Just as Owen had barely come up with the beginning of his escape plan, there was a heavy "thud!" and a truchen lute was tossed to the ground right at his feet.
"What are you looking at? I don't feed freeloaders," the girl said bluntly. "Hurry up and sing me a good song."
"You…" Owen clenched his fists.
This was too much.
He wasn't a performer, and he certainly wasn't some sort of plaything! What did this kidnapper think he was?
"What are you staring at me for?" The girl casually tossed a red stone next to Owen. "Start singing!"
Owen stared at the red stone for a few seconds.
The music started.
This time, he chose a song in Spanish.
"Cerdo, tu nariz tiene dos agujeros, y cuando te resfrías, te cuelga un moquito."
"Cerdo, tus orejas son tan grandes, pero aleteando no puedes escuchar que te llamo tonto."
Although the girl didn't understand the lyrics, she was still infected by the cheerful and lighthearted rhythm and unconsciously began humming along.
The first verse ended.
She still seemed to be savoring the melody.
Owen, on the other hand, rolled his eyes internally.
Hah, a children's song got her so intoxicated! What kind of garbage has she been listening to all this time?
"Not bad! I'm very satisfied." The girl asked curiously, "Cerdo, what does that mean? You kept repeating that word in the song."
"It's a name, meaning 'lovely girl,' a local dialect from my hometown." Owen struggled to keep a straight face. "For example, someone like you would be called a Cerdo."
"Haha, you've got good taste." The girl laughed with satisfaction. "From now on, you'll call me Lady Cerdo."
"No problem!" Owen agreed without hesitation.
Seeing how cooperative Owen was, Lady Cerdo's attitude softened slightly.
"Then sing me another song!"
"..."
Another gem landed at Owen's feet.
The music started again.
And so, by the time Lady Cerdo finally let Owen go, the sky outside was completely dark.
Owen's head was spinning from singing.
What troubled him more was that now he was even farther from home, and he didn't even know where he was or where he was going.
"Honorable Lady Cerdo, is there really no way you'll let me leave?" Owen asked, holding on to the last shred of hope.
"No way!" The girl laughed. "Didn't you have a pet?"
"Yes."
"I suddenly think having a pet is quite nice. From today on, you're my human-shaped pet."
Owen's hope shattered. He curled up at the back of the carriage, hugging a cat and a rabbit, hoping to get some rest.
Meanwhile, the girl smugly hummed the melody of the Pig Song.
It seemed she really liked that song.
Just then, the carriage suddenly shook violently.
"Enemy attack!" The captain of the guards shouted nervously from outside. "There's an arcane beast aura up ahead! Everyone, prepare to defend!"
The girl's face turned a few shades paler.
She gripped the sword in her hand tightly but did not get out of the carriage.
Owen was also startled.
An arcane beast was coming to attack? Could the guards outside hold it off?
"Aren't you going to help?" Owen asked. "Aren't you a mighty knight?"
"I'm not quite a knight yet," the girl whispered. "Just stay quiet. The arcane beast will be here soon, and I will protect you."
Owen was stunned.
Could she really be this kind?
Maybe she's actually a good person.
"After all, pets like you who can sing are rare. Hmm... but if you accidentally get bitten to death by the arcane beast, I'll make sure to find you a nice spot for your grave."
Owen was so furious he almost swore.
She's a terrible person, after all.
"You're still joking around? I guess you're not that scared," he commented.
"Hmph, no matter how strong the arcane beast, none of them would dare attack anyone from House Bolton!" the girl said confidently. "As soon as the family badge's magical projection lights up, the arcane beast will retreat in fear."
Owen rolled his eyes.
House Bolton? Never heard of it.
If Flora were here, she would be utterly shocked.
House Bolton wasn't in the Azul Kingdom; it was in the much colder region of Red Stone Hill.
There were no kings there, only various families, known for producing red stone and bloody conflicts.
Due to the lack of a unified law, it was almost a lawless region where the strong preyed on the weak.
