She ordered them to stop, but they didn't bother to listen. The youngest had already gobbled up his share. And since he was fine after devouring all that, the rest didn't hesitate either. Then the girl slowly started eating her portion as well.

Now that the tense mood was gone, I thought I should strike up some conversation. Although I'm not good at talking to people of my age or older—because I'm kind of an introvert—I always end up being awkwardly serious around them. But with kids, I feel free.

I took the youngest into my lap, gave him more candies, and asked,
"Is it really that tasty? Or is it just because you're super hungry?"

He replied with candies stuffed in his mouth,
"Lt's lially lasty." (It's really tasty)

"Hahaha," I laughed at his funny pronunciation. Kids always make me happy. So I asked him again,
"What's your name, my little prince? Is it almighty Arthur, the King of the Seven Seas? Or the famous detective Sherlock Holmes?"

The kid replied while giggling,
"I'm not Arthur, nor Shar-omes (Sherlock Holmes). I'm Oliver. Oliver Otto."

"Oh my! What a lovely name. It really suits you—you've got green eyes and blond hair, you know."
"Hehe, thank you, mister. So, what's your name?"
"Can you guess? Ah! No, you could never guess. I am Louis Vons Ogusti." I puffed out my chest like a proud knight before battle.
"Wohoowo! Fancy name!"
"You think so? Thank you, little guy. So, like Oliver, let's all introduce ourselves."

The dragonude said his name was Agaro Drajonioe. The girl with the loud tummy was Kazarim. The others were Mijumi, Tanaka, Primelia, and Dilalian.

"Nice to meet you all. You guys must be tired, so take a nap while I make something to eat."

Then Kazarim suddenly asked,
"Why are you doing all this for us?"

Man! She just had to ask now and ruin the mood I built up with so much effort. Sigh. What do I say? I don't really have a particular reason, but I doubt she'd accept that. And her pride wouldn't allow her to accept pity. Ah, let's just make something up.

"Well, um… I… Ahem! I once had four younger siblings, just like you guys. But I lost them. I searched everywhere but couldn't find them. I'm still searching. So when I saw you, you reminded me of them. I can't just leave you. And after losing them, I was all alone. That's why I need someone to fill that emptiness. So I beg of you, please don't leave me."

The whole room fell silent. Then, breaking the silence, the girl asked,
"If you ever found your siblings, what would happen to us?"

That will never happen—but I can't say that. This girl is overly cautious. I like how gullible the boys are, but this girl—ugh! So annoying. But I guess without her, they wouldn't have survived this long. I'll just speak my heart.

"When I accept someone as mine, they're mine for life. So even if I found my siblings, you wouldn't vanish from my life—unless you chose to leave me. Otherwise, if you become my students, then there's no reason to worry about any of this. So, what do you say?"

Another silence. Then the youngest said,
"I don't mind either way. And I don't think you're a bad guy—the spirits are saying so too."

Spirits! Oh, I hadn't thought about that. So on my first day, they were the ones watching me. (From Chapter 1.)

But why didn't I notice it earlier? Ah, maybe because they were there from the beginning. You don't notice the air you breathe, right?

But only Shila made a contract with me. No one else did. And Shila is still evolving. I wish there was another cute little spirit I could bond with.

Suddenly, all the small, insignificant spirits present there, began to glow. Glimmering sparks started to rise from them. Even the surrounding trees responded, releasing threads of golden light from their leaves and bark.

Gargian's divine aura wavered , flickering with sudden alarm, his voice was rough with disbelief.
"What did you do?"

Why is he blaming me? I didn't do anything.
So I said,
"What? Why are you blaming me?"

With an angry face, he said,
"Only you could be the catalyst for the birth of a King Spirit, even though there's no need for one—the Seven Thrones are already filled!"

Meanwhile, all the sparkling orbs turned into golden petals, swirling in wide loops, drawing in the light like fireflies—as if in a sacred dance. Then, at the centre of this blooming spiral, a shape began to form.

A small figure curled within a cradle of radiant vines—peaceful, unborn. It floated like a dream in the womb of golden hands. As the vines slowly unfurled, the child began to grow—hair like moonlight, skin soft and pale, fingers stretching gently into life.

Then the golden hands lowered him into my arms.
A quiet, ancient voice echoed: "Please look after our child, dear."
And then—they vanished.

She disappeared like she had never been there, leaving me with a child in my arms.
I was stunned by everything.
Did I just become a father… without doing anything?

In my lap, the sweet, innocent child slept peacefully—without a care in the world—as if they had truly accepted me.

The child was still in my arms. She felt like a warm fluff ball. She turned toward me and slowly opened her eyes—those endless, shining blue eyes, clear and deep, they reflected the blue of an untouched sky. One silver, one cerulean—like the first light over a sacred mountain, were watching me and giggling.
Is this how all mothers and fathers feel when they first hold their child? How blessed they must feel at that moment!

I can't truly describe how I feel. My heart is racing. I'm confused, happy, scared, and relieved all at once.

Suddenly, a sweet bell-like voice rang out:
"Papa, papa."

I turned to Gargian.
"She really said that, didn't she?"

He, too, was in disbelief for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

I sat down with her in my arms. I poked her cheeks; the rest of the children were watching with curiosity in their eyes.

Finally, I tried my best to remain calm and said,
"I don't know what good deed I did to be rewarded like this, but I accept."

My mind was racing with so many possibilities for her—her life from infant to adult, and even the moment she might leave me for a better future. Unconsciously, my eyes filled with tears.

I wiped them away and said,
"I'm naming her Alicia—the angel I have accepted."

Then both my daughter and I started glowing again. A sparkling orb emerged from each of us, and they collided like two supernovas, bursting into energy. From that energy, a spiral formed into a bond—one part attaching to me, the other wrapping around her like a cocoon. It looked like a flower bud. It bloomed like a lotus, spreading a beautiful fragrance.

Inside it was a small spirit, just like Shila. She came near and bowed, saying,
"I, Alicia, greet my majestic great father."

I was kind of shocked again. How many times has this happened now? Sigh.

I patted her head and, with a small laugh, said,
"They say girls grow fast—and it's true, haha."

Gargian said,
"But yours really did grow fast, you know."

"Yeah, she really did grow."


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