CHAPTER 88………………………………………….
“‘If Miss Lin becomes our head of the family…!’”
The head of the family had disappeared. The sub-head was lost.
For the past few years, dark clouds had hung over the clan’s future.
But now, in the minds of the Pegasi, a bright, rosy future for the family had become clearly visible.
Lin had now gotten used to the Pegasus children who approached her timidly.
More than that, she had reached the point where she enjoyed their gazes.
Today as well, during class, she had shown off the art of dashing through the sky with a “wing cloud”—now she could freely use clouds even without wing shapes.
“Waaah!”
“To hover so comfortably! Hah, and then a sudden dash? Amazing!”
The voice of a child, adjusting their glasses like an older sibling to comment, rose higher and higher in excitement.
Enjoying the reactions of her peers, Lin landed gracefully on the ground, placing her hooves down with a thud! thud!
Behind her, other Pegasus children followed her steps, stomping their hooves in imitation.
After the usual lively time of a class full of young children,
“Lin! Let’s have tea time together today.”
“Me too!”
“My dad brought really delicious snacks. Let’s eat together!”
After class, children who wanted to spend time with the now-popular Lin crowded around.
“Okay! Sure. Let’s all spend time together!”
Lin spent a busy time with her friends.
“Phew.”
In the afternoon, after the children’s socializing, Lin wiped her forehead and went into her hideout—her mother’s study.
“Tinker, Tinker.”
- Yes, little mistress. How may I assist you?
“Please give me a cool breeze.”
- Understood. Adjusting the ventilation system in the study.
Hee.
Lin leaned back in the soft chair, enjoying the breeze Tinker sent her, corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
[Weren’t you out playing to your heart’s content?]
Looking down at Lin, sprawled like an office worker after a long day, Caligo asked in an incredulous voice.
[What could have been so tiring that you’re exhausted?]
“Nooo. I wasn’t just playing around. It was ‘conversation’!”
Lin raised a finger, wagging it to correct the bewildered Caligo.
“Caligo, you really think tea time is just playing around.”
[Oh? Is that so? Well then, shall I teach you what you don’t know?]
Pouting as if she didn’t know something, Lin prompted Caligo, who replied in a tone as if to humor her.
Ahem.
Placing both fists on her hips and spreading her chest confidently, Lin declared:
“We chat comfortably among ourselves, listen to friends with worries, and share if something is troubling us.”
It wasn’t just playtime for fun.
Proud that she had diligently listened to the other Pegasus children as a successor of the family, Caligo’s expression changed.
[Hoho. You actually did something worthy of a ruler, didn’t you?]
“Hehe. See!”
[Impressive.]
Pat pat.
Caligo’s doll-like feet gently patted Lin’s head in praise of her efforts.
Lin, satisfied with the compliment, pulled Caligo’s doll body in for a tight hug.
[Well… I didn’t mean for you to treat me this way.]
Though she heard a complaint, Caligo’s grumbling was just like an absent-minded yawn, so she ignored it.
Fiddling with her soft friend’s forelegs, Lin spoke.
“Everyone talked about different things, but strangely, we all had similar thoughts.”
[Similar thoughts?]
“Yeah…”
Even Lin was surprised by this.
Meeting the children individually or playing together, she realized that they had more similar worries than she expected.
“The thought that ‘I don’t feel like a proper Pegasus.’”
[What! Who dares—]
“No, no. Other kids felt that way too, not just me!”
Gently patting Caligo to calm him from blowing up, Lin continued.
“I worried because I was different from the others.”
[What a cute little giraffe.]
“…Hehe. Thanks. But other kids each had one such worry too.”
Blushing at the words of Caligo, who raised the young divine beast she treasured, Lin recalled the stories she had heard.
Some children said they struggled to keep up in ability classes, feeling they had no talent for wind powers.
Some were too scared of monsters and wanted to do something other than hunting.
“Even Pavee was sad about not having wind powers.”
Few considered themselves perfectly normal Pegasi.
Each had some difference, and secretly worried whether it looked strange.
Because of their abilities. Because of their tendencies. Because of their thoughts.
Bound by countless reasons.
‘Not Pegasus-like.’
Afraid of standing out like a jagged stone alone.
Lin could empathize.
The children liked talking to Lin not just because she was a successor with special powers, but also because of this very aspect of her.
“So, I’m going to find a way to blow away those worries.”
[What? The worries of all those kids?]
How could she remove all that mess one by one?
Other kids’ parents should handle that, why would a mere fluff of down like you do it?
Caligo scolded relentlessly, but Lin didn’t falter and sat at her desk, picking up a pen.
“It’s not just for them.”
[Not just for them? Then what?]
“I understand their hearts.”
Because they were different. Because they seemed lacking.
Solving those worries would also brighten Lin’s own heart, which had been dwelling on the same thoughts for a long time.
“And I have to find lots and lots of happiness too!”
[Oh. True… That makes sense.]
As a giraffe that grows by receiving happiness energy, Lin needed more happiness.
“I’m going out on a happiness hunt from now on!”
[Good. That’s the spirit. Grow into a magnificent divine beast.]
After monster hunting comes happiness hunting!
Lin clenched her fist, resolutely determined.
‘I need to strengthen my powers quickly.’
The image of the monster that had opened its mouth like it would swallow Uncle Theo whole during the hunting festival was etched sharply in her mind.
‘Why didn’t I find it strange?’
Reflexively biting her lip, Lin recalled the first prophetic dream she had seen—the funeral scene in it.
‘Even though I know how much Uncle Theo loves me…’
She felt her chest tighten, asking herself:
‘No matter how busy he is… he wouldn’t skip my funeral, right?’
If he were alive.
That thought alone was too unbearable to even voice, and Lin chewed her lips in frustration.
She wanted to grow quickly.
To make her still-small body and power strong enough that no one in her family would be sad anymore.
With that wish, Lin pressed her pen firmly and wrote.
“Grrr!”
[Finally done?]
Stretching comfortably, Lin stood up.
Caligo, who had watched Lin struggling with her head in her hands all afternoon, flew over, feeling refreshed along with her.
[You were sitting there writing for so long. Did you finish?]
“Yes! Do you want to see it too, Caligo?”
[If you want my expert opinion, I’ll give it a special look.]
Grinning at her ever-boastful friend, Lin handed over the paper.
♧ Happiness Hunt Plan ♧
- Research magic tools for non-beast, non-ability friends—will take time, but let’s keep at it!
- Baldie—will be resolved quickly 🙂
Lin had asked Tinker for research materials, recalled content from her prophetic dream, and carefully made the list.
She drew clovers, symbolizing happiness, beautifully on her plan, looking quite proud of it.
[Huh?]
Reading Lin’s plan, Caligo’s curiosity was piqued.
He immediately asked about the most obvious point:
[You can resolve Baldie quickly?]
