The Cuore of Truth Brings Good Fortune - Episode 4

[tiletta]

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Figaro: Seems like you've misunderstood us. We're here to patch you up and to solve the mysterious happenings. Allow me t...
Elmo: Kyuu!
Akira: Ahh!

The moment Figaro extended his hand, Elmo's bushy tail swatted his hand aside.

Arthur: Figaro sama, is everything alright? Are you hurt?
Figaro: Thanks for your concern. Its tail is all fluff, so I'm fine.
Bradley: That’s one hell of a greeting you've got for people you're meeting for the first time. We've taken the trouble to come all the way out here, so what's your deal?
Owen: 'You insolent wizards. Have I not already ordered you to leave? Though...'

Elmo’s black eyes, which were like dark gemstones, gazed upon the room. I was perplexed the moment its eyes met mine.

Akira: Um, yes...?
Elmo: ... Mmkyu. Kyuu, kyu.

But then, Elmo shook its head. It opened the door and let itself out.

Mithra: I sense it leaving... What did it say to you right at the end?
Owen: It told her to pass a message along to that pet owner: ‘Worry not.’ And it also added, ‘Tell him that wizards shall be of no use.'
Akira: I don't think it's possible as a pet owner to turn a blind eye to those injuries... I'm not sure how to put it, but it sure is a prideful little thing.
Figaro: Yeah. It flat-out rejected an offer for treatment. It's no wonder that Ernest is worried about Elmo.
Though... what's more concerning is that Ernest seems to think that he has a dog for a pet.

Riquet: It does have a curious presence. I suppose that means it was never a dog to begin with. May I ask what it's called?
Shylock: That is no common animal — it's a magical creature called kikii. It's been a long while since I last saw one alive.
Long ago, kikii used to be a common sight on the Eastern borders, and deep in the forests of Central Country as well. Their numbers were dramatically reduced after the discovery and development of magical science.
Murr: There's a legend about it bringing good luck if you keep one as a pet, so they were overhunted to be turned into pets for the wealthy. There might be none left out in the wild!
Arthur: Well, I've seen kikii before, in a bestiary. I’ve read that the kikii are magical creatures with the rare ability to restore their magical power by bathing in moonlight or starlight.
Hmm... If memory serves, I believe the illustrations in the bestiary did not have black fur.
Figaro: That’s because the kikii are typically depicted with divinely white fur. It’s extremely rare to see one like that with such dark fur.
Murr: When a kikii is super duper unwell, or when it can't keep its magical powers under control, it turns black!

Shylock: I sense the Calamity's presence coming from Elmo. It seems like its influence is the reason Elmo has become unable to regulate its own magical power.
Riquet: In that case, if we administer proper treatment and cleanse the Calamity's influence from it, Elmo's fur will return to a pristine white.
Murr: Yep, that sounds about right! By the way, did you know there's another legend out there about the luck-bringing kikii?
‘Whosoever beholds the true form of a kikii – the blackened self – will suffer misfortune.'
Riquet & Akira: Huh…

I gulped at the unexpected revelation.
I immediately thought of the strange occurrences in this very mansion. During the night, there were eerie noises, and then also Elmo's regular disappearances.
After all, Ernest had also thought that the two incidents could be related.

Akira: ... So, that means, the legend is the cause of all these strange occurrences...
Figaro: Oh, not at all. That legend's—

Ernest: Sorry to keep you all waiting. I've returned with the tea and biscuits.
Owen: Took you long enough. Give them here, now.
Arthur: Thank you, Ernest. You didn’t have to go out of your way just for us..

Arthur smiled warmly as he took for himself a cup and saucer. But then, he tilted his head inquiringly. His astute gaze swept over each teacup.

Riquet: Arthur sama, what is the matter? Do you dislike this blend of tea?
Arthur: Ah... No, it's nothing. My saucer doesn't match my teacup, so I wondered if there had been a mix up.
Akira: Oh, mine's wrong too...
Ernest: M-My apologies for the mismatched sets. I didn't know where the guest tea set was, so I...
Riquet: ...What? Did your relative not even inform you where the cups were?
You are here as a live-in caretaker for this mansion. Not knowing where the tableware is must be terribly inconvenient for you.
Ernest: ...... Um, uhhh...

A puzzled Riquet looked at Ernest.
Ernest averted his gaze and let it wander. Sweat started to bead on his pale cheeks.
At that moment, the older wizards exchanged a knowing glance.

