MTFBMP Chapter 34

He, who should have forgotten his manners with his past, sat down with such perfect decorum, bowed toward me, and listened.

 

His eyes, visible through his tousled hair, were unusually meek. Those gentle, round eyes stared up at me as if they were looking up to their master.

 

The way he placed one hand on his chest made him look like a knight kneeling before his lady and serenading her, or a subject pledging his loyalty to his master. 

 

The wings draped over his back made him look like a biblical angel, promising infinite love and protection.

 

Even with only one wing covering his body, he looked more holy than his uniform.

 

At my feet, this being knelt before me.

 

Immediately, a tingle of pleasure shot up my spine from my toes to the crown of my head.

 

While I watched him in fascination, Adelaine remained still, waiting for my next move. Though focused on me, as if urging me to hurry up and give the next command, I didn’t.

 

“So, how do you intend to tame me?”

 

The words caught me off guard.

 

‘There it is!’

 

The game continued in a similar vein. The story was back on a familiar track.

 

‘I’m not sure whether this is going to work.’ 

 

In the game, I could easily tame the pet with a few feeds, but I realized he wasn’t just a pet.

 

First, I had to check something else.

 

“Who else has been here besides me?”

 

“No one since you boarded this ship.”

 

It had been a long time since the voyage had begun, and I couldn’t imagine how he’d survived the intervening time.

 

‘Maybe he’s not hungry because of the divine power.’

 

In fact, Adelaine had never asked for food or shown any sign of hunger.

 

“Then I’ll feed you first.”

 

But no matter how much I racked my brain, there seemed to be nothing I could do about it. 

 

I realized that I had to give him something in return, as I had always done, for the relationship to work.

 

As I opened my bag and pulled out an apple, Adelaine gave me a strange look, as if hearing something outlandish.

 

“I never thought I’d hear that from you.”

 

He shook his head and slowly pushed himself to his feet, flapping his wings, which had been dangling casually as if he were smoothing out his appearance.

 

“…”

 

I stopped what I was doing and stared at the figure.

 

Then I snapped back to reality.

 

The huge golden wings on his back still made him look like a messenger of the gods, but I had already realized that he was just a clever beast.

 

“That’s enough. Sit back down!”

 

The clever beast was not above barking at his would-be master.

 

As if to prove to me that I wasn’t his master just yet, Adelaine ignored my command and moved toward me.

 

“Uh— hey, wait!”

 

“What a foolish master.”

 

Again with wings covering the important places!

 

‘Please stop coming at me!’ 

 

At least put some clothes on, I said, glaring at the floor.

 

“Don’t just feed me…”

 

He grabbed the back of my hand instead of the fruit I was holding. My gaze flickered wildly.

 

“Pet me.”

 

He snatched the fruit from my hand and placed my empty palm against his cheek. My gaze drifts to his.

 

“Fill my every thought with you.”

 

Soft lips brushed against my palm. Adelaine rubbed his face, then looked up at me again.

 

It sounded like if I didn’t, I would be filling his stomach, as distinct from his thoughts.

 

I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to resist the tickling sensation against my palm.

 

Except for feeling like I’m the prey instead of the master, I think I’m on the right track to taming my pet.

 

💫

 

He said I would be the master, but somehow I felt lost, because I was the one who hadn’t been able to resist the tickling currents, and the first to cry out in surrender.

 

“If you’re going to do more, at least put on pants.”

 

He smirked at me like a beast at its prey.

 

“If you want.”

 

With one light flap of his wings, he was back in his pants. Just like I said, just pants!

 

Granted, the top I’d brought along was torn to shreds and unwearable, but still, it was weird to see him in just pants.

 

“Did you do that on purpose?”

 

To get me to overlook everything else and let you in?

 

Without realizing I’d just declared myself the boss, I almost lost my temper.

 

“You don’t quite understand, I was expressing my intention to obey the orders of my future master.”

 

It would be a waste of time to argue. I had to calm myself.

 

“Now, then, will you come inside?”

 

It was only then that I realized we were still talking through the bars.

 

‘I was entirely distracted by Adelaine.’

 

My cheeks burned. I knew I should never let my guard down, but it wasn’t easy.

 

Trying to be as nonchalant as possible, I slipped one foot through the bars.

 

“Show me your wounds first.”

 

Now that he was in human form, I decided to address the question I was most curious about.

 

“Sure.”

 

Adelaine turned around obediently at my words, and since he was taller than me, I could see the roots of his wings right in front of me. 

 

It was easier to see the wound now that he was bare, revealing human skin rather than the feathers of a beast.

 

“It looks much better.”

 

I examined the entire wing and then focused on the root.

 

‘It’s definitely better where I wrapped it with my clothes.’ 

 

Not sure if it was completely healed on the inside, but it looked fine on the outside. His feathers were once again growing in abundance.

 

“Can I touch it?”

 

“Only if you want to.”

 

As soon as the words of permission were spoken, I cautiously placed my hand near it. 

 

Adelaine’s body didn’t react much after I gently placed my hand near his wing.

 

When I had first removed the stake and tended to the wound, it had caused an involuntary twitching of pain and a rapid breaking out of a cold sweat. 

 

On top of that, the heat seared through me as if I were touching a fireball.

 

Adelaine was slightly feverish now, but nothing as bad as then. The skin I touched was soft and glistening with a healthy sheen.

 

“I’ll move the splint to the other wing and tie it off. Have a seat.”

 

It was too uncomfortable to continue standing. 

 

“Sit down,” I commanded, and Adelaine did just that. 

 

“Very good.”

 

Praise for a pet that listens to commands are essential.

 

With that in mind, I praised Adelaine in a deliberately condescending way and stroked his wings. 

 

The wings fluttered for a moment. It was hard to tell if he liked it or not.

 

‘I don’t care if you don’t like it, you’ll just have to get used to it now.’

 

Adelaine was the first to ask to be touched.

 

The calculation was that if I tamed her well enough, without abusing it, then when his memories return later, he wouldn’t be able to gulp us down in one bite or plunge a knife into my heart without thinking.

 

“You must let me know if it hurts.”

 

Adelaine didn’t groan, not even once. No wonder. He’d held it together when the stake was pulled from beneath his wings.

 

Instead, he acted as if he didn’t need food right away and ate both of the apples I brought on the spot.

 

“You act like you don’t need to eat.”

 

I muttered, disgruntled as I looked at the two apples with only the core remaining.

 

“If it’s not for me, I need the energy for the other beasts.”

 

“Energy?”

 

“I can give power to any beast within range of my aura. They can survive without food to fill their hunger.”

 

“So that’s why.”

 

The others looked like they understood why they hadn’t all starved to death.

 

“He who subjugates them must know how to watch over them.”

 

The idea of energy wasn’t new to me. 

 

I used the term to describe skills in the game, but hearing it from Adelaine’s mouth made it all the more interesting.

 

To me, this meant that he was continuously giving the beasts energy to keep them from dying, but the way he delivered it was quite rude.

 

I wasn’t sure if this was an answer to my question or a piece of advice and counsel for me. I deliberately didn’t answer because I doubted his intentions.

 

‘Still, with this ability…, we can easily control other beasts.’