In the depths of what seemed to be a cave… or perhaps the very abyss itself.A reptilian figure with wings rose above all other creatures.Its deafening roar shook the air.A roar that would have made even the bravest tremble.
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Ergier: This is as far as I go. The rest of the path is straight.
Ergier spoke in a flat, bored tone.Otto, who could barely stand from exhaustion, tried to answer… but all that came out was a clumsy squawk.
Ergier: …Useless bird. When you see Ellisse, try to show her—
He stopped mid-sentence.As if about to say something important.But in the end, he simply closed his eyes and looked away.
Otto frowned, uneasy.He wanted to ask what Ergier meant… but didn't dare.
Otto: Uh…? This…
Without opening his eyes, Ergier held out a bag. Apples.
Ergier: Ellisse must be hungry. Give her this. And stop being such a useless parasite.
Otto sighed.That sharp, cruel tone no longer surprised him.In fact… he almost found it adorable.
"He's just like a big brother hiding his feelings behind a tough facade… je."
Weary, Otto grabbed the bag with his talons.He didn't know Ellisse very well. But she had saved him.And according to the books he used to read, such debts were paid with a heroic act.
"Well… I guess delivering lunch counts as heroic, right?"
With a clumsy flap, he took off.
???: W…w-wait…
A voice.Cold. Strange.It made his feathers bristle.
Otto: Huh…?
The dry orange leaves falling from the trees seemed to freeze in the air.As if the entire world had focused on this scene.
And there he was.A young man with white—almost gray—hair.Red eyes.Pale skin.Short stature.
Ergier.
He walked forward slowly, stopping right in front of Otto.The little bird's heart pounded wildly.His breath caught.A chill ran down his back.
Ergier: …
Without a word, he reached out toward the bag of apples.His hand paused for a second midair.Then, with a swift motion, he plucked a single red apple.
Otto: H…huh?
He… only took an apple?And yet he kept that terrifying aura, even while stealing breakfast from his sister?Scary.
As Ergier turned away, Otto couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more behind that simple act.
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Compared to what he had feared, the encounter had gone… well.He hadn't been killed. That was already a victory.
Otto: Ha, Ellisse! Here—
Ellisse: So hungry… I can only think about Otto when I'm starving.What's that little treat up to?
…
Otto felt his soul leave his beak.
"L-little… treat?"Did she see him as food?The only person who had been kind to him so far… wanted to eat him?!
Ellisse: Huh!? There you are, Otto! Hehehe… I didn't see you. What brings you here?
Seeing his frozen expression, Ellisse stiffened.She scrambled to fix her words.
Ellisse: D-don't believe what I said! You misheard! I mean, I wasn't serious!
But no excuse she tried made sense.In the end, she just sighed.
Ellisse: …I wasn't serious.
Otto only relaxed once he saw her finish all the apples.With her stomach full, she no longer thought about crispy parrots.
Ellisse: Seriously, Ergier never takes my food!
Otto: And not only that… I felt like he was about to rip out my tiny bird heart when he got close!
Ellisse: Hehehe. Ergier always acts like a fool, doesn't he? I'll scold him when we get back home.
Otto sighed.Talking with her was always easy… until she dropped bombs like "little treat."
Ellisse: You've met Grandma and also my brother. Who's left?
She counted on her fingers, as if making a list.
Otto was about to joke about how eccentric her family was.But then he felt it.
A prick.Like thorns piercing his heart.A premonition.
Otto: ⏤!
There was no pain.Just an overwhelming sensation that froze him.
He turned his head.At the end of the street.A hooded figure.Staggering.
Beneath the hood, two glowing purple eyes.
"W-what is that…? Why can't I breathe?"
???: Little one… would you spare me some food?
The voice was soft, almost seductive.And yet sharp.Piercing.Unbearable.
Otto collapsed under that invisible pressure.The woman knelt before him, lowering herself to meet his gaze over her shoulder.
Ellisse: Hey! Otto, are you okay!? Who are you!?
She stepped between them, arms wide, brow furrowed, ready to protect him.But the hooded figure never looked away from Otto.Still waiting for an answer.
Otto: N…n-no… I don't have anything…
The words trembled out of him, dragged from his throat.The figure straightened, waved a hand in casual farewell, and left.
Otto lay on the ground, still shaking.
"First Ergier terrifies me over a single apple… and now some vagabond shows up asking for food like this is a horror movie? What's wrong with these people?!"
Since he had arrived in this world, he had met nothing but weirdos.