#29: Chapter 29 — I’ll Live My Life Surrounded by Monsters! (WN)

Well, coming outside was all well and good, but…

“Isn’t the gallery a bit much?”

Exactly—for some reason, there was a pointlessly large crowd of people.

“Sorry, sorry. I am royalty, after all, so this is just what happens when I step out.”

“My apologies, Ryu. We wanted to keep this as quiet as possible, but…”

As expected of royalty, the number of guards was insane. There were knights everywhere in full gear.

“Ryu, do your best!”

Even Mark was here! I was being treated like a total sideshow, even though I intended for this to be a sacred ritual.

‘I don’t like this.’

‘Me neither, Ril. I hate being treated like a spectacle.’

‘Should we pick a different day?’

‘No, it’s fine. Let’s just get this over with.’

I pulled the eagle on my shoulder into a hug.

When I stroked its head, it let out a happy chirp.

“Listen, what we’re about to do is a ritual for us to become family. That’s what ‘Naming’ is.”

I looked it in the eyes and spoke clearly.

The little one listened to my words with a serious expression.

“I’d be happy if you became my family. But you decide this. Of your own will.”

The little one looked at me with a bit of wonder.

Then, it nuzzled against me again.

…It seemed there was no problem.

“In that case, from this moment on, your ‘Name’ is Karin (Flame Bell).”

The moment I said it, flames engulfed both me and Karin!

Wait, what is this? This kind of flashy display didn’t happen with Ril!

‘Ryu, are you okay!?’

“Oh, Ril. How did you get in here?”

‘I forced my way in. This vortex of flames is getting quite large.’

“Ril… it’s been a while since you looked so dignified.”

‘Never mind that, what about that child?’

“Right there.”

I pointed to the object in front of me that had become like a giant egg.

It was actually floating.

The object, which seemed to be pulsing as if in labor, flickered with a mixture of crimson and gold.

“Is this… a rebirth?”

‘To be precise, it’s an Evolution.’

So this was “Evolution.”

Monsters have evolutions. Unlike normal living creatures, they evolve while still alive, and if the conditions are met, the process finishes in an instant.

“…So, what is she evolving into?”

‘I haven’t a clue.’

…Is it completely random?

‘Evolution is the process of achieving the form and power that the individual desires most.’

I see. And?

“What’s going to happen to Karin?”

‘I don’t know what kind of effect it would have on her if we disturbed the evolution. We have no choice but to stay still and wait for it to finish.’

…So there was nothing I could do.

I just had to wait.

After waiting like that for a while, the egg gradually began to crack!

I reflexively spread my arms and shouted, “Karin, come here!!”

And when the egg shattered completely, a girl emerged from within!

“Papa!!”

Wait, Papa!?

Karin—presumably—lunged at me and clung to me.

She had crimson hair with bits of gold mesh mixed in. She was slightly shorter than me, with a physique as balanced as a goddess. She was curvy where she should be and slender where she should be—to a degree that I think every woman would envy.

Her voice resonated in my ears like a ringing bell.

Also, unlike a human, she had crimson wings and a crimson tail feather.

I reflexively hugged her back, but is this really Karin?

“Papa, the evolution took a little while, but I succeeded, Papa!!”

Ah, so she really is talking about me.

“A-Ah. I was worried, Karin.”

“I’m sorry. I spent a lot of time trying to take the same shape as you, Papa.”

I see, so that’s why it took so long.

‘Honestly. I hope you didn’t force yourself.’

“Ah, Big Sister. Yeah, I didn’t force it.”

‘Then it’s fine.’

Ril licked Karin’s face.