kscans

Chapter 87 - The Beginning of the End, Two

"Ughhh... I want to be healed."

The Little One rolled around, writhing. This was Count George’s residence. Chihiro, who had been rushing around on pilgrimages during her consecutive long breaks, was starving for some healing. Her frayed heart could not be soothed even by the sweets Zack made.

What is this? Really. Ever since the revival of the spirits in Flowers, it’s been one thing after another, the succession dispute in Donautil, the revival of the young god, and the fact that he’s the deadly poison of Cantarella. Isn’t my life a bit too grim?

With a dry laugh plastered on her face, the Little One stroked Pochiko-san, mofumofu. While enjoying the soft, fuwaa, fur, her troubled heart coiled up, ujiuji. It’s not enough. There’s not enough healing.

I want to stroke a big ball of fur, buwa, like a dog or a cat, something warm and soft and fluffy.

She glanced out the window and saw a pure white spider spinning a web between the roof and the eaves. That one was also fluffy, mofumofu, but it felt hard and cold, somehow different.

Maybe I should ask to pet a horse at the knight order. It’s not fluffy enough, though.

As the Little One rolled around, ujiuji, pondering such things, she heard the clamorous sound of footsteps. Just as the girl sat up, wondering what was happening, the door to her room opened, and Chihaya, panting for breath, burst in.

"Hiiro... hah, j-just... outside."

Tilting her head at her brother’s dangerous-looking frown, the Little One went downstairs.

"U... waaaahhh!!"

Stepping out of the entrance, Chihiro couldn’t help but let out a cry of admiration.

Lined up there were the envoys sent from the border lords.

Squirrels ranging from the size of a toddler to the size of a palm, centipedes, scorpions, and lined up on the backs of those scorpions were large chicks. Seeing the chicks, ranging from palm-sized to the size of a dodgeball, the Little One leaped at them with all her might.

"Waaaahhh!"

So cuuute!!

"What? Is this!"

Hugging a chick, Chihiro looked up with a tearful smile and noticed Katsumi among the assembled adults.

According to him, who looked down with a lukewarm smile, this group of monsters had apparently been racing down from the north, and because they had crossed the magically depleted central region, they had suffered from magic deficiency and had collapsed just before reaching Kilfan. The bees, sensing the monsters’ magic, had discovered them, protected them, and brought them to Kilfan.

"Yeah, I was surprised. I mean, they’re clearly monsters, right? I was thinking of getting the details from them."

"Um... I did tell you about the pilgrimage, right?"

"Yeah, but I don’t recall hearing that monsters would collapse just before Kilfan. It caused a huge commotion, you know?"

A vein throbbed, pikipiki, on Katsumi’s temple, his smile dark.

Uwah, this is bad.

Startled by the dangerous atmosphere, the Little One recoiled, pya, and asked a bee to call Merda for her.

Merda arrived, froze for a moment, let her eyes wander over the monsters, and then got the story from the largest centipede. Then, after nodding several times, she translated for the Little One, who was hugging a chick and not letting go.

《It seems they brought the next generation here because they were born.》

"Heah?"

The girl tilted her head, kyon. Seeing her still not letting go of the chick, Merda let out a light chuckle, bufu, and explained further.

The reason was simple. In Frontier, the Golden Ring had been completed. In that case, if they entered the ring, the lords could move freely. Seeing the Golden King who had rebuilt the border forests, the border lords had thought that perhaps she could create new forests for the next generation, and so had sent them.

"Eeeh? I’m not going to do that. Why would that happen?"

Sensing the Little One’s distress, the border monsters looked at each other anxiously.

《If the border’s Golden Ring is completed, most of the inland area will be filled with magic. The current forests do not rely on golden magic, and it might be an option for the next generation to settle in a forest on a land they like, you know?》

Ah, the Little One nodded in understanding.

The current lords’ forests did not require golden magic. They were just ordinary forests that subsisted on the lords’ own magic. They were connected by the pact, a relationship of mutual aid. In that case, if there was a land they liked and the people of that land allowed it, it was certainly possible to make it a new lord’s forest. With the Little One’s help, it could be rebuilt into a deep, rich forest.

"If that’s the case, maybe it’s worth looking. Prince Marcello did say there was a good forest in the capital of Flowers."

The border monsters became elated with joy, buwa. Their feet stomped, wachawacha, in an endearing way.

"Well then, until then, you can all live at my house, okay?"

As the Little One beamed, nipaa, the adults let out a great sigh and smiled in resignation.

And so, the monster unit became an even larger family, and it was a charming sight to see the royal palace tremble in fear.

"You, that’s enough! The palace is not a monster sanctuary, you know?!"

It is a side note that Wilfe, having received a report from the knight order, came flying over.

"It’s not my fault..."

