10 Years After – 49
Exploring the Secret Passage
The rubble had been hiding the rest of the secret passage.
It didn’t look like it had been hidden on purpose.
“I think it was just hidden by accident.”
“Indeed.”
We moved the rubble away and proceeded.
“I wonder where this leads to?”
Luchila seemed quite excited. It was like we were on an expedition.
“Cluck-cluck.”
Gerberga clucked quietly in my arms. He hadn’t tried to move away ever since he had been scared.
Milka looked at him and said,
“I have been curious about it for a while, but what even is that Lord Gerberga chicken thing?”
“Yo-you…”
Luchila was about to explode with rage, but I stopped him.
And then I whispered so only he could hear.
“There are still people trying to target Lord Gerberga. It is better if people think he is a normal chicken. The secret is not likely to spread if fewer people know about it.”
“I see…in that case…”
Luchila was satisfied with this answer.
It was true that the secret should not be known by too many people.
I should know it, as someone who exposed his true identity a little too much.
“Are you fine with that, Lord Gerberga?”
“Cluck.”
It seemed that he agreed. Or so his eyes seemed to suggest.
And so I smiled at Milka and said,
“He is just a very adorable little chicken.”
“Oh? So he is not tomorrow’s breakfast?”
“Of course, not.”
“Lord Gerberga is part of my family! I would never think of turning him into a meal!”
Milka seemed a little disturbed by Luchila’s passion.
“I don’t understand rich people at all!”
She said.
After that, we walked down the secret passage for some time.
“It’s longer than I thought.”
“Yes.”
“…This may be an annoying request…”
“What?”
“Would you allow me to sleep in this passage?”
Milka’s request was most surprising.
“You want to sleep here?”
“You aren’t using it, are you? I can hide from the rain down here… And it doesn’t smell like the sewers as much. And no frightening adults are nearby.”
Milka was a girl, in spite of not talking like one and having a very rough attitude.
It must be tough to live out there.
“I won’t decide on anything until I find out where this leads.”
“I see. But please consider it!”
Milka said and started to walk faster.
“Hey, don’t walk on ahead.”
“Oh? But why?”
“There could be traps. You wouldn’t like that, would you?”
“Oh, oh.”
“I will walk in the lead, then Milka and Luchila.”
“Understood.”
“Cluck.”
As we advanced in this order, Milka began to mutter.
“If you had me walk in the front, it would be me who got stuck in the traps…”
“Obviously. And what of it?”
“I was thinking that you would run away while I was trapped…”
“Do I look like such a terrible person to you?”
Koko wa Ore ni Makasete Saki ni Ike to Itte kara 10 Nen ga Tattara Densetsu ni Natteita
