By Zephyria 
It was cute how Aska was bawling like a child, but I knew he was suffering inside, so I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
“Don’t cry.”
I pulled his head into a hug and gently stroked it, but Aska rudely kicked my shin with his foot.
“Please listen to me seriously. I’m really scared, I feel like I’m going crazy.”
“……”
His reddish eyes, shining like glass beads, were filled with fear. Why was he so cute? Was it really that scary? Enough to make his whole body tremble and shed tears like this?
At this point, I wondered if I was the strange one. It was true that no matter what Aska did, I wouldn’t die and would heal quickly. Of course, I knew he didn’t like me getting hurt in the first place, but this wasn’t a problem that could be prepared for.
I couldn’t understand why he was so worried and upset about something unavoidable. Shouldn’t he at least find some comfort in the fact that I wouldn’t die and would be restored to normal?
Or was it because he was the one attacking, so he couldn’t bring himself to think that way? Because of guilt? I imagined Aska wielding a sword at me while I was out of my mind.
A chill ran down my spine in that brief moment. Putting myself in his shoes, I could understand Aska’s fear a little better.
“So, is that why you were talking about evacuating me earlier? Or even telling me to run away?”
Aska nodded at my question. But his expression was still serious, and his voice was full of tears.
“But I don’t think it’ll work anyway.”
“Why?”
“I’ll find you no matter what.”
That was a welcome sound. I was feeling awkward, as if I had received a sudden confession, when Aska yelled.
“Why are you so happy! Do you think I’m looking for you so we can hold hands and play?”
“Anyway, then there’s no need to tell other people that you’re a Magical creature. No matter how much I hide and evacuate, you’ll find me somehow.”
“We need to come up with some kind of plan.”
I said with a smirk, but Aska just muttered anxiously. I didn’t want to see him worrying all the time, so I tried to think of a solution myself.
“Can’t we just put a collar on you and lock you up? It hurts my heart to treat you like an animal, though.”
I said it with a bit of ulterior motive. But Aska shook his head firmly, as if it were out of the question.
“I can never be locked up.”
“Why?”
“Do you know how strong I am?”
“What about using magic or a Magical tool?”
Aska shook his head again this time. Well, I was a living witness that magic wouldn’t work. If I carelessly cast a binding spell on Aska, I would only risk my life from the backlash.
Then there was no way, was there? I thought again and said,
“Wouldn’t you snap out of it if I just cried out in pain?”
Aska was overly flustered every time I cried. I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use that, but Aska rubbed his eyes roughly, as if annoyed.
“Are you kidding me? Think seriously.”
I grabbed Aska’s wrist and pulled it down. His eyes were already red from crying, and the skin around them became even redder from the rubbing. Two eyelashes had fallen out and were stuck under his eyes from how hard he had rubbed them.
I sighed, removed the eyelashes, and gently wiped around his eyes, saying, “I’m thinking seriously. You were somewhat responsive back then too. A little headstrong… No, but you’re just as headstrong now.”
“……”
Aska stared at me with resentful eyes, then sighed. I thought he would turn his back on me in a huff, but he lowered his head and rubbed his cheek against my neck. It was a strong and fast movement, like when he rubbed his eyes earlier, and the friction started to make my skin hot.
What was he doing? Was he protesting? I wondered for a moment if I should pretend to be in pain, but Aska muttered softly.
“What’s the point of me talking to you about this?”
“Then who else would you talk to about this if not me?”
“You have such weird tastes, you even like it when I bite you and draw blood.”
Why was he calling this a taste? I couldn’t help but defend myself because I felt a little wronged.
“It’s good because you’re the one biting me, I don’t like the act of being bitten itself.”
“It’s the same pain no matter who bites.”
“It’s different, though? When you bite, I can vividly feel your fangs tearing through my skin and digging into my flesh and muscles.”
So it hurts even more.
I didn’t bother to say the last part, afraid he would think I had a strange taste for pain. What would Aska know? My deep feelings.
“There’s a place I often saw in my dreams. I’m thinking of going there.”
I was stroking his hair and touching his scalp with my fingertips when Aska suddenly changed the subject.
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know. But after listening to that long-eared man I met in Gaulaprum earlier, I think it’s probably the Forgotten Race. The person in my dream too… No, it’s not a person, but anyway, I think it’s the same race.”
If he saw it in a dream, it must have been a long time ago, right? Judging by the clothing and architectural style, it didn’t seem like just any old time. Besides, if it was a time when so many races coexisted, it might have been even earlier than ancient times.
So at least 1000 years ago.
“Wouldn’t they be dead already? Or maybe they moved.”
“I don’t know about moving, but they wouldn’t be dead.”
“Why?”
“I just have a feeling.”
Then I suddenly felt something strange. When did he turn back into this form? It was so natural that I didn’t even notice.
I wanted to touch his wings and tail a little more.
“But why are you so startled when I touch your wings? Does it hurt?”
“It’s not that it hurts, it’s just that I haven’t exposed that area much, so the sensation itself is unfamiliar. So even the wind touching it feels strange.”
I widened my eyes at the unexpected words. The sensation was unfamiliar? Was it a particularly sensitive area? I put my hand inside his clothes and stroked the protruding bone where his wings had been.
“Then, if I keep stroking your wings, can you possibly cum from that?”
“……”
I asked purely out of curiosity, but Aska looked up and stared at me with cold eyes.
“Or grab your tail and pull it like a leash…”
“Stop it, you crazy bastard.”
It felt like it had been a while since I heard Aska swear. Maybe that’s why I was happier. Anyway, I was glad that his tears had stopped and he seemed to feel a little better.
“Let’s try it sometime after we leave the castle.”
“No. And don’t tell me to transform anymore. I don’t like it very much. It’s hard to keep my balance.”
“Is it still hard?”
“The wings are too heavy. And the tail keeps moving on its own sometimes. Last time, it was wrapped around my leg without my permission.”
“The tail? Then can’t you just grab it with your hand and carry it around so it doesn’t move on its own?”
Just imagining it made me shudder with cuteness. But Aska didn’t seem to think much of it and changed the subject.
“Anyway, since it’s a place that keeps appearing in my dreams, maybe there’s some clue about my identity there. If not, then there’s nothing I can do.”
Whatever his identity was, it wasn’t really important. Whether he was human, a Magical creature, or some other race, even if he was a slimy mud monster, it was fine.
“Should we just go now? It would be quick if I went alone.”
“If it can be resolved in under 5 minutes, go, otherwise don’t.”
How did he know where it was and was going to go alone? There might be something dangerous like an underground Ruins. Aska sighed when I frowned.
“How can I go and come back in 5 minutes? It’s not like going to the neighborhood bakery.”
“So, what I mean is, don’t wander around alone unless it’s like going to the neighborhood bakery.”
Aska sighed at my words.
“It won’t be 5 minutes, but I think it’ll take an hour or two. Maybe even less.”
“Where is it? Can’t we just go together later after our schedule is over?”
“It’s in the underground area of the royal castle, so it’s better to go while we’re here. Otherwise, I’ll have to sneak in, but the place where the King lives is a bit… I wouldn’t get caught, though.”
Underground of the royal castle? Aska said when I widened my eyes at the unexpected words.
“There are a few places I saw in my dreams, and one of them is here.”
Aska was of royal blood, so it wasn’t out of the blue. It wasn’t certain whether he was really a biological child or not, but anyway, he was bound to be deeply involved with Calderia.
“Now that I think about it, when I was living here, the princess seems to have taken me there too.”
There was no such scene in the part I dreamed of. I was a little puzzled as I listened and asked.
“If she took you, she took you, what do you mean by ‘seems to have’? Can’t you remember well?”
“I was out of my mind because I took medicine back then.”
She even gave him medicine? Was it something like a sleeping pill? She really did all sorts of things. I suddenly missed the princess who died so much.
“There will probably be a lot of guards, so I think it’s better for me to go alone quickly.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“I’m more dangerous.”
Aska said confidently, but I was still worried. I knew he was strong and capable, but it was useless if he couldn’t use it properly. All he knew how to do was whine and complain, what could he do alone in a really serious situation?
“If it’s dangerous, you have to attack no matter what. Got it? Don’t even think about being considerate. Don’t discriminate between men and women, young and old. Even if there are children or old people in such a place, they won’t be ordinary people.”
“I know.”
“It doesn’t matter if the castle is destroyed, use your strength to the fullest when you need to.”
As I repeatedly gave him instructions, Aska clicked his tongue and muttered.
“Anyone would think it’s your castle. And if I do my best, it won’t end with the castle being destroyed.”
“Anyway, don’t get hurt and run away to me if you think it’s not going well.”
“Okay.”
“Answer properly.”
“If I’m scared, I’ll cry and run straight to you.”
I wasn’t completely satisfied with this either, but I still stroked Aska’s head.
While Aska was exploring the underground, I was planning to wander around inside the royal castle.