18. Breaking the Secret (3)

Like an onion of a man.

Secret. Secret. Secrets.

Those secrets that revealed another when one was erased seemed to have all been revealed at last.

‘…Was this what I wanted?’

This result?

‘Do I feel relieved?’

Not really.

In the end, it only revealed that she could do nothing and couldn’t help him.

It was devastating.

Still, it was better than not knowing.

Though it might be a selfish thought, it was certainly better than not knowing why he acted that way. Even if she still had no idea how to improve the situation.

“Why… am I so incompetent?”

Self-reproach leaked out like a sigh.

“Kyang?”

“Though he must be in pain, must be struggling… I can’t do anything for him.”

In the night with the moon high in the sky,

Saena couldn’t sleep and was lamenting to Yolly.

“And I can at least confide my troubles to you, Yolly… but I wonder if he has someone like that too?”

He probably wouldn’t confide in that Guardian Spirit called Caligo.

“Kyaa.”

But Yolly somehow seemed irritated. His attitude suggested he didn’t care either way.

“But humans can’t live alone.”

Yolly’s tail moved irritably.

“I’m especially worried because he’s someone who particularly lacks people to rely on.”

“…Kyu.”

And finally, after making what seemed like a sighing sound, Yolly got up from the bed.

He walked heavily and stopped in front of the connecting door. Then, with those bear paws that seemed significantly less functional than human hands, he skillfully pressed the lock button, turned the doorknob even more skillfully, and opened the door.

“Yo, Yolly?!”

Naturally, Saena was more surprised by Yolly’s unexpected behavior.

Even if she had been lamenting a bit, how could he just throw open the door like that?

Saena hurriedly followed to stop Yolly.

“Hey, hey hey! Where are you going!”

Whispering urgently, Saena frantically followed behind Yolly. But the creature had already slipped into Constantine’s room, shocking Saena even more.

The already opened door.

Before entering, Yolly turned back as if telling her to follow.

‘…Would it be okay to go in?’

The deliberation was brief.

Yolly had never acted without reason, so this time would probably be the same.

Saena took a short breath and stepped forward.

‘Ugh…?!’

When she was five or six steps away from the bed, a strong smell of alcohol hit her. Like before, it was the scent of hard liquor. And as if that wasn’t enough, the heavy aroma of tobacco wafted along with it.

Yolly stood with his front paws on the bed, looking at Constantine.

If there was anything fortunate, it was that he was already asleep. Though it seemed he had relied heavily on external factors (hard liquor and tobacco of unknown composition) to overcome his insomnia.

“Ugh, kh… ugh.”

But even so, Constantine’s sleep quality didn’t look very good. Just looking at his strongly furrowed brow and his labored breathing that occasionally came in gasps as if he couldn’t breathe, he was clearly having a nightmare.

Sleep itself was difficult enough, and now nightmares too.

Was he dreaming of his painful childhood memories?

She had known before that he had nightmares, but now knowing the specific details made her heart ache even more.

‘I want to make him comfortable…’

Saena wanted to stroke his forehead.

She wanted to gently smooth out the wrinkles between his brows.

She felt quite resentful toward whatever this Caligo thing was that tormented him.

‘Right. Since he’s sleeping, he probably won’t notice…’

Wasn’t that why Yolly came in too?

Having finished her reasoning, Saena reached out toward Constantine’s forehead. She thought she would just watch his expression become peaceful and then leave.

“Kyah!”

But there was an unexpected obstacle—Yolly.

Before her hand could touch Constantine, Yolly swatted it away with his bear paw.

“…Yolly?”

“Kyang!”

As if saying this wasn’t right, Yolly shouted and then hopped up onto the bed.

“Kaa…”

He settled into a suitable position near Constantine’s front, curled up his body, made a sound that somehow seemed like a sigh, and then plopped his bear paw onto Constantine’s brow. Then with his other front paw, he waved at Saena, shooing her away.

As if telling her to leave now.

“…You want me to leave now?”

“Kyang.”

“……”

Why did it feel more bewildering when her guess was correct?

“Why?”

Yolly just kept waving his front paw with an annoyed expression.

“Can you make him comfortable too?”

“Kyang.”

He seemed to say yes.

Well, Constantine did say their protective auras were similar. Maybe that was the reason?

“But if touching him shortens my lifespan, wouldn’t it be the same for you?”

No, it would be even more problematic since animals have shorter average lifespans than humans.

But Yolly shook his head as if saying no.

“No?”

“Kyang.”

“What do you mean no? You’re fine?”

“Kyang.”

“You mean, you’re not affected?”

“Kyang.”

“But he said our protective auras are the same, so shouldn’t I be fine too?”

“……”

This time Yolly kept his mouth shut.

Then he waved his front paw again like before.

“No, I’m not allowed?”

“……”

Yolly wore a very displeased expression.

