You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 84

“Peep! Peep!”

One! Two! One foot forward! Quickly move to the side, take two steps, and shake your hips!

Having barely gotten a piece of meat to eat, I shook my body vigorously. Asmil’s proposal was simpler than expected, if only I abandoned my pride.

He wanted me to dance as I had at the social gathering. When I first heard it, my body trembled and my thoughts froze, but I realized it was nothing if I could just fill my hungry stomach, so I accepted.

When I reluctantly nodded, Asmil handed me food as if it were someone else’s business, telling me to cheer up. I was dumbfounded, but I opened my small beak wide and pecked at it earnestly, then shook my body with all my might without even taking time to digest.

It was my first time performing for just one person, so I closed my eyes in embarrassment and focused on the dance. Time flew by, and the song playing in my head was coming to an end. Panting heavily, I slowly stopped my stepping legs.

“Peep.”

Having exhausted all my energy, I plopped down. I opened one eye and glanced up at Asmil, and his red eyes were gently curved, full of joy as if he had enjoyed the performance. His large hand slowly approached and patted my head.

“Well done. If you do well tomorrow too, I’ll bring you food.”

“Peep…”

It seemed he was planning to fully domesticate me, manipulating people with food so shamelessly. I wanted to get angry, but reality was harsh. Having been kidnapped with nothing, I had to nod obediently without going against the kidnapper’s mood. Anger boiled inside me, but I remained quiet without adding a single word.

Without even the energy to sit, I completely relaxed my body and lay down. I felt his round hand gently stroking my belly. Asmil rested his chin on one hand and looked down at me, making a “hmm” sound. It was a rather peaceful atmosphere for being kidnapped.

As I was catching my breath and resting, I heard the sound of a distant door opening. I turned my head to look and saw Asdion, the one who had actually carried out the kidnapping. Asmil didn’t even glance at him as he entered, focusing only on me. It was almost embarrassing for me.

Asdion approached slowly and spoke.

“…Master.”

“Mm.”

“It’s confirmed that Duke Barthes has intruded into Count Husli’s mansion.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

His long fingers pressed on my belly and started rolling me around.

I listened intently to their conversation and opened my eyes wide. Count Husli’s family was definitely Asmil’s adoptive father’s household. Given the mention of intrusion, could it be that Karhan was looking for me? I curved my eyes slightly, forming a faint smile in place of my rigid beak.

“Peep.”

I thought I might be able to escape from here soon. I wanted to quickly get out of this place where such cruel acts as starving me were taking place. Perhaps sensing my expectation, the red eyes that met mine narrowed and gleamed ominously.

“We’re having so much fun, what sad news.”

His glossy lips parted wide in a smile.

“I hate not being able to have things. Should I just eat you?”

“P-peep…”

What a chilling thing to say. Between his parted lips, I could see sharp canine teeth that looked like they could pierce my flesh at any moment. My legs trembled involuntarily. Asmil, who had been staring at this, spoke in an even more amused voice.

“I’m joking.”

He said it with a light laugh, but it didn’t sound like a joke at all. This guy was more than capable of eating me and still having room for more.

Before the hot flush could subside, Asmil stood up. He grabbed me with one hand and put me in the birdcage. I looked at the door hopefully, but of course, he locked it with the latch.

After Asmil left, I looked at the only edible thing in the cage – water. The bottom was almost visible, seeming like not even enough for a day’s drink. With a glimmer of hope, I looked up at Asdion, who was still cleaning up the trash before leaving. You’re a bird too, so you understand me, right?

“Peep.”

Our eyes met through the thin iron bars. Asdion approached without avoiding my gaze and reached out his hand to unlock the latch that Asmil had locked. Thinking he might let me out, I opened my eyes wide with a small hope, but his large hand bypassed me and… grabbed the water bowl.

“Peep.”

Of course, he wasn’t going to let me out. I nodded, thinking at least he was giving me water. At that moment, Asdion’s head tilted slightly, and then I heard the sound of water dripping. I looked down at Asdion’s hand and saw the water bowl tilted, with the little remaining content flowing onto the floor.

As I stared blankly, his slightly twitching lips mocked me.

In the end, all that came into the cage was an empty bowl. Asdion’s feet swept across the damp floor a couple of times, drawing patterns. Between the slightly moving red hair, I could see menacing eyes. They remained fixed on me, unmoving.

His dry lips twisted fiercely as he spat out words full of hatred.

“Don’t even think about trying to get attention.”

He continued to speak deliberately, gritting his teeth.

“Live quietly, shut your mouth, and hold your breath until the master loses interest in you.”

As his rough hand lifted my head, I could see his fierce gaze more clearly. His piercing eyes scanned my body as if to engrave it in my mind, then quickly withdrew his hand. It seemed he didn’t even want me to touch his fingers.

