it’s my familiar . ”


    “Familiar? This child?”


    “Yeah, I just got it a while ago, and due to various things, I made a contract with her as a familiar . Because somebody seemed to be too lonely without me, so they came following me . ”


    It’s more accurate to say that she’s more attached to me rather than being lonely .


    “That familiar is a monster?”


    “?…Hm, yeah?”


    “Wow…This is my first time seeing a monster . It’s completely different from ordinary birds . ”


    Eva with glittery eyes leans over and looks at Neah .


    Whether she was being full of herself, she stretched her round body out with pride . That does make an eagle or a hawk look cool doing that, but this almost egg-shaped Neah looks pretty cute doing that .


    Putting that aside, this is her first time seeing a demon?


    Perhaps it’s unusual for people living in this world…


    Humans and monsters seem so far apart, yet are close to each other . Powerful monsters exist only in dark areas, but normal monsters are intimately involved with humans as familiars like the Foobirds .


    Which means to say, she hasn’t seen one since living here all this time?


    “What is her name?”


    “Her name’s Neah . She’s a little shy, but an obedient child . ”


    Though it’s the total opposite of her personality!


    I tried so hard not to show it on my face when I said it .


    “So her name’s Neah-chan?”


    “…Do you want to touch it?”


    “Is that okay?!”


    While being excited, she turned her eyes to Neah while leaning close to her .


    I haven’t said anything about the curse yet, but I’m sure she’d notice if Eva has any changes .


    I spoke with a voice that Eva can’t hear .


    “Neah, I’m counting on you . ”


    “Hoot . ”


    Neah slams my cheeks as if entrusting it to her, then jumps onto Eva’s shoulders .


    Eva who felt ticklish on her eyes, immediately looks at Neah who was on her shoulder and speaks .


    “It’s a very obedient child . ”


    “Hoot . ”


    “…Here here . ”


    Hm?


    Eva took off her long gloves with soil around, reached out her hands to Neah . Neah who for some reason seems to be nervous, hoots and lightly jump onto her hands .


    Wah, Eva was slightly surprised .


    “So cute…”


    This would be a comfortable situation if I don’t know the true nature of Neah .


    Remembering her usual cheekiness, I can’t help but sigh .


    “Does Neah-chan also want to live here?”


    “I was thinking of getting permission from you or Eiri-san… . If you can’t then—”


    “No! It’s completely okay! I’m sure Eiri will allow it! I will allow it!”


    “O-Okay . ”


    Are you sure you should say that, princess .


    With a force that does not match her appearance, I can’t help but laugh at Eva .


    Maybe Eiri-san wouldn’t refuse, and Neah can stay here without being suspicious .


    “Oh right . What does she eat? Since it’s a monster, perhaps she’s a carnivore… . Neah-chan, do you like some meat?”


    Eva asks Neah with a thoughtful look .


    Neah’s an owl . So even if you talk to her, I don’t think she’s going to give you any—


    “Hoot! Hoot HOOOOOOT!!”


    “Wow, so you do love meat! I understand!”


    ——And I take it back . What a selfish prick . Just like a fish reacting to bait .


    Neah moves and flutters her wings as she squeaked a little, maybe she was happy with Eva’s reaction, she turned to glance at me with eyes of mockery before smiling .


    “…”


    “? Usato-san, I suddenly heard some strange cracking sound in your hands…Are you alright?”


    “Hm? Aah-, I’m fine . ”


    It seems that I was unconsciously gripping my fist .


    In order to fool her, I released my fist, but when she looked towards Neah again, I raised my hands on my neck, signalling to Neah with a slice on the neck and smiled .


    “Please look forward to today’s meal!”


    “Hoot!”


    “I’ll catch a lot of mice for you Neah-chan!”


    “… . . Eh, hoot?”


    “Ah wait, or maybe owls eat insects as well? I wonder if I should catch them as well, fortunately, there’s many in the flowerbed…”


    The body of Neah hardened like a stone .


    —–That’s right, owls are bird of preys .


    Wild birds eat nothing but small animals . This is common sense, thus she doesn’t want to feed human food to owls, and thought of other ‘food’ for owls .


    And if this little princess says she’ll do it, she’ll do it . For example, no matter what kind of hand she uses, she’ll definitely catch some mice and insects that serve as Neahs meal… . . If she can’t, she’ll just ask Eiri-san or the knights from outside to try and catch some mice .


    However, I do pity her for being fed mice and insects, thus this kind person shall help a familiar and companion out by dispatching a help boat .


