THTE 49

Chapter 49

The Mage Tower Kindergarten was originally a welfare facility for the children of the mages working at the Mage Tower.

Thus, most of the kindergarteners stayed at the kindergarten until one of their parents returned from work.

On the other hand, Nivelia and Areph left at a set time and got into the carriage to go home.

“Wow, so much time has passed already.”

But the carriage that was supposed to arrive hadn’t come.

“You really take after Mom… but Selly unnie’s face is quite similar too? Could it be… that I was made by Mom and unnie together?”

Instead, a strange woman appeared in front of the children.

“Who are you?”

The kindergarten teacher, who usually waited with them until the carriage arrived, stepped in front of the children.

Areph quickly hid Nivelia behind him.

He also held her hand tightly, ready to run away together if needed.

Nivelia, however, merely blinked her round blue eyes.

“Oh-ho.”

The strange woman looked at Areph approvingly, as if admiring his protectiveness.

But first, she decided to reveal her identity to the teacher, who was glaring as if ready to take her down.

It wouldn’t do to cause trouble right after just becoming the Mercenary King.

“I am Armifera Deiamor.”

“Dei…Deiamor…?”

Swallowing a rude thought about how amusing the teacher’s flustered face was, Armifera, the Mercenary King, introduced herself.

“I am the daughter of Saint Muniel, and the aunt of the beautiful young lady Nivelia here.”

Her golden eyes sparkled brilliantly.

The daughter of Saint Muniel and the holy knight Ardores.

“Fera!”

And a child genuinely cherished by Magia, the head of the Mage Tower, like a beloved granddaughter.

“Grandpa Magia!”

“Oh, my sparkling water! The ungrateful girl from someone else’s house who cleared my chest!”

Magia, upon seeing Armifera, immediately scooped her up and spun her around five times on the spot.

The mages present at the scene nearly popped their eyes out in astonishment.

Some couldn’t even close their jaws.

“Nini too! Do me too!”

Nivelia whined, holding onto Magia’s cloak, wanting to be picked up and spun as well.

Magia had no choice but to do the same for Nivelia.

And of course, she didn’t forget Areph, who was waiting patiently for his turn.

Finally satisfied, Nivelia and Areph sat quietly, listening to the adults’ conversation.

“So, you finally became the Mercenary King? You cute little thing! I bet you’re going to make your father’s face look even worse!”

“Grandpa seems to still get along well with our dad.”

“Ardores’s annoyance is my happiness.”

“Ahahaha!”

Armifera burst into a hearty laugh. She was an incredibly beautiful woman.

And a woman whose muscles were just as beautiful.

Of course, her natural appearance was that of a classic beauty.

But her sun-kissed, healthy skin, the countless scars visible across her exposed skin, and her defined muscles gave her beauty a different quality.

Now, her beauty came not from her face, but from her strength.

“…….”

Nivelia stared at her aunt intently.

Feeling her gaze, Armifera sharply turned her head.

Nivelia flinched at their eye contact but didn’t run.

Instead, she held Areph’s hand tightly. Areph held back just as firmly.

“Ah, such a good pair.”

Armifera plopped herself down on the ground.

“Good thing you visited Aunt Della beforehand. You’re Areph, right? The fine young man protecting our Nini.”

“Protecting the young lady is my duty.”

Areph said firmly.

Armifera nodded with a satisfied smile.

“So young, and already given a duty.”

“Yes. Protecting the leader is a subordinate’s obligation.”

“Oh, you even know the word ‘duty’? You’ve learned well in kindergarten.”

As expected from the Mage Tower, Armifera commented.

Magia gazed at Armifera as if she were simply too adorable for words.

If she were a one-year-old baby, she would have patted her bottom several times.

A scarred hand extended before Areph.

“This is Nivelia’s aunt, Armifera. Call her Fera.”

Areph carefully shook the hand extended toward him.

“Oh? You learn swordsmanship?”

“How did you know?”

“There are blisters forming on your palm. Should I teach you later? Despite appearances, I became the Mercenary King with just a sword.”

“Yes…!”