Shylock smiled kindly at Ernest, while picking up his own mismatched cup and saucer.

Shylock: It's all part and parcel of moving. Recall that when we first moved into the Magical Manor, we were all going every which way to find what we needed, weren’t we?
Riquet: I see... Back then, Mitile had also told me that he accidentally forgot his notebook at home.
Ernest: Umm, I accidentally forgot too... Hahaha...

Ernest ran a hand through his silver hair, mussing it up. He smiled weakly, and glanced around the room as if he were about to make a break for it.

Ernest: By the way, uh, where's Elmo? It came into the kitchen, so I told it to go to where you all were...
Arthur: We did meet Elmo just now. It was wary of us and promptly left the room, though.
Ernest: Really? That's odd... Elmo's very intelligent and normally fond of people.
Bradley: Fond? That old rag?
Shylock: ... You two must be quite close then. Did you have Elmo before you moved here?
Ernest: No, I found it near the mansion. It was weak, and it seemed hungry, so I fed it. Then it got attached to me.
At first, I thought Elmo belonged to someone around these parts, but I couldn't find its master, so I decided to take care of it for the time being.
Would be nice if I could return Elmo to its real home soon...

Ernest's voice was soft, but also tinged with worry. Even though he wasn't Elmo's real master, he truly cared for it with all his heart.

Owen: .........

Owen, who had been observing in silence, suddenly smirked and leaned forward sweetly.

Owen: You really love Elmo, don't you? Don’t you want to know what it truly is?
Ernest: Huh?
Owen: That's no normal mongrel. I'm sure you've started to notice it yourself.
Ernest: Notice ... what...? Elmo is much cuter than any other dog, sure, and it's got a cat-like demeanour, too, but...
Bradley: What, you didn't even notice a single thing? Guess you're pretty dense yourself.
Mithra: Amazing how someone could live under the same roof with a magical creature and fail to notice anything amiss.
Ernest: ... What magical creature?
Akira: Owen, I think it's better if we saved the truth for later...
Figaro: Nah, it'll be fine, Kenja sama. I'd like to use this opportunity to tell Ernest everything upfront. It's better for him this way.

Figaro: Listen, Ernest. Your Elmo isn't a dog. It's a magical creature called kikii.
Ernest: A kikii?
Shylock: That's right. Kikii are rare creatures far more intelligent than any dog.
Just now, Elmo rejected Figaro sama's offer for treatment of its own volition. It also told us to leave this mansion at once.
Ernest: ... So that’s what happened... I wonder if Elmo's cuter than a dog because it's a magical creature?
Murr: That, Ernest, is your own perspective of things! I suppose that's an unwavering Central man for you!
Owen: And here's the thing about kikii — there's a legend to them. 'Those who behold its white form shall be blessed with luck. Conversely, those who glimpse it in its black form will suffer misfortune.'
...... At this point, that thing's completely black. All the misfortunes of this mansion could very well be its fault, you know.

Owen's mocking tone and sneer made Ernest stare.
However, Figaro shook his head at once.

Figaro: That's nothing more than just a legend. A kikii doesn’t have any powers like that.
Ernest: Oh... I... Alright. What a relief...
If you all had told me that there was no choice but to exterminate Elmo, I think I'd have taken up arms against all of you...
Bradley: Oh, you were about to throw hands? You've got some guts. That's a pleasant surprise.
Shylock: But you should still be wary — people that believe in the legend may set their sights on Elmo and try to poach it.

Ernest nodded vigorously. He spoke softly as he refilled our teacups.

Ernest: I'm glad I found out before anything terrible happened to Elmo. I'm indebted to Elmo, after all...
Riquet: Indebted?
Ernest: Ahh... No, it's nothing, please forget about it!
Umm, so, what's after tea? If you're going to start treatment for Elmo, then I'll go fetch it...
Figaro: No, forcing Elmo would only aggravate its injuries. I think we should start by looking into the eerie noises you mentioned.
Shylock: I agree. Knowing what injured Elmo might be a hint towards unravelling that mystery.
Ernest, while we investigate, I'd like you to coax Elmo into accepting treatment.
Ernest: I-I'll try. Thank you for bothering to help me, everyone.
Mithra: It is a bother though. I'd like to leave.
Owen: I'm leaving too. I'm feeling like eating some thick and sticky creamy thing.
Bradley: Works for me, so go on, go back to the mansion. Then the Lady of Ruin is mine for sure.
Mithra & Owen: .........


Episode 5 ⭢