episode_0218

A girl stood looking at the wall with her eyes tightly closed.

The curly brown hair was plain, but the swirling ram horns sprouting from the top of his head were something to behold.

It was in a corner close to the wall, so there was no light.

The girl stood close to the dark wall and muttered to herself.

The surrounding noise broke through the murmur.

Carr, carr.

Excited laughter, energetic jumping.

The girl seemed to be separated from the scenery and was alone.

“… 29, 30.”

The girl’s muttering stopped.

Suddenly, the surrounding noise disappeared.

When the girl opened her eyes and turned her head, there was no one on the wide street.

I was alone.

The noise that had been going on just now escaped through the alleys.

The girl shouted loudly and with a wide smile, as if making a declaration, towards the noise that had escaped.

“I’m looking for it now!”

Zion, daughter of Galatea.

Before she knew it, she was 12 years old, playing with the kids, and now playing hide and seek.

*

Shion, who was wandering around the alley, found a redhead crouching in the corner.

“I found Lia!”

“Ugh!”

The crouching girl stood up, shaking her body in surprise.

“Huh… . How did you know right away!”

Lia’s light green eyes twinkled as if she felt unfairly treated.

It was difficult for Zion to explain.

It always seems like Lia is trying hard to hide, but from the perspective of someone looking for her, it seems all too obvious.

It was so sloppy that Snow occasionally grumbled, and every time, Lia cried and looked for her mom or dad.

Shion, who is one year older than Lia, decided to comfort her as an older sister.

“I am a beastman! More than others… .”

Sensitivity has developed.

However, I don’t know those difficult words.

“… Find it well!”

“Ugh… . I see.”

Lia was also young.

That explanation was enough.

Lia, who was caught, is also a tagger from now on.

Although they had to search separately, Lia hated being separated from others.

Shion and Lia held hands and ran through the alley.

As Zion ran, an orange color appeared in the corner of his vision.

Zion didn’t miss that.

“Zion? Why stop?”

“Something just happened… .”

Before I knew it, the orange color had disappeared.

But there was nowhere to escape in this narrow street.

“Here-!”

Shion shouted, sticking his head out over the pile of boxes.

“Ugh!”

Inside, a boy with orange hair cowered.

“It’s Bethel!”

Leah smiled brightly at the boy, Bethel.

Her hair color was orange like her mother’s, but her eyes were black like her father’s.

“Still, I hid longer than Lia. Hehe.”

“It’s true! amazing! He’s younger than me and it’s his first time playing hide and seek! How do you do that?”

“Ahem!”

Leah was seriously impressed and then opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Seven-year-old Bethel’s shoulders rose high as if he was proud of the response.

From Shion’s point of view, who found it, it was there, but he didn’t bother to disturb the two.

The three of them wandered around Arogant City in Ian Ryeong together.

Occasionally, adults or residents passing by would smile happily and say hello whenever they saw the children.

One by one, the three of them steadily found the children playing hide and seek.

Unlike Leah and Bethel, the other children dispersed to find the hidden child.

There are now two people left.

They are always the last two left, and in fact, the end of hide and seek is a fight to see which of the two can be found first.

“Snow and Berry… . It’s those two again.”

Shion muttered.

Snow and Berry.

The two, now 10 years old and two years younger than Zion, were quite cunning and smart compared to their peers.

Usually, children continue to hide in the same spot they once hid, or look for similar places.

The two were different.

They hid in different places and in different ways each time.

“Wow, it’s a flower!”

While Shion was worrying, Lia looked at the flowers blooming in the corner of the alley.

“Red like my hair! I have to give it to my dad!”

“Lia! For now we have to focus on hide and seek!”

“Ugh, Guchiman… .”

“Let’s ask an adult!”

Bethel said, holding Zion’s hand.

“I’m asking where Brother Snow and Sister Berry are!”

“That’s… Isn’t it a foul?”

“Dad told me that if you don’t know anything or have questions, ask an adult! So let’s ask!”

Among them, he was only the eldest, and Sion was also a 12-year-old with a runny nose.

I didn’t have the brains to think or think deeply.

‘… is it?’

Bethel’s words somehow seemed plausible.

If you think about it, there’s no rule that says you can’t ask adults, right?

“Okay then!”

The decision was quick.

Coincidentally, there was a prisoner in the alley over there.

Big and stocky like a bear.

And the hand is the sole of a real bear’s paw.

What are you doing? You’re putting your hand on the wall.

“Uncle Rhamnus!”

Former Captain of Le Sentimants.

It was Ramnus, a beastman who was one of the current castle guards.

“Huh?!”

Rhamnus turned his head sharply.

Then, a human woman hidden in his arms appeared.

The two’s faces turned bright red, as if they had caught something they shouldn’t have done.

“Hello~”

The children greeted all at once.

“Uh, uh… ! Yeah, yeah! Oh!”

“Mister, what are you doing here? Who is this sister?”

Bethel asked innocently.

The woman who was hidden in Rhamnus’ arms hurriedly wiped the corner of her mouth while avoiding eye contact.

“Uh, that, that, so… !”

Rhamnus didn’t know how to explain the adult’s secret affair to the children.

