Chapter 59

"But there are cute ones too, come here."

The beautiful woman smiled at Kugaru and me, then picked up the nearby Kugaru.

To Kugaru, who was squirming in embarrassment, Hylg Papa said,

"Kugaru, why are you being so reluctant? If you think like Milfia, then Daphine is your mother."

At these words, Kugaru's ears twitched, and he looked at the beautiful woman—Daphine—more closely.

I was a bit moved and gazed at Daphine too.

Spirits don't form marital relationships, and if a child is born with different traits, they easily let go of their attachment.

So I never thought Kugaru would meet his mother.

"Mother... I don't feel like it. This child has the nature of fire, so it's yours. I did give birth to it, though."

"Hehe! The child of Snowlea is a bit different! That's how they think! Kugaru will be happy, so come visit as a mother whenever you want!"

At first, Daphine seemed confused, but her gesture of petting Kugaru was gentle.

I think, just like my father treats me with affection, Kugaru will gain her love after meeting a few times.

"Wait a minute!"

Interrupting the warm atmosphere was Hyrilis. She staggered to her feet and faced Daphine.

"Daphine, why did you become Hylg's mate? You knew I liked Hylg!"

Hyrilis, with tears in her eyes, clenched her fists in a pout.

Daphine sighed maturely.

"I knew, but Hylg wanted a child soon due to his age, so I helped. Snowlea refused, and as for Hyrilis, it was impossible. Hylg still sees you as a child."

"True, I was a child when I first met Hylg, but I turned a hundred six years ago! I'm an adult now!"

Hyrilis protested in a high-pitched voice.

I knew from my mother that spirits are only recognized as adults after they turn a hundred.

They usually leave home around fifty, but my mother has repeatedly told me, "Fifty is too early. You must stay with me until at least a hundred."

"It's still about the chest! Hylg likes spirits with big chests!"

Hyrilis quickly compared her chest with Mother's and Daphine's, then cried out, "Waaan!"

Hmm, Daphine's chest is indeed big. It might even be bigger than Mother's.

Heartbreaking.

"Hyrilis, enough now."

Daphine's previously gentle voice became a bit authoritative.

"That's what being a child means. What will crying solve? If you want Hylg to notice you, you need to grow up mentally."

Hyrilis, trying to hold back her tears, was told again by Daphine in a gentle tone,

"Hylg already has a child, but you don't. When you want to have a child in the future, Hylg will help you. If you polish yourself and become an attractive adult woman, he will."

Hyrilis blushed at these words. Maybe she imagined a future with a cute child with Hylg Papa.

Hylg Papa, placing his hand on Hyrilis's shoulder, spoke to her.

"Hyrilis, I don't particularly like long hair or white skin like Snowlea. I don't dislike short, curly hair or healthy skin color like yours. So there's no need to be jealous of Snowlea. And as Daphine said, if you grow up mentally, I promise to treat you as an adult."

"Hylg..."

Hyrilis was moved to tears, but Hylg Papa casually avoided mentioning chest size...

I suspect he still prefers bigger ones.

But with this, the matter seemed to be settled.

Hyrilis sincerely apologized to my mother, me, and Kugaru.

"Snowlea, I'm sorry for attacking you by mistake. And to you all... I made the fairies scared because of my emotions. I'm sorry. I could see through the fairies. Did anyone get hurt?"

Perhaps because she had given more power to her fairies, Hyrilis could see and hear through them, unlike my mother's fairies.

"We're fine. But the human knight... he got badly injured protecting me."

Thinking about the fear at that time, I almost cried again.

The one-eyed knight, I wonder if he's okay.

Seeing me sniffle, Daphine said to Hyrilis,

"Hyrilis, you've caused a lot of trouble this time. I'll ask Hyderin to re-educate you."

"Eh!? Hyderin!? No way!"

Hyrilis turned pale and screamed. Hyderin is her grandmother, her mother's mother.

Hyrilis's mother was a very free-spirited wind spirit, and she neglected Hyrilis, so her grandmother, Hyderin, raised her.

"No way!"

But from Hyrilis's reaction, it seems Hyderin is a very strict spirit. Probably because of deep love, like when my mother gives me special training.

After watching Hyrilis cling to Daphine, my mother looked at me and said,

"Milfia, are you really not hurt anywhere?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Hey, Mother. Did you send me on the errand because you knew Hyrilis would come here?"

"Exactly. I didn't want you and Hyrilis to meet."

From the moment she saw the challenge, my mother had been thinking about how to protect me. That's why she sent me on an errand to the capital.

The Snowlea Mountain was a dangerous battlefield, so she wanted to send me as far away as possible.

She even considered hiding me at the northern fort, but it was too close to Snowlea Mountain and potentially dangerous, so she rejected that idea.

"Then, what about Father?"

When I asked, my mother raised an eyebrow and glanced at Father.

"I never considered it. I know this man is incredibly strong when he's serious, but I've never seen him serious. He's always sleeping, so I was uneasy about entrusting my dear Milfia to him and never considered it as an option."

Father didn't seem particularly shocked by this and maintained his usual expressionless face.

"But, I was a bit surprised this time. Wautlast moving on his own like this. He's a bit more reliable now."

Just a little movement and he's reassessed... But he was indeed very reliable.

"But, what about the errand? Do I not need to go to the capital anymore?"

When I looked up at my mother,

"Since you're here, you might as well try your best. Deliver my letter."

Mother smiled gently and patted my head.

Right, I still have the letter.

"Okay! I'll do my best! I'll go back to the knights then."

And continue the errand.

"Let's go, Kugaru."

Stepping onto the snow, Kugaru also ran over from Daphine.

But then an unexpected person raised her hand.

"Hey! Wait! I'll go too!"

It was Hyrilis.

"Why are you going?"

Hylg Papa asked.

"Because I know! There are humans targeting those kids!"

Wait, didn't Hyrilis have nothing to do with those black-clad assassins?

"These kids are in danger alone. I'll make up for it by protecting them! Okay, right?"

"You're just trying to escape from Hyderin."

Daphine hit the nail on the head, and Hyrilis was speechless.

"Alright. Hyrilis, change your heart and work together with the three of us."

"Who's a kid!"

Hyrilis, after saying this to Mother, turned around lightly and faced me and Kugaru.

She was still tired, but her expression was bright. Her youthful and energetic charm was gradually showing.

Her slender limbs moved well, and her gestures were cute.

Hyrilis put her index finger to her lips and said,

"Um, Milfia and Kugaru! I want to apologize to that 'one-eyed knight' too, so can I go with you?"

"Sure, of course. We also have questions for you."

We want to ask about Captain Sarell, but it's better to talk in front of the whole group.

We need to move together first.

Kugaru and Hyrilis can't fly to the one-eyed knight, so I'll use magic.

"I'll wait for you to return safely from the capital."

"Be careful."

"Kugaru! Put in some effort!"

"..."

Mother, Daphine, Hylg Papa, and Father said in turn.

Well, Father didn't say anything.

Mother and Daphine sent us off with worried but loving smiles, and Hylg Papa was grinning with his arms crossed.

Father's calm eyes... I can't read what he's thinking, but he's probably saying, "Do your best."

"We're off!"

The three of us, enveloped in a blizzard, waved our tails instead of hands.