Chapter 104………………………………………………..
[If you cause trouble like this, what will you do with that bear later?]
Not just outside the castle, but the continent—an unprecedented long-distance runaway—though Lin insisted it was just an outing.
After causing such a massive incident, how would Uncle Theodore react? Just imagining it was terrifying.
So Lin chose to play dumb.
“Caligo. You know what? I saw something like this in a dream before.”
[Are you talking about that other planet where only humans live?]
“Yeah, yeah. While wandering there, I found a place full of kids around my age, like a children’s domain. So I went closer to see.”
It was what they called elementary school.
At that place teeming with children, Lin learned many new things about modern culture.
Things like YouTube and Shorts—mostly highly addictive content that adults didn’t want kids to see.
“There was a friend on the screen the kids were watching.”
[Sounds like nonsense already.]
“No! They were giving really fun and useful cheat tips… Anyway, they said, we should always listen in class and be model students.”
[Oh?]
“Because if you save up ‘good kid points,’ you can use them later when you pull off a big stunt!”
For reference, the video was titled “Don’t Trust a Model Student Kid.”
“If you collect enough praise stickers, even if you make trouble later, you can convert them into immunity from getting scolded.”
[Ah, that’s nonsense.]
Lin kept moving her hands, insisting this was useful information despite Caligo shaking his head.
‘Kaidan said it. The passage will appear soon.’
“The entrance to the passage only appears during a full moon. I know a few candidates, so I’ve been checking which one is the real passage.”
The full moon was one condition for the passage entrance to appear.
Lin mentally reviewed what she needed to prepare to go at the right time.
‘First, I need to pack lots of magic orbs. I don’t know how long it’ll take to find Grandfather in the Eastern Continent, so lots of gold coins too…’
While deciding what and how much to pack in her outing bag, Kaidan came over, asking to join for tea, and Lin welcomed him in happily.
“Kaidan! Glad you came!”
“Well… I figured you’d enjoy doing this kind of thing together.”
Kaidan tilted his head, hiding his shyness at Lin’s enthusiastic welcome.
But Lin, too focused to notice, quickly pointed to the bag and asked:
“When we go to the Eastern Continent, what should I pack? Oh! Tell me what you’re bringing too, so I can skip duplicates and lighten my bag.”
“What? Eastern Continent? …You’re coming too?”
Kaidan’s expression turned flustered at Lin speaking as if it were already decided.
“I’ve heard of the Eastern Continent, but only bits and pieces. We don’t know what will happen there.”
“That’s why I need to go with you! I can’t let you go alone while we search for Grandfather.”
Lin looked at Kaidan’s wide, red eyes and thought inwardly:
‘I have to protect my benefactor!’
In the original story, Hero Kaidan always looked lonely facing hardships alone.
Though she couldn’t be there then, now she could!
Clenching her fist, Lin vowed to keep Kaidan safe in the Eastern Continent. Seeing this, Kaidan thought:
‘I have to protect her.’
Though it might seem risky with just two children, Kaidan had hidden abilities.
Since recalling future memories and mastering his powers, he hadn’t felt threatened by any adult.
On the Beasts’ Continent, he had to hide his powers from his regent uncle, but on the Eastern Continent, he could use them freely.
Once there, Kaidan decided he couldn’t take his eyes off Lin to prevent any danger.
[Huhuhu.]
Watching the two, Caligo spoke.
[It can’t be helped. I’ll go along as your protector.]
“Huh?”
“What?”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Caligo’s cute puppet-like face at the sudden declaration.
With a mischievous, snarky smile, Caligo lifted his chin.
[Fortunately for you kids, the Eastern Continent is close to my true form, so I can use my power more easily.]
‘Caligo’s true form?’
Lin recalled the giant head Caligo had shown when they first met, and Kaidan imagined the intimidating black divine beast from his future memory.
Having a divine beast of that magnitude certainly made things safer.
“Wouldn’t that stand out too much?”
[What?]
“Caligo, your real body is huge!”
[Ha. You don’t think I’ll appear in my true form and follow you around, do you?]
Lin’s remark drew an incredulous response.
“No?”
[Of course not! I mean, I’ll make a human-shaped clone using my power to accompany you!]
“Ah, got it.”
Lin nodded, understanding, and Caligo grumbled as if she were calling him a fool.
Lin patted the horned puppet companion and asked:
“Then can you transform into an adult human form?”
[Of course. When I roamed the human world before, everyone praised me as a peerless handsome man.]
“Uh… Caligo, you know the Eastern Continent well, right?”
Ignoring Caligo’s bragging, Lin focused on the new advantage of his accompaniment.
[I know it well. Though it’s from the past.]
“Great! If things haven’t changed much, we can pretend to be locals too.”
Clapping in delight, Lin cheered.
Watching Lin nod along with the boastful puppet, Kaidan thought:
‘I’ll make sure to take care of her.’
A boy deciding on a new responsibility beyond the hero’s mission.
Even in the Beasts’ Continent, the Holy Kingdom had the mildest climate.
Yet even there, some places couldn’t feel warmth.
A dark underground with no light. The only illumination came from a silver staff held by someone.
The silver light revealed the face of its owner.
Long, flowing silver hair. Rounded arched eyebrows, long eyelashes, and silvery eyes.
A harmonious, beautiful face.
Every onlooker would be mesmerized. The Law King gracefully extended his arm.
Whoosh.
The silver staff glowed brighter.
At the same time, patterns on the floor began emitting a faint silvery light.
Groans and sobs echoed from the floor, previously hidden in darkness.
The beautiful Law King looked around calmly, moving the staff to sweep the area.
Screams erupted as colorful orbs began rising from the glowing floor.
From tiny dew-sized orbs to small balls children might play with, they floated toward the Law King.
Swish. Swish.
The silver staff absorbed them as if swallowing them.
After taking in so much multicolored energy, the Law King retracted the staff.
The surrounding light dimmed, leaving the dark space silent.
The Law King observed calmly.
‘Useless lives.’
All the insignificant ones on the floor had died—vagrants, criminals fleeing, impoverished masses, street orphans living in trash.
They were all useless lives in his kingdom.
‘But now it’s different.’
Caressing the silver staff, the Law King curved his red lips.
‘I will give you meaning.’
He gazed lovingly into the orb atop the staff.
Even in the dark underground, his face wore a gentle, enchanting smile.
