<Chapter 19>

It happened the night before.

Eldic was in his office when he sensed someone outside. Peeking through the window, he saw Ardishu hovering in the hallway.

She kept peeking in through the glass, clearly wanting to say something.

“Ardishu.”

“Yes. Did you call me?”

As soon as he called her, Ardishu entered the office as if she’d been waiting.

Curious about what she wanted to say, Eldic rested his chin on his hand and stared at her. She lowered her gaze and fidgeted with her fingers.

At this rate, they’d get nowhere.

“Seems like you have something to tell me.”

“Uh, well…”

When she hesitated, Eldic pulled out some colorful candies from a drawer. Ardishu took them with both hands and popped one into her mouth.

“You’ve eaten, so now you have to tell me.”

“Um… I need to bring you to the daycare tomorrow.”

“And why is that?”

“The teacher said I had to bring you…”

Her words trailed off. Eldic remembered that brazen human who never backed down from him.

That woman with cocoa-powder-colored brown hair was small and cute in stature.

‘Cute?’

Eldic flinched. It wasn’t a personal opinion. It was just objective fact. Any elf on the street would say the same if asked.

[“I am concerned that your laziness will rub off on Ardishu.”]

[“Humans call this ‘leisure.'”]

She spoke in typical human riddles.

‘I hope she’s not tormenting Ardishu with that bold personality of hers.’

Even though Ardishu often gushed about how much she liked Teacher Sora, you could never be sure when it came to humans.

‘Still, considering what Ardishu said, I should visit the daycare soon and see for myself.’

But time was tight. Eldic was a busy man. He was the leader of the elves, after all.

“I’m quite busy tomorrow…”

As a guardian of nature, he had a duty to protect their fading world.

Still—

“I’m sorry.”

Ardishu clasped her hands tightly and looked up at him. Her eyes were filled not with expectation but with worry. It tugged painfully at his heart.

“I know you’re busy, brother… I’ll figure something out on my own.”

How could he possibly turn away from that gaze?

“As it happens, tomorrow’s meeting has been canceled.”

“Then…”

“I’ll come with you.”

His much-younger sister was his most treasured person. Even if he couldn’t come up with a solid excuse to skip the meeting, he’d find a way.

“You’re coming with me to the daycare? I can’t wait for tomorrow!”

Ardishu beamed.

That smile made Eldic hold his breath. She used to avoid him, calling him scary. How long had it been since she’d smiled at him like that?

Daycare had really changed her. She seemed… brighter somehow.

“Just before she started, she was so gloomy. She holed up in her room, saying she didn’t want to go…”

Eldic had practically forced her onto the bus. Her eyes had been brimming with tears.

‘She must’ve made good friends there.’

Since Ardishu had no peers her age before, this was a relief for him.

In that regard, he was mostly in favor of daycare.

Still, that didn’t mean he trusted humans.

‘If that human mistreats my sister, I won’t let it slide.’

Eldic clenched his fist. Since he was going anyway, he was going to keep a close eye on Sora all day long.

‘It’s about time I checked it out for myself, anyway.’

Daycare. Humans and children called it that, but its official name was the Temple.

Summoning a holy relic for peace treaties had long been customary. Because the various races had such wildly different customs and temperaments, reconciliation was never easy.

But with Almighty God Serenity responding to the summoning ritual and urging peace, who would dare continue fighting?

‘Normally, something sacred like a divine goat or a gemstone brimming with magic would be summoned…’

But this time, oddly enough, it was humans who popped out. People from another world, no less.

They were about to give up on the treaty altogether when—

[“I’m a teacher.”]

The human named Sora said.

With those words, the peace treaty found its direction. They decided that raising the children of each race together under one roof would promote peace.

If children were involved, no one would dare act out.

Apparently, everyone agreed, because the treaty was signed quickly. And so far, peace had been maintained without any major disruptions.

‘Though who knows how long this peace will last…’

Eldic’s gaze sharpened. The war that had turned the continent red had to end, if only for Ardishu’s future.

The next day, Eldic headed to the daycare with Ardishu.

[“Good morning, Mr. Eldic. Is something the matter…?”]

[“What are you talking about? You practically begged me to come, and now you’re acting like this?”]

Humans really were shameless. She had told Ardishu to bring him, and now she was pretending she hadn’t?

[“I’m glad you’re here. Today’s a great chance to see what Ardishu’s daily life is like at daycare.”]

