You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 121

I was dragged behind the stage curtain after being auctioned off. So this is how it ends – being sold to someone else. As I sat there feeling empty, a large shadow loomed over my cage.

“Peep?”

“Oh ho. I couldn’t tell from afar, but you’re quite adorable.”

“Peep…”

My new owner, a nobleman with flushed cheeks, gazed down at me. His round nostrils flared, revealing protruding nose hairs.

Ugh. I narrowed my eyes and scooted as far away from him as possible within the cage. Seeing this, the nobleman broke into a wide grin and exclaimed joyfully.

“I must touch it myself! Quick, take it out!”

Ha! I might be able to escape from here!The thought flashed through my mind. The shackles were heavy, but this was my chance. Once the cage opened, I’d dart straight out and fly over the sea.

However, just as the nobleman’s round eyes were about to curve into crescents, the staff member holding my cage spoke hesitantly with an troubled expression.

“My lord, this creature hasn’t been properly tamed yet. Perhaps it would be better to wait until you’re at your estate…”

“Hmm, is that so?”

No, don’t listen!I stared at the nobleman with the most innocent, sparkling eyes I could muster.Look at my pure gaze! Do I look like I’d run away?I even added a trembling smile while batting my eyes. The nobleman gasped and wiped his brow with a handkerchief from his pocket.

“Can’t you see how docile it looks! No more excuses – open it now!”

The greasy nobleman repeatedly poked the staff member’s shoulder.Yes, that’s right!I wiggled my bottom from side to side in a celebratory dance. Apparently mesmerized by my seductive movements, the nobleman’s eyes and mouth grew wide as he let out a moan.

“Ah, aah…! Yes, yes. Such talent!”

The nobleman clapped his hands and stomped his feet in excitement, while the staff awkwardly joined in the applause. Finally, the cage-holder couldn’t refuse the noble’s command and lifted me out. Though his grip remained vigilant, I decided to wait and watch for now.

Placed on the nobleman’s chubby palm, I deliberately limped. The nobleman who had been eyeing me strangely bent down to examine my legs.

“Peeyu…sniff…peeyuk.”

When I made pitiful sounds on purpose, the nobleman’s eyebrows curved downward in sympathy.

“These shackles must be terribly heavy for such a small body. Remove them at once.”

Hehehe.I lowered my head slightly, concealing my wicked smile. My masterful acting was paying off. Not stopping at sad sounds, I dramatically collapsed sideways, causing the nobleman’s nose to flush red. His nostrils flared as he urged the staff to hurry and remove my shackles.

The staff member gave me a suspicious look but ultimately followed the noble’s orders. He took out a small stone and pressed it against the shackles on my ankles. A bright light burst forth, followed by a clinking sound as my legs became lighter. The shackles had fallen off.

Freedom!

“PEEEEK!”

I lifted my head high and cried out like a phoenix. Though my body wasn’t fully recovered after spending just three days in Atlena, I felt the courage to escape.

The nobleman holding me in one hand reached out to pat my head. Hmph.I won’t forget your kindness in helping me!I bowed my head in my own way of showing gratitude. Taking it as a trick, the nobleman’s face split into a broad smile.

Keep smiling like that for the rest of your life.I fluttered my wings in farewell.

“Peep!”

Goodbye!

With that, I shot up into the air. Counting the people looking up at me, I flew like lightning toward the distant door. The nobleman, belatedly realizing my escape, frantically reached for me.

“C-catch it! Catch it! Catch that bird immediately!”

People scattered in panic trying to catch me. Though my wing ached where I’d been struck with a blunt weapon, I vigorously flapped my wings, holding onto the hope of escaping this ship. As I passed through the door into a large hall, all eyes locked onto me. While circling to find an exit, I spotted my pursuers right behind me.Gasp! Must escape!

I flapped my wings harder. Rough breathing and harsh curses followed from behind. Their desperate fingers barely grazed my tail. No, I can’t be caught like this…!

Realizing I had no choice, I squeezed my eyes shut and concentrated. With a softpiksound, something white shot out from my private area and splattered into the eyes of one of my pursuers.

“ARGH!”

“PEE-YAK!”

My apologies!I mentally whispered to the person suddenly blessed with bird droppings,Should’ve lived a better life.

Now only one person remained in pursuit. Judging by their rough, panting breaths, they’d likely tire soon.Thank goodness.Just as I was internally celebrating, a sharp, electric sensation shot through my wing, and my breath stopped.

“Pyek!”

The arm injury from the servant before my kidnapping finally caused problems. I plummeted and sprawled across a table.

“Pyaak…”

My wing only twitched feebly, refusing to move further. As I lay on the table making weak peeping sounds, harsh breathing approached.

“Because of this damn thing,huffwheeze…”

It was the one who’d chased me to the end. He curled his lips upward and reached out with his filthy hand. His fingertips were black like a beast’s curved fangs.

“Pyek… peeyak.”

No…Though I made a pitiful sound, it only made the staff member’s smile grow wider. All I could do was squeeze my eyes shut at the helpless reality. Heavy teardrops formed at the corners of my eyes, about to roll down.

“Stop.”

