DSB 49

Shati growled and tapped its tail on the floor, as if it didn’t like being suddenly called.

When Lebel saw Shati, he understood why Edmund had not accompanied them here.

“Tsk, Shati. Stay still. I will give you meat later.”

“Grrr.”

It bared its teeth but stopped swinging its tail. Lebel lifted his gaze toward Damian.

‘In some ways, he is the most curious human of all.’

Yutis and Edmund have demonic energy in their blood, so other demonic beasts obeyed them, but this man was purely ordinary.

“I heard from the servants. On the day Yutis went into rut, you came riding Shati.”

“That’s right. But what does that have to do with a courage test?”

“Northerners do not ride horses.”

According to Damian, horses either cowered before demonic beasts or became prey in an instant, so they were unsuitable for mounts.

“When demonic beasts attack a village, they might reach the fortress. To escape quickly, you must know how to tame one.”

“You mean I should not step forward to protect anyone?”

“Ha, what do you think you could do by stepping forward? Leave that to others and just worry about keeping yourself alive!”

Was that an insult or concern?

Before Lebel could decide, Iol stepped in to clarify Damian’s meaning.

“He means he is worried for you, Young Madam. No matter how skilled you are in magic, if the enemy targets you before you cast, it ends there.”

“So I’m just a hindrance in battle.”

“…That’s not exactly what he meant. But if you die in combat, what do you think Yutis would do? So it means you must focus only on keeping yourself safe.”

…Well, he would be upset if I died.

But running away was not in Lebel’s nature.

“Facing a demonic beast won’t kill me. I was the one who dealt the fatal blow to the one that attacked the village.”

If not for the dagger he threw, Yutis’s wound would have been deeper, and the fight would have become fiercer.

“I heard.”

Damian’s expression showed that he didn’t believe it.

Lebel said no more. The passing servants stopped and looked at them, wondering what was happening.

Shati’s ferocity was famous enough that everyone knew its name.

Though Damian said northerners must learn to tame Silka beasts, even those born and raised in the North rarely managed it.

“How could the Young Madam tame a Silka that only knights can ride?”

“But the Madam can.”

“Honestly, the Madam is exceptional…”

“Unlike the Madam, the Young Madam looks like a single bite’s worth of meat… Will this be fine?”

Lebel was already used to such gazes. He had never been someone others worried over.

It really felt strange.

‘Ah, no. There were a few who did worry.’

“Please, Demon Lord, come out of the mansion. Let’s go outside and get some fresh air,” Karon said, worried. Now that his body is weakened, he’s much more active than he was back then.

Then, from behind Shati, another demonic beast appeared. It looked similar but was much smaller.

“It is still young, so taming it will be easier. If anything goes wrong, Shati will stop it. Try mounting it. Anyone of the Hestro family must know how to handle a beast like an infant!”

The murmuring from behind made it clear no one agreed, but Lebel nodded without hesitation.

“Understood.”

He approached the young beast, which watched Shati nervously. When it saw Lebel approaching without fear, it bared its teeth but then widened its eyes.

Being young, it instinctively sensed that Lebel was dangerous. The demonic energy in his body now far exceeded what he had when Shati first met him.

“Now, let’s see if you can make it obey. If it recognizes you as its master, it will be loyal.”

Despite his words, Damian did not actually expect Lebel to succeed.

He had heard Lebel came riding Shati, but he thought Shati had obeyed Yutis’s command, not Lebel’s.

Even if Shati ignored most humans except Yutis, it still listened to Edmund and sometimes to Damian.

‘Obedience. So it’s obedience.’

Since there were many watching, Lebel decided to show them clearly this time.

If obedience was the goal…

[Show your belly.]

Thud–!

Everyone’s eyes widened. Even a young beast was still a demonic beast. Yet it rolled and exposed its belly to Lebel.

Lebel smiled with satisfaction. Karon once told him that showing one’s belly was the gesture of a submissive creature.

Then this one must be of the canine kind. Karon was the same.

“Father, what do you think?”

“What, what?”