Lia tilts her head and then applauds! I hit it.

“Got it! I was lost so I helped you! When I got lost in the past, the guards helped me!”

“Uh, uhh! Yes, Leah is right! This lady said she was lost… !”

“Yes, yes! that’s right! People of the Philip family, you are so smart!”

The woman also hastily nodded.

It was an awkward reaction to anyone’s eyes, and they didn’t look like they were old enough to get lost in this uncomplicated alley, but the kids agreed.

Rhamnus hastily changed the subject.

“What are you guys doing here? Are you playing hide and seek?”

“Yes! Hide and seek is fun!”

“It’s fun for me too!”

Leah answered brightly, and Bethel followed suit.

Shion asked the question clearly.

“I’m looking for snow and berries. Have you seen it?”

“Umm… . Well… . But, shouldn’t you just find it on your own without asking?”

“But my dad told me to ask an adult if I don’t know anything!”

Rhamnus burst into laughter at Bethel’s innocent answer.

“Yes, you should follow your father’s words. What kind of person are you? Don’t do it, I’m sorry. I don’t know anything.”

“It’s okay!”

The three said hello cheerfully and quickly moved to another place.

Ramnus and the woman smiled happily as they watched the children moving away, then moved to a more dark place.

*

While the children were conducting an investigation, they found Snow first.

“Hey! It’s a foul!”

To be exact, Snow ran out first.

It was a boy with short, flowing dark blue hair.

Eyes as deep and cold as the sea glared at the three children.

“Ah! It’s snow! I found Snow!”

“I didn’t find it! You guys fouled!”

“Wow~ I found Snow-!”

Lia was just happy to find Snow, so she ran around.

“Profit… ! Leah, you idiot… !”

“Fool… ?”

Lia’s hand holding the flower trembled.

“Black, sob… . Hue eng-!”

“Snow brother made sister Lia cry!”

“Lia is an idiot and a crybaby!”

“Eugh-!”

“S, Snow… ! You can’t fight. Lia, don’t cry… .”

There was no need for Zion to close his tie.

From somewhere, someone came running with a call like a thunderbolt.

“S- No- U- Inmaaaa-!”

“Ugh-!”

Someone ran straight into Snow.

“You’re bullying Lia again?!”

A girl with flowing dark purple hair looked down at Snow, who had fallen asleep.

Purple eyes resembling grapes shone menacingly.

“I’m going to tell dad and your mom again!”

“Well, well… !”

For a moment, Snow’s complexion turned blue.

The father is usually soft and gentle with his children, so it’s okay.

But once my mom gets angry, she gets really scary.

Even though I don’t usually do that at all… .

Last time, Snow clearly saw why his mother was called the ‘Wizard of Disaster’ in the past.

It was the day when a group of thieves passed through Ian territory without fear and were caught by a patrol.

Originally, Snow liked his mom and dad and listened to them well.

But from that day on, my infinite respect for my heavenly mother welled up like a never-ending fountain.

“Hey, hey… ! Berry! Listen to me! I didn’t harass you… !”

“Ueeeng-!”

“These three fouled first! I went around asking adults!”

“But my dad told me to ask an adult if I don’t know anything!”

“Bethel, that’s an exception when playing hide and seek… .”

“But my dad… !”

“Good!”

Berry broke off the unanswered argument between the two.

“If that’s the case, I won’t come early! But you shouldn’t have made Lia cry! It’s so cute, small and precious!”

“After… Eh? cute? I’m older than Berry?”

“Sister. Cute has nothing to do with age.”

“I see! Mom and Dad also said I was cute!”

“That’s right, you’re cute. Well then.”

Lia smiled brightly, as if asking when she had cried.

Snow, who felt embarrassed for no reason, grumbled.

“Hmph… . While playing hide-and-seek, you needlessly throw flowers… .”

“… What?”

For a moment, Lia’s expression hardened.

With a shadow on her face, she looked at Snow with piercing eyes.

Eyes that are on the verge of becoming four hundred eyes.

Everyone froze like a frog facing a predator.

“It’s a flower I wanted to give to my dad… What did you say… ?”

“… I should have looked for flowers too, but I was so caught up in the useless game of hide and seek. huh. After all, it’s Lia. It’s really beautiful and fragrant. Dad will be very happy. clearly. Yes, yes.”

Snow broke into a cold sweat and changed his words.

“Right?”

Only then did Lia smile innocently again.

I almost got into big trouble.

No matter how good Liara was and how good she was at taking hits, she was never allowed to touch her when it came to things related to her mom and dad.

No one has seen specifically what happens when touched.

But I didn’t want to see anyone.

never… .

“Wow! Then I found all the snow and berries!”

Shion belatedly clapped his hands and said.

“It’s true!”

Bethel and Leah also cheered and cheered, and Berry just smiled happily.

Although he grumbled, Snow didn’t dislike them either.

I just found it annoying to break the rules.

It all ended well.

Around the time I got back together with the kids who played hide and seek together.

At that moment, Zion’s burn mirror rang.

-Zion. where are you?

It was Galatea.

“Mom! I played hide and seek with my friends.”

