Chapter : 124
Pepero Day Special Side Story
Arelin thought to herself.
‘Maybe it was a mistake to try and celebrate something like Pepero Day in another world?’
The kitchen was a total mess.
The children, herself, and everything around them were covered in chocolate and mysterious debris.
Arelin let out a deep sigh.
One day before the incident.
The peaceful Halbern estate.
As usual, the childcare squad competed for Arelin’s affection by collecting stickers, the Saren knights were once again thrown out after trying to mess with Toto, and Zaren was busy recruiting members for the Dragon Protection Association.
At that moment, Yuni found herself in a happy yet troublesome situation.
“So, you’re saying you want to give Lord Mehen a gift?”
“Mm.”
Having said it out loud, Arelin fidgeted with her hands, embarrassed.
So cute!
“Mom is always doing things for me, so I want to give her something too.”
“Ahh, well, anything would be fine, wouldn’t it? If it’s from you, even hell would be welcome.”
“Why would I give her hell?”
Arelin looked serious, but Yuni was already savoring her lady’s adorable and thoughtful heart with a blissful smile.
How can our lady be so kind?
“Then what should I do?”
She had already asked Dylan, Mehen’s aide, and the other members of the childcare squad, but all had been unhelpful. Yuni was her last hope.
“Well, Lord Mehen is wealthy. I doubt there’s anything material you could give her.”
Besides, there was already someone who devotedly gave her countless things—the Grand Duke of Halbern…
“Dad is completely useless in this regard…”
Arelin grumbled, and Yuni chuckled.
“Then how about making something yourself, Lady Arelin?”
“Make something?”
“Yes. Anything would be nice.”
Arelin fell into thought.
Something handmade… that’s rare and special, isn’t it?
Come to think of it… isn’t Pepero Day coming soon?
She wasn’t sure if this world had Pepero Day, but giving Pepero as a gift…?
This is it!
Arelin’s eyes sparkled.
“So that’s why you suddenly want to cook.”
“Not cooking—confectionery!”
Though they looked similar, Arelin sternly corrected, her eyes narrowing.
Valer leaned on his chin with a lazy grin.
“Fine, confectionery. So why exactly are you doing this?”
“I’m going to make it for Mehen.”
“Hm.”
Valer narrowed his eyes.
“What about Dad?”
“….”
“What about Dad?”
“…I’ll make some for you too.”
Arelin answered in surrender, and Valer smiled in satisfaction.
“Good girl.”
“Mm. Dad is the kind of great man who’s content even with small things.”
“Or more like a petty man who insists on getting his share of even the smallest things.”
Valer pouted, putting on his usual act.
There he goes again with that face.
“So, do you hate Dad?”
“…No, I don’t hate you.”
Valer grinned.
“Good. Do your best.”
Arelin gained +1 Dad’s support!
While Valer distracted Mehen, Arelin would secretly prepare the gift.
Since she was making some anyway, the twins, Harun, and Pession all joined in.
“This is my first time making something like this.”
“Same!”
“Same!”
The twins echoed Pession’s words.
“….”
Harun quietly nodded too.
“Yeah. It’s my first time as well.”
“…??”
Even Arelin had never made Pepero before. She had only ever heard stories of someone making and giving it.
That’s why I wanted to try making it myself!
The pastry chef of the estate prepared the biscuit sticks, so all five kids had to do was coat them in melted chocolate and decorate with almonds or sprinkles.
Arelin was carefully coating a stick in chocolate when—
Pop!
Pession suddenly added a potion into the chocolate.
“…? Why are you putting that in there?”
“To make it healthy!”
“???”
“I’m giving mine to Arelin!”
What on earth is he saying…
While Arelin was dumbfounded, the twins’ eyes lit up, inspired.
“I want to try too!”
“Me too!”
Noel and Ciel began throwing strange things into the chocolate.
“…???”
When Arelin spotted something dark-red that looked suspiciously like capsaicin, she gave up thinking altogether.
I’m definitely not eating that.
Meanwhile, Harun quietly followed the recipe and made normal Pepero.
But then—
“Haah!”
“!”
