I Ended up Raising the Children of the Protagonists

“Ainz Rainswain.”

 

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

 

Ainz Rainswain confirmed the deaths of his two friends and sent them away. Nevertheless, the reason they do not go back is purely to protect what they left behind.

 

“Sirena’s treasure of Eskaya has disappeared.”

 

The hand holding the liquor bottle stopped in midair.

 

“Your Excellency, do you mean ‘a record of everything’?”

 

“Yes, maybe it disappeared because the owner, Sirena, died, or…”

 

Berson picked up the bottle and filled his glass. Ainz waited for Berson to continue speaking. Berson, who swallowed the strong drink in one go, wiped his face and let out a voice.

 

“I wonder if it was stolen.”

 

Berson turned his gaze away and looked at the child sitting in front of him, now a full-fledged young man.

 

“Ainz, the most precious treasures that John and Sirena left behind are… their children.”

 

If anyone had heard this conversation, they would have said it was nonsense. Three treasures left behind by Eskaya, the ancient dragon that protected the empire. One of them disappeared. A book that records all the magic that exists in the world. Therefore, it is considered precious only to wizards, but it was left behind by someone who protected the empire.

 

Ainz was quiet. Since he did not expect an answer, Berson continued speaking again.

 

“Are you planning on taking the kids?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I thought well. Just protecting this family would be too much for me.”

 

Berson looked at the white sword Ainz was wearing at his waist, and a self-mocking smile appeared on his face. There was no one aiming for the treasure Rainswain held. If you target him, the empire will be burdened with monsters. There was no way to aim for it. So sending the kids down there was the best way for now.

 

Berson’s blue eyes narrowed. The slight trembling of his eyes is due to his own buoyancy.

 

“Please.”

 

Ainz accepted the words of Hawes’ old master. He did not leave the Hawes Mansion immediately, but assisted Berson Lefarz for a while. In a situation where it is not clear who was targeting ‘Hawes’, it is dangerous to leave immediately and leave the old master behind. Because he thought so. Berson was surprised to see Ainz like that, but Ainz had no time to pay attention to him. After nearly a year had passed and the Hawes family had reached stability,

 

“Ainz!!”

 

Ainz picked up a sword for the first time in a long time. The sword covered with white frozen frost was stained red. It’s been a long time since I cut someone down. Ainz narrowed his eyes after cutting down the black masked people who entered the Hawes Mansion like rats. He had blood in his eyes, the same color as the blood splattered on the grass. Ainz raised his index finger towards Berson and touched her lips. Berson Repaz took a deep breath. In a quiet mansion, many people lost their breath without knowing it.

 

“Ker… Heuk, Rainswain…”

 

A magic circle appeared, glowing dimly. Berson quickly tried to call Ainz, but his sword pierced the wizard’s heart faster. Berson, who was watching the magic circle break and scatter, stumbled and sat down.

 

“Ainz.”

 

Ainz looked at the blood on his sword and quietly let out a voice that seemed to be embarrassed.

 

“It seems like they’re after the children. Are they after the name Hawes, or do they think the children hold Sirena’s treasure?”

 

Whether the reason was the former or the latter, it was dangerous. 

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Isn’t this already discussed? My mansion will be safer than here.”

 

Ainz continued speaking quietly as he brushed off the red stain on his sword. As he sheathed his sword, he spoke his words quietly, as if reading a storybook.

 

“Isn’t this the treasure left behind by Sirena and John?”

 

The blood seeping in was unpleasant. The same was for the appearance reflected in him.

 

“We must protect it.”

 

* * *

 

The children were very dissatisfied with leaving the mansion, but when their parents’ names were mentioned, they easily followed along. As he left the capital, Ainz realized that he had forgotten for a very long time another person who bore Rainwain’s name.

 

“Ainz, what is that over there?”

 

“Liev, don’t bother Ainz.”

 

“I didn’t bother him!”

 

The children leaving on a long journey were bright. In the carriage, which was rocking with children’s voices, only Ainz was quiet. He saw violets in full bloom outside the window as they passed quickly by.

 

“Please do so.”

 

The voice he heard at the end of his last conversation with Marchen was quiet. Ainz slowly closed his eyes and erased that voice.

 

Spring has bloomed again.

 

* * *

 

“And!”

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“Huh!”

 

Riev smiles brightly as he looks at his reflection in the mirror. Every time the child let out a bright laugh, her hair, tied in two pigtails, swayed gently. Riev, who had gotten a box full of his hair ties from somewhere, handed them to me. Riev asked me to choose the one I liked and tie her hair. I sat her on my knees and combed her hair.

