I Became the Older Brother of a Villainess - Chapter 17.1

[Aaaaaaaaaaah!]

 

Phoebe’s body swelled dramatically, and it was dyed pitch black. Tears, resembling droplets of blood, incessantly fell from her distorted face, resembling the wings of a giant moth.

 

“The monster is going to devour us!”

 

Phoebe’s black soul swirled around the room like a vortex. The struggles were so intense that the table creaked. Soon, as if escaping from Death’s Door, Phoebe scattered in all directions.

 

“Could it be that she spontaneously combusted from the shock?”

 

[No.]

 

Suddenly, the mouth of Death’s Door, now grotesquely wide open, raised its head.

 

The fact that Phoebe showed such an extreme reaction means that the monster that devours both monsters and humans is none other than ‘this guy.’ More precisely, Death’s Door, a kindred monster to a spirit.

 

I reached out to rescue the sugar  Princess, who was gasping between the teeth of Death’s Door. With the Sugar  Princess placed on my knee, I vigorously shook Death’s Door and even peeked inside.

 

Death’s Door was damp, hot, and sticky, making it extremely unpleasant. So much so that the queen ant on my knee felt cute in comparison.

 

“Hey, Death’s Door. I have a question. Are you some kind of monster?”

 

[Monster… They call me a monster… As they please……]

 

“As Phoebe said, the name of the species is ‘Garden Ogre,’ right?”

 

[……]

 

“Why won’t you answer.”

 

The mouth of death chuckled, rolling its eyeballs. A terrifying sight, indeed. This creature looked remarkably stupid.

 

Perhaps it doesn’t know that humans call it ‘Garden Ogre.’ Just like how a cat or a dog might not know if humans call them a cat or a dog.

 

Of course, this creature seems to understand human speech to some extent……

 

Holding onto the seemingly absent-minded Death’s Door, I decided to start with something simple.

 

“What is 1 plus 1?”

 

[……]

 

“The capital of our empire is?”

 

[……]

 

“What is your name?”

 

[……]

 

Other than the sound of giggling, there was no response I could hear. It was confirmed.

 

Death’s Door is stupid.

 

It is not a being that can casually converse with humans.

 

Is the village chief using this fool to summon monsters? The purpose is probably to capture and sell the monsters. If Phoebe’s words are true, the village chief is conspiring with someone.

 

That ‘someone’ is most likely a sorcerer. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to communicate with this foolish tribe and summon monsters.

 

If I’m lucky, I might learn new skills or secrets for my growth from that sorcerer. With combined strength, we might even eliminate Pippin.

 

“So, this is what they call being in the right place at the right time.”

 

Having become Cierra not too long ago, to think that one of the main characters would be sent to the afterlife so quickly.

 

I pushed away Death’s Door with my foot and flopped onto the bed. At that moment, the Sugar Princess, who had been on my thigh, was startled and stood up on its two legs.

 

“Oh right, I summoned this one too.”

 

The Sugar Princess looked around and then vigorously wiped its mouth with its front legs. She seemed just as stupid as the door of death.

 

“By any chance… Sugar Princess, can you speak?”

 

The Sugar Princess continued to wash without acknowledging that it heard anything.

 

If it can’t understand my words, how can it carry out my orders as a summon? Doubts began to arise.

 

Last time, the Sweet Legion didn’t listen to me and caused trouble. They ignored my order to capture Pippin and instead bit into Verridis’s legs. It was an instinctive desire to fill their stomachs. That’s the extent of intelligence in low-level spirits.

 

If the Sugar Princess is no different, I needed to find a new sub-spirit quickly. It’s too much to have zero useful spirits.

 

“Sugar Princess, hand!”

 

I commanded sternly.

 

“…,”

 

The Sugar Princess seemed utterly disinterested.

 

“Are you also stupid? Damn it, I still have several main characters to deal with. No, I still have time. I can capture another spirit. Anyway, I just caught this ant for fun…”

 

After a short sigh, I tried again.

 

“Sugar Princess, turn!”

 

I twirled my finger. This time, there was a reaction. The Sugar Princess hesitated with its feelers, then slowly turned in place.

 

“Ah…”

 

The creature moved its feelers as if waiting for the next command. After adjusting its posture, I tried various things with the Sugar Princess.

 

The Sugar Princess could understand commands like ‘turn,’ ‘go there,’ ‘come here,’ ‘bite,’ ‘don’t bite,’ ‘wait.’ It couldn’t understand the rest.

 

“Not completely useless.”

 

Rewarding a servant who listens well is standard treatment.

 

I broke a cookie in half on the table and gave it to the Sugar Princess. The Sugar Princess, widening its front legs and mouth, received the cookie and began bustling around again.

 

[Sugar Princess’s Testimony: Plunged into a shocking wander.]

 

Ah, right. The Sugar Princess and its subordinates could leave testimonies through the status window. That’s somewhat fortunate. It means complete communication isn’t impossible.

 

As predicted, the Sugar Princess struggled to find its way back.

 

“Alright, go home. Cancel the summoning.”

 

Death’s Door approached, and the Sugar Princess, seemingly unfazed by the ominous portal, crawled in with the cookie in hand. Soon, the status window sparkled.

 

[Sugar Princess’s Testimony: Proof of Loyalty.]

[Sweet Legion’s Testimony: Glory, glory, glory!]

 

Examining the status window, it seemed like the ants were enjoying their time inside Death’s Door.

 

“What on earth does it look like in there?”

 

Holding onto Death’s Door, I brought my face close to its entrance. Contrary to expectations, there was no foul smell. It was rather refreshing. To be more precise, it felt like sticking your nose into a clean air vent.

 

[I’m… hungry….]

 

Death’s Door murmured. Its red eyeballs rolled around like a chameleon.

 

Curiously, I tossed the remaining cookie pieces inside Death’s Door.

 

“Have this at least.”

 

[……]

 

Tch. The black tongue visible on the palate pushed away the cookie crumbs.

 

What’s this? I tried putting it in again, but the result was the same.

 

Tch. Death’s Door rolled its eyeballs and stared at me. Somehow, I could read an unjust expression on its pitiful appearance.

 

Tch.

 

“This time, I didn’t even put it in.”

 

Death’s Door smacked its lips.

 

[Eating… The monster… Swallowing… The spirit…]

 

Eating a monster and swallowing a spirit, it must be saying.

 

Considering that the Garden Ogre devoured Phoebe’s body, it seemed like it could consume humans instead of monsters.

 

Perhaps this creature too…?

 

The thought of bravely sticking my face into its mouth suddenly felt eerie.

 

[Close… fellow… cold homeland…… Food stolen……]

 

I wonder what it’s trying to say.

 

Well, this fool has a limited ability to communicate. Stumbling through words, its comprehension level is all over the place. Don’t expect much; just ask simple questions.

 

“Do you have fellow creatures too?”

 

[Fellow… hungry ones… in a distant place……]

 

“So, you mean you have fellow creatures. Are there any nearby? If so, how many are there?”

 

[There are. I can feel them. There’s a necromancer. Foolish……]

 

“Do you know where the necromancer is?”

 

[……]

 

Death’s Door made some noises for a moment and then disappeared with a whoosh. It was entirely at its own discretion, even though I didn’t release the summoning.

 

***