044
Earlier, when brother Elzen used ‘water transportation,’ a rainbow had appeared. This time, thin, transparent water pillars, which felt almost like flower petals, formed around us.
“It’s so pretty!”
As I laughed while watching the golden jellyfish floating inside the water pillars, brother Elzen chuckled softly and moved the water to lift me onto it.
“Don’t forget, youngest, that I owe you a lot.”
“………!”
“You saved my life. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve never met my soulmate. Joy is just as grateful to you as I am.”
But honestly, I didn’t really do much.
It was the Spirit King of Emotions who helped, wasn’t it?
Still, when I tried to say that, all that came out were squeaky little chirps.
“No matter what happens to you or what you do, Joy and I will always be on your side. Unconditionally.”
That’s… that’s good, but!
The water tickled me, and I couldn’t stop laughing long enough to reply.
After spinning me around on the water a few more times, brother Elzen carried me back to the shore.
“Shall we head back now? Brother Leviwood is leaving us alone because he knows I’m with you, but if I stay away any longer, he’ll get mad. He’s quite the control freak.”
“What’s a control freak?”
“It’s someone who gets angry when things don’t go their way.”
Is class leader Leviwood really like that?
He seemed so calm and composed to me.
Most of Pashayen’s family members had a serene and quiet demeanor, probably because they were a family associated with water.
Except for brother Mikard, that is.
“Elzen, someone’s here.”
It was at that moment.
Joy grabbed me and pushed me behind her. Then, she swiftly drew the daggers from her waist, holding one in each hand.
“If it’s dangerous, let’s leave now, Joy.”
“No, it’s hard to tell. It feels human, but… there’s no killing intent.”
Slowly approaching the bushes, Joy swung her arms quickly, cutting through the branches. Even so, from my height, I couldn’t see what was beyond!
“What is it, what is it? Is it the boy I was chasing earlier? He disappeared so suddenly!”
“Hmm, no. This feels so obviously like a trap.”
Brother Elzen sighed and scratched the back of his head.
Not understanding what was going on, I ran closer, standing on my tiptoes.
Peeking just above the branches, I saw a young woman lying in a clearing.
“Ow, it hurts. I came here to pick berries and twisted my ankle. I wonder if a kind little bunny might come to help me.”
The woman, lying down as if performing a scene from a play, placed the back of her hand on her forehead.
Beside her, there was a rattan basket with berries spilled all around, so it didn’t seem like a complete lie.
“Chuu will help you!”
“Wait, Shu. That’s a trap.”
“A trap…?”
Just as I was about to run over, brother Elzen grabbed me firmly and clicked his tongue.
[The Earth Spirit King ‘■’ tells you to look closely at the hand resting on the ground.]
[Even if she’s wearing commoner’s clothes and a headscarf, those delicate hands can’t be hidden.]
Oh, that’s true.
[The Spirit King of Emotions ‘■■■’ expresses concern.]
[The girl’s heartbeat quickened as soon as she saw you.]
Why?
I paused my immediate thought of helping her and focused my gaze.
Just as the Spirit Kings had mentioned, her hands were far too beautiful. Even the way she was lying there seemed to shine, and her slightly visible lips were like cherries.
She looked like a girl around twelve or thirteen years old, but if she wasn’t a nearby village resident, why would she be here?
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ says there’s no hostility from her.]
[It seems she came because she wants to befriend you. There’s a sense of goodwill.]
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ expresses concern.]
[But if her family is the issue, then that could be a problem… Prejudging isn’t a good idea.]
Reading each of the Spirit Kings’ comments, I tilted my head in confusion.
‘Well, I like pretty things.’
Just as the word ‘delicious’ doesn’t describe only one type of taste, ‘pretty’ has different meanings, too.
Some people are subtly pretty, while others are dazzlingly pretty!
If Lacifer is the epitome of dazzling extravagance, then brother Elzen embodies subtle charm, cuteness, and frailty.
As for this girl, though I couldn’t say for sure, the word ‘elegance’ came to mind.
She had a regal kind of beauty.
“What brings you here? Your identity is already obvious, so why don’t you take off that ridiculous headscarf?”
