Chapter 32

After breakfast, Shiro went to the reception room to take statements from the adventurers.

The members of the adventurer party "Giants of the Earth," introduced during the meal, followed Shiro.

The servants went to their respective posts, and the remaining members of the Turkis family, along with Tomason and Ren, went out to the garden.

"Whew..."

"How about it, boy? Feels good, right?"

Guided by the gardener Ratts, they arrived at a corner of the garden where a sandbox had been set up.

The ground had been dug out and surrounded by a sturdy wooden frame.

It was Ratts' masterpiece.

"Amazing, Ratts-san."

"No, no... thank you, Cecilia-sama."

While Ratts blushed at Cecilia's praise, Will scooped up some sand with his hand and let it spill through his fingers.

The smooth sand slipped through his fingers.

Will turned back with a delighted smile, and the adults all smiled in return.

"You can play in the sandbox as much as you like, Will."

"Hehe..."

Encouraged by Cecilia, Will took out the spirit lantern and Bell-kun's staff.

Using the gardening magic he had learned, he tilled the soil, gave it nutrients, and sprinkled water. Will looked very pleased.

"Nice, Will..."

Nina watched Will use the elemental magic with envy, even though it was a simple spell.

"Do you want to try, Nina?"

"Really!? Mother!"

Cecilia's question brightened Nina's expression.

Although Nina would learn spells quickly, Cecilia had no intention of treating Will specially.

If she taught Will but not Nina, it would hurt Nina's feelings.

As Cecilia began teaching Nina the gardening magic, Serena also looked on with interest.

The two listened carefully to Cecilia and quickly mastered the gardening magic.

Then, they joined Will in playing in the sandbox.

"Watching the children, it's amazing how easily they learn magic."

Tomason, who had been watching the children, muttered, and Cecilia and Ren chuckled.

The Turkis children were indeed quick learners.

The more you use magic, the more you train, so it was a good thing they learned quickly.

"Doing well."

"Master One!"

Cecilia put her hand to her mouth in surprise at the sudden appearance of the wind wolf in the garden.

It had now controlled its size to that of a large dog.

Perhaps because it had shown itself once, the wind fragment had stopped hiding in the warehouse.

Ren, who met the wind fragment's gaze, seemed to have something to say, but the wind wolf paid no attention.

"Master One!"

Will, who had been playing in the sandbox, stood up upon noticing the wind fragment.

His sisters looked bewildered at the sudden appearance of the幻兽.

"Master One!"

"Wait, wait, Will."

The wind fragment stopped Will, who was running over.

"First, wash your hands."

"Oh?"

Will looked at his muddy hands and let out a sound.

Nina and Serena, being considerate, ran over and used water magic to clean Will's hands.

"All clean?"

"Yes, good job."

The wind fragment nodded at Will, who showed his hands.

"Soft and fluffy~♪"

Will hugged the wind fragment happily and rubbed his cheek against it.

The wind fragment smiled at the sisters, who watched closely.

"Good sisters, you are."

At first, Serena and Nina seemed confused by the talking wolf, but they were now intrigued by Will's behavior.

Nina, in particular, was visibly eager to touch it.

"Go ahead?"

Seeing this, the wind fragment called out to the sisters, and Serena and Nina happily started touching it.

"What's the sudden change of heart?"

Ren asked quietly.

Until yesterday, the wind fragment had not made any contact.

Even though it was not a malevolent presence, it was natural for Ren to be cautious.

"I was hiding to avoid unnecessary friction..."

The wind wolf showed a self-deprecating smile.

"I also want to dote on the children."

The adults were all taken aback by the wind fragment's words.

It was unusual for a mythical creature that rarely showed itself to people to express a desire to dote on human children.

However, the wind fragment had formed a contract with a human and had some interaction with people.

It was not surprising that it had developed affection.

Will, who was hugging the wind fragment, looked curious.

"Happy~? Congratulations~?"

"No, Will. I want to dote on you."

The wind fragment corrected him, and Will hugged it even more happily.

No longer wary, Serena and Nina took turns hugging the wind fragment.

Seeing Ren's still questioning expression, the wind fragment chuckled.

"Are you jealous?"

"Wh-Who would be!?"

Ren hastily denied it, and the surrounding adults smiled.

"You should be more honest with yourself."

"Shut up!"

Ren, perhaps embarrassed, turned away.

The wind fragment sighed in exasperation.

"Ren, what's wrong~?"

Will, who was watching curiously, tilted his head.

"Ren also wants to dote on Will but can't be honest about it."

"One!?"

Ren's voice rose in anger.

Hearing the wind fragment's words, Will ran over to Ren and clung to his leg.

"Then, Will will congratulate you~♪"

Saying this, Will demanded a hug.

"Will-sama..."

Ren, looking confused, turned to Cecilia, who nodded with a smile.

"Don't overthink it, Ren. It's one of your bad habits."

"Cecilia-sama..."

Ren was a bit awkward.

Of course, Ren also had affection for the children.

She found them cute and worried about them.

However, actively showing affection was difficult for her.

She always separated work from personal feelings.

This was largely due to her experience as a top adventurer.

As a result, she maintained a certain distance.

While this was not wrong in a master-servant relationship, Cecilia wished Ren would interact with the children more freely, as a friend.

"Ren, pick me up~"

Giving in to Will's request, Ren picked him up.

"Just for a little, Will-sama."

"Hehe~♪"

Will, content, leaned his cheek against Ren's shoulder.

His silky hair brushed against Ren's neck.

It tickled, but it wasn't unpleasant.

(Warm...)

Unlike the painful reaction from yesterday, a sense of comfort filled Ren's heart.

Just then—

"Mm, chu~♪"

A soft touch landed on Ren's cheek.

"Wh-What?"

"Aah!?"

Ren let out a surprised sound, and Serena and Nina screamed almost simultaneously.

"Wh-What...?"

"That's not fair! Ren, Will kissed you!"

"That's not fair... to get kissed by Will..."

Realizing what Will had done, Ren was scolded by her sisters.

"Ren-sama?"

Noticing Ren's strange behavior, Serena and Nina tilted their heads.

Ren, who had gone stiff, remained motionless as Will skillfully climbed down.

"Wh-What?"

The children looked up at Ren together.

Ren, usually emotionless, was now standing still with a bright red face.

"Getting kissed on the cheek, what are you so stiff about?"

The wind fragment's exasperated comment made Ren's shoulders tremble, but she still didn't move.

"Will, kiss the sisters too."

"Will, kiss me too."

Nina and Serena's requests only made Ren's shoulders tremble more, but she still didn't move.

"Then, the sisters too~♪"

Without any shame, Will kissed his sisters on the cheek as they asked.

Ren remained frozen in place until Shiro and the others appeared in the garden.