Damian was just as astonished. He had merely planned to let Lebel meet and get familiar with the beast.

Though Silka beasts were fierce, they were highly attuned to humans. Because they lived in packs, once they saw someone as a companion or family, they followed commands.

He had expected that much but never imagined it would instantly submit, let alone the creature showing its belly like a terrified pup.

Even though he had specially requested a mild one, this outcome was beyond anything he foresaw.

Lebel smiled, he was pleased. Seeing everyone unable to hide their astonishment meant he had done well.

He reached down and scratched the upside-down beast’s chin lightly.

“What do you think? Am I suitable to be considered a member of the Hestro family in your eyes, Father?”

Damian gaped.

Lebel tilted his head while watching him.

Why was he silent? Was it still not enough? Did he mean a young beast was not proof?

Lebel’s gaze turned to Shati. Shati jumped back in shock as soon as Lebel’s gaze landed on it.

It didn’t want to roll over and show its stomach like that little kid!

Shati glared at Lebel with dilated pupils and refused his approach with its fur standing on end.

Damian then realized what was happening in front of him and shouted in shock.

“Ho-how did you do that…?!”

Even demonic beasts that had once feared Edmund or Yutis because of their demonic blood had never behaved like that.

Lebel lowered his eyes slightly.

“I only told it to show its belly.”

“With mere words? No, you did not even speak!”

“Ah… I spoke inwardly.”

A human would not understand mental speech.

Damian sighed as he heard his words. He was like an onion, each time he peeled back a layer, another incomprehensible one appeared.

“Most demonic beasts will obey me.”

“Why?!”

Lebel closed his mouth. Damian was the one who gave up.

He wanted to know the man’s past, and read his mind.

“If it obeys, then it is fine. Yes…”

Damian shook his head, unwilling to think further.

“I will give you that beast. Live well with it from now on. You may give it a name yourself.”

“You mean it is mine?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Lebel stared at the young beast.

It sounded like Damian wanted him to use it as a mount, but was that really necessary? But it would be difficult to refuse a gift from his father-in-law.

“Do you even know how to ride a horse?”

“No.”

“I thought so. Riding a horse and riding a beast are entirely different. You will learn.”

Yutis had said there was no need to learn.

“Stand up.”

When Lebel hooked his finger and spoke, the beast that had been lying belly-up jumped to its feet and flattened itself before him. Damian looked at that sight, dumbfounded.

He had witnessed many strange scenes, but this one surpassed most. Had he chosen a beast too tame?

In that moment, Lebel held the fur and climbed on top. The beast immediately stood up.

Even though it was young, it was still a demonic beast, much larger than any horse.

“You cannot just climb on without a saddle!”

“It is fine.”

“I am not fine! If you fall, you will get hurt! Get down now!”

Hearing that familiar tone and panic, Lebel looked down at Damian.

“Father, are you the worrying type as well?”

“…What?”

Apparently, Yutis had inherited his anxious nature from Damian.

“Everyone seems firmly convinced that I am weak, so I think I should show them otherwise.”

“There is no need to show that!”

“I can subjugate demonic beasts too. Should I go on the next expedition with Yutis?”

The people nearby were alarmed.

“What! How could the Young Madam subjugate a demonic beast?”

“With a sword?”

Lebel swung his slender arm.

“Swords are dangerous!”

“Yes! If your hand gets cut by the blade, it will hurt!”

“I also shoot well with a bow.”

“When did you even learn…enough! Enough, just get down!”

Damian shouted. It was obvious he was not convinced but only trying to defuse the situation.

Lebel’s expression fell.

He really was skilled. If he showed them, they would believe.

“Wife…!”

At that moment, Yutis’s voice came from afar. Lebel turned his head. From atop the beast, he could clearly see Yutis running toward him, his face filled with worry.

Yutis reached him in a single breath and stretched out his hand.

“Why are you up there in such dangerous way!”

The beast that had lifted Lebel at his command cowered under the pressure of Yutis’s ominous aura.

Lebel patted the Silka’s head and said he was fine.