Chapter 23

A man wrapped in a cloak, still in the posture of throwing a knife, grinned.

"I didn't expect the 'Bloody Nightmare' to show up... But the luck is still on my side. If I use those kids as shields, I might be able to take down that 'Bloody Nightmare' and gain fame..."

"Damn..."

Morgan clicked his tongue and readied himself again. There were about ten men surrounding him. Their movements were different from those of ordinary mercenaries. They were probably skilled fighters. Morgan thought that as long as Shiro was there, he still had a chance, and if he could draw them in, he might be able to turn the tide.

"Hmm, the moment Miss Mai brought our people, you were already done for..."

"Wh-What?"

Shiro sighed at the man's attempt to intimidate them. Behind him, John began to unpack his belongings.

"Ellis, Aika."

John handed the long staff, Ellis's favorite, to Aika and turned to her.

"Whoa, this..."

Aika gasped at the item presented to her. John grinned.

"Take it. I always wanted you to inherit it. Your mother would be happy too."

"Father..."

Aika took it, trying to hold back her tears. The beautifully decorated red shield and sword were her late mother's keepsake. The handle felt surprisingly familiar, and Aika couldn't help but smile.

"Ellis and Aika, you both look cool."

Will clapped his hands, but the men shouted at him in anger.

"Are you mocking us! We don't need your little play!"

"You guys are lucky..."

"Huh?"

The men looked puzzled at John's quiet words. Then, Tomason joined John, standing beside him.

"Don't get cocky just because an old man joined you!"

"Tomason, this is my moment..."

"Hehe, it seems like a fun situation."

The two stood side by side, relaxed, as the men edged closer.

"Alright, 'Dragon Slayer'... I'm sorry, but I'll have to immobilize you."

Shiro sighed deeply at the men's smirks.

"Sorry, but you'll need another hundred men to drag me out."

"What!?"

The man in the cloak reacted excessively to Shiro's words, and this time, John pointed his sword at him.

"Until then, you might be dissatisfied, but this 'Red Fang of Filfar' and 'Lightning of Filfar' will take you on."

"A hundred might not be enough, I'm a bit worried."

The men froze at the smiling old gentleman. Both were renowned veterans of Filfar, and their names were known even in other countries. As famous people kept appearing, Morgan and the others were left speechless.

"I'll help too."

"Me too."

Aika and Ellis stood side by side. The men, losing their nerve, took a step back.

"Okay, Will too!"

Inspired by Aika and Ellis, Will raised his hand enthusiastically. Shiro grabbed him and dragged him to the back.

"Okay, Will, stay back with your mother and the others and be a good boy, okay?"

"No, no!"

Will struggled, but Shiro dragged him back.

"I'll do it! I'll discipline them! I will!"

Will seemed to have flipped a switch, and Shiro looked at Cecilia, who was also at a loss. Despite their efforts to calm him, it didn't work.

"Ha ha ha ha..."

The servants smiled awkwardly, and the man in the cloak gritted his teeth. If they kept their hands off, they would be noticed by Ren, and it would be the end. They had no time to waste if they were going to take hostages.

"Will."

A piece of wind spoke to Will, trying to calm him down.

"What do you plan to do? You've already given your magic sword to your father. You can't use the spirit magic you did earlier, can you?"

Will hardly knew any elemental magic. A three-year-old couldn't possibly have the training to do anything significant in this situation. It was impossible to achieve results in a fight and discipline the others.

"Ta-da!"

Will added a sound effect and showed what he was holding. It was a beginner's wand and a spirit lantern from home. He tapped the lantern lightly with the wand, and it made a pleasant sound.

"I'm ready."

"No, but... what...?"

The piece of wind sighed at Will's determined eyes. It seemed Will really wanted to use magic.

(Setting aside the discipline part... if I can draw Will's attention and let him use magic as much as he wants...)

Looking at Shiro and Cecilia, they seemed to agree and nodded back.

"Alright, I understand. Will, I'll assess what you can do. Try to use magic as you wish."

"Really? Yay!"

Will burst into a wide smile. The piece of wind sighed, exasperated.

"But if you can't do it, you must listen to your parents, okay?"

"Okay."

Will nodded and raised the wand and lantern. Since the beginner's wand had no attribute stone, Will was probably trying to activate attribute magic by combining it with the spirit lantern. It was a clever idea for a child.

"Alright, Will, show your power."

"Okay."

At the piece of wind's encouragement, Will infused magic into the wand and lantern. The magic that fell on the lantern spread in clear ripples and instantly lit all the spirit stones.

"Wh-What...!"

The men of the Turquis family, including the piece of wind, were speechless. The full-color illumination of the spirit lantern, something never seen before, was lit by a mere three-year-old.

"How is this possible..."

The man in the hood dropped his sword, making a dry sound, his eyes fixed on the divine light of the lantern. Ignoring this, Will continued.

"Come forth, Earth Spirit! Guardian of the Earth, follow my command and form the Earth Shield!"

The incantation, halting though it was, made the earth, water, light, and darkness spirit stones shine brightly, and Will's magic began to activate. Morgan, who saw the incantation and the magic's resonance, opened his eyes wide.

"Is this a Golem Creation spell!?"

The magic that had been absorbed into the earth resonated, and the earth began to rise. Will's magic, which replicated the flow of Morgan's magic, quickly formed a golem with the help of the incantation.

"It's done... Huh?"