In the Azul Kingdom, when people cursed, "Red Stone Barbarians," it referred to the people from that area.
In such a place, even a slight weakness would mean being devoured by other families in no time.
And the House Bolton that the girl mentioned was a terrifying presence in such a chaotic place.
In the context of Red Stone Hill, it was like the Crossbridge Academy in Azul Kingdom.
Suddenly, the dark sky outside lit up.
A magical projection appeared.
It was the badge of House Bolton.
"We should be safe now," the girl murmured. "No arcane beast would dare attack us once they know who we are."
Just as she finished speaking, three overwhelmingly oppressive arcane beast auras emanated from nearby.
"This is bad, there are three arcane beasts!" the captain shouted. "They're ignoring the warning and may attack at any moment."
"At least Tier-3 Mid-level arcane beasts! Everyone, be on guard."
With these words, the atmosphere became tense as if everyone were facing a life-or-death situation.
Lady Cerdo's previously confident expression disappeared, replaced by one of grim determination.
Amidst this suffocating pressure, the cat tightly held in Owen's arms yawned, still half-asleep, almost snoring.
"…"
The rabbit, White, who was getting ready to fight, lost its motivation upon seeing its superior's indifference.
If Avel wasn't going to act, then neither would it.
But White could feel Owen trembling and quietly released a sliver of its aura.
Those three foolish arcane beasts should be able to sense it.
If they feel it, they'd better turn tail and run.
If they dare come any closer, I'll eat them alive!
The three approaching arcane beasts were, unexpectedly, three massive roosters!
They stared straight at the carriage, flapping their wings as they charged forward, letting out piercing rooster cries.
White felt utterly embarrassed.
"Damn it, it's rooster arcane beasts," it thought, exasperated. "These brainless cluckers are known for having no sense of smell and are utterly incapable of detecting other arcane beasts' auras."
"If it weren't for the fact that they breed like crazy, they'd have been wiped out long ago."
The guards also saw the three enormous roosters.
They gathered around the carriage, determined to protect the girl inside at all costs.
Owen was petrified watching the two-meter-tall roosters charging over.
How were they supposed to fight these things?
Wild roosters could fly, and with their hard beaks and sharp talons, it would be hard for the guards to hold them off.
"Is this really how it ends for me?" Owen was on the verge of tears. "After eating so much chicken, I'm going to be eaten by a chicken."
"You, get off the carriage." The girl suddenly yanked him from the back of the carriage and pushed him toward the door.
Owen was shocked.
This evil woman was truly ruthless.
She was going to throw him out as a decoy!
"No, I won't go!" Owen clung to her leg. "You'll never throw me out."
"You…" The girl hadn't expected Owen to react like this. Her expression softened slightly as she said, "I didn't think you'd be so brave. You've only been my pet for a few hours, and you're already willing to die rather than leave?"
"I just wanted you to escape in the opposite direction."
"If you smash the red stone I gave you, you'll get a minute of invisibility and speed boost."
"That should be enough time for you to slip away."
She pried Owen's hands off her leg and threw him back to the rear of the carriage. "Don't worry, I won't push you out again."
"Now go grab a sword!"
"No one from House Bolton, whether human or pet, ever surrenders. We fight till the last breath!"
Owen's mouth dropped open, completely stunned.
Never in a million years did he expect her to be kind-hearted and actually want him to escape!
The sudden twist left him at a loss.
If he'd known, he would've smashed the stone and bolted!
Just then, the cat, frustrated by the noise and unable to sleep, stretched lazily, leaped up to the carriage window, and softly meowed outside.
The giant roosters, who had been fiercely fighting with the guards, suddenly froze as a terrifyingly authoritative sound rang in their ears.
"[Get Lost!]"
It was in the language of arcane beasts.
The three roosters turned to look at the carriage.
Perched on the window, there was a small but fearsome silhouette!
With just one glance, the giant roosters shed a whole layer of feathers in terror.
Those pointed ears, those merciless eyes, and that soft fur and tail—wasn't that the natural predator of all rooster arcane beast?