Ilu Kotetsu

“I fully understand how you feel. I imagine you were trapped on that ship because you were lured into a trap in a similar situation, weren’t you?”

As Ilu spoke, she walked around the table and stopped in front of the bowl of roasted meat intended for me.

“In that case, to express my gratitude for your kindness in saving my kin, I shall test it for poison myself.”

Wait… hold on…

Disbelief to this extent was already incredibly rude, but although I raised my hand, my mouth didn’t utter a single word.

Prudence demanded my silence.

Right before my eyes, Ilu picked up the plate and, without a care, used her hand to tear off a piece of meat and place it between her red lips.

I made no move until she swallowed. I simply stared blankly at her, my eyes constantly searching her expression and appearance.

“Does this suffice?”

Setting the plate down, she offered a faint smile, completely unfazed by having risked herself.

—As for me, I want to create a home where everyone can live happily together, meow.

Once again, her figure surfaced in my mind.

“…I am sorry. I have been far too rude. Please forgive me.”

Failing to trust anyone was exactly what had led to losing her.

I… don’t want to go through that ever again.

Bending at the waist, I bowed deeply to Ilu in apology.

“It is of no matter. Miss Leni is a savior to the Nako people after all, so I do not mind such small things.”

“I… did nothing so remarkable.”

Ilu stood before me and spoke again. Her face, so strikingly similar to what she would have looked like as an adult, sent waves of sharp pain through my heart.

“At any rate, please sit.”

As she guided me by the shoulder, Hisaba—who had quietly approached at some unknown point—pulled out a chair for me.

In this manner, half-coaxed, I sat at the dining table and began breakfast with Ilu.

“……”

However, the moment the meat entered my mouth, a nauseating gamy taste exploded in my oral cavity like a bomb. Although it was much better than the dead fish on the pirate ship, the drop in quality from the refined atmosphere to this texture was so vast that I couldn’t hide my expression in time.

“I apologize, Miss Leni. I presume it is not to your taste?”

“…It’s fine. It actually has quite a unique flavor.”

She had treated me with such courtesy; I didn’t want to embarrass her. Judging by what I saw on my way here, this meat was likely the best the village had to offer.

“No, this is my lack of hospitality. But as you can see, the state of the village is… in many ways, I must apologize, especially to a benefactor.”

As she spoke, Ilu lowered her head again.

“Um… Miss Kotetsu, you’re making me feel quite overwhelmed. It’s actually the opposite—if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to escape like this.”

“But if Miss Leni had not released that beast, I would not have had the opening to rescue everyone,” Ilu argued.

It was that look in her eyes again; her concern for her own race was laid bare.

“Furthermore, the survivors have told us how Miss Leni shared her food with our kin. Therefore, Miss Leni, please hold your head high.”

Hisaba, who had been waiting silently to the side while we ate, stepped forward to add a word.

“You two… I really didn’t do anything that grand.”

“Just treating our race with kindness is something worth being grateful for. Miss Leni, please accept your identity as our benefactor.”