The primal hatred, unmixed with anything else, was quite unpleasant and chilling. It felt precarious, as if something might happen at any moment.

After leaving his brutal warning, Asdion left the room without giving me another glance. The door slammed shut with a bang that seemed loud enough to bring down the room, and darkness fell once again. It felt as if a storm had just passed.

The hateful gaze that had scanned my body was truly fierce. As I sat there blankly, I lowered my head to look at the floor. Only now could I understand the look in that attendant’s eyes.

He wanted Asmil’s gaze to be directed solely at him.

I stared at the slowly drying water and then flopped down. I could feel the malice wishing that even the little remaining water would disappear and I would die. I blinked my eyes quietly and tried to sleep. Both my body and mind were tired.

🐤

Karhan, who had been searching for Seol’s whereabouts, lifted a handkerchief to spit out blood. A thick liquid caught in his throat, making an unpleasant sound. The white handkerchief was already stained bright red in various places.

Karhan, who had come deep into the mountains, sat down leaning against a tree to catch his breath for a moment.

It felt as if all the organs contained in his body were twisting and screaming. With each breath he took, he felt like his body was cracking like drought-stricken land. As he closed his eyes for a moment to stabilize, something cold touched his cheek.

“Your Grace. It would be better if you return to the mansion while I search alone.”

Doel was frightened by Karhan, who was sitting under the tree with his eyes closed as if he was about to die. He didn’t know what Karhan was doing, but the more he touched things here and there, the more the light in his lively eyes faded, and blood poured from his nose and mouth. He looked like he might die before finding Seol.

Ignoring Doel’s concerns, Karhan drank the water Doel had fetched to moisten his throat. The bitter taste of blood lingered on his tongue.

He stood up and looked at the deep cave. As if there was a magic stone buried in the ground, only this place interfered with the flow of mana and prevented him from reading memories. His sharp intuition screamed loudly that Seol was right here.

Having regained some strength, Karhan stepped into the cave. And he realized. It wasn’t that a magic stone was buried deep in the ground, but that the cave itself was made of magic stone. When he reached out to touch the wall, a prickling sensation shot through his body.

He walked slowly, following the flow, and as he stepped on a certain point, the surrounding scenery changed instantly as if it had been reversed.

The cave, which had seemed like a place where monsters would live, had suddenly changed into a house fit for an old-fashioned nobleman. As he blinked slowly and looked around, he saw a familiar man who seemed to have been there for an unknown time.

Karhan asked in a low voice.

“Where is he? Depending on your answer, I’ll decide whether your head will be attached to the floor or remain intact on your neck.”

He elegantly raised the sword hanging at his waist. The smoothly honed blade gleamed sharply as if it would pierce the neck at any moment. As their gazes intertwined complexly, the silence lengthened.

The uncomfortable silence was broken when Asdion, who had been staring at the gray eyes, bowed his head first.

“We’ve been waiting for you. Please come in.”

Asdion spoke politely, as if fulfilling the duty of a servant welcoming a guest. This was the one who had kidnapped Seol. Karhan wanted to cut off his head right away, but seeing that he showed no will to fight, he withdrew his sword.

He stopped walking along the corridor decorated with smooth marble. A tightly closed door was visible in front of him. In this place full of silence, light and sound leaked through the gap of the door, the only sign of life.

This is it. Karhan swallowed dryly and looked at the doorknob. His heart raced at the fact that he could finally retrieve Seol. It had been a week since he started searching the world for Seol. It was a long time if you considered it long, and a short time if you considered it short.

During that time when he couldn’t see the face he longed for, he couldn’t get a proper wink of sleep. When he closed his eyes, the memory he had seen from the clothes kept swirling in his mind. The sound of desperate crying tore at his heart, making it ache.

Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the handle and pushed. Then he could see it. The small body trembling in the corner.

What happened next was instantaneous. Karhan drawing his sword and pointing it at Asmil, Asmil easily blocking it with the knife he was holding, the sharp bird talons clashing with Doel’s sword.

A sharp sound and a dull sound were heard simultaneously. As the metal and claws tangled, small sparks flew. Supporting the back with one leg to avoid being pushed back, and supporting the wrist holding the sword with one arm. Their bodies trembled as their strengths collided.

“I didn’t expect such a fierce welcome.”

“…What have you done?”

Karhan had to know exactly what he had done to make Seol tremble. He pushed Asmil back, applying even more force to the hand holding the sword.

Despite the fierce gaze, Asmil spoke with a slight smile.

“I didn’t do much. Just…”

“Peep! Peeep!”

At that moment, the little bird that had been stuck in the corner flew up and perched on Karhan’s shoulder. He was a bit lighter than a week ago, but judging by the glossiness of his feathers, his health didn’t seem to have deteriorated too much.