-Okay, good job. It’s almost time for dinner, so come back together.

“Yes!”

The sky was colored red by the sunset.

The children each returned to their homes.

Among them, besides Shion, there were many children who were prisoners.

A child with wings or legs like a horse, a child with horns or ears, a child with a snake’s tail, etc.

But no one cared about that difference.

Everyone was equal here.

*

Zion, Leah, Bethel, Snow, Berry.

The five children returned to the castle huddled together.

Several maids in charge came out to meet me.

“Master, lady. welcome. Did you have fun?”

“Yes!”

“Dinner is not far away, so let’s go take a quick shower first.”

“Before that!”

Lia held out the flower with dirty, dirty hands.

“I want to go see dad first! I’m giving this to my dad!”

“Me too!”

Bethel, Snow and Berry agreed.

The maids just thought those kids were cute.

Leah said to Shion.

“Let’s go to Zion together!”

The father of these children was Zion’s godfather.

This is the person who helped me be born.

Shion also couldn’t like the person he now called uncle.

“Yes!”

The children followed the maid without even washing.

On the way, I met another child.

Inside the wide open study, a boy with bright blonde hair was wiping his glasses and glaring at the paper with a frown.

Leah, who was passing by, stopped and spoke.

“Colin! What are you doing here?”

Colin looked at Leah with sad eyes.

I tried to look as blunt and cold as possible, but to others, I looked like a chick pretending to be strong.

“As a direct descendant of a noble lineage, I was reviewing the next plan for managing funds within the family.”

A chick was a chick, and she was a smart chick.

“Wow! I do not know what I mean! As expected, Colin is smart!”

“Hmph. of course. To this extent… .”

“Let’s see.”

Berry came in before we knew it and stole the paper that Colin was looking at so seriously.

“Ah… ! It’s barbaric! That’s stealing!”

Either way.

Barry read the paper with narrowed eyes.

“… I don’t know!”

Only the eyes read, not the head.

I haven’t fully mastered writing yet.

“Hmph. Well then… . Excellent like me… .”

“Look at me too.”

This time Snow took it.

Colin crossed his arms and lifted his chin arrogantly.

The thing about Snow that I can’t read anyway is the same… .

“… A moving horse toy, a warming teddy bear, and a floating duck toy. And the reason why you want this… .”

“… … .”

Snow read the paper accurately.

“What is it? Colin, did you want toys and dolls?”

“Oh, no! I’m not a kid! Why are you doing that?”

“What is this?”

Snow raised the corners of her mouth and waved the paper.

“Everything here is toys and dolls, right?”

“I just worry about the budget for my family’s future… !”

“I like dolls too!”

Lia joined in, smiling brightly.

“I don’t like it!”

Colin insisted, but no one believed him.

“Get out now! Very important for the future… .”

“Brother Colin. I’m going to see my dad, so let’s go together!”

“… It’s an important plan, but nothing is more important than Dad!”

Colin also joined.

Before I knew it, the number of children had grown to six.

As they passed by, they found a girl sleeping on the grass in the garden.

Two small, plump birds sat on the girl’s head and dozed off together with her.

The two birds sitting side by side had the same blush on their cheeks, but their fur colors were different.

The bird with bright golden plumage is May.

The black-furred bird was cyan.

The ears exposed through the falling black hair of the sleeping girl were unusually pointed.

“Hazel.”

Leah gently tapped Hazel.

“Ugh… .”

The girl’s eyes were bright blue when she opened them.

“Lia… . And to you… . What is going on?”

Her accent, which is inappropriate for her age, resembles my mother.

“I just came back from playing. I’m going to go see my dad before dinner!”

“Ugh. That’s right.”

Hazel got up and stroked the bird in her hand, then placed it on her shoulder.

“Let’s go. My dad likes me when he sees me, so it’s something I shouldn’t miss.”

“Dad likes me too!”

“Me too!”

“Hmm… .”

Snow and Colin wanted to intervene, but for some reason they were embarrassed to do so, so they held back.

‘joy… . Dad likes us a lot too.’

The children, who had already grown to seven, arrived in front of a door following the maid’s guidance.

Just as the maid was about to knock, Barry suddenly opened the door.

It could be said to be very rude, but not to them.

The door is wide open.

The man sitting on the spacious sofa in the middle was holding two children.

Pink hair like cotton candy.

The boy, who was now two years old and too small to be called a child, blinked his innocent light blue eyes while being held in the man’s arms.

A short, chubby hand handed fruit to the man’s mouth, and the man took it and ate it.

The girl in the other arm shook the fishing rod toy.

Her dazzling silver hair was braided into two pigtails.

Cute white cat ears that resemble the color of her hair, and golden eyes.

The child was now 4 years old.

On the floor, a white cat was running around chasing a fishing rod.

The man looked at the two children in his arms with warm eyes and smiled happily.

When the children opened the door, everyone there turned their heads.

Without any hesitation, the children ran towards the man.

“Dad-!”

Zion also ran along and called his name.

“Uncle Ian!”

Ian Philip.

Ian Ling’s owner and current head of the Philip family welcomed his children.