007
I got a little scolded.
I was told that it’s not polite to put a fork in the mouth while adults are talking.
I knew that, but it felt like I was possessed by something earlier.
“But really, what is all this?”
After dinner, when I returned to my room, more sparkling letters appeared than before.
[The Spirit King of Emotions ‘■■■’ suggests you do this dance.]
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ suggests you do this cute little action.]
[The Spirit King of Emotions and the Water Spirit King are both pestering you to show what they suggested first. Sigh…]
Oh, I drooled.
Watching this, I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ gives you a stern look.]
[That’s not good, child. You should wipe with a handkerchief.]
Oh no, I thought he wouldn’t notice because I was arguing with the Spirit King of Emotions!
I awkwardly smiled.
‘One thing’s for sure.’
These Spirit Kings are like my teachers, who adore me!
Just like how my teachers always fuss over me.
“Yuppy, here you go.”
[Did you call for me, Performer?]
As I casually spoke, some differently colored sparkling letters appeared.
If the Spirit Kings’ letters glittered in a golden hue, Yupyrhos’ letters had a reddish-orange glow.
So, besides their manner of speech, I could also distinguish them by color.
“Earlier… What’s this thing about the Kings’ favorite?”
It was just a passing word, but I remembered it like a clever child.
[Oh, the favorite of the Kings refers to a fun and loved one by the eight great Spirit Kings who make up this world… Not exactly a clown, not just a time-filler…]
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ smacks Yupyrhos on the head.]
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ shows displeasure, telling him to choose his words carefully.]
[The Earth Spirit King ‘■’ clicks his tongue.]
[…Poor Yupyrhos is now feeling helpless and wronged.]
Oh no. Yupyrhos seems to be getting scolded a lot.
I waited, rolling my eyes.
[Ahem, anyway, it means the Kings adore you and will love you like their own niece until the end of your life.]
“Ah, I see. Then that’s a good thing!”
Being adored is nice!
[The Spirit King of Emotions ‘■■■’ is excitedly saying how cute you are.]
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ is bragging that his child looks like a strawberry rice cake.]
[The Earth Spirit King ‘■’ says that pure beings are always lovable.]
I don’t know why this is happening to me all of a sudden, but having more friends and teachers is always a good thing.
Since I usually don’t get easily surprised, I decided to just accept this situation naturally.
And then it happened.
Main Quest Activated!
Earn the title of ‘Kings’ Cutie’
You can obtain the title when all the Spirit Kings enter the parenting variety show <My Precious Child, Even If They Were in My Eye>. ♪(´ε｀*) Bboo Bboo!
Let’s work hard, cutely and adorably, to charm the Spirit Kings!
If you become the Kings’ Cutie, even the Admiral and the Head of the Family will be happy!
“If I become a cutie, will the adults like me?”
[Of course! Receiving the attention of all the Spirit Kings is something that has only happened once, a very long time ago, almost at the beginning of time. It was before human history was erased… a story from a time everyone has forgotten. So, for the current human race, you are the first one!]
Hmm, there were too many words, so I didn’t really understand what was being said.
I just nodded my head as if I understood.
At that moment, Lina brought over some cookie dough.
“Miss, would you like to play with the dough?”
“Yes.”
“If you shape it, I’ll spread it out on the tray for you.”
Soon, Lina also brought over a small table, similar to the ones used in daycare.
She knelt beside me and helped with various things, and while I was focused on mixing the dough, I momentarily forgot what had happened earlier.
“Oh my, you’ve got dough on your nose. Let me wipe it off for you.”
Lina stood up just then.
☆ Reward ☆
60g of magical sugar that gives you the energy of an orca
This sugar cannot be used by itself.
If you eat a dish that includes this sugar, all the accumulated fatigue from late-night work will completely disappear.
Pop!
A jar with an orca head lid appeared in front of me.
‘The reward for feeding beans to the Admiral!’
I quickly grabbed the floating jar and stared at the cookie dough.
‘Should I pour just a little bit carefully?’
…Just as I was thinking that, I tilted the jar.
Clatter!
All the colorful sugar spilled out.
Oh no, what a waste!
***
After some trouble, the cookies were baked successfully.
I followed Lina down to the kitchen and eagerly waited in front of the large oven for the cookies to finish baking.
I can’t tell you how hard it was to resist as my mouth watered.
Still, I managed to wait patiently because there were plenty of other snacks to eat.
‘Oh dear, you’re so small… You don’t seem to eat much, do you?’
As soon as the kitchen staff saw me, they said this and then widened their eyes in surprise.
Because I was eating nonstop!
Even now, I was holding a strawberry-flavored candy that Chef Hans had given me.
Yum! So tasty.
“Haha, little miss, the cookies have cooled down now. How would you like me to package them?”
“Please put them in a bag.”
“Would you like them in one bag?”
“Yes, thank you!”
I placed my hands on my belly and bowed deeply, my head almost touching the floor.
Immediately, I heard gasps and exclamations from all around.
“Huff, huff… Now I can die without regrets…”
“Get a grip, Chef! If you pass out now, you won’t be able to see more of that cuteness!”
“Y-you’re right. I need to stay alive to see it.”
Honestly, I’ve received a lot of compliments about being cute.
But hearing it again still makes me happy.
Smiling brightly, I hugged the paper bag filled with cookies that Hans had packed for me.
Even though they had cooled down, they were still warm, which made me feel good.
“Oh, that’s right. Here is the chocolate pen you asked for. What are you planning to use it for?”
“I’ll draw the eyes now.”
The cookies I made were in the shape of bears.
With the white chocolate pen Hans had given me, I was going to draw round eyes!
As soon as I said that, Hans clutched his chest and gasped.
“So, so cute…! Please come and visit again, miss!”
“Okay!”
“It would be great if the other young masters and ladies ate as much as you do… Whew.”
Waving goodbye to Hans, I hurried back to my room.
I need to give these to my teacher before class starts tomorrow!
As I was running, holding Lina’s hand, a question suddenly popped into my head.
Lina is Lina, the Admiral is Diegon, and I’m Chuu.
‘But what is my teacher’s name?’
***
Cedric Hingerford.
He was the most capable among the aides of the Galizard family head.
It was said that all information flowing into Pashayen had to pass through his hands.
As busy as he was, it was expected that he would work late nights and never have a day off.
He was always tired, constantly irritated, and naturally sensitive.
That Cedric ended up taking on the job of teaching the young members of the Pashayen family purely because of the children’s behavior.
The current generation of Pashayen children were so disobedient!
They were stubborn, mean, and already acting authoritarian even though they were just kids.
Every teacher that came was sent away, driven to madness.
In the end, the family head sent someone who was directly connected to the head, someone the children had no choice but to obey.
That was Cedric.
Cedric, who suddenly had an extra task thrown at him, could hardly be in a good mood as he entered the class.
As if he didn’t already have a mountain of work!
“…The task assigned to young master Mikard has been completed successfully. Upon further confirmation, it has been thoroughly dealt with. All the spies planted by Velarion have been executed.”
“Hmm. Give the order to return.”
“Yes.”
The warm sunlight was in stark contrast to the cold atmosphere in the family head’s office.
It was a place that even his own children couldn’t easily enter. In fact, it was a space feared by all who bore the Pashayen name.
The Pashayen family head didn’t see people as people.
He saw the abilities they possessed.
Simply put, their usefulness.
And based on that, he would judge them.
Everyone in front of Galizard had to prove their worth, and most people were already intimidated by the prospect.
“Come to think of it, how is Diegon’s second child doing these days?”
