Sea Monster Stew Chapter 20

Hildert arrived at the main island of Karabas late at night. 

 

He hurried his steps toward the guest quarters where Admiral Moose was staying. 

 

Having received a report about a gray-haired man posing as her assistant, he needed to meet Moose directly to ascertain his identity. 

 

He had no desire to disturb her while she was likely enjoying the night’s pleasures, but he could delay his interrogation no longer.

 

“Hm? Vice-Captain, it’s been a while.”

 

However, Hildert unexpectedly encountered Admiral Moose on the stairs leading underground. 

 

Admiral Moose rushed toward him, the hem of her red robe fluttering.

 

“When did you get back so quietly? I heard you went to crush those brats who had the audacity to invade our territory?”

 

“I haven’t been back long.”

 

“Hmm, have you reported to the Captain yet? The Captain didn’t seem to know you had returned.”

“I plan to report tomorrow morning, as it’s late. More importantly… What business do you have underground at this hour?”

 

“Hehe… One of my assistants went to the corpse incinerator today.”

 

Admiral Moose turned her body toward the stairs with a bright smile.

 

“As his master, I intend to see him off on his final journey. Well, I’ll be going now!”

 

“Wait a moment, Admiral Moose.”

 

Hildert moved to block Moose’s path. Moose placed her hands on her hips and glared at him with an annoyed expression.

 

“Ah, really. My most cherished child is about to be burned to ashes, so why are you stopping me?”

 

“By any chance, is there a man with gray hair among your assistants?”

 

“Gray hair…? Hmm…”

 

She crushed her red lips together and sank into thought for a moment. 

 

Given the sheer number of governors she kept, it seemed to take time to recall each of their faces.

 

“…Wait.”

 

Her expression, once thoughtful, suddenly hardened. 

 

She glanced at Hildert with conflicted eyes. Hildert didn’t miss the subtle change in her expression.

 

“What’s wrong, Moose?”

 

“Ah, no… It’s just… I wonder if you’re talking about the one I beheaded today.”

 

Moose shook her head with a sorrowful face. Hildert’s brow slowly furrowed.

 

“…Was the governor you sent to the incinerator the one with gray hair?”

 

“Yes. He was a darling, very, very large with gray hair, but he was so disobedient, I just… killed him, that’s all. But why do you ask about him?”

 

“Was he the only man with gray hair?”

 

“Yes. Why do you keep asking? Did he do something to offend you, Vice-Captain?”

 

He couldn’t bring himself to say, ‘I received a report that he dared to lay hands on my assistant.’ If he did, Moose’s anger would undoubtedly be directed straight at Biche.

 

He regretted not being able to take the man’s life himself, but he decided to be satisfied for now and shook his head.

 

“…No, it’s nothing.”

 

“I actually really hate gray! I don’t plan to take any gray-haired governors from now on!”

 

Moose began to babble unprompted with a relieved face.

 

“Every time I see gray, it reminds me of Whecoca’s gray city and puts me in a foul mood. Don’t you agree?”

 

Hildert indifferently recalled the scenery of his homeland. 

 

He was from the central city and couldn’t relate at all to the complaints of Moose, who grew up in the southern mines.

 

“I believe I told you. I’m from a green city.”

 

“Ugh, whatever! I’m busy as hell, why are you causing a scene and holding me up? Because of you, Vice-Captain, I might miss my darling’s final moments!”

 

“Right, sorry for detaining you while you’re busy.”

 

Moose stormed down the stairs with heavy steps. Hildert watched her retreating back and frowned.

 

‘…Why is she making such a fuss after killing him with her own hands?’

 

He clicked his tongue and went up the stairs. When he opened the laboratory door, an unexpected scene unfolded before his eyes.

 

Admiral Kisa was sitting in the middle of the room, his huge body hunched over. 

 

Over his broad shoulders, Biche was visible, sleeping soundly.

 

She was leaning against a pile of cushions, breathing quietly. In her hands, she tightly clutched a duster and a rag.

 

It seemed she had dozed off while cleaning the hundreds of magical tools.

 

Then, sensing Hildert’s presence, Kisa slowly turned around. He straightened his crouched knees and frowned.

 

“…Vice-Captain.”

 

“Admiral Kisa. What were you doing in a room without its owner?”

 

“I came to borrow a purification magical tool.”

 

Kisa scratched his head and made an awkward expression.

 

“My apologies for entering without permission. I forgot you were away, that’s all.”

 

Hildert stared intently at his trailing words. Kisa’s tone, oddly sharp, grated on him.