For Areph, who dreamed of becoming a knight, this was an incredible opportunity.

He now looked at Armifera with eyes full of respect.

“Now, then…”

Armifera’s gaze naturally shifted to Nivelia.

‘She’s really pretty.’

Not just because she was her niece—Nivelia was genuinely beautiful and cute.

Her white, fluffy hair resembled cotton candy, and her bright blue eyes seemed untouched by the world’s filth.

Soft, plump cheeks and dainty yet defined features completed her charm.

“Nini.”

“Nini.”

Nivelia echoed her own name, as if to say, “I’m Nini!”

Finding that adorable, Armifera reached out her hand to Nivelia.

“Aunt here. Nice to meet you.”

“Nini’s glad too!”

Nivelia held her hand tightly.

“But Aunt needs a little scolding.”

“Huh?”

Taken aback, Armifera froze for the first time.

“Why?”

“You ran away from home.”

Running away was taught to be bad. And whenever the topic of their aunt came up, Grandpa and Dad made troubled faces.

Even little Nivelia knew leaving home would cause hardship.

Even as a cat, she didn’t wander outside her territory.

Why roam around when there’s good food and a warm place to sleep?

“Running away is bad. It makes your family worry.”

“Well, that’s true…”

Armifera admitted readily.

“So when you go home, apologize!”

“Wow, such a child from Dad…”

“Your mother gave birth to you.”

“You’re really funny, huh?”

Armifera, pleased, tried to give Nivelia a kiss on the cheek.

But Nivelia dodged, moving her head around defensively.

“This little cat doesn’t even let someone stronger than her touch her head.”

Magia gestured to Nivelia with a serious expression, signaling Armifera to give up.

“…….”

Upon hearing that, Areph vowed to train even harder in swordsmanship.

Because he wanted to be able to gently pat Nivelia’s head.

Magia, who came to see them off, asked:

“But how did you get here? Where’s the carriage for picking up the kids?”

“The wheel broke. By now, it should’ve been replaced with a spare…”

No sooner had Armifera said this than the Deiamor family carriage came rushing toward them.

The coachman was terrified upon seeing Armifera, letting out a startled “Eek!”

Even the horses stomped the ground nervously.

“…You hit it?”

Magia looked at her incredulously.

“No. I think they were just startled by my presence.”

“Ah, you’re impressive. That’s why I cherish you. Show that spirit to your dad too! Got it?”

Magia handed Armifera heaps of candy and chocolate in her scarred hands.

Even the candies that changed flavor every minute weren’t forgotten.

Nivelia sat next to Armifera in the carriage.

“Aunt.”

“Hm?”

“You won’t eat all of this, right?”

The candy and chocolate Magia had given them were too much to eat at once, so they were wrapped in a handkerchief.

Nivelia eyed them eagerly.

“You can eat all of it?”

“You little rascal. I’ll eat a little because I worry about you.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Nivelia furrowed her brows.

Seeing the four-year-old with her cat-like, slightly cross eyes, Armifera laughed heartily.

“Puhahaha!”

Her booming voice made Nivelia and Areph flinch.

“Ah, this cutie! Really, too cute!”

“Nini’s always been a bit cute!”

“Exactly. You must know you’re cute, or else some weird guy could sweep you off your feet and make you live in tears.”

Armifera pretended to look sad as if it were her own problem.

But fortunately…

“Nini has a man to marry, so it’s fine.”

Her audacious niece already had someone.

Nivelia got down from her seat and sat quietly beside Areph, who was across from her.

She introduced him herself.

“Areph! Nini’s subordinate! And Nini’s companion.”

“Companion?”

“We’ll mate later and have ten kids.”

“…What?”

Even the battle-hardened Mercenary King Armifera was shocked by that statement.

As Kaleo saw his younger sister get off the carriage with the children, he was left speechless.

“I have to properly educate my sibling’s children.”

He never expected that the sister who ran off to become the Mercenary King would lecture him on child-rearing.

“…Why?”

Still, he asked.

“Nini says she’ll mate with Areph later and have ten kids.”

“Kyaaa!”

Kaleo let out a scream filled with despair.