If this dragon left something behind, then it should be another dragon… or a unicorn… or maybe even a five-colored bird.
When people thought of divine beasts, they usually imagined beings with sacred, majestic forms.
But the monkey answered the question with complete confidence.
[In my original nature, I can take the form of any animal. But among all the creatures I’ve seen, monkeys looked the most intelligent. So I chose this form!]
“So it says it chose to be a monkey because monkeys are the smartest,” Jean muttered.
“…Is that so?”
[Also, this form makes it easier to pick things up and eat.]
“Ah!”
Before anyone could stop it, the monkey snatched a sausage from the table and stuffed it into its mouth.
[Delicious!]
It chattered happily, scratching its forehead with a baby monkey-like grin. Watching it, Jean felt a deep sense of unease.
‘So this is… the country’s divine beast? A monkey that steals breakfast from people’s homes?’
It was too small, too cute… and far too undignified to be called sacred. There was not even a trace of majesty.
And yet, it had clearly hatched from that egg. That alone meant it was no ordinary being.
Jean swallowed nervously.
The monkey then conveyed its demands through Vivian.
“Daddy, the monkey says it wants you to cook its food too!”
“….”
Jean returned to the kitchen, prepared something with the remaining ingredients, and brought it out again. The monkey happily squeaked, devoured the meal, and emptied the plate.
All the while, Jean’s expression only grew more complicated.
He still wasn’t sure whether it was a monster or truly a divine beast, but what worried him most was whether it was safe to keep it near Vivian.
Every monkey Jean had ever encountered on the island had been aggressive and ill-tempered.
Even while looking at the tiny creature’s delicate fingers, Jean remained tense.
‘If those hands scratch Vivian’s face…’
That would be unacceptable.
[Little human. Your father’s gaze toward me is quite impolite.]
“The monkey says Daddy’s looking at it pitifully!”
[That’s not what I meant— …Haa. Forget it.]
After finishing its meal, the monkey casually wiped its hands on the tablecloth—Jean gasped in shock—and then climbed onto Vivian’s shoulder.
“It’s heavy!”
[Consider it an honor, short human. Not just anyone can bear my weight.]
“What is it talking about?”
[How insolent… By the way, when will you give me a name?]
“A name? I have to give you one?”
[Of course! You awakened me. And you will be my master from now on. If you don’t name me, who will?]
“I have to be your master…?”
That sounded exhausting.
Even after only a week, the monkey was loud, dismissive of humans, and constantly interfering in everything.
“Isn’t waking you up enough already?”
[How disrespectful! How shameless! Are you going to abandon me after taking my power as well?]
The monkey screeched and began tugging at Vivian’s hair wildly. Vivian screamed, and Jean rushed over to separate them.
“Stop! Please stop! Divine beast-nim! How can you harm a child!”
[Harm? I was not—Kyak!]
Unable to contain its frustration, the monkey ran a full circle around the room before finally calming down. Then it climbed onto Jean’s shoulder.
There, it carefully groomed his brown hair as if to show harmless intent.
[I don’t know how I ended up with these humans.]
After finishing with Jean, it turned to Vivian and began fixing her tangled hair as well. Slowly, her messy locks became neat again.
[Little human. Tell your father quickly that I am a kind divine beast. Tell him not to throw me out.]
“The monkey says it’s a good monkey and not to kick it out.”
“…Sigh. Fine. We can’t just abandon a divine beast like this. But how is it that Vivian can hear its voice?”
“I don’t know! It says I have some kind of power!”
Jean frowned deeply.
Vivian was an ordinary child. There had been no auspicious signs at her birth, nor did her parents possess any special abilities.
If she truly had hidden power, she would not have met such a tragic fate.
Unaware of her father’s troubled thoughts, Vivian hugged the monkey—which, surprisingly, stayed still—and began thinking about a name.
“Hmm… a name. I’ve never named anything before.”
[I don’t mind. This will be my first name too, human.]
“Usually the first name is also the last name, monkey. Hmph. And you don’t even call me by my name.”
[That’s because you keep calling me ‘egg’ or ‘monkey’! Fine. If you name me, I’ll call you by your name too!]
“Trying to act like it’s a big favor… Hmm. Then… Kkikki? How about Kkikki?”
[Kyak!]
The monkey’s sharp reaction made Vivian reconsider.
“Kiki?”
[What’s the difference?]
“Kiki is cuter than Kkikki. And Daddy calls me Vivi. Kiki sounds similar, so it’s like you’re my little brother.”
[Kyak! I am NOT your little brother!]
“But you were just born today. That makes you younger than me, right?”
[Kyaaaak!]
Though it shrieked, the monkey didn’t look displeased. At least, if one interpreted its expression like a human’s.
[Fine. From now on, my name is Kiki!]
“Okay! Um… nice to meet you?”
[Very well. Serve me well from now on, Vivian!]
—
Later, in the corridor where Vivian and Kiki were playing, Jean appeared dressed for going out.
Seeing her father in travel clothes, Vivian stopped mid-run and stared at him with trembling eyes.
“D-Daddy! Are you going somewhere? I want to go too!”
If he was dressed like that, it meant leaving the village. Her voice trembled.
Jean smiled reassuringly and lifted her into his arms.
“Yes, our Vivi can come too. I was going to take you anyway! There’s no one in this house, so do you think I’d leave my princess alone?”
Vivian shot him a resentful look, and Jean quickly averted his gaze.
He had… left her alone before. Not exactly abandoned—but close enough that it felt worse.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he brightened his tone.
“We’re going to the next village to buy you new clothes, check on some things, and hire new servants. We should hurry so we can return before sunset. Go change first!”
Vivian’s eyes lit up instantly.
“The next village? Wow! I’ve never been there! Kiki, we’re going to the next village!”
[Hmph! As someone who serves me, maintain dignity! Don’t get excited over something so trivial!]
“There’s a huge marketplace there! I don’t even know exactly what a marketplace is yet—I’ve never seen one! Kiki, it’s your first time too, right?”
Of course, Vivian didn’t hear its complaints at all. She had lived her entire life in this small village, so even a simple trip felt like a grand adventure.
“Let’s see… Vivian’s clothes…”
Fortunately, in storage they found an outfit she had worn at age five. The sleeves were too short, but it was still presentable.
She had likely grown poorly due to not eating properly.
Jean swallowed his bitterness and adjusted her clothes. Then, with Kiki in tow, they left the house.
The Lambert estate had two carriages—one old and one Jean had used when returning home.
The one he had driven back was so heavily damaged from rough travel that it was practically ruined. Even the original carriage looked mediocre to Jean now, after his experiences traveling alongside merchants in his past life.
He mentally calculated the value of the jewels he had brought for exchange.
“Good. We’ll buy a new carriage in town too. Vivi, the ride might be a little uncomfortable. Can you bear it?”
“Carriage? Our money… we have a lot now! Yes! I’m fine, Daddy!”
Rattle-rattle.
The carriage, purchased after heavy bargaining, was predictably uncomfortable.
But for Vivian, who was leaving the village for the first time in her life, even the shaking felt exciting.