If our protective auras are the same, why is it okay for Yolly but not for me?

“Is it because you’re an animal? Is that why you’re not affected?”

“…Kyang.”

Yolly gave what seemed like a halfhearted agreement and waved his front paw again.

What… was this about?

She sincerely wished she could have a proper conversation with Yolly instead of these yes/no answers. After staring at Yolly who kept waving his front paw at her, Saena asked.

“You want me to leave now?”

“Kyang.”

Something felt strange.

Though she felt like she was passing off what should be her duty to someone completely unrelated, Yolly kept waving his front paw as if begging her to leave. His expression was growing increasingly fierce, seeming to demand she leave immediately.

“……”

Though she felt somewhat dissatisfied, seeing Constantine’s face which had improved considerably—no, tremendously—compared to before, she thought it didn’t matter.

Since Yolly seemed able to help Constantine sleep peacefully… well, wasn’t this actually a good thing?

Though she had no immediate solution, if Yolly’s presence could help, she thought that was fortunate indeed.

“Alright. I’ll leave now…”

“Kyu.”

“Please take good care of Constantine.”

“…Kyung.”

“Let him sleep soundly…”

“Kyak!”

Yolly responded as if saying he knew what to do, then waved his front paw more vigorously. Almost as if telling her to get lost.

“Well… I’ll go first then.”

“Kyang.”

And so Saena returned to her room.

* * *

After returning and lying on her bed, various thoughts invaded Saena’s mind.

Even though it was deep into dawn, she still couldn’t fall asleep.

‘He said Yolly and I have the same protective aura.’

Constantine had definitely said that.

‘Then… could Yolly possibly be a Guardian Spirit? Mine?’

Though he was certainly extraordinary, it seemed strange to call him a Guardian Spirit.

‘Besides, I’ve never made a Covenant…’

She had no memory of anything like a Covenant either.

And she couldn’t control Yolly at will, nor did she possess any special powers to command him like other Oathkeepers who clearly had powers.

‘What exactly should this be called?’

Since it wasn’t a normal situation, there was nowhere to ask even though she was curious.

‘…Ugh.’

Though she tried hard to form various hypotheses, she just couldn’t figure it out.

In the end, no conclusions were drawn.

The only certain thing was Yolly’s uniqueness.

He definitely wasn’t an ordinary beast, and to Saena, he was an even more extraordinary special existence.

‘Well, he even has the ability to help Constantine sleep.’

Though Yolly’s expression had been quite annoyed, having one more option to help Constantine sleep without nightmares was clearly a good thing.

For Saena too, a sense of relief spread deep in her heart.

* * *

The next day.

“Yolly? Are you back?”

Yolly, who had been by Constantine’s side helping him sleep, returned.

“Good job, Yolly. Thank you.”

“Kyeeng.”

Wearing an expression like he had reluctantly done something he didn’t want to do, Yolly climbed onto Saena’s bed. When she stroked his fur from the bridge of his nose to his forehead, he nuzzled his face against her palm, curled up, and settled down.

“Khaam.”

And after a big yawn, he fell asleep.

Had he not been sleeping next to Constantine until now?

Saena tilted her head as she watched him getting ready to sleep again.

But when Yolly sleeps, it’s usually because he needs to.

Saena gently patted the bridge of his nose, telling him to sleep well, and left the bedroom.

After leaving the room, Saena set out to visit the nanny.

His condition, the overflowing questions.

If there was someone who could help resolve even a little of these, it would probably be the nanny. Meeting with the nanny was inevitable.

“Who is it? Oh, Madam? I pay my respects to you, Madam.”

When she knocked on the entrance, unlike before, a maid came out and greeted her.

“I came to see the nanny.”

“Yes!”

“How is she feeling today?”

She hoped her condition was better. There was something she absolutely needed to confirm through the nanny.

“Oh, she’s been doing quite well lately. She’ll probably want to receive you.”

“Could you still ask her for me?”

“Yes!”

Even at a glance, she was a cheerful maid. The nanny seemed to have chosen someone pleasant to talk to.

“Please come in, Madam!”

The nanny went beyond permission and came out to greet Saena herself.

“Hello. Have you been well?”

“Yes! Thanks to your consideration, I’m doing very well, Madam.”

Not just her words, but the nanny’s complexion looked much better than before. Her overflowing energy too.

“I’m glad. You look healthy.”

From the nanny’s appearance, Saena could once again hope that Constantine’s assumption might be wrong.

The nanny also brewed a delicious tea using an old-fashioned brazier. While drinking it, they started their conversation with light exchanges about each other’s well-being.

Then Saena called the maid and sent her on an errand to the main building.

They couldn’t let just anyone hear about the head of the household.

“Nanny. I want to ask about Constantine.”

The atmosphere immediately turned serious. The nanny’s expression did too.

As if predicting what kind of conversation would follow, her face quickly sank into gloom.