His tiny body seemed so small that it could almost be lifted with one hand.
Why was such a small figure standing here, at the gates of the Di Malvento estate—a place infamous as a den of devils?
As Rocco stared in shock, the child's expression shifted to one of panic.
"W-What should I do? You're hurt badly. I need to treat you right away… Just wait here for a bit, Beastman. I'll go and get someone!"
The child quickly stood and dashed into the mansion.
It was then that Rocco snapped back to himself.
Surely, this was just a hallucination brought on by the brink of death.
There was no way an angel could exist in a place like this.
Perhaps it was a figment of his imagination… or perhaps an angel had come to escort him to the afterlife.
With that thought, he let go of his remaining strength and closed his eyes again, his final wish a foolish prayer that when he awoke, that angel would be by his side.
...
Something brushed against Ragar's fur-covered ear.
The sensation stirred him awake.
He opened his eyes just slightly.
His blurry vision caught the shape of someone quickly pulling his hand away from his ear.
It must have been a trick of his mind.
After all, no human would willingly touch the ears of a lowly Beastman.
Forcing his unfocused eyes to steady, he blinked his eyes.
And there, he saw those amethyst eyes again.
"You're awake. Thank goodness…! Oh, no, no, I didn't touch you! Not at all!" the small child exclaimed, flustered, their gaze darting nervously.
Ragar realized it was the same angel he had seen before.
Closing his eyes again, he silently thanked whatever god had granted his wish.
To have his final prayer fulfilled at the very end... perhaps even in death, he could see this angel again.
"H-Hey, are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?"
The child gently touched Ragar's body, startling him so much that he flinched, his entire frame trembling.
Pain shot through Ragar's entire body, contorting his face into a grimace.
For a moment, confusion filled his mind—why did the pain persist if he was supposed to be dead?
As the thought surfaced, a chilling possibility struck him, and his eyes widened in alarm.
"This… this is…"
Had the bullet that pierced his lung not been removed? Or was the wound simply not healing?
Even as agony wracked his body with every word, Ragar forced out the question.
The angelic child tilted their head quizzically before replying.
"Hm? Oh, this is the Di Malvento family's annex. You're lucky, you know. If you'd collapsed in front of the main house, they might have killed you on the spot."
The child's gentle smile of relief left Ragar momentarily breathless.
Could it be true? Was he not dead after all? That meant… this child—no, this angel—had saved him.
Still, Ragar knew the harsh reality.
If this child had gone so far as to save a Beastman, it was likely because they had found him useful.