Sora hesitated briefly, then said that. As far as he was concerned, he would be observing it closely.

But what lay in wait was…

[“So… I want a new mom!”]

…Ardishu’s sudden bombshell.

Eldic was dumbfounded by her unexpected request. He’d always thought of her as mature for her age, but now this?

And yet Sora and the other children acted like it was no big deal.

That surprised him even more.

He, who had spent the most time with Ardishu, was the only one shocked by what she said.

‘She’s completely immersed in the story.’

Ardishu’s eyes sparkled as she listened to Sora read. When Eldic had painstakingly recited The History of Elves, she barely responded.

Sora, on the other hand, gave each character a unique voice and performed with enthusiasm.

‘So that’s how she won over the children…’

But even more impressive was…

[“I can’t eat cursed vegetables.”]

[“Then how about this? I’ll bless the carrot you’re going to eat.”]

[“Then I can eat it!”]

Sora explained it in a way Ardishu could accept.

Eldic hated carrots. Their smell was torture for someone with such a sensitive nose.

But he could never admit that to Ardishu. He only wanted to show her his best side.

So when she asked why he didn’t eat them, he dodged the question by calling them cursed.

‘A true teacher, indeed.’

Eldic had only seen her as a brazen human until now. But she was bold and capable.

[“Kids need to run around and burn energy. But if you’d like…”]

That idea of “a child’s right” was new to him, but it made sense.

After all, it’s the age when play matters most.

Ardishu really did look like she was having fun, dashing around with a water gun.

[“Sorry! I wasn’t trying to do that.”]

[“…It’s fine. Traditional elven garments are made by layering thin fabrics sewn together. They’re somewhat delicate.”]

There were a few minor mishaps, but the highlight of the day was…

[“You can’t talk down to Teacher Sora! You’re sitting in the Thinking Chair for five minutes!”]

Eldic was stunned.

Ardishu was usually accommodating and obedient. She had never spoken like that before.

In the end, Eldic was dragged to the Thinking Chair by her and made to sit there for five minutes.

* * *

Maybe Ardishu will grow up to be a teacher someday.

Watching her drag the elf leader to the thinking chair, I broke into a cold sweat.

‘Kids really do soak up everything their teachers do.’

The phrase “children are blank canvases” came to mind. I reminded myself again to be careful with my words and actions around them.

So I wouldn’t leave an ugly mark on those canvases.

“Teacher.”

Paul had been circling around me for a while before finally speaking up.

“What is it?”

“She says she wants a new mom. I think she’s planning to make you her mom.”

“But Ardishu already has a mom.”

I feigned ignorance.

“You really don’t get it. If she could bring her mom, she would’ve already. I bet her mom’s dead.”

“W-wait! Keep your voice down.”

Startled, I quickly brought a finger to my lips.

I glanced over at Ardishu, relieved she hadn’t heard.

“Is that… true?”

“Pretty obvious. When I asked the other dragons where my parents were, they all said they were traveling. Turns out they died before I was even born.”

Paul said it like he was just talking about lunch, calm and indifferent.

“……”

It hurt, not just for Ardishu, but for Paul too.

It meant he’d already gone through all the pain and come out the other side.

I pulled him into a hug. I just couldn’t help it.

“Stop. I’m not a baby.”

“But you are still a kid, Paul.”

“Tch…”

He pouted.

“Do you pity me?”

“No. But I do feel for you.”

“I don’t need some lame mom or dad—”

“It just makes me sad, thinking how hard it must’ve been for you to say that like it’s no big deal.”

How much time had it taken him to accept their absence? How many emotions had he gone through?

At first, he probably missed them even without knowing who they were.

Then came that moment of desperation, wishing for them with everything he had.

Maybe he even cried, thinking, ‘Why am I the only one without parents?’ Maybe he got angry too.

And after all of that… he simply accepted it.

“Me too.”

I hugged Paul even tighter.

“I don’t have a family either.”

Knowing Paul had endured the same pain I had made my heart ache.

Then Valentin came over and tugged lightly on my sleeve.

“I’ll lend Paul my dad.”

“I don’t need him.”

“And since I already lent my mom to Ardishu, I’ll give myself to you, Teacher.”

I couldn’t help laughing at that. I hugged Valentin too.

“But wait, are you giving yourself to me or just lending?”

“Oh.”

Realizing his mistake, Valentin quickly corrected himself.

“Lend! Give me back later!”
 

<To be continued>

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