 

But there was something more urgent. Hildert stepped past the grumbling, retreating Kisa and hurriedly approached Biche.

 

She was drenched in cold sweat, moaning softly. Her pale, bloodless face suggested she was having a horrific nightmare.

 

“Was she suffering like this when you came in?”

 

Hildert asked as he wiped the sweat from Biche’s forehead. Kisa, not taking his eyes off Hildert’s hand, answered in a subdued voice.

 

“…Yes. I confirmed you weren’t here and was about to leave when I suddenly heard a woman moaning, so I came in to check.”

 

“Did you think my assistant was getting physically involved with another man?”

 

“What? What nonsense are you talking about?”

 

Kisa’s face flushed red to his ears. 

 

As the large man stepped back, the cabinet filled with herbal medicine bottles rattled noisily.

 

Hildert looked at the fussy Kisa with a frown.

 

‘Does the giant’s skin absorb its host’s expressions as well?’

 

The thought of a large man like Admiral Kisa blushing was strangely unpleasant.

 

“Why have you been so fidgety since a while ago, Kisa?”

 

“Me?”

 

“Lower your voice. You’ll wake my assistant.”

 

“But she’s having a nightmare. She should be woken up.”

 

Kisa, who had been grumbling with his arms crossed, stopped dead. 

 

Hildert turned his head to where Kisa’s gaze was directed.

 

A single stream of tears was quietly flowing from Biche’s eyes.

 

“Mother… Father…”

 

The voice from her bloodless lips was like a sigh. ‘Was she meeting her family in her dream?’

 

Hildert silently wiped the tears wetting Biche’s cheek. 

 

The fact that her maternal grandfather, the Duke of Helio, had sold his granddaughter to a slave dealer suddenly came to mind.

 

‘…She probably doesn’t know the truth, that the Duke sold her off.’

 

If he made her aware of that cruel truth, she might completely abandon any thought of returning to her homeland.

 

But in the worst case, she might even lose the will to live.

 

As he hesitated, watching her fluttering eyelashes, Biche’s eyes snapped open.

 

Her pupils, not fully awake, were still blurry.

 

“…Lord Hildert? When did you…”

 

She murmured blankly and hurriedly sat up. 

 

Watching her flustered attempts to tidy her surroundings, Hildert also slowly rose.

 

“I just returned. You must have been tired.”

 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be back early…”

 

The moment she spotted Kisa hesitating behind Hildert, Biche pressed her lips tightly together. He could clearly feel her entire body stiffening.

 

“Ah…”

 

Terrified, she stumbled backward and shrunk behind Hildert’s back. 

 

Her small shoulders were trembling pitifully.

 

Even if it was Admiral Kisa, he couldn’t possibly discern the true identity of a half-blood saturated with Hildert’s magic power.

 

But Biche didn’t know that. So, robbed of reason by fear, she hid instinctively.

 

She was so deeply consumed by terror that she didn’t even realize the one she was relying on was Hildert himself.

 

‘…I suppose there’s no need to enlighten her about the truth.’

 

Hildert glanced toward Kisa with a satisfied curl of his lip. 

 

Kisa hastily withdrew his awkwardly outstretched hand and averted his gaze with a stiff face.

 

He glared at Biche hiding behind Hildert, then abruptly turned his back. Hildert stopped him with a calm voice.

 

“Kisa.”

 

“What!”

 

“I’d appreciate it if you would refrain from appearing before my assistant.”

 

“Why? Because she acts like she’s seen a ghost every time she sees me?”

 

He stared at the fuming Kisa and swallowed his words. 

 

How could he honestly say, ‘It’s unsettling to expose the hybrid before you, who detests sea monsters’?

 

“Last time she fainted, and this time she’s having a fit! Anyone would think I was trying to eat her alive!”

 

With thundering footsteps, Kisa slammed the door shut and left. His anger was far deeper and more intense than Hildert had anticipated.

 

Hildert looked at the door Kisa had roughly closed with a questioning gaze.

 

‘Was it really something to get worked up about?’

 

The imposing stature and fierce impression of the giant’s skin naturally provoked fear in the timid. 

 

It wasn’t exactly an unprecedented reaction.

 

But the embarrassment and anger Kisa had displayed were just like that of a wounded adolescent boy.

 

“The Admiral is gone, so calm yourself now.”

 

Hildert looked back at Biche over his shoulder. 

 

Oppressed by anxiety, she hesitated for a moment before quickly slipping out of the laboratory.

 

He let out a light sigh and followed her. 

 

Kisa’s strange behavior nagged at him, but the priority was her, pale as if she might faint at any moment.