Chapter 43
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Delicious food, great conversation, and my favorite people in the world.
It was the perfect birthday.
“Ooh, I’m full…….” I sighed, stroking my belly, which was bulging from eating so much. I think I could probably starve myself until tomorrow morning – forget about dinner.
Kirios looked at me with a smile, then handed me a gift box.
“Here, kid. Take this.”
“What is this?”
I hesitantly took the box.
“Wasn’t the birthday present a cake?”
“What do you mean?”
I asked in confusion, and Kirios shook his head sternly.
“A cake is a cake, and a gift is a gift.”
“You really got Tati both?”
“So, kid, do you think that we’re that stingy?”
Well, are they?
Looking around, Cesar and Siegfried were nodding in agreement.
Even Lakius seemed to agree.
“Open it.”
At Kirios’s urging, I untied the ribbon that bound the box.
The object revealed inside was…….
“A wallet?”
It was a small purse, the kind a child might carry.
A yellow chick purse, made of fluffy material, so adorable I wanted to bite it right now.
“Yeah, I put all the space-expanding spells, weight-reducing spells, and sorting spells in there myself,” Kirios declared proudly. “The total capacity is about the size of a whole chest of drawers, so you can shove anything you want to carry in there!”
Wow.
My eyes lit up.
Didn’t that mean I could stash my personal property in there?
Not just cash, but gold, jewelry, and other things of value!
So, when the time comes for me to become independent, I can just take this wallet with me…….
“…….”
For a moment, I felt my heart sink.
‘Right.’
Even though I haven’t awakened yet, I am a demon worthy of being slain by the warriors.
I must think about leaving at some point.
My grip on the chick purse tightened.
And then.
Thud.
Cesar dropped a package in front of me.
“You have to open my present, too, don’t you?”
Oh, yes.
I quickly composed myself and tore open the package.
A glass bottle sealed with a cork stopper was revealed.
A pretty ribbon was tied around the neck, and the jar was filled with round things wrapped in colorful wrapping paper.
It was a cute little thing, reminiscent of a candy jar, but…….
‘This looks ominous.’
I swallowed hard.
At the same time, Cesar added a quick explanation.
“It’s a nutritional supplement.”
Hmph.
I felt goosebumps rise all over my body.
“I handpicked the ingredients.”
You, yourself?
“Of course. Every single herbal combination was made with our Tati in mind.”
Cesar smiled as brightly as a single lily.
As I met his smile, I had a hunch.
‘This is going to be really bad.’
In my experience so far, the bitterness of the drug was proportional to the brightness of Cesar’s smile…….
“Well, you know, Lakius trains hard all the time, so it’s more important for him to be nourished than for me…….”
Sorry, Lakius!
I tried to break free of the nutrition shackles, even if it meant selling him out.
“Don’t worry, I’m taking care of him too.”
Cesar said, relentlessly blocking my escape route.
Geez, really?
With that implication, I looked desperately at Lakius.
“…….”
His face was suddenly a picture of liberation.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
That’s….. the face of someone who knows how Cesar’s nutrients taste…….
Meanwhile, Cesar, whether aware of my despair or not, wore a solitary expression.
“And this vitamin was created exclusively for Miss Tati’s body, so it won’t work on anyone else’s.”
Heuk.
There was no way out of this, was there?
“Thank you…….”
Eventually, I could only nod, swallowing back tears.
“Here, this is my present.”
Finally, Siegfried set the gift box down on the table.
Whoa, this?
My eyes widened.
Quickly lifting the lid of the gift box, I saw that the object inside was…….
“A music box?”
A gift that was uncharacteristically sentimental for Siegfried, who usually values practical things.
To my surprise, the box revealed a beautifully crafted music box.
When I opened the lid, four delicately carved pieces danced in a circle to greet me.
They represented me, Siegfried, Cesar, and Kirios.
A sweet melody flowed from them.
It was a lullaby sung to put a child to sleep.
“Whoa…….”
I stared blankly at my family inside the music box. Looking at them like this, it really…….
‘It’s like a family that gets along.’
A demon, an embodiment of evil. And heroes who would slay her and restore justice to the world.
……Instead, they were just a normal family that you could find anywhere.
“…….”
I felt my heart tug at my chest for some reason.
At the same time, a large, warm hand stroked the top of my head.
“I hope you like it,” a gentle voice rang out.
It was Siegfried.
I smiled and nodded.
“Yes!”
And then.
Siegfried glanced at Lakius.
“Lakius.”
“Yes, Master.”
As Lakius reflexively straightened his posture, Siegfried repeated his question.
“What are you doing? Not giving Tatiana a gift.”
“……Huh?”
Caught off guard, Lakius blinked in confusion.
At the same time, Cesar nodded, joining the conversation.
“That’s right, you’ve been trying to figure out what to get Miss Tati for a few days now, haven’t you?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Well, then why are you just now bringing it up?”
Kirios said with a smirk.
’What is this mood?’
I was a little puzzled.
Meanwhile, Lakius’s expression darkened like a cloudy sky.
“That…….”His voice trailed off, and he dropped his head. “It’s not that I don’t want to give it to her.”
“Then?”
“I just want to give her something a little better…….”
“…….”
The three warriors looked at Lakius with subtle expressions.
And then.
“Just in case,” Siegfried cut in. “Are you thinking that your gift is shabby, or that Tatiana…. won’t like it or something?”
“…….”
I think he’s hit the nail on the head.
Lakius’s shoulders stiffened, then he bit his lip hard.
‘What?’
I looked back at him, my mouth hanging open.
The three warriors didn’t seem to feel too differently from me.
Judging by the looks of bewilderment on each of their faces.
Siegfried sighed heavily and called out to Lakius.
“Lakius’.”
“……Yes.”
“You, and Tatiana, as well. Are children supposed to have such useless thoughts?”
No. Why are you dragging me into this?
I glared at Siegfried with an axe-like stare, though I had to admit, I did agree with him.
What’s troubling you, little Lakius?
“You’re still a child, and we’re adults.”
Siegfried said calmly.
“It’s ridiculous to even compare them.”
“But…….”
“Above all, Tatiana,” Siegfried said as his eyes turned to me, “She wouldn’t want you to think that way.”
Yes, he’s right!
I agreed with Siegfried by nodding fervently. Then I glanced back at Lakius.
“So, you’re not giving me a present?”
“……No, that.”
“Really, really not?”
I asked, deliberately drooping both my shoulders. Super effective. Lakius was stunned.
And then.
“Hey, this is my present.”
In the end, I won!
Lachias hesitated and held out an elongated gift box to me.
I grinned with satisfaction and snatched it from him.
“Thank you! Can I unwrap this now?”
Instead of answering, Lakius just nodded. Even so, looking at his strangely nervous expression, it seems that he is not confident with his gift…
‘You really do worry for nothing.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
‘It’s a gift from a warrior who’s going to blow my head off in the future, isn’t it?
Even if I receive a single stone, I have the confidence to put on an expression that I will die of joy.
Well, of course, I don’t think that guy would act so ruthlessly.
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