The mischievous devil struck, tossing something unidentifiable into Harun’s chocolate. Harun’s lashes trembled in outrage.
Through no fault of his own, Harun’s Pepero ended up half normal, half a taste of hell.
“Arelin, do you want to add something too?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
The devilish hands reached toward Arelin.
She flatly refused.
“Why not, just try adding something!”
“If you make me, I’ll kill you!”
“This stuff is expensive!”
“Not my problem!”
“Just once, come on!”
“I said no!”
Crash! Bang!
After a scuffle between Arelin and the twins, the kitchen was wrecked.
Covered in chocolate and unidentifiable substances, their Pepero-making came to an end.
The five messy kids were dragged into the bath.
Freshly washed, they gathered together again.
“At least it’s a relief the finished ones are safe.”
Thanks to quick-witted Pession and Harun, the results had been rescued.
Meanwhile, the twins grinned at their bizarre creations. They clearly had no intention of eating them themselves.
“We’ll give ours to Dad!”
“I’m giving mine to Browning!”
…What crime did those poor people commit?
Arelin silently mourned for them.
Harun, looking at his share of Pepero, handed one each to Arelin and Pession. They both munched away.
“Tasty.”
“Yeah.”
Harun even gave one each to the twins.
“Ugh!”
They bolted to the bathroom immediately after taking a bite.
“Harun, your revenge was successful.”
Indeed, they paid for meddling with his chocolate.
Then came the legendary potion Pepero.
“Here, Arelin, take it!”
Arelin stared at the ridiculously fat stick of potion-infused Pepero being offered to her, not knowing what face to make.
It was overwhelmingly burdensome.
“Shion.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you… want to receive my Pepero?”
Pession looked shocked.
“Don’t tell me you weren’t going to give me one?”
Arelin, with a resolute look, made a demand.
“Eat one of these, then I’ll give you mine.”
“But I made it for you.”
“I drink potions every day. You try it.”
So Pession, without much thought, took a bite—then froze.
Moments later, he dashed to the bathroom.
Arelin smiled, satisfied.
“Mm. Yep. Classic potion taste.”
In other words, utterly disgusting.
The twins, freshly back from the bathroom, stole a bite out of curiosity—and ran right back in.
“I’ll try one.”
“Harun, you want to eat it?”
“Mm.”
It seemed reckless, but if he was willing to help get rid of the awful Pepero, Arelin was grateful. She handed him one.
“…?”
He didn’t even flinch.
“You okay?”
“It’s good.”
“…?”
Is your tongue alright?
Harun seemed fine, and even ate five more potion Pepero.
Pepero Day.
At the break of dawn, Arelin rushed to Mehen.
“Mom!”
Startled, Mehen looked down as Arelin thrust a neatly wrapped Pepero forward.
“A gift!”
A smile spread across Mehen’s lips.
“So this is the legendary Pepero that turned the mansion upside down these past few days.”
“Huh? You knew?”
“Yes. The entire childcare squad and even my lord were plotting around it.”
Valer had done his best to distract her, but Mehen was simply too capable.
“I prepared it just for you, Mom.”
“It’s delicious.”
Arelin grinned brightly.
Then Valer appeared behind her.
“Where’s Dad’s?”
“….”
As if she’d expected this, Arelin calmly pulled out Valer’s share.
“Here.”
Valer chuckled, took a bite—then his face instantly froze.
He bolted away.
“What on earth did you give him?”
“Twin-made Pepero.”
“….”
A while later, Valer returned pale and gaunt, glaring at Arelin.
“Daughter… did you want to assassinate your father that badly?”
Watching her father suffer was funny, but at the same time, Arelin suddenly pitied Duke Sperom and Browning.
What sin did they commit to deserve this…
“Here, this is your real Pepero, Dad.”
Suspicious, Valer cautiously took a bite—then smiled.
“It’s good.”
“Right?”
He popped one into Arelin’s mouth with a grin.
“Next year, let’s make them together.”
“Okay!”
“Include me as well, please.”
“Of course!”
For some reason, Arelin felt certain that next year’s Pepero Day would be even louder and more chaotic.