In the midst of everyone's speechless astonishment, Will tilted his head. His golem was only about half the size of Morgan's, but it was still a respectable two meters tall.

The small golem, with red eyes glowing, activated in front of the amazed piece of wind.

"Will's magic can only create a golem of this size for now..."

"Alright, that's fine."

Will nodded, satisfied. The golem stood quietly, waiting for Will's command.

"Golem, can you hear me?"

The golem nodded at Will's voice. Will looked up at the piece of wind with a proud smile.

"He can hear me."

"Y-Yes, indeed..."

The golem, acting on the summoner's command, responded to Will's voice, meaning the magic was properly cast.

"Unbelievable..."

Morgan couldn't accept it. The Golem Creation spell was not an easy one. He had failed many times before finally mastering it and making it his specialty. It was not a spell that could be cast easily.

"Will's speed in learning magic is astounding... There's no end to it..."

"Yes, indeed..."

Aika sighed, resigned, and Ellis agreed with a wry smile. This was becoming a familiar scene in the Turquis household.

"Your calmness is driving me crazy!"

The man in the cloak stomped his feet and shouted. However, the overwhelming difference in strength left them no choice but to be mere spectators.

Will smiled sheepishly at the man's outburst.

"Sorry for the wait."

"Who asked you to wait!?"

The man in the cloak clutched his head as Will bowed. When Will smiled cutely, the golem moved to stand beside him.

A moment of silence.

Everyone present had a bad feeling.

"Golem."

With a smile, Will pointed to a large man at the edge.

"Capture him."

The golem, accepting Will's command, roared and immediately grabbed the large man by the collar. Will's golem was larger than an adult and had superior strength, easily lifting the large man to the golem's eye level.

"Aaah... Huh...!"

The large man, now off the ground, flailed his legs and let out a high-pitched scream. Will watched with satisfaction and nodded.

"Bad people get a slap, you know."

"Ah..."

The large man, trembling, saw the golem raise its free hand.

"Who taught you that, Will...?"

Ellis, with a strained smile, asked, and Will answered with a smile.

"Ren taught me."

"Wait! Will!?"

"Did you do that, Shiro?"

Shiro, under the cold gaze of the women, waved his hands frantically.

"It's a misunderstanding! I just tried to remove some lint from his bottom!"

His defense was met with piercing glares from Cecilia and the girls. Shiro strongly thought he had said too much.

"So, I thought I'd slap the bad people too."

Will's smile was innocent, but the slapping would be done by his two-meter-tall golem. The adults couldn't help but find it unsettling.

"Golem, slap."

"Whoosh!"

The golem's large hand swung horizontally, striking the large man's cheek.

"Slap, slap, slap."

"Gah! Buh! Buh!"

The golem's palm slapped the large man in rhythm with Will's voice.

"Slap, slap, slap... Pfft..."

"Buh! Buh! Buh!"

The short, sharp screams that accompanied each slap made Will laugh, clutching his stomach.

"Ha ha ha ha ha..."

"Slap, slap, slap... Pfft..."

The slaps sped up, pummeling the large man at high speed.

"Ah..."

By the time Will noticed, the large man was unconscious, hanging from the golem's hand. The golem released him carelessly, and he fell to the ground.

"Ah..."

The large man's cheeks were swollen, and he was convulsing, nose bleeding. The mercenaries' faces drained of color at the sight.

"Pfft... Oops."

Will, who couldn't help but laugh at the large man's face, smiled sheepishly.

"Let's pretend that didn't happen."

The golem tidied up the large man, laying him face down.

"One more time."

"Monster!"

The man in the cloak shouted, but Will's determination didn't waver.

"Next, a bottom pat."

The next punishment was decided.

"Someone! Someone stop him! He's a child! It's not good for his education!"

A reasonable point, but the look in the man's eyes said he had no right to say it.

"Oooh!"

Another man, sword in hand, charged at Will, his face pale with fear. Driven by the fear of what might happen if he didn't stop him, he lost sight of his surroundings.

"Will!"

Aika, stepping in, blocked the man's sword with her shield.

"Y-You!"

Aika's sword struck the man's sword, disarming him.

"That's enough."

Suddenly, Shiro, John, Tomason, Ellis, and Ratts were there, their weapons at the man's neck. The man, realizing the futility, raised his hands and fell to his knees. His fear was not directed at the rational wielders of the weapons but at the pure, unadulterated violence.

"I can't... What is that kid... Ugh, ugh..."

The man finally broke down and cried, unable to accept the reality. No one could meet his gaze, feeling pity for him.

Ignoring this, Will targeted his next victim.

"Then, that one!"

The man in the hood, who had dropped his sword earlier, was pointed out. Still in shock, he was easily captured by the golem.

"Kyaa!?"

A high-pitched scream echoed as the man in the hood was carried by the golem. The golem raised its hand to pat the man's bottom.

"Wait, Golem!"

Will, panicking, called out. The golem's hand, about to strike, lost its force and gently patted the man's bottom.

"Kyaa!?"

The unexpected sensation made the man in the hood scream. Will, patting his feet, ran to the restrained man.

"Will, it's dangerous!"

Ignoring Ellis's warning, Will knelt in front of the man in the hood.

"Hmm?"

Will peered into the hood. The man in the hood silently looked back at Will. Will carefully removed the hood.

"Ah..."

A face too beautiful to be a man, with well-defined features, and more strikingly, cat ears on his head.

"Huh?"

In front of Will, the cat ears twitched.