“Oh my, I’m just an ordinary village woman who knows nothing.”
Her smooth words were laced with a faint smile.
“If you’re pretending to be ordinary, then why don’t you put away that scythe pointed at people’s necks?”
“Oh, that? It’s just a greeting.”
Startled, I looked around and realized what was happening.
The woman, who seemed to shimmer faintly, was holding a large scythe, and it was pressed against both brother Elzen’s and Joy’s necks.
Was that beautiful girl the one who did that?
“Anyway, hello, little girl. I came here to meet you.”
“Why?”
“Because… you’re just so adorable!”
Huh?
“I actually love adorable things. I love them so much that I keep them close to me. Want to see portraits of the puppies I’ve raised?”
“Puppy portraits…?”
“Yes. And I have five cats, too. They’re all happy living at my Moonlit mansion.”
So many puppies and cats!
I was a little tempted, but as I watched her smiling brightly, I firmly shook my head.
“No thanks. Someone who tries to lure me away with candy is a bad person.”
“Oh my, so smart! Then I won’t ask you to come with me. I promise.”
Curiously glancing between the unfamiliar girl and brother Elzen, I once again checked the Spirit Kings’ messages.
Most of them said it would be okay to approach, so I cautiously stepped forward.
“Sister, get up. If you stay like that, your face will freeze. And get rid of that scythe, too.”
“Are you worried about me? How sweet. But what if I were a monster who eats little kids? You’d be in trouble for being so kind.”
“No, monsters only exist if you believe they do. Sister isn’t a monster.”
I confidently shared the lesson my Carrot Class teacher had taught me.
That’s what the teacher had said.
All people are born good.
“Ahhh! I can’t take it anymore!”
“Shupetty!”
The unfamiliar girl’s sudden hug and brother Elzen’s startled exclamation happened at the same time.
The stranger wrapped her arms tightly around me, and I looked up at her face, holding my breath.
“Red eyes… like rubies.”
Her flawless white skin, slightly upturned eyes, elegant nose, and silver hair gently swaying reminded me of a crescent moon.
She felt cold and sharp, yet she seemed to push away the darkness and light up everything around her.
“I hear that a lot. Nice to meet you. I heard you taught Goliath a lesson?”
“Goliath?”
“Oh, you might not know his name. The idiot who owned the ‘Grandpa Sackman’ who kidnapped you.”
The girl, now standing, picked me up effortlessly.
The black-clad woman holding the scythe had disappeared.
“Hand over my sister.”
Brother Elzen sounded angry, but the girl acted as if she hadn’t heard him.
“You know I’m not your enemy. We’re not on bad terms, Elzen.”
“And what does that have to do with you showing up here?”
“So prickly. I came to congratulate you on recovering from your illness. We’ve always gotten along well, haven’t we?”
“And yet you showed up with that black-clad woman?”
Wait a second. So, they know each other?
The unfamiliar girl looked down at me, flashing a sly smile.
“I’m Diorose Velarion, the third daughter of the Velarion family.”
“Heup!”
Wait a moment! Isn’t Velarion supposed to be our enemy?!
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ chuckles.]
[Not everyone is your enemy. Diorose Velarion has great ambition and a vast capacity. If you can bring her to your side, she’ll be a valuable ally.]
When the Fire Spirit King said this, the other Spirit Kings agreed.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen the Spirit Kings speak so highly of someone.’
And then, I caught a pleasant scent.
“Sister Diorose.”
“Yes?”
“I like your scent.”
Since the Spirit Kings seemed to approve of her, I immediately felt at ease.
Maybe that’s why the yogurt-like scent she gave off was irresistible.
“I like this scent from you too, sister.”
“Oh my.”
I snuggled into sister Diorose’s embrace, clinging to her and even nuzzling my soft cheek against her. Watching this, brother Elzen let out a frustrated sigh.
“She has no idea how dangerous this could be. Good grief.”
“Dangerous? I have no intention of doing anything bad to this child. I came here today to help you.”
“What? Fine, then tell me—how did you know Pashayen was coming here today for a picnic?”
Brother Elzen’s brows furrowed as he asked.
Sister Diorose chuckled softly and placed her finger against brother Elzen’s lips.