    “Eva, this thing eats literally anything, so we can just feed her the same meals as ours . ”


    “Eh, is that so?”


    “Even as an owl, it’s still a monster . What they eat might be different from ordinary animals . ”


    Her true nature is that of a vampire . She would normally eat fruits during our journey, and even ate human meals when she invited us into the village .


    I turned and sighed at her moisturized eyes, who I had just saved, as I put my arms forward to issue her to come back .


    “Alright, come here . ”


    “Hoot . ”


    Neah moved from above Eva’s hand to my shoulder .


    …Based on her reaction, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything out of the ordinary, but I guess I should hear about it later . For the time being, I need a place and time to explain the situation to Neah .


    “I’ll go ahead and rest in my room . Can I bring Neah in as well?”


    “Even if it gets dirty, it just needs to be cleaned, so there’s no problem . Does Neah-chan need anything? If so, I can prepare…”


    “Thank you . But she doesn’t need anything for the time being . ”


    An actual owl may need a perch, but this one doesn’t need one .


    Entering indoors while waving Eva lightly, at the same time, Neah who was moving to my shoulders, closed her eyes in relief .


    “Hoo-, Who’s that girl?”


    “It’s cause you were letting it all in your head . You reap what you sow . ”


    “Who would think of meat as insects or mice?! Wait, that’s wrong . That’s not what I’m trying to say!”


    “What’s wrong?”


    What happened to her arrogance?


    While keeping her voice as quiet as possible, she speaks to me as if not bothered .


    “That girl, her existence is disappearing . ”


    “…Huh?”


    It’s about to, disappear?


    It’s not eroding, but disappearing .


    I suddenly stopped, and when I looked at her, who was overwhelmingly lazy, I had no choice but to be puzzled by unspeakable emotions .


    “I came here because Arc asked me to . ”


    In my room, Neah who returned to her human form, sat down leaning against the chair said .


    But then, I didn’t know it’s because of Fegnis’s sword that Amako and Neah vanished before I was taken to the palace . A magical tool that exposes Neah’s transformation, I should be careful while she’s here…


    “…What have you done since I went to the palace?”


    “Soon after, the palace guys took us into an inn . We were suspicious at first, but the treatment was like a king, as if genuinely welcoming us . ”


    “Just as Lucas-sama had said…”


    I heard from the palace people that they were okay, but I was relieved to hear them saying it instead .


    “That fox…Amako was unusually uneasy?”


    “I see… . . But I’m glad y’all are fine . ”


    “But it isn’t . Why are you here for three days? It doesn’t seem like you’ve been captured or being trapped in this elaborate magic barrier . And that girl——-…Don’t tell me you’ve got into some sort of situation because of her?”


    “N-No . It’s more like I’m about to get involved…”


    “What?”


    She placed her chin on the back of the chair as I looked away from Neah’s suspicion while explaining how I got to this point .


    I gave the letter easily .


    I was invited as a healing magician for Samaria .


    I decided to live in the palace for a while .


    I met Eva, who is the Princess of Samaria .


    She has some kind of curse .


    Only explaining briefly, Neah exhales a breath of amazement .


    “You really are somebody . It’s nice to be in this country but to even try to help such a girl… . Honestly, you’re stupid, stupid stupid . ”


    What is this, why is an idiot calling me an idiot, that’s contradicting .


    I restrained the urge to recoil and retaliate, and with my arms crossed, I look at Neah laughing with brilliance .


    “Usato has a tendency to rush himself into trouble . Even during my case, when the zombie pandemic occurred, and I asked you to help, you immediately fell for it . ”


    “I didn’t rush in by myself . It’s that all of them had troubles . Also, I don’t want to be hearing from you when you’re the one causing those huge problems . What a huge hypocrite . ”


    “Shut up! Stop talking about me, okay!”


    Seriously an arrogant person .


    However, it is the same with Nack and Neah, troubles always seem to find their way towards me .


    Am I destined to be hit by trouble? Or am I trying to get caught up in that kind of thing without realising it myself?


    “Ehem, but you shouldn’t involve yourself in this mess . ”


    “… . Why? Because you know what’s been eroding her?”


    I think she just said some meaningful words, but does that have any deeper meaning?


    However, Neah raised both hands lightly and exhaled a small sigh .


    “Nope, not a clue . . ”


    “… . . Huh? Then why the hell did you act so bloody confident?!”


    “It’s strange if I can tell just by touching her okay!! … . Listen here!! That girl isn’t being eroded by curse or something like that, it’s her existence that’s disappearing . Isn’t knowing that enough?”