Huh…?

An familiar voice that shouldn’t be here rang out. Did I hear wrong? Though I wanted to check, I couldn’t lift my eyelids, afraid the reality wouldn’t match my hopes. My eyeballs moved frantically in the darkness.

“Remove that filthy hand, or I’ll take your head right now.”

As I lay there with trembling feet, that familiar voice echoed again. Tears burst through my closed eyes, dampening my feathers. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. My beak quivered.

“Pyek… peeyak…”

Making crying sounds, I slowly opened my eyes. The figure I’d longed to see stood in the distance, watching me. Cold navy hair, silver-gray eyes gleaming in the light, and firmly set, steadfast lips.

Unable to contain my joy, I transformed into human form. Grabbing a tablecloth to cover myself, I slowly descended.

“…Karhan.”

Only then could I finally smile.

When Karhan swung his sword threateningly, the people around me quietly backed away.

“Karhan!”

I walked forward one step at a time. While maintaining his vigilance of the surroundings, Karhan looked at me and spoke.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No! I’m fine!”

Though my arms and legs hurt a bit and I’d missed some meals, I was fine. When I answered loudly in a bright voice, the furrow between Karhan’s brows gradually smoothed out. Perhaps because I was too happy, tears wouldn’t stop flowing down my cheeks.

“I missed you. I really missed you.”

My voice, unused for so long, trembled finely. Slightly blushing from embarrassment, I stumbled toward Karhan.

Neither the watching staff nor the wealthy nobleman dared move a finger. This is the real Karhan! Feeling proud, I barely contained my rising smile and squared my shoulders. Though still distant, I reached out my arms, eager to touch him.

“Karha—”

Then came a bang, and the floor tilted.

Inhale once, exhale slowly. The sounds entering my ears disappeared, replaced by silence. In my slowly tilting vision, the hard floor grew larger as if magnifying until it completely consumed my sight.

Inhale once more, exhale slowly. Even blinking slowly showed nothing but the hard floor.

Had the ship tilted? My body wouldn’t respond to my will, as if drunk. When I managed to turn my head to look around, others were standing normally on two feet. Ah. Only then did I realize. It wasn’t the ship that had tilted – it was me.

Why am I lying on this floor? My arm hurt, but this is strange. I thought I’d smiled helplessly like a deflated balloon, but my facial muscles wouldn’t move, as if frozen. …How strange. Through the haze, someone rushed quickly toward me.

The hands sliding under my back trembled violently as if an earthquake had struck. The touch so unlike him made me laugh involuntarily.

“Haha… ugh—!”

The laughter squeezed from my lungs brought delayed pain that wracked my body. It felt like my lungs had been punctured – I couldn’t get enough air. Though I kept trying to draw breath, it seemed to leak away somewhere.

Haa, haa.Breathing roughly, I desperately clutched at Karhan’s arm. Rolling my eyes, I saw Karhan looking down at me with deeply furrowed brows.

Why are you frowning so much?I don’t know why I found it funny. Barely parting my faintly trembling lips, I began to speak.

“When… you said I was… ugly…”

When I’d apologized to Karhan while crying, he’d said that – that my face was very ugly. Thinking of that moment made me laugh again unexpectedly. A ragged breath that might have been either breathing or laughter escaped through my lips, and my hand gripping Karhan’s arm gradually lost strength.

I blinked slowly, etching Karhan’s face into my eyes. I looked and looked until it could never be erased. Like someone about to part forever.

“Karhan…”

When I called his name weakly, his large hand gently stroked my forehead as he always did.

I can’t see. Whether from the tears welling up or not, I couldn’t see properly anymore. When I opened and closed my mouth, whispering softly, Karhan pressed his thumb firmly against my eyelids. Clear tear tracks painted transparent pictures on his large finger.

“Will we… ever… meet… again…”

If I return to my original world, would I be able to come back here?

Karhan’s lips twisted fiercely. As if crying, or perhaps angry. After blinking once and exhaling what felt like a final breath, Karhan spoke through gritted teeth.

“Don’t talk like we’ll never meet again. Once we return to the mansion, this much will heal quickly. So, don’t speak… just stay quiet…”

Unlike himself, Karhan couldn’t finish his sentence. Both of us – Karhan and I – knew it. That this was our final moment together. We both already knew that even if I stopped speaking now, we couldn’t prevent the ruthlessly approaching end.

My tongue gradually stiffened until even proper pronunciation became difficult. The sparkling light in Karhan’s eyes blurred until I could barely see it.

I felt regret. Having seen him after so long, I’d wanted to look at him longer. My heavy eyelids slowly descended until I could no longer capture even his dim form in my eyes.

Karhan.

It felt like all sensation was gradually disappearing without a trace from my entire body. I carefully held that name – which I wanted to speak just once more, which I would now miss – and closed my mouth.

Finally, darkness fell over my world. Before all sensation disappeared, I felt a warm touch on my forehead. That sensation, which had become familiar without my noticing, drew an natural smile.

These few months with Karhan were the most magnificent, most brilliant, and happiest of my twenty years of life.

My journey, where I could be spoiled, ended just like that.