The adorable sight of the girl leaning against a large squirrel and hugging a chick made the hearts of the adults flutter, and it was a given that the matter was glossed over.

"There’s no way we can win, right?"

"Hiiro is the strongest, after all♪"

Theodore and Fatima exchanged wry smiles as they watched Wilfe fidget at the sight of his cute sister.

The Little One, having unexpectedly obtained the fluffy things she had longed for, was extremely pleased. While breaking into a slight cold sweat at the sight of Pochiko-san clinging to a corner of the ceiling and staring intently, she enjoyed the fluffiness to her heart’s content.

And in the autumn, the two turned nine and made plans for the future.

Most of their academy subjects were exempt, so other than the New Year’s prom and the spring entrance ceremony, there were no events they had to attend.

"We’ve covered pretty much due north, right?"

"Yeah. Next, let’s go from the western forest area and take a big detour through Castrato."

Spreading out a world map, the twins and the Little One Squad discussed their next pilgrimage. As autumn deepened and the footsteps of winter approached, the only thing on their minds was the pilgrimage they would undertake the following spring.

The academy’s New Year’s prom.

The Little One, who had never imagined she would be squeezed into a night dance party that only the middle school division and above were qualified to attend, thanks to her royal status.

"Hah? Isn’t it just a tea party and a luncheon?"

The Little One, who was trying on a prom dress at the royal palace, was astonished by what Miltisia, who was also trying on a dress, had said.

"Oh? You haven’t heard? The royal family has to attend, regardless of age."

"We didn’t have it last year, right?"

"That’s because you were at the royal palace’s ball last year."

"Ah."

That was right. The academy’s prom and the royal palace’s ball were held on the same day. Until one graduated from the academy and made their social debut, the New Year’s prom was the young people’s ball. Until the middle school division at age ten, it was only a daytime tea party and luncheon. From the middle school division onwards, they could also participate in the night dance party.

Last year, as the partner of Marrow, a state guest, the Little One had attended the royal palace’s ball, so the invitation had not come. Since Marrow had finished the remainder of his study abroad period and returned to his country, this time, participation in the dance party as part of the royal family was mandatory.

Ugh. No way. What a pain.

While the Little One was feeling dejected, Fatima, also trying on a dress, brought up the topic of the dance party.

"It’s an official party, so we need an escort. Who are you going to ask, Hiiro? Chihaya, I suppose?"

It seemed Prince Marcello would be coming to escort Fatima. The royal palace’s ball was also an option, but Prince Marcello, who disliked stuffy affairs, preferred the academy prom. So, the available twin, Theodore, would be escorting Miltisia.

"Hmph," the Little One murmured and thought. Normally, she should ask her fiancé, Romel, but the age difference was too great, and he was an indispensable figure at the royal palace’s ball. In that case, it would be most appropriate to ask Chihaya.

"That’s true. I guess it’ll be Nii-ni."

"I thought so."

"I’m looking forward to seeing Chihaya in formal wear♪"

The ladies-in-waiting, who were helping the three of them into their respective dresses, looked on with warm smiles at the lovely princesses who were chattering away, kyakya, ufufu.

Fatima wore a soft, powder pink sopraveste. The accent color was white, and it was an elegant dress with delicate lace and frills appropriately placed.

Miltisia wore a vivid scarlet cotardi. It was a dress with a sleek, sharp impression. The long sleeves were a characteristic feature, and the accent color was black. Her attire was the complete opposite of Fatima’s.

And the Little One wore an orange, knee-length furisode with black spats. On top of that, she wore a long haori made of light yellow muslin. The front came down to hide her knees. It grew longer towards the back, and the tail end reached her ankles. The haori had fine pleats and was a beautiful creation that swayed gently, fuwarifuwari, with every movement. The slightly transparent fabric made the pattern of the formal wear underneath show through, creating a truly fantastical appearance.

"It’s lovely. The costumes of Kilfan are very unique and beautiful."

"Truly. I would like to have one made for myself. Could you ask for me, Hiiro?"

The Little One, praised by the two who sighed, hou, became a little shy and fidgeted, monyo.

"I can put in a good word anytime, you know."

Smiling at Chihiro, who answered with a bright smile, nipah, the three of them requested minor adjustments and finished their fitting.

Winter began, and the New Year approached.

Chihiro, who was thinking of going to Kilfan for the first shrine visit of the year again, somehow found Cesare floated in her mind’s eye.

Her other brother, with Chihaya’s face. The Little One felt a vague sense of unease about Cesare, who had recently become more talkative, pushing aside the now quiet Chihaya to come to the forefront.

Nii-ni, you’re okay, right?

Shaking off the bad premonition that had suddenly crossed her mind, the Little One fell asleep with her newly added fluffy companions. She didn’t even notice Pochiko-san forcefully squeezing into the gaps, and the night at the count’s residence deepened.