    I remember the words she said before coming to this room .


    I thought it was just a metaphor, but it’s exactly what she says? No, I don’t understand .


    “…Wait a minute, but isn’t she right here right now . How can she not exist?”


    “Sigh…”


    Neah who heard my question raised both her hands up annoyingly, as if it was a pain, and made a small fist .


    “The soul and the body are based on a strong bond . Without the body, the soul cannot stay in this world . Without the soul, the body cannot move in this world . The exception is that a necromancer like me can break such rules . Having said that, the soul and body can be said to be the most important factors in ‘life’ . ”


    Neah clenches both hands together .


    Body and soul—–But what does that have to with Eva?


    “But that girl, she has a weird phenomenon that deviates from that rule . ”


    “And that’s the reason why her existence has disappeared? But judging from your story, Eva seems to have nothing to do with the curse…”


    I’m getting even more confused .


    What causes such a situation where the existence of a soul and body to disappear?


    “She is abnormal . No, even abnormals aren’t something that can be dismissed in words . The realm of soul and body is a realm that ordinary humans should not interfere with, and that is the field of magic that I deal with . ”


    “Magic…”


    “In addition, curses can be transferred to these types of phenomena . What would you think would happen if it moves to us? It’s not that I’m not curious, but I’m not stupid enough to fall into a trap like some stupid idiot . ”


    Curse that moves—-Does that mean that the existence of Eva disappearing may also occur to me as well?


    “… . Can’t you manage with your dispel magic?”


    “In the first place, it’s doubtful that a curse is being applied by magic . And above all, I can’t use it because I can’t see the techniques being used . ”


    So the dispel magic is an even more of a useless magic than I’d imagine . No, I knew somehow before not to expect anything .


    So, we can’t do anything about it… . This is different from the time with the Wicked Dragon .


    “Why does Usato want to help that girl?”


    “Eh?”


    Suddenly, Neah asked .


    I was indulged in thinking about the question that I didn’t think of, and I uttered a stunned voice .


    “She is a stranger to you who you’ve met for only three days anyways . Why are you going so far for someone like her? If it’s me, no way? I may have done a familiar contract with you out of my own will, but I don’t you to fail and lose you . ”


    The reason why I did it .


    Honestly, there’s no reason why I want to help her .


    However, the answer is simple .


    “I just want to help . That’s the only reason . ”


    “Huh? That’s all?”


    “It’s not because I’m from the rescue squad, but I sympathised with her, and I wanted to help . ”


    The world is wide .


    Lots of nature spreading, including magic, monsters, people, and demihumans .


    It’s weird to not know about such a world, and knowing you will disappear someday .


    I, who came from another world, thought that it was a ‘good thing’ to be here .


    After the battle with the demon army, and listened to her cries, I truly thanked all the people in the world for meeting me .


    However, her being destined to disappear is just unfair .


    As if I’ll give in to such a weird story .


    Based on my words, Neah dropped her shoulders as if she’s stunned .


    “… . . Haah~ You’re really a weird and selfish person . I can see why the fox is worried . Even I won’t know what to do if I took my eyes off of you . ”


    “Don’t say it like I’m a troubled kid . ”


    “Rather, you’re just a kid with horrible traits . To me, it just looks like you love being stuck with weird girls . ”


    Can you not say words that are misleading!?


    Remembering the words Amako told me that day, how I’m easily tricked by women .


    “Well, I did become a familiar to such a person, so I’m the same…”


    “…Neah?”


    “I’ll help you for a while . It’s too dangerous for Usato to go alone . ”


    Neah words seemed to be shy, but she smiled naturally .


    “Hahaha, thanks . That’s encouraging . ”


    She’s not obedient, but she isn’t a bad person .


    Once again, I was relieved that we reunited, as I rest my body on the back door .


    “By the way, why are you leaning against the door all the time? Can’t you just come inside?”


    “Well, I won’t know if Eva would approach if I don’t do this . Basically, I can’t sense that girl, so it’s easy for her to get behind me . Worst of all, I’m resting in my room, and I can feel her eyes at times, which is quite difficult . ”


    “What kind of life did Usato have over the past three days!? Aren’t you just being watched by his daughter?”


    Maybe .


    However, even if it is, the scary part is that she doesn’t seem to be aware of it .


    Well, once you get used to it, it really doesn’t bother me .


    As I continued to say, Neah looks pale for a while .


    While laughing, I thought about what to do after this .