Chapter 37
By the end of the hunting tournament, Lea slipped away from Calix’s side. As much as she wanted to stay with him until nightfall, she knew better than anyone that it wasn’t the time for that.
She moved swiftly, racing toward the cave where she had tied her horse. Her front paws dug into the dirt, leaving marks in her wake, but she had no time to worry about them.
That’s why she didn’t notice someone following her.
Without sensing any presence nearby, Lea leapt from tree to tree.
Just then, the sound of wind being split pierced the air—followed by a sharp pain.
“Kyaaang!”
“Yes! I got it!”
To avoid falling from the tree, Lea dug her claws into the bark and looked down.
A group of familiar-looking nobles were aiming another arrow at her. In a panic, she bolted, an arrow lodged in her side.
She leapt between branches and hid her body among thick foliage.
“Where’d it go?”
“Let’s try over there!”
Thankfully, it seemed the group didn’t include any Espers. She curled up and stayed hidden, and after a moment of fruitless searching, the nobles moved away, sighing in frustration.
Things weren’t going according to plan, and anxiety began to boil inside her. The arrow wound throbbed, but she couldn’t afford to waste time.
The cause of her disrupted plan would already be waiting…
Lea hadn’t accounted for Derek at all. In fact, she hadn’t even expected him to participate in the hunting tournament.
Derek de Felitier, a mental-type Esper.
Mental abilities were extremely rare—perhaps appearing once in several generations.
He could read people’s thoughts, and for that reason, he was more difficult to deal with than any other Esper.
Unless someone was a higher-ranking Esper or a Guide, they would find themselves mentally laid bare before him. Lea was no exception.
That was why Derek had always looked at her with disdain.
Though he would later surpass his brother and inherit the title of Marquis, Derek had unfortunately gone a long time without proper guiding. Even after eventually receiving guidance from Lea and Lucy, he had never been fully purified.
Mental-type Espers suffered a more severe internal disorder than others.
In the end, Derek went on rampage on the battlefield and was killed under Calix’s direct orders.
As of now, he likely didn’t even know what kind of ability he had. Most Espers only developed visible or physical abilities.
But in war, his powers could become a strategic core, making him a vital person for Calix.
Lea staggered upright. After confirming that the nobles had fully left, she leapt to a tree across the way.
“Kaang…”
She whimpered weakly as she pressed forward. When she reached the cave, Derek stood up from where he’d been sitting.
“…What exactly are you?”
He was going mad with curiosity about the identity of this mysterious fox. What disturbed him was that the fox seemed to be thinking.
Yet unlike with others, he couldn’t read her clearly. He could only hear strong, emotionally charged thoughts or direct, deliberate messages—like the one earlier.
That made him all the more curious. A being that knew of his abilities yet remained mentally unreadable?
{ Just wait a moment. }
“Wait—are you hurt?”
Seeing her limping with an arrow in her side, Derek rushed closer in alarm.
{ …It was a mistake. }
“Hold on, I’ll pull it out.”
Even while still suspicious of the fox, Derek felt a strange sense of relief. And it was simply because she knew about his condition.
It was absurd that the first being to uncover his secret was a fox, but at the same time, it felt freeing.
Lea waited obediently as he approached. She’d been worried about how to handle this, but now she was glad he came.
And surprisingly, he was skilled at removing the arrow.
“Good. It didn’t go in too deep.”
If it had pierced further, he would’ve had to cut into her to remove it. Though it came out easier than expected, blood still poured freely.
After some hesitation, Derek tore a piece of his own clothing and tightly wrapped the wound around her front leg and shoulder.
“I’ve stopped the bleeding for now, but you should get proper treatment.”
{ This is enough. Thank you. }
Lea, surprised by his unexpected kindness, gave her thanks. Then she quickly slipped into the cave.
Derek waited quietly outside.
Inside, she reverted to her human form, roughly wiped the blood, and dressed herself in the clothes she had left there.
When she stepped out of the cave, Derek’s expression shifted to one of stunned disbelief.
“…Lady Haisley?”
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