 

I always like tying it in two braids. When she shows the face of her younger sister, whom she cannot call her younger sister, and shows the same appearance as in her memories…

 

I held the child tightly in my arms. I feel warm and filled. Riev burst out laughing in my arms and stuck his head out toward Josef, who was reading a book.

 

“Joseph, how about me?”

 

“Ugly.”

 

“Hey!”

 

The purple eyes that were full of anticipation suddenly frowned. I smiled and caressed the child’s cheek with both hands.

 

“No, it’s pretty.”

 

“But Josef is ugly.”

 

I picked up the child, whose cheeks were puffy, and approached Josef.

 

“Josef, is Riev ugly?”

 

“Huh? Uh…”

 

When I sat down next to him, Josef was startled and covered his face with a book. Josef rolled his blue eyes, then lowered his head and muttered.

 

“No…”

 

I smiled at the creeping voice and stroked Josef’s head. I can’t tell because my face is buried in a book, but my red earlobes seem to be embarrassing. Although he makes fun of his older sister, he is very shy. I smiled and ruffled Josef’s hair.

 

Riev also ruffled Josef’s hair and then escaped from my arms. He took out the teddy bear sent from Hawes Manor from under the blanket and hugged it tightly in his arms. 

 

A month has passed since Liev and Josef came to Rainswain Manor. During that long period of time, three letters were delivered and three replies were not delivered. Riev, who was hugging the doll, lay down on top of Josef, who was reading a storybook. Josef struggled, feeling embarrassed, but Riev had no intention of getting out of the way.

 

“Riev”

 

“Marchen, Josef has long hair too!”

 

“Huh?”

 

“It would look pretty if you tied it.”

 

I was about to tell the child not to do that, but Riev smiled brightly, showing her teeth. Josef widened his eyes. I also opened my eyes round and tilted my head. But soon I realized what the child was talking about. The idea was to tie up Josef’s bangs. Josef also seemed to understand what Riev was saying.

 

“I hate it! I won’t do it! I won’t do it!”

 

Josef’s face began to turn white. Riev pulled Josef’s hair with a mischievous look on his face.

 

“Joseph, let’s use a red ribbon.”

 

“I won’t do it!”

 

I hugged Riev as the child looked frightened.

 

“Okay, I won’t.”

 

“Really…?”

 

“Yes, of course. Why would I do something Josef doesn’t like?”

 

“Let’s give it a try.”

 

Riev looks sulky at my words. I laughed, pinching Riev’s cheek without causing any pain.

 

“Riev, what if I force you to eat carrots?”

 

“No.”

 

“Josef is the same.”

 

Riev opened her eyes wide and looked at Josef. Then, she smiled brightly and buried her face in the teddy bear she was holding.

 

I smiled slightly, looking at her silver hair sparkling in the sunlight.

 

“…I want to do it.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I turned my head when I heard a voice muttering next to me. Josef put down his book and was looking at me, his face red.

 

“I’m going to use purple instead, instead of red!”

 

I slightly tilted my head as the voice shouted with solemn eyes as if it had made a big decision. The reason I came to my senses was because Riev, who was in my arms, burst out laughing and came down and handed me a purple ribbon from the box.

 

“But you can’t tie it up because it hurts…”

 

Before I knew it, Josef was sitting on my thigh, speaking in a trembling voice as if he was anxious, and I hugged him tightly.

 

“Yes. I’ll tie it down so it doesn’t hurt.”

 

Josef sighed as if he was relieved at my words. A five-year-old child must have sighed because he had to go through such a big ordeal. As I was brushing up the child’s bangs, there was quite a bit of hair in my hands. Both Riev and Josef felt the need to call someone sooner or later to tidy up their heads. I gathered Josef’s hair up and tied it with a string. I glance down at the child and see that his eyes are tightly closed. I tied the child’s hair and kissed him briefly on the forehead.

 

Josef opens his eyes and looked at me. I closed my eyes and held out a hand mirror to the child.

 

Riev approached and burst into laughter.

 

“Josef, it’s strange~!”

 

Josef lowers his head with a pouting expression. I thought he didn’t like it, but he seemed to like it when he got off the bed and kept looking in the mirror, so I was proud.

 

“I want to show it to mom and dad.”

 

I just smiled at the child’s bright voice. It’s been a year since the children came to Rainswain Manor, and a month since they stayed here, they are